I have a garage in the lower level of our house that I have used for building cars etc seems nice but sometimes a little crowded. A couple of years ago I started a media blasting business where I work and am building a 1965 Chevrolet pickup. The building is 2000sqft. I do not have all of my tools there, just enough to get by, but it seems like whatever I need is on the other side, so I walk a lot. It's expensive to heat (propane) and I rent so I cannot convert to wood. It just seems too big now that I am older. Anyone else feel that way?
Shop's too big?
- Thread starter uppster
- Start date
roscoe2000
Well-known member
I wish...my garage just left of 1000 sg/ft, I'm also on the left side of that equation. As I THINK I could use more space. Even in my space, I find that do a lot of back and forth movement. So your walking is part of working with your hands. One thing that I find that helps to cut down on the walking is to mount wheels on as much as possible. That way you can configure your workspace to the job at hand.
Hpozzuoli
Well-known member
2 points....
1) you can never have a shop that is too big.
2) to alleviate the walking issue get a gator or golf cart. I use a gator to get around my property and neighborhood.
1) you can never have a shop that is too big.
2) to alleviate the walking issue get a gator or golf cart. I use a gator to get around my property and neighborhood.
lakeroadster
Well-known member
2000 sq ft = 40 ft x 50 ft
I can't possibly fathom how that could be too large?
Perhaps you would benefit by reorganizing the layout and partitioning it off so you don't heat the entire shop? That's what I've done and it works well for me.
I can't possibly fathom how that could be too large?
Perhaps you would benefit by reorganizing the layout and partitioning it off so you don't heat the entire shop? That's what I've done and it works well for me.
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dynahoe
Well-known member
keep all your tools where you work,more tool carts, rolling benches
spongerich
Well-known member
My shop is in an old barn with the ground floor used for auto stuff, welding, etc. My machine shop and some woodworking tools are upstairs. I try to have duplicates of as many commonly used tools to avoid walking up and down the stairs 500 times.
It rarely works... I always end up with all the screwdrivers downstairs and all of the wrenches upstairs. I gotta build an elevator.
It rarely works... I always end up with all the screwdrivers downstairs and all of the wrenches upstairs. I gotta build an elevator.
:Richard Cranium
Well-known member
Garages are never too big. Turn in your man card.
But you could put up a plastic wall up so that it helps keep the heat on one side of your shop. I have seen a lot of material used to temp. divide a shop up so that they only had to heat part of a shop. Welding blanket, temp plywood wall to name a few. You said you are a renter so it will have to be temp.
But you could put up a plastic wall up so that it helps keep the heat on one side of your shop. I have seen a lot of material used to temp. divide a shop up so that they only had to heat part of a shop. Welding blanket, temp plywood wall to name a few. You said you are a renter so it will have to be temp.
ddawg16
Well-known member
Shop...too big? Sorry, i don't understand that concept. Does not compute.
Segway?
Segway?
justanengineer
Well-known member
Unlike many on this site, I grew up working in unheated, drafty, large and/or old shops through NY winters simply to help the family survive. I then spent 7 years in the Army working on trucks in all manner of extreme weather from Fairbanks AK to Iraq, -70F to +140F. I also walk a couple miles most days throughout our plant to build prototypes which often involves walking one end to another of the ~1/2 mile long plant while lugging tools, parts, etc, followed by hours standing still on concrete, so yes I can completely understand your dilemma, cold temps/heating bills and standing/walking on concrete all day **** huge. Personally I don't mind having a smaller shop bc it forces me to focus on fewer projects which means more get finished, is easily heated/cooled, and doesn't allow the hoarder mentality many here have. If I don't go out there for a month or two who cares? My two car costs pennies to keep warm and dry enough for my machine tools, I can easily get vehicles in/out to work on them, and best of all - it came with the house so I'm not losing opportunities elsewhere to have it.
ovrrdrive
Well-known member
Not too big you just need to organize it better from the way it sounds. I like the idea of partitioning it to save on heat. Also if the shop is too big you might need bigger projects.
The unpartioned side of my shop is 2000 sq feet, cant imagine how that would be too big for anyone regardless of age. You and this guy http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=304804
ought to make a trade.
ought to make a trade.
Strouty
Well-known member
Partition it off with plastic, you will be amazed at what that will do. Where are you located? Maybe you could share the space with someone else? Definitely move the stuff you use closer to where you use it, no one should ever be able to say that their shop space is too big, I think that is how you get your man card revoked.
Steevo
Well-known member
I recently was offered a short term consulting gig, that would have paid me very well for about six months.
The wife said "Maybe you should take it. You'd net enough that you could get the bigger shop you always say you want."
I thought for a few seconds, and decided that going back to work for six months, shopping for a different home on land with room for a bigger shop, moving everything to another place, going through all of the home remodels that would be required, plus building a new shop and setting it all up just wasn't worth the trouble. That, and the higher taxes, higher utilities for a bigger shop, etc.
I'll keep what I have.
But, if I were starting from scratch, I'd be in the "It's never too big" club.
The wife said "Maybe you should take it. You'd net enough that you could get the bigger shop you always say you want."
I thought for a few seconds, and decided that going back to work for six months, shopping for a different home on land with room for a bigger shop, moving everything to another place, going through all of the home remodels that would be required, plus building a new shop and setting it all up just wasn't worth the trouble. That, and the higher taxes, higher utilities for a bigger shop, etc.
I'll keep what I have.
But, if I were starting from scratch, I'd be in the "It's never too big" club.
sberry
Banned
Mine could be half the size.
bczygan
Well-known member
Yes, it CAN be too big!
Partition
Insulate
Organize
Any work space needs a flow. Like an assembly line, except you and the work move from work station to workstation. Tools are kept where they are used.
