Bofus' 40x60x14 dream coming true

[e-tek]

Back to the compressor...and keeping the water drainfrom freezing...no-one replied. I want to move mine outside to, but am concerned with that. You'll need to drain it into a bucket when it's below freezing out, or outside when not. And it's WAY colder where i am!!! I.d have to heat the room quite a bit. Maybe i'll start a thread.

 

[bofus]

Thanks again for the kind words. I would appreciate hearing from people about whether freezing is an issue I should be concerned about. I don't think it would take a big heat source to keep the bottom of the tank above freezing...maybe just a light bulb since the walls are insulated. I put in a piece of 1/2" copper tubing through the foam insulation that elbows down outside to use for condensate blow off. You can just barely see it behind the trim on the right side of the first picture....but it isn't plumbed yet, so I'll try to get some better pictures of it when I get that done.

I painted the outside including the trim. When I put the plastic trim piece around the air inlet, it didn't look right...so I decided to trim it out like the rest of the compressor enclosure. I thought I had some pictures of the outside when the painting was finished ...but I don't... so I'll have to add them next time.

The compressor hook up is made with long electrical and hose connections. This allows me to move the thing around without having to mess with the wiring and it allows the compressor to be positioned so that the hose slopes upward to the building. Rather than mounting the compressor to the floor using concrete anchors, I installed rubber insulator pedestals that have rubber traction material on the bottom. It works perfectly and doesn't need anchoring.

 

[checkthisout]

I am in the same State Washington (King County) as you. Congrats on the beautiful project.

I have a down payment and permits in for a 48x40x16 that will go up (hopefully) after the New Year.

As far as the condensate in the compressor tank freezing, it's a non-issue. So little condensate collects in the tank to begin with under normal conditions. When it's freezing out there is almost zero moisture in the air to begin with. And if a little bit of moisture freezes in the bottom of the tank, so what? If it's frozen in there it's not getting into your air lines or causing any harm to the equipment.

 

[bofus]

I am not concerned about freezing in the tank or in the discharge lines. I am concerned about the drain below the bottom of the tank. Right now, there is only a petcock (sp?) on the bottom, but eventually (if I can ever remember where I put it) I will install an automatic purge valve that blows off any condensate each time the compressor cycles. It would be much more vulnerable to freezing damage than would the tank or other piping.

Your point about the air being dryer when it is freezing out is a good one that actually hadn't occurred to me.

 

[lh4x4]

Way to go! You are doing it just right. I have a 1,500 sq. ft. garage with 12' ceiling and it told my wife that I would build her a new house if I could build a proper garage on it. She asked what is a proper garage. I told her 50 X 100 should do it. I guess she didn't want a new house.

 

[bofus]

As promised, here are a couple pictures of the copper pipe I inserted behind the compressor. Eventually, my condensate purge valve on the bottom of the tank will discharge to the outside through this pipe.

Here is a picture of the outside after painting the trim. Only the door remains to be painted...and that is another "someday" job.

 

[marty_p]

Love the horizontal windows near the top; adds some great architectural detail!

 

[porschedude996TT]

Nice build! I bet the maintenance on the Trailer will go to near zero now that it is inside... Sure is nice having the room.

 

[bofus]

To simplify wiring installation, I ran surface mounted flexible conduit from the old outlet box to a new box. The exhaust fan is thermostatically controlled, and is adjustable up to 120 degrees (which is the setting I will use). I also installed a push-button on off switch on the fan controller so I can easily disable the fan in the winter.

I mounted the exhaust fan on hinges so that I can easily insert the foam insulation for winterization.

I built a filter holder for the air inlet. These filters are cheap and should help to keep the compressor's intake filter clean. It also easily allows insertion of rigid foam insulation for winterization.

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

Hey Where'd ya go Bofus???

 

[93L#3008]

any updates???

 

[bofus]

It's been quite a while since I posted. Not a lot has changed....but thought I'd show the small addition of a concrete pad at the west entry. A new driveway for the house took priority over the pad in front of the shop, so that will have to wait until sometime in the future. I just looked through my pictures and discovered I have pictures of the forms, but not the concrete...so I'll have to add to this thread again. Sorry.

 

[Capstone]

As a new member, it's great to see older garage builds bubbling up to the top. Really enjoyed seeing this project start to finish can definitely appreciate the attention to details and just as important seeing all the issues problems or "what I'd do differently".
I've got a very long list of things of "what not to do"

 

[canam]

any updates?

 

[bofus]

Sorry it's been so long...but here is a picture of the completed concrete at the man doors.

 

[revamped]

Amazing build! I am subscribing. I live in Kitsap and planning a "L" shaped shop/man-cave 28X24 man-cave attached to the 20X50 RV shop/weld/fabrication shop. I am learning lots on GJ; and especially from the Washingtonians that have to deal with permitting issues and inspectors. I would love to keep in contact with you for advice on my build.
Thanks

 

[ShawnDickens]

Hey bofus this is exactly what I'm looking to build. I just graduated college and I travel constantly for work. Being home for a combined total of maybe 2 months a year, I don't want to build a house yet but I have a lot of toys and tools to keep safe / need a place to live while I'm home. This is precisely what I was thinking. If not too personal could you tell me a little about the pricing of this build? And could you send a picture of the floor plan? That would be awesome!

Very good execution sir. The attention to detail reminds me a lot of myself. It really vexes my friends and family but I like things just so.

 

[jcouch1]

Could you reattach images? Photobucket won't show pics anymore.