Garage or shop tours

[Bpbuilt]

Thought it would be cool if we had a thread for garage tours, show what you work out of and some of the tools you can’t live without. I feel like a lot of people getting into fabrication think they need the best tools and huge shop to achieve their goals.

I’m working out of a two car garage and it’s pretty packed. I’ve got a small miller 110v MiG welder I have had since I was 16 and a 250v L tech tig welder I picked up for $300 from Curt Leduc when I was working for him. I built my work bench with a 3/8” top so you can beat on it pretty hard and even use it for fixture work when needed. My bench grinder has a belt sander attachment that is worth its weight in gold, couldn’t live with out that thing!Ive got a lathe from a friends dad for free, it’s pretty small but has been super useful between making bushings or sleeves, not something that’s necessary but really nice to have. Having a bandsaw has been awesome, it’s nothing to big but has been able to put in work, having a gear reduction is the tick. Thankfully this one came with it and has no problem chewing through chromolly. The drill press kinda sucks but works out good. And of course the tool storage is important, harbor freight box’s work great for the priceWe all probably spend more time in or garage building and fixing or toys then actually driving them so let’s see what you yall are working out of.

 

[Turboyota]

Fantastic thread idea! Love seeing friends tools and shop setups—especially in space-limited garages.

 

[UR_Mawm69]

love it.
ill get some pics of the Chop Shop this afternoon and post up. i just fucking wish cameras/pictures were a thing like 5 years earlier! i wish i had pictures of the one thing we did in my shop that gave it the official name of "The Chop Shop". hahah

ElliotWelliot knows exactly what im talking about! haha @dwphoto

 

[Tree trunk]

I love that you didn’t clean up the bench before you snapped the picture
…. I sure shit won’t be cleaning mine off either

 

[Turboyota]

I love that you didn’t clean up the bench before you snapped the picture
…. I sure shit won’t be cleaning mine off either

@the bodj
@SByota

Let’s peep those squeegeed work benches!!! Hahaha

 

[the bodj]

@the bodj
@SByota

Let’s peep those squeegeed work benches!!! Hahaha

Oh man my garage is a disaster right now! Just finished a transmission rebuild, DirtKing rear suspension install, building a 17ft long curtain rail for my wife, and EGR cooler on our Touareg, carb clean/custom gas tank for a Yamaha Vino scooter (all simultaneously), so the garage is a nightmare, but I'll get some pictures of how it currently is tonight. Till then, here's my freshly finished garage before it became overrun with multiple projects (and now childrens toys)

 

[Bpbuilt]

I love that you didn’t clean up the bench before you snapped the picture
…. I sure shit won’t be cleaning mine off either

This was after I cleaned it up, I couldn’t even see the bench 20minutes before this

 

[SByota]

I also work out of a “big” 2 car garage. It’s completely packed full of tools/machines. Mig/tig welders, plasma cutter, RF 30 Mill/Drill, 1940’s lathe, bandsaw etc.

The mill/drill and lathe are so useful! It really sends your fabrication ability to the next level.

It’s rare that my workbench doesn’t look like the above. Once in a while I clean it off and put everything away. More often than not, I squeegee everything to the wall at the back and start the next project.

 

[Bpbuilt]

View attachment 50378View attachment 50379
I also work out of a “big” 2 car garage. It’s completely packed full of tools/machines. Mig/tig welders, plasma cutter, RF 30 Mill/Drill, 1940’s lathe, bandsaw etc.

The mill/drill and lathe are so useful! It really sends your fabrication ability to the next level.

It’s rare that my workbench doesn’t look like the above. Once in a while I clean it off and put everything away. More often than not, I squeegee everything to the wall at the back and start the next project.

Those ports bands with the base kick ass for small projects! 90% of the time my bench looks the same hahaha

 

[Tree trunk]

Here is my mess…..

I bought a few sheets of metal from the local scrap yard, they appear to be siding to bolt together water tank. Maybe 3/16 thick with a power coat on it. I wish it was bare metal but it’s what I have to work with

I built in a spot that the horizontal band saw could live.
This guy kicks ass


My band saw is a 20” Rockwell. It was actually a wood cutting saw so I had to do a gear reduction to keep it from cooking blades. I just tried to fit the biggest and smallest pulleys I could to slow this thing down.



It works well, but the blade guides need some work. I feel like I’m always chasing my cuts around.



