Shop must haves

[DentalDart]

When building your shop or setting up your shop what are some of the things you feel like is a must?

Osb or drywall on the walls? Spray foam over batting?
More electrical outlets than you think you need?
Larger breakers?

And so on.

My 40x40 is getting the trusses raised stating next week, I’m moving the garage door to the side and adding a 2nd one, then insulation and finishing the walls. 2nd garage door is so I can have lifts on both sides. Im 100% getting a 2 post but was thinking about a 4 post on the other side.

I think I’m going to do OSB covering the walls but I’m open to other options. Figured OSB was cheaper and allows me to hang things anywhere.

So if you could do it again what would you have done differently, added or subtracted from your build.

Photo of shop cleaned out and quick rendering of where I want doors.

 

[Super-Cuda]

For me....

1. Electrical outlet boxes with 4 receptacles every 8 feet on the walls.

2. Overhead air hoses with rotating mounts.

Retractable Air Hose Reel 180° Swivel Mount Enclosed Air Reel Ceiling Wall Mount for Workshop Garage, Hose Reels - Amazon Canada

3. OSB board painted with marine grade super high gloss white paint. ( this stuff is bullet proof, can be pressure washed and really brightens up the work areas.)

4. LED 4 ft fixtures mounted lower so more visibility while working under car.

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0D4J692CV/?tag=fabo03-20


5. Move compressor to an outside, insulated enclosure.

6. In a perfect world... a 4 post lift.

 

[Professor Fate]

"Must haves":
-Lots of outlets, and don't forget 220 outlets for the welders- strategically placed around the shop.
-Exhaust fans. At your main welding area, where you plan to do painting, and something you can hook a 3-4" hose or 2 to when you run an engine inside.
-Compressed air outlets everywhere, and don't skimp on the watertraps. A separate enclosure for your compressor helps cut down on background noise, too.
-LOTS of lights. You've got no windows, so plan on lots of area lighting, dedicated workbench lighting, and portable spot lighting.
-"Clean" or enclosed area for a desk and computer, and shelves for manuals.
-Beer fridge and a comfy chair for when you're "pondering" your next steps. Gotta have a place to do your thinkin'.

I used white melamine for my inside walls, easy to clean. But it's thin (my wall studs are on 16" centers, so I could get away with it), but in your situation I'd probably go with painted OSB, or melamine over OSB.

 

[missing linc]

Definitely need plenty of electrical outlets and led lights. I have found that I don't use my air tools as much since I bought Milwaukee cordless impacts, but I won't be getting rid of my compressor any time soon. You will wonder why you didn't get a lift a lot sooner, just makes life so much easier. I would recommend going with spray foam insulation too.

 

[junkyardhero]

more lights
more electrical at bench height
plumbed air right away instead of waiting
put the lift in right away instead of waiting
a closed off area for "dirty work" ie welding/grinding/blasting
(bigger) compressor outside

i've since done a lot of that, but i wished that i'd done it from the jump.

 

[Professor Fate]

One other thing- start checking into outdoor antennas. In a steel building, the reception for radio, tv, phone and wifi goes right down the drain.

 

[Backally]

Can you run a water line out? I put in a restaurant style aluminum sink with a sprayer, both hot and cold water. I use that thing all the time

 

[HemiSSDart]

Only necessities I need are more Dodge Darts, preferably a 68 GTS convertible...LOL

 

[doug 371]

Floor drain if possible

 

[fishmens67]

A loft, I've been known to disappear upstairs and take a nap.

 

[Professor Fate]

A loft, I've been known to disappear upstairs and take a nap.

The wife commandeered my loft for storing patio furniture and Christmas decorations...

 

[fishmens67]

The wife commandeered my loft for storing patio furniture and Christmas decorations...

No patio furniture or household items in the shop, in fact I can't remember the last time my wife was in the shop.
It's better that way, I'd hate to be blamed for any grease or oil that finds its way on her. It would be the end of the world or me. lol

 

[abdywgn]

The wife commandeered my loft for storing patio furniture and Christmas decorations...

She doesn't have her own garage/storage space?

