My Small Welding Shop

[bullet280]

3rd post here. Like I said before, it would have been nice to find this site before building. I like the information that is shared here. But, it is still not complete. I still have welding table to build, peg board to install and some little odds and ends including gutters.

I have been working out of a 24' X24' with 8' ceiling for 11 years. Also, sharing it with my wife. I would start a project and at the end of the day clean up and move stuff so she could put her mini van back in there. So, I really feel like this is a upgrade. Looking at some the shops here though, I feel like mine falls short comparitavely.

This shop is 24' X 30' X 9' ceiling height. It has r11 or 12 in the walls and roof, metal ceiling with r19 blown in and pretty well sealed up with caulk, foam, and weather strip, hopeing to put heat and air in the future. Attic storage with 2 light fixtures and plugs. It has 200 amp service run to it from a pole in my back yard running underground. I have 3-220 welder plugs, 13-110 drops, I used 8-4' double bulb T8 lights back to back and I have 2 4' T8 double bulb for a total of 20 t8 bulbs and I have 2 way switch for flexibility (I love the wiring job, a freind who does industrial wiring did it for me) no more lights dimming and breaker throwing.... It has a 16X9 door in the front and a man door. And on the side I added a 9X7 door with 1 36" window.

I used the rapidair nylon tubing for my air line drops and I have 4. 1-next to the compressor that has compression outlets on it, and it's right next to the filter/dryer. 1 on the back wall next to my welder and plasma outlets. 1 is next to my mill, and the other is close to the man door in the front.

This shop was built on a budget. I was fortunate to get some really good deals and feel blessed by the whole experience. All the electrical I got at cost from a freind in the business who also wired it for me. The pavers going outside the shop were free. I have a freind with a scrap yard and he sold me these awesome metal cabinets for $15.00. and they are thick metal cabinets that came out of a hospital. I did all the finish work inside including the insulation, walls, and ceiling. My wife and kids helped with that.

I took these pics last night and it was raining, so I don't have outside shots. I will try to get those later.

My Attic Access

THIS IS WHAT I BUILD ON THE SIDE;

I will try to do better on the pics when I get home later. It's not much, but I really am proud to have it....

 

[His200HerScout]

Dude, is that a BBQ pit on a trailer? VERY NICE JOB! That's gotta be the neatest pit I've ever seen.

 

[bullet280]

Dude, is that a BBQ pit on a trailer? VERY NICE JOB! That's gotta be the neatest pit I've ever seen.

Yea, i build this in July last year...Thanks for the comment!

If you have high speed and some time, here is a slideshow i did on the build;

http://s333.photobucket.com/albums/m398/LilBabyHuey/?action=view&current=4675c7d7.pbw

 

[JohnK007]

Checked out your slideshow. You got some skills Dude! Very nicely done!

 

[35mastr]

Nice shop and even nicer pit.

I have the same plasma that you have up on the shelf there.I like it alot.It has worked out great.

Do you sell them or just for local folks.

How many do you build a year?

 

[bullet280]

Checked out your slideshow. You got some skills Dude! Very nicely done!

Thank You John!

Nice shop and even nicer pit.

I have the same plasma that you have up on the shelf there.I like it alot.It has worked out great.

Do you sell them or just for local folks.

How many do you build a year?

Actually I have built several small pits over the years, used them and then sold them. This is actually my 1st trailer pit. Since this one, I have built 2 more. Right now I am getting ready to build another to sell....Yea I really like my plasma cutter.

 

[66RICH]

Great looking BBQ! Nice slide show. I like the comp. mount, save
every bit of floor space possible! Iv'e got a small shop also, they
fill up fast. Wish I had your mill!

Rich

 

[mad57]

Nice shop and even nicer pit.

I have the same plasma that you have up on the shelf there.I like it alot.It has worked out great.

Do you sell them or just for local folks.

How many do you build a year?

off topic but man i love that avatar of yours 57 and a babe heaven:?)

 

[goodfellow]

mmmmmmm BBQ!!! Dang I'm gettin' hungry. Very nice job! and I like the way that 26gal CH compressor is mounted high on the wall. That's a real space saver.

Good job!

 

[e-tek]

Nice shop and even nicer pit.

Love your avatar 35mastr - is that your wife too??


Is that a smoker on the car too??

 

[crashbumper]

AWESOME!

