Help laying out new shop (1 Viewer)

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workingdog

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Santa Rosa, CA
We just moved into a new home with a 1,700 sq ft garage/shop. We've been working outside up to now, so this is a real change. My son and I are arguing over how to organize it. Since I've never had an indoor shop in my life, I'm not sure how to approach it. The garage was built as 3 deep bays, one ready for a lift. We have several rigs we are working on - fj40, an fj60 we are going to turn into an fj45, a willys, plus our daily drivers. We have basic fabrication tools - welder, plasma cutter, torch, cold saw. We have a couple Home Depot tool chests with basic tools, we have various bins of parts for all the rigs, and we have bins for more stuff like - paint, painting stuff, grinding discs, welding fixtures, etc. We also about about 20 hand tools, mostly battery, some plug in - battery drills, etc. And about 6 tools that need a bench to sit on which are used infrequently, - like the drill press and the sand blasting box.

One of the first things we realized working inside, is that metal work makes a horrible mess. And while we first decided to put all the fabrication on the back wall, now I'm wondering if it should be up front so we can roll the working table outside when we are cutting and grinding.
 
We just moved into a new home with a 1,700 sq ft garage/shop. We've been working outside up to now, so this is a real change. My son and I are arguing over how to organize it. Since I've never had an indoor shop in my life, I'm not sure how to approach it. The garage was built as 3 deep bays, one ready for a lift. We have several rigs we are working on - fj40, an fj60 we are going to turn into an fj45, a willys, plus our daily drivers. We have basic fabrication tools - welder, plasma cutter, torch, cold saw. We have a couple Home Depot tool chests with basic tools, we have various bins of parts for all the rigs, and we have bins for more stuff like - paint, painting stuff, grinding discs, welding fixtures, etc. We also about about 20 hand tools, mostly battery, some plug in - battery drills, etc. And about 6 tools that need a bench to sit on which are used infrequently, - like the drill press and the sand blasting box.

One of the first things we realized working inside, is that metal work makes a horrible mess. And while we first decided to put all the fabrication on the back wall, now I'm wondering if it should be up front so we can roll the working table outside when we are cutting and grinding.
Congrats on the new home and new shop! Do you have height in the shop to add a partial mezzanine. I added a mezzanine that is 30' wide by 10' deep with an 8 foot clear ceiling height underneath. Under the mezzanine will be the detail area with workbenches, toolboxes, etc. We will be using this area (at the back of the shop) for working on benchtop projects like small assembly restorations (heaters, transmissions, transfer cases, wiper motors, etc...This detail area will be 20' wide by 10' deep and enclosed. This leaves the remainder of the covered area about 10' x 10' for a few dirty machines (drill press, welder, grinders, sanders, etc...). This area has 3 walls but for the fourth wall I was going to hang those clear plastic strips like you see in warehouses that the forklifts drive through to help contain most of the mess to the 10' x 10' area. I will also add a louver system and fan in here on the back wall to help suck out the dirty air. The mezzanine (300 sq/ft) is being used for parts inventory. I am still working on all of this along with wiring, lighting, etc, but this is the plan. My building is 30 x 48 x 15 for reference and you can follow along with the Pole Barn thread in my signature if you like.

20200825_111249.jpg
 
We don't have that much height.
 
You say you have three bays - can you make one of them a "dirty work" bay and build a divider to contain the dust and dirt from the other areas? If you post a diagram or pictures of what you're working with, it may also help people to come up with ideas.
 
Okay, sorry for the delay. But here are the pictures and some stuff.

IMG_4579.jpg


back wall
IMG_4536.jpg



from front to back
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got the tools up
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This is what $2,000 worth of Rapid-air looks like. I'll try to post how it goes as it goes up.

IMG_4577.jpg
 
From a first impression I would create a dirty area rear left, leave enough space for a decent car to park in front that way you can use it for painting in the future. Use double doors with enough height in your dirty area and put as much as possible on wheels. This way you can get everything out there for cleaning.
get a welding fume extractor and fix it in a way you can reach as much of the dirty area as possible.

Use the walls to hang tools and mount work benches, keep in mind that more work surface means more cluther, you can use closed cabinets as dividers of work areas in the back. Closed cabinets keep the space more relaxing to look at And gives you a better overview of the place.

start organizing stuff right away and try to stick with it or you will be reorganizing untill you are moving out.

You will be buying more stuff as you have the space to put it, make a wish list and keep that wish list in mind when organizing the shop.

where are you going to position your compressor?
When setting up your air lines make circle from which you tap the air connections, this will increase your capacity when working with more than one air device simultaneously.
Air tools need oil to run, make sure you add oil and water separators with lubricators at the points where you are going to use them.
 
Michael,

Great ideas, thanks. You are not away, why not drop by and lend a hand?
We are trending towards your ideas. but I have to admit, we are really struggling to get the last of the junk that came from my old house put away. All those things that don't have an obvious home.

However, the good knows is the new rotary lift is installed and very close to functional. So, that's a step in the right direction.

I'm also getting rid of (selling) two old projects (Willys, fj40 project carcass) this week, so we are getting more focused.
 
Michael,

Great ideas, thanks. You are not away, why not drop by and lend a hand?
We are trending towards your ideas. but I have to admit, we are really struggling to get the last of the junk that came from my old house put away. All those things that don't have an obvious home.

However, the good knows is the new rotary lift is installed and very close to functional. So, that's a step in the right direction.

