I have compiled the comments I received about my new workshop and have
decided to post them for everyone’s use. If this post causes you to
think of something else that I need to add, please send it to me. Many
thanks to: Doug Mitchell, Richard George, Ken Landaiche, Lee Daniels,
Chris Kantarjiev, Eric Petrevich, Eamon A.Blaney, Mark Miller, and Eric
Miller.
The www site at the end of this has lots of good information for the
ultimate workshop.
20 by 20 isn't going to be large enough. Even for an MG. Go as large as
your pocketbook/ zoning/ SO will allow. You won't be disappointed. Think
about it. A 20 by 20 will barely allow you to walk around the body when
you have benches around the perimeter. Also, what are you going to do
when you get more cars?
As far as the electrical circuits go, I'd put in the biggest service I
could - I installed a 100 amp sub panel in my shop, which was kind of
overkill at the time (the biggest tool I had was an arc welder), but it
turned out to be BARELY big enough after I got a TIG unit... (you
probably should install a 50 amp circuit for a welder, and use extra big
(8 gauge wire) hookup in case you borrow a bigger welder sometime (then
you can plug in a bigger breaker and...). You can read the code book
yourself about circuit sizing for intermittent duty stuff... (and don't
forget to get GFIs for all your 110 plugs - working on cars is where its
really needed...).
Also, install as many lights as you can afford - you can always remove
flourescent bulbs if its too bright, but its a pain to install extra
lights when you find its too dark (painting the walls white helps a lot
too...
I'm not sure about the windows, as my shop is mostly underground, but I
would guess some facing north would be nice... (I'm not sure about
having the work bench directly under them-that way the light bounces off
the surface and into your face - this isn't comfortable for desk work.
so...
The bench should be roughly high enough for you to work at with your
lower arms parallel to it - I might also suggest you put the thing on
wheels (you can get these 1000 lb+ casters that work just fine) - that
should make it more versatile (you can put it on any wall you want, roll
it next to the car when you need to, and roll it out of the way when you
need the spot where it currently is for something...
I'm in the process of finishing a 24x26 foot garage/shop. It is already
too small. If you can double the size, you will appreciate it soon.
1) one - for the lights: general and task on different switches
one - 220V
two - more outlets than you can believe, at about 44 inches
around the walls, right around the height of the windows, come to think
of it, and for the same reason.
2,3) The windows should be a few inches higher than the bench top, which
can be anywhere from waist to elbow height, depending on what you want
to do on it. I think we agreed a few months ago that working at around
elbow height was most comfortable. So you might want benches of several
heights to get the thing being worked on to that level.
4) Water is very useful in the shop both for cleanup and a toilet.
As for (3), I have the top bench surface at 36" from the floor; which I
really like for most work --- this is probably because of the years of
lab work, where the lab benches are at 36". The one thing I would
change is the height of the surface where my vise is mounted --- it
would be better if it were about 6" lower.
Do yourself a favor - put the outlets at 50", so you can lay a 4x8 sheet
of plywood against the wall on its side for storage, and still get at
the outlets.
Forget windows. Use glass block. For security reasons, glass block is
much better.
Make sure to include a place to put some sort of lift to the loft.
It doesn't make sense to have lots of storage space up there if you can
only put stuff up there that you can carry.
Can't speak for anything but the electrical: I recommend putting in a
subpanel in the garage. 100 amps if you can, at least 60. they are
very inexpensive and then you have the option of adding power wherever
you need it. If you wire outlets with a double wide box (and get the
deep ones) and put two separate phases into each box then you can change
from 110 to 220 just by swapping out the front plate/outlet. Again,
very versatile.
You probably won't need tons of power, but you will want outlets all
over the place so they are always close to where you are working.
You might want to check out this site. Seems to have a lot of good
information.
http://www.ultimategarage.com
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