Building a home machine shop what did you wish you had?

[Ajwilly96]

I’ve decided to go all in and build a section of my pole barn as my home machine shop. Right now it is a blank slate with thick concrete floors.

It is 19’6” wide, 14’ deep with a 10 foot ceiling.

So far I plan to run a subpanel into that room for electrical to power equipment, I will be hanging metal siding that faces The alley of the barn, a set of double metal doors measuring 72”Wx80”H that will be directly across from a big metal sliding door so I can easily get a skid steer or trailer right up to the door.

I also plan on having the area covered with closed cell spray foam insulation, then hanging fire resistant drywall. I would also like to do a self-leveling epoxy coat on the concrete.

I was thinking a wall-mounted AC unit for the summertime, and a pellet stove for the winter time.

How does all this sound? Is there anything you wish your shop had that it doesn’t?

 

[Judd]

Definitely wish I had epoxy floors. Air plumbed into where my machines are and bigger doorways. I also think make it even bigger than you think you’ll need.

Good luck, take pictures and share

 

[Ajwilly96]

Definitely wish I had epoxy floors. Air plumbed into where my machines are and bigger doorways. I also think make it even bigger than you think you’ll need.

Good luck, take pictures and share

Here’s the start! Since my wife wants to homeschool I told her the boys needed to commandeer an extra stall for machine shop class!

Forgot to add I also plan to add a forced air exhaust vent

 

[misser]

a bigger lathe would be nice

 

[Tucker65]

I would forget the pellet stove and just install a mini-split ac/heat unit

 

[Hal]

Bathroom
White walls and ceiling, seal or paint the floor before you move a single thing in the shop.!!!
Shut off main power switch and lock out by the door on your way out and a power surge protector for machines and computer and the lock is to keep kids out of machines.
Lights, lots and lots of lights. The world gets darker as you age and pretty quick You can't see past the end of your nose.
Plan on room for expansion. When you build a shop it's already to small before it's done.

Keep posting progress.

Hal

 

[AlNyhus]

I would forget the pellet stove and just install a mini-split ac/heat unit

This^^^^^^

 

[STORM2]

Gantry Crain !

 

[Ajwilly96]

Gantry Crain !

Just curious, what would you use this for?

 

[Ajwilly96]

Bathroom
White walls and ceiling, seal or paint the floor before you move a single thing in the shop.!!!
Shut off main power switch and lock out by the door on your way out and a power surge protector for machines and computer and the lock is to keep kids out of machines.
Lights, lots and lots of lights. The world gets darker as you age and pretty quick at can't see past the end of your nose.
Plan on room for expansion. When you build a shop it's already to small before it's done.

Keep posting progress.

Hal

I thought about a bathroom, but it’s easy enough to just walk out the barn door. Also planned on putting in several LED lights, and of course a deadbolt for the kids! Haha

I think if I went any bigger I would probably get a fully dedicated building at that point

 

[LVLAaron]

* Figure out a healthy amount of electrical outlets; then double it. Especially 220 outlets.
* Take one of those stalls and make it a "dirty" room. Sanding, grinding, etc in there and in there only.
* Figure out a way to be able to wash your hands. Even if it's a utility sink and a 55 gallon drum of water you keep upstairs.
* Lighting; LOTS of lighting. Lots.

Regarding the Mini split - Absolutely. Best money I've ever spent. However, in the super cold months, they do struggle. I'm just south of you in Louisville and there are about 3 months where in the winter where I really wish I had a pellet heater or other source of heat.

https://www.amazon.com/ComfortBilt-HP50S-Pellet-Stove-Arctic/dp/B09JWW71DN

These are a small investment... but there are government rebates and energy credits etc... I plan on getting one this fall.

 

[Ajwilly96]

* Figure out a healthy amount of electrical outlets; then double it. Especially 220 outlets.
* Take one of those stalls and make it a "dirty" room. Sanding, grinding, etc in there and in there only.
* Figure out a way to be able to wash your hands. Even if it's a utility sink and a 55 gallon drum of water you keep upstairs.
* Lighting; LOTS of lighting. Lots.

Regarding the Mini split - Absolutely. Best money I've ever spent. However, in the super cold months, they do struggle. I'm just south of you in Louisville and there are about 3 months where in the winter where I really wish I had a pellet heater or other source of heat.

https://www.amazon.com/ComfortBilt-HP50S-Pellet-Stove-Arctic/dp/B09JWW71DN

These are a small investment... but there are government rebates and energy credits etc... I plan on getting one this fall.

I have a hobby farm on the side, so my idea of getting a lathe went from just a lathe to a nice mill, floor drill, and maybe a different area to weld very quickly haha

There is a hydrant about 30 feet away so it should be easy enough to extend that waterline.

 

[mike mccormick]

Make the door as high as you can. Will allow the easy use of machinery to get equipment in and out.

 

[Hal]

Frame up for a bathroom w/shower, you can alway finishing later.
Run water inside. Your wife and kids will thank you when they have to pack water to the horses.
A dirty room is a great idea and it's great when you can wheel your grinder or welder outside.

Hal

 

[Fuj]

I would forget the pellet stove and just install a mini-split ac/heat unit

When my son built his shop/garage. He installed heated flooring and
reverse flow fans in the ceiling. He just paid a chunk of change to get
rid of the florescent lighting and replaced them with LED tubes. These
cut the lighting bill to almost nothing. The initial cost won't take long
to recover.

 

[boltfluter]

As you mentioned, get a very good exhaust fan set-up to get rid of fumes from cutting fluids, Cerakote, and coolant just to name a few things. Also works great to pull in cool air in the morning, before things heat up in the summer. Looking good.
Paul

 

[AlNyhus]

Regarding the Mini split - Absolutely. Best money I've ever spent. However, in the super cold months, they do struggle. I'm just south of you in Louisville....

Being from South Dakota, I'm interested in those super cold months you speak of....

Just kidding. -Al

 

[Walt Krafft]

I ditched the wood stove and window unit for a minisplit system 6 years ago. Good move. Ditched the minisplit last year when it took a month to get parts and put in a regular hvac system. Better move. It keeps up winter and summer and my electric bill has gone down.
A sink is an absolute must have!!!!
Do not try to store common raw materials in your work room.
Radio or tv for some tunes.

 

[Ajwilly96]

Being from South Dakota, I'm interested in those super cold months you speak of....

Just kidding. -Al

You know I was in Wyoming from end of January to the second week of February this year. And it was almost 60 every day!

 

[tominboise]

As mentioned above, a separate area for cutting, welding and grinding would be awesome.