Now most part of the house has been more or less done, it's my turn to decide what next. Well I want a workshop in my garage then. I'm thinking of a heavy duty workbench, a few shelves and some draws for the tools. where will you buy this kind of stuff? Is there any shops you can go to have a look at them or is it too specialised? Obviously it will be for light DIY for my bike like service a fork, fitting new bearings,etc...
Thank you!
Machine Mart is a good place to start for this sort of thing
and some draws drawers for the tools.
Axminster have some nice benches. Mine is a kitchen worktop from the Ikea bargain corner, though and reinforced where the vice is. Halfords tool chests are good.
it's VAT free day at machine mart tomorrow.
First thing I would do is insulate it and seal it up from draughts.
Old stainless steel kitchen workbench from ebay.
Plan loads of shelves (floor to wall double slot 370mm shelving stuff from screwfix, 18mm OSB from B&Q cut lengthwise into equal 1/3s.
2 off Roller tool cab with tool chest on top from halfords, machine mart etc.
But not the one they are knocking out for 60. Quid atm at halfords its terrible
Roller drawers a must ! Id actually go to machine mart quality is much the same but i find prices better unless halfords are on offer
Agree with insulate - stops condensaion and tools getting rusty n owt
Workshops te first thing to be done at my house ! ( unless i have to build the actual building for it first !)
An internal flush fire door for the worktop, with some 4 x4 legs, and reinforcing, varnish it a few times first stops the oli soaking in, and its 6 foot 6 long and 30 inches wide.
2 X 1 battons screwed to walls everyu 30 inches, with whatever width london type shelf bkts screwed to them, then down to Band q, who wil cut he 3/4 inch chipboard out of a sheet to whatever sizes you want, a man cant ever have to many shelves.
Tool chests are all on offer at Halfords right now. The "industrial" (black ones) range are excellent for the money. Don't get the normal red ones, they are shit.
In fact all the Halfords Pro tools are great VFM. Lifetime guarantee too.
I bought a workbench frame from these guys (http://www.jagsignsupplies.com/aqshop/catalogue.php?id=1282), really sturdy. You can use a cheap kitchen counter as the top, or a bit of ply like I did (don't worry about drilling into it then).
3/4 inch chipboard out of a sheet to whatever sizes you want
Its a false economy to get chipboard or MDF, both absorb moisture and warp over time. OSB or WSP ply will last better for a littel extra cost.
I made a workbench from 4x2, 6 lengths made up the top. 2.4m long and strong enough to mount a vice on. The whole bench including the vice only cost me about £40. Toolchest is from Machine Mart, old kitchen cupboards and big old ceiling hooks. 
Here's mine, Kitchen units, metal topped bench, nice big vice, white double brick walls, insulated and a radiator, plus a special treat, Quarry tiles on the floor 8).
Tool box and tool chest from Teng. I had these when I was karting. oh and big compressor for Tubeless from Machine Mart.
garage c by eastham_david, on Flickr
Make sure you have enough light.
cheapie version
vice
kitchen worktop mounted on 2x2
lots of old chests of drawers and kitchen cabinets, you'll probably be able to get some linnbins to fit
old carpet on floor
set up an clamp mounted inspection lamp
a mate has a huge sheet of plyboard with bits of wire and small wood offcuts etc to hang tools on
*puts flat cap on - if you get jam jars etc you can use them to hold bits - as being see through it's handy, you can gti this by fixing the lids to the bottom of a shelf to double capacity
I find a paper towel roll handy as wel
mine's fully insulated, centrally heated, and has wifi/ethernet.
mine's fully insulated, centrally heated, and has wifi/ethernet
it's not Garage top trumps you know 
Memo to self, ethernet plumbed in next week. 
Is the VAT free day definitely on at Machine Mart tomorrow pinches? I can't find any reference to it on the net, that's all.
I could do with a bigger vice and also quite fancy a parts washer 
Neil.
Only with an invite.
Hmm, might be worth a cheeky call to my local branch to see if they'll sort me out. Shy bairns get nowt!
mine's fully insulated, centrally heated, and has wifi/ethernetit's not Garage top trumps you know
Memo to self, ethernet plumbed in next week.
I'll move in there soon. Cheaper than a divorce.
If you think you can kill time on here, wait til you get into this place... Lots of inspiration and ideas.
Assuming it's a 'normal' garage, i.e. not one of the luxury workshops posted above then the steps are:
Paint the walls with cheap white emulsion
Paint the floor with proper garage floor paint
Put in more light. Just one is not enough
Then sort out your workbench and bike storage.
I built my own workbench. Fairly easy to do.
If your near me (Cannock Chase'ish area), I've 1.6m length of 42mm worktop I took out of the kitchen, that you can have. If your going to build up your own bench I recomend using 3"x2" CLS studding tiimber. It's just easier to work with. I built a huge 8'x2' shelf unit with the stuff. Used long M8 bolts to hold it all together.
If your short of space why not just get a Workmate. Bolt a vice to a 2' length of worktop, & a length of 3"x2" across the underside. Then just clamp that in the workmate. Can be hung out the way then.
Get on your local Freecycle network - there will be loads of kitchen units on there
I quite like the look of what's avaiable at http://www.benchmaster.co.uk iff, like me, you're not inclined to make your own workbench
Buying a workbench is like buying sex... It's quick and easy but it's just not the same, and you'll feel bad about it afterwards.
Having said that, with hookers you're less likely to end up with a squint wobbly workbench.
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