Home Shop building recommendations?

RogerN · 2009-09-06T20:53:31+00:00

At my previous home I had a ~30 X 50 building with concrete floor that I used for my home shop. Moved to the country maybe 5 years ago and don't have a shop building or garage, just a car port and a wooden storage building.I'm trying to come up with the most cost effective home shop building I can. I don't want to have to depend on any income from the home shop but I think I can get some business if I get my shop set up. Part of my motivation is that my son is now 11 and I'd like to teach him machining, controls, and automation. The con is that every dollar I put into a shop is a dollar not paying off something else, but may be dollars well spent (perhaps my shop building would pay for itself and give my son some valuable experience).So what type of building is most cost effective? (All metal, pole barn with metal or wood skin, or ?) Would anything (wood, metal?) be good for a smaller building for now but be expandable later if I needed more room? I assume I need a concrete floor for the machines (I have 3 mills and 2 lathes, plus a press, welders, saw, and wood shop tools) would it be advisable to save money with a part concrete, part rock floor?RogerN

T

Terry 17 years ago

The extra space for mowers etc. is a great idea. If I had it to do over, I'd do the size you're planning or something close to it. My

20x20 is wood built on a concrete slab, about 10 yrs ago or so. The concrete was only about $400. I'm going to have to replace some of the siding on the back wall---not now, in about five years or so---because I didn't arrange proper drainage and the bottom of that siding was continuously damp.

But if I had to do it over again I'd still use wood, I'd just be sure that the vegetation at the back of the shop was removed periodically to minimize splatter and the constant damp. The mulberry tree I cut down when I built the shop has regrown to its original height...

Depends on how much time and money you have. At this stage of my life (mid-50s) I am discovering that I am less willing to spend my time, more willing to spend money. If I had it to do over I'd probably build it myself again, but not to save money; rather, for the enjoyment of "I did it all myself".

Best -- Terry

Vote

M

Michael A. Terrell 17 years ago

All that stuff, and you still don't have a working transporter? ;-)

Vote

P

Paul Hovnanian P.E. 17 years ago

EE.

Vote

M

Mark Rand 17 years ago

Given your weather, try looking at Structural Insulated Panels. Cost more than steel sheet to buy but probably less, once you add in insulation and building labour.

My (UK) Shop is 5"PU foam SIPs with cement bonded particle board on the outside and OSB on the inside (R30 in US money). Almost airtight and very comfortable. Even with your cheap power, heat and cooling savings will add up over the years).

Mark Rand RTFM

Vote

B

Bruce L. Bergman 17 years ago

Actually, it was that missing Illudium Q-23 Space Modulator...

Didn't you not-notice the not-"Earth Shattering Kaboom" that didn't happen?

-->--

Vote

R

rangerssuck 17 years ago

Actually, that was an Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator... I don't think Illudium has a 23 isotope.

Vote

G

Gunner Asch 17 years ago

No s*it? Then who got the Transporter? I wonder if the auctioneer had done a deal with a dealer before the auction.....hummmmmm?

Gunner

"Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimum food or water,in austere conditions, day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon. He doesn't worry about what workout to do--- his rucksack weighs what it weighs, and he runs until the enemy stops chasing him. The True Believer doesn't care 'how hard it is'; he knows he either wins or he dies. He doesn't go home at 1700; he is home. He knows only the 'Cause.' Now, who wants to quit?"

NCOIC of the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course in a welcome speech to new SF candidates

Vote

M

Michael A. Terrell 17 years ago

Moron! Why do you think its so explosive? It wants to return to its natural state, and it can only do that, one way.

Vote

M

Michael A. Terrell 17 years ago

That's pew36. Hear it, right from marivin's own mouth:

formatting link

Vote

P

pyotr filipivich 17 years ago

Let the Record show that Bruce L. Bergman on or about Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:28:20

-0700 did write/type or cause to appear in rec.crafts.metalworking the following:

I've heard about those. Must have been out of the building when it happened.

Or was I in the building when it didn't happen?

"As I was climbing up the stairs I met a man who wasn't there. He wasn't there again today. I think he is in the CIA."

- pyotr filipivich We will drink no whiskey before its nine. It's eight fifty eight. Close enough!

Vote

P

Paul Hovnanian P.E. 17 years ago

You'll probably want something weatherproof.

If you were in a milder climate, I'd suggest something like a carport (roof, no walls) with a small workshop area attached to one end. That workshop area would contain all of your expensive and fixed equipment, be enclosed, insulated and maybe heated. Multiple sets of double doors, or a couple of roll-up doors between the workshop and the carport could be opened so assembly and large parts could be handled in the carport.

Proper drainage, footings that extend a few inches above the slab, and use treated wood where in contact with any concrete should help keep it from rotting.

Vote