If you were building the shop of your dreams, What would you have that you don't now?

I looked for the re-cycled astero-turf stuff, haven't found it. If anyone has any thoughts I could use them.
I never considered the allergy problem, since others than my self will be in the shop I will try to come up with something better than old carpets.

I spend a lot of time sorting sheep horn seeking the right combination, plenty of bench space is a must.
I have never been around air conditioning, will probably try to get along with some super air circulation stuff first.

There have been some good suggestions and I appreciate them. I was accused of getting the deer in the headlights look on my face the other day, it is kind of spooky sticking one's neck out. But what the heck, it is not like it is one final decision, but something that can grow and change as the need arises.
I liked the thoughs about what you don't want in your shop. The hot tub is something I don't need, as well as a walrus.

Thanks Guys.
 
Windows, definately windows. I've got a 36" exhaust fan over my grinder but always seem to buy another tool instead of windows.:D
 
http://www.matdepot.com/mat2/showprod.cfm?&DID=1&CATID=2&objectgroup_id=6

Nick being both an AT and alergic brought up good points about using cast off carpet/rugs. An additional concern is fire. Regardless how much dust gets ground into old carpet you won't truely make it fire proof. Matter of fact you could be creating a greater hazard. Think of the lovely combustable filth that cutting, grinding, and polishing creates and then load a combustable carpet with it. Toss in a little cleaning solvent. Add a nice super hot ignition source like Ti sparks or slag and you've got an undesirable mixture (oxygen, ignition source, toxic combustable materials).

The advantage to antifatugue mats is that they protect your feet, ankles, knees, hip, back, muscles while not sucking up debris and you can vac them or sweep them or hose them down or even take them outside to get rid of the dust/dirt. The textured surface variety provide the same active muscle response the just-slightly-uneven brick floor does and provides the cushioning.

The argument against buying used mats is they have a useful lifetime just like running shoes and will compress over time. This reduces their protective value to you. Multiple layers don't help that much either. Of course any non-slip mat is better than bare concrete. I gotta say that the knobby mats the guy on ebay is selling look like the right type, but I'd want to get new if I didn't know they came out of business that was only open for a few weeks since they'd have been "used" for a good 2,000 hours in under 29 weeks.

Sorry guys, but the safety geek just jumped up and took control of the keyboard.

Mike
 
Right now?? I'm thinking of engraving equipment. Never done any. I've checkered but that's not much of a comparison.

Roger
 
Lots of intresting ideas! About the rubber mat, my wife bought me one a few months ago and I hadn't used it until the other day when I had to stand in front of the drill press for about 4 hours. What a difference! Old feet and legs really appriciate it.

One thing I have been thinking about for a couple of years is a scale model of my shop and tools. I build models of complicated projects on a 1" = 1' scale. It really helps plan construction. I know the 2 car garage that doesn't even have room for my old BMW motorcycle, should be enough room for what I do but it never is. Work smarter, not harder.

One other thing that is in the back of my mind that I will probly do in the next couple years is make everything moveable. I do a lot of wood work that makes a lot of sawdust. The little thrift shop blower is a help but sometimes I really need to move things to clean behind. I always find tools that have been lost.

BTW, I want wheels on everything but they must not get in the way when folded up for a stable work platform. If any one has a suggestion I would appriciate it.
Thinking, Lynn
 
There were a lot of good ideas that are now becoming real in the new shop

Status Report:
Windows, lots of them, already well received. The shop is 30 X 60, sub roof is up, tar paper rolls on a rack on top. Should be rolled out and tacked soon. The steel for the roof will be here this week, Bill Burke is bringing it down from Salmon Idaho, he found a place that offered a great deal.
Most of the electric wires are in place, plenty of 110 and 220 outlets (about every 6 feet). We have to put in a bigger transformer, that will happen soon, the power guys will handle that naturally. They got spooked when they heard about 5 hp motors for the big power hammers, tried to tell them they would only be running one at a time, but it is not that expensive. Lots of lights, all kinds with switches aplenty. Microwave, referigerator and stove also on the plans. Plus sleeping quarters for visitors (maybe).

Water is roughed in, shower almost in place. Ed Schemp suggested one real luxery, Kohler high oval stool! Why not?

