Above 1200 Sq/FT T-Handles Workshop (The final destination??)

[T-handle]

Hi everybody!

I've been reading Garage Journal for years. There is so much amazing threads and a large amount of ideas and inspiration. Thanks for that and keep it coming
First I apologize my bad English. But I'm learning and I have to use a translator a lot
So I planned to start my own thread about my workshop build. If I can handle this I will post some old pics about my house build and other projects.

Back-story

I have been a carpenter for 20 years, I have done mainly houses and garages for customers and my own houses at evenings and weekends. This is my fourth house that I have built for my family. I was planning for fifth and final with bigger workshop but my back said no more.

I have 3 slipped disk in my back and they can not be operated.

So I guess this is the final destination

We were proceeding to sell this one and I had already clear my workshop, (I built this house and workshop seven years ago, so it is almost like new)

Then my back went out of order again and I was in bed for months.
It is much better now but I have to do something different for work. No more heavy lifting for me thanks

So we decided to live in the current house.
I have to re-think my workshop and do some serious organizing that I can get all my stuff in the workshop.
I am exited because I can start with clean workshop now

Workshop




Sorry about these old dark photos

My workshop is 13x8m and there is a 6x4m wing for paint booth on the left side of the pic. There is a better painter nearby, so I am going to build a office/mancave in to the wing.

There's a firewood storage on the right side of the carport and a corner for bicycles and trash/recycling pins. Carport is 7 meters wide and 8 meters deep. Nice size for two cars.

Behind the cars is a big sliding door. That is the main entrance in to the yard.

The workshop size is about (120m2) 1300sq feet if I converted it right
The bigger part is 3.5m high and I have built a mezzanine in the other end of the workshop.

 

[T-handle]

Re: T-Handles Workshop (the final destination??)

House











The house is about 1700sq feet and it has four bedrooms, large open kitchen/living room area, two bathrooms and a sauna. It also has a 100sq covered terrace

In this part of the world every house has a sauna, because it's very cold in the winter.

I built the house and the workshop myself. I had a friend helping me with the foundation and a floor concrete pours. I hired a electrician to do all the connections,
It is legal to pull the wires yourself in here. Electrician is also a friend of mine.

Build took about a year from start to finish, or when it was okay to move in. I build the terrace and a storage building after we moved in the house. I also made a two meters tall fence between the house and the garage.
The yard is now safe from views in all directions.

 

[rixtrix1]

Re: T-HANDLES WORKSHOP (the last destination??)

Welcome to posting. Excited to see what you have built and how you put the shop back together. It sounds very large by European standards, except for some barn conversions posted in the Gallery. Sorry to hear about your back problems. I sympathize as I have a bulging disc that make my right thigh numb and arthritis in the joints of my lumbar region, but we soldier on, don't we? Best wishes to you!

 

[T-handle]

Re: T-Handles Workshop (the final destination??)

lot

The lot is about 19000sq feet and it's an industrial lot. It means that we had to built a bigger workshop than just a normal small garage, and that worked great for me

The property is however very quiet and peaceful. There's no loud stuff going on in the neighborhood. I think there is even a 85 decibel limit in the code for work sounds.

One code was that I had to make parking space and a asphalt pour on the driveway. That was also okay and not that expensive then I thought.
And the best part was that the lot was cheaper than normal. I guess that the town wants to support small business owners

 

[T-handle]

Re: T-Handles Workshop (the final destination??)

Welcome to posting. Excited to see what you have built and how you put the shop back together. It sounds very large by European standards, except for some barn conversions posted in the Gallery. Sorry to hear about your back problems. I sympathize as I have a bulging disc that make my right thigh numb and arthritis in the joints of my lumbar region, but we soldier on, don't we? Best wishes to you!

Thank you! Yes the workshop is little bigger than normal garage, I have had a two-car garage and a one-car garage, but still build a cool things in those spaces

Someone said that the most important tool in the workshop is space

Somehow we manage to stuff them up no mater how big it is

Sorry to hear your back problems as well, i think humans make a mistake when they stand up and started to walk, back is the weakest link i guess..

but we soldier on, don't we? Yes we do bad back is a good excuse for exercise

 

[T-handle]

Re: T-Handles Workshop (the final destination??)

