Combines Building a shop any ideasIJIJIJ

[scooter]

Never wanted a bathroom, until I got older. Mine is 40x50 with a 20x14 roller door on north wall- west end ( I could not orient differently ) and another 12x12 elec operated door with remote on east side- north end. Tools and welder are in south east corner. This gives two work zones- about a 35x20 in front of the big door and 25x12 in front of small. Has worked very well for 20 years for my two person operation. Would most likely build 5-10 bigger and put in a bigger roller. This would allow semis to be pulled in if needed. The 12x12 is adequate to pull in for quick service. Draw on paper and cut out equipment and play with just as a kid might. loft would be nice- I never got around to it, just use a close building for parts. Did build nice racks on the west wall. Drain a must.

 

[john_holland]

we could have done the whole thing, but did not have time because of cow milking and hay making, just a stick pole shed, we put the sidewall nailers, insulation, and interior tin in the shop part, hired the floor poored, also too big a job, and built the loft, shelving, benches ourselves, I recommend you hire real professionals for the floor, especially if you want a nice smooth finish and some contour features like drains, otherwise you can do it all at your own pace assuming you know the tricks for building a pole shed. I don't recommend in floor heat, we have it and it doesn't seem so great considering what we spent to put it in. of course i have never worked in another shop, so i may be full of crap

 

[D_Mayes]

Have large wood heater with heat exchanger and fan, would not do it again.Puts out alot heat but spend to much time keeping wood in the fire. Have 200+ cow dairy I'm the only mechanic, too many winter jobs not enough time. The trouble I have seen with oil heaters is it takes alot of oil. Have a friend who burns all my oil plus several others. Make sure you insulate and I would put in sky lights next time.

 

[nebraska_farmer]

i built a 40x60 insulated shop just 5 yrs ago, 13x20 slide door on south and 14x20 slide door on east, south door for smaller equip. and vehicles, put a pit straight in south door, east door the combines fit great, built a second story along the north wall that extends out 10 ft, gives alot of storage for parts and stuff you just don't want to throw away yet. the second story is the full 60 ft length. i put in a small 10x20 ft office in north east corner. concrete all around the outer edges for about 8-10 ft is 4 inches thick and has 2 inches of insulation under it, as just workbenches and shelves are there, main mach work area is 6 inches thick, has held up great so far, the pit has a small sump in it as sometimes our water table raises when it rains alot. a trench was put in the floor, runs at an angle across so it's handier for water drainage from different areas of the work center. i will be putting in a movable a-frame as soon as it's built. the building is heated by wood from an old coal furnace out of a house, the stove pipe from an old steel kendon 8 in auger tube. i wish i would have built it sooner in my life!!..oh yeah..the walk in door locks from the inside. sure does come in handy when the wife thinks up honey-do's..hahaha!! this building was designed so it could be added onto if_when ever needed with no problems. it's an astro building. very well constructed. also under the upstairs part, light was lacking, so i strung a light set that contractors use in big buildings, they are 50 ft long, with bulb type light sockets moulded into the heavy wire every 10 ft. they can be hung using wire or zip locks or mounted permanantly. i have them wired up as i may put more permanant lighting in later. hope this gives anyone some ideas. oh..just a reminder..if you live in snow country, frost will go in under any building (that doesn't have a foundation) approx 4 ft. so if you pour cement, make sure you insulate and_or use a vapor barrier.

 

[nebraska_farmer]

i have a friend in a mechanics shop, they took an old 275 gallon upright tank that was on legs, cut a small door in one end, cut out for a stove pipe exit, drilled 2 small holes in the top. one hole they hung an old disk blade from about 1_2 way down inside, the other hole they inserted a piece of copper tubing with a brass ball valve, ran the tubing up on a stand they built out of lumber. there they put a 30 gallon oil drum and plumbed in the copper tube. used oil was put in there, they adjust the flow with the valve, the oil splatters on the disk blade and the fire really goes good inside the tank. the door on the tank is just used for burning scrap paper and boxes the parts come in and to start the fire in the morning. they have a fan behind_beside it to blow hot air where ever they want it in their shop. this is a real cheap way. and it was always warm there. plus you don't have to filter the used oil like the commercial heaters need.