Larry Nall
04-05-2007, 8:47 PM
Hello Everyone:
I ran across the SMC website while Googling for ideas on shop design a few weeks ago. I’m really enjoying the site and have been lurking about since then.
I am in the midst of building my first stand alone shop. The foundation is poured, the walls are framed and sheathed, the trusses are here and we’re setting them now. I’m well along but obviously have a ways to go yet. I’ve got my ideas on the layout and finishing but wanted to partake of your experiences, as well.
The basic design is this, 26’ x 34’ with 10’ walls. Construction is all 2x4 on 2’ centers, sheathed with CDX. It’s wind certified to 140mph, so pretty much every joint has hurricane strapping. Exterior siding will be HardiePlank, roof will be asphalt shingles. The South wall (26’) has the entrance door left of center and a 9’w x 8’h double barn door right of center. There is a ramp to the barn door so a vehicle can be pulled into the shop.
Along the left side (West wall – 34’) will be the miter bench, which will hold the CMS, the radial arm saw and a bench top drill press.
At the back of that wall in the corner will be a 6’ x 8’ storage room full of shelves that will hold the hand power tools, supplies, jigs, etc. There will be no paints or solvents inside, there is an outside shed for that. Against the outside wall of the storage room will be my bench with peg board above for the hand tools.
In the center of the rear wall (North) will be a 30” belt driven fan with louvered vent, which should create a nice breeze.
In the right rear corner of the shop will be the painting booth. I don’t want to waste space on a rigid walled room. I am thinking of hanging a plastic curtain on a rail much like a shower curtain.
Heading South along the right wall (East) will be an open area where most of the large power tools will park. All will be on casters so they can be moved and parked in whatever configuration I choose for a given project.
Just inside the barn door to the right (East wall) will be the lumber rack, 5’ x 9’ shelves with a 2’ spacing from floor to ceiling. The positioning is such that lumber can be loaded straight off the truck to the rack.
The table saw will sit just front of center with a minimum of 10’ clearance on all sides. It’s the only immobile thing in the shop.
I am limited to a 60a subpanel for power supply, 1 – 220 v circuit for the saw, 1 - 110 v circuit for the compressor, 1 for the fan, 2 for the plugs, 2 for the lighting. Lighting will be 8 – 4’ two bulb fluorescents in two rows.
There is no internal plumbing, but there is a hose bib just outside the entrance.
I haven’t included a dust collection system. Initially I will do that with a portable machine. I may retrofit later.
That’s the basics, any feedback you have will be appreciated. Specifically I am wondering:
- Should I paint the concrete floor or leave it unfinished. If paint, is epoxy the thing?
- I am considering not finishing the interior. This in north Florida so I don’t need the insulation. It’s also under a heavy canopy of mature oaks, so it should be relatively cool, at least by Florida standards. Should I decide to finish the interior, what would you recommend for the walls and ceiling? Sheathing would probably be the cheapest for the walls and esthetics isn’t a big concern. Either way, I’ll paint the interior white.
- Has anyone tried the shower curtain approach to a painting booth?
- Will eight 2 bulb 4’ florescent fixtures provide adequate lighting?
- Am I making a mistake by not going with a permanent dust control system?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Larry Nall
Sopchoppy, Florida
I ran across the SMC website while Googling for ideas on shop design a few weeks ago. I’m really enjoying the site and have been lurking about since then.
I am in the midst of building my first stand alone shop. The foundation is poured, the walls are framed and sheathed, the trusses are here and we’re setting them now. I’m well along but obviously have a ways to go yet. I’ve got my ideas on the layout and finishing but wanted to partake of your experiences, as well.
The basic design is this, 26’ x 34’ with 10’ walls. Construction is all 2x4 on 2’ centers, sheathed with CDX. It’s wind certified to 140mph, so pretty much every joint has hurricane strapping. Exterior siding will be HardiePlank, roof will be asphalt shingles. The South wall (26’) has the entrance door left of center and a 9’w x 8’h double barn door right of center. There is a ramp to the barn door so a vehicle can be pulled into the shop.
Along the left side (West wall – 34’) will be the miter bench, which will hold the CMS, the radial arm saw and a bench top drill press.
At the back of that wall in the corner will be a 6’ x 8’ storage room full of shelves that will hold the hand power tools, supplies, jigs, etc. There will be no paints or solvents inside, there is an outside shed for that. Against the outside wall of the storage room will be my bench with peg board above for the hand tools.
In the center of the rear wall (North) will be a 30” belt driven fan with louvered vent, which should create a nice breeze.
In the right rear corner of the shop will be the painting booth. I don’t want to waste space on a rigid walled room. I am thinking of hanging a plastic curtain on a rail much like a shower curtain.
Heading South along the right wall (East) will be an open area where most of the large power tools will park. All will be on casters so they can be moved and parked in whatever configuration I choose for a given project.
Just inside the barn door to the right (East wall) will be the lumber rack, 5’ x 9’ shelves with a 2’ spacing from floor to ceiling. The positioning is such that lumber can be loaded straight off the truck to the rack.
The table saw will sit just front of center with a minimum of 10’ clearance on all sides. It’s the only immobile thing in the shop.
I am limited to a 60a subpanel for power supply, 1 – 220 v circuit for the saw, 1 - 110 v circuit for the compressor, 1 for the fan, 2 for the plugs, 2 for the lighting. Lighting will be 8 – 4’ two bulb fluorescents in two rows.
There is no internal plumbing, but there is a hose bib just outside the entrance.
I haven’t included a dust collection system. Initially I will do that with a portable machine. I may retrofit later.
That’s the basics, any feedback you have will be appreciated. Specifically I am wondering:
- Should I paint the concrete floor or leave it unfinished. If paint, is epoxy the thing?
- I am considering not finishing the interior. This in north Florida so I don’t need the insulation. It’s also under a heavy canopy of mature oaks, so it should be relatively cool, at least by Florida standards. Should I decide to finish the interior, what would you recommend for the walls and ceiling? Sheathing would probably be the cheapest for the walls and esthetics isn’t a big concern. Either way, I’ll paint the interior white.
- Has anyone tried the shower curtain approach to a painting booth?
- Will eight 2 bulb 4’ florescent fixtures provide adequate lighting?
- Am I making a mistake by not going with a permanent dust control system?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Larry Nall
Sopchoppy, Florida