Longtime occasional reader, decided to register as I get started planning a new garage build in earnest.
I currently rent 1000sqft of industrial space in Boston for my prototype shop/mad science laboratory. I do about 50% machine shop work with a mix of a little bit of everything else. The cornerstone of my shop today is a 4-axis Tormach 1100 mill along with a variety of manual metal and woodworking equipment.
I bought a place in Western Mass. a couple years ago with a plan to eventually relocate my shop there where I can better accommodate more varied and messier types of work including welding and fiberglass fabrication. It currently has a dilapidated detached 2 car garage (that is really a glorified shed) which I plan to replace with a roughly 30x40' structure. I have a builder lined up to start work next spring and we are working through sketches to nail down the final plan.
Decided to join here as there are a number of things I am looking to figure out like lifts, cranes, plumbed air, and other things to build right the first time. I am building a bit on the small end by necessity as the only suitable location for this can't accommodate a much larger building without either spending a fortune on earthworks or creating an eyesore. I have worked with ~600sqft very comfortably for some years so while I'd love to go a lot bigger, ~1000 will be a real upgrade and also cheaper to build and heat on the plus side.
I've read a ton of great stuff here over the past 10+ years so thanks in advance!
I currently rent 1000sqft of industrial space in Boston for my prototype shop/mad science laboratory. I do about 50% machine shop work with a mix of a little bit of everything else. The cornerstone of my shop today is a 4-axis Tormach 1100 mill along with a variety of manual metal and woodworking equipment.
I bought a place in Western Mass. a couple years ago with a plan to eventually relocate my shop there where I can better accommodate more varied and messier types of work including welding and fiberglass fabrication. It currently has a dilapidated detached 2 car garage (that is really a glorified shed) which I plan to replace with a roughly 30x40' structure. I have a builder lined up to start work next spring and we are working through sketches to nail down the final plan.
Decided to join here as there are a number of things I am looking to figure out like lifts, cranes, plumbed air, and other things to build right the first time. I am building a bit on the small end by necessity as the only suitable location for this can't accommodate a much larger building without either spending a fortune on earthworks or creating an eyesore. I have worked with ~600sqft very comfortably for some years so while I'd love to go a lot bigger, ~1000 will be a real upgrade and also cheaper to build and heat on the plus side.
I've read a ton of great stuff here over the past 10+ years so thanks in advance!