New Shop Ideas?

[BillHilly]

Finally decided that this is the year we are going to build a new shop on the farm. Already getting a little bit overwhelmed trying to plan the setup. I would really appreciate any tips,advice,experiences all you smart farmers could share with me about what to do,not to do etc. Thanks in advance

[dabeegguy]

Shops that I have been in that had under floor heat were very nice. Its a problem if you only use the shop occasionally though! If you plan on doing a bunch of welding you want to include some kind of heat exchanger on your ventilation system or you will get to pump lots of heat outside. A nice office in the shop lets you move your office from the house getting you into to the 'going to work' mode. Nice office would include bathroom and some kind of kitchen so that you take breaks there in busy times too! There are lots and lots of ideas so it would help if you gave some direction on what you are actually looking for.

ps I've never been in a shop that was too big but lots that were too small!

[miniskfarm]

Look up the Prairie Farm Reports shops video collection, there is always ideas on those shows I would never have thought of.

[BillHilly]

The shop is 60x120. I do a fair bit of welding And also want to be able to wash in it so good ventilation is a must have. Have already been making rough plans for a fairly large office with a bathroom. Really looking for any ideas about things like lighting,compressed air,workbenches,tool storage,parts storage-things like that. I ordered the pfr shop dvd pack last week, im sure it will be full of good ideas, but any ideas i can get from here will be greatly appreciated. Im only going to do this once so i want to try and get as many things right as i can!

[Caseharvester]

For junk and spare parts that we didn't want to look at in our shop, we put in a storage container we bought and put on the back side or our shop. Good idea to keep the shop less cluttered. And radiant heat is a great option if you don't want to spend the money of the floor heat. Plan out your doors over and over, and make sure you have a small door to drive ur pickup or 4 wheeler in and out, so you don't have to open the big one every time.

A few things we did and or wished we did.

[BillHilly]

I think overhead radiant is the way we are leaning, floor heat initial costs are just too high. For doors we are thinking 40 ft bifold and two 20ft overheads

[Caseharvester]

Ya. the radiant heat is great. We always turn it way down at night and turn it on when we want to work. Those hydraulic doors are nice, but we thought we could never make a door big enough to drive a combine in with a header on so we went with a smaller door.

[harvestmoon]

You should think about putting in a smaller door for your pickup so you don't always open the big door in winter. (save heating cost)

Joe

[QT550]

Don't forget to cement in a base for a vise in the middle of welding area.
Nice to walk around when welding something in the vise. If you are putting in an office think about putting living area above. Might be able to rent
out once in while to hunters or good place for the mother-in-law.

[goncutn]

Go floor heat, may cost more upfront but is much better. I have both and it is by far superior. The floor dries after bringing in vehicles or equipment with snow on them. T5 lighting is the only way to go, I have had 4 different types of lighting and it is the best yet. I run pex for airlines in the walls and they are still holding up after 14 years and at 145 psi. Ventilation for the welder and plasma are a must or you will be painting walls like I did already. We have a seperate room for specialty tools, welders, plasma, torch cart, toolboxes and that is where we have all our bolt bins and bins for pipe fittings and cupboards for different kits. We also have all benches on wheels so we can move them where we need them. I even put the presses on wheels for convience. Good luck