New workshop ideas

[nastyford77]

Lighting, like Harley said. I hate working where there is not enough light. If your ceiling is more than 10 ft or so, go with the metal halide lights. More expensive, but much brighter. If the ceiling is 10 ft or less, get the t4 fluorescent. Some skylights are a nice addition too. Storage space is a premium, so plenty of shelves. Don't forget a good sound system.

[Grant Bunter]

Uh hmmm, like who said?

[Jon Barnhardt]

All excellent points!

Remember, this is a "room" within the shop so there is a bathroom in another room and above this workshop is a loft area that is a recroom with fridge/bar/sofa/table/dartboard/HD projector

Also outside of the work-room is storage for inventory and gear...

I will post a pic later of the rest of the shop design so far.

thanks!

[Jon Barnhardt]

I would make a special closet for the compressor and dust collection. Insulate it good, used sound board, with roofing sealer, whatever you need to make that thing soundproof as possible. I hate air handlers and compressor noise whenever I can avoid it.

Of course if you wire yourself, I know local code is a PITA. Run an extra conductor or two for remote turn on of the vac system, via a power switch.

The dust collection will be outside the room (and on a remote switch). The compressor doesn't bother me as it usually only runs when I initially arrive and it holds enough air to build a couple boxes (shooting brads) before it kicks on again...

[nastyford77]

Uh hmmm, like who said?

Whoops lol

[Rick Lee]

Well, I can't find it on their website but for lighting I went with Lowe's Utilitech 4ft. 2-light shop lights (#0313520). They came out with them about a year ago so maybe they're an unadvertised in-store light. Anyway, They work great- $13 for T8 lights with electronic ballast. I have 12 foot ceilings and somewhere I found a workshop site that recommended about 2 watts of flourescent light per sq. ft. which for my 720 sq. ft. shop came to about 9 units. Nice bright even light.

Last summer I used a window a/c but in about a month I plan on installing a mini split heat pump system. The shop is well insulated with one window (picture window in the "finish area") so hopefully my energy bill will be reasonable. If you plan on doing any fiberglassing, make sure you don't use unvented gas heat- the epoxy won't cure properly.

[Tom Smit]

Well, I can't find it on their website but for lighting I went with Lowe's Utilitech 4ft. 2-light shop lights (#0313520). They came out with them about a year ago so maybe they're an unadvertised in-store light. Anyway, They work great- $13 for T8 lights with electronic ballast. I have 12 foot ceilings and somewhere I found a workshop site that recommended about 2 watts of flourescent light per sq. ft. which for my 720 sq. ft. shop came to about 9 units. Nice bright even light.

In our shop, the metal hylides were replaced with flourescent tubes, two four packs for each lamp assembly and they are bright. I like them. The lamps are 20~25 feet in the air.

Last summer I used a window a/c but in about a month I plan on installing a mini split heat pump system. The shop is well insulated with one window (picture window in the "finish area") so hopefully my energy bill will be reasonable.

I've read that mini-splits can be quite efficient on this forum http://ecorenovator.org/forum/

[Jon Barnhardt]

Well, I can't find it on their website but for lighting I went with Lowe's Utilitech 4ft. 2-light shop lights (#0313520). They came out with them about a year ago so maybe they're an unadvertised in-store light. Anyway, They work great- $13 for T8 lights with electronic ballast. I have 12 foot ceilings and somewhere I found a workshop site that recommended about 2 watts of flourescent light per sq. ft. which for my 720 sq. ft. shop came to about 9 units. Nice bright even light.

Last summer I used a window a/c but in about a month I plan on installing a mini split heat pump system. The shop is well insulated with one window (picture window in the "finish area") so hopefully my energy bill will be reasonable. If you plan on doing any fiberglassing, make sure you don't use unvented gas heat- the epoxy won't cure properly.

I plan to do lots of 4 foot fluorescents in the work room (maybe even a dozen)

[Rick Lee]

I've read that mini-splits can be quite efficient on this forum http://ecorenovator.org/forum/

I haven't seen that one- I'll have to check it out.

I plan to do lots of 4 foot fluorescents in the work room (maybe even a dozen)

Seems to be the best "value" way to go- maybe if LEDs keep coming down in $ they could work. I ended up using tubes with a temperature between "warm" and "daylight" and it's very comfortable on the eyes and colors seem accurate.

Oops- I just counted mine and I have 12 Completely satisfied with the ratio. No shadows- when I put up more shelves I'll probably put a few lights down low underneath the shelves.

Another couple of options...
http://www.plansnow.com/dn3099.html

I've downloaded that plan and have a spot set aside between the table saw and plywood storage area for it 'Course Jon's using a track saw so not a big deal for him...

[Jon Barnhardt]

'Course Jon's using a track saw so not a big deal for him...

Actually it might be a big deal to me... If I did a panel saw for big cuts, I could make my tracksaw table a lot smaller and leave more room in my workshop... I'll have to think about that one...

[Grant Bunter]

I was going to suggest fluoro tubes with rendering.
Warm white is 3000K
Deluxe warm white is 2900K
Daylight is 6300K
So a combination of those would work well.

To my way of thinking, LED's and Metal halides have one major problem. If you look at them because you glanced up into your lighting, you're "snow blind" for a time and that stops you working.
If you needed to supplement the fluoro's in the markup and assembly areas, I reckon a small track of wider throw dichroic's might be quite handy.

[Jon Barnhardt]

the plans have changed quite a bit, incorporating the ideas you fine folks have given me. I built the panel saw listed and feel that will buy me lots of extra floor space in the new digs.

I've settled on 11' x 28' for the "workshop" with another 8' x 9' parts room / vac / compressor room. I also have a separate bathroom and office planned.

The plans have been changed so many times in the last few weeks, I don't think I could have missed anything, but everyday I think of some little change to make.

I can't wait to begin the process on March 1st!

[Tom Smit]

When you're done, you wanna come over and build one for me?

[Jon Barnhardt]

When you're done, you wanna come over and build one for me?

How about you buy mine and I will build another, incorporating all the ideas I missed the first time around!

[Grant Bunter]

When you're done, you wanna come over and build one for me?

How about you buy mine and I will build another, incorporating all the ideas I missed the first time around!

^ Ha ha! Well done.

Hope it all goes well and you haven't forgotten anything major...