Starting a new workshop

[Kevin Cross]

I've been tripping over stuff in the basement long enough. Time to make a nice shop! I will still be down in the basement so I can't really do it right but I think I can greatly improve it. I had a buddy of mine who is an electrician over last night and we discussed the project. I told him what I wanted for lighting and outlets and he immediately told me I did not need that much light and I had way too many outlets. Well, I remembered all of the posts I had read on here about everyone wanting more light in their shop and never having enough outlets so I stood my ground. He thinks I'm crazy but he finally agreed.

Today all the tools and equipment came out and got moved over to the old family room side of the basement. I was amazed how much stuff I had crammed in that space. Anyway moved it over and I put up studs, outlet boxes and sheetrock (in some areas). At some point there was a large bang from the family room side and I went over to find that the ping pong table had collapsed from all the stuff I had put on it. What? It was just steel and handle material. Oh well, the kids aren't home to play ping pong any more anyway and the first grandchild is not due till February so I figure that gives me about 6 years till he will be old enough to play ping pong--plenty of time to fix the table.

My buddy said he would be back in the next week or so and we would wire it all up then I can finish the sheet rock. I figure I will take the oppportunity to make up a couple of new work benches and then put it all back together again. I figure I will try to get some pictures once I get it done. Right now it it just looks like any other basement with exposed studs, half done drywall, dusty tools and a broken pingpong table.

Kevin

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Kevin,
It's very important that you include an air filtration system. An old furnace blower encased in a box with filter racks should suffice.

 

[Kevin Cross]

Thanks for the reminder Bill. I had it in my original plans but in revisions, some how I left it off. Boy I'm gla you mentioned it!

 

[Hengelo_77]

I'm just finishing my shop. It is the 4th time I'm setting up shop in about 5 years, but it will be the last time

If you like some imput:
No you there is no such thing as to much light... there isn't.
White walls! Do yourself a favour and paint the walls white before setting up the work benches etc.
It is plesant and 'relaxing' on the eyes and it reflects more light. (staring at a dark background is tyring for your eyes)
Take your time determening the hight of your workbench(es)
I build three almost like a cockpit around me.
1st is 78cm (30.7") witch is 'writing hight'
2nd is 90cm (35.4") wich is a good working hight, sitting down
3rd is 119cm (46.9") wich is a good working hight standing up, or to clamp work on to so you have it just below eye-hight, sitting down.

I took my time finding the exact right hights and I am glad I did.
(I want to make good custom knives, so I need good custom workbenches )
I used crates, boxes, blocks of wood etc. stacked on top of eachother to try out different hights.
I just took a pen, a file etc and made the movements I'll be making. I found out that to me 1/2 an inch to high or low mattered a lot!

 

[tattooedfreak]

I am doing pretty much the same thing except I lucked out and the house I just bought already has a workshop from the former tenants! They even put in 220. Mine is only 12 by 12 and not all of it is fully usable so I plan on making something like I saw in a woodworking mag. I have a dentists worktable that is the perfect height and is on wheels so I can roll it around. The link shows a lot of projects but if you look for bench-tool system you can see what I mean. http://www.woodmagazine.com/woodworking-tips/editorial-extras/woodworking-ideas-slideshows/ It looks very handy. Good luck with your shop.

 

[Mahoney]

Take a few pictures of the walls once the wiring is done and before the sheetrock goes up. The day may come when you want or need to cut into the wall, or add an outlet...and having something to jog the memory about where the wires are will come in handy.

 

[12345678910]

White walls are a great idea.
85% ish of light is reflected with flat white paint.





IF your shop is in the basement, see what you can do to separate the shop airflow from the rest of the house


At least one well sealed door and maybe 2, top and bottom the stairs.
or seal that door and use an outside entrance.
Change clothes when leaving the dirty area to the clean area.


Spray foam insulation the basement ceiling seals the cracks well.

Make sure there is no cold air return in the shop area - don't circulate that dusty air to the house.

Try and positive pressurize the rest of the house so airflow moves from clean towards dirty.

Be dammed sure to keep any steel dust away from any laundry area, flecks of rust on white clothes won't help you.

 

[Kevin Cross]

Great ideas guys, thanks. I've started painting the concrete walls white and the wiring goes in on Saturday. The whole idea of the new shop is to put up solid walls to keep the dust contained. There is one small window in the shop and I am trying to exhaust air out thru there. I have started on new work benches. I have taken my old benches and am adjusting the heights of them so machine height feels better and gives me better visability. When I have finalized the height I will will finish the new ones. Keep the ideas coming, please.
Kevin