Me





Something about myself too. I have always been working with mechanical stuff. First by breaking things and then by making things
For hobby I have build mopeds, motorcycles and cars, There's a special place in my heart for American cars and motorcycles and even a bigger place for old machines and mechanical stuff. I have to say I'm a tool lover too.
I've been restoring old machining tools for my workshop. I will continue that after I get my workshop back together

 

[T-handle]

Re: T-Handles Workshop (the final destination??)

Let`s start with the workshop.


I started to wash the floor in sections. Old paint was pretty sad looking but it was solid, so I did not sand it very much.

I selected a light gray oil based concrete paint. I think there will be more light in the workshop with light color in the floor.

Here is a corner of bathroom and a door to the wing. There was a prep room and a small paint booth in the back.

Here is a corner where used to be my old office. It was a small corner office with windows to the shop.

I demolished the office because this is going to be my new tool room department

 

[Mikkeli]

Re: T-HANDLES WORKSHOP (the last destination??)

Welcome T-handle!

Can't wait to see some pictures, at the moment i can't see pictures in your previous post

 

[T-handle]

Re: T-Handles Workshop (the final destination??)

Welcome T-handle!

Can't wait to see some pictures, at the moment i can't see pictures in your previous post

Thanks!

Yes I have a lot of pictures. I wish I had a decent camera though. I guess these phone pictures are pretty good now days.

 

[T-handle]

Re: T-handles Workshop (the final destination??)

So why I painted just a small section of the floor and not the whole thing, when the space was empty.

Well I don`t want to destroy new paint with my pallet jack. It takes a week or more to cure depending about temperature.

It is a polyurethane-alkyd paint. I paint one layer for now and add a second layer after I install cabinets and stuff.

And then this happened

It is a MESS! I had to haul all the big things in to the cold storage, now it's full too.


After some measuring and several cups of tee I have a plan.

I start from the tool apartment because all my tools is lost in the mess. I need those to do the workshop. It takes a lot of time to find even a tape measure.
I have some drawers that I'm going to use for the base of the workbench.

I was looking for cheap and thick tabletops everywhere. Plywood, fiberboard, mdf etc..
Then I connected my local cabinet company and they had some old models of countertop that had some small scratches. We fixed a deal and the price was very good.

These are laminated fake walnut? (40mm) 1,6" thick and (600mm) 24" wide total of 40ft, price was 200€/224dollars

 

[T-handle]

I started removing those old particle boards with glue stripes. I try to scrape them of but it was useless.. good glue I guess

(I had my old office walls covered with wood floor laminate)

Floor is dropped 5" from the top of foundation.

Installed new particle boards on the wall.

Then some filler work and paint, I have a big leftover bucket of red paint from my living room effect/decorative wall.

Painted those mezzanine rafters also with dark grey..

 

[T-handle]

Then I built a small wall and figured that the air will circulate better if I leave it open from the top..

I built this wall that I get more wall space. My lathe will be at the right side of the wall.

I covered the wall with (15mm) plywood and it came out pretty solid

I painted the part that will show between the drawers.

Test fitted some drawers too, one step closer

 

[SmokeyBC]

Somethings wrong, no pics showing.

 

[T-handle]

Somethings wrong, no pics showing.

That is weird How about now?

 

[T-handle]

Somethings wrong, no pics showing.

You guys see no pictures at all?

There are no pics on the first six posts, and there are not meant to be any just the story..

I uploaded all the pictures in Garage Journal album, and linked them here

I can see the pics in my thread even if I'm logged out..

 

[Jayman17]

I’m seeing photos and it’s looking good

Jay

 

[sean Buick 76]

I can see lots of awesome pics now! Good work!!

 

[T-handle]

I’m seeing photos and it’s looking good

Jay

Thank you Jay. So i keep on posting more

 

[T-handle]

Then it is time for the cabinets. I bought these cabinets from used office furniture dealer. The price was 20€ a piece so I bought 20 cabinets..
Cabinets have four wheels and you can push it under the office table type of cabinets
These are very well made and there is three type of cabinets, with two, three or four drawers. The body is some kind of fiberboard with plastic or polyvinyl skin and the box-part is plastic.

