New Project - What Would You Have Done Differently?

[Rory_Rhodes]

I just purchased property for a new house, already built is a 38'x60" barn with a full apartment/house attached. A metal, 24'x50' building is included, 4 roll up 10'x10' doors. No electricity yet, a sub panel was planned but never installed.

I have a typical wood shop, Unisaw (220v), Band Saw, Planer (220v), Jointer, Drill Press, Sander, Dust Collector, Shaper (220v), Big Compressor, Lots of 110v Equipment, and so on. Also, Mig and Stick Welders, and eventually a car lift. Currently no lights, no recepticles.

I want plenty of recepticles at the right height, the right lighting, and full accessibility. No heat or air is planned, doors open or closed, fans, and a wood buring stove will take care of the environment.

So, now my question for the metal building;

What quick advice would you have - besides hiring a licensed electrician for the job - to plan this empty space out before I start moving equipment?

I will also have a Kubota L3130 w/backhoe, an RTV, and soon a SkidSteer to store in this unit.

 

[plowking]

Are you going to have a quiet area [office] in your shop? Does the metal building have a loft for storage or do you need shelving. My neighbor had similiar sized shop, his machines,bridgeports, etc. were too close,drillings and other debris was hard to clean. He also had three phase power brought in, he had to add shelving in his addition. If you have an air compressor,it would be good idea to run piping instead of dragging air hose around. Could you run powerlines down to machines from overhead or do you need a wall receptacle? Fire suppression system might be a good idea. plowking

 

[sawdust_maker]

Take some paper, draw the enclosure to scale. Now cut out smaller pieces of paper, representing each piece of equiptment, as well as the necessary room to walk around them. Play with it to find an arrangement in advance for all equiptment. Think about work flow, so that certain tools are near each other, or so you have room to get to them with your work. For example, a miter saw needs space on each side to cut long boards. A table saw needs space in front and behind to take boards for ripping. Once this is determined, then you can find where your outlets need to go, where you will need a 220 receptacle, where you will need an air line, dust collection, etc.

I'd definitely suggest plumbing for air. My compressor is one of my most valuable tools. The plumbing is a big reason for that utility. IMHO, copper is the best choice for air.

John

 

[schmism]

im having a simular problem with my shop and 32x60 poll barn.

Standing in the space it seems incomprehesalbly large.

but at the same time when i think about carving out spaces for various things, it seems to get way to small again.

Ive tried to set up items in locations that i thought were going to be permant only to find out that it really doesnt work well in that spot and haveing to move it.

My biggest issue im fighting is trying to figure out how to seperate the automotive/machine shop space from the woodworking space as neither are complimantary. (machine shop doesnt like dust, and woodworking doesnt like grease)

on of my largest obisticals is stuggling on were to put the 2 post lift and do i want i dedicated spay booth large enough for a full size truck. (which would pull double duity as a finishing room for the woodworking)

 

[3RRL]

I would run your electrical receptacles at least 4' above ground for your machines so nothing gets sprayed into them accidentally. For metal working, chips get sprayed into them sometimes.

If your going to have an air compressor, and I would recommend it, build an enclosure outside and cover it. Put your compressor there and run piping throughout the building. You can never have too many air line receptacles with QD's. Maybe even run one outside to where you work on your vehicles for easy access.

Shelving is a must to keep floor space open for your equipment.

Also, if you plan on having a big worktable, put it in a area that you can get to all 4 sides instead of against a wall. Keep the area around it clear so you get to your projects from anywhere on the table. Plumb electrical receptacles, lights and air directly over the table so you can plug in right where you are working.

How about a wash basin?
Are you planning on insulating?

 

[rox]

I really like pegboard. it is cheap the nagers are cheap and i like to be able to see my stuff, instead of having it on shelves. Well of course you need shelves also but the more I can hang on pegboard thehapper I am. With pegboard it is easy to re-arrrange. My favorite storage solutions are hooking things rather than placing on shelving. I love a long pipe with S hooks hanbging from it.

 

[CATMAN]

Put a 220 volt outlet close to one or both big doors in case you have to weld outside on a big piece of equipment. Think about having your shelves or wall benches being supported by the wall itself (no 2"x4" or 4"x4" legs). This design allows for easier sweeping/brooming for cleanup. It also lets you push items like a wet/dry vacuum underneath or maybe long lumber/steel. I believe Eddie showed how to use 3/4" plywood triangles(cut out of 4'x8' sheet) to do provide support for wall shelves a year or two ago. That might be an idea you could borrow.

 

[Rory_Rhodes]

So far, excellent advice. Thanks.

The building looks big for now, but I have no doubt will fill up quickly. Currently I maintain doubles on many tools - compressors, drill press, table saws, planers, jointers, etc. Look for a big shop sale when I get moved in. This will support the purchase of the big outside unit.

The voltage advice is perfect, I had not thought of running air throughout the building. I am a bit concerned with all of the outlets being on the wall, makes it hard to roll the Unisaw out to the middle. Three phase would be nice, but will require to pull a meter to the shop, 450'+ off the road. A 100 amp sub panel may be the easiest.

I have plenty of heavy duty metal shelving salvaged from a closed retail store to use, and also plan on using slatwall, another retail find to line some of the walls. The barn is slightly insulated, although it will not be airtight with the roll up doors. I like cabinets, and will custom build many to house power tools, drawers for handtools, and miscellaneous other things.

The lift will be a new purchase. Not sure a two poster or four poster will be best. A little research needed still on this one.

No water to the shop, the horse barn with wash racks, bathroom, wash basin is 150' away. Ultimately a seperating wall on the the lift end will be built, I need to keep the dust of the hot rod. SCHMISM, sounds like you have this same concern, keep me posted.

Most of the power tools are on roll around bases, the work bench - heavy is not, nor will be the drill press. This give me the opportunity to roll around until I figure out what goes well where.

Thanks again for the advice. Please keep the ideas coming.

 

[Rory_Rhodes]

The last project, now finished with the rod out front.

 

[oliver28472]

Those roll up doors are begging for a lean-to and a slab. When you plumb the air compressor, don't use pvc.