How much for a waterjet/plasma pig?

I'd love one to pinstripe for my kid.

 

[Rte66Charlie]

Welcome to the asylum Bullet280! Congratulations on the shop. After being in a situation where you had a shared space and had to make room for the wife's ride after you got done playing - dude, you deserve it! (trust me, I know the feeling!)

The shop is looking good, love the Bridgeport! A mill like that with digital readout on X,Y,Z and a drive on your X axis is the next best thing to a CNC machine without spending 200K or more, and it is the purest form of machining/milling, with no points deducted for "cheating" with digital accuracy! Good on ya!

Ditto crashbumper on the pig - PM me on that, I may have a deal for you!

 

[Rte66Charlie]

Awesome pit trailer by the way, is that your own design?

 

[bullet280]

AWESOME!

How much for a waterjet/plasma pig?

I'd love one to pinstripe for my kid.

Crashbumber, I sent you a PM....BTW, they are freehand!

Awesome pit trailer by the way, is that your own design?

Rte66Charlie,

Yes, I designed this pit using autocad. Also, you have a PM.

THanks for the comments guys!

 

[hofford]

I am curious about what you used to trim around the tin behind your milling machine?

 

[bullet280]

I am curious about what you used to trim around the tin behind your milling machine?

Hi Hofford,

I went to Home Depot and bought 3/4" j-channel they use for vinyl siding (less than $4.00 for a 12' section). The metal i used is what was "protection" sheets used when packaging the building metal.....the builder was going to scrap it anyway

 

[e-tek]

I menat: Is that a smoker on the 'CART' - in addition to the bbq?

 

[bullet280]

I menat: Is that a smoker on the 'CART' - in addition to the bbq?

Hi e-tek, These are pretty common in the south. I am not exactly sure of your question. The smoker pit in the picture is known as a offset pit. This pit has two cooking chambers. A horizontal and a vertical. How it works, is the fire is at the back in the firebox and the heat is indirect. The smoke and heat flow from the back of the pit through both the horizontal and vertical chamber and out the exhaust in the front. The food never gets any direct heat from the fire, this allows the food to cook low and slow.....This pit can cook for about 150 people.

 

[rickairmedic]

E-tec they cook way differant in the south than we do up here in the north basically that whole rig is a smoker . The fire is in a seperate compartment they dont cook over direct flames like whats done up here . They slooooooow cook everything however some of the best brisket you will ever eat is slow cooked in a smoker like bullets .


Rick

 

[bullet280]

E-tec they cook way differant in the south than we do up here in the north basically that whole rig is a smoker . The fire is in a seperate compartment they dont cook over direct flames like whats done up here . They slooooooow cook everything however some of the best brisket you will ever eat is slow cooked in a smoker like bullets .


Rick

Exxaktly

you did a much better job splainin it......I thought maybe E-tek was a northern guy, but yours says Louisville....You aint but a few hours north?

 

[rickairmedic]

True Bullet but I have lived up north and grew up in Fl. Yes we know how to slow cook here in Louisville . They have noooooooo clue up there most of them cook with ok sit down this is skeery :O propane.

Rick

 

[bullet280]

Propane??

I'm glad you told me to sit down!!!!!

Here is a song some of my southern brothers put together that expains regional BBQ!

 

[mag99]

I menat: Is that a smoker on the 'CART' - in addition to the bbq?

Ha-Ha! I thought he was talking about the 'smoker' on the hood of the 57 chevy

Sure hard to read anything with that ..um..distraction!

Damn nice pit, though! I saw one here last year with a 12v battery underneath and a marine grade car stereo & speakers! Tunes and BBQ

 

[Palmetto]

Exxaktly

you did a much better job splainin it......I thought maybe E-tek was a northern guy, but yours says Louisville....You aint but a few hours north?

I always get a kick out of you KY guys. I went up there on a shutdown a few years ago. I walked into the apartment building the first day, and the lady that ran it said "Welcome to the South". I laughed at her and said, thank you Ma'am, but I just drove 1600 miles NORTH. Where I came from was a whole lot more South than this....LOL.

Just Pickin....

BTW, nice pit. that how we roll down in here in the Deep South too! MMMM...Brisket.

 

[JDJr]

Are you still building the bbq pits, are any for sale, I live in Western, Ky., could pick one up. Thanks JDJr