I took the wheels of and placed two cabinets together and the height is pretty damn good, with 40mm table top overall height is exactly one meter, about 39,4"

I saw this pic and I guess all I have to do now is precision work

View media item 93446
Now I have plenty of wheels and M10 tee nuts..
My youngest son helping me by removing tee nuts, it is good to have a tiny helper that fits in the cabinet

I had to do some shimming, there is one floor drain in my workshop and the floor is dropping towards the drain..

I used a laser to measure right height, but then the batteries died and I snapped a line on the wall.

Some shimming down also near the outside wall.

There is now 24"x 24" secret compartment in two corners.. I figured long time what I am going to do with that space.. Haven't figured it out yet, maybe a place for empty beer cans

I cleaned all the cabinets before installing. Starting to look good I think..

 

[T-handle]

I can see lots of awesome pics now! Good work!!

Thank you sir

 

[T-handle]

Then I removed the old sink and tap.

I added some support between the cabinets, corners and under the sink. Then it was time for tabletops.

I had my sharpest blade in my saw but still I had some tear.. I taped it up but still.. Test piece was perfect like usual

I was looking for new sink but this is a low budget build so I utilized the old sink. Painted the cut surfaces so that the moisture wont get in to the wood.

The old sink was pretty beat up so I tapped the dings out and cleaned it, it came out nice and shiny.

This sink is not meant to be inside the tabletop so I cut a 1" strip out of it.

The sink came out nice and almost flush with the surface.

 

[T-handle]

I bent some baseboard from sheet metal, glued it into the floor and wall, so that the sparks don't find their way under to the wall..

First I was going for solid shelving and remember that I have a lot of this shelving system stuff..

Now they are versatile, if you make it solid there is always that one thing that doesn't fit to the shelf

 

[T-handle]

I cut all the shelving boards and placed them in. Shelving is 17" deep so I can sit by the bench in a chair and not hit my knees on stuff.
Three of the gaps are 4ft, one 3ft and one 2ft between the cabinets, two shelves per gap.
So 34ft of shelving space and 67 drawers, plenty of storage space for tools and parts

I glued the sink down to the tabletop, shimmed all the cabinet bottoms for support and sealed the gap with white silicone.

There is an open space under the sink where I planned to store shop vacuum and cleaning stuff.

 

[T-handle]

All the cabinets are attached to the walls and it's time for some wall control.
I have already bought these metal pegboards few years ago and they were a part of my old setup, I have to buy a few new ones and they are still available, fortunately. Little expensive but powder coated and lots of hooks and accessories to go with it.

They are 1mm thick and come in two sizes, 960x800mm and 960x400mm. The bigger board is a bit floppy so I made some support pieces in the middle, 15mm plywood is perfect.

I made the first part just like my old setup because I had some socket holes in the pegboard, new tabletop is half inch higher so I did some adjustments with the holes.

The corner pieces were also already bent.

I made the top straight because I am planning a shelf on it.

I bought two of these drawer tool chests a couple of years ago because they were on sale, I think they are meant to be on top of a bigger roller cabinet. I never had any good place to keep them, but now I do

 

[Bob Heine]

Room looks great! I like the design.

 

[TMcCay]

You are making great progress! I like how everything is coming together. Keep the pics coming.

 

[T-handle]

Room looks great! I like the design.

Thanks Bob. I'm very happy how it's turning out

 

[T-handle]

You are making great progress! I like how everything is coming together. Keep the pics coming.

Thank you

 

[Jayman17]

Yes, I agree with the others, it's really looking good. I like the design, tons of countertop and that sink cleaned up real nice.

Jay

 

[rixtrix1]

Wow, this area turned out great!

 

[coljar]

Very impressive! Your bench area is coming together nicely.

 

[T-handle]

Yes, I agree with the others, it's really looking good. I like the design, tons of countertop and that sink cleaned up real nice.