Next is the bench grinder and multitool attachment coupled with the hole saw notcher. I save this big ass piece of ductal iron water pipe from the trash and used it as a stand I can drag around.

I’m running the Amazon “yes” welder 110/220 combo and it’s been awesome so far. Then my TIG machine is an “LINDE helicarc 250”


This is the table where I cut out templates and eat cold glizzys and drink coffee
Notable items
-lava lamp
-co2 meter
-dirt sports magazine featuring our very own @Bpbuilt on the cover riding shot gun with Danny.
-iPhone 7 for music
-picture of Jesus eating a deluxe chili dog




In the “kids room” I’ve got the PS2, legos and some music equipment.

View attachment 17F7C75E-3B93-4EAE-AA9C-B1D83C9310BF.mov

 

[UR_Mawm69]

fuckmeinthearse.
i forgot to take pics when it was daylight, today.

 

[smokeysevin]

My old house had a small 2 car that was packed with shit. Everything had a place and I stored my ski collection outside in the side yard. (No hoa ftw) Everything was on wheels and could be re-arranged as needed.

New house is a medium 3 car but in an hoa so all the skis moved inside. I don't have the layout done yet so its been great trying to make progress on my truck while trying to get my space even close to where it used to be. It may not have been the brightest idea to move...

Sean

 

[the bodj]

Here's the current state of the garage as of last night. Like I said, I have probably 7 projects going on right now. Most are just about done and I can get it back to clean again.

PS: I plan on replacing the garage doors at some point, which is why I never finished painting them


Wall-waukee has been awesome for organizing the m18 and m12 tools. I also need to sell most of my surfboards as I don't go often enough anymore.



The garage came with overhead storage on the back wall and right side wall, forming an L. I got rid of the right side, cut the back wall side short, built a laundry room that terminates into the overhead storage, making even more overhead storage. Added 2x4 rect tube to reinforce it, and recently added lighting underneath so it doesn't feel like a cave. I absolutely hate working in shadows. My parents' garage is ~800sqft and only has 3 light strips. I have 10 or 12, plus these two now. Jack stands all fit under the computer desk, and I need to toss a bunch of old shoes. I just bought the kids bike trailer, which folds flat so it should store nicely somewhere.


HF press with SWAG finger break, drill press with disc sander underneath, welding cart with Lincoln 180D and 140HD welders, second welding cart with Lincoln Squarewave 200 TIG on top, Chinese plasma cutter on bottom. 4x4 Plasmacam plasma table at the back corner with WEN box air filter, fan, and not plugged in train light. Blue line is RapidAir (basically PEX AL) that is AWESOME. Has a few drops around the garage, and air compressor is in its own shed outside the garage behind the computer desk wall. I don't hear it at all. Sucks when I forget to turn it off and it kicks on in the middle of the night, since our bedroom window is right there.


Mini mill/lathe combo from @SByota has been so useful. Absolutely garbage for holding tolerance, but works great for squaring up stock, making spacers... Welding table isn't terrible right now. I had it clean before KOH but dumped a bunch of stuff on it upon returning. HF sheet metal brake peaking out, too.


Plasma table becomes a welding table when the welding table can't be a welding table.


Cooler needs to go back in its home on the Sonoma. Air reel mounted at the front of the garage is clutch. Can reach anywhere in the garage, and nearly any part of the driveway. HF 100 hose on standby for using the nailgun inside the house. Extension cords underneath. Stomp shear purchased from @Turboyota doesn't get used often, but is worth its weight in gold (it's many hundreds of pounds). Mastercraft seat mounted on rolling chair base, JD2 bender set up to bend vertically is the bees knees.


Garage fridge stocked with bubbly waters, standing freezer stocked with assortments of meats and meal prepped dinners. I framed out the house build sheet that's been stapled to that wall since 1974. 220V heater can be seen at the top left for those chilly SoCal evenings. Childrens toys beginning to take over to keep my boy occupied while I'm working, and the rat rod wagon I built. Pro tip - use those big black tubs to catch trans fluid when dropping the pan. Bigger than a bucket so you don't spill (as much)


Dirtbike, woodworking tools, etc. are in the shed on the sideyard. Gardening stuff is in the backyard shed.

 

[Bpbuilt]

Here's the current state of the garage as of last night. Like I said, I have probably 7 projects going on right now. Most are just about done and I can get it back to clean again.

