I have a 1200 sq ft shop. It has 14 ft ceilings, which is good, as it allowed me to put in a good-sized mezzanine, which greatly increased my storage space. When I got home from Florida this spring. I went up to the mezzanine no problem, but had trepidation about going back down (especially carrying some of my "goodies" down to work on them). I came up with a couple of things to make the mezzanine valuable to me again. The first is a Harbor Freight Electric winch setup that allows me to hoist things up and down with ease. It has a capacity of 400 lbs, which will allow me to deal with some of the heavier stuff I carried up the steps 15 years ago (like 7 transmissions). I have a plastic milk basket on it now for general stuff and for the time being, just let the control unit "dangle" down. At 82, I have a variety of health problems (including Arthritis and balance problem)s. I added a second handrail to the steps to the mezzanine. Now I can grab both sides coming down. One other thing I did was replace the "hand-chuck" on my Craftsman 19.2 volt drill with a regular Jacobs geared chuck. With arthritis in my hands there was no way I could get anything chucked tight enough. Hell, back when I was in decent shape, the bits still slipped half the time. I'm all set now. The only bad thing is that it took me most of the summer to upgrade the shop and it's almost time to go back down south for the winter. I wonder what I'll need when I get back next spring.
Progress, always move forward. You are applying your hot Rodding skills and ingenuity to your shop Bravo. I know for myself I can’t do things like back in the day. For instance I used to crawl under cars and remove and replace transmissions without a jack just set on my belly and arched up to stab in. If I did that now I would have a transmission on me until some came to help. I found a motorcycle jack at Harbor Freight that works great, hell I’ve even used it to change tires, sure makes life easier. Enjoy Florida this winter, and think of us frozen old farts up north while you’re basking in the sun. Dan
I've considered it, but with my mobility problems, I would end up being a "shut-in" for days on end. I don't like watching TV that much.
The transmission "technique" used to be in my bag of tricks, too. I used to do it with my "shoebox" Fords on a regular basis. Then, without thinking, I tried it with a truck four speed and almost killed myself.
Good for you! Stairs may be my downfall one day, but I have to use them to go to the garage. So far, I just go slower, especially carrying stuff, and try to not fuck up when i get there. The drill idea is great, those chucks on newer drills must be for soft stuff, cause they don't stay tight , for me anyway, not drilling steel. Guess I have become more careful. No emergency room trips cause of garage mishaps in 20 years. 4 total over the years before.... Knock on wood...
Good job! I like the fact that you can still find a way to get what you need to done. I hope when I reach your age, I'll still be working on my toys and finding ways to get things done. I have a 16' storage section in my shop that I have thought about putting a mezzanine in and was thinking of installing a gantry crane that could swing from the mezzanine over to under the 14 foot door rails. Having had your mezzanine for years, are there any concerns I should fix as I build it?
My only regret is not making it twice as big. I had thought about putting tracks on the ceiling so I had a movable hoist, but knowing the minimal construction of the building, thought better of it. (That also explains the weird way the second handrail had to be mounted.)
That corner on the railings? Put a small 2X2 foot slab of Plywood on there. That way, you can set the crate on it, fill it with that other stuff you forgot, THEN lower it. It also is handy for bringing stuff up and swinging it onto the 'shelf' to grab items to be stored without having to lift the crate over and set it down. Working height both ways!
I'm younger but have some health issues, I find it easier to go down the stairs backwards when carrying something, sometimes I just slide it down the stairs paying attention to not run myself over. Mine has a 10 ft height to get up on it, work smarter not harder according to the all the geezers I've known.
Nothing geezer about saving your back. I can't tell you how many people called me a wuss at work over the years (at many different jobs) for asking for help lifting and how many of them now have mobility issues affecting their work (if they can even work now). I've been planning for years for a forklift and overhead crane when I get a new place.
I de-geezered mine a few years ago. When the tenant who had been in the building for 20 + years left, my honey said I could move my garage in. The building was ( long ago ) the maintenance building for Preston Motor Freight. Drive in one end of the building, fix your truck, drive out the other end. One end got closed up with security windows. The other end is the 18 foot door. In the first picture you can see how far over the mezzanine level was. We cut it back. Used the pieces of 2 x 12 for the stair tread. By cutting back the mezzanine pieces, I was able to get a lift in the open area. I have an indoor bathroom with hot water along with heat and air conditioning. If I could just get the motivation And now
If it makes you feel any better about Trouble going downstairs I'm 40 and have that issue. And have had that issue since my early twenties from a knee injury that despite healing perfect physically resulted in basically permanent nerve damage (was quote $5k up front in 2008 to possibly fix it .... insurance not accepted). So in that situation some of us young guys feel your pain lol
Actually, what caused me to post this is a thread over on "The Ford Barn" that reported one of the members falling down his stairs and ending up being hospitalized with multiple injuries. My biggest fear these days is falling, so I thought it might be timely, as "some" of us are getting on in years.
My property taxes are really quite reasonable. Talking to folks who should know, adding running water and the other "amenities" will change the classification of the property and blow the taxes sky high where I am.
You are wise in the modifications you made to your work environment. As time is creeping up with some age and health issues, I appreciate what you shared, moving forward in thinking in that direction.
My building is on my wife’s company property. It doesn’t even have an address but my driveway empties into the street. I’m not sure as to taxes but having Baltimore City Water is expensive. Zero usage…..$155 a month. I’m late 70’s and falling scares the hell out of me. Our plans for railings on the mezzanine and stair case have never happened. I come down the stairs one step at a time sideways
Falling, dropping heavy crap on my feet, lifting, banging stuff with my hands, all of the stuff that I never gave a thought about. Now I think thru everything before doing something stupid. Doesn't always work, butit helps
That's a think'n man there! Some years back I decided I better clear out the storage above the ceiling in my shop while I still could, luckily it was not real heavy stuff but still about killed me coming down that 12 foot ladder with one arm loaded and one hand holding onto the ladder. I'm a bit younger but I've been slowly getting riddled with arthritis too, my Doctor put me on Gabapentin, still not great but made a big difference.
Some great stuff here fellas. I thought I had arthritis, but my doctor told me it was rigor mortis, lol
It's a traditional, and perfectly acceptable, geezer technique to have a small nap under the car whilst lying on a few layers of cardboard or carpet offcuts. If I had one of those padded, comfy creepers, I would probably lose a few hours to a siesta Cheers, Harv
Don't have to be old to sleep under your project. Creepers can be surprisingly comfortable after fighting old, rusty stuff over your head, and then letting your arms down to rest... for a minute.
I feel for everyone dealing with the effects of Arthritis . For those that have no effects , there is no explaining the pain and tightness , loss of motion that takes place . When I started working as a laborer on the pipeline crew , day after day on the 90 lb . Air Hammer was routine . The old timers would say slow down boy your goin to pay for it . I did my best to take care of the broken down old timers on my crew . The hurricane weather has passed through the few days have been tough ones . Make the best of everyday , enjoy it as best as possible and don’t sweat the small stuff .
The Jalopy Journal