Jay

Thanks Jay Okay it's a countertop I thought tabletop sounded a bit funny

Wow, this area turned out great!

Thank you sir

Very impressive! Your bench area is coming together nicely.

Thank you sir



And Hey! I learned how to multi-quote too Have a great day everybody.

 

[matt_i]

This is fantastic! Great work and I can tell you've put a lot of time into it. I'm envious of the system of drawers under the cabinet. Looking forward to seeing the lathe get placed into the shop, I always have a soft spot for the lathe

 

[T-handle]

The U-shape corner is going to be my place for precise work, like soldering, electronic work etc.. So I need some power sockets over there, chargers, computer, power sources and so on.

So i came out with a plan to build a power "channel" on top of the countertop.
There are already solutions for that but they are quite expensive.

Like this.

View media item 93554
So I decided to built my own version.

I have a 230v electrical line ready from my old office, that has it's own circuit breaker on it. So the electric "channel" has it's own power with a fuse.

I had few of these outlets with a lid and normal ones that need an electrical junction box behind them. Those adjustable ones are really great.

Then I did some wiring and it was ready for covers.

I had some wallnut pieces leftover from shelving inside my house, so I used it on the top cover. It goes great with the countertop

It came out okay, and I think eighteen outlets will do for a while
I can add or remove outlets if I need to. I have already a plan for a solid power source with 3v, 5v and 12v outlets in the "channel". But that is another project..

 

[T-handle]

This is fantastic! Great work and I can tell you've put a lot of time into it. I'm envious of the system of drawers under the cabinet. Looking forward to seeing the lathe get placed into the shop, I always have a soft spot for the lathe

Thank you matt_i

Yes the drawers are great, and a cheap solution compered to real tool chest system, Those are really expensive here.

Yes I love my old lathe, If you want a head start to see it I have a video on it in my Youtube channel

 

[T-handle]

I decided that I need some open shelving on the upper part too for easy access. I have two of those metal drawers and they have little compartment with door that opens to right. So those drawers can't go side by side on the bench.
I also have two sets of nuts and bolts storage pins, so I planned two identical sides that are mirror images of each other..

Those drawers also kind of separate the precision work area to it's own compartment. I didn't want to paint those backsides. I had this light grey metal sheet so i covered a shelving part wall with it.

Then I measured a place for the storage pins. I cut some support for those also.

Other side.

Then I continued with the pegboard. Made the shelving parts, even taped the ends so it looks nice.

That part came out nice, I have some storage pins for small nuts and bolts, and some wooden cases for precision tooling that I will storage on this shelves. Open shelving is not good if the working conditions are dusty.. I plan to do the dust work on the another end of the workshop. Hopefully

 

[T-handle]

I continued with the pegboards, I had to bent four corner pieces.









It was hard to have sharp corners so I grind a small groove on the backside with a 1mm grinding wheel..








I ended up with two five inch gaps on the middle. But I have a plan to cover them with small storage pins.
Then I made a top shelf that goes around whole room. It is perfect space for paint cans..





















I'm sorry about those dark and out of focus photos. Next step is lighting so the photos will get better I hope..

 

[T-handle]

But first I need some hot water to clean those old lighting fixtures. So I connected the tap and sealed the sink.
I used some clear silicone and the good old soap water and ice cream stick method

Works every time

 

[T-handle]

Then it's time for lighting, I wonder why I didn't do this first and worked in the dark

I made some supports and shims for the light fixtures so that they will be flush with the rafters. Maybe the heat will fade away better when there is room above.

Then I painted all the rafters and supports dark gray and mounted the fixtures. I scored these fixtures free from a renovation site. There was place for one fluorescent tube only, but room for two. I salvaged the magnetic transformer and wires from another fixture.

After some wiring there was light Looks a lot better now.

I will replace those tubes with 4000k Led-tubes later. I think 4000k is good color temperature for working.

 

[cash68]

Nice, but I think you're going to want to run another set of lights above the benches. Right now you've illuminated the room but whenever you're working on something on a bench, you'll be working in your own shadow. Awesome job so far!