What size of shop are you hobby wood workers working out of?
I have MY side of the garage and she has hers (for her car) We have a partition down the center to keep the dust out of the house. Problem is she is always on my side with her art projects.
I love the company, just no room for her scrawl saw. I think that I have her convinced it’s time to build a shop. I was thinking 24 X 26.
Edited 12/7/2006 11:28 pm ET by DaveTous
Replies
Dave,
Build it twice as big as you think you need, because in 5 years it won't be big enough.
By the way, my shop is 30 X 40. Most of my stuff is set up in 1/2 of that, with 1/4 of the remaining space left open for assembled cabinets and casework, and various tools on roller carts (bandsaw, sander, planer, etc). The last 1/4 is taken up by my wife's ceramic hobby stuff and some misc. junk. I just bought a 20X20 Metal bldg to house the lawnmowers, bikes, and overflow junk. I still need more room.
Lee
Edited 12/7/2006 1:44 pm by mapleman
I am a hobby woodworker and am using a little more than half of a 2 car garage (there is a 2' wide middle line that I have claimed all for me ;) I have found that while the space is a little cramped I actually enjoy figuring out creative space saving ideas. I find, especially for me as a hobby woodworker, that I enjoy the coziness. Keep in mind I am not building any tall boys or doing large runs of cabinetry so I don't need a huge assembly area.
Just thought I'd add my opinion. Have fun building the shop though. Designing one can be quite fun.
RD
Dave,
I started out with the hope of a 24X36. The contractor said it's just as easy and economical to start at a 30X40... Over the 3 year loan payoff, the amount per month wasn't that much more compared to what I had when it was paidoff. Go for more and larger trusses for using and increasing the amount of positive attic storage, both yours and hers, with at least a 4/12 roof pitch that will give you a 5' max storage height.
I'd tell you there are two BASIC things to really consider.
First, build as large as you can....If you are getting a contractor to get it dried-in, both the labor and the materials aren't going to get any cheaper and both may see a rationing or shortage in the coming years. If gasoline goes to $4 a gallon by Feb. as some suggest, you'll be glad to stay home. Start collection of some of your "no shelf life" building materials NOW... Lumber is cheaper in the winter months, plus some of the box stores still have door and window special order returns on their inventory that you can get for pennies on the dollar.
Secondly, build it/design it so you can add-on with the least amount of trouble and with the most room in the yard available to work in. Once the shop building is in place, you'll be surprised how moving about while adding-on can get not only complicated by space, but also by having more hidden barriers like delivery pathways in and out, water, sewer, electrical, and telephone complicating your expansion and construction options.
Good luck, Building and living in a new workshop is a joyful and neverending challenge.
Bill
Dave,
I'm in a 18'X30' shop in my basement with wood storage outside the shop. We are planning the next house now. I'm looking at doubling the size of the shop, and preparing for expansion if I need it later.
30 x 30 (900 sq ft) including the finish room, 10x10 corner, and DC room, 6 x 6 corner. Much larger, and I would not lose things for several day but for several weeks! <grin>
I have a little one 18x22 you never have enough room
My shop is 24 X 32, My ceiling is 12'. I thought It would be all I'd need but wish it were bigger. My jointer, two router tables, bandsaw, table saw, sliding compound saw, clamp stand and planer are all portable. My mortiser and drill press are not. My dust collector is portable but it does not get moved.
I have a separate shed to house my tractor and diesel lawn mower. That shed is 24 X 24 and I keep my wood stickered in that shed.
I find myself rolling a machine or two out of the way quite frequently.
I have some regrets, however, that I did not have a separate room for my dust collector and air compressor.
I wish you well.
Edited 12/8/2006 10:45 am ET by coolbreeze
Go as big as you can.
I am working in a 24 x 26 double garage. Everything is on wheels except my wood storage and bench. I am able to store all my machines around the edges and still get two vehicles inside - just! The cabinet saw and 17" bandsaw are about as heavy as I like to move but it does work. My infeed and out feed tables are also on locking casters. they also double as assembly tables.
Do not overlook the importance of ceiling height. 8 feet is a minimum.
