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.
Get a bucket with some dawn dish soap and you can clean your parts and your hands at the same time!
I don’t see five of the six listed as distractions. Only friends are distractions. The others are essentials!
Remember when race cars were 130F inside, and drivers lost 10 lbs sweating during a race? “It comes with the territory…”. But then they “discovered” that cool and comfortable drivers are faster…
Ever been inside an Operating Room?
The laptop for viewing photos of disassembly–in order to facilitate reassembly is a wonderful idea! Kyle–you hit a home run with that one!
Fun to see all the comments, thanks to all. My Dad had a small service station, with a hoist and a chain pull engine setup. His tools would have fit in one medium size tool chest. I have 2 play shops with lifts and hoists and welders and plasma cutters and tire changers and wheel balancers, I could go on.
Most sits idle now as I get older but have had an awful lot of fun over the years. Going to have to start inviting younger more active car guys to use stuff and keep interested!! Loved racing and all the crazy stuff that went with it!!
Cal- you could be the host and sponsor to your local car clubs, start one of your own, and/or be a mentor to Jr/Sr high kids in the hobby. Reach out to local law enforcement, social services, and Big Brothers/Sisters! Lots of really good kids would love to be able to book shop time, pick your brain, and use your space. You wouldn’t be just the King, you’d have a positive influence in your community that would last forever. Please consider this, and take care. We need folks like you in the hobby.
I just built an new two car garage…so I don’t have any of these except the “friends” addition.
Consider that new garage a blank slate and set to work setting up.
Computer and stereo do it for me. Computer to look up parts, stereo for tunes, plugged into the computer so I can run digital radio stations (no ads). I do have a folding chair for those rare jobs where I can sit. I think a TV and fridge would slow me down and I don’t have enough time as it is (it feels like).
I was reading the comments and noticed how many people counted a laptop as a “distraction”. You guys must be really smart. I have to look crud up on the computer all the time. It very much makes my projects go faster, not slower. And it doesn’t distract. Can’t see that tiny screen from far away so it’s not like I’m watching tv on it.
I added a window A/C and a hanging heater over the years, very helpful. Workbench has a nice deep bar sink that I got used. Major bragging point is that I built in a pit when I built the house and garage, it’s great. Good distractions would be the kids; once while I had three “helping” when they were younger I noticed one of them dropping sockets into the garbage can. Now we know what happens to those 10mm sockets…
Nobody said anything about a microwave?? Do you all drink beer in the morning or reheat your coffee once in a while?
I have the TV, fridge, chair and sometimes friends. I also have a working Coke machine from 1954.
Others are good, but can’t beat friends. But have more chairs.
I consider my Toy Box as close to Heaven as I’ll probably get and it has 6 out of 6 of the listed items. I spend as much time out there as possible.
My stereo rivals the one I have in the house. Nothing adds to the pure joy of working in my garage than the sound of GOOD sound.
All you need is to make your shop twice as big and then put 3 times as much stuff in it. Then it will look just like mine inside.
You left out a good dog. Man’s best friend