New Shop

D

David Gladden

Joined
Oct 16, 1998
Messages
24
I'm trying to put a knife shop together in my used to be tool shed. It's an 8'x16' shed/now shop. Couldn't stand seeing those rakes and shovels taking up such valuable space. My dilemma is the wiring for the shop. Any suggestions or recomended reading material would be appreciated. I'm gonna start with a sub panel and work my out to 8-10 115v outlets and maybe a couple 210v. And a couple of florescent shop lights.
Got any ideas gentlemen?
Dave
 
Hi David
The first thing I would suggest is that you contact Nick Wheeler and ask him for a copy of the shop he last used. He set up an amazingly compact shop area and turned out some of the finest knives I have ever handled.
For the shop itself I would recommend several separate circuits so you can run many things at once without tripping breakers. Some at floor level, some at bench level and some in the ceiling.
I would use Halogen lights instead of the regular shop lights. They throw WAY more light and will eliminate a lot of little lamps sitting here and there all over the shop after you realize you can't see without them
smile.gif
Home Depot has really good ones for $35.
Anti-fatigue mats allow you to work a few hours and then walk normally
smile.gif

Just my own opinion, and I am sure you will gets lots of advice from others here, too. Post a few pics for us when you get it done- some of us are always looking for new shop ideas.
Good Luck!

Dave Evans
Tenino, WA


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UsedKnife.Com
 
Wow, what a compliment!
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Thanks Dave!

I think Dave pointed out some of the biggest things that don't seem like a big deal until you don't have them.

I think you will find lighting to be a lot more important than you may realize.

I have several flourescents in the ceiling, with many task lights at that. Like Dave said, light it as well as you can and you most likely won't have too many task lights.

I have recently purchased some halogens and am impressed by the output of these lights.

I'm trying to get some quality photos of the shop, and if I ever do, I'll send them your way.

Any questions I will answer via email, I'd hate to ramble on too long here.

Good luck!!!
Nick
 
If your going to run a wire out from the house for a sub panel, you might as well run a cold water line out too. It's nice having running water. As for the electric, I would wire a couple outlets with the lights. Use them for things you don't like to leave pluged in, like toaster oven, electric burners and soldering irons.
Like they said, you can never have to much light.
Joe
 
Dave
You can never have to many plugins or to much light!!!! Once you think you have enough add 5 or 6 more plugins and keep them ALL on seperate breakers. My shop is 12 X 14 and I have 12 110v and 6 220v outlets.
Remember to put you plugins above bench height so you don't have to go crawling around on your hands and knees to get to them and use outdoor weatherproof covers on them to keep the dust out of them.
Also do not forget a fresh air inlet or a fume exaust fan. Old kitchen range hoods work great and they have a light in them also.
Just a few things to remember.

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Robert
Flat Land Knife Works
rdblad@telusplanet.net
http://members.tripod.com/knifeworks/index.html
 
Air circulation!!!!
If you ever do Micarta or even Stag you will be glad you built this into your initial design. I have a ceiling fan over the grinder along with a 20" fan that blows out the Garage/shop door. And a dust collector under the grinder. One dedicated circuit.

Helps alot. Consider using a dust collection system too boot. I recently went to a party at D'Holders house. He has a great Dust collector with pipes under each wheel, both grinding and buffing. Vents it right out into the back yard (Well the dirt by his shop). No bags no muss no fuss. NO FIRES from sparks being sucked into the collection bag
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Use at least a 3/4 to 1hp fan. Trust me its worth it!
PS: Im wish I had a real shop to work in.

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RHankins Available knives
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=205453
 
I too am completing a shop. It's funny how you seem to always be doing something to the ol' shop while turning out some work in it also. In fact, I just got it insulated about 10 days ago. Still got a little of that to finish up.

My shop is wired but doesn't yet have juice flowing to it. I have a 12'X12' shop that has 3 outlets on one wall and two on the adjacent walls. They are at about 50" above the floor which places them above bench height. Yeah, ya' don't want to have to bend over and crawl under the bench and over the stuff you store under them to get to an outlet. I have heard that flood lights or halogens are best since flourescents don't do very well when it is cold....takes a while for them to get warm enough to reach maximum light intensity. I plan to install either halogens or floods. I also have three windows: ventilation as well as natural light on bright sunny days. My plan is also to have two circuits: one with the main overhead lights and a row of 2 or three outlets and then the other circuit will have the remaining outlets.

>> DeWayne <<
 
Gentlmen,
I thank you all for you help and ideas. I am definitaley going to have good ventilation,a couple of windows are going in and a roof vent fan. The halogen lights sound like the way to go, all though there will be a couple of work lights and a magnifier with light. The room seemed more than big enough untill I started moving my equipment in. Your right, its never big enough. Again my thanks to all, and I will try to post some pics when it's completed, or at least when it mostly done 'cause I 'm sure I'll be adding or modifieing for ever.


Dave
 
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