If You Could Change Something About How Your Shop Is Set Up, What Would It Be?

rane-dig said:
So what type of dust collection system should a person be looking at? Who are the best suppliers? I'm also looking for what examples of failures and successes, stuff you tried and it worked out great, or stuff that didn't. You guys have a lot of experience that would be a great benefit to many.
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You could close up the spray booth and use that as the dust collector by ducting pipes from the booth to your benches/machines .
Richard
 
DanCo said:
Mike, I believe it may have worked but it is a time bomb waiting to go off. I am speaking from experience and PVC is like shrapnel when it does (and it will)blow up. I had to get 12 stiches in my back because of it. I am not trying to be a jerk, just be careful buddy. I know of others that have had the same problem. Also if it damages anything the insurance company will deny your claim due to not using the proper material (again experience talking). I just can't recomend you don't do this enough.
Daniel Combs
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Daniel, you are absolutely correct about the PVC air lines. This can be a very dangerous situation. No PVC manufacturer allows using PVC pipe for air lines and for very good reasons. It is not safe to do so. There are too many reasons to list why (UV degradation, Temp/pressure specifics, compressor oil degradation, etc, etc, etc,).

My first choice for piped air lines is copper tubing. Easy to work with, stays clean on the inside and easy to add drops at a later date. Second choice would be galv iron pipe. Third would be black iron pipe but it is way way low on the list.
 
Karl B. Andersen said:
I'd build mine in a different state. It gets old living in the Nazi state of Illinois.
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I lived in IL for over a year. I won't make that mistake again. Too much corruption, too many gun rights violations. The rest of the state just needs to give away Chicago to Canada.
 
Tinbasher said:
You could close up the spray booth and use that as the dust collector by ducting pipes from the booth to your benches/machines .
Richard
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So use the big fan in the paint booth to create the vacuum for the machines setup just outside of the paint booth? Interesting concept. I will have to do some tests. It does create quite a vacuum in the shop. I'm also thinking about turning the paint room into the grinding room, the only problem with that is while that big fan is running, you loose all of your heating/cooling effectiveness for the shop. I'm still interested to see what air filtration systems are being employed by you guys. Thanks for all of the replies so far. I'm getting a lot of ideas.
 
Tinbasher said:
You could close up the spray booth and use that as the dust collector by ducting pipes from the booth to your benches/machines .
Richard
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Duh! I wasn't thinking. The paint booth has a hugh filter leading to a duct on the roof. I can set it up as a grinding room, close the door, open the filter, and the rest of the shop stays climate controlled. That may be the ideal solution for me. Thanks for sparking some thought on the topic.
 
Dave Behrens said:
Lessons Learned:

1. Buying cheaper equipment, costs more in the long run. Don't pinch the pennies and buy the best equipment.
2. DUST COLLECTION per the wife
3. Install enough lighting to make God squint
4. Dedicated circut/s for your shop and equipment
5. Make sure you have the proper electricals to operate the $2000 HT oven BEFORE you buy it.
6. Open bar

If building your own shop:
1. Size your shop for the amount of equipment you will aquire, not what you have already.
2. INSULATION, keeps it warm in the winter, cuts down on noise
3. ELECTRICAL, unless you are an electrician, pay a qualified professional, again plan for what you WILL need not what you have.
4. Open bar
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"Open Bar". :)
 
delbert ealy said:
I am on my third shop since I started(25+ years ago) and I have already incorporated most of the suggestions above.
The walls and ceiling of my shop are white(or at least they started out that way) I do have a buffer with a tapered spindle.
My shop is 16 x 32 and I have 18 power boxes 13 of them are 110 4 gang and the other 5 are 220v outlets.
One of the biggest changes I made was to put and 8 ft bench sticking out into the shop and put the grinder on the end of it. This way I can move around it freely(from 3 sides) and it is still secure. I had to put a dust shield behind it to keep the rest of the bench a little cleaner, but the grinder is in the exact center of the room and I like that, because its the most important piece of equipment. My shop is insulated and heated and I do have a roll up door on one end. The one thing that my dad gave me grief for is that I have no windows in my shop.
I need a shop elf that cleans and knows where everything should be put ;)
Del
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What type of grinder are you running? KMG has been recommended to me.
 
Power receptacles would not be at the floor level. Ive got 8 receptacles and struggle to get to them. Id mount them high on the wall or from the over head or both but not down near the floor.
 
I would like to have a huge shop full of equip Lol I currently am in a 12x14 with a bm2 grinder a small profile grinder band saw and a drill press just enough room to turn and sit
 
rane-dig said:
What type of grinder are you running? KMG has been recommended to me.
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I run a Bader BIII My favorite grinder.
I have all my outlets mounted at 4 ft high.
When I put up the shop I gave the electrician a print for all the outlets. I spent at least a week drawing up plans for exactly what should go where.
Del
 
I would like it to be a dedicated space, and not have to share it with the vehicles, and heat would be nice, especially right now.
 
Like Delbert, I have all my power outlets 4' off the floor. I have several 220V outlets of various amperages spread around. It's enough, barely.
 
This is my third shop and I have learned along the way.

Things I did right: Started with enough power all of it run through conduit. Lots of outles.
Large isolated air compressor with overhead lines and drops where needed.
Large exhaust fan over the forging area.
Central vac for grinders.
Ten inch insulated floor.
Interior is all white with lots of icecream cone lights as well as 24" clear panel on south and east sides of building.

Things I wish I had done:
Wish I had built it 25 years ago:D

[video=youtube_share;1X9LPWeGIBc]http://youtu.be/1X9LPWeGIBc[/video]
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
That was a nice little video, Fred.
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Thanks Nathan! I know not everyone is as fortunate as I am and makes do with much less shop.

Deb and I have worked a lifetime to get here and I like to share that part of it also. Keep plugging away and it will happen.
I celebrate my 68th birthday this month and every morning when I head for the shop for a days work, I do so with a big smile on my face.
Life is good.

Fred
 
For grinders, I'd look at KMG and Wuertz.

"Open Bar".
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I sincerely hope that was a joke. I know too many people with serious injuries not to make sure.... don't drink and use power equipment. Just don't. Please.
 
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