 

[DentalDart]

Only necessities I need are more Dodge Darts, preferably a 68 GTS convertible...LOL

I have one of those lol just wish it was a 4 speed

 

[Professor Fate]

She doesn't have her own garage/storage space?

Let's not give someone any ideas!

 

[DentalDart]

Can you run a water line out? I put in a restaurant style aluminum sink with a sprayer, both hot and cold water. I use that thing all the time

I’m pretty sure I have water out there, right behind the back door. I did plan on a good wash sink as well. I also have this pipe, looks like water but it’s always been capped off. I have a water spicket in my other shop as well.

 

[DentalDart]

The wife commandeered my loft for storing patio furniture and Christmas decorations...

She doesn't have her own garage/storage space?

I actually asked the contractor to close in the middle walkway between my 2 shops because my wife has so many decorations. I was going to use it as storage. But instead we have a 6-800sq ft crawl space we can walk in and I’m going to pour a 2in concrete pad and turn it into a storage space for her decorations. We are doing an addition on our house this year and that’s when I’ll have that done.

 

[fishmens67]

Ten years ago, I added a washroom with a toilet, it replaced the funnel attached to the wall with a hose through the wall. lol

 

[Professor Fate]

Ten years ago, I added a washroom with a toilet, it replaced the funnel attached to the wall with a hose through the wall. lol

I don't have water in my shop, so a washroom is out of the question. But I am seriously considering an outhouse next to the door. I'm getting old and it's a long walk (or sprint?) to the house!

 

[DentalDart]

@Super-Cuda

Currently have the receptacles every 6 feet.

Lights I have almost 20 4ft led shop lights they look like these, I used the same ones to light up my barn last year. I put outlets on the truss beams and plug the lights in to the outlet. If one dies, I throw it away and put another one up. This old halogen shop lights have been dying and ballasts go out which is a pain in the ***.

Yes to the air hose thing, I’ve looked at them but haven’t found the right spot to put one yet. Plus I need a bigger air compressor and haven’t decided on one, I’m leaning towards the Eaton one.

I’m getting a 2 post lift to start and I’ll do a 4 post later down the road. Thinking the 2 post on the side by the current workbench and then the 4 post on the other side.

 

[ProjectBazza]

The wife commandeered my loft for storing patio furniture and Christmas decorations...

Gotta give you a gig 'ol red X on this one, Prof!

My shed/shop is mine, and once it's done there's not going to be any Christmas tree storage, deck/patio furniture, or shelves for fancy pots and gardening things. Hell, it's not even going to house the mowers and snowblowers, if I can help it.

It's not a "she shed", and if she wants one, she knows how to contact the Contractor we always use!

 

[dadsbee]

Galvanized reflective ceiling..

Beverage "fridge"...

 

[Professor Fate]

Gotta give you a gig 'ol red X on this one, Prof!

View attachment 1716494842

My shed/shop is mine, and once it's done there's not going to be any Christmas tree storage, deck/patio furniture, or shelves for fancy pots and gardening things. Hell, it's not even going to house the mowers and snowblowers, if I can help it.

It's not a "she shed", and if she wants one, she knows how to contact the Contractor we always use!

Good luck with that!
"Mine and "Hers" logic gets thrown out the window the first time she catches me washing transmission parts in the bathtub or baking painted parts in the oven!
Besides, she was on the roof right next to me nailing down shingles etc. when I built the shop... She's earned it.

 

[DentalDart]

Galvanized reflective ceiling..
View attachment 1716494843
Beverage "fridge"...
View attachment 1716494844
View attachment 1716494845

I love your setup as always. You need anymore kids or grandkids?!

Does your fridge stay cold? I’ve looked for some old Coca-Cola vending machines but holy cow they are pricey, that 7-up one might be more my speed!

I have the walls and roof in my smaller shop lined with Tin but it’s like 4x the price and during the summers it sweats if there is no HVAC, which is what worries me. Don’t want my **** boxes and crappy parts to rust.

 

[green72]

Spray foam for sure!!! Use closed cell foam on the bottom 2 or 3 feet the mice will not chew on closed cell! They will tear the **** out of open cell