To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT 1950s Craftsman Garage retro remodel

Workspaces sized between 265 and 485 squarefeet.
OP
R

Red Leader

Well-known member
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
2,687
Location
Denver, CO
Old Man Roger said:
A bunch of bicycles, a husky and a mini bike?
Click to expand...
Actually, you are not wrong, as far as a motorcycle goes!

What's funny is that it looked like that stuff left, but the mini bike was tucked around the corner, the basketcase Husky (the 3rd one!) I mainly put up in the rafters, as I know I'm not going to get to it before the other two.

A bunch of bicycle will be leaving, destined for the co-op.
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
R

Red Leader

Well-known member
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
2,687
Location
Denver, CO
turbowoodworker said:
Great to see updates to this most excellent project. It was one of the first I looked at, right after The 12 Gauge Garage.
Click to expand...

Really appreciate that, thank you. I'm probably far more ADHD and far less talented than Jack, so the garage frequently goes through these whirlwinds where it turns to a complete mess, and then life happens and I don't get out there for a month or more at a time. But the motivation right now it really high, so I'm trying to capture that and get back to the original vision of the garage. Your support is immensely appreciated!
 
R

rharman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
8,683
Location
SoCal
Old Man Roger said:
A bunch of bicycles, a husky and a mini bike?
Click to expand...

@Red Leader - I love seeing the Huskies. Way back in the day, I had an early 70's 250CR that the previous owner had converted to a WR. Did a ton of desert riding/racing and then spent $$$ to convert it back to a CR. I was working in a HD/Yamaha/Honda shop at the time and one of my vendors was looking for a WR tank. We traded so I got the small tank for free but had to buy all the transmission stuff. Motocrossed that version for a few years before selling it.

I loved that machine. Came with the big binder(s) full of service info and even a full physical conditioning program - Husqvarna officially approved.
 
H

hampster

Active member
Joined
Jul 7, 2021
Messages
39
I am just finishing up my own two week sprint of cleaning the garage and it went through that whirlwind phase you're in now. But I'm through the other side and I can tell you it's worth it!

My garage is still stuffed with tools and raw materials, but it's all stuff I decided to keep and found a way to organize... The clutter of postponed decisions occupying the center of the garage is about 90% gone.

Beyond the physical free space, I'm mentally noticing more white space now that my brain isn't subconsciously analyzing how to fix this or where to organize that... And that clarity is unlocking other unexpected things... like an unexpected chat with Gemini where I finally realized that even though I love my landcruiser, I will always be slightly too tall for it. 💥 A whole bunch of planned landcruiser mods (several of which I have parts for) are no longer on my to-do list.


So keep at it, it's worth it in the end.
 
C

Cruzan80

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 22, 2015
Messages
4,128
Location
Denver, CO
Are you selling or donating the bikes? I have a couple I need to get rid of as well (my son outgrew), and wondered if you knew a local place.
 
OP
R

Red Leader

Well-known member
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
2,687
Location
Denver, CO
Cruzan80 said:
Are you selling or donating the bikes? I have a couple I need to get rid of as well (my son outgrew), and wondered if you knew a local place.
Click to expand...
It's a little tough, but coming up on the good riding season, so it should be the best time of the year to sell or donate bikes soon, after we get done with this winter weather (yes, we should be seen snow this week!). I talked to an older gentleman in our church who has volunteered with the group 'Second Chance', but that was before their founder unfortunately passed away about a year ago. It has moved around since then, trying to find a home, and last I heard they were being kicked out of their current location, so in essence they have too many bikes - so they would be an unlikely source to take bicycle-related donations.

Bikes Together is a good one, off of Osage St near Denver proper. There used to be a location in Park Hill as well called the Park Hill Bike Depot, that then also turned into a Bikes Together location, but I am not usually down there, so I don't know if it is still there.
 
OP
R

Red Leader

Well-known member
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
2,687
Location
Denver, CO
rharman said:
@Red Leader - I love seeing the Huskies. Way back in the day, I had an early 70's 250CR that the previous owner had converted to a WR. Did a ton of desert riding/racing and then spent $$$ to convert it back to a CR. I was working in a HD/Yamaha/Honda shop at the time and one of my vendors was looking for a WR tank. We traded so I got the small tank for free but had to buy all the transmission stuff. Motocrossed that version for a few years before selling it.

