building a workshop building

[NBC]

hi all,

i'm at the point of trying to plan to build a workshop at the bottom of the garden,

i'm thinking that i should be able to get away with 16 x 20 feet in size,

all i will need to house in the future is a medium sized lathe (60" between centres max, but more likely 40") and maybe a bridgeport mill (probably a short bed one) a decent sized workbench (can get a fami one with the tool cabinets as legs) and probably some shelving, and a proper stand for the frame jig, would you go with a mobile stand ?

is this feasible for a workshop that size ? i may never end up with a mill, i reckon i can do most stuff with a lathe, not really much into milling dropouts etc up, would have them cnc'd locally if i needed

what do you guys do as far as wall coverings go ? i was planning to build largely from 6x2 and 3/4" ply for the structure, insulated with rockwool or fibreglass, all of which aren't particularly resistant to burning !

any suggestions or advice will be much appreciated

thanks

NBC

[fortyfour]

My own shop is 20' x22'. If I lost 4' in any direction, I would begin to feel cramped.

But for structure, insulation, build out methodology, layout, heating etc. go over to the website Garage Journal. There is a giant wealth of info there and many willing to share their thoughts.

[Will Neide]

If you have any "re-source" or "habitat for humanity" type stores around, I would check them out for lumber and items on the cheap.

[sam]

do not underestimate the floor space needed for those machines, on top of having work space for yourself in front of the machine you need room on all sides, for mainanence, electronics, etc. you can cramp them in but to be more proper you should be able to walk around them and bend over, etc. Are you doing stuff besides bikes, 60" between centers is pretty big. a lathe that size 60" needs like 12x6 space and even 40 between centers is pretty good sized, and a bridgeport 6x6 minimum.

[NBC]

was looking at a DSG that's 42" between centres, but the overall dimensions are not so far different to a 50" between centres colchester triumph,
i'm in to church bells and having a decent sized bed length comes in awesome when it comes down to turning ductile cast iron clappers down in diameter / length :) (a 60" lathe for the work i used to do is considered small, used to have a 160" one with somewhere about 24" swing)

the mill would only ever be something i'd get if i had enough space, and even then i could cut tubes on a lathe if it was set up properly, so that'd pretty well do away with the need for a mill...

Fami - Storage Systems
these workbenches look awesome, i know a few companies with the tool cabinets alone from them, some of them are best part of 50 years old and still work great, seems like quite a good use of space, can get wider boxes too, with way way more draws (like probably 14) however i know they do cost quite alot, so that's something for later !

do you guys use any flame retardant paints inside just in case ?

NBC

[steve garro]

IMG_1524.JPGI built my own shop from the hole up before I was crippled.

It's 18x30' and I would have GLADLY built it bigger, but it's penciled right into the county setback codes - keep that in mind.

Garage doors come in 16' & 18' FYI and are mandatory, IMO.

Shelves are junk collectors........I am gradually tearing them out + do not underestimate the distance around a machine to operate it safely.

A+ on recycled materials, if you look at my shop the big windows are doors from a strip mall - I sawsall-ed the aluminum frames off & layed them up in the block, and then firred them out.

$10 ea.

Also the corrugated metal roof holds back ample insulation, and is reflective.

You need 220

With doing everything myself with two friends & making it all from block, building the roof from scratch, and the metal roof & electrical I built it all for around 14K
- Garro.