Now to fill up my new workshop with toys

I started a thread in the "Introduce Yourself Here" forum and later realized it wasn't the right place for a garage build so I'm starting another one here to document my progress filling up my 30'x50' workshop.

The shop is finished and I finally got everything moved from my other barn to the new shop. IHs are all in and somewhat organized. The tools and work tables are all in but nothing is organized. It's hard to figure out where to put everything since I haven't actually done any work in there yet.

Electrical should get started next week. I am going to get 200amp service to the shop with at least 2 240V connections - 1 for a compressor and 1 for a welder. Is there anything else I should consider that would need 240V?

If anyone has any recommendations on a good 5hp, 80gal setup, I'd love to hear it. I've been doing some research and thought the IR 5hp 80gal was the one I might get but after reading all the reviews I decided against it. Tractor Supply is close and I buy a lot of stuff there so I thought they would be relatively good but evidently not. Northern Tool is not very close but they seem to have a lot of stuff I need so I'll probably have to go to Austin for a big shopping day soon.

I got probably too many inside light fixtures - 9 of the 8' fluorescent(electrician recommended this type, supposedly very bright and lights up quick in cold weather). Also got 14 - 4 gang receptacles on the inside and 2 right outside the doors.

I'll be using air tools mainly as all the binders are old and mostly rusty so the impact wrench is my primary tool at this stage.

Top priority items on my list:
1. air compressor
2. 6" orbital sander
3. 2 post lift (BendPak is probably what I'll go with)
4. parts soaker - 40 gal
5. sandblasting cabinet
6. rotisserie

Will try and get some pics posted tonight. Will also post a layout diagram of the shop.

Any advice or tips on any of the above will be greatly appreciated. I really only want to do this once...or twice...but not continuous re-arranging. TIA

One thing to consider right off the bat. Most likely the compressor will need to be direct wired to the panel as opposed to a 240 outlet.

Your lift may also be 220 (OK, 240). I'd kind of plan on it.

My plans include at least 3 ea 220 sockets where I can run the welder. Thats a biggie - take the machine to the job, not vice versa.

IF I ever get space for the lathe and mill (almost need a second building as it is!) I'll probably need to run a second circuit, dedicated 220, from the main to the shop, to its own breaker box and direct wire. Can't get 3ø out here without costing a fortune, so unless I'm real lucky everything will have to be converted (or use a phase converter).

cheechi said:

One thing to consider right off the bat. Most likely the compressor will need to be direct wired to the panel as opposed to a 240 outlet.

Click to expand...

Yep, I plan to have the panel on the interior wall and the compressor on the same wall right outside. All the compressors I want have to be hard wired. If I could just decide on which one to get.

Lassen Forge said:

Your lift may also be 220 (OK, 240). I'd kind of plan on it.

My plans include at least 3 ea 220 sockets where I can run the welder. Thats a biggie - take the machine to the job, not vice versa.

IF I ever get space for the lathe and mill (almost need a second building as it is!) I'll probably need to run a second circuit, dedicated 220, from the main to the shop, to its own breaker box and direct wire. Can't get 3ø out here without costing a fortune, so unless I'm real lucky everything will have to be converted (or use a phase converter).

Click to expand...

Didn't think about that one. I may as well get 4 just in case.