Building a shop deep in the jungle of Hawaii.

[Cruisingram]

I will post some pics of the clearing, going to be pouring concrete mid-February, companies so backed up that was as soon as I can get the concrete truck to my property! I was going to only pour a 20x30 slab to begin with, then another 20x30, but funds have been okay, and the time it takes to get an appointment, I think I am just going to bite the bullet and do a full 40x30 first pour. The shop roof will cover 84x44. Most of the structure is made from a local "trash" tree called melocia, its super bug resistant, and perfect for what I am doing. I am going to be stacking two containers between two 40x30 slabs , so I have a "clean" "dirty" side of work.

 

[JDMopar]

I don't guess you're close enough to a lava flow to get some free concrete! Looking forward to the pics. You live in a beautiful place!

 

[1WildRT]

Something like this????

 

[junkyardhero]

i think he means something more like this:

but much larger and with the roof spanning the whole foot print. i'm guessing?

 

[1WildRT]

I don't guess you're close enough to a lava flow to get some free concrete! Looking forward to the pics. You live in a beautiful place!

Pahoa is close enough that I'd be nervous...

 

[Cruisingram]

i think he means something more like this:

View attachment 1716352830

but much larger and with the roof spanning the whole foot print. i'm guessing?

Very close to this- but no walls, and two stories of container. 24' at the peak. Cooling is the issue where I live, so breezes and high ceilings are the thing. Only the metal on the roof and the perlans will be commercial sources as far as the structure goes- I am using a "trash" invasive species of tree for most of the contruction called "Melocia". Its strong and bugs hate it. Including termites! Plus it's free other than chainsaw gas. The other "enemy" to the Hawaii jungle shop is rust via humidity. Two enclosed tool rooms are planned and will have AC and dehumidifiers in them, with stand alone solar just to run them. I am doing a commercial/industrial level of solar on this, so the big ceiling is a plus. I hope to get eventually 100 550 watt panels up there. I have already bought 20, which is more than enough for a house. I will have a 20kw diesel generator as well. That will run power- hungry things like compressors. I already have my welding generator for welding.

 

[Cruisingram]

Pahoa is close enough that I'd be nervous...

Last flow missed me by a literal mile. Next flow will hit sometime after I am dead, if it hits my area- however, the last flow made that real hard to hit my place, as there is a giant cooled lava damn above my place. However, if the every 50 year flow thing keeps happening, eventual it could get taken out. I am on what is known as a "fifteen hundred year old Kipuka"- which means my property has not been hit for 1500 years, it has flowed around my area for every flow since mankind has been in this area. No guarantee though. The 2018 flow emptied the caldera that would hit me on the east rift zone as they call it, and it takes about 50 years for it to refill. Mark Twain was here for the 1800s flow and described it in his letters FYI.

 

[Righty Tighty]

Looking forward to seeing your progress! It's neat learning the different challenges people face in different climates when it comes to shop stuff.

 

[Cruisingram]

Looking forward to seeing your progress! It's neat learning the different challenges people face in different climates when it comes to shop stuff.

There are really three main considerations 1) cooling- dripping in sweat in the tropical sun working on cars no fun. So am going with very, very high ceiling- 26ft at the peak. 2) Humidity and rain- the humidity is also part of issue one- also, the condensation in the morning off a metal roof is like rain inside! So large over hangs around the workspace, and a climate-controlled tool room to keep tools from rusting so fast. I will have tarps that can be lowered on the sides to prevent rainstorm winds from pushing the water in. 3) Mosquitoes and bugs- this is the science part of my hats I wear- I have a several tiered program for preventing bugs- our house is open air as well, with two sealed bedrooms with AC and de-humidifiers. Those are for the time the termites swarm, which is really annoying, but I won't be typically working in the shop during that time. My shop is essentially termite proof, with local wood that termites just don't like, but also I treat everything with Borate.

We hope to pour the floor before my birthday on March 7th, and then we are going to have my big 60th bday party on the slab, and hauling in a truckload of sand for volleyball court LOL>

 

[JAG_mopar]

Seems like every region has its nature problem to contend with. Hurricanes blazing heat and bugs for me

 

[barbee6043]

Cool shop work!!!!

Back in the 90s I hate a real nice 73 Charger that had spent most all its like in Hawaii!!!

 

[Cruisingram]

Any recommendations for best two post vehicle lifts for the buck?