Above 1200 Sq/FT Eastern Washington Workshop

[slodat]

Eastern Washington Workshop

I've had shop space in one form or another since I was about twelve. On May 1st I closed on my first shop. It needs a lot of work, but it's mine.

It was built in the 50's. A 30' x 40' stick frame building with a small office and bathroom in the front. In the 60's, I think, a 30' deep x 70' wide block wall building was added. It was a body shop in those days. For the past 20+ years it was storage.











Since closing I've focused on getting moved out of my old shop. The lease is up at the end of the month. I've done a few things in parallel: got fiber internet hooked up, new water line to the meter, roughed in water so toilet and sink work, Liftmaster 8500 on all 3 doors..

Lots to do. Excited to share and learn from feedback from you guys!

 

[drivesitfar]

Slodat: it looks like a good size building. what are your plans for it? are you a mechanic and for cars, trucks or commercial or farm vehicles?

before i'd put my lifetime's worth of tools and other nice belongings in the building i'd install a security system or get a huge dog at least. it looks like it is in Quincy, but a lot of towns look like that over there?

congrats on the purchase and best of luck for the garage and future.

if you have questions just ask and we'll try to help. you might want to put the link to your thread in your signature line in your profile so when you are posting in other parts of the forum members (and non members) can maybe find your garage/shop thread.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Welcome from the Yakima Valley...Rich

 

[drivesitfar]

Slo: i just noticed the title of your thread so i'm guessing you are planning on having an upholstery business in this building you just bought because it didn't say that anywhere in your first post?

sounds like a great business and for furniture, cars, boats or ??

 

[slodat]

I build custom car interiors. But, I've done some marine stuff. I'm surrounded by water and therefore boats.

Shop is just shy of 3500 sq ft. Feels small with everything in such disarray. I just turned on the air conditioner. I hate being hot and sweaty, so the a/c is a must. I plan to do a couple mini split heat pumps when budget allows. I bought the biggest window unit Home Depot had - 24,500 BTU/hr.

The install went something like this:

 

[slodat]

Added some trim. Put a bead of silicone on prior to attaching. I'll trim the flashing and paint when it stops raining.

 

[nine4gmc]

Super nice, can't wait to see it come together!

 

[slodat]

I hate the stucco. It hasn't been maintained. At some point, it's coming off. Thinking I'll sheath over the wood planks, house wrap and steel siding. I want to do a steel roof.

 

[drivesitfar]

Slo: depending on where you are in Eastern Washington steel siding and roof might get pretty hot during the summer. i understand about not liking stucco, but hardy board siding and a good composition roof might be a bit more practical and maybe less expensive. signage and landscaping can give your shop so much more character.

also in case you didn't know it Nines is a pretty fair upholsterer himself so i'm sure you two will be talking shop either on this thread or on his soon.

good luck

here's a before and after of my front yard to show you what a little landscaping can do to improve things at your shop.

 

[slodat]

This is a standalone shop. I keep a very low profile with my business. By appointment only, no outside signage, etc.

Steel roofs are the norm here. I have insulated ceilings throughout the shop.

 

[slodat]

The air conditioner is working really well. I am completely moved out of the old shop. New shop is a complete mess. Now, the fun begins!

 

[slodat]

I've put a lot of time in the past couple weeks. Liftmaster 8500 openers on all 3 doors. Getting things situated enough I can start to sort out what's next.

I bought an 8 pole lighting contractor on eBay this morning. It will control several things, including almost all inside lighting.

 

[slodat]

Painted the through the wall a/c. I like the idea of removing (or covering if that's actually an option) the stucco and putting up vertical steel. Thinking dark grey with red trim and white doors. So, for now all paint that goes on will be white. Shouldn't put a damper on future color.

 

[slodat]

recent additions to the shop:

 

[slodat]

 

[slodat]

I bought an 8 pole 30a lighting contractor with a 120vac coil, a 120vac coil impulse contractor (it switches between two states each time the coil is energized) and momentary push buttons. Plan is to have a push button by each entrance. One push and lights on. Another and lights off. The lighting contractor is mechanically held with a separate close and open coil. The contractor will switch several lighting circuits, ceiling fan circuits, compressor electric auto drain power and the low voltage power to compressor starter so the compressor won't run when I'm not at the shop..

I'm currently awaiting parts.

 

[drivesitfar]

Slodat: i like your vintage machines you are bringing into the shop. do they all work? I've got a bench top Canedy-Otto drill press that is the tiny version of yours. or is your DP a different brand?

is your bandsaw a Walker Turner or do tell?

how's the weather? i'm guessing since it was almost 90 over here in Seattle last week that you might have hit 100's in your area?

 

[slodat]

A few of the machines await restoration. The camel back is a Canedy Otto. The bandsaw pictured above does not have a single identifying mark. The guys on OWWM don't know who made it. It has 20" wheels.. I do have a Waller Turned 14 not pictured.

 

[slodat]

I've been working on the wall where the electrical panel is located. Doesn't look like much but it took a good bit of work to get it to this point. Had to demo some goofy stuff left by the previous owner. Going to mount a sheet of 3/4" plywood to the wall to give me something to screw stuff to. I'm adding a small (125a) sub panel to get more breaker spaces.



I bench tested the two-wire controls for my lighting contactor. One push of a momentary switch to turn on, another to turn off. I can have as many switches as I need and no coils are left energized. Current only flows while the push button is held in. Should last a very long time. I'm looking forward to one button to turn everything on and off vs. six switches scattered throughout the shop.

 

[slodat]

I got the plywood made, painted and on the wall. Didn't account for the closest conduit. It turned out alright though.

