Recommendation? New Shop. What would you have done differently?

If you are into things other than knives, a spray booth is a good investment and easy to do in the initial build. Adding it later is not as easy.

Ventilation in several places roughed in. If you are using a forge, it's important to have flexibility as to where you place it.
 
DAMNENG said:
compressed air is frowned upon because it can push foreign materials into the pores and skin causing alergic reactions, infections etc.
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In rare cases you can push enough air into your blood to cause a fatal heart attack.
 
At my work if your caught using an air hose to dust off your wrote up. 2 of thoes in 90 days and you get a week vacation.
 
I should have forked out for a trolley crane. My jib cranes can reach alot but its still a hassle to not have ability to pick & set anywhere.
 
I'm in the process of building a new shop inside a 40' sea container. I'll be running 14 dedicated 12 dedicated 20a outlets and 3 220 circuits with 2 outlets each and one breaker with my lighting broke into 3 circuits so I can light the front, center and back sections with different switches. I'll be pre wiring them so I can switch on and off from the front door or the future side door I'll be installing. All my 110 circuits will be run in 10-2 so if I need I can put a 30a breaker in if needed and the wire will be rated good. 110 and 220 will be available outside. Also one circuit for climate control unit.

My grinding area is at the end with the big doors so I can open them up while grinding and I'll be able to close off the rest of the shop to keep the dust contained in that area for easy cleaning.

My forge and anvil are right by the big doors as well so I can easily move outside. I'll be making a small job crane to pick up the anvil and stump so it can be lifted and swung outside easily.

Anyway, give you a few ideas of what I'm doing if any sounds good for your needs.
 
Bear-IX said:
Make sure you have an air hose near an outside door. It comes in handy to dust yourself off.
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As others have said this can be dangerous. If you want to go a route such as this a small leaf blower works good. When I was in construction we kept one on the job site. Mounted in a fashion to a makeshift pole slightly lower than say a shower head so you could dust off and had an old shop vac hose the slipped over the end of the outlet pipe good so you could use the flex hose to get your pants/legs. Much safer than high pressure air.
 
Love the leaf blower idea gentlemen. I like the idea of blowing the dust off rather than using a vacuum but safety is first. I'll try the leaf blower for sure, already have one with a bad tube anyway.
 
Bear-IX said:
Make sure you have an air hose near an outside door. It comes in handy to dust yourself off.
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using compressed air to dust yourself has killed numerous people. I remember seeing a graphic, meant to scare you, film in the military about this 40 years ago. there are blowoff attachments that keep the pressure at the nozzle low enough so it probably would not hurt you. Just not a good practice.
I think 400 amp service would a bit of overkill. you would need to check with the power company to see if your lines could handle it. most large houses are only set up for 200amp.
I have a smaller shop, 12x24, with outlets in the ceiling as well as the walls, so with a drop down cord, I am never further than 6ft from power. What really comes in handy are power strips with built in breaker.
The used kitchen cabinets I bought were bottoms units with drawers. There is no way I could build a 24" x 24" x 30" cabinet with 4 drawers for the $15 I paid.
 
Big doors is another thing. You may think everything will fit, but you'll regret not making something garage door size the first time you need to take a wall down to get a lathe or milling machine in... Ask me how I know....
 
scott.livesey said:
using compressed air to dust yourself has killed numerous people. I remember seeing a graphic, meant to scare you, film in the military about this 40 years ago. there are blowoff attachments that keep the pressure at the nozzle low enough so it probably would not hurt you. Just not a good practice.
I think 400 amp service would a bit of overkill. you would need to check with the power company to see if your lines could handle it. most large houses are only set up for 200amp.
I have a smaller shop, 12x24, with outlets in the ceiling as well as the walls, so with a drop down cord, I am never further than 6ft from power. What really comes in handy are power strips with built in breaker.
The used kitchen cabinets I bought were bottoms units with drawers. There is no way I could build a 24" x 24" x 30" cabinet with 4 drawers for the $15 I paid.
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I havn't tried it, but since you most likely will have a shop vac at hand, i suppose you could put the hose on the exhaust port to blow yourself off. I use a leaf blower, not to dust myself off, but to blow the dust from my shop. About every 6 months, I'll open the door, turn on my window fan at the opposite wall blowing into the shop, and blow off everything from top to bottom. This is of course done with breathing and eye protection, and AFTER putting away anything lighter than a baseball. I am always amazed at how much dust has settled in the corners, on the rafters and shelves, behind cabinets, etc.
 
BTW, I hit an auction this past weekend. I spent $120 total on a few items...

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Made out like a bandit!
 
Ok I talked myself out of a buffer, I don't need mirror finish. I see I do not need a vertical band saw , I see I can do the cutting with my horizontal band saw or my Portaband band saws or my plasma cutter . So I am building a 2x72 grinder when the frame gets here. What else is a good idea to have for doing knives ? I have a 4x36 sander/grinder w/6" disc , 1x42 sander/grinder w/8" disc , will have 2x72 grinder . I have a friend who is giving me a forge. I have a equipped metal / machine home shop. This interest in the knives is me trying to create some interest for me to get busy with all my shop toys. Retired for years now and need something to grab my interest. Getting long in the tooth and bored. I may already have all I need till I see if I am serious. Also is there a place to get templates ? Or just buy a couple different blanks and use them as templates?
 
Personally I'd recommend just getting some paper and a pencil and sketching until you find something you like.
There are loads of patterns on Bob egnaths site though, including a number of loveless designs. Drop point hunters, and bird an trout knives are usually good starting points
 
Thanks I will look for Bob egnaths . I made 2 paring knives for my kitchen from 2 small files. They work and look ok, but rust over night if not dried after washing. Thanks for input.
 
cootersplace said:
Ok I talked myself out of a buffer, I don't need mirror finish. I see I do not need a vertical band saw , I see I can do the cutting with my horizontal band saw or my Portaband band saws or my plasma cutter . So I am building a 2x72 grinder when the frame gets here. What else is a good idea to have for doing knives ? I have a 4x36 sander/grinder w/6" disc , 1x42 sander/grinder w/8" disc , will have 2x72 grinder . I have a friend who is giving me a forge. I have a equipped metal / machine home shop. This interest in the knives is me trying to create some interest for me to get busy with all my shop toys. Retired for years now and need something to grab my interest. Getting long in the tooth and bored. I may already have all I need till I see if I am serious. Also is there a place to get templates ? Or just buy a couple different blanks and use them as templates?
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Found this site. It has pages and pages of printable templates.
 
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