New Shop?

[m8]

I’m in the design/layout process for my new home shop.  My largest concern at this time is basic size and shape.  Of course once the size and shape is decided on I will be moving forward with actual lay out which will be another thread. I’m fortunate that I have a blank slate to work with but I do have one limitations, I would like to keep it under 1000 sq ft and if possible less the 800 sq ft.  Do you believe it is possible to keep it within that size limitation?  The shop will serve both as a metal and woodworking with separate and independent areas for both.  I’m interested in feedback and ideas/opinions you would do if you had a blank slate to work with. 

A basic list of the current machines tools I have or will be adding are the following:

Woodworking
Parks 12” Thickness Planer
Radial Arm Saw (I may or not be keeping)
Delta Unisaw
18” Bridgewood Band Saw
Jointer (Sometime in the future)
Various Festool Sanders and Dust Extractor
Various Hand Tools

Metalworking
Kingston 17” x 43” Lathe
Bridgeport Series I Milling Machine
Heliarc 250HF TIG
L-Tec PCM-32I Plasma Arc
150 Gallon Air Compressor
Various Hand Tools

Thank you for your ideas and recommendations. 

 

[semenza]

Hi,

With what you have and the desire for two seperate areas I would be leaning toward the 1000' size. I also think the woodworking portion needs to be larger than the metal working area.  I have about 500 sq ft for woodworking and it is really not enough when doing larger work.

Seth

 

[m8]

Due to where I live, code requires structures to be built 10’ – 12’ above ground because of flooding.  This adds a tremendous cost to the construction of any structure.  If it wasn’t for the extra cost I wouldn’t be as concerned on the specific size of the shop.  My current plan is be somewhere around 900 – 1000 square feet range with a decent size deck around the shop. I plan on doing all metal grinding, cutting, welding, etc. on the deck. Because of the size of the pieces worked with during woodworking I plan on allocating it the largest part of the shop.  I’m definitely planning on installing a dust collection system along with keeping the air compressor outside of the shop.  Thanks for everyone’s recommendations, please keep them coming.

 

[fdengel]

Whatever you are using to hold that shop up, make sure it can handle the weight...

And I certainly hope the code doesn't require the foundation to be that far off the ground, or you'd really be in trouble...  [laughing]

Are you allocating space for finishing the projects?  My space is limited enough right now that if something is being finished I'm afraid to do much if anything else because of getting dust in the drying finish; if I had that much space to work in I would be much more concerned about separating out the finishing area from the wood/metal areas than about separating a woodworking area from a metalworking one. 

 

[Sparktrician]

Due to where I live, code requires structures to be built 10’ – 12’ above ground because of flooding. 

I know I'd be thinking of moving rather than building!!! 

[scared]

 

[RONWEN]

I guess on one hand you get a "free" assembly area on the ground floor (under the shop) but the annoyance of carrying ALL lumber, ply, materials, etc. up 10'-12' continually to prep for final assembly & finishing "downstairs" would drive me to another hobby...  [mad]

 

[fdengel]

Elevator?

 

[semenza]

How about a chain hoist lift off the deck?

Seth

 

[Alan m]

How about a chain hoist lift off the deck?

Seth

how about a trapdoor in the floorsay 9foot by5 foot  and a hoist (or 2) to lift up tools etc.
if you made a metal frame up you could put ply and lumber on it to bring them up and bring finished items down

maybe even have the metal fram be the floor when its up in position and lock in place with sliding dead bolts to hold it there.

 

[davee]

I am in the process of building a new shop as well.  Overall it is 24' x 40'.  My shop area is 21x24, with a finish room (18x12), a study (10x12), a bathroom with shower, and utility room.  Our intent is to live in the shop while we build our house.  We'll live in the study and finish, which will be a temporary kitchen area.  Once the house is built, I'll get the entire building back.  We are enjoying the building process - although siding durin the recent heat wave was a challenge. 

 

[Alan m]

I am in the process of building a new shop as well.  Overall it is 24' x 40'.  My shop area is 21x24, with a finish room (18x12), a study (10x12), a bathroom with shower, and utility room.  Our intent is to live in the shop while we build our house.  We'll live in the study and finish, which will be a temporary kitchen area.  Once the house is built, I'll get the entire building back.  We are enjoying the building process - although siding durin the recent heat wave was a challenge. 

thats very devious of your other half [wink]. moveing into your reteat. at least you will have a good insentive to get the house finished as fast as posible

 

[semenza]

On the hoist. I know a guy who set up a chain hoist operated  floor lift. His entire shop (except DC) is in the upper floor of a refurbed carriage house. The set up works very well, he initially used it to move all the eqiupment up , including a cabinet table saw. I don't know the exact way he constructed it. But it was well done and is a permanent part of the shop.

m8, in your case, a through the floor set up in the deck would be cool, and would not take away from the shop floor space at all. Seems like it would be great even just to move metal working stuff up  down on a regular basis.

Seth

 

[m8]

On the hoist. I know a guy who set up a chain hoist operated  floor lift. His entire shop (except DC) is in the upper floor of a refurbed carriage house. The set up works very well, he initially used it to move all the eqiupment up , including a cabinet table saw. I don't know the exact way he constructed it. But it was well done and is a permanent part of the shop.

m8, in your case, a through the floor set up in the deck would be cool, and would not take away from the shop floor space at all. Seems like it would be great even just to move metal working stuff up  down on a regular basis.

Seth, that is a very interesting idea, I thought of something similar but haven't really had the time to crunch the design.  Where can I find more information on something like that?

 

[Eli]

What sort of information would you like? If you're serious about a sizable lift, you'll likely need some engineering done.