 

[nine4gmc]

 

[slodat]

My existing panel is Square D QO. Just bought a 30 space main lug panel on eBay for the price of the 12 space panel Home Depot stocks..

 

[slodat]

I made shapes out of cardboard to help lay things out. Top left is the sub panel, long short piece is the 4x4x36 gutter, bottom left is 8 pole lighting contactor and smaller guy to its right is lighting contactor controls. 1.5" conduit between major components.

Panel won't be here until Monday..

 

[slodat]

I picked up a new Greenlee SlugBuster knockout set off CL for a great price. Couldn't have gotten this far without it. It's hard to take a photo without it skewing the lines-- everything is plumb and level.

 

[slodat]

Continuing to work on my electrical. Excited to get the conduit ran for my ceiling fans and lighting contactor control push button by the main entry door.

I ordered two 3/4 Maxline kits today for compressed air distribution and the alarm system.

 

[Toolfool]

Coming along nicely. I like the way you plan things out before executing. Now you should let us know where you are in case we have work to send your way.

 

[slodat]

Thanks for the vote of support, Toolfool! I go to my shop almost everyday. I have a day job in addition to the upholstery business. I'm not taking in much customer work until the shop is sorted out.

I have a lot of electrical work going right now. Hoping to get conduit ran for the two fans I have on hand as well as at least one more this weekend, and my lighting contactor and air compressor controls finished this weekend.

I'm thinking about building a mechanical room around my panel to house the compressor, air dryer and cyclone dust collector...

I'm excited to get the alarm system going as well. Lots to do..

 

[nine4gmc]

I think I would put the dust collector in a different room than the compressor. It will leak super fine dust and the compressor will breathe it in. Jm $0.02

You're doing great work so far! I've never been that lucky, my shops have always been moved in to, then wired and plumbed as I could.

 

[slodat]

Nine, what I'm thinking is building a wall parallel to the wall the panel is on about 5' out, 8' tall. It would be divided at the compressor such that the dust collector would have its own little room to avoid that issue. That whole area would be the "mechanical room".

All of my stuff is in the shop now, the photos haven't shown that too much thus far.. I'll be shuffling **** around for quite a while..

 

[nine4gmc]

Gotcha, looks and sounds like you are on top of things!

 

[slodat]

Had some fun on eBay this morning. Should be good to go for air distribution in the shop. I plan on having this shop into retirement, which is nineteen years out.. With that in mind, I'm wanting to only do the building and utility stuff once if possible. The two Rapidair kits give me 200' of 3/4 hose and six service drops. I bought a few extra fittings and hose clips. A couple years ago I threw away all of my ****** import air fittings and replaced everything with Milton I/M, so I bought 3/8-1/2 NPT bushings and 3/8 disconnects for the drops. ToolSouce.com has the best prices I've found on the Milton stuff.

I got a good deal on a new Norgren Excelon 3/4" regulator/filter to handle overall system pressure.



I also found a good price on a touchscreen for the alarm system.


I had several 6' chunks of unistrut on hand so I put it up on the ceiling in front of the electrical panel area. Spaced it 8' apart. Should keep things tidy and looking good. It will make running tube to the panel a lot easier too.

 

[slodat]

Coworker came over today and helped me run conduit. My lighting controls are now in. Two wire momentary control to mechanically held 8 pole lighting contactor.

Schematic:


Outside:


Control cabinet:


Push button by entry door:


The two hole box is temporary. A machinist friend is going to make a single hole cover for the box. The yellow button on the control cabinet door also cycles the lighting contactor.

 

[slodat]

The contactor is between the circuit breaker and outgoing hot wire of each existing lighting circuit. It works great. One button just inside the door turns all five lighting circuits on at once. No more walking to three different places when I walk in the door.

I'll get the compressor control and auto drain wired into another pole of the contactor next.

This is really cool!!

 

[wyo george]

Looking good! I used to own an upholstery shop back in GA, but when I moved to WY I gave it to my Dad (he was my only employee at the time). I miss it, been thinking of getting back in the business out here, not much for good custom trim shops in my area.

 

[slodat]

The electrical panels turned out nice. I can't stop smiling when I push the lighting contactor control push button.

The second ceiling fan arrived today. These four gang boxes arrive tomorrow. Then I can pull in the wire for the ceiling fans.


This is how it looked at the end of the night tonight.

 

[slodat]

To keep track of things, I call each section of the shop a "bay". From the street facing the building left to right rear to front, 1-6.

I got the ceiling fan and Liftmaster remote light receptacle heated up tonight in bay 3. Bay 2 will follow soon. This conduit run also puts quad 20A receptacles on the wall by the roll up doors and the openers.



The fan is the Home Depot 60" Industrial. It moves a lot of air, is VERY quiet and includes the four speed wired controller.

 

[slodat]

I found the box my lighting control switch is mounted in at the local scrapyard. I figured I could buy a single hole cover.. I really liked the box. I picked up 3 yellow Allen Bradley push buttons cheap on eBay. Today my good friend brought me the cover he machined for me. Single button. Copy of the original, using my smaller bush button. It's awesome!!

 

[nine4gmc]

Good to have friends like that!

 

[slodat]

Bay 2 fan and wireless light is finished. I am really happy with these fans. Found a four gang box on eBay for a tiny fraction of what it would cost at a distributor. This will have four fan controls in it when finished. It's nice to get these things going. The shop is going to be exactly what I have always wanted!!

 

[mklotz70]

Thanks for the link buddy! I sub'd. I'm still sub'd to your other two, but I guess those are pretty dead now. lol Awesome work!!! Would love to have something like that!