Dream shop

[Doug Rasmussen]

With my dream shop it was designed without consideration to machine locations. A drive-in garage door along one wall and 120/240 conduit exposed along all walls at about 6 foot intervals. Same with air lines everywhere. There was a first attempt at machine locations, but over time we let machine locations be determined by what proved to be the most efficient. This was not a hobby shop, I had employees for my business.

 

[Roger Dauer]

With my dream shop it was designed without consideration to machine locations. A drive-in garage door along one wall and 120/240 conduit exposed along all walls at about 6 foot intervals. Same with air lines everywhere. There was a first attempt at machine locations, but over time we let machine locations be determined by what proved to be the most efficient. This was not a hobby shop, I had employees for my business.

I did the same - 4 plug 120v outlets and 240v every 7 feet on the walls. I had the 240v wires heavy enough for 30amps just in case, although most of the machines I have are 20amp 240v.

 

[Joel Daniels]

I did the same - 4 plug 120v outlets and 240v every 7 feet on the walls. I had the 240v wires heavy enough for 30amps just in case, although most of the machines I have are 20amp 240v.

That is one mistake I made. I have 5 240v circuits, but ran 12/3 so they max out at 20 amps. Should have planned better and run 10/3 so I could go to 30 amps if needed. That limits the size of motor I can get for things like an upgraded dust collector.

 

[Roger Dauer]

That is one mistake I made. I have 5 240v circuits, but ran 12/3 so they max out at 20 amps. Should have planned better and run 10/3 so I could go to 30 amps if needed. That limits the size of motor I can get for things like an upgraded dust collector.

I had a really top notch electrician who has his own wood shop, so he was really great about making suggestions.

 

[Roger Dauer]

If you had a wish list for your dream shop what would it be?

Reason for asking is I’m doing it now. So far, there will be lots, as in lots of lighting. Plugs out the wazoo (120 and 220). Dust collection and air scrubber. Clean up sink. TV and stereo. Doors to the outside. HVAC. Dust collector and compressor in a closet to reduce noise. Desk area.

My entire life, I’ve made do, cut corners to keep cost down, etc. Now that I’m retired and can afford it, I’m doing it. I’m looking for ideas of goodies you wish you had.

I almost forgot - top quality epoxy floor installed by professionals (grind, expoxy, paint chips, sand the next day, vacuum, polyaspartic top coat). Not only looks like a million bucks but it is SOOOOO easy to sweep up.

 

[Roger Dauer]

I almost forgot - top quality epoxy floor installed by professionals (grind, expoxy, paint chips, sand the next day, vacuum, polyaspartic top coat). Not only looks like a million bucks but it is SOOOOO easy to sweep up.

Oneida sells mufflers for their cyclones. I bought two 3 footers, knocks the db down to 72 from 92. My system discharges in the same room as the shop as a result. I still wear noise reducing headphones as I listen to music while I work.

 

[Ron Solfest]

@Roger Dauer - your experience sounds similar to mine:
- I have at least one 240v outlet on each wall, plus two coming up from the floor. Each using 10ga wire and on it’s own circuit breaker
- ~30+ 120v outlets on 8 interleaved circuits (adjacent outlets on separate breakers) staggered every 2ft around the shop (4ft height, then 14”, then continual hi/lo along each wall) plus two separate ceiling outlets and one coming out of the floor.

Never enough outlets, lighting, or clamps in a woodshop

- Oneida DC in a semi-enclosed corner, with the silencer but I too listen to NPR or WSM with noise canceling earbuds when turning.

 

[Roger Dauer]

@Roger Dauer - your experience sounds similar to mine:
- I have at least one 240v outlet on each wall, plus two coming up from the floor. Each using 10ga wire and on it’s own circuit breaker
- ~30+ 120v outlets on 8 interleaved circuits (adjacent outlets on separate breakers) staggered every 2ft around the shop (4ft height, then 14”, then continual hi/lo along each wall) plus two separate ceiling outlets and one coming out of the floor.

Never enough outlets, lighting, or clamps in a woodshop

- Oneida DC in a semi-enclosed corner, with the silencer but I too listen to NPR or WSM with noise canceling earbuds when turning.

I worked in heavy industry for 40 years (refineries) and wore then, and still wear now hearing protection obsessively. Plus as I get older I have found loud noises bother me more for some reason.

 

[Roger Dauer]

If you had a wish list for your dream shop what would it be?

Reason for asking is I’m doing it now. So far, there will be lots, as in lots of lighting. Plugs out the wazoo (120 and 220). Dust collection and air scrubber. Clean up sink. TV and stereo. Doors to the outside. HVAC. Dust collector and compressor in a closet to reduce noise. Desk area.

