Today I put some racking up at the back of my small garage.
I had managed to fill the back of the Land Rover and cover the floor to the rear with piles of drip trays, canisters, tools, and new and old bits and parts. I couldn't easily walk around the already tight space anymore, or find what I was looking for when I needed it.
I was going to wait until some cheap wood or metal turned up and make my own, but decided to treat myself and get on with it. Having everything off the floor and out the back of the Land Rover is a big improvement.
It's still a tight fit back there, but I can stand between the rear of the vehicle and the racking and turn around freely. I don't need to swing a cat..
I work in the garage more than I do on the driveway. Getting organised to make this possible means I can get an hour here and there on a week night, which adds up. I position the Land Rover as far to one side as I can, depending which side I want to work. Once the relevant wheel is removed (I've been servicing brake and hub parts so far) I have room to put a mat down and kneel at work. I can do this whatever the weather, day or night, and leave things in whatever state I want to and resume where I left off another night. There is little to no setup and pack-up cost like this.
In addition to being organised and storing things vertically, I would say lighting is the only other part of the puzzle to working at night in a small garage. I have a single bulb overhead, an angle-poise lamp I can hang and twist to point where I need it, and I also wear a head torch - a very small lightweight one I use when I'm night fishing, you forget you're wearing it after a while - *so wherever I look gets extra light and I never cast a shadow with my head*.
I've just been out there tonight for an hour. With the lighting sorted and things organised better now and a mat down and some music going and a mug of tea.. it's actually very cosy!
