Somebody suggested loft pics.....good idea.

[Rixter58]

I'm a newbie here. Been lurking for months and joined awhile back. Congrats on a wonderful, informative, well run site. Also, kudo's to all the wonderful garage's here. I'm in the process of insulating and finishing the inside of my 33 x 48 x 16 shop. Earlier today in the smoking room thread it was suggested to show pics of lofts. I've wanted that for awhile as well, si I'll start a thread for it. My shop has an 8' loft running down one side and across the back. I'm no carpenter by any means, but did build the loft. Am amazed by the number of compliments I get on it. I've never thought it was all that good. Anyway, please excuse the mess of this work in progress....but here we go.

 

[mustangmccance]

nice work. looks like you definitely needed the loft, lol. lots of stuff to store. here are some pictures of mine. I just installed an attic ladder to access it easier, but to put big stuff up there it is easiest just to use my step ladder. I don't want a formal staircase because this area is just storage and play space for my daughters and I don't want to lose the floor space.


http://community.webshots.com/photo/2953453830101642786EQFKBF


I also now have shelves up there and since it is a space that is 16 x 40 I can store all my lumber and other fairly large stuff up there. since the ceiling is only 4 foot high at the center it is really only good for storage so I don't feel like I am wasting space keeping stuff up there.

 

[texasOFT]

Rixter,
Is that triple a 350 or a 250? I don't remember red on a 500 or 750.

 

[Rixter58]

Thats a 500. It is actually brown. Might be seeing the RD next to it. There is a 350 under the stairs and a couple Water Buffalos as well.

 

[TheShrine]

Here's mine. I'm still working on a way to install mechanized stairs. I want to hinge the stairs at the loft level so I can lift and lower as needed. Any ideas??....

 

[nathank]

Mines just for storage. Isn't huge, but it's useful (that's what she said)

 

[TheShrine]

Mines just for storage. Isn't huge, but it's useful (that's what she said)

Looks sturdy! It'll hold some heavy stuff.

 

[nathank]

Looks sturdy! It'll hold some heavy stuff.

double 2x10s for the beam, and 2x6s for the joists (16oc). It's probably overbuilt, but what the hell right?

 

[mikeytint]

Ya gotta get some of those awesome signs up on the walls

 

[R6 Racer]

Hey Mustangmccance I see a electrical cord winder in one of your pics. how do u like it? I'm thinking about one from Lee Valley.

 

[mustangmccance]

Hey Mustangmccance I see a electrical cord winder in one of your pics. how do u like it? I'm thinking about one from Lee Valley.

the one I used to have worked really well. It did not get included in the move so I bought this cheap knock-off and it does not work nearly as well. but It still beats the heck out of any other cord winders I have used.

 

[klogan121]

I'm a newbie here. Been lurking for months and joined awhile back. Congrats on a wonderful, informative, well run site. Also, kudo's to all the wonderful garage's here. I'm in the process of insulating and finishing the inside of my 33 x 48 x 16 shop. Earlier today in the smoking room thread it was suggested to show pics of lofts. I've wanted that for awhile as well, si I'll start a thread for it. My shop has an 8' loft running down one side and across the back. I'm no carpenter by any means, but did build the loft. Am amazed by the number of compliments I get on it. I've never thought it was all that good. Anyway, please excuse the mess of this work in progress....but here we go.

Say, how is that radiant heater working for you? Is it easy on gas? Or is it propane?

Thanks!

 

[pacmktg]

R6 Racer,

The Wonder Winder is made by GreenLeaf Inc in Fontanet IN. You can order it on-line and get replacement parts at grnleafinc.com. I have had mine for years and love it.

Bob

 

[russlaferrera]

Mine runs across the back of the shop.

 

[Rixter58]

Here's mine. I'm still working on a way to install mechanized stairs. I want to hinge the stairs at the loft level so I can lift and lower as needed. Any ideas??....

Mine are hinged at the loft. In one of the pics you can see the rod they hinge on. If you would like a better pic, let me know. Lost a lot of sleep trying to come with an idea of how to do it. Seen quite a few with big barn hinges on them, but just couldnt bring myself to do it that way.

 

[Rixter58]

Say, how is that radiant heater working for you? Is it easy on gas? Or is it propane?

Thanks!

In a perfect world, I would have had in-floor heat. When I built the building, it took every nickel I could come up with at the time. This winter is my first experience with the tube heater. Used it to keep me warm WHILE insulating so I really cant say. Based on what I've seen so far and the general concensus, I should be able to heat the shop all winter for somewhere in the range of 600 to 800 gallons of propane.

 

[Rixter58]

Ya gotta get some of those awesome signs up on the walls

First thing on the list when the osb in done and painted.

