MN Locals, look here!
05-17-2005, 12:33 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,558
MN Locals, look here!
Proposal for a Local Car Shop Co-op
Ok, right now I've got a descent garage at the place I'm living, but the landlord is lame and I'm looking to move out. Finding a place to live with a big enough garage to work in is hard and potentially expensive. Plus I'm looking to be married next summer (06) and if I have a shop space to work in, we won't need to be as picky when purchasing a house, which will relieve a lot of tension in my relationship.
What I'm thinking about is renting a small shop space (1,000-2,000 sq ft) to keep all my tools (maybe to store my race car in winter) and to have a place to work on my cars/projects/etc. What I'm thinking is that I'm sure a lot of locals who like to work on cars don't have a adequate place to work on their vehicles, and perhaps not even all the proper tools.
The idea for the Co-op would be to have a community shop somewhere in the Metro Area (I'm currently in St. Paul). Everyone pays a portion of rent/utilities, with a goal of around $50/month per person. One shop space I found (haven't seen it yet) is in Farmington (Dakota County)- near Stealthmode's. 2400 sq ft (14 ft door) and $1600/month. If we had 20-30 people chip in we could have some descent space to work in/ hang out.
Tools I've got:
Most basic hand tools (wrenches, sockets, etc)
Engine Hoist
Air Compressor (little 33 gallon Craftsman)
Snap-On Box (little 40 inch) - full of my stuff
Craftsman Box - Open for expansion
An array of Air Tools
Mig Welder (220v 180Amp)
Jack and stands
Chop Saw
Sawzall
Sandblasting Cabinet
Etc.
Overall about $4k in tools.
Bonus: Powdercoating setup
I did this for a while a couple years ago with mixed results, but I'm constructing a new oven right now, and hope to have it up and running soon. (5ft tall by 2.5 ft square). This will allow me to coat your parts/wheels/ etc, or if you want, I can show you how to do it.
The hard part about coating is the prep work (why I haven't done it in so long). So if you have parts and you prep them, coating is not that difficult. I'd just ask users to pay for supplies which for a set of wheels is around $20-40 depending on the powder used.
Once a shop space is found and rented, I plan to build a large sand blasting cabinet for parts prep as well, making the powdercoating much more useable.
If you are interested, or know of a shop space where this could be done, let us know. I have interest from 4-5 guys already, and if the interest is strong enough, a two-post lift and tire mounting/balance equipment is on my list of future investments to expand the use of the shop.
Any ideas on how to manage something like this are welcome as well. Originally a small co-op was thought of, and with less than 10 members, the cost would go up, but the convenience would increase. We could also have core members, and then we could rent the shop to other locals as needed to help pay rent. Who wouldn't pay $100 for a day with access to a lift and all the tools you need to fix your car, it's still way cheaper than having it fixed somewhere else, plus it's more fun.
We could also have Senior Members/Junior Members as well to break up the costs of those who won't use it much. It'd be a fun place to have meets/installs, plus if we all moved our Honda Junk Piles into our own shop, we wouldn't have to call around to find parts. We could even perform some jobs on the side for friends/family/etc to make some cash on the side.
Who's in?
Sorry for the long post, but if you read it, I hope you're interest, I think it'd be a lot of fun.
Ok, right now I've got a descent garage at the place I'm living, but the landlord is lame and I'm looking to move out. Finding a place to live with a big enough garage to work in is hard and potentially expensive. Plus I'm looking to be married next summer (06) and if I have a shop space to work in, we won't need to be as picky when purchasing a house, which will relieve a lot of tension in my relationship.
What I'm thinking about is renting a small shop space (1,000-2,000 sq ft) to keep all my tools (maybe to store my race car in winter) and to have a place to work on my cars/projects/etc. What I'm thinking is that I'm sure a lot of locals who like to work on cars don't have a adequate place to work on their vehicles, and perhaps not even all the proper tools.
The idea for the Co-op would be to have a community shop somewhere in the Metro Area (I'm currently in St. Paul). Everyone pays a portion of rent/utilities, with a goal of around $50/month per person. One shop space I found (haven't seen it yet) is in Farmington (Dakota County)- near Stealthmode's. 2400 sq ft (14 ft door) and $1600/month. If we had 20-30 people chip in we could have some descent space to work in/ hang out.
Tools I've got:
Most basic hand tools (wrenches, sockets, etc)
Engine Hoist
Air Compressor (little 33 gallon Craftsman)
Snap-On Box (little 40 inch) - full of my stuff
Craftsman Box - Open for expansion
An array of Air Tools
Mig Welder (220v 180Amp)
Jack and stands
Chop Saw
Sawzall
Sandblasting Cabinet
Etc.
Overall about $4k in tools.
Bonus: Powdercoating setup
I did this for a while a couple years ago with mixed results, but I'm constructing a new oven right now, and hope to have it up and running soon. (5ft tall by 2.5 ft square). This will allow me to coat your parts/wheels/ etc, or if you want, I can show you how to do it.