I got carpet free, good stuff comming out of a school that is replacing it with new stuff, it looks good, non allergenic and easy to clean. May cover it with rubber mats, but got to save a little money for a while. Slidding doors in the back, deep cement pads for the new 100 lb. Little Giant and the Beaudry.

Office, classroom area, Cathedreal ceiling, with fans and wow stuff. Going to have enough wall space for knife collection, photos, and some special pictures. Even going to have a blackboard (1930 vintage) and a rope pull school bell.

If all goes well may try a hammer in this fall, have to wait and see. If so Blade Forms members will have first choice. Still lots of work to go, but it is happening!
Thanks for all the suggestions and support.
 
Ed, I would not run the vacume system pipes behing the wall, and be sure to have enough cleanouts. I've seen quite a few items fished out of vacume systems, and it would have been a very difficult job if the pipes were concealed behind walls. I work at a gvt' installation and watch the folks chuck walnut hulls into the vacume pipes while it is running. The sharp hulls really do a good cleaning job on buildup in the pipes. Hulls are bought by the bag, and are reusable.The cleanout with the hulls is done on a regular basis and just takes a few minutes.
 
My wife and I begin the process (tomorrow night) of securing a loan for a new addition on our house and I'm going to throw in the cost of a new forging shop on top of it all. It'll be 16x20, concrete floor, and 12' ceiling. I'll have high narrow windows on three sides, but long windows to match the door on the front side. All this will be in attempt to provide dim, but quality daylight for forging. I'll have some good fluorescents on the cieling for nighttime of course.

This snew shop will be just for forging and any hot metalworking. It'll be a grand step up from the old shed and it's dirt floor that has served me well for many years.

I'll also have a Rinnai heater installed to take the edge off in the winter, and keep me hammering away instead of feeding the woodstove in the old shed.

220 power, single-phase to the shop is standard.

My inside shop is essentially in one half on my under-house garage. It's 13x24, and is completely finished off and insulated and ventrilated (negative draw) from the rest of the house. It's actually very quiet upstairs when I am working with my grinders or my mill.
 
dont forget the coffe machine also dont like day light to much difference between brigth sunligth and the shadows it causes gave myself a nice hole in the belly because of it good for liposucking though.sounds like a nice shop am building one myself at the mo 10 meters by 7 meters dont know what that is in feet but bet ti sounds bigger
cheers ripi
 
Wonderful suggestions here! But aren't you forgetting one of the most essential things? How 'bout a DARTBOARD? :)

I'm about to move myself into a new house and shop next week and I figure the shop building phase will take me a couple of months but my new basement work area will have lots of goodies. It already has double 110 outlets every 4 feet, mounted 4 feet high around the future bench area and 220 for the future variable speed grinder. I will have to have more outlets put in when the room is further finished.

Love the chin up bar idea and the rubber mats.

Also, how about some kickass tunes? I'm putting my great little JVC bookshelf CD player down there.
 
Well, the maid problem is solved. with all that great shop stuff, there's no room for a cute little maid in one of those tiny frilly outfits.
 
Peter, great idea! I have a dartboard in my shop too.

In fact, I have a brand new, very fine, extra dartboard I will donate, if you want it Ed.

Dave

PS - John I beg to differ - there's always room for a cute little maid in one of those tiny frilly outfits. Whether she'd be well received by all parties concerned is another matter... :D
 
Wooaah! What an offer! Dave you are prince among men. That is very generous of you! :) I find a dartboard to be a terrific way to relax and unwind for a few minutes. I haven't had the space in my current shop and I've missed it.
 
Dave: Thanks for the offer, I would take you up on it in a heartbeat except for one personal problem I have, I get obcessec with stuff real easy, and could easily spend several hours a day just throwing darts.

Only one more wire or so to run, then the speaker wires for the stereo and then tar paper, (we had it down until an unexpected wind sent it to the south 80. Most of the insulation is in place, sheetrock will happen this coming week and so will the roof. Then we start the moving stuff that will be a chore.

MY old shop is small, stuff is stacked on stuff. We started looking around tonight and found a box full of early knives. I remembered the knives but havent seen them for years. Kind of humbeling to see what I started with, my first knives were very crude. Going to be a real education finding stuff that is buried aroundl.
 
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