I loved that machine. Came with the big binder(s) full of service info and even a full physical conditioning program - Husqvarna officially approved.
Click to expand...

They are my absolute favorite. I grew up watching On Any Sunday, and even though it wasn't my generation, I have a complete fondness for the era, and the ironclad warriors that rode these things. My dad one day came home with a '76 WR 250, and then we picked up a '76 CR 250 as a project for me, sort of got rebuilt, and tooled around on that thing for a good while. When they moved, they ended up getting rid of them, and if I had even a 1/4 of the sense I do now, I would have absolutely told him, 'I'LL TAKE THEM'...but live and learn!

I was going to pick up a local to me '72 WR, and drove the hour and a half to go look at it, with cash in my pocket, but the guy couldn't get it running even after the ad said 'runs great', and would not budge at all on price, so I walked away from it on principle. Probably would have been easy to get it running again, clean the carb, etc., but I said no.

Not a day goes by and I notice several ads by the same seller of some motorcycles in Missouri, who had these two listed. All in all, I was in them for less than the cost of that single bike, including the transport from MO to CO. However, these ones are in far rougher shape - both near engine teardowns, and that is my big hangup right now. I so badly want to be 'that guy' to rebuild the engines, but without the tools, time, or technical experience w/ these specific engines...it is hard. I don't want these projects to get away from me, and that is honestly some of the motivation behind getting the garage in order, so I can actually tackle projects like this.
 
R

rharman

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 22, 2012
Messages
8,683
Location
SoCal
I completely get your love of those. I think mine was a 1972. That red & chrome tank is such a classic.

I felt that the Husky was my first "real" racer. Left side kickstarter took some learning. Maintenance also took some getting used to. Things like the taper shaft and left hand threads. First time I was planning on doing a slight rebuild, I went to the local dealer and asked for a head gasket. He tells me they don't have any. When will you get them? Never! I had to be schooled on lapping the head/cylinder surfaces. What a noob I was. :dunno:
 
OP
R

Red Leader

Well-known member
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
2,687
Location
Denver, CO
Didn't do much, but got about a 1/2 hour, so sorted through some things, threw some things out, carted some things away. Started vacuuming w/ the shop vac when I realized that the filter was clogged - tried to shake it out and it disintegrated. Time for a new filter!

Still a mess, the work continues. I might enlist ya'lls help some some tool musical chairs. Having a tough time finding a good spot for a few things. I suppose it will become more clear when the shop gets cleaner, but will definitely appreciate everyone's opinion on some things.

Also, a couple things the garage could desperately use is a small dust collector (one of the main reasons why the shop gets so dirty after a project), and some basic 2 or 4 tube led type lighting. I think I have T10 or T12 lighting in there, and about 3 out of the 4 ballasts are gone, and its probably just time to upgrade. I've got a cool idea, but I need some recommendations for a base light to work from. Let me know if you guys have had any luck with some solid lighting.
 
C

Cruzan80

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 22, 2015
Messages
4,128
Location
Denver, CO
Are you still on the text chain? I can put word out to the guys to keep an eye out for a DC.

You are a couple weeks ahead of me. Once school ends, garage clean out is going to go hard. I can "see" the finish line (distantly). Plan/hope is to have a get-together late July.
 
J

jbmatth

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 3, 2013
Messages
5,677
Location
Northern Ok.
I've used these lights from amazon a few times, they work well, can be hug with the chain or direct mounted, string as many together as you can handle.

JB
 
K

kbuhagiar

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 27, 2005
Messages
1,726
Location
Escondido, CA
jbmatth said:
I've used these lights from amazon a few times, they work well, can be hug with the chain or direct mounted, string as many together as you can handle.

JB
Click to expand...
Those are fine, and they work well. The improvement over conventional fluorescent lighting is startling.

Another option is to re-wire your existing fluorescent fixtures to accept LED tubes. This is what I did in my garage. The wiring part is simple, and it allows you to replace an LED tube, rather than having to replace an entire lighting fixture if one goes bad.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
R

Red Leader

Well-known member
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
2,687
Location
Denver, CO
Cruzan80 said:
Are you still on the text chain? I can put word out to the guys to keep an eye out for a DC.

