Shop improvements that have changed your life

patooyee · May 23, 2015

NWFLYJ and I have been installing a bunch of additional lighting in our shop recently. We've added 6 metal halide bay lights as well as repaired another few existing fluorescent fixtures and adding probably 6 or 8 more. The shop is so bright now that we joke about getting a tan. I honestly don't know how we ever operated without all this light. We have plans to install at least 2 more fluorescent fixtures, too. Used lighting is really cheap on CL right now because so many factories and warehouses are converting to LED these days. We got the 6 bay light fixtures for for $15 ea. w/working bulbs and the fluorescent fixtures for free from his work where they are changing to LED. The main expense to us was wiring and breakers.

also recently got a small rolling tool cart that I can move my most commonly used tools around on without too much trouble. I put some tool organizers in it so that I can find every tool in a second or less. Now instead of running back and forth to the tool chest the tools follow me to the job.

NWFLYJ has also organized his side of the shop and done the same with the rolling tool cart.

Between these recent simple upgrades we are so much more productive. Its actually kind of mind blowing how much simple things make a huge difference.

Anyone got any other things they've done that they were like, "Can't believe I've lived my life without this?" I'm kind of on a roll now and want to do more ...

Beerj · May 23, 2015

Socket organizers!

But yeah, lighting makes all the difference in the world.

smurfy90 · May 23, 2015

Where is the best place to get l.e.d fixtures for a shop? Lowes don't have crap!

ranger11 · May 23, 2015

Re:

Lighting was my biggest. I had 6 old t12 lights only a few worked. I converted those over to t8 and installed 6 more. Its nice to have good lighting.

Eddyj · May 23, 2015

Sounds dumb but when I put an old radio it changed the mood in my shop. It didn't take long until it was on a Christian station all the time.

the_white_shadow · May 23, 2015

I plan on building one in the next few months, so this thread could get useful. Moving out of an old detached barn that leaks when its rains, is cold as **** in the winter and is dark as ****, to something bigger and better.

85toyo · May 23, 2015

A really big Port-A-Cool. Best thing in the shop.

patooyee · May 23, 2015

85toyo said:
A really big Port-A-Cool. Best thing in the shop.

We installed central heating and air so we're good there.

HotwheelsYJ · May 23, 2015

These 2 have completely killed my productivity!

85toyo · May 23, 2015

patooyee said:
We installed central heating and air so we're good there.

I'm jealous :****:

patooyee · May 23, 2015

85toyo said:
I'm jealous :****:

It's nice, but the shop itself is not insulated worth a damn so 95% of the cool air is immediately heated up. But it does completely knock the FL humidity down which in and of itself is significant in terms of working in there.

85toyo · May 23, 2015

I don't even hook up the water on the portacool most times because it's already so humid in the shop. A good heater would be awesome though. We left all the natural gas heaters in the family body shop when it sold. Those would have been nice to have.

Shortbus · May 23, 2015

smurfy90 said:
Where is the best place to get l.e.d fixtures for a shop? Lowes don't have crap!

I like these for LED lights. Not sure where to order as I go through supplier at work. They're not going to compare to used florescent fixture prices, but I think it's better light.

http://www.lusiolighting.com/fixtures/default.asp

Beerj said:
Socket organizers!

But yeah, lighting makes all the difference in the world.

I also cut some organizers for wrenches out of corrugated plastic.

kmcminn · May 23, 2015

I hooked natural gas up to this shop love it. Going to get an ac this summer. That way I'll have a cool place to wax my **** in.

Eddyj · May 23, 2015

kmcminn said:
Going to get an ac this summer. That way I'll have a cool place to wax my **** in.

You go full Brazilian or a landing strip?

kmcminn · May 23, 2015

Eddyj said:
You go full Brazilian or a landing strip?

I wax my back I go all natural on my junk. If I am real hairy it doesn't look as long therefore it doesn't scare Kush.

crawler 129 · May 23, 2015

My biggest improvement was selling my old house with a 2 car garage and buying a farm with a 40x100 shop now I ain't got enough **** to fill it up .

al1tonyota · May 23, 2015

I'm not sure of the cost but the simplicity of it I had to share pex pipe! Water hot and cold and air lines! Super easy to run repair and add to! Not supposed to bust it it freezes either for northern folks!

Bigred350 · May 23, 2015

Retractable air and electrical plug from ceiling. Helps keep so many cords laying around on the floor.
Move air compressor outside so you do t have to listen to that thing run all the time.

hokie_yj · May 24, 2015

al1tonyota said:
I'm not sure of the cost but the simplicity of it I had to share pex pipe! Water hot and cold and air lines! Super easy to run repair and add to! Not supposed to bust it it freezes either for northern folks!

I've been debating on using pex to plumb my shop. It's pretty much down to either pex or the Rapid Air stuff.