6 distractions worth having in your garage
Of all the tools people will tell you to add to your garage, anything that would derail you from efficient work would seem the least worthwhile. However, items that many would label as distractions can be very helpful in specific situations, and to ignore their benefits is to risk complicating your life.
Let’s take a look at six things that appear to be distractions but that deserve a place in your shop—even if you have to explain why to your friends.
Television
Let’s start with the ultimate distraction. When I’m cleaning, I’ll often put on the reply of an endurance race or a favorite concert, sideshows that I can tune in or out of without guilt. It also serves as a generously sized screen on which I can review my own race footage or watch a how-to video. Recently, the TV proved its worth when a friend was over with a motorcycle I’d never worked on before. We ended up watching a how-to video on the big screen and talking through the process together. Very helpful.
Fridge/freezer
A staple of the garage for those who spend hours belly-up to the workbench. Kept stocked with cold beverages, a fridge is always a threat to productivity; all it takes is one pop tab to turn a night of productive wrenching to one of bench racing. Sure, some folks can enjoy a cold beverage and notice little change to their productivity, but any change in judgement combined with a high-risk task is a recipe for trouble.
Imbibe wisely, and remember that thermal changes can be very helpful during assembly of some pieces: That fridge or freezer can provide the perfect temperature differential to make press-fits just a bit easier.
Computer
I know it’s not just me that spends the whole working day on a computer. Therefore the last thing I want to do after hours is peer at a screen. Heck, that’s why my cars have carburetors. I don’t want anything on the car that requires a screen.
Yet having a computer on the workbench helps me assemble a parts order while looking at the project, and review reference materials or how-to outlines easily. My personal favorite is using a full-sized computer screen to review photos of assemblies I took apart weeks or months ago to know I’m putting them back together correctly. It’s far easier to scroll photo albums on a computer than on my phone. Do I need the laptop all the time? Certainly not, but it can really make life easier.
Comfortable chair
Sometime you just need to take a mental break. Personally I find it helpful to continue looking at what I’m working on while I think through the process. Even reading shop manuals is more productive when the parts are in front of me. (Plus, I haven’t sold the missus on bringing engine blocks into the living room.)
A nice place to sit is a luxury worth having in your garage. This could mean a barcalounger, if you’ve got the space, or even a supportive, bench-height office chair to replace that battered, wooden kitchen stool. Anything that creates a comfortable opportunity to get off your feet for a bit.
Stereo
The right music can dial in your focus, while the wrong tunes can be attention-grabs that do nothing but sidetrack you. Background noise can help keep you maintain focus and motivation while plugging away on tedious projects, like parts cleaning or bodywork, so don’t be scared to have a nice stereo in your shop. Bonus points if you listen to era-correct music while working on your car. That’s just affordable time travel!
Friends
Having a “helping hand” can sometimes mean that even less work gets done, but such is the cost of camaraderie. The human connection is more important than the cars. Never feel bad if the conversation ends up being your focus, instead of the project. Our friends bring a different type of joy into our lives and it is not to be ignored.
Are these the only common garage distractions? Of course not. Let us know the worst offender in your shop in the comments below.
What a great article! I try to keep my garage and shop organized, but mostly it’s a failed attempt. My garage does have a toilet and sink for those moments of urgency. No TV, a radio and XM satellite, a split-unit HVAC and lots of signs and car show posters from Hot August Nights and others. No fridge, but I always look at estate sales for one and no friends to distract my confusion. I also have a large drill press; table saw and a cutoff saw for wood projects. My big shop at my daughter’s property has a car lift, compressor, HVAC, spray insulation and epoxy floors and a welder. Lots of commercial storage there!
I have a detached 20 x 20 2-bay garage, built in 1926 which I just rebuilt. I did the structural wood demo and replacement where needed, and a contractor did a complete roof and siding job (at 72, I don’t do ladders anymore). Just finished a complete refit of my 1976 MG Midget 1500 that I bought new and had mothballed for nearly 29 years. Now, with house wrap on the roof and sides of the garage, it doesn’t breath at all except for what the roof vent allows. I have a cell phone and lap top so I don’t need any more electronics than those — what I very much need are A/C and heat. Thinking of a mini-split heat pump for it, but that will have to wait til next year. Wife doesn’t want anymore money going into the garage!.
I used to test my wife’s patience by putting wrist pins in the freezer and connecting rods in the oven.
Even to the point of using her oven mitt to handle the rods and assembling on the kitchen counter.
I married a saint.
I tell people that I have a mancave I park my cars in, or a garage with a mancave in it. I haven’t figured out which it is yet! Full kitchen, 10′ conference table with chairs, double wide fridge, bathroom, couch, heat and A/C. Plus plenty of south facing windows that save on my light bill. Got my 1958 Chris Craft in it now. Getting it ready to sell in the spring.
