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Take a weekend, clear out a corner in the cellar or garage and fulfil your dream of a tinkerer's paradise. We started the self-experiment and completely transformed a small garage in just a few days. On the following pages you will find the most important tips on equipping your own DIY corner - and of course the result of our conversion project, which should serve as inspiration and a guide for you.
The project of our own bicycle workshop
The situation was disastrous: no space, no system, no order. The tools were scattered wildly across a wobbly desk, the bikes were wedged into insurmountable barriers in the room. This is how our model workshop looked at the start of the remodelling work. Working here was only possible on the floor or in front of the door. A change was urgently needed. The cluttered workshop was to be transformed into a paradise for hobbyists. If this looks familiar to you, then you should urgently study the following pages. There is potential for a small DIY corner in almost every cellar. Get your hands dirty and finally tackle the "hobby workshop" project - we'll show you how.
The perfect workstation: the workbench
The life of a screwdriver takes place between the workbench and the tool wall. There are a few things you should bear in mind so that you can work ergonomically and effectively. The Workbench is the centrepiece and hub of the workplace. It is used for screwing, hammering and tinkering. It should therefore be one thing above all: stable. There are hundreds of different models of varying quality on the market. The most important features are a robust work surface, for example made of solid beech, which is usually between three and five centimetres thick, and a sturdy frame made of sheet steel or wood. Drawers store tools that have no room on the wall. Of course, you can also start by using an old desk or similar as a work surface. However, if you want to do some serious screwdriving, you will soon realise that the working height is usually too low and the table legs are too wobbly. If you want a completely customised solution, simply build your own wooden workbench. You can choose the right height, the size of the work surface and the number of drawers or shelves to suit your personal requirements. Even non-professionals can build it themselves in just a few hours.
Stable: You could file an elephant's nails on the robust sheet steel construction with solid beech worktop. A professional-quality workbench lasts forever, but it comes at a price. The 1.5 metre wide model from Garant with two compartments costs around 620 euros at Werkzeug Hoffmann.
Mobile: The foldable Pedros workbench is not nearly as stable, but disappears into a corner after use to save space. It is therefore ideal for confined spaces or as a mobile work surface. At 82 centimetres, it is also high enough that you can work without back pain. Price: 215 euros >> e.g. at Tradeinn available.
Customised: Pressure-impregnated wood for the frame, work and storage plate, lock screws and the right drill can be purchased from a DIY store for around 200 euros. Two screw clamps, an angle iron and your best mate make assembly easier. You can find the right instructions at de.wikihow.com, keyword: workbench.
Second-hand purchase: Used workbenches from company liquidations are frequently offered on the Internet. With a bit of luck, you can get hold of a real bargain here. Even if the work surfaces often look quite worn, with a little refurbishment, the little treasure is almost as good as new. Models with a solid beech top (approx. 40 millimetres thick) and sheet steel substructure are particularly durable. On portals such as www.dhd24com or www.surplex.com you can find usable models in all conceivable designs, starting at around 70 euros. However, there are additional costs for dismantling and transporting the workbenches, which usually weigh over 100 kilos.
Customised workbench
What do you prefer to eat, frozen food or home-cooked food? Fast food never really tastes the way you want it to. It's the same with the workbench. The model with the perfect dimensions for your own four walls is hard to find in a shop. That's why we grabbed a drill and made a customised workbench ourselves. It's easier than you might think. The wood is cut to the nearest centimetre in the DIY store. Make sure you buy wood that is as dry as possible and will not warp after assembly. At home, the beams only need to be correctly aligned with the angle iron and fixed with screw clamps before drilling. Worktops from about four centimetres thick can be fixed from below. If the worktop is placed on the frame from above, the screws can be countersunk flush into the worktop using a countersunk drill. You can find the complete instructions with detailed work steps at de.wikihow.com, keyword: workbench.
Material list
- 1 worktop 150 x 70 x 3 cm (e.g. prefabricated worktop, door with solid core)
- 1 base plate 123 x 40 x 2.5 cm (e.g. plywood or OSB board)
- 4 legs 9 x 9 x 85 cm (e.g. pressure-impregnated square timber)
- 4 cross struts 4.5 x 9 x 61 cm
- 2 longitudinal struts 4.5 x 9 x 150 cm
- 1 110 x 250 mm wood drill bit with centre point
- 12 10 mm carriage bolts with washers and nuts
- 20 6 x 80 mm Spax for worktop and base plate
- 2 screw clamps
- 1 angle iron
The tool wall
You don't need a lot of time or money to make your own personalised tool wall. The following are best suited for the back wall OSB installation panels or Chipboard from the DIY store. You can get these for around ten euros per square metre. However, they should be thick enough - we recommend at least 25 millimetres - so that the screws can be countersunk deep enough. You can save on expensive perforated wall systems. A panel measuring 150 x 70 centimetres is large enough to accommodate a wide range of basic equipment. The individual tools are best attached to the wall with Spax screws in 35 and 50 millimetre sizes (e.g. for thick objects such as hammers or adhesive tape). The panel can be securely fixed to the wall with four hexagon head screws 6 to 8 millimetres thick and one washer each. In slightly damp cellars, it is advisable to mount the tool board on the wall with some space between it and the wall. Otherwise mould can form on the back. In terms of cost, the DIY tool wall is unbeatable. We paid less than 30 euros.
