TMGT's shop build

   / TMGT's shop build
  • Thread Starter
#41  
I'm always amused at cost discussions. Very, very rare to visit with someone that will disclose the entire cost. I count everything. Everything.

My favorite saying to people is "You might be able to build a similar building cheaper than mine, but you can't build this building cheaper". Very few fully understand what I'm saying. They just continue to ramble on about their intentions. :)

Good friend of mine has a 1500 sq ft 12ft eave pole building with concrete, lights, tiny bit of insulation, one overhead, one walk in, two windows. $25K. Door/window framing laid flat. Concrete so uneven you notice it when walking or standing around. Impossible to heat in temps under freezing. He's happy. I'm happy for him.
I try to count everything to when figuring cost, unfortunately I lost count on this build...............
 
   / TMGT's shop build
  • Thread Starter
#42  
You're gonna have a very nice shop.

I'm in a holding pattern on deciding whether to go stick built or not.
I've had a 30x50 red iron shop for 20 yrs.
Building walls in it was a job, in fact I farmed out the initial wall framing. I've got no real finished ceiling and have got used to never worrying about raising anything in the air. (lumber, fishin poles, whatever)

I really want to do a stick built 40x60 but I'm finding out there will be no overhead storage with the trusses on 4'OC.
I suspect for the "metal building" folks to build it with different style framing to allow attic space will cost my butt.
Thank you, being able to finish out the interior was part of my motivation for going with stick built. I was looking into going 4ft OC with the trusses but there wasn't really any cost savings, figured i shouldn't try an save a buck in that area anyways.
 
   / TMGT's shop build
  • Thread Starter
#43  
With the roof on, doors in, and tyvek up it was time to get to work on the electric.
I was very lucky that a few years ago the power company ran 3ph right in front of my property as a back feed line to the lumber mill down the street allowing me to get 3ph at my shop.

I decided to go with a 400a 120/208v service, unfortunately that required 6in conduit from the pole to the transformer, about 220ft, through the woods. I decided to just rent a 8" wide trenches to deal with the roots and rocks and I'm glade I did.
82743617.jpeg


Even though I used the trencher I ended up taking my backhoe and opening up the trench to 15in everywhere but the driveway, so I clean out the bottom and have more room to work. Luckily the power co. Inspector was pretty cool and let me backfill the driveway without him there as long as he could see both ends. I would have never been able to dig through everything with my BH alone (sorry didnt get any pics of the BH work).
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Of course the next day this happened........
the area by the pole with the 90 on it was floated almost 3ft, it was restrained at the driveway 20ft away, had to dig next to it with the BH so i could clean the trench under it to get it back where it belonged.
The other low area was 4ft deep and 15in wide, overflowing, took a couple hrs with a pump to drain it.
8250705.jpeg1076232455.jpeg
 
   / TMGT's shop build #44  
Any time I here there is a draught some where I feel like telling them to dig a trench for electrical or concrete it's shure to rain .:D 3ph sweet :thumbsup: I have passed on tons of valuable equipment over the years because of no 3ph Watched one company dump a 3ph 12" delta table saw in great condition in the metal dumpster.:hissyfit: You can pic up a lot of good deals on used equipment cause nobody has 3ph.:drink:
 
   / TMGT's shop build
  • Thread Starter
#45  
Any time I here there is a draught some where I feel like telling them to dig a trench for electrical or concrete it's shure to rain .:D 3ph sweet I have passed on tons of valuable equipment over the years because of no 3ph Watched one company dump a 3ph 12" delta table saw in great condition in the metal dumpster.:hissyfit: You can pic up a lot of good deals on used equipment cause nobody has 3ph.:drink:
I've been using a rotary phase converter for years but it's nice to finally not have to deal with it. I have gotten a few good deals on 3ph equipment. Best was a like new 7.5hp compressor for free from a business that was relocating, I also got a really good deal on a Hypertherm 105 that's hooked up to my CNC plasma table.
 
   / TMGT's shop build
  • Thread Starter
#46  
Next up was setting the pre-cast pad for the transformer to set on, after some discussion with the power co. design engineer, we decided to set the transformer close to the shop for minimal voltage drop since I am about 250ft from the pole. It ended up being a little closer to the shop then I was hoping, about 20ft, but I have really fresh electric

Luckily I was able to borrow a rollback to go pick up and set the pad as is weighed just shy of 7k lbs, this was the second biggest expense for electric after the underground conduit.1251531060.jpeg

Of course it was raining and the clay was like ice, ended up having to bury the forks on the skid steer to have an anchor point. For reference the pad is on top of the water filled trench in the previous post.765973852.jpeg

With the pad set and leveled I was able to get the stubs on and ready for the PoCo.
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After I installed the meter base of course.1297590320.jpeg

Finally the PoCo was able to come pull the cable and set the 75kva transformer. Then the ball was back in my court as I had to wire the shop and get my permits signed off before getting the meter installed...........883011389.jpeg
 
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   / TMGT's shop build
  • Thread Starter
#47  
Electric being run, I lucked out and found a nice 42space 400A panel full of breakers for a great deal, it was an installed but never used deal. I wasnt able to use all the breakers but it still saved me a lot of money.630999219.jpeg

In order to run the service wire to the panel I decided the only clean way was through the concrete unfortunately, man talk about a pain! It definitely wore you out using a 5in core bit on a hand drill.1723284905.jpeg

Finally made it through the wall after about 3days of drilling, I used a 4in LB on the outside and inside to make the connections.641920567.jpeg

I chose to go the EMT route for running the wires (except the romex I used in the ceiling). Also added a 30space 100A sub panel to minimize wiring to the machine shop area and give me more space for breakers, 3phase really eats up panel space quick!1597553014.jpeg646182252.jpeg
 
   / TMGT's shop build
  • Thread Starter
#48  
Lot more conduit run, all the electrical boxes installed. I decided to go with 50A twist locks for all the 208v stuff, used a small piece of SOOW to connect them to the boxes, figured I less of a chance of breaking off a connector that way.
2108087724.jpeg1810619531.jpeg

Lucked out and found a bunch of like new 3ph takeoff twist lock pairs for a great deal, ordered 12 pairs and might get a few more while I still can.263687212.jpeg

Started pulling all the 120v wiring.380910957.jpeg2035735381.jpeg1261888350.jpeg

Next up was pulling the 3phase wiring, not as fun but not bad since I used 3/4" conduit.1785127595.jpeg

Box all tidied up, I'm not an electrician by trade, but I'm pretty happy with the way everything turned out. Definitely learned a bit about bending conduit, I have a little pile of scrap to prove it 16245109.jpeg1182346575.jpeg
 
   / TMGT's shop build #49  
You might not be a professional electrician but those bends on the conduit are a **** of a lot better than some I seen done by people that call themselves pros. When running wire in pannel keep same discipline as running conduit p.l.s. helps to keep from getting the spaghetti look . But overall nice and neat.:thumbsup: Don't want to be captian obivious but a always try to put plugs in form work for electrical and plumbing before you pour . Core drilling vertical walls suck. Hindsight is 20/20. I have the same black and decker drill they don't make the like that anymore . I was always worried about that toggle switch looked like a catch all but after 30 years never had a problem with it. Its definitely a wrist breaker .:drink:
 
   / TMGT's shop build #50  
Looks great!!!

I think if you enjoy running conduit it turns out looking good. If not, it doesn't. You obviously enjoy doing it.
 

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