The hard part about coating is the prep work (why I haven't done it in so long). So if you have parts and you prep them, coating is not that difficult. I'd just ask users to pay for supplies which for a set of wheels is around $20-40 depending on the powder used.
Once a shop space is found and rented, I plan to build a large sand blasting cabinet for parts prep as well, making the powdercoating much more useable.
If you are interested, or know of a shop space where this could be done, let us know. I have interest from 4-5 guys already, and if the interest is strong enough, a two-post lift and tire mounting/balance equipment is on my list of future investments to expand the use of the shop.
Any ideas on how to manage something like this are welcome as well. Originally a small co-op was thought of, and with less than 10 members, the cost would go up, but the convenience would increase. We could also have core members, and then we could rent the shop to other locals as needed to help pay rent. Who wouldn't pay $100 for a day with access to a lift and all the tools you need to fix your car, it's still way cheaper than having it fixed somewhere else, plus it's more fun.
We could also have Senior Members/Junior Members as well to break up the costs of those who won't use it much. It'd be a fun place to have meets/installs, plus if we all moved our Honda Junk Piles into our own shop, we wouldn't have to call around to find parts. We could even perform some jobs on the side for friends/family/etc to make some cash on the side.
Who's in?
Sorry for the long post, but if you read it, I hope you're interest, I think it'd be a lot of fun.
05-17-2005, 12:49 PM
#2
0.0 BAR
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 0
Re: MN Locals, look here!
Sounds good. I could also use a place to store painting supplies when this painting thing gets off the ground. I'm not sure how safe I would feel with 20-30 people having access to the place, though. More than likely I would try to pay a larger amount to keep the occupant level down.
Maybe if we had a small store front we could do fabrication work/ installations to help cover the bills.
I'm interested.
Maybe if we had a small store front we could do fabrication work/ installations to help cover the bills.
I'm interested.
05-17-2005, 01:04 PM
#3
3.0 BAR
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,558
Re: MN Locals, look here!
Security has been the main concern from people I've talked to. But I've got a connection with a security installer, so we could have a good system setup with individual codes or cards to identify whos been in the shop. I'd also throw some cameras in there to keep a watch on things.
If we store your Paint stuff in there, and make a legit business in it, it'd be tax deductible too. I'd also be willing to pay more for my share, since I can make a few bucks with the powdercoating and other random jobs. I'd keep it limited to people I know if possible, ideally 10 or less.
Plus, the ideas has been tossed out to have a lift and air available and the other basics, and then have members bring there own tools. Mine would be there for me, yours for you, etc. A shop tow-truck = 1990 F150 with dolly would assist in moving project (broken) cars to the shop as well.
I think it'd be great to have a place like this, so if you see a beater project car around, you don't have to say... "I'd buy it, but I've got no place to put it or work on it."
If we store your Paint stuff in there, and make a legit business in it, it'd be tax deductible too. I'd also be willing to pay more for my share, since I can make a few bucks with the powdercoating and other random jobs. I'd keep it limited to people I know if possible, ideally 10 or less.
Plus, the ideas has been tossed out to have a lift and air available and the other basics, and then have members bring there own tools. Mine would be there for me, yours for you, etc. A shop tow-truck = 1990 F150 with dolly would assist in moving project (broken) cars to the shop as well.
I think it'd be great to have a place like this, so if you see a beater project car around, you don't have to say... "I'd buy it, but I've got no place to put it or work on it."
05-17-2005, 01:45 PM
#6
3.0 BAR
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,708
Re: MN Locals, look here!
i'd be interested if its 50bucks/month. that would be dope. as of right now i want to do a lot of stuff but i cant do it because i have no place to work on it. count me in playa 
edit: id also be down to do swaps for cash. haha. anybody need an h22 swap. im your man yO!! wiring is my weakest point so someone else can deal with electronics.
edit: id also be down to do swaps for cash. haha. anybody need an h22 swap. im your man yO!! wiring is my weakest point so someone else can deal with electronics.
05-17-2005, 01:51 PM
#7
3.0 BAR
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,708
Re: MN Locals, look here!
err but then when we have so many people in this ----. its gonna be hard to find time whenever you want to do something. id say we set up some type of schedule so you can put your name on the spot whenever you want to do stuff. i mean if its big enough that 4 or 5 cars can be in there at the same time doing stuff then i wouldnt see a problem with that. a lift would be awesome then we can do exhausts and all that junk. and also would we be able to use YOUR tools. i mean i have tools but its just a small box :P
05-17-2005, 03:57 PM
#10
0.0 BAR
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 0
Re: MN Locals, look here!
Originally Posted by hotrex
good idea, but realistically it wouldnt work, people would be late on payment, drop out, issues with security abnd who gets it when... 20-30 people is border line unmanageable