Gear
DaveTous,
Mine is 30x50 and I can't walk straight going thru any of it. The corners are things I have only a dim memory of and all of my equipment needs to be on wheels so I can push it to the only open spot left.
<<<Mine is 30x50 and I can't walk straight going thru any of it>>>
Frenchy,
That cracked me up...lol. I donno why,,it just did. Same with my shop. I mean I'm sure I could rearange things but I'm always so busy in and around it things constantly get pushed around.
As I know you're aware of what I've been doing...I'm not just doing shop work but finishing up a gazillion different projects on this house of mine and the endless ideas I keep getting actually happen, and most of them pass through the shop here to be worked on.
I "just" ordered and recieved the "set" of "Insert Pro" stile and rail and raised panel bits from "Infinity" to build some raised panel wainscotting for the walls in the great room above my shop I'm now working on. Using the Veritas router table and Freud router. I'll let you know how I like the Insert Pros set. Its some shiney hefty set of bits...I'll tell you that much!!!!
I so wish I could be one of these guys that have nicely organized shops with actual isles to walk down but that'll never happen in my life time here.
My shop is 30x30 and I'm actually quite happy with its size. I guess I just appreciate it because I never had one quite this size before.
Only thing more I wish I had would be a storage shed for lumber but I'm gonna make that happen in the spring with a storage tent back in the woods behind my house. As it is, if I clean up a bit more I could fit things in here much nicer.
BUT I'm always working on fifty things at once...whewwwwwww.
Anyway...I just had to tell you that line you posted did make me smile and laugh...lol
Be well
Namaste'
andy...
This pic is actually the cleanest its ever been which was a few weeks before TipiFest...cleaning shop. And before I got my lathe and bandsaw from ebay : )
I have almost everything on wheels.
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
andybuildz,
I can clearly see floor there!
actual floor not floor covered with ,......... but bare floor.. !
Not only that but I see very few head knockers.. those places where you need to duck and usually twist to get thru.. I bet that you could actually take several steps in a straight line without twisting your shoulders!
such space, such extravagance, such luxury
Time for envy!
Frenchy...yeh, I know. I almost feel blessed! All my other shops I had to climb over things to get to the other side. That really jammed my head...bad feng shuei. I can't even believe some of the projects that came out of those shops.
I really have no choice in this one because its a main thorofare from the house to the outside for me. I'm constantly in there and passing through.
There's a real lot of unused space which is a flippin' miracle...lol.
I built it with nine foot ceilings too. PAinted it a high gloss white and have as many high output flourestants in there that'd fit.
I always think to put some pvc together (tinker toy style)to make lumber racks but I just KNOW if I do that what will happen. Things will totally just get buried. I seem to get along better the way it is and use whats literally at hand and if I need more I go out to buy it. After all, I don't live in osh kosh. I'm on Long Island. A gazillion stores within ten minutes so I use their real estate as my storage area.PS...ever use milk paint? I'm ordering some to do a piece of furnature.
They say they have something you add to it to make for better adhesion.
The piece of furnature is already finished but its soooooo ugly to me so I'm trying to country and antique it up a bit...a lot...lol. Doubt I need it but it only adds to the volume so it won't really add to the cost so maybe I'll just go ahead and try it and do an experiment with it. I'll try some without it on the inside of the cab and pick at it when its dry.
USing a red color for the undercoat and a black for the top coat then rubbing it off in strategic areas like edges and corners and where pulls and knobs are.
Any other advice?
Thanks bro
andy
http://WWW.CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
8' X 12'...*tear*
-Ryan C.
I built My shop from plans for a 22' X 30' Cape Cod house.(no internal walls) The Upstairs has 4' front and 6' rear knee walls to optimize ceiling height so thats appx. 1320 sq. ft. And I'am still learning how to optimize space. Conclusion = Never enough space.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
BruceSFor my next shop I like the idea of mimicking a less shop like structure, do you have any pictures or other detail on your cape cod shop?
