Garage Improvements 2000

Craftsman's new Grip Driver is not your ordinary screwdriver. Sure, it has the ability to ratchet in both directions as well as being locked in a fixed mode, but the Grip Driver also features a dual-position handle that allows the user to generate up to 350 pounds of torque while driving a fastener. That's up to three times the force of a regular screwdriver. The Grip Driver also features a magnetic tip for bit retention. The Grip Driver is available as a 5- (PN 47454) or 12 piece set (PN 47455).

This Craftsman 40-inch creeper (PN 51001) features an all-new and exclusive ratcheting mechanism that adjusts to any of 12 positions up to 45 degrees. The creeper also sports six 2 1/2-inch oil-resistant wheels on its 3/4-inch tubular steel frame that supports up to 1,000 pounds. For those with broad shoulders, the new V-drop-style frame will offer extra clearance for you as well. The creeper is available through the Craftsman Power and Hand Tool catalog.

Here, we begin to see the work system finally take shape. Setup time from completely disassembled to assembled took approximately two minutes. Notice the gentleman in the background plugging in one of the Adamstand fixtures-a traditional bench-mounted vice-into one of the Adamstand bench mounts, which allows you to move tools and other items as well as traditionally solid-mounted shop tools into just the right area.

Notice the pieces hanging on the Peg-Board. These 20 components hanging on the front Peg-Board are two complete Adamstand units minus the legs that make these units mobile. Also notice there is plenty of space in front of the two vehicles by making the traditional workbench fold down to the wall. This area takes up less horizontal space than a set of handlebars from a bicycle. So to clarify it in your mind, imagine a bicycle leaning up against this wall. Believe it or not, in a matter of two or three minutes, you can expand this area to 37-plus square feet of usable bench space. Once transformed, you literally have a mathematical multiplicity of adjustments and adaptations to assist you in your projects. And just as fast as the system assembles and is ready for work, it disassembles for maximum space-efficient storage.

After the vehicles have been backed out, there are two stationary receivers bolted to the floor. These receivers, which reach only 531/44 inches in height, allow you to easily drive over them with most vehicles. This makes for two workbenches that can be endlessly transformed into the best work-holding helper a person could have. Notice on the right wall there is one complete Pro II unit hanging on the Peg-Board, and above that Peg-Board, a 2x6 work surface that is used later in the story to span two of the Adamstand Workbenches.

Although these workbenches are floor mounted in this particular photograph, with one quick turn of the disconnect lever they can move from a floor-mounted position to a mobile position in seconds. This allows you the same transformable working configurations in other areas around the house, such as the driveway, if your traditional work area is currently occupied with sensitive pieces and parts one shouldn't work around. The mobile base, as with the rest of the system, collapses into a tremendously space-efficient piece by simply pulling the four corner pins and folding the leg configurations. By the way, that's Andy Leggs' '69 428 CJ Mach 1 modeling for us.

We've folded back up the traditional workbench top and removed the spanable work top, rehanging it on the wall, and have replaced it with four Adamstand work trays-two on each floor-mounted unit. Although it appears from the camera's angle to fill the area, understand that both these top assemblies spin 360 degrees on the center axis, where they plug into the main body of each workbench. You simply walk up to a tray and push it while walking through the area and it spins out of the way with ease, like a turnstile. Yet when you are directly positioned in front of the engine compartment, it allows you 6 square feet of bench space within arms' reach without moving a step. These trays can be set up with magnetic rails and holsters for holding air tools and other hangable items.

In the following photographs, we took the Adamstand workbenches to task by using them for everyday tasks. A door that needed planing and refinishing was held with ease and spins 360 degrees, allowing the work always to come to us on one Adamstand. The other Adamstand is holding a cabinet, awaiting sanding and refinishing.

With the Adamstand, you can easily mount the bicycles, shown here mounted for derailer and brake adjustment and general maintenance, using numerous configurations available to you.

The push mower is mounted in such a fashion where the blade is easily accessed for removal, sharpening, and replacement. Standing in one position, the mower will spin 360 degrees, bringing your work to you with ease. The weedeater is mounted for easy string replacement and carburetor cleaning and tuning.