Ever pay for/rent a DIY garage and lift?
 

Lee H reminded of this place last night.

Rates - Phoenix Auto Repair | DIY Automotive Garage Bay Rental

I need to replace the bleeder valve on my clutch slave and just cannot bring myself to do such jobs on my back under jack stands anymore. I figure I'll spend $30 and flush my brakes and clutch and sort of enjoy the job like I used to at PCA tech sessions in the DC area. I changed engine and gear oils yesterday and just about died from heat stroke in my garage with doors open and fan on. Now I'm sore from crawling around.

Anyway, how does a place like the above make any money at $15 per hour? If they're fully booked with no downtime between appts., each lift bay would bring in $150 per day. The insurance has to be nuts on these guys.

...assuming they have any insurance. They probably make money on extras...

But they don't even charge for tools unless they're specialty tools or consumables. I'll use their air compressor and air gun maybe, but I'll bring everything else I need. I love the look on the clerks' faces when I check in at the range and don't buy any targets, ammo, earplugs, etc. I shoot paper plates and always bring everything I need. I've seen people spend $1000 there on extras before. I only pay the range membership fee. I hope this garage makes good money, because I'll be using them from now on, but only paying for the lift bay rental.

How awesome is that. There are times I wish I had a place like that to go. But then again, my projects always last longer than planned. I am just going to break down and get a lift in my garage.

lol i had this idea for a business couple years ago. analyzed it and never saw the profit margin though. most DIYers know a friend with a driveway. lift/compressor/welder is the only thing that'd be attracting force that i could figure out.

Why not just put a cheap window air conditioner in a garage window? I cannot even comprehend the thought of not being able to work on my toys at my own place whenever I feel like it. At $15/hr, some weeks I would probably have a $600 bill. ;):)

Says the guy who's got a frikkin hanger to work in. Most of the rest of us are lucky if we have room to open the door to get out of the damn car after we've pulled into the garage.

Mr "ohhh, I need some knurled pegs for my bike project, lemme just step over here to my personal mill and make em, right after I finish some sights for my spoon";)SmileWavy

Medical/Insurance/idiots kills the DIY culture.

Lol! Nice....you gotta give it to him eh, Tim? :D

I did the trans and differential fluid a couple days ago on my 325i. With the heat (110* on Monday) and crawling under the car on jack stands - it sucked. I think next time for the trans and diff I'm going to the "UFixIt". Thanks Rick

Edit: I, too, would love the space of a hanger to work in! Must be nice.

I always wondered how those places worked out. Only thing is you'd better be able to get it finished otherwise if you get stuck you are dead.

rjp

Driveway DIY helps if you're comfortable:
A couple cardboard layers are soft and smooth on concrete, glasses(always)/hat/gloves/trashed overalls which don't ride up, torpedo heater or box fan for temperature, a couple sources of spot lights, radio on, ditch the cell phone, etc..

By the time you're set up, you've forgotten what you're working on untill a few hours later, lol.

I've been working on cars for 30 years and never had a lift. It's always on my back doing it the hard way. :(

But I sure would like one! :)

$15/hour? I would pay that to bleed my brakes. Trying to put any car on 4 jackstands is PITA.

this place Rent an Auto Repair Shop Bay in Kent, Washington | Auto Repair Stall Rental in South King County | Kent Auto Garage Bay Rentals | Self Serve Garage here seems to always be busy.

I used to date a girl who's dad was an Air Force Lt Colonel. He and I rebuilt his daughter's engine at the base auto shop. It was really cool, they had any tool you might need and you just walked up to the tool room and asked for what you needed.

I was just going to say; it's a lot more around here. ...$35/hr (way too much)

I do not work on cars in my "hangar" portion, I work on cars and most projects in what amounts to a single car garage. I built my first airplane in half of my parents unheated/unair-conditioned two car garage.

I guess I just found it odd that if Rick has a garage, he does not simply do like I did in my shop room.... Mount a sub $200 window air conditioner and start using the garage to play with his toys in.

I don't think my garage is insulated at all and opening either door would suck all the cold air immediately. It's just too damn hot in there and no cost-efficient way to fix that.

Fans will move air around at low cost. It's better than nothing.
There is also a "swamp cooler" which is basically a fan with a mist-er.