Outfitting my new shop

[woscholar]

My 30x50x12 shop should be erected this week. This was my Father's Day present from my wife, so it's obviously been a long journey to this point thanks to crazy weather and busy contractors. Now, my wife is asking about Christmas wish lists. That leads me to this post.

I will run both 220 and 110 throughout the shop. I plan to run the air through PEX (though I haven't ruled out copper). I have the HF 5hp 60 gallon compressor sitting on a pallet in my garage awaiting installation hopefully next weekend. I also have a table saw, a 1hp drill press, a miter saw, HF flux core welder, and various hand tools.

I have two projects lined up right off the bat. The first one is the trunk from a 66 Mustang my son wants to convert into a couch for his room (will do a build thread on this one, should be excellent). The second is a 66 Chevy C10 he hopes to be driving within the next year to eighteen months. It's in pretty good shape needing new bed wood, new carb/manifold, and safety upgrades (3 pt seat belts, move gas tank to under bed, power steering, etc). I plan to let him learn to do paint and body as well as plenty of basic automotive maintenance. He's the third generation in my family to own it now, so that's pretty cool.

One of my first purchases will probably be a Hobart 190 Mig welder (but I'm open to other ideas. I also plan to by a parts washer, a blasting cabinet, and oxy/acyt tank setup.

What else? Based on the above, what tools should I be adding to a list to be on the lookout for? What sanders, cutters, benders, etc will be good for these projects? My son learned how to weld with the HF flux core welder when he was 11. He loves making things like side tables (see pic below) as well as general messing around welding whatever pops up in his head (letters, mini oil derricks, etc), so the equipment will be put to good use.

Thanks for the advice in advance.

 

[Zartan]

Awesome OP. I'd say build a good solid welding table and LOTS of clamps. Bessey sliders as well as locking. Oh and awesome on teaching your son usable skills. Can't wait to get my boy out there under the hood (welding/vehicle) with me.

 

[woscholar]

Good call on the welding table. I've followed several builds on them here. I know I need to get the bigger welder before I start that build because some of these guys on this board set the bar high with some awesome ideas I hadn't thought of. I'll also get my dad to be on the lookout for clamps when he's at auctions or yard sells or similar. Might as well save some money where I can on things like that. I had to look up the Bessey Slider clamp. My dad has a bunch of those since he use to do a lot of woodworking.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[larry_g]

I'm not seeing any grinders, wheel and belt. I think I would give preference to a plasma cutter over an O/A setup, but both have their place. I would give thought to wether this is a metal shop or a wood shop, to me they are not compatible in the same room.

A big shop vac as well as brooms and dustpans. Some shop garbage cans are also necessary. How many shops have you been to see piles of stuff swept up and just left there because they have no way to pick it up or any place to put it. Never start a new project in a dirty shop.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[woscholar]

Larry_g: Makes sense abut metal and wood being issues. I expect we will be doing both but more on the metal side. I had already thought about keeping heavier wood working tools on casters to roll outside if it's going to kick up a bunch of dust.

My brother in law made the same comment about the plasma cutter. Thinking both would be great options to have.

I'm pretty particular about keeping a space clean, so that won't be an issue. I have a 12 gallon wet/dry vac sitting under some stuff in the garage. It will be one of the first things moved into the new shop. I'm going to make a run to Ace Hardware and buy several of those bigger garbage cans and also the carts they sit on, if they have them.

If you have specific suggestions as to grinders, I'd be open to them. I have a 4" grinder, but no others. Thinking both air and electric?

 

[Can I try?]

Congratulations on the new shop.

How about a spray booth? That is, if you can afford the space. I, personally, like the idea of having a dedicated area where I can spray small projects at any time, as opposed to having to set up outside and work around the weather.

 

[OldracerJones]

I went through the same thing as you are. Big differences are a plasma cutter, worth every dime. Eastwood makes a good one. I also put a lift in to help with the auto work and my restorations. Have fun, outfitting the shop is half the fun.

 

[Flathead4]

Nice work, very impressive table.

Just a new guy here but, if you decide to use anything other than rubber/pvc hose, don't use PVC. (the rigid stuff)

It is a grenade waiting to happen. Trust me, I have customers with stories...

B

 

[woscholar]

Congratulations on the new shop.

How about a spray booth?

Good suggestion. Have any links or recommendations? I figured I'd build one for larger painting out of 2x2's and thick plastic. It would be something I can unbolt when it's not in use.

 

[woscholar]

I went through the same thing as you are. Big differences are a plasma cutter, worth every dime. Eastwood makes a good one. I also put a lift in to help with the auto work and my restorations. Have fun, outfitting the shop is half the fun.

I'll check out the Eastwood version. I plan to be buying a lot of stuff from them for the car repair side of our work. I know our ag department at school uses the heck out of the plasma cutter. They do a lot of similar things to what we will be doing. I'll see what they have as well. Thanks!