If you really want to see some awesome shops, do a search for “boathouses” Only Jay Leno’s garage can compare to boathouses with multi million dollars worth of old wooden boats in it.
The giant TV lasted one night – I tested an old VCR with THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES, and all the neighbors of the adjacent townhouses crowded in to watch as they were walking by – the garage is for workshopping, not a drive-in…But you know, some sand on the floor, and Jimmy Buffet on the big screen could produce some intoxicating results…
Shop cats.
Oh, Dan, you spiked my heart. I’m fortunate enough to have a salvaged Reznor gas overhead heater and mismatched window A/C units, tools hung on outlined pegboards or in my Craftsman Sears going out of business bought rolling toolboxes (that haven’t moved since I filled them), my old Frigidaire from my deceased Mom’s place- with the magnets and drawings she saved- an assemblage of vintage but not particularly valuable mid level stereo equipment with used speakers from whoever gives them to me, a couple of Harbor Freight supplied benches and some thrift shop comfy chairs to watch the 43″ pawnshop Vizio smart TV that plays my YouTube how to vids.
But my cats are the best distraction, a Maine Coon “Nosey” and a severely alpha tuxedo”FatSox”. They will perch up high and watch, or sleep, for hours. But when I become frustrated or agitated, they come down to nudge and purr and order dinner. And likely have spared me many mistakes and injuries. I know when the cats come down, it’s time for me to stop, regroup, relax. And my space is kept rodent and pest free as well.
I am fortunate to have a large shop and all the ‘distractions’ except for the TV (a true distraction). The single best is having a bathroom with laundry sink, tall toilet, shower, and my own washer and dryer!
A TV? Absolutely not, I rarely even watch TV in the house! Fridge? No need for that, maybe keep a water bottle handy. Computer? If I really need to look something up I’ll do it later in the house or use my smart phone. A chair? Yes but not all that comfortable! Stereo? An absolute necessity. Friends? Sure always welcome especially if I need to lift something or help bleed brakes. While not distractions, as other have stated a heater for winter and a swamp cooler for summer, which works great in dry New Mexico, are necessities, as is a sink which in my case is mounted just outside the door.
Old service stations signs are a nice touch. And the vintage garage pinup calendars, though considered today tasteless and tawdry, always garner an ogle or two.
I’m not sure indoor plants (not houseplants, but rather, shopplants?) are a distraction, but they are unusual to find in this environment, and I rather like the ambiance imbued by my ficus tree.
I can’t go anywhere without my Aussie being nearby, although he’s also not that much of a distraction either, more of a constant companion. He’s only distracting when he decides to come in for a cuddle when I’m on the floor under a Lotus.
I never felt the need for a fridge, tv, radio or friends as I don’t drink unless it’s a social occasion, most tv programmes need too much attention, which takes me away from the job at hand, radio? No thanks, I’ve got enough tunes going on in my head so don’t need a radio where all I get is idiot presenters telling me how the world should be run, and friends? No way, they normally talk too much or tell me how I should be doing the job!
No TV or Computer but do have a radio, handy tool chest next to whatever I’m working on which would be either the TR6 which I’ve modified to some degree or the 60 MGA Coupe which was restored from a rolling body and frame to original. The sink and mini-fridge are nice. My favorite is Gracie the cat-dog who climbs around and watches whatever I’m doing and then curls up on the seat of the Harley for a good nap.
I have the prerequisite “Beer Fridge”, which also serves as a nice secondary place to store that extra gallon of milk, cartons of eggs, and the rest of the bulk-buy Eggo waffles that don’t fit in the fridge in the kitchen. I also have a very old stereo receiver and a decent pair of speakers. The only seating is my 40 year old roll-around Craftsman seat, my equally old creeper, and upside-down buckets. No TV, no computer, and every once in a while some friends stop by. That’s always handy when you don’t have one of those fancy one-person brake-bleeders. 🙂
No fridge, no stereo, no computer (I will hand carry my laptop in if I need it), only one friend at a time, no TV (but would be useful with the computer, if I had wall space)… What I need is more space, oh… and the comfy chair. Looking for one now…
I have all the really useful stuff; Engine hoist, Lambda meter, scan/test tool, power brake bleeders, sheet metal break/roll, and specialty service tools for the various makes and models that I own.
Got’em all… worst part as we get older, we loose the social aspect.
Age and virus crap, used to do mini shop tours, couple times a week with buddies on a rotating basis.
Couple brews, bunch of repeated stories, always entertaining!!
Hope we can revive that, fewer projects that take longer also!!
I don’t have any of the 6 items but do have central heat/ A/C and a smart phone.