Living in a small apartment or house without a garage does not have to bring your favorite hobbies to an end. You may have the ability to rent a self storage unit to store your hobby equipment and practice your craft in that space. An outdoor self storage facility rarely has neighbors worried about noise pollution or any other issues that would arise if you practiced your hobby at home. You will need to verify that the storage facility allows you to work on your hobby inside the unit before going ahead with this plan. Here are three hobbies that are easily taken to a storage unit.
Wood Shop
As you may well know, you do not need a ton of space or equipment to complete woodworking projects. From making handmade furniture to carved sculptures, it is possible to complete your projects within the confines of a medium storage unit. Even a 10 by 10 foot space is sufficient for the majority of woodworking tasks, including cutting, sanding and staining. Unless you solely work with hand tools, verify that the outlets will work with your equipment.
You should always work with the door open, especially when using glue or stain, to keep the airflow in your workspace as fresh as possible. Also, keep cleaning tools on hand, including brooms and hand vacuums, for quick and easy cleanup of the unit.
Vehicle Repairs
You will need to rent a large storage unit if vehicle repairs are on your list of favorite hobbies. The unit should be large enough to fit the entire vehicle and all of your tools inside without crowding. You do not want a tight fit, as that could result in damage to your vehicle's body or cause you to trip and fall accidentally. You can avoid having to use the outlets in the unit by only utilizing hand and battery operated tools.
Since you will be working without a lift, always keep extra jacks and jack stands on hand to remain safe when lifting the vehicle to work under it. Also, consider bringing along a friend to help out or just act as a spotter. Take home all oily rags and excess fuel to keep the fire risk at a minimum. Keep a fire extinguisher on hand at all times for a bit of extra protection.
Band Practice
Although the sounds are typically pleasant to hear, band practice remains a noisy affair that is not necessarily enjoyed by everyone. You can avoid upsetting your neighbors by practicing at your storage unit instead. You can save time on setting up by leaving your equipment in the storage unit between practices and shows. Furthermore, toting the instruments and other equipment to shows is easier than ever when it is all stored in one place in your storage unit.
You should test the acoustics in the storage unit to see if they meet your standards before signing a long rental agreement. You may also want to verify that your electronic amps and keyboard will work with the provided power outlets. Otherwise, your practice sessions will be acoustic sets.
Determining Your Storage Options
Before signing the rental agreement, discuss your plans for the unit with the management team or owner of the storage facility. You should clearly describe the tasks you plan to complete in the unit. You should discuss safety requirements, noise levels and energy usage to determine if the storage unit owner will authorize your intended use. Just in case the unit changes hands during your rental period, ask for all activity authorizations in writing. Before signing any documents or providing the initial payment, closely read the rental agreement to verify that it does not explicitly prohibit your activities.
For more information on storage units, check out a website like http://www.northstarministorage.com.
Share11 May 2016
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