You are a couple weeks ahead of me. Once school ends, garage clean out is going to go hard. I can "see" the finish line (distantly). Plan/hope is to have a get-together late July.
Click to expand...

I know there is an email list, and I *think* I am still on it? I supposed I could make my own as well. Dust collection is something I've never had, but one of those things can totally see as being so good you don't realize how you made do without one. I appreciate the thoughts, and I have been out of the OWWM channel for years, but I'd be totally down for a get-together.
 
OP
R

Red Leader

Well-known member
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
2,687
Location
Denver, CO
jbmatth said:
I've used these lights from amazon a few times, they work well, can be hug with the chain or direct mounted, string as many together as you can handle.

JB
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link! This is sort of what I'm thinking. Can these be hard-wired, or is the idea that you can plug/unplug them in at will?
 
OP
R

Red Leader

Well-known member
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
2,687
Location
Denver, CO
kbuhagiar said:
Those are fine, and they work well. The improvement over conventional fluorescent lighting is startling.

Another option is to re-wire your existing fluorescent fixtures to accept LED tubes. This is what I did in my garage. The wiring part is simple, and it allows you to replace an LED tube, rather than having to replace an entire lighting fixture if one goes bad.
Click to expand...

Hmm, tell me more about this! I had sort of gone through the though process of an 'LED conversion' of sorts, but given that my ballasts are all nearly failed, I'm sort of wondering if it may be more trouble than it's worth, but I'd love to hear more.
 
OP
R

Red Leader

Well-known member
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
2,687
Location
Denver, CO
LeonardY said:
I just cut and paste my images directly into my posts.
That works fine for me.

And welcome back!
Click to expand...

Thank you for having me back! It's amazing the level of projects I'm seeing on this site...just as with the garage, I feel like I'm playing major catchup with the amount of incredible garages on this website.
 
K

kbuhagiar

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 27, 2005
Messages
1,726
Location
Escondido, CA
Red Leader said:
Hmm, tell me more about this! I had sort of gone through the though process of an 'LED conversion' of sorts, but given that my ballasts are all nearly failed, I'm sort of wondering if it may be more trouble than it's worth, but I'd love to hear more.
Click to expand...
When you covert to LED tubes you bypass the ballasts - they are not needed for LEDs. You re-wire the 'tombstones' (sockets) directly to 120V. You can leave the ballasts in place if you like, but I removed all of mine. Less weight on the ceiling, lol.
 
H

hampster

Active member
Joined
Jul 7, 2021
Messages
39
Everyone I know seems to usd the Barrinas off Amazon. Thyre cheap, and only one tube but you can link them and get more even lighting across an area... And lower profile so they don't tKe up much space. I like to mount them to garage door tracks for example to illuminate the aisles that are on shadows when cars are pulled in.

I started with the 5K kelvin color and while it was great I immediately noticed in the evenings it woke me up and harder to get to sleep so I switched to 4K kelvin which has less blue light and didn't have that trouble anymore.

They do flicker like all cheap LEDs, but it's tolerable to me.
 
L

LeonardY

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 16, 2011
Messages
5,004
Location
Southern California
Red Leader said:
Thank you for having me back! It's amazing the level of projects I'm seeing on this site...just as with the garage, I feel like I'm playing major catchup with the amount of incredible garages on this website.
Click to expand...
I just looked. I joined in April of 2011. Started my Garage thread in May 2011. About the same time as yours.
But my garage build was much less intense than yours. And it remains that way.
I'm really looking forward to The Craftsman Garage 2.0
 
OP
R

Red Leader

Well-known member
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
2,687
Location
Denver, CO
LeonardY said:
I just looked. I joined in April of 2011. Started my Garage thread in May 2011. About the same time as yours.
But my garage build was much less intense than yours. And it remains that way.
I'm really looking forward to The Craftsman Garage 2.0
Click to expand...

Thank you!

Mothers Day + being sick, I haven't updated in a few days, but the work has continued when I've had a moment here and there . Today will probably be a good day to list some things for sale, or for free, just to clear some room in the shop.

Thanks for following along, really appreciate it.
 