I'm also getting rid of (selling) two old projects (Willys, fj40 project carcass) this week, so we are getting more focused.
I think you missed the Netherlands, not even allowed to travel to the States.😉
 
From a first impression I would create a dirty area rear left, leave enough space for a decent car to park in front that way you can use it for painting in the future. Use double doors with enough height in your dirty area and put as much as possible on wheels. This way you can get everything out there for cleaning.
get a welding fume extractor and fix it in a way you can reach as much of the dirty area as possible.

Use the walls to hang tools and mount work benches, keep in mind that more work surface means more cluther, you can use closed cabinets as dividers of work areas in the back. Closed cabinets keep the space more relaxing to look at And gives you a better overview of the place.

start organizing stuff right away and try to stick with it or you will be reorganizing untill you are moving out.

You will be buying more stuff as you have the space to put it, make a wish list and keep that wish list in mind when organizing the shop.

where are you going to position your compressor?
When setting up your air lines make circle from which you tap the air connections, this will increase your capacity when working with more than one air device simultaneously.
Air tools need oil to run, make sure you add oil and water separators with lubricators at the points where you are going to use them.

'start organizing stuff right away and try to stick with it or you will be reorganizing untill you are moving out.'

You mean like this??
Its a shop in action and at its worse. but it makes the clutter point
Bobmo

IMG_1997[1].JPG
 
I used a drawing of my space, measured all the main items and cut them out of paper.
I could then move them around to find the optimal layout.
I also build a storage area upstairs to keep unnecessary items out of the work space, at least I try.😙
 
I used a drawing of my space, measured all the main items and cut them out of paper.
I could then move them around to find the optimal layout.
I also build a storage area upstairs to keep unnecessary items out of the work space, at least I try.😙


You nailed it

Using mockups is a great way to minimize your rework of positioning things. Especially those items that require power and plumbing (air/water).
 
Congrats on the new home and new shop! Do you have height in the shop to add a partial mezzanine. I added a mezzanine that is 30' wide by 10' deep with an 8 foot clear ceiling height underneath. Under the mezzanine will be the detail area with workbenches, toolboxes, etc. We will be using this area (at the back of the shop) for working on benchtop projects like small assembly restorations (heaters, transmissions, transfer cases, wiper motors, etc...This detail area will be 20' wide by 10' deep and enclosed. This leaves the remainder of the covered area about 10' x 10' for a few dirty machines (drill press, welder, grinders, sanders, etc...). This area has 3 walls but for the fourth wall I was going to hang those clear plastic strips like you see in warehouses that the forklifts drive through to help contain most of the mess to the 10' x 10' area. I will also add a louver system and fan in here on the back wall to help suck out the dirty air. The mezzanine (300 sq/ft) is being used for parts inventory. I am still working on all of this along with wiring, lighting, etc, but this is the plan. My building is 30 x 48 x 15 for reference and you can follow along with the Pole Barn thread in my signature if you like.

View attachment 2464279
A garage like that would probably run you $300,000 in Seattle.
 
Good thing I'm not in Seattle because it's less than 50k here 😎
Yeah Wisconsin outside part of a vetransgroup this is a true story. A veteran came to our Facebook group and he said he was homeless. He was sleeping on a bench in a park in snow with piling on top of him. It was starting to feel the effects of frostbite. The shelters were full. So me and several veterans had to contact someone urgent like a senator and I contacted a senator in Wisconsin. She called me back right away she contacted a specialist who was a veteran that deals with this issue we got him into the hospital right away. Eventually we paid for his ride to California because he was suffering from PTSD and he's probably staying in one of the veteran hospitals.
 
Good thing I'm not in Seattle because it's less than 50k here 😎
Go on Google and type this in this will really surprise you. " Vancouver teardown " it's the first or second link. " vancouver teardown house" I think the house was built in the 40s or 50s and it's about a kilometer away from University of British Columbia. All the houses are like that when it comes to price. In the last 15-20 years the prices exploded due to money laundering.
 
the shop is still a mess, but it is working. We have the lift up in one bay. Still not happy with the work flow.

I'm about to start a significant build in the shop. frame up EV on tons I got out of my 60 and Aqualu body. I'm not going to do it in the lift bay as it will just be in the way, but I am going to need a lift. I thinking about different gantry options that will allow me to sling things like the EV motors (300 lbs) and the trans and transfer case (a few hundred pounds) and battery pack in (850 lbs) in and out of the frame. Also, use it to cycle the suspension when the time comes and allow us to lift and set the fj45 cab.
 
Here are pics. It's a disaster area, but then it's always a disaster area. There is a spot on the back wall for the welding cart, which is out on the floor working on projects.

A few good things I did. RapidAir system around the entire garage, including hose reel above the lift. It's great to have the drops everywhere.
The PO already had lots of 50amp 220v outlets. He also had a lot of 20amp 220v - which I don't know what to do with .
We just bought our 3rd little harbor Freight cart. 2 for project stuff, keeps tools off the floor - mostly - and one for the new miller plasma torch - it's a beast.

Projects. On the lift (for far too long) 1997 Ford 250 crew cab getting an engine swap (3.5 with magasun supercharger/4l60)
in the center Electric fj45 - frame and body along side motors and transmission
far bay - fj40 SOA and new axles. It really wishes it was on the lift - and it will be soon.

garage 1.jpg


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