Design, Build & Equip Your Automotive Workshop on a Budget: From Planning to Final Build

This book is designed to help the practical hobbyist mechanic make the most of any available space, while staying within almost any budget. Many of the ideas presented for workbenches and storage can be implemented at low cost, or even for free if you're extra resourceful.

What is surprising is how nice your shop can look and how well your shop can function after a very small investment. In the balance of looking good and functioning smoothly, it's more important that your shop works for you. It's great if your shop looks like a million bucks, but first and foremost your workshop should be a convenient place to pursue your hobby, and a place where you enjoy working.

In the end, it doesn't matter if your workbench doesn't match your toolbox - you'll be the envy of every amateur mechanic if your shop is comfortable, well-organized, and outfitted to produce good results.

This book is designed to give you necessary information as you consider various tools, designs, installations, and products available for your automotive workspace. It includes some practical tips for common situations that hobbyist mechanics encounter in a standard garage.

I've generally avoided endorsing any particular brand of equipment or furniture, but I say what works and what doesn't work. Most items mentioned are representative products that show what's widely available on the market. All products mentioned by name in this book are high-quality products that I would (and probably do) use in my own workshop.

In researching this book, I looked at a variety of successful hobbyist workshops, built for a wide range of purposes, and I also checked out some professional shops. Professionals cannot afford to waste any time getting basic work done, so their shops tend to be extremely well organized, with important tools and features close at hand.

A garage or shop provides shelter from heat, cold, and moisture, and it provides you the chance to take advantage of basic services like electric-powered tools, effective lighting, and a garage door opener.

Basic electrical service makes your work go smoother and turn out better, but most of all it makes the working process more enjoyable. Electrical infrastructure is what turns a basic shed into a workshop.

If you understand how electricity works and if you have the basic skills required to use a hammer, screwdriver, and a pair of pliers, you can complete the projects described in this chapter.

The key with these projects is to take your time and make sure everything is neat and correct before you throw the switch. You want your basic infrastructure to work right the first time and keep working for a long time to come.

These projects involve some fairly large investments of time and money, so budget plenty of both to get where you want to be.

Of course, the most workable plan is often to build out your infrastructure over time to spread out the effort and expense. A few necessary circuits and some basic lights are enough to get you going, and then you can add more fancy services later.

PROJECT | BUILD A WELDING TABLE

If you plan to do significant welding, you want a steel-topped table. This basic structure is strong enough to hold just about anything you might want to weld.

For the purposes of the project, I assume you're using a 120-volt AC wire-feed welder with flux-core wire. But you can undertake this project with a stick welder or oxyacetylene setup and still get good results if you know how to weld with those tools.

A MIG or TIG welder makes the job quicker, easier, and cleaner.

• Cost: About $100 in box steel and a thick top plate



• Time to build: About 4 hours.

• Planning Your Workspace
• Build a Whole New Workshop
• Walls and Floors
• Windows and Skylights
• Electricity and Lights
• Install a 120
• Install a 240
• Install Fluorescent Lights
• Electrical Permits and Inspections
• Water and Heat
• Install a Fresh Water Supply
• Compressed Air and Welding
• Building a Paint Booth
• Build a Welding Table
• Create and Organize Storage Space
• Build Heavy-Duty Wood Shelves
• Automotive Tools
• Hand Tools
• Engine Tools
• Hoists, Cranes and Lifts
• Human Amenities
• Do You Need a Bathroom?
• Shop Furniture
• Outfit Your Workshop
• and more!