Get to work: the right tools
You have to dig deep into your pockets for good tools. However, a small set of equipment is enough to get you started. You should budget around 400 euros to equip a simple workshop. However, around 100 euros of this is already spent on a Torque spanner, which even occasional screwdrivers should not do without, and a further 100 euros for a Mounting stand. An inexpensive screwdriver set can form the basis for the most important bike tools. However, these tool boxes usually also contain parts that you don't need or that are of little use (e.g. square crank pullers or tyre levers). A good place to start is the mail order company Rose, where you can also get all the special tools individually. General tools, such as rubber mallets or screwdrivers, are best obtained from DIY stores. However, always make sure they are of good quality. If you want to work precisely, you will need a precision balance, spoke tension tester and a centring stand. With machining tools for the frame, fork and bearings, you can quickly end up with 2000 euros. However, we only recommend such work to very experienced mechanics.
Three recommended tool starter sets
Complete package
With this professional equipment, you are guaranteed to be the envy of your bike mates and can now take over the maintenance of all bikes. Park Tool is known for its high-quality tools in shop quality. The practical case contains a complete set of basic equipment for the most common repairs. In addition, the set also contains tools that are particularly useful for self-bike assembly. Fitting headsets and fork cones, shortening steerer tubes, aligning derailleur hangers or cutting threads for braze-on parts - these expensive special tools justify the price of 1299 for the PK-66 Euro.
Please pack: Toolbox for tidiness
What use is the best equipment if the tools are hanging on the wall at home during your bike holiday? You can get sturdy tool boxes from DIY stores for as little as around 30 euros, with a spacious main compartment, a removable carrier and organiser compartments for small parts. We opted for the Basic tool box from Stanley. It is manufactured to a high standard and also offers space for spare hoses and other accessories and can be locked with a cylinder lock if required.
Working with an assembly stand
An assembly stand raises your bike to the right working height. We show you what's important. The bike is upside down on the ground while you kneel next to it and try to fix a fault without twisting your back. This is probably how most of us started our career as a mechanic. However, you can only be really effective when you're working with an assembly stand. This allows you to turn the wheels freely to adjust the gears or brakes or carry out maintenance work on the bottom bracket without unnecessarily straining your spinal discs. The selection of models is large, as is the price range. Above all, a good kickstand should stand securely, fold out sufficiently high and be foldable to save space. The clamp should also be easy to operate with one hand. Here is a small selection of good models.
The editors' favourites
Feedback Sports Pro Elite
- Price: 279 Euro >> available here
- Folding dimensions: 114 x 21 x 17 cm / weight 5.5 kg
- Working height: 106-177 cm / clamping width 20-70 mm
- Stability: 8/10
- Handling: 10/10
The excellently crafted feedback convinces with good handling when folding and clamping. The quick-release mechanism is very practical. Super: The clamping jaws can be closed quickly and easily, but are quite hard. The star-shaped and relatively short legs can be extended in a few simple steps and hold even heavy bikes at a high working height. The Feedback Pro Elite has accompanied the BIKE test crew on every test trip for years.
Xtreme S 3000
- Price: 89 Euro
- Folding dimensions: 108 x 36 x 25 cm / weight 6.6 kg
- Working height: 100-145 cm / clamping width 20-45 mm
- Stability: 6/10
- Handling: 5/10
The Xtreme S 3000 is probably one of the cheapest stands on the market and comes from the mail order company Rose. The finish is a little rough. The plastic clamp is not hinged, but can be rotated, and the clamping width is somewhat limited at a maximum of 45 millimetres. The rotating upper tube means that even heavy bikes can be hung over the centre of the legs. This means that the Xtreme stands quite comfortably even with heavy bikes. The small storage area, which is included with the S 3000, is practical.
For carbon frames: If the sensitive carbon frame cannot be clamped or large tube cross-sections make clamping impossible, the only option is a mounting stand with axle mounting. Here, the dropout of the fork is mounted on a slide and the bottom bracket is placed on a tray. The Tacx Spider Team is compatible with thru-axles and costs 199 euros.