My entire life, I’ve made do, cut corners to keep cost down, etc. Now that I’m retired and can afford it, I’m doing it. I’m looking for ideas of goodies you wish you had.

My shop is a remote commercial location, so I had to set up a new internet connection. I set up high speed wifi. Priceless to me as I am online and using email every day in my shop. My log in is “RogMahal” if you can believe it. Hysterical. You could use: TheWebMaster, WebSurfer, SpiderWebb, DarkWebb, SpinAWebb, etc. This is just some fun to add to the dream shop, I mean - Why not, eh? We have our club "hands-on" sessions in my shop so now everyone in the club refers to my shop as the Rog Mahal.

 

[Roger Dauer]

If you had a wish list for your dream shop what would it be?

Reason for asking is I’m doing it now. So far, there will be lots, as in lots of lighting. Plugs out the wazoo (120 and 220). Dust collection and air scrubber. Clean up sink. TV and stereo. Doors to the outside. HVAC. Dust collector and compressor in a closet to reduce noise. Desk area.

My entire life, I’ve made do, cut corners to keep cost down, etc. Now that I’m retired and can afford it, I’m doing it. I’m looking for ideas of goodies you wish you had.

The full bathroom in my shop has a toilet with a heated seat. Is that over the top? Me thinks not.

 

[Roger Dauer]

Not sure what type of cans you are putting in. I went with Hyperlite Hero High Bay (21K lumens) (they aren't cans, but round discs that hang). Hyperlite has a free layout design analysis. I uploaded what I thought (24'x20' with lights at 10'). I had planned 9 lights. Their analysis came back with just 4 lights. So, that's what I installed. Light coverage was super - except, above my table saw and bench in the center of the room, I had to add 2 4' LED strips due to shadows from my head when leaning over the bench. I also have 8' LED strips (Barrina) above my 2 benches and lathe that are up against the wall. Just passing on what I did and I'm very happy with my lighting. [Of course, if your electrical is already pulled, then this lighting option is too late.]

You can see 3 of the 4 Hyperlites in this picture. Also, you can see the 2 4' LED strips above the tablesaw/bench. And the black strips above the bench and lathe are the 8' Barrina LED strips (I put ice shields up to keep the lights from shining into my eyes).

Your shop plan looks super! Looking forward to seeing pictures.

View attachment 87420

This floor, absolutely beautiful. I suspect easy to sweep as well? Oh and well done on the table saw island. Awesome.

 

[John K Jordan]

I don't have a bathroom/shower/toilet in my shop but would love to. I'd have to run water and put in a septic system. But the house is just a few hundred steps up the hill. If it came down to choosing one or the other, I'd pick the HVAC over the plumbing.

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

One mistake I think some make is sealing everything up so if you change worrying or other built ins they have to literally be torn out. My new shop has exposed wiring in rafters ok really perlins as it is metal building with ply walls. In the six months in shop have moved several cabinets , added several light switches, and done other minor operations

Consider a light switch at your WW bench so you do not have to walk accross shop. Same for other work stations however as we have talked I am pretty sure you plan to light the whole shop simultaneously and I try to only light where I am working.

Electrical has been best to death and I will not go there except to say I thing some have absolutely overbuilt the basic electrical but not outlets.

Not sure how you feel about cabinets but I have found that they are great at reducing dust accumulation in the shop and the doors and drawers are amenable to lots of labels. Hey when I moved the labels saved menu reducing search time.

Hope to see if soon

 

[John K Jordan]

One mistake I think some make is sealing everything up so if you change worrying or other built ins they have to literally be torn out.

Best thing I did in my shop (besides the HVAC) was put up plywood walls and ceilings with screws. I have closed ceilings and walls and no exposed wiring. When I wanted to add an additional 220v receptacle it was a simple matter to pull off walls and run new wires to a new receptacle. Easy to remove a ceiling panel to repair an airline, run another HVAC diffuser to the ceiling in the back room, to install security sensors and cameras inside and out.. (I do have small access panels to the space above the ceiling.)

I use deck screws to put up the panels.

The plywood also allows me to hang shelves and things everywhere.

JKJ

 

[Bill Blasic]

I too used screws for holding up the wall coverings and all the cabinets are hung on French cleats. Wiring is all run through the ceiling and down the walls to the outlets. I had even put in piping for a toilet and that would have been done if I had made the shop 12' longer, there was just not enough room for it at 36'. To use the facilities it is about a 60' jaunt.

 

[Timm De]

I use almost exclusively green wood so i would add a second(or third) room just for a drying wood/dedicated kiln room.

I think Richard Raffin put his dust and air in separate room outside his work shop as well to keep the noise down.

 

[John K Jordan]

I think Richard Raffin put his dust and air in separate room outside his work shop as well to keep the noise down.