PS: I plan on replacing the garage doors at some point, which is why I never finished painting them


Wall-waukee has been awesome for organizing the m18 and m12 tools. I also need to sell most of my surfboards as I don't go often enough anymore.
View attachment 50406


The garage came with overhead storage on the back wall and right side wall, forming an L. I got rid of the right side, cut the back wall side short, built a laundry room that terminates into the overhead storage, making even more overhead storage. Added 2x4 rect tube to reinforce it, and recently added lighting underneath so it doesn't feel like a cave. I absolutely hate working in shadows. My parents' garage is ~800sqft and only has 3 light strips. I have 10 or 12, plus these two now. Jack stands all fit under the computer desk, and I need to toss a bunch of old shoes. I just bought the kids bike trailer, which folds flat so it should store nicely somewhere.
View attachment 50407

HF press with SWAG finger break, drill press with disc sander underneath, welding cart with Lincoln 180D and 140HD welders, second welding cart with Lincoln Squarewave 200 TIG on top, Chinese plasma cutter on bottom. 4x4 Plasmacam plasma table at the back corner with WEN box air filter, fan, and not plugged in train light. Blue line is RapidAir (basically PEX AL) that is AWESOME. Has a few drops around the garage, and air compressor is in its own shed outside the garage behind the computer desk wall. I don't hear it at all. Sucks when I forget to turn it off and it kicks on in the middle of the night, since our bedroom window is right there.
View attachment 50408

Mini mill/lathe combo from @SByota has been so useful. Absolutely garbage for holding tolerance, but works great for squaring up stock, making spacers... Welding table isn't terrible right now. I had it clean before KOH but dumped a bunch of stuff on it upon returning. HF sheet metal brake peaking out, too.
View attachment 50409

Plasma table becomes a welding table when the welding table can't be a welding table.
View attachment 50410

Cooler needs to go back in its home on the Sonoma. Air reel mounted at the front of the garage is clutch. Can reach anywhere in the garage, and nearly any part of the driveway. HF 100 hose on standby for using the nailgun inside the house. Extension cords underneath. Stomp shear purchased from @Turboyota doesn't get used often, but is worth its weight in gold (it's many hundreds of pounds). Mastercraft seat mounted on rolling chair base, JD2 bender set up to bend vertically is the bees knees.
View attachment 50411

Garage fridge stocked with bubbly waters, standing freezer stocked with assortments of meats and meal prepped dinners. I framed out the house build sheet that's been stapled to that wall since 1974. 220V heater can be seen at the top left for those chilly SoCal evenings. Childrens toys beginning to take over to keep my boy occupied while I'm working, and the rat rod wagon I built. Pro tip - use those big black tubs to catch trans fluid when dropping the pan. Bigger than a bucket so you

I think you win for 10lbs of shit in 5lbs bag hahaha
I feel your pain though my old garage was twice the size of my current one but a better neighborhood and bigger house was needed!

 

[Cleandezert]

this makes me feel better about how messy my garage is... your guys are givig me anxiety. lol

 

[Bpbuilt]

Figured I throw in a picture of the shop I work in, been here for 13 years doing sheet metal fabrication for a hvac company. Me and my helper go through about 100k pounds of sheet metal a year out of this small shop. All the standard shears and brakes, almost everything is from the early 1960’s or before.

 

[FENDERFAB]

I along with everyone else here probably wishes they had more room but heres my 2 car garage setup.

One side is all fab stuff- 1950s drill press with milling vice, HF 27 gallon compressor with reel, Electric reel, Milwaukee tools/chargers, full fleet of air tools, Grinder with multi tool belt sander, Small welding table, Weldpro 200 Tig and Miller 211 Mig.

Other side is all tool storage along with 1950s general electric kegerator, tower freezer and large refrigerator for all the cold ones.

Truck lives in the middle.

 

[the bodj]

I think you win for 10lbs of shit in 5lbs bag hahaha
I feel your pain though my old garage was twice the size of my current one but a better neighborhood and bigger house was needed!

this makes me feel better about how messy my garage is... your guys are givig me anxiety. lol

Oh trust me, it makes me so irritable. The wife has to remind me that I'm mad at myself for letting it get like that, not mad at her haha. Hopefully within the next week it'll be back to squeaky clean

 

[WW_RANGER_X]

My little slice of heaven. It’s cluttered but more of an organized mess. I know exactly where everything is at any given time. Lots of memories in here! Having the two work benches for shocks has been a game changer. Definitely running out of room, but it’s nice knowing we can still park all our vehicles in here (individually of course).