For the wall: If space is limited in the cellar or workshop, an assembly stand for wall or workbench mounting is the ideal solution. The TB-WS35 is supported over a large area on the wall. Its clamp is easy to adjust and can be conveniently closed using a large lever. Price: 119.90 euros
Storage with a system
As long as your wheels are on the ground, they are always in the way. Create space in your workshop. And storing bikes is like playing Tetris. It's about organising bulky items in the most space-saving way possible. The floor is generally the worst solution for this. The handlebars of modern mountain bikes sometimes protrude more than 75 centimetres into the room and are always in the way where you should actually be walking, standing or working. If you make clever use of the space in the cellar or garage, you can store up to seven bikes on a wall three metres wide without them getting in each other's way. There are countless solutions on the market for mounting your bikes horizontally or vertically on the wall. We will show you five practical systems that have proven their worth and the distances you should keep when mounting them on the wall.
Law enforcers
Topeak Dual Touch
- Handling: 8/10
- Flexibility: 8/10
- 159,95 Euro >> available here
If you use the full 3.20 metre length of the Dual Touch, up to four bikes can be stowed on the easily adjustable brackets. The column clamps securely between the floor and ceiling without the use of tools. Caution for suspended ceilings or old buildings.
BOC Bike-Lift
- Handling: 8/10
- Flexibility: 10/10
- 24,90 Euro >> available here
The Bike-Lift works according to the pulley principle. Even heavy frames can be easily lifted under the ceiling. The system is attached to the handlebars and saddle and is extremely versatile. A very stable ceiling is required, as the dowels are subject to high tensile loads.
bbb ParkingLot
- Handling: 6/10
- Flexibility: 7/10
- 12,95 Euro >> available here
The ParkingLot is the direct competitor to simple screw hooks. A sheet metal guide prevents the wheel from turning sideways and also keeps the wall clean. With a little lifting force, space can be created inexpensively. However, the system cannot handle high-profile rims or Plus tyres.
Park Tool Storage hook
- Handling: 6/10
- Flexibility: 6/10
- from 4 Euro >> available here
Wall hooks are probably the simplest solution for hanging up your bike. The Storage Hook is available in three widths, up to fat bike tyres. The hooks are quickly fixed in place with an anchor, but we only recommend wall mounting to a limited extent. Also suitable for tyres, wheels or wet clothes.
Orgasystem 3800
- Handling: 8/10
- Flexibility: 8/10
- from 70 Euro
This system has been sorting the test bikes in the BIKE cellar for years. The double mount shown here is the smallest unit. If you don't have high-profile carbon rims, you're unlikely to find a better solution. The 3800 model is available for up to eight bikes at a time.
Hang up correctly
There are a few things to bear in mind when attaching the bikes to the wall. Above all, you should avoid the mistake of attaching all brackets at the same height. If you do, the handlebars and cables will wedge into each other and the bikes will block each other. You also need a stable rear wall and good dowels that can withstand the pull of the hanging bikes. In the diagram on the left, we have drawn in all the important dimensions that you should observe when attaching the brackets.
This belongs in every workshop
Our professional mechanics dismantle and assemble hundreds of bikes every year. These parts have proven themselves in hard use because they are particularly practical, inexpensive or durable. They enrich every hobby workshop.
The washing area
With a connection to the sewage system, bike washing at home is no problem. Do you have a garden or garage at home with a water connection? Then you can count yourself lucky. Regular maintenance is just as much a part of the mechanic's daily routine as changing nappies. One item has proved particularly useful for the daily wash in front of the BIKE workshop: In the Proceed bike stand for around 25 euros, the bikes stand securely even when fully broadsided and are easily accessible from all sides. Cleaning buckets and brushes from the DIY store take care of the finishing touches. A robust sprayer for the garden hose can usually also cope with coarse dirt. If you don't want to waste any time, use a high-pressure cleaner. But be careful: this will quickly remove the lubrication from the bearings and chain. If you don't have a water connection, your only option is to use a mobile pressure washer or a traditional sponge and cleaning bucket.
These 3 clean up properly
Nomad Aqua2Go
With a 17-litre tank, integrated rechargeable battery and 220-volt connection, you can take your mobile washing system with you virtually anywhere and at any time. Including a long hose and brush set, the Aqua2Go costs 169.95 euros >> e.g. available here.
LUX syringe
With eight functions ranging from a spray mist to a powerful water jet, the LUX sprayer easily takes on the battle against mud. It's worth spending a few euros more for the robust aluminium construction. Costs 13.99 euros in DIY stores >> available here.
Kärcher K 2 Basic
For 69.99 euros, frequent cleaners can enter the world of high-pressure cleaners. The rotating nozzle mills the dirt off the bike. The pressure can be regulated, which protects the lubrication of the chain and bearings. >> available here
This is a great place to work. The home-made workbench forms the centre of the finished hobby workshop. All the tools are now neatly organised on the tool wall and are always just a hand's reach away. The bikes are lined up on the wall to save space and no longer get in the way when screwing. Helmets, shoes, protectors and bike parts that were previously scattered all over the room are now organised and always within easy reach in practical plastic boxes. Here you can finally concentrate fully on the actual task at hand: keeping your bike in good shape.
Stefan Frey
Editor
