My sons taking up space in my garage so I decided to give him his own space. The plan is to buy a prefab steel or wood shed, big enough for his tools, 10x12 but needs to be able to be insulated for Florida weather. I have a spare portable AC unit so he covered on that, any suggestions?
Small workshop advise needed
- Thread starter wildmark
- Start date
Charlie51
Well-known member
What kind of projects does he have going on?
Falcon67
Well-known member
12x20 is more like it.
John in OH
Well-known member
I'm not a "Florida" guy, so not really familiar with Florida environments, but which is worse, rot and termites or rust and corrrosion?
In the North steel sheds have interior condensate issues and, thus, require a lot of ventilation to keep stuff inside from rusting. Wood seems more forgiving.
The floor loading will be an issue with tools such as lathes, etc. Check out how the floor in each is built, supported, and reinforced. You may need to reinforce the floor regardless of it being steel or wood.
Its a lot easier to wire and insulate a wood shed than a steel shed.
Pre-fab wood sheds can ususally be ordered in siding colors and roof colors to match your existing house/garage. Not so with steel sheds.
Easier to add some small amount of overhead storage or a high-shelf to wood sheds.
Get as big a prefab shed as you can afford. No shed or garage is EVER big enough!!
In the North steel sheds have interior condensate issues and, thus, require a lot of ventilation to keep stuff inside from rusting. Wood seems more forgiving.
The floor loading will be an issue with tools such as lathes, etc. Check out how the floor in each is built, supported, and reinforced. You may need to reinforce the floor regardless of it being steel or wood.
Its a lot easier to wire and insulate a wood shed than a steel shed.
Pre-fab wood sheds can ususally be ordered in siding colors and roof colors to match your existing house/garage. Not so with steel sheds.
Easier to add some small amount of overhead storage or a high-shelf to wood sheds.
Get as big a prefab shed as you can afford. No shed or garage is EVER big enough!!
Yeah at least 12x20. 10x12 is really small. If you have the time, it might be worth it to build it yourself. Can probably get a much larger space for less money that way.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Build the biggest shed the local authorities will let you build. 10x12 is too small for a lathe, mill, workbench, toolboxes, fixtures, tooling, raw stock, etc.
RVDan
Well-known member
If your son is running a lathe I would think he could move out and build his own garage.
Nowater
Well-known member
Have a heart man, I built a ten by fourteen to hold my lawn tractor. Give the boy a little room.
There may be a prebuilt shed maybe 12 by 20 or so that he could take with him when you finally kick him out. Some of them can go on concrete, others have their own supports and piers. Run a few circuits out there, one for the AC, one for lighting and 220 for tools.
There may be a prebuilt shed maybe 12 by 20 or so that he could take with him when you finally kick him out. Some of them can go on concrete, others have their own supports and piers. Run a few circuits out there, one for the AC, one for lighting and 220 for tools.
matt_i
Well-known member
Are we talking a Smithy or a 7000# Lodge & Shipley? 
If you are talking full size machine tools its going to be a pain to rig them into place. Pallet jacks don't like wood...I would plan on cutting 4-6" squares to put under the leveling bolts. May need a thicker plywood like 1"+ or two sheets of 3/4" glued and screwed.
If you are talking full size machine tools its going to be a pain to rig them into place. Pallet jacks don't like wood...I would plan on cutting 4-6" squares to put under the leveling bolts. May need a thicker plywood like 1"+ or two sheets of 3/4" glued and screwed.
rsanter
Well-known member
Do some,searching on the net, there a a bunch of guys in England that are going a lot of work in a small shed in the back yard.
If you are talking about small benchtop equipment then he will be fine.
Full sized equipment not so much.
Do him a favor and allow a second smaller shed or storage crate for material storage. And check out the little workshops those guys have built
Bob
If you are talking about small benchtop equipment then he will be fine.
Full sized equipment not so much.
Do him a favor and allow a second smaller shed or storage crate for material storage. And check out the little workshops those guys have built
Bob
Are we talking a Smithy or a 7000# Lodge & Shipley?
If you are talking full size machine tools its going to be a pain to rig them into place. Pallet jacks don't like wood...I would plan on cutting 4-6" squares to put under the leveling bolts. May need a thicker plywood like 1"+ or two sheets of 3/4" glued and screwed.
Smaller hobbiest type of stuff.