 

[TheShrine]

Mine are hinged at the loft. In one of the pics you can see the rod they hinge on. If you would like a better pic, let me know. Lost a lot of sleep trying to come with an idea of how to do it. Seen quite a few with big barn hinges on them, but just couldnt bring myself to do it that way.

Yeah, more pics and a "how to" would be great! I plan on building my own hinge mechanism. I'm hung up on wood vs. metal stairs and until that's settled I can't design the hinge. I'm not so worried about weight as I am strength/integrity. I want to be able to walk up, with my hands full of whatever, and have no problems with space. I'm 6-4 @ 220 and I need a little space to do that. Some have suggested attic stairs and some have suggested a spiral staircase. Neither of those will do it. I have both and they are useless with both hands full.

Thanks!

I'll take any ideas!

 

[mustangmccance]

Here's mine. I'm still working on a way to install mechanized stairs. I want to hinge the stairs at the loft level so I can lift and lower as needed. Any ideas??....

http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr121
[IMG]http://i476.photobucket.com/albums/rr121/thetxshrine/HPIM3755.jpg

it looks like you have plenty of height to mount a full length stairway and hinge at the top, use an electric cable winch to pull it straight up. I think a good option would be 4 or more of these pillow blocks. http://www.impactbearing.com/pillow-blocks.html
2 mounted to the loft, 2 to the stairway with an appropriately sized rod run between them. you could then tap the ends for a couple of locking nuts and you would have a smooth operating hinge that was as strong as you will need and it has the added benefit of being able to be pulled apart in a jiff if you need to do some work on the stairs.

here is a quick sketch of what I am talking about my grandfather had a bridge section in his barn made like this.

 

[Rixter58]

Yeah, more pics and a "how to" would be great! I plan on building my own hinge mechanism. I'm hung up on wood vs. metal stairs and until that's settled I can't design the hinge. I'm not so worried about weight as I am strength/integrity. I want to be able to walk up, with my hands full of whatever, and have no problems with space. I'm 6-4 @ 220 and I need a little space to do that. Some have suggested attic stairs and some have suggested a spiral staircase. Neither of those will do it. I have both and they are useless with both hands full.

Thanks!

I'll take any ideas![/QUOTE
Well, I'm no carpenter or structural engineer so I'm not the "How To" guy, but I can tell you what I did after a TON of debate in my own mind. No matter how I looked at it, I was going to have make a concession somewhere. I knew I didnt want the concession to be in the strength category. As you can see, I have angle iron bolted to the LVL on the back loft. Then a 1" rod going through the angle iron and then through the 2x12 on the stairs and then through the 2x12's on the side loft. The concession is that the rod goes over the top stair tread leaving 6 1/2' as opposed to the 10 1/2" on the rest of the treads. I could have possibly went under the trad with the rod, but my thinking was that would get the rod too far off center on the main 2x12 and be less strong. I could have made the rise of the last tread higher, but I got this thig about things being symetrical.

 

[Nuts]

These lofts have worked very well for us, they are 8' wide and 60' long, and go down both sides of the building.
It's fairly easy to reach over the front of the cars below using a fork lift.

For some reason we call this the "A" Shack.

Nuts

 

[TheShrine]

Yeah, more pics and a "how to" would be great! I plan on building my own hinge mechanism. I'm hung up on wood vs. metal stairs and until that's settled I can't design the hinge. I'm not so worried about weight as I am strength/integrity. I want to be able to walk up, with my hands full of whatever, and have no problems with space. I'm 6-4 @ 220 and I need a little space to do that. Some have suggested attic stairs and some have suggested a spiral staircase. Neither of those will do it. I have both and they are useless with both hands full.

Thanks!

I'll take any ideas![/QUOTE
Well, I'm no carpenter or structural engineer so I'm not the "How To" guy, but I can tell you what I did after a TON of debate in my own mind. No matter how I looked at it, I was going to have make a concession somewhere. I knew I didnt want the concession to be in the strength category. As you can see, I have angle iron bolted to the LVL on the back loft. Then a 1" rod going through the angle iron and then through the 2x12 on the stairs and then through the 2x12's on the side loft. The concession is that the rod goes over the top stair tread leaving 6 1/2' as opposed to the 10 1/2" on the rest of the treads. I could have possibly went under the trad with the rod, but my thinking was that would get the rod too far off center on the main 2x12 and be less strong. I could have made the rise of the last tread higher, but I got this thig about things being symetrical.

Thanks, it looks like you do not lift yours to a vertical position, right? That is one of my needs and I'll have to position the hinge accordingly.

Thanks again. It's good to get a visual.

 

[mustangmccance]

nuts. that picture is awesome. all those treasures sitting out there. looks like fort knox to me.