 

[woscholar]

Nice work, very impressive table.

Just a new guy here but, if you decide to use anything other than rubber/pvc hose, don't use PVC. (the rigid stuff)

It is a grenade waiting to happen. Trust me, I have customers with stories...

B

Thanks. My son did a great job on his first project. He learned how important math is with all of those cuts he had to make. He learned quickly to take into account things like blade width, too.

That was a conversation my BIL and I had. PEX will just rupture like a garden hose. PVC will blow shrapnel. He's had PEX for years in his shop, and he's had no issues. He runs a slightly larger compressor than I have, too. Thanks for the heads up. It's always worth keeping in mind.

 

[Flathead4]

You are starting him on the right path, woscholar.

Pex would be a good choice.

I am not sure what you plan to do with the air, but run it as straight as you can. Each low spot, is a spot to hold water/moisture. It wrecks havoc on paint jobs and air tool lubrication.

(Drain your tank regularly, On Friday I was at wood shop (commercial with two 15 HP rotary screws) with an 80 gallon vertical tank with water in the air system. I drained 60/65 gallons of water out of it. Their dryer failed a few weeks ago)

Put a drain in your system somewhere, better yet, at each out let. Dryers are a great investment if in the budget.

B

 

[WWShop]

A big USA made vise or floor drill press.

 

[woscholar]

Flathead4: I didn't think about the sags with the PEX. Thanks for the tip. I'm probably going to weld a bunch of tabs to run 2x4's between the main columns. I can attach PEX to that and use plenty of clips to support it on those runs.

60 gallons of water out of that tank? Man, that's one ignored compressor. We plan to do some painting, so I'll check into a conditioner as well. Thanks!

 

[woscholar]

A big USA made vise or floor drill press.

Those are a must along with an anvil. But for my curiosity, why American made as it pertains to quality?

 

[Flathead4]

Sounds like you are on your way. Yep, they didn't even consider water in the tank as the source of their water issues after the dryer repair.

You'll never go without one after your first dryer.

B

 

[matt_i]

I didn't read anything about saws (other than tablesaw). Horizontal 4x6 are cheap, a 7x12 is nicer. Some of those like a Wellsaw 58 tilts up to be a limited-purpose vertical saw. That can be something down the road.

As mentioned I'd try for a 6x48 + 12" disc sander. Outstanding for fabrication work.

Its hard to recommend a bender without a lathe. A Diacro bender is a simply awesome tool, but to get the most out of it you can spend a fair amount of time turning up tooling. A Hossfeld may be simpler but I think it still needs a supply of pins to operate, and I think one buys more of the tooling than makes it.

While I'm spending all of your money, I'd consider going up to a tig welder. With that you can stick weld heavy stuff and detail anything under the sun.

I would highly prioritize the parts washer. I waited probably 20 years too long to get mine and I shake my head at all the hand cleaning of parts that I did along the way.

 

[WWShop]

Those are a must along with an anvil. But for my curiosity, why American made as it pertains to quality?

Honestly, I just like seeing the big ol' Made in USA when I use my vise.

Also, I just picked up a 16" piece of railroad track. Its not shaped like an anvil yet but hopefully soon it will be. I would also say a fire extinguisher and first aid kit for your shop too. Not sure if that has been mentioned or not.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Congratulations on your new shop. Since you plan to fix your sons truck up I. It I would think a car lift would be top on your list. My 30x52 shop went up in December '09 and I still have a few items left on my wish list. The thing I learned was not to pick a permanent spot for anything (except the lift) until you acquire most of the tools you need. I've had to do several major shop re configurations when I acquired bigger stuff like my lathe and mill.

Also think about clean areas vs dirty areas when setting up your shop. A welder is dirty and you wouldn't want it right next to your lathe, or your woodworking equipment.

Enjoy your new shop, and have fun outfitting it.

Chris

 

[woscholar]

I didn't read anything about saws (other than tablesaw). Horizontal 4x6 are cheap, a 7x12 is nicer. Some of those like a Wellsaw 58 tilts up to be a limited-purpose vertical saw. That can be something down the road.

As mentioned I'd try for a 6x48 + 12" disc sander. Outstanding for fabrication work.

Its hard to recommend a bender without a lathe. A Diacro bender is a simply awesome tool, but to get the most out of it you can spend a fair amount of time turning up tooling. A Hossfeld may be simpler but I think it still needs a supply of pins to operate, and I think one buys more of the tooling than makes it.

While I'm spending all of your money, I'd consider going up to a tig welder. With that you can stick weld heavy stuff and detail anything under the sun.

I would highly prioritize the parts washer. I waited probably 20 years too long to get mine and I shake my head at all the hand cleaning of parts that I did along the way.

Sounds like a lot of experience talking right there. Thanks for the ideas. Adding them to the list.