While I aggree that you can always use more space, it isn't always practical or possible to build big. My first shop was 16' x 28', and I thought it was too small. When I moved and built another house, I figured that I'd build something in the 20' x 32'-40' range. However, the budget was pretty stretched, so I built a "temporary" shop -- a little 12' x 24' lean-to addition to the garage. Three years later, I'm still working out of it, and I've learned to make do with less. I've had to come up with some creative space saving solutions, and that has been gratifying. The saving grace is that I have a small shed out back for extra lumber storage, and I can spill over into the garage for big projects. I don't make dust in the garage, but I use it frequently for finishing and staging.
Sorry no pictures, Not very computer savy. But the shop plans came from an online Plan Co. called U CAN DO, Plan #15033. The phone Number on the print is 1- 800 -373 -2646. Their tech dept was the pits. I had some questions about some of the dimensions that were omitted and the tech rep said, "Just use standard building procedure" and couldn't give a definitive answer. The plans weren't as detailed as I am used to either but I made do. Anybody without some construction or building experience would have been in deep do do. I believe the prints were about $45 so you get what you pay for.
The building is a typical two story Cape Cod, 5 X 30 porch, Center hung man door with double hung 6over6 windows centered between the man door and the gable end walls. Two typical dormers on the front 8/12 pitch roof, rear roof is 6/12 pitch. And a single car door that can't be seen from the road.
Hope this helps.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Edited 12/10/2006 2:59 pm ET by BruceS
Mine is 20 x 40 with sheds off each side that are 26 x 40 on each side.
I have a portable bandsaw mill and I use the covered shed space to air dry lumber that I saw on the sawmill, park the tractors, store stuff, etc. The 20 x 40 shop area works out pretty well for me.
My only suggestion would be to make a list of all the tools you have and plan to buy in the next 5-10 years ( major - mostly stationary tools ) and then make up a plan that will house them.
Do you want a DC? If yes - do you want it IN the shop, or in a room attached to the shop but outside of it?
Do you want lumber/sheet good storage in there?
Do you want an office and/or a bathroom? I reccomend a bathroom, with a shop tub on the shop side of the wall - for cleanup and so you do not have to RUN to the house.
Do you want it heated/cooled? If yes - do you want the furnace room IN the shop, or in a room attached to the shop but outside of it?
Do you want a finishing room separate from the work room?
Do you want to have a dedicated assembly area?
Answer all of the questions and then lay it out on paper and that will give you a good MINIMUM size. I would increase it by at least 10%, if not 25%.
Also figure in where benches and various stations will be located.
Do not forget lighting - overhead and natural.
Doors - make sure you have at least 1 large one, or a "french" style door for easy access of projects and materials.
If possible go with a wood floor - it is easier on the feet.
Make sure you have plenty of electrical outlets - 110 and 220 and then increase the number by 25% minimum.
If you can, I would even consider a "carport" outside the main door - both for unloading easier in bad weather and to work out there in nice weather.
" There'll be no living with her now" - Captain Jack Sparrow
Murphy deduced long ago that the things you save always expand to fill the space available.
Bill
My shop is 26 x 36. I have concluded that it is too small since my last shop was 1800 sq. ft. But, based on my highly scientific and empirical testing, I have concluded that tools and machinery are gases. They expand to fill all available space and conform to whatever container you put them in. Hence, it doesn't really matter what size your shop is since whatever you build will be too small. LOL
Steve
I thought I'd died & gone to heaven when I pushed out the back wall, going from 16x16 to 16x20. Tight but it works. The biggest pain is setting up and breaking down when I spray.
Build it as big as you possibley can. You will always run out of room over time.
Have a nice day Lee
When it comes to shop space, size does matter, and bigger is better. Cavernace is ideal.
I built a barn with three floors and gambrel roof. Since I am out in the country I thought a barn look would go well with the countryside. Shop (24 X 42) uses part of the main floor but could be expanded to use the full floor (40 X 42.) The mow is for stored wood and other junk and the basement contains the bathroom, firewood and other storage. It will be (not completely installed yet) heated with an outside wood burning boiler. I will feature the whole thing on this forum some day when I figure out how to post pictures.
Edited 12/10/2006 9:46 pm ET by tinkerer2
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