Thread: The ultimate workshop

I know that you want a "small" fridge. This would indicate to me that you want your shed to be a place where you can bring your mates to talk about matters of state. My suggestion would be that your fridge area and your working area should be separated in some way, maybe by a wall or door. By doing this you can sit around with your mates and talk crap without them playing with your tools or working on your projects without permission. In my experience, if they do, this is bloody annoying.

What you can do is talk your projects up and then tease your mates with the prospect of a show into the inner sanctum later. You can present your projects to your mates knowing that the presentation area is all yours and that they cannot intrude except to look. Big power trip baby.

Agree. and a 1 inch plywood sheet to put on when working with wood. I am building a workshop at this moment. 35m2, insulated ceiling, big windows, double door and a lot of el. outlets! Cement floor (no tiles). Fridge and a lot of ZZ-TOP cd's!! And remember: No workshop without a Playboy calendar!
Good luck with your projects.

Apart from the obvious concerns with a stable and solid working platform, a handy cut-out next to the main vice, to enable working with very long bits of timber and a solid door with a decent lock, it largely comes down to a matter of preference. A suitable quantity of electrical sockets, general and 'up close' lighting, with a solar back up lamp, are must haves. A like a good view from the window, to enable quality thinking time and some shaded area outside, when you can't get a good enough airflow when you are working inside. Good shelves are also important, so you can put things that aren't completed, somewhere safe. A stool that you can perch on, to do the twiddly bits, a comfy chair that you can nap in and a decent sound system.

Originally Posted by maily

I also ensure that the bench is exactly 880mm high and the surrounding floor is level so if something you are making is larger than the work bench, you can measure from the floor and still be accurate.

An excellent height for a work bench. I will put this one one off the list. However, the level floor might need some supervising.

Dr. Andy suggested a heavy vice and a solid workbench.

This piece of advice will also be on my list.

Originally Posted by The Fresh Prince

You've gotta have a pit.

If you mean the kind that you can actually walk down into in order to work on a vehicle, well I ain't that energetic.

However, I guess one could be built for the future, but how to cover up the damn hole without a big piece of steel?

Originally Posted by Bung

Also make a lockable shelving area for your tools and leave a cheap set put for locals to use seeing how they never bring their own stuff to do work or if they do it is in a bin bag.

Had to laugh at this one. So true so this will be #3 on my list.

Originally Posted by El Gibbon

The design of your shop needs to cater to the majority of the work you envision doing there.

If wood working is a major focus you do not want a metal work top. A wooden bench made of 2x6's, (approx), laminated on edge to a width of 34 inches and length of 6 ft. (similar to a butcher block top) with at least a 2 in overhang all around. A proper wood vise plus a variety of dog holes to put square pegs in to work against...

...Do not forget the fireproof cabinet for flammable finishes, varnishes etc. very important if your doing wood since you will have lots of dust and shavings around and fire is always a hazard. E. G.

Two more points on my check list.

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

I have used those polycarbonate transparent roof tiles creating a window to the sky type of effect (skylight) and to have natural light coming into your workshop would be pratical.

One more check mark. Up to 6 I think.

Originally Posted by harrymand

Cement floor (no tiles).

Agree, another checked.

Originally Posted by Loombucket

A suitable quantity of electrical sockets, general and 'up close' lighting, with a solar back up lamp, are must haves. A like a good view from the window, to enable quality thinking time and some shaded area outside, when you can't get a good enough airflow when you are working inside. Good shelves are also important, so you can put things that aren't completed, somewhere safe. A stool that you can perch on, to do the twiddly bits, a comfy chair that you can nap in and a decent sound system.

Oh yes, oh yes...

Originally Posted by paranha

I do a lot of garage time when I'm home from work on different locations. I.e. tried a lot of different garages and got my opinion on it.

1 - Nothing less than 4 meters under the roof (for having a lift). A pit is just too
cumbersome.

Excellent idea other than the fact that I am now confused again. Back to the drawing board.

Did forget about water and drainage of the floor so it's easy to clean (connected to an oil separator/tanks)

My head is clearly working against me today...
Download PDF PDFTown.com | Free Download PDF and eBook

Will give you access to work shop manuals for many cars.

Anyhow, it's your garage. Make the solutions you deem to be best. After all you are going to work in it.
And good luck with it

Originally Posted by paranha

Did forget about water and drainage of the floor so it's easy to clean ...

The headaches continue. This is something that I had not remembered, well if the truth was known something that I had not even thought about. Sure blows away the idea of a level floor.

Originally Posted by hillbilly

Originally Posted by paranha

Did forget about water and drainage of the floor so it's easy to clean ...

The headaches continue. This is something that I had not remembered, well if the truth was known something that I had not even thought about. Sure blows away the idea of a level floor.

Not necessarily. You will have a level floor . Have drains built into the floor and use squegees to get the water down to them upon cleaning it.

Will you post your plans here at TD? Would love to see what you will start to build.

Regards

Originally Posted by paranha

Will you post your plans here at TD? Would love to see what you will start to build.

Yes, you will be able to see my final plans. Hell, you will even see the pics as it comes along.

However, more suggestions are needed. I ain't going to croak in no shit workshop...

I can feel a "Show us your shed" thread coming on. Or is there one already?

[at] Hillbilly: Great. Looking forward to see it's progress. How long time until you start building? Did follow the other threads around here regarding regular houses quite much. Guaranteed I'll be sitting glued to the thread when you start posting about your dream shack :-)

I must have been really tired yesterday when posting here. One or two things more that are worth to consider with the garage.

1 - Pneumatics. In a garage you will sooner have use for pressurised air. A shed that's sound insulated between it and the garage is ok. You place the compressor there and put up large bore metal piping going to strategically placed hook on points in the garage.

Make it big enough so you get some storage space to place the chemicals that's highly likely to show up in a garage. The evaporation will not go into the working atmosphere in the garage.

Regards

what ??? none of my ideas on your list ???

Originally Posted by Nawty

Stereo...big one to hear above all the tools.

Yes, this one will also be on my list.

Originally Posted by hillbilly

more suggestions are needed

Ok, how about a sink, so one can get most of the crap off before going up to the house. Some sort of still could also be handy, if you have the room. Nothing like a spot of home made to offer/bribe guests and professionals. My Dad had a little bookshelf with all his manuals and DIY books, on the clean side of the shed. An intercom would also be nice, for ordering food and making sure that the 'old lady' is behaving herself.