 

[woscholar]

Honestly, I just like seeing the big ol' Made in USA when I use my vise.

Also, I just picked up a 16" piece of railroad track. Its not shaped like an anvil yet but hopefully soon it will be. I would also say a fire hydrant and first aid kit for your shop too. Not sure if that has been mentioned or not.

No fire hydrant, but I will have a big sink on one side of the shop and a water faucet on the other side. Not ideal, but country living is what it is.

Never thought of the anvil. Lots of work, but it would be a great project. Thanks for that. And I agree on the Made in the USA part. Just thought I'd ask in case there was something to really avoid if a great deal came my way.

Thanks again!

 

[woscholar]

Enjoy your new shop, and have fun outfitting it.

Chris

Thanks, Chris. I was thinking put everything on casters that I can for a long while. The only ting fixed at this early stage will be the bathroom I put in a corner and the doors. It's a blank slate otherwise. Really looking forward to the challenge of it. Acquiring some new tools will be fun, too.

 

[My Old Tools]

Looks like a future Aggie in the family. If you didn't put a loft in your building, add one before you get more stuff in there. It's a great place to store all the stuff you take off the truck while you work on it, extra lumber, anything that isn't used often. My shop is 30x40x12 with a 8/12 roof. I put a 20x30 loft across the back at the 10 foot height. It is clear span, tied into the middle I-beam support. That leaves the front half of the shop open up to 22 feet.

 

[cajunrebel`]

I bought a Hobart 190 with the spool gun last year, and I love it. I thought that I would only use the spool gun for a few projects, but I actually have used it more than I have the standard whip. I bought a 20 CF bottle from HF for my argon and I got an 80 CF bottle for my mixed gas (75/25). The only thing I would change on mine is to get a longer whip for the regular gun and to get a better ground clamp (already bought one and just need to install it).
I also found a great deal on a 6" vise when lowes had them on sale because they were changing brands.
The compressor you have seems like a good size. I will be shopping for a similar one in the next year. A plasma cutter would make an excellent addition to the shop and welder.

 

[stihlntime]

For a welder upgrade check out the Forney 190MP. I just picked one up to replace a Lincoln 140. The Forney will work on 110/220. It will arc/mig/tig weld. It has digital readouts and has a function like millers autoset. It is made in Italy and features the Euro connectors for the gun. It comes with the mig and arc set up. It is spool gun compatible. I had my youngest son laying down nice welds in no time. One feature I like is the 10' heavy power cord with 220/110 option. The digital read out takes the guess work out setting the welder. I have a 60x80 shop on the farm. I haveca Hobart 700i plasma cutter and it does a great job. A good parts washer is a must. We use a grizzly brand blast cabinet cleaning up parts for restorations. A heavy duty american made vice and welding table are must haves. Buy yourself at least four quality jackstands and a good quality 3 ton floor jack. First thing I did was buy fire extinguishers and mount them around the shop. You can't have too much bench space. Make sure you set the standard by wearing safety glasses when working in the shop for that young man.

 

[8man]

Congrats on the new shop. Liked the ATM!

Some type of crane. I got a gantry crane with electric winch and electric trolley for my shop. Really comes in handy for lifting car bodies or other heavy stuff.

Sandblast cabinet came in handy as did a good parts washer on my build.

Good luck and have fun with the kid.

 

[WWShop]

No fire hydrant

I can't believe i said fire HYDRANT! I meant fire EXTINGUISHER. I went back and edited my stupidity.

 

[Zartan]

Millermatic!

Oh and as mentioned def grinders. I have 3 Milwaukee Angle grinders with paddle switches. 1 is set-up with abrasive sanding disc, 1 is set-up with abrasive cut-off wheel Ø4.00 x .04 thick, and the third is set-up with hook and loop for scotch brite discs. Nothing ***** more when finishing welds than switching the hardware on the grinders over and over again.

I'd love a 2" Burr-King, but I run a cheaper Palmgren 1.5 in belt grinder on the table top. Makes quick work of deburring fresh cut steel tube, grinding down screws and endless tasks. You can pit buffing belts on it as well.

Oh and since I couldn't quite afford a cold saw, I bought a Milwaukee dry-cut saw. I was SOOO tired of abrasive dust from the chop saw landing on everything and having to wear a mask ALL the time. The dry-cut saw just drops slivers/chips and gives you a cool, relatively burr free edge.

Dry Cut saw
My favorite angle grinder
A GOOD mask
Protect your lungs when metal OR woodworking. After hours of metal fab/cutting/welding/grinding...my mask is gray/black. It can be annoying, but all that **** could've been in my lungs.

