[Healeys] Fw: Downsizing tools and maximizing garage space

[Carlos Cruz]

Patton and Fellow Healey Friends...


I too found myself in a very similar situation, albeit probably under very different circumstances.  I was forced to reevaluate my tools and sort through them.  One pile to keep, one to discard and one to sell.  I then sorted the Keeper pile into two sub categories Must-Haves and Nice-To-Haves.  I alphabetized them - don't ask why.  I ordered them by height, width then overall mass - I had a lot of time on my hands.  I then cleaned them all which made sorting them into three piles based on a "brightness factor" - I like bling in the garage.  

As you can imagine all of this took a very long, long time.  This provided many opportunities to review my plan, formulate my objectives and really focus on what was needed to keep the Healey and any other toys in top working order.  If you're like me, you're always looking for the best, most effective way to keep these old cars going, anything that doesn't help in this endeavor finds it's way curb-side.  

In the end I kept all my tools and got rid of the wife.  I have a very clean workshop outfitted with the great set of tools - even one-time use tools and a Healey in great running condition.  Now no one questions me about spending $20 on OD drain socket tool or $400 on a new set of Lampert gears.  Life is Good - enjoy it.

Cheers
You-Know-Who!



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From: Patton Dickson <57healey at gmail.com>
To: Shop-Talk <shop-talk at autox.team.net>; Healey List <healeys at autox.team.net>
Sent: Thu, February 4, 2010 7:11:30 PM
Subject: [Healeys] Downsizing tools and maximizing garage space

I have come to the conclusion I want a second "toy" in the garage ( I think a Saab 900 Turbo convertible) and one of the wife's biggest objections is how I am going to fit it and the Healey in my 20x20 garage.

It occured to me that I have lots of tools I just don't use, and many I may be able to downsize.   What would you list as your bare essentials of tools.  I am thinking a full set of hand tools, work bench, vice, shop vac, air compressor, jack, stands, chocks, electrical testers and lots of lights.  I am not going to do body work again on my own, and specilized stuff like engine hoists can be rented or borrowed.

I have drawn up a floorplan maximizing untaped wall and ceiling space to shelve and clear as much of the floor as possiblie.  Anything else I need to put on the essential list. I know the blast cabinet is going and the air compressor will be downsized
Thanks
Patton

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