Finally My Pole Barn/Workshop Has Started

[Zerk]

Go LED , 4x the light . I replaced the crummy tube lights in my garage and could not believe the difference . They fire up if it is cold and provide a nice white light .

What did you use?

Price on big lights, I suspect may deter me. Though some of the newer 4 lamp flourescents with -20 ballasts are pricey too.

One barn is 24x30 with 8's down side, I can't remember 5' from side. I am going to put something down the middle. I may do porclean sockets, cheap.

 

[cat fever]

It is a slow process right now. I did get the osb around the bottom part of the inside. Talked to electrical about installing the meter and power ran but have not had time to schedule. Only advise is build a lager as you can afford.

I hope by late fall to get started on the loft and would like to get it completed before wiring. I will be coming here for advise once I get close.I was hoping to rent a truck to go get all my wood working equipment at one time but can't seem to get it scheduled. I could use my trailer but unable to make the turn into parents long driveway due to power pole and fence.

Right now the problem is time, harvest has started for the Farmers Market and one evening it is irrigation and maintenance of the crops and the next evening it is harvest. Working 45-50 hours a week then trying to run 2.5 acres of produce is about to kill me this year.

Next year will be different, the field will only have a cover crop, taking a year off to get the shop up and running. So it will be October before I can get back to the shop.

Before harvest started I finished putting the osb up and had a couple of hours free time, looked over and saw some scrap wood and thru this coffee table together, it will be October before I can get back to it to finish

Good luck on your build. I have been following some of your threads just no time to post....

Just started reading this thread; very nice looking build. Thanks for sharing.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

I don't know which exact lights to recommend, but I do know that for a workshop more is needed then a single row down the middle. That will just create shadows when using a tool off to the side. A row about a quarter in from each end will result in less shadowing.

Kevin, I am not too worried about the shadowing, I plan to have smaller LED's over each machine. They will be on brackets extended out from the side walls. All the equipment will be on casters so I can move to different parts of the shop.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

One thing to think about with a high ceiling is changing bulbs. One of my barns has a high ceiling with trusses every 8' apart. I have 8 bulbs that I can put in from one end. With 4 footers maybe I could put them in from each end. But I don't have a step ladder tall enough to get to the middle. I use an extension ladder against trusses.

Could support the lights with wire or rope and use a pulley to lower. Could get a taller step ladder.

My other barn is in snow country and has trusses every 2 feet and is not an issue.

I have a step ladder tall enough to reach this height. Can also drive the tractor in and use the FEL if needed.