myspace atmo -

[e-RICHIE]

we are gonna relocate in a year or less and it will prolly be
where i finish up atmo. i've had 4 different locations since
starting, each within 2 properties of one another. i never
really left episcoville since landing here in 1973. the current
shop footprint sees me at 1000 square feet spread over 3
small rooms. i'm fantasizing about at least 1500 in the next
place. what do you all have for shop space, size-wise?

[steve garro]

we are gonna relocate in a year or less and it will prolly be
where i finish up atmo. i've had 4 different locations since
starting, each within 2 properties of one another. i never
really left episcoville since landing here in 1973. the current
shop footprint sees me at 1000 square feet spread over 3
small rooms. i'm fantasizing about at least 1500 in the next
place. what do you all have for shop space, size-wise?

e-ritchey: my frame building/bike shop space is 540sq'. i also have an office/gear room in my casa that is 144sq'. of course i do not have "stock" or the need for a big shipping/recieving area. our entire house is <900sq' but on 1/2 acre with another 200sq' wife-shed {i'm not allowed in it :):girl_hug: } Steve.

[sacha white]

Vanilla has 1500 sq. feet, with a 500 sq. foot loft where the office space and fitting room are.

The main floor is divided into 1/5 showroom, 1/5 storage and the rest fabrication space. Plenty of room for everything to have it's place without being crowded, or chaotic, which is important for me.

xoxo,

Sacha

[Dave Kirk]

You are asking the wrong guy about space. I have 200 feet of building space, 100 feet of office, and 100 feet of storage/photo space. So 400 feet in total. Don't know what I'd do with more.

dave

[e-RICHIE]

the "room" with my bench, fixture, park stand, and tanks is 10' X 12' atmo.

[Dazza]

for the next lathe and mill
and steam locos

Currently
Main building area 6.5 m x 7.5 m {for imperial heathens that is 25' x 21'"}
and the bike hang/ mechanical workshop 6m x 4m {20' x13'}
and a small office upstairs

and I need more room for storage
at least another room, 10m x 5m would do nicley for storage of boxes and lugs and more lugs and yet more lugs and a neat packing table for the fork lift to get to the despatch dock. :biggrin:
I reckon Ginger and I will also be making a move soon.

[Dazza]

we are gonna relocate in a year or less and it will prolly be
where i finish up atmo. i've had 4 different locations since
starting, each within 2 properties of one another. i never
really left episcoville since landing here in 1973. the current
shop footprint sees me at 1000 square feet spread over 3
small rooms. i'm fantasizing about at least 1500 in the next
place. what do you all have for shop space, size-wise?

1500 is a dream
2000 is a fantasy
and is what you really need
{1000 of that for the CC team project stuff eh!}

[Carl S]

we are gonna relocate in a year or less and it will prolly be
where i finish up atmo. i've had 4 different locations since
starting, each within 2 properties of one another. i never
really left episcoville since landing here in 1973. the current
shop footprint sees me at 1000 square feet spread over 3
small rooms. i'm fantasizing about at least 1500 in the next
place. what do you all have for shop space, size-wise?

I'm 1740 sf with about 400 of that office and the rest shop which is broken down into machine, building, assmebly and other. It's very spacious for me and I feel a little guilty about it...especially when Dave stops by.

[EnginCycles]

I can tell you what too much gets you. I have 7000 sq. ft. and about 3,000 sq.ft. is crowded and full of junk that i should have thrown out but "have the space" so i kept it (until the day we get a dumpster and fill it).

My fabricating shop is 2000 sq. ft. of sectioned off area for heat and air conditioning purposes. Good amount of space for one person but gets crowded quickly. I do however have a tool addiction and admit i have more than many.

My office is in the bike shop so the 2000 sq. ft. is just for machines and fabricating. My bicycle tools are in a 500 sq. ft. repair shop with 3 working stands and stations. My personal station is the off limits tools and bench area.

Unless it is in an area where heating the place would be an issue i say bigger is better. Obviously 7,000 sq. ft. and 2 stories is a bit much but you get my point.

[Curt Goodrich]

One of my former places of employment was 500 sq. ft and there was two of us building 150 frames a year out of that space. I learned many things from that experience but one of them was efficiencies can be had through thoughtful use of space. I also worked at a shop that had too much space. That additional space felt nice but did slow production some.

Currently my space is 750sq. feet and 150sq. feet of that is the paint booth. I'm a little crowded but it works. Now that I have the paint booth I think 1000 sq. feet would be dreamy. I have no show room.

[creighton]

Richie,

I have given this a fair bit of thought and do have suggestions but ultimately a great shop...your shop, is not about footprint alone. As you know its about what you are 'comfy' in for the day to day. And about flow of the feng shui of tool and stock storage, work space, power supply, lighting/windows for photos, walls for framed history.. et al.. as well as a space that allows your focus on what is at hand.. Hard to explain.. but a space that 'gets it'!

There are volumes concerning this topic in Fine Woodworking magazine. Mostly about small 'garage' and basement variety shops. I suggest this research because of the notion that 60% of wood shop equipment require a larger footprint than tha actual machine.. for infeed and outfeed of material. Storage of wood stock is also a HUGE issue as the stuff aint small. Well.. it does get smaller however into still usefull pieces.. I can never toss a good bit of hardwood!!

This may be helpful and make for a really good frame space. I mean what goes along the walls and what is in the 'middle' of the space. Even though the operations and scale of the work is smaller, the space around stuff to move around and pace in thought with out dodging/stepping over stuff is good.

HVAC of the space is important as well. The shop I built at work is in the middle of a large building... What I would not give to be able to open up some windows on a windy day and blow out the dust!! Alas I cant.. so collection and venting are critical and $$$.

Just some thoughts from anouther craftsman in a different medium.

Maybe if you share your thoughts of what you want different..we may be able to focus on those issues and make specific suggestions.

I know that was not your original question but I see the issue as, like I said, more than space alone.

Yer pal, C

[anthonymaietta]

I'm at about 450 sq ft. The front third is the office/fitting area. Middle third is fabrication with the frame fixture, Nichols miter mill, welding table and brazing stand in a nice circle. The third closest to the (amzing) garage door is bicycle assembly and repair. Its perfect for me right now, but I really couldn't add paint and blasting booths...which is the goal.

[Don Walker]

My situation is a lil more different than most others.

I have a total of 1600 +/- sq. feet.
This encompasses a small 16 x 11 showroom, a 12 x 10 fit studio, a 12 x 10 office (which houses the NAHBS office as well) a 16 x 14 mechanic and assembly area, a small kicthenette and 2 bathrooms, 1 of them a commode and sink, the other a shower and a urinal.
The back fabrication area is approx 20 x 40.
I have some open space in the middle area, but like the open feel of it. I could probably fit another mill or two and another lathe if I had to, but dont have room for a paint booth.

DW

[lighthousecycles]

My last shop was so small I had to take tandem frames out side to turn them around.My current 414 sq. ft. seems enormous.
Tim