 

[woscholar]

Looks like a future Aggie in the family. If you didn't put a loft in your building, add one before you get more stuff in there. It's a great place to store all the stuff you take off the truck while you work on it, extra lumber, anything that isn't used often. My shop is 30x40x12 with a 8/12 roof. I put a 20x30 loft across the back at the 10 foot height. It is clear span, tied into the middle I-beam support. That leaves the front half of the shop open up to 22 feet.

Excellent idea. The rod shop my father used years ago had a loft for all of those old parts. It's a great call. Thanks!

 

[woscholar]

I bought a Hobart 190 with the spool gun last year, and I love it. I thought that I would only use the spool gun for a few projects, but I actually have used it more than I have the standard whip. I bought a 20 CF bottle from HF for my argon and I got an 80 CF bottle for my mixed gas (75/25). The only thing I would change on mine is to get a longer whip for the regular gun and to get a better ground clamp (already bought one and just need to install it).
I also found a great deal on a 6" vise when lowes had them on sale because they were changing brands.
The compressor you have seems like a good size. I will be shopping for a similar one in the next year. A plasma cutter would make an excellent addition to the shop and welder.

Thanks for the Hobart feedback. Is the spool gun for special metals? I think I read somewhere that it makes welding aluminum possible with that unit. I appreciate the tips on the bottles, too. I had questions on those and that helps a bunch.

 

[woscholar]

For a welder upgrade check out the Forney 190MP. I just picked one up to replace a Lincoln 140. The Forney will work on 110/220. It will arc/mig/tig weld. It has digital readouts and has a function like millers autoset. It is made in Italy and features the Euro connectors for the gun. It comes with the mig and arc set up. It is spool gun compatible. I had my youngest son laying down nice welds in no time. One feature I like is the 10' heavy power cord with 220/110 option. The digital read out takes the guess work out setting the welder. I have a 60x80 shop on the farm. I haveca Hobart 700i plasma cutter and it does a great job. A good parts washer is a must. We use a grizzly brand blast cabinet cleaning up parts for restorations. A heavy duty american made vice and welding table are must haves. Buy yourself at least four quality jackstands and a good quality 3 ton floor jack. First thing I did was buy fire extinguishers and mount them around the shop. You can't have too much bench space. Make sure you set the standard by wearing safety glasses when working in the shop for that young man.

All great advice. Thanks for virtually walking me around your shop. The safety glasses are drilled into his head as well as hearing protection. He's been really good about it since he heard one of the high school FFA kids recalling that last year while he was using the wire brush wheel on a grinder one of the wires came loose and stuck through his shirt into his ******. It was funny, but it wasn't.

I'll check out the Forney. I have not heard of that one. Sounds like some great options on it.

 

[woscholar]

Congrats on the new shop. Liked the ATM!

Some type of crane. I got a gantry crane with electric winch and electric trolley for my shop. Really comes in handy for lifting car bodies or other heavy stuff.

Sandblast cabinet came in handy as did a good parts washer on my build.

Good luck and have fun with the kid.

Thanks. The crane is a good idea. Thought about the engine lift and such, but lifting the car body down the road when my boy has his own family will not be as easy. I don't have near as many strong friends as he does.

Thanks for the input. Wonder why you like the Aggie table.

 

[woscholar]

I can't believe i said fire HYDRANT! I meant fire EXTINGUISHER. I went back and edited my stupidity.

Hee hee. If I had a well dug out here, you bet I'd have a hydrant for looks if nothing else.

 

[woscholar]

Millermatic!

Oh and as mentioned def grinders. I have 3 Milwaukee Angle grinders with paddle switches. 1 is set-up with abrasive sanding disc, 1 is set-up with abrasive cut-off wheel Ø4.00 x .04 thick, and the third is set-up with hook and loop for scotch brite discs. Nothing ***** more when finishing welds than switching the hardware on the grinders over and over again.

I'd love a 2" Burr-King, but I run a cheaper Palmgren 1.5 in belt grinder on the table top. Makes quick work of deburring fresh cut steel tube, grinding down screws and endless tasks. You can pit buffing belts on it as well.

Oh and since I couldn't quite afford a cold saw, I bought a Milwaukee dry-cut saw. I was SOOO tired of abrasive dust from the chop saw landing on everything and having to wear a mask ALL the time. The dry-cut saw just drops slivers/chips and gives you a cool, relatively burr free edge.

Dry Cut saw
My favorite angle grinder
A GOOD mask
Protect your lungs when metal OR woodworking. After hours of metal fab/cutting/welding/grinding...my mask is gray/black. It can be annoying, but all that **** could've been in my lungs.

That's perfect input. It's always nice to get links to tools others have used. Makes the shopping a bit easier on my end....or my wife's.

Great idea on the multiple grinders. Might have to get some lower end ones to start, but multiples with different wheels and such is a great idea. Thanks for that.

We have the full masks with filters. He uses one when mowing since we get long periods of dry weather and the dust can be horrible. But he wants his momma happy with even the weeds cut, so.....