Shop ideas
 

Building a shop over the next few months, and I'd like any ideas you folks have. The pad is poured and it is a 60x30 pad. There will be a 14x14 door on one of the 30' ends. The walls are 16'. It has electric in floor heat(no not water).

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A Steam Room... and maybe a fence to keep the Moose back. :lol:

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Sounds like your off to a good start. I would top it off with a roof !:rofl:Some type of overhead crane would be handy for lifting fifth wheel assemblies, radiators, etc.

Things must be good...that is EXPENSIVE to run.

You could put a jacuzzi in when you need to take a break to relax from all that mechanic work. And don't forget about the big screen TV. Hey, you can't work all the time. Besides, you could watch the news while you work. :thumbsup:

Also, maybe some skylights or a few translucent roof panels to cut down on electric lights during the daytime. The shop at my old job was insulated but they had some translucent roof panels and it helped alot and didn't effect the heat loss too bad.

It may be too late now since your floor has already been poured, but a drain to let the water out would allow you to wash your truck inside during winter months.

It all depends on what you are going to use this said "shop" for..... are you opening a repair business or just for your own personal use?

I bought my house back in 2006 and the man I got it from ran a trucking company for 40yrs. The basement has a walkway to the "shop" 40 feet away.
I have heated floors, overhead crane, full heated system and a kitchen/bathroom. It's 200'x350' though so a bit larger, but I added a wash bay as well and it sure makes it nice when you can park your truck, wash it and go into the house, all w/o leaving the 70* temp of the inside (especially when it's -35 outside)

And there is nothing better than climbing into your truck on a cold cold winter morning and not having to brush off snow and wait for her to warm up.

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A Bending machine for bending stuff. :block:

I'm so jealous, want to adopt me?

Sorry, no kids....... i only have dogs and we like it that way. Easier to take care of and lot less expensive, plus we can board them when we want to leave on vacation. Society tends to look down at you sticking your 5yr old son in a crate for 2 weeks LOL

That's a good idea, although they'd be covered by snow for about 5 months out of the year. I'll pass it on.

Not allowed a floor drain for environmental reasons, however it is tapered 1" in the middle.

Our own personal business use. Two trucks and one trailer (so far).

I agree, we did have a shop but it was $420 a month. It was also very small, this shop is 4X the sq ft. We could only fit one truck in the old shop.

To further specify what we've already decided on:

- It does have plumbing for a toilet, shower, and sink. The toilet and sink will come in, shower we might do later.
- 200 amp service
- 1/2" air lines everywhere, copper with "g" type fittings
- metal siding and roof
- 2x6 construction
- automatic door opener
- a multitude of 220 volt plugs(welder, air compressor, etc..)

It would be great if you could have some solar panels to help on the electric. I don't know how expensive they are but I would think that you could recoup the money in short order. A small windmill would also generate power. In my area if you have alternate energy sources that you are using and connect it to your meter the electric company must buy your excess power.

We don't have as much luxury with the regulations here. They require a special setup that properly regulates the frequency and voltage. That is actually my dads long term plan - wind turbines. However we do have very cheap electricity, around 6.5 cents per KW/hr.

Ouch, just metal siding? Up there in the cold, that is really going to suck. I'd HIGHLY suggest spending the extra cash and having at least plywood walls and then siding (unless this is what you ment) and honestly, I would go ahead and spend the $$ and get it insulated and drywalled or plywood again. It may seem like it's expensive now, but after a winter or two, you will be thankful and it's much easier to do when there is nothing in there. You will be suprised how much crap you pile up in there and its a PITA to move it all once your sitting out there and it's -35 inside and out....... trust me on this one.

waste oil heater?

Great idea.....

A German Shepherd Dog for security. A wet bar with beer on drought. A great sound system. A rug and couch in the corner. Definitely need an overhead crane like TK said. Internet connection. Hydraulic press. Parts washer. Welder. Torch. Lots of work lights. A pot-bellied stove. A generator (just in case). A storm shelter. A hose system to put on stacks to vent exhaust when running engine inside.

Since the slab is poured it's too late to make a perfectly level spot for checking fluid levels.

I've had several decent shops over the years.
Still have most of my tools and equipment.

I always wanted a shop that had a pit.
As it worked out...that always ended up being a convenient ditch.
I don't like working under something up on stands.

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Bought an old Cherry farm back in '74 which I still have, which has a Barn that has been handy through the years. I've converted the upper Barn for parties and Barn dancing. I put in a white oak dance floor, and dressed things up with some rock work. I love doing stone masonry.

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Line dance

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very nice Roadhog.... Very Nice!!!!

My invitation to the party must have gotten lost in the mail :( :smokin:

I passed the 500 post mark.... :bigclap: :jump: :banana1: :band: :cheers: :smokin:

A straitening machine for when you bend stuff too far.

Install plywood or sheathing on the walls, it makes it easy to hang stuff. Paint the walls white, it brightens up the garage and makes it easier to see whatever you're looking for.

We're going with OSB on the inside walls painted white, great minds think alike. Don't worry kids this thing is gonna be well insulated. 2x6 24" apart and R24 in between, probably R50 in the ceiling. We might even do all the electrical on the OSB (not behind it) with that special conduit just so you don't have to cut into the vapor barrier.

Pit is a good idea, but concrete is already poured. I don't think it's worth the effort considering I do 2 oil changes a year. We may come up with a system for oil changes too, one that sucks out the oil. And another hose that puts fresh oil in after it's dry.

Good idea, it'll make it much easier to add a outlet here or there when the situation arises.

A Suicide Booth... for when you've "bleeping had enough!" http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l236/Leland10/19.gif

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l2...10/suicide.gif

(these really don't kill you...it's just electrical shock therapy)
(of course there are allot of factory recalls on these units)

Yes, very nice Roadhog!!

Some pics:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...5&id=768503334

I'd say that it'd be nice to be able to pull in with my trailer attached and then make a u-turn and pull back out.

Move to Florida and you won't have to worry about that. Back in the late 80's I had one of those remote start for the car, (I'm from New England) but the heck with the snow and the cold. I guess to each their own but If there isn't a palm tree, I'm not going. I even had to put the A/C on in the car today.

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Link keeps changing, I'll put all the pics on photobucket some time.