A workstation needs to be like the space a short order cook uses. Just big enough to do everything without moving from his spot. All associated tools should be within arms reach.
Bill
Partition
Insulate
Organize
Any work space needs a flow. Like an assembly line, except you and the work move from work station to workstation. Tools are kept where they are used.
A workstation needs to be like the space a short order cook uses. Just big enough to do everything without moving from his spot. All associated tools should be within arms reach.
Bill
bczygan
Well-known member
Portable wood burning stove?
Just to be clear, the 2000sqft shop you rent is too big? The only way of changing the heat issue would be build your own shop or buy a building. I removed the NG heater from the shop I lease and use a large wood stove.
ez-duzit
Well-known member
Besides the options already mentioned, instead of heating the entire shop, you might use a portable, radiant heater that you place right near where you are working.
sberry
Banned
Mine is a lot of walking. Its good for me but if it was a hobby shop I would be half the size, brighter and a pinch warmer. I was going to make it 100 long but it would been more of both. I really don't need more work room but more wall space would help fit some machine tools I probably don't need anyway.
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ez-duzit
Well-known member
Yeah, I maxed out my wall space several large machines ago, long before adding a lathe and vertical mill. 
gipraw
Well-known member
Mine is 60x40. I manage the space with several tool carts, and a couple of rolling benches. I also have specific work spaces set up. A small space for the wife, one for detailing, and one for mechanical work. The big boxes are over by the lift in the mechanical area, and the detailing stuff is all in rolling carts and boxes so I can move it out of the way when not in use.
I have horrible knees, and don't like walking on concrete, so I roll around in a desk chair a lot of the time.
No heat issues where I am.
I have horrible knees, and don't like walking on concrete, so I roll around in a desk chair a lot of the time.
No heat issues where I am.
BaMaDuDe87
Well-known member
Sounds like you have your tools on one side and work on the other. Why not move your tools to the middle? Get yourself a small wood stove or a few electric heaters. As for being too big, maybe see if one of your acquaintances wants to rent half from you?
Or the go to answer on this forum I have found..............buy more tools.
Or the go to answer on this forum I have found..............buy more tools.
Wanna Ride
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2010
- Messages
- 2,790
Two thousand square feet.... so roughly 40 x 50, right? Or something close to that, more in one direction, and less in the other. If that's too big, and too far to walk, you either should rearrange it to reduce the wasted steps in a day, or retire. That's not a big shop.
Ilikeike
ALLIANCE MEMBER
so true, I have four sets of tools in different locations at work, (shop,MCC,equipment storage shed,office) and two carts trying to keep from doing the tool swap/runaround.nadogail
Well-known member
I am sorry, but I can't identify with your problem. Maybe a rolling stool and central tool storage closes to all of your working sites.
This! Mine is 780sq-ft roughly...and I have to share it with my dad. You cannot even walk in there...there is so much **** with no room for it. I'm constantly stepping over and on top of things, twisting and contorting my body to fit around items....it drives me crazy!
Can I have the other half?
sberry
Banned
I agree with tools in the middle concept. We do that to some extent. There is an island for the stuff we need for 99 out of a hundred moves. We have 2 1/2 places for common tools always needed. I can roll but barely do.
If I wasn't in the biz I am would de tune just a bit into the 50x60 range. In fact if I didn't need it might simply have a couple cars I didn't have to work on regular and call it a day and wouldn't have much.
Having said that once I was going to build wouldn't be scared to enlarge to reduce some sq ft cost and plain have a little elbow room.
If I wasn't in the biz I am would de tune just a bit into the 50x60 range. In fact if I didn't need it might simply have a couple cars I didn't have to work on regular and call it a day and wouldn't have much.
Having said that once I was going to build wouldn't be scared to enlarge to reduce some sq ft cost and plain have a little elbow room.
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kjdhawkhill
Well-known member
Bank account too full?
Car too fast?
Beer's too free?
Yah, never thought about a shop too big before.
kjdhawkhill
Well-known member
I've thought about mounting an electric baseboard heater directly at work bench level, or better yet, some sort of portable space heater blowing lukewarm-to-hot air down my workbench.
I've never been in my garage long enough that cold feet have been an issue (not a professional). A cheap hat fixes cold ears. Cold fingers are tougher to fix for working on some things.
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ez-duzit
Well-known member
I use one of those portable, oil filled electric heaters that look like an old radiator from the '50's. It's on casters, and I just roll it up close to touching me.
619DioFan
Well-known member
I have an 8x10 garden shed with all my tools , compressor and parts and supplies in and a carport a hundred feet away were I can work. I wish I had your problem
Bruce4310TX
Well-known member
if the shop is to big fill it up with projects then you cant walk around and are forced too leave tools everywhere so there always just a few steps away or turn in your man card move out and sell it cheap to some poor sap that needs it......
Lassen Forge
Well-known member
Damn... mine is a re-purposed 1870's blacksmith shop - not only is it on the small side, but everything is proportioned to be "horse-sized", not "car-sized".
That's what I was thinking... Start collecting Pinzgauer 6x6's, or Military Badgers, or something...
How about a couple of those plug-in propane cylindrical heaters (I used to call them "jet engine heaters")? I have one in my (formerly uninsulated) shop, and while not as big as yours, it (and a fan to move the air around) would keep it comfy into the sub-zero F range.
That's what I was thinking... Start collecting Pinzgauer 6x6's, or Military Badgers, or something...
How about a couple of those plug-in propane cylindrical heaters (I used to call them "jet engine heaters")? I have one in my (formerly uninsulated) shop, and while not as big as yours, it (and a fan to move the air around) would keep it comfy into the sub-zero F range.