Mine are in a sound-insulated closet, with the well-filtered air returned to the shop (no detectable particles register on the Dylos). I built the closet with staggered stud walls - when the cyclone is running it would be deafening inside the closet but we can talk in a whisper just outside the closet.

JKJ

 

[Webb Willmott]

Every dream shop needs an air scrubber. My HVAC bud drop a blower he saved for me and I started on the enclosure.

It has a 4 speed motor. It will have 2 16x25 4” pleated MERV11 filters. So far I’m into it for a whooping 60 bucks and that’s for the switch and the filters. Everything else is from the scrape bin and junk box. The only other cost may be some hanging hardware if I don’t have it in the junk box.

Next pic will be the completed unit.

 

[Odie]

A comfortable chair for when you want to turn off every last piece of electrical gear and sit quietly in the warm sun coming through the window, and maybe take a nap.

And a mini fridge to keep the root beer cold.

I was going to suggest a nice comfortable chair! Wish I had one......I've been known to sit in my car.....and fall asleep there too!

Fridge is a "must have".....especially in the summer months.

=o=

 

[Odie]

....a bathroom!

OMG that would be heaven!

=o=

 

[Tom Rice]

I was going to suggest a nice comfortable chair! Wish I had one......I've been known to sit in my car.....and fall asleep there too!

Fridge is a "must have".....especially in the summer months.

=o=

Im going to convert what Ive been using as a spray booth into a lounge i think, couple couches i made and now dont use and a nice drawing table with my old stereo for tunes in the shop, im over trying to shoot big jobs, just dont want to and just dont care! I want a nice cool spot to chill! Put some shelves in there for books and such

 

[John K Jordan]

I was going to suggest a nice comfortable chair! Wish I had one......I've been known to sit in my car.....and fall asleep there too!

Fridge is a "must have".....especially in the summer months.

Comfortable chair, YES! And HVAC for year-round comfy chair use!

When I built my shop I included an 8'x12' office just inside the entrance door. Amazing Aeron office chair, still like new after 30 years of use. Desktop computer, NAS, internet router/wifi, audio system, security system, file cabinet, library of books, equipment manuals. Good reading lights.

And a wall cabinet with glass doors salvaged from a kitchen remodel - for sample turnings and to show off pieces from John Lucas, Mike Stafford, Yo-Yo Spin, and others!

I do video editing and Photoshop stuff from the comfy chair.



And on the wall my sketch of my friend David, no longer with us, gone way too young.
Reminds me that people are far more important than any hobby.
Mechanical pencil, .5 mm.



Do have a fridge, water cooler/heater, and most important - an electronic piano for taking breaks from other shop things! Especially when hands start to cramp.

Bathroom would be nice but it's just a short, re-energizing walk up the hill to the house.
And this sign is on a tree near the shop, gift from a friend...



JKJ

 

[Webb Willmott]

John, only city slickers need a sign like that in the woods.

 

[John K Jordan]

Webb, tell them what pilots and passengers sometimes use on long flights. Male and female versions.

And it looks like "the woods" in the picture but that tree is actually in a more public barn/shop area. The sign has gotten a lot of comments over the years! Good fun. (The city slickers and most girls walk up the hill to the house.)

I got the little sign from a woman who had a rental storage unit full of stuff from cleaning out her husbands doctor's office. She said I could take anything I wanted - in part as thanks for driving 300 miles with a trailer and rescuing her two mini donkeys from high in the mountains!

I found her through an ad when looking for a microscope to buy. Instead, she ended up giving me two good laboratory microscopes, rolling exam room stools, lots of interesting tools, and a bunch of other useful things! And some not so useful - anyone need a box of drug test kits? Seems like the good doctor did something, not described, and abandoned everything in a hurry to return to South America.L

The microscopes are great. I used one to take my first photo of my own blood (400x) with the time-honored method of holding a small diameter camera lens up to the ocular lens. (Works for almost any optical device - we got a good pic of the andromeda galaxy with a cell phone camera and my compact binoculars) The 'scopes, a microtome, slides, cover slips, and a set of stains opened up a whole new world for me.

 

[Webb Willmott]

John, as you know pilots have been known to use about anything that will hold liquid in an emergency. I keep a freezer ziplock bag with the lining from a diaper in it along some tissues and a few sheets of paper towels. It doesn’t take up a lot of space, weighs almost nothing, handy when you just need to blow your nose, and the diaper lining will soak up the urine so the bag won’t leak. Kitty litter can be used but it’s heavy and harder to stow the bag because it doesn’t compress.

For those folks that don’t understand what a pea can is, the picture should help.

And as an added bonus, even an old boy such as yourself should be able to hit the opening of a gallon zip bag.

To get this back on track, my new shop does have a bathroom. It also has a work sink in the shop so I have the best of both worlds.