Andy Fox
12-12-2005, 11:57 AM
I decided to put the crawlspace to workshop conversion project on the back burner for now. It might be replaced altogether with an addition with a full basement.
I'm now working on getting my 2 car garage workshop down into the existing partial basement before I freeze or all the cast iron on my tools is replaced by rust. I worked on getting the space ready this weekend. Next weekend is probably going to be the big tool move.
Here are the main challenges and how I'm addressing them. More permanent solutions will probably come after the addition or crawlspace digout is complete. I'll try to post a machine layout tonight. Suggestions welcome!
Dust
I'm going to try some temporary plastic on the ceiling and as a "wall" to separate the shop from the furnace, crawlspace storage area, and stairs. Laundry machines will be covered with a drop cloth. My shop is still in the shop-vac stage of dust collection technology. Many chips escape, but it seems to control the fine dust pretty well with a HEPA filter. I also use one of those round shop-vac-sized room air cleaners with a HEPA filter. I'll do most sanding out in the garage, but I'm starting to learn how to scrape instead.
Noise
Will probably be a problem. Family room is upstairs with only flooring and carpeting to absorb noise.
Lighting
The basement already has 3 bare bulbs and 1 electronic ballast shoplight with 86 CRI/3000 K ("kitchen & bath") tubes. I have some 5000 K ("daylight") bulbs out in the garage, but prefer the warmer color temp., which is also closer to the existing incandescent bulbs. I added another shoplight this weekend, and the lighting seems to be acceptable and almost what I had in the garage.
Power
There's even a few 120/20 amp laundry circuits and one 240/30 amp dryer circuit that I can borrow until I decide if I want to stay down there. Much better than the single 15 amp outlet in the garage and leaving the door partially open to run an extension cord into the kitchen! (Geez, can't believe my wife and I both put up with that!) A 20 amp outlet in the garage should be required by code!
Access
Power tools will be disassembled and brought down this weekend using an appliance hand truck and some ratcheting tie-downs. ....wondering if my back, stairs, and tools survive. I don't have anything too big: contractor's saw, 6" jointer, 16" drill press, etc. I think I just might have to de-vise my workbench to get the 24" x 6' top down there though. I'll cut down long lumber and sheet goods with a circular saw in the garage. Most lumber will still be stored in the garage.
I'm now working on getting my 2 car garage workshop down into the existing partial basement before I freeze or all the cast iron on my tools is replaced by rust. I worked on getting the space ready this weekend. Next weekend is probably going to be the big tool move.
Here are the main challenges and how I'm addressing them. More permanent solutions will probably come after the addition or crawlspace digout is complete. I'll try to post a machine layout tonight. Suggestions welcome!
Dust
I'm going to try some temporary plastic on the ceiling and as a "wall" to separate the shop from the furnace, crawlspace storage area, and stairs. Laundry machines will be covered with a drop cloth. My shop is still in the shop-vac stage of dust collection technology. Many chips escape, but it seems to control the fine dust pretty well with a HEPA filter. I also use one of those round shop-vac-sized room air cleaners with a HEPA filter. I'll do most sanding out in the garage, but I'm starting to learn how to scrape instead.
Noise
Will probably be a problem. Family room is upstairs with only flooring and carpeting to absorb noise.
Lighting
The basement already has 3 bare bulbs and 1 electronic ballast shoplight with 86 CRI/3000 K ("kitchen & bath") tubes. I have some 5000 K ("daylight") bulbs out in the garage, but prefer the warmer color temp., which is also closer to the existing incandescent bulbs. I added another shoplight this weekend, and the lighting seems to be acceptable and almost what I had in the garage.
Power
There's even a few 120/20 amp laundry circuits and one 240/30 amp dryer circuit that I can borrow until I decide if I want to stay down there. Much better than the single 15 amp outlet in the garage and leaving the door partially open to run an extension cord into the kitchen! (Geez, can't believe my wife and I both put up with that!) A 20 amp outlet in the garage should be required by code!
Access
Power tools will be disassembled and brought down this weekend using an appliance hand truck and some ratcheting tie-downs. ....wondering if my back, stairs, and tools survive. I don't have anything too big: contractor's saw, 6" jointer, 16" drill press, etc. I think I just might have to de-vise my workbench to get the 24" x 6' top down there though. I'll cut down long lumber and sheet goods with a circular saw in the garage. Most lumber will still be stored in the garage.