My Spring project for this year is to finally build a small shop in the back yard. Due to space constraints it has to be pretty small, probably 8'x12'. It will have 110 electrical and internet. Besides the basics, i.e. hand tools and repair stand, what are some important tools or design ideas that I should consider? Our house doesn't have a garage so it will be nice to finally be able to work on bikes in a dedicated space instead of the dining room. My wife has requested that I attach a chicken coop to the back side. How very Portland of her...
Insulation. Hooks to hang stuff. Shelves for parts. Bins for smaller parts. A magnet to find and pick up those small parts after you drop them. Good lighting. Add more lighting after you think you have good lighting. Antiseize (or an impact gun).
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Insulation. Hooks to hang stuff. Shelves for parts. Bins for smaller parts. A magnet to find and pick up those small parts after you drop them. Good lighting. Add more lighting after you think you have good lighting. Antiseize (or an impact gun).
I plan on fully insulating and sheet-rocking. Lighting is definitely an important consideration. We are remodeling the kitchen so some of the old cabinets will wind up in the shop. I've managed to collect a good assortment of small bins and tubs working as an electrician for 15 years. Plus I'm anally retentive about keeping my stuff organized and labeled. It will be connected to the home security system and I'll have a security camera on it.
For lighting; think about putting some lights on the wall around waist level. I had this setup in my last garage and it took care of those annoying shadows you can get when working at night and all of your light is directly over head
Are you gonna have water & heat? That'd sure be nice. One or 2 chairs or stools & some sort of sound system would come in handy, as would a phone unless you use a cell phone exclusively. A work bench with a vice & maybe a small grinder is something you'd use a lot. I'd suggest at least 1 window. I'm assuming a wood floor. I'd cover the floor with some kind of mat. At least 1 window or box fan for the summer if you're not planning to have a small window AC. I'd probably cover, or almost cover one wall with pegboard.
You know that little thing in your head that keeps you from saying things you shouldn't? ......Yeah, I don't have one of those..
Rubber floors. I have 4'x6'x3/4" horse stall mats that I got at the ranch co-op for about $60 each. Cut them with a jigsaw and a wood blade, they will save your back and are nigh indestructible. My shop cabinets (I like lots of drawers) all came from CabParts in Grand Junction, CO. Even with freight, they cost less per pound than grapes.
Lots of double duplex outlets along the bench. every 4' is reasonable.
Lighting for sure, but don't reuse any magnetic T12 stuff. Go all T8/electronic for obvious reasons.Shield them with reflectors or valences to reduce glare. I added scraps of LED strips to the legs of my truing stand, they make wheel work much easier.
Extend the worktop 2" past the cabinet face for easier clamping. Use threaded inserts into the top to allow a solid but removable bench vise.
I'd like to do plumbing but that would be a budget buster. However I might build it with plumbing and have the service lines run to it when the money is there, Lighting is a good thought. I'll have to add more than a couple ceiling mount florescent bulbs for sure. I'm going to use as many recycled materials as possible although I can see spending a fair bit on the lights. I'm hoping to find a floor or bench mount buffing wheel on CL in addition to an air compressor. Regarding "artwork", this will be a space where I share my passion for bicycles with my family, including my young daughter and the neighbor kids. 'Nough said.
For lighting; think about putting some lights on the wall around waist level. I had this setup in my last garage and it took care of those annoying shadows you can get when working at night and all of your light is directly over head
Optional of course: Love sac, Disco ball, subwoofer, smoke machine, black lights, laser stage lighting, cheap guitars, industrial beverage opening device. This can lead to more of a dual purpose area though...
I was very content with the little work shop that I had until I looked at the pictures on mtbr. I showed my fiance and all she could say is uh oh, we're in trouble Looks like I get to do some shopping.
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[QUOTE=siclmn;3844317]Why don't you just build a 2 car garage with a shop inside of it?[/QUOTE
Lack of funds, lack of space. Our yard is really small. I'm actually going to redo the entire back yard. The only thing that will remain is the kid's cedar play structure and the existing tool shed. Our neighborhood was developed with single car detached garages off the backs of the houses with alleys running between them. Our house wasn't built with a garage. Never really had a use for one as we just park on the street out front. Many good ideas in this thread. Is it just me or do home-brewing and cycling go hand in hand? I'm already planning on saving a corner of the shop to use as my brewing space. I've been away from home for 10 months and apart from my family for the last three months. I finally got a job in Portland that will allow me to move back. I'll miss the nice winter riding weather here in AZ but I'm counting down the days until I go.
A small but tall rolling table for tools while working on the bike in the stand.
A work bench big enough for a truing stand, built in a way that you can sit on a stool in front of it comfortably for a while.
As mentioned, an air compressor.
If you can't run plumbing, at least a way to clean parts. Maybe a wash tub/sink with a 5 gallon bucket under the drain and a water supply up top. You could maybe rig up a hook above the tub and use one of these: Seattle Sports Camp Shower - 5 Gallon - Free Shipping at REI.com
Or just pull a hose to the shed from the house. Have a window over the sink. Don't drain solvents into the yard (obviously). But if you are just rinsing dirt off stuff, and run a hose from the house, maybe a way to drain the tub/sink to the yard.
A comfy old chair to sit and watch pron and/or the TdF on your computer.
Windows. With an interior plywood cover on hinges, with a lock on the bottom, to keep people from seeing what you have and breaking in at night.
Maybe a cheap alarm system on the door and any larger windows. And a very good lock on the front door.
Storage in the rafters.
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Originally Posted by locustfist
for those that only have kegs occasionally but take a while to drink em
I showed my fiance and all she could say is uh oh, we're in trouble 
