New Workshop Layout Advice

[Roadster Rich]

I am finally working on my new shop. This is about 1,400 sq. ft. and is about 2/3 of my basement with driveway on one side. I have attached a sketch of the layout. Most important is that it must be where my two Model A's are bedded down. I also will have a wood working shop included. The basement has a good cement floor and I have just ordered the interlocking plastic tiles for the entire shop. The ceiling is steel girders with steel plate and 5 inches of cement floor above, and is 9.5 feet clear. Also a nice 16 inch Ibeam running length wise that I have a roller dolley and 110 Volt hoist for, up to 2,000 lb lifting. Also I have two bays of lights. Down the 45 foot length I have 8, 8 foot two bulb (75 W each) lights. Down the other side of the I beam I have 7, 4 foot two bulb (40 W each) lights. Seems to be bright enough for getting a sunburn in there. I also must have a desk and file cabinet (my wife's way to get rid of me I guess), and the wine rack is a must also. Above the clear area I will have a drop down shelf about a foot below ceiling level to store boards and sheet stock overhead. Other than that, any advice to help me with the layout would be welcome. I hope I loaded the pdf alright.
View attachment Workshop Layout.pdf

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

What? Hello? Two Model A's and no pictures?

Anyway, apart from the obvious question about fireproofing since you said this is a basement... Hopefully you have the required fire and CO proofing between the basement / garage space and the living space.

I'm a poor planner so my solution to layout is to keep as much stuff on wheels and easy to change as possible. I don't do drywall and I put plywood or panelling on with screws so I can take it off and rewire later.

I would use it this way for a while and see how you like it and go from there. Compressor is out of the way, many here put them outside or wall them off but you have to consider heat if you wall it off. Since you are running woodworking tools you probably won't be bothered too much by compressor noise though.

There is such a thing as too much light (at least in one place) and placement is as important as wattage. Too much glare can be worse than not quite as much light as I'd like in my experience so I've used a couple movable lights in the past to decide where to put the permanent ones.

You might look at sectioning off a parking area with a curtain setup like in this thread: http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43181

Pictures pictures pictures...

 

[Kevin54]

It doesn't look too bad at all. The only thing I would do a little different is to isolate the furnace from everything. If you have a woodworking shop, you will need a good vacuum to help keep the dust down. I wouldn't want a furnace in that type of atmosphere.

I'd also have the desk (rolltop) where you will be spending a lot of time, together with the wine rack. It saves on footsteps.

If it's possible, maybe combine your wine rack, office area, computer area, all into something with possibly a sliding door, or bifolds. That way, it can be all open when working in the office area, but then can be closed up to keep wood dust out of it somewhat when working with wood. Possibly move the cars forward a little and then build a wall onto the 6.5' wall, over to the 6' wall behind the roll top desk. The build a wall from that to join the wall where the roll top desk is. That will give you a square office area that you can put the wine rack, computer, roll top desk, file cabinet, and whatever else. If that makes sense.

In doing that, you will only lose just a little room for the two cars. You want to keep items that you want to stay clean and dust free, in an area that you can close off. If not, you'll have sawdust cobwebs everywhere.

 

[Roadster Rich]

I will certainly send pictures when it comes together. Right now it is being emptied of boxes and furniture we are selling in our downsizing. Good idea about the walls that could be taken down. I will definitely consider that one. I have worked with my fathers shop with minimal lighting that always required some spot lighting, and wanted to try to get away from that. I took advice from the lighting blog on this site as to the amount and spacing of the lights. Just could not bring myself to pay for the high price LED and special lights. Also won't spend that much time at the desk, but just cannot wall it off. I think most of the time will be just looking at the wonderful shop rather than office work. Now the wine rack close by is another thing. All the wood working equipment will be connected with ducting to the Grizzly three stage bag filter. It came from my dad's shop and does a remarkable job when used properly. But walling off the furnace may still be a wise thing.

Thanks,

 

[Nowater]

#1 for the wheel idea. I have moved all my woodworking machines at least a dozen times. Even so, some projects will require more open room than others.

Where will store wood and scraps? Any plans for a lathe?

I try to make the in feed for one tool be the out feed for another and adjust heights to match or to be very different. Also, I replace the radial arm with the best chop saw I could buy.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Will settle for pictures of the model A's.

 

[Roadster Rich]

Here are a pictures of the two Model A's. The Roadster has been in my family since it was born. The Town Sedan is a tremendous barn find that I just found over near Nashville and plan to transport to my home in Georgia right after Christmas.

Also decided, after the advice on the walls, that I am going to sheath the two stud walls with 8 foot pegboard all around. I think it will look OK and give me the opportunity to store tools anywhere that makes sense around the shop.

I do have a good power miter saw, but the radial arm, set to the same height as the work bench is so darn nice to rip long boards. The board storage is going to be on wide shelves suspended from the steel structural joists.