garage -- needs shelves +

[Sapporo Guy]

Hiya ALL

Finally bought myself of depreciating real estate
Ahhh, hell, the price was about $40K above market but compared to what was available hopefully the depreciation will be less than those around me.

Anyway,

My problem (lolo, please no comments ) is that my garage needs to be turned into something more manly

It's just a plain box with your typical whiteboard left unfinished.
dimensions are about 6.5 meters long, 3.8 meters wide and has a height about 2.8 meters.

I'm working with a tight budget and the floor jack is just not gonna happen The GF has plans to redo the garden ... first ...

I did make it a point that shelves need to put in ... so ... skimpy budget for a DIY project.

Pretty much thinking 2x4s and what not.

Does anybody have a few sites to recommend?
Or ideas?

Thanks!

[Danny_Ocean]

I build my shelving with 2x2's and Simpson Strong-Tie connectors for 2x2's. They come in different configurations (left corner, right corner, straight). Once the shelving is framed, I use plywood for the actual shelves. You could use MDF for the shelves too, depending on what's available in your area.

http://www.strongtie.com/ftp/fliers/diy-projctpad06.pdf

Just not sure if there are Home Depot's in Japan...?

[Sapporo Guy]

Thanks!
Basically what I was thinking.

That pdf is going to help!

No, Home Depot's over here but have something like them ... just that you can't get the sweet DIY goodies that are available in the States

Finally got COSTCO in town .... hmmmmmm

[onewhippedpuppy]

A bit of advice, paint it first! Once you get it nice, sans paint, you'll wish you did.

Otherwise, in the past I've used L brackets designed for shelves, with plywood for the shelf itself. Makes for a strong and economical shelf.

[berettafan]

1- Empty the garage
2-Paint the drywall
3-stain the concrete floor (NOT paint, NOT epoxy, stain)
4-have electrician install large but inexpensive lighting on ceiling (i have $100 in my lighting and it is BRIGHT)
5-when building shelves leave a 2-3' space under the bottom shelf to facilitate easy cleanup with a shopvac. this REALLY helps keep your garage clean and pest free.

[berettafan]

oh, shelf design!

use 2x4's mounted horizontally along the wall as rear mounting points then run 2x4's vertically in the front (attached to 2x4's mounted lengthwise along the front of the shelving plywood).

[onewhippedpuppy]

Stain the floor and lights, very good advice (that I didn't take).

[berettafan]

heck, i didn't even PAINT before i loaded mine up.

hindsight you know.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Mine came with shelves when I bought the house. Unpainted sheetrock, but at least it's finished. Someday I'm going to tear all of it down, paint, stain the floor, replace the lighting, and build nice new shelves and a workbench. Also some of our kitchen cabinets will find their way to the garage come remodel time. Of course, I have to have all of the wife's projects done first, so I should be ready in about 20 years.

[berettafan]

You can get big flourescent lights that have plugs which makes installation a snap!

Maybe $25 each?

[onewhippedpuppy]

I've been seriously considering it. I figure 4 8' flo lights should adequately light my small 2 car garage. Adequate for me means that the light output is something very similar to that of the sun.

[berettafan]

i have 3 4' models but may add a 4th. amazing the difference vs. 2 lightbulbs!!!

be sure to get the 'electronic ballast' versions (again, approx. $25) as they light up instantly and do so in cold temps as well.

key is to place them AROUND the car and not over it so you're lighting up something other than the hood and roof.

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I've been seriously considering it. I figure 4 8' flo lights should adequately light my small 2 car garage. Adequate for me means that the light output is something very similar to that of the sun.

I have two T-5(?) 4-lamp fixtures (the fluorescent bulbs are nearly pencil thin). These are the same as used in warehouses & large stores (e.g. Home Depot). About $450 ea. When you click these suckers on, the neighbors will think you're being beamed-up by aliens! Very bright, but you need a high ceiling (or wear sunglasses).

[aigel]

I bought industrial shelving (boltless) at Costco for $450. This got me two full garage length walls, two feet deep, 6 foot high 2000 pound capacity shelves. (One set is $150). You will not be able to build this with wood. It took very little time to install. Also, this can be packed up in hours if you ever move and come to the new garage with you.

George

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by aigel

I bought industrial shelving (boltless) at Costco for $450. This got me two full garage length walls, two feet deep, 6 foot high 2000 pound capacity shelves. (One set is $150). You will not be able to build this with wood. It took very little time to install. Also, this can be packed up in hours if you ever move and come to the new garage with you.

George

The advantage of wood is customization. 24" wide sucks up alot of floor space (especially when you're dealing with a 1-car garage). You can also do staggered shelving for storing different size stuff. In some locations, my shelving is 12" wide and others spots it goes as wide as 18".

Steel shelves are great for the reasons you listed (portability, strength, installation time, price).

If you look in the upper-right of this pic, you'll see 18" wide 2x2 framed shelving I suspended from the 2nd floor joists. No lost floor space and I can walk under them without ducking. To test these, I did pull-ups from them:



They run the entire length of the 2nd floor (about 30'):

[pwd72s]

The steel shelving in my garage came from a school surplus auction...old gym locker room shelving...I even got a row of the baskets for keeping rags in...total cost was less than $50...

[The Gaijin]

Originally Posted by Sapporo Guy

No, Home Depot's over here but have something like them ... just that you can't get the sweet DIY goodies that are available in the States

Finally got COSTCO in town .... hmmmmmm

日曜大工 !

No "Nichiyo Daiku Senta"??

[Sapporo Guy]

Nope, no "daily carpenter center" in my neck of the woods. We've got a few shops that offer the basics but nothing compared to the shops back home. I miss the days you could just run down the street and pick up a bay window ...

@stain
What?
Is this like wood stain?

@ shelves
I was thinking of going with 18" deep.
Since it just means ripping a piece of plywood in half.

Is there a big utility difference between 12 and 18?

Since I'm working with a drywall boxed garage I wonder if Dennis's pdf type wouldn't be better???


Thanks guys for all of the input!!

[Danny_Ocean]

Originally Posted by Sapporo Guy

I was thinking of going with 18" deep.
Since it just means ripping a piece of plywood in half.

Is there a big utility difference between 12 and 18?

Since I'm working with a drywall boxed garage I wonder if Dennis's pdf type wouldn't be better???

12" is about the width of a typical bookcase. 18" is about the size of a case of oil or one of those "legal" size storage boxes. If you have room, I would do a combination of both.

Dennis? Danny. No big...all us white guys look alike.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

If you look in the upper-right of this pic, you'll see 18" wide 2x2 framed shelving I suspended from the 2nd floor joists. No lost floor space and I can walk under them without ducking. To test these, I did pull-ups from them:

Obviously you do not live in earthquake country. My shelving has 2 bungee cords running along every shelf to hold things in on minor to medium shakers. All the heavy stuff is in the bottom.

I have a 3 car garage - so I get to install big shelves and still put two cars in there

Honestly though, I am a bit jealous. I am just to transient to invest that much work into one garage.

Happy shelving!

George