OP
R

Red Leader

Well-known member
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
2,687
Location
Denver, CO
kbuhagiar said:
When you covert to LED tubes you bypass the ballasts - they are not needed for LEDs. You re-wire the 'tombstones' (sockets) directly to 120V. You can leave the ballasts in place if you like, but I removed all of mine. Less weight on the ceiling, lol.
Click to expand...

hampster said:
Everyone I know seems to usd the Barrinas off Amazon. Thyre cheap, and only one tube but you can link them and get more even lighting across an area... And lower profile so they don't tKe up much space. I like to mount them to garage door tracks for example to illuminate the aisles that are on shadows when cars are pulled in.

I started with the 5K kelvin color and while it was great I immediately noticed in the evenings it woke me up and harder to get to sleep so I switched to 4K kelvin which has less blue light and didn't have that trouble anymore.

They do flicker like all cheap LEDs, but it's tolerable to me.
Click to expand...

jbmatth said:
They can be hardwired but you will still have a little pigtail from the connector at the light itself.

JB
Click to expand...


Appreciate the thoughts on the lights, they will be one of the next upgrades that I do since it is SUPER dim out there when I'm working late at night in the shop.
 
OP
R

Red Leader

Well-known member
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
2,687
Location
Denver, CO
Here are some pictures showing the latest progress. I am switching up my two work cabinets by putting all the sprays, solvents, glues, lubricants, paint, etc., in the cabinet on the empty bay side, and then emptying the other one out for hand power tools, clamps, sandpaper, and the like.

IMG_2247.jpeg

IMG_2248.jpeg

It’s also giving me a chance to go through each cabinet and get rid of either junk or things I havent used in a year+.


I also decided to continue on a small delayed project…stuff that has been bouncing around the shop for way too long…

This is the motor for my Craftsman/Emerson cabinet saw, and way back when I was cutting through a ton of really sappy pine and overworked the motor - the overload disc tripped. I took the motor apart and realized it needed bearings. Don’t worry, it’s only been at least 5 years!

IMG_2249.jpeg

IMG_2250.jpeg

IMG_2251.jpeg

IMG_2252.jpegIMG_2253.jpeg

IMG_2254.jpeg

I don’t have a good bearing setter, so I will need to find something that works so I don’t mangle the bearing. The other one is in the end cap bell housing of the motor, and should pop out fairly easily.

Once I get it together, it will allow me to install this motor back on the saw and then put the original belt guard back on. Is it any wonder some of these small accessories became so rare when they got separated from their tools by others like me?? Feeling a bit silly about the whole thing.
 
Last edited:
OP
R

Red Leader

Well-known member
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
2,687
Location
Denver, CO
IMG_2188.jpeg

Also finally got a new filter for the shop vac so I could clean up corner of the shop, like this one…

IMG_2187.jpeg


Also cleaned up the fridge for a sale/donate -

IMG_2185.jpeg

IMG_2186.jpeg



This one is also going to be going away -

IMG_2178.jpeg

Runs just fine…

IMG_2179.jpeg


Here’s the shop right now. Still doesn’t present super well, but it is getting WAY cleaner. Some of the things that haven’t been helping are like, I dunno, maybe the piano in the garage haha.

IMG_2189.jpeg


Welder will be going away as well -

IMG_2181.jpeg
 
OP
R

Red Leader

Well-known member
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
2,687
Location
Denver, CO
For those of you with a two-wheeled interest, a little misadventure here.

While I hadn’t posted updates on the garage for the longest time on this website, I was active on another forum and quite busy in the shop for a while. Here is a project I took on in 2023 that sort of took on a life of it’s own.

It’s not for the faint of heart. Read only if you have serious life problems!:lol:

www.bikeforums.net

Huffy + Campagnolo Super Record = The Ultimate C&V Sacrilege build - Bike Forums

Classic & Vintage - Huffy + Campagnolo Super Record = The Ultimate C&V Sacrilege build - *****shield ye eyes, all ye purists who may enter here!!!***** Offensive'... 'Unconscionable'...'Unbelievable'...'Pointless'...'Waste of Time'...'Absurd'...'Crazy'...'a Farce'...'Wow...'...'Garbage'... Yes...
www.bikeforums.net
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom