Building a workshop. Would appreciate some thoughts
Discussion
Hi Guys.
I've just bought a house on five acres and am currently in the planning stages of putting a decent sized workshop on it. The basic idea I have so far is that it will be 15 by 20 meters, with 2 rooms at the back. One will be a clean room for engine building, and the other a library/ resource room. The far corner will have a couple of couches and beer fridge.
The workshop itself will have work benches down one side and storage down the other. There will be a bay with a hoist, and another for fabrication etc.
It is also being drawn up to have a wine cellar (much to my wife's disgust!)
What I'm after is any ideas that the PH collective might have as to how it should be and what it might need. We plan to be in this house for 40 years plus, so basically I have been given carte blanche to make the shed how I want it.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers ,Matt
I've just bought a house on five acres and am currently in the planning stages of putting a decent sized workshop on it. The basic idea I have so far is that it will be 15 by 20 meters, with 2 rooms at the back. One will be a clean room for engine building, and the other a library/ resource room. The far corner will have a couple of couches and beer fridge.
The workshop itself will have work benches down one side and storage down the other. There will be a bay with a hoist, and another for fabrication etc.
It is also being drawn up to have a wine cellar (much to my wife's disgust!)
What I'm after is any ideas that the PH collective might have as to how it should be and what it might need. We plan to be in this house for 40 years plus, so basically I have been given carte blanche to make the shed how I want it.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers ,Matt
JB! said:
3-phase electricity supply and a decent 2-post ramp?
good quality air compressor, lines and tools?
your own mill & lathe (if you can use them)
parts washer?
You don't really need three phase IMHO for a lathe or a mill, if you fit them with VFD motors.good quality air compressor, lines and tools?
your own mill & lathe (if you can use them)
parts washer?
If I were starting from scratch, I'd have a pit . Ok you can put in a lift, but you need lots of height for that, and if the building is away from the house, the lower the ceilings are the easier the space is to heat, plus you can have storage above for stuff you can't get into the loft.
Install large, accessible ducts from house to workshop, never know what extras you might want to add in the future- telecom/internet/TV/security alarm/doorbell/(internal)intercom etc. And I say ducts plural as hot/cold water, heating etc could also be considered.
Overdo the electrics a bit, ie large capacity submain for future potential and loads of sockets. The insulations a good point, also think about good ventilation if you're gonna be doing anything with paint solvent etc.
Overdo the electrics a bit, ie large capacity submain for future potential and loads of sockets. The insulations a good point, also think about good ventilation if you're gonna be doing anything with paint solvent etc.
hairyben said:
Install large, accessible ducts from house to workshop, never know what extras you might want to add in the future- telecom/internet/TV/security alarm/doorbell/(internal)intercom etc. And I say ducts plural as hot/cold water, heating etc could also be considered.
This is very good advice. Dropping a couple of "soil pipe" sized ducts with drawropes in would be time well spent. Particularly as you plan to be there for many years to come.hairyben said:
Overdo the electrics a bit, ie large capacity submain for future potential and loads of sockets.
This is also good advice!Think about installing E-Stop buttons too.
Incredible Sulk said:
JB! said:
3-phase electricity supply and a decent 2-post ramp?
good quality air compressor, lines and tools?
your own mill & lathe (if you can use them)
parts washer?
You don't really need three phase IMHO for a lathe or a mill, if you fit them with VFD motors.good quality air compressor, lines and tools?
your own mill & lathe (if you can use them)
parts washer?
If I were starting from scratch, I'd have a pit . Ok you can put in a lift, but you need lots of height for that, and if the building is away from the house, the lower the ceilings are the easier the space is to heat, plus you can have storage above for stuff you can't get into the loft.
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
Built in Pressure Washer set up ? A shout for the pit and / or Lift.
And of course...... remember to post pictures !
yeah, an outside soakaway would be quality!And of course...... remember to post pictures !
big power supply's and E-stops are a good idea, you never know...
Love it, thanks guys.
Quite a few things I hadn't thought of, especially the ducting to the house. Plans are already afoot to overdo it with the electricity. Unfortunately 3 phase probably wont be viable due to the distance to the street, so I expect cost will outweigh benefits. A ramp (or hoist as we call them downunder) is a definite as opposed to a pit. I spent enough time in a pit when I was a mechanic to last me three lifetimes!
Keep the ideas coming. If anyone has some pictures for inspiration that they could post, it would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Quite a few things I hadn't thought of, especially the ducting to the house. Plans are already afoot to overdo it with the electricity. Unfortunately 3 phase probably wont be viable due to the distance to the street, so I expect cost will outweigh benefits. A ramp (or hoist as we call them downunder) is a definite as opposed to a pit. I spent enough time in a pit when I was a mechanic to last me three lifetimes!
Keep the ideas coming. If anyone has some pictures for inspiration that they could post, it would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Don't forget Network cable - Cat5e is peanuts, run a few lengthe from the house to the garage and it can do for phone/data etc.
A decent stereo wired in out of harm's way?
Properly sealed floor to keep the dust down - tiles are great, but an epoxy floor screed is probably even better (and cheaper for the same durability, plus you can add grit to minimise slippiness).
Make sure you paint the walls as well - it will keep the dust down as well, and if a light colour will really brighten up the room (I went for white walls and a light grey floor).
Echo plenty of ventilation - perhaps a built-in dust extractor if you plan on a lot of woodwork?
A decent stereo wired in out of harm's way?
Properly sealed floor to keep the dust down - tiles are great, but an epoxy floor screed is probably even better (and cheaper for the same durability, plus you can add grit to minimise slippiness).
Make sure you paint the walls as well - it will keep the dust down as well, and if a light colour will really brighten up the room (I went for white walls and a light grey floor).
Echo plenty of ventilation - perhaps a built-in dust extractor if you plan on a lot of woodwork?
In general, I think what you need to do is make lists - lots of lists. For each area, needs, wants, requirements, ideas. Then patch them into a design.
For now, though, ideas:
Cellar needs to be:
Since you seem to want to spend a lot of time in there:
For now, though, ideas:
Cellar needs to be:
- Stable temp, c.55F, dark, vibration free, odour free.
- How many bottles (also sealed cases, halves?)
- 2'6" gangways for walking, carpetted,
- Racks up to 6' (securely mounted top and bottom), shelves for cases, and dedicated half-bottle storage.
- Facility for a small heater (frost prevention) - in effect for now, a socket. Also, a small extraction fan would be wise.
- Place away from the sun. Presume no windows (include good lighting), construct like a butcher's freezer with thick Celotex & plasterboard on all walls & ceiling. Finish with a wide-opening door.
- Google for images of McLaren car assembly bays, and miniaturise that for engines. That's a U-shape of cabinets and worktops, with the engine cradle in the middle
- Space for a soaking basin and degreaser basin?
- Rig/exhaust extractor, so you can run up an engine. You could also add a basic brake to put a bit of load in.
Since you seem to want to spend a lot of time in there:
- Include audio/hi-fi you can hear from every room.
- Consider plumbing in a toilet, definitely a sink.
- Material storage: A rack for tube and sheet (if that's your type of work)
- Put the main workshop door facing South with a large driveway - so you can work in the sun
- Get a proper blacksmith's anvil. Remarkably useful when you need to hit/straighten things on a regular basis.
- Make a dedicated bay/space for electrical work. That's just a standard 80cm wide sction (drawers, shelves, counter top) for storage and tools, soldering iron, etc. but it can be good to have a separate area.
- In fact, even in the main workshop area, use that zoning idea to plan things a bit. An area for welding, another for machining & fabrication, assembly, fibreglass, etc.
- For the main workshop make up a large trestle table. in use it can go where a car would be - sometimes you need the large space to work all the way around (e.g working with carpets & fabrics). Out of use, it can be packed away (by your tube and sheet steel store). Also good for parties and barbecues.
Insulation and lighting. My Dad replaced his knackered old garage workshop with a new prefab garage - with the experience gained from working in the old garage, he insulated the floor, walls and ceiling, along with installing about 3' of fluorescent tube per foot of garage.
Make sure that the ceiling height is at least 7’, preferably 8’ high - he ran into problems in later years trying to fit a large milling machine into the workshop, and with spindle changes on other machines. Bear in mind to move heavy stuff, you'll be needing something like an engine crane, so you'll need clearance for that.
Also, Make the floor STRONG. He had a grid of 4" by 4" wood on the floor, in a 6" grid to allow insulation in the 6" grid, covered by inch board, and still managed to put a foot of some machine tool through the floor. Ok, said tool weighted in at more than a ton on small contact patches, but you’ve no idea how bloody awkward it is to extract that sort of thing.
Lots of power outlets. Preferably a couple of power circuits, because you're potentially going to be running some high load equipment at the same time.
Make said power and light cabling easily accessible for when you need to add more. You will. Circuit breakers should be easily accessible for the same reason.
Windows. Get more than the usual tiny one you get with a garage. Natural light becomes important if you’re going to be spending hours at a time out there. A big clock, too, because you’ll lose track of time.
Doors. Double door access essential, preferably at least a garage door size…preferably double garage doors, just for access. Ideally both ends so that you don’t have to empty the entire workshop to get at something buried at one end.
Storage; you can do a lot here – move the benches out from the wall a foot or so, so you can store ladders behind them. Also, for the most part don’t have shelves below, you’ll be acquiring bulky bits of kit over the years and want places to put them. Some garage shelving is a good idea, but some stuff will be too big or heavy for these. Parts bins on the wall is also a good idea, but you lose floor and wall space.
Paint the walls with chalkboard paint; very useful for writing stuff down in a hurry. Washes clean, too!
Fire extinguishers, buckets of sand – the old man has set fire to his workshop a couple of times now while welding; oily waste not the best thing to have around – a covered dustbin as well is a good idea. Metal, for choice.
Doorbell with flashing light to get your attention when making loud noises.
Security – make sure that the doors and windows can be secured top, bottom and preferably middle. A lot of the stuff you’ll acquire will be expensive; I dread to think how many tens of thousands the old man has in machine tools in his workshop.
Make sure that the ceiling height is at least 7’, preferably 8’ high - he ran into problems in later years trying to fit a large milling machine into the workshop, and with spindle changes on other machines. Bear in mind to move heavy stuff, you'll be needing something like an engine crane, so you'll need clearance for that.
Also, Make the floor STRONG. He had a grid of 4" by 4" wood on the floor, in a 6" grid to allow insulation in the 6" grid, covered by inch board, and still managed to put a foot of some machine tool through the floor. Ok, said tool weighted in at more than a ton on small contact patches, but you’ve no idea how bloody awkward it is to extract that sort of thing.
Lots of power outlets. Preferably a couple of power circuits, because you're potentially going to be running some high load equipment at the same time.
Make said power and light cabling easily accessible for when you need to add more. You will. Circuit breakers should be easily accessible for the same reason.
Windows. Get more than the usual tiny one you get with a garage. Natural light becomes important if you’re going to be spending hours at a time out there. A big clock, too, because you’ll lose track of time.
Doors. Double door access essential, preferably at least a garage door size…preferably double garage doors, just for access. Ideally both ends so that you don’t have to empty the entire workshop to get at something buried at one end.
Storage; you can do a lot here – move the benches out from the wall a foot or so, so you can store ladders behind them. Also, for the most part don’t have shelves below, you’ll be acquiring bulky bits of kit over the years and want places to put them. Some garage shelving is a good idea, but some stuff will be too big or heavy for these. Parts bins on the wall is also a good idea, but you lose floor and wall space.
Paint the walls with chalkboard paint; very useful for writing stuff down in a hurry. Washes clean, too!
Fire extinguishers, buckets of sand – the old man has set fire to his workshop a couple of times now while welding; oily waste not the best thing to have around – a covered dustbin as well is a good idea. Metal, for choice.
Doorbell with flashing light to get your attention when making loud noises.
Security – make sure that the doors and windows can be secured top, bottom and preferably middle. A lot of the stuff you’ll acquire will be expensive; I dread to think how many tens of thousands the old man has in machine tools in his workshop.
V10Mike said:
Have a separate "dirty booth" for cleaning, sanding, grinding etc, preferably with extract. Nothing worse than grinding dust spread everywhere.
If you're going to do any spray painting, paint booth as well.
^very good ideas!!!!If you're going to do any spray painting, paint booth as well.
not sure on entire walls chalkboard black tho, white always looks great!
Incredible Sulk said:
JB! said:
3-phase electricity supply and a decent 2-post ramp?
good quality air compressor, lines and tools?
your own mill & lathe (if you can use them)
parts washer?
You don't really need three phase IMHO for a lathe or a mill, if you fit them with VFD motors.good quality air compressor, lines and tools?
your own mill & lathe (if you can use them)
parts washer?
If I were starting from scratch, I'd have a pit . Ok you can put in a lift, but you need lots of height for that, and if the building is away from the house, the lower the ceilings are the easier the space is to heat, plus you can have storage above for stuff you can't get into the loft.
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