My New Shop
When I bought my house, it came complete with a 2 car garage. It wasn't much to look at, as you can tell by the pictures below, but it was better than working outside in the rain at night.
Nice, eh? (That's whiskey in front of the garage.)
I did try to make some improvements. I installed 4 flourscent light fixtures. I insulated the building and hung drywall, and then built a large workbench and shelving, but these were only stop gap measures. It took me about 5 or 6 years before I truly realized that I needed something more.
Where did I put that Phillips screwdriver?
A huge sacrifice was in order. I did not buy myself a new snowmobile for the 98/99 season, so that I could build myself a new shop. I demolished the old garage, and in its place I erected a new 24' x 28' building.
This is the old garage being dismanteled. Looks like it's breaktime.
I could not have built this thing myself, and I am lucky to have some good friends who helped me. They are, in no particular order, Brad Brookes, Barry Bourdages, Bud Drover, Fern Downey, Mark Sacrey, Wayne Power, Nancy Howatt, Tony Loveless (who got the old garage), Ches Dicks, and lets not forget Tipper, who helped me haul away some trees that I had to cut down. It was a hot humid day, and she looked real good with her mascara running down her face. Whenever I needed a helping hand with something, they were there as quick as I could ask. A couple of them have already extracted their pound of flesh by dropping off their broken snowmobiles, but hey, it's fun working on them anyways.
The insulation has been installed, and the heating tubes are next. This is for the infloor heating system. The concrete will be poured on top.
Well, the roof is on and shingled, the heat and electricity works, now it needs siding. I have already bought the material, all I need is some motivation......
Here's a quick peek inside.
MXZ 670 on lift. This lift is a real back saver. If you have ever replaced a top end, while on your knees, bent over the side of the machine like a dog humping a football, then you know what I mean. Every shop MUST have one, no exceptions! Tell your wives I said so. (Same goes for the T.V., especially if Hockey Night in Canada is on.)
Some of the amenities I've included are:
In-floor heating
C-D Stereo
TV & VCR
Phone
Fridge
EZ Boy recliner (Why not?)
Pneumatic lift for bikes and snowmobiles
Lincoln 255 Amp Mig welder c/with aluminum spool gun
60 gallon upright compressor
Drill Press
Bench grinder
2300 psi Spray washer