I've been mostly a lurker here for a few years, starting a new project and wanted to share. Feedback appreciated. Sorry for the novel but there's a bit of backstory.
Long time car guy and woodworker. Raised a family in my home of 20+ years and built a great 24x36 shop there. We were on a hefty .6 acres in a growing small town and wanted more space but then a fire helped us rush that a bit just about the time our last child headed to college. Insurance deemed it an electrical fire from an outlet that got hot. A dorm fridge was the only thing plugged into or running on that outlet, untouched in a year or more. I built and wired the building and it was all good for 5 or so years. We didn't lose the house but I lost the shop, thankfully unattached to the house. This pushed us over the edge to move. After looking at lots of land we lucked out on 10 acres, about 4 acres of fairly level field for a shop and 6 acres of woods where we will build a house eventually. More on the new shop later.
I lost lots and lots of lifetime tools, my 2 post lift, all my Dad's classic Craftsman stuff, lots of memorabilia, motorcycle and car parts, heavy truck parts (my work), my pristine Jetta that was only insured liability, etc. etc. I built that shop myself with one friend and one piece of rented equipment and thought I would be there forever. I had outgrown it though. Here are some pics of what fire does to a general workshop full of all the stuff your shop probably has in it. Automotive fluids/lubricants, paint, wood stain, plastic plastic plastic tools and parts. The fire was caught quickly and we have (or had) a great city FD very close but still the hot gases and melted and destroyed everything above waist level.
Here are a couple of before shots but I have no recent shots with the finished woodshop in the back, dust collection, mini split I added, etc.
Screenshot 2024-07-20 at 9.51.37 AM by E A, on Flickr
Screenshot 2024-07-20 at 9.52.15 AM by E A, on Flickr
Screenshot 2024-07-20 at 9.49.00 AM by E A, on Flickr
Screenshot 2024-07-20 at 9.50.36 AM by E A, on Flickr
And here's what fire can do:
20240704_164120 by E A, on Flickr
20240704_164000 by E A, on Flickr
20240704_163842 by E A, on Flickr
20240704_163622 by E A, on Flickr
20240704_163834 by E A, on Flickr
20240704_164022 by E A, on Flickr
20240704_164057_Original by E A, on Flickr
What the pics can't show are what the fire department did. Until you have a fire I don't think most people realize that the fire dept's job is to put out fire, not to save your stuff. All parts bins, tool drawers, anything that could possibly hold water was full of water. Also, smoke is much more acrid and destructive than most think. All my woodworking tools in the backroom, most only with minor smoke damage, quickly rusted very badly. They're STILL more rusty than before every time I check one out. I kept some of them that I hope to refurb. Smoke kills the wiring and diode boards/chips. It's awful stuff. It took me a couple months of filthy labor to get the pool of paint/lubricants off the floor to where I could even walk safely and to clean up and inventory everything. I wish this on no one. Anyway, moving on. PRIORITIZE FIRE PROTECTION for your shops! Solvents cabinets. Fire alarms. Shut down power when you're away for a any period of time.
Long time car guy and woodworker. Raised a family in my home of 20+ years and built a great 24x36 shop there. We were on a hefty .6 acres in a growing small town and wanted more space but then a fire helped us rush that a bit just about the time our last child headed to college. Insurance deemed it an electrical fire from an outlet that got hot. A dorm fridge was the only thing plugged into or running on that outlet, untouched in a year or more. I built and wired the building and it was all good for 5 or so years. We didn't lose the house but I lost the shop, thankfully unattached to the house. This pushed us over the edge to move. After looking at lots of land we lucked out on 10 acres, about 4 acres of fairly level field for a shop and 6 acres of woods where we will build a house eventually. More on the new shop later.
I lost lots and lots of lifetime tools, my 2 post lift, all my Dad's classic Craftsman stuff, lots of memorabilia, motorcycle and car parts, heavy truck parts (my work), my pristine Jetta that was only insured liability, etc. etc. I built that shop myself with one friend and one piece of rented equipment and thought I would be there forever. I had outgrown it though. Here are some pics of what fire does to a general workshop full of all the stuff your shop probably has in it. Automotive fluids/lubricants, paint, wood stain, plastic plastic plastic tools and parts. The fire was caught quickly and we have (or had) a great city FD very close but still the hot gases and melted and destroyed everything above waist level.
Here are a couple of before shots but I have no recent shots with the finished woodshop in the back, dust collection, mini split I added, etc.
Screenshot 2024-07-20 at 9.51.37 AM by E A, on FlickrScreenshot 2024-07-20 at 9.52.15 AM by E A, on FlickrScreenshot 2024-07-20 at 9.49.00 AM by E A, on FlickrScreenshot 2024-07-20 at 9.50.36 AM by E A, on FlickrAnd here's what fire can do:
20240704_164120 by E A, on Flickr20240704_164000 by E A, on Flickr20240704_163842 by E A, on Flickr20240704_163622 by E A, on Flickr20240704_163834 by E A, on Flickr20240704_164022 by E A, on Flickr20240704_164057_Original by E A, on FlickrWhat the pics can't show are what the fire department did. Until you have a fire I don't think most people realize that the fire dept's job is to put out fire, not to save your stuff. All parts bins, tool drawers, anything that could possibly hold water was full of water. Also, smoke is much more acrid and destructive than most think. All my woodworking tools in the backroom, most only with minor smoke damage, quickly rusted very badly. They're STILL more rusty than before every time I check one out. I kept some of them that I hope to refurb. Smoke