Thread: Garage manners?

Tweet

I saw this topic on the hamb and it got me curious of your answers. Some of the replies there were kinda harsh, but most were cool.

Basicly what are your rules for behavier when guys are in your shop, and how do you act when in someone elses shop.

Im real easy, pretty much my shop is your shop when your over, if im helping you, you bring the beer, if your helping me ill supply the drinks.

If im in your shop, ill bring the beverages, and ill follow your rules.

I guess my main rules are

have common sense,

Dont be a douch!

Everything else is good times!

no horse assin around lots of things in a shop are worth good $ and dont need to be broke because someone wants to play grab assin games

no booze in my shop its been my expierience that booze and hotrods DONT MIX.

you wanna smoke pot fine, but not here.

and as far as others shops go i follow their rules.

Well I'll try this one out. If your in my shop working on yours or my car truck what ever I have ONE big rule the tools came from a place and they go back there. All my drawers are marked asto what is in them. Not only put them back but clean too. I do the same in anyone elses shop. People always wanted to come over and use my stuff then leave and not help cleanup. Those guys don't come back at all. As far as refreshments I can and do put on a fresh pot of coffee all day long if you want cookies you better bring them. There is soda in the fridge if you want it. I don't spend much time in others shops but when I am I follow the owner lead. Theres an older guy that comes by often he helped me put up my hoist he uses it to change his oil which he brings and takes the old with him. He also brings some GOOD GERMAN CAKES his wife bakes.

If visiting my shop I demand the following: No smoking, no booze, do not touch anything without first asking and getting permission. Ask as many technical questions as you like.

When in anyone's shop other than my own, no smoking, no drinking, and I do not touch anything without first asking and getting permission.

Simple rules to live by.


Bill S.

Originally Posted by mrmustang

If visiting my shop I demand the following: No smoking, no booze, do not touch anything without first asking and getting permission. Ask as many technical questions as you like.

When in anyone's shop other than my own, no smoking, no drinking, and I do not touch anything without first asking and getting permission.

Simple rules to live by.


Bill S.

yes and if it has a cover on someones engine and it not yours keep your f...ing
hands off it.. guys leaning on handles to my boring bar or my valve grinder or putting there dirty foot up on my mill or boring bar. just all and all thinking my machines and tools like a arm rest or foot rest . setting any thing like a pop one of my welders grabing a custom piston or parts off the table with out asking thinking about playing with any of my bore gauges or mics.. look all you want ask to touch and do not never every uncover someone else engine less you do not want to walk again.. you do not want to know what happens if you park your ass on one of my cars

I don't hang out in anybodys garage, and no one comes to mine. I do the majority of my work alone, so I guess I don,t have a problem.

Ahhh.....the life of a loner.

Originally Posted by Sinister

I don't hang out in anybodys garage, and no one comes to mine. I do the majority of my work alone, so I guess I don,t have a problem.

Ahhh.....the life of a loner.

Same here. I actually don't want anybody in the garage when I'm working there. The guys who do come by want to talk, talk, talk, talk, talk and I have to be polite and talk also, but in reality, I want to tell them to get out so I can pay attention to what I'm doing and get some work done. I won't operate power tools when someone is talking. I insist on 100% attention to the task.

There are about 4 of us guys that regularly work on projects together, usually ours or sometimes others... we generally work the same in all of the shops (OK, none of us has a real shop, just garages)... we generally have the same rules (except smoking as I smoke so in my garage, so smoking is allowed Note: Mine is equipped is 600 cfm exhaust fan to clear the smoke and when working in it is heated to 70 degrees) Who's ever project we are working on usually provides lunch and beverages, beer generally doesn't break out but if it does, not till we are done for the day...

No one to visit but son who comes over now and again . But rules are simple be safe wear PPE and no beer till we are done . SEE the Pepsi can sitting on the frame i like all my fingers picking one up and my eyes to see where i left it . When were done fridge is near by have at it and get me one while you are up .

Since I only get to my shop once every couple months I work like a dog when I'm there and beer hinders progress and quality.. Then when I'm cleaning I may have a beer or fifty..When I was living there I used to have an occaisional party there but that did not involve tools.. I reluctantly allow smoking by guests but they BETTER not even think of leaving any nasty butts on my floor...

I dont mind someone touching my stuff that knows what to touch and what not to touch. But I have had a few that want to leave finger prints all over my upper door and fenders fron leaning in for a look. Tools I am not a stickler on as long as they do not swing them like a bat and put it back where they got it.

Along the same lines, Has anyone seen the scene from Gran Torino about the proper edicut guy talk in the barber shop, a good movie.

Hey Bobby, looks like you have straightened up the shop a little since you lost the windshield weather strip, if I remember correctly.

Drugs , booze, beer- don't even think about it in my shop.
I smoke , so can you- See them butt cans? use them and empty them before you leave.
Tools are for working. Use them properly. You seem to be able to find em, put them back where you got em.
Grabass and your gone. Leave the bull at home.
Am I a hard ass about my shop? Yes I am. I'll help anybody but I won't do it for you.

Originally Posted by mooneye777

Hey Bobby, looks like you have straightened up the shop a little since you lost the windshield weather strip, if I remember correctly.

This garage goes up and down depends on the day and how much i hammer out . Even the chairs become flat holding spots when i am moving about . But when its cluttered i want the wrench back on the floor were i left it makes it easier for me LOL .

When I visit the local hotrod shops of friends I call first. I ask if I can come over and waste some time with them. Most know my humor and that truth hurts sometimes. They all know that productive work stops when visitors arrive. I also ask if it is ok to bring whoever is with me. Some people are not welcome in some shops for various reasons. Might as well clear the air before it gets heavy.

The bottom line is to call first. I don't particularly like it when someone just drops in at my garage even the local heros. I have a limited amount of time and a tight schedule so spending half a Sat on a needless lunch and BS session is not needed.

I sometimes ask if it's ok to come over for a fishing lesson. Means I need some help. I try to keep it to the point and say thanks maybe go get lunch or at least offer.

I look but don't touch and ask before taking pictures. If the visit involves using tools etc, clean up, put away, and broom up the mess. Say thanks. Offer to pay for services rendered.

Some of us charge each other a fair rate and we pay without question. Argon costs $$$ so does rod, cover lens, gloves, metal and electricity. 6-8 hours work far into the night is worth something either if I have it done or do it.

I don't have a shop, I have my garage. If you come visit, bring what you want to feel content, I only have bottles of water for drinking. You're not allowed to touch the cars unless you have a polishing rag in your hand (no tools please). And all of the liquor bottles and decanters on the shelves are full; you can look but don't touch. Many are at least 30 years old and are not sold anymore, so don't even think about taste tests.

Other than that only other policy, my tools don't leave the garage. If you want to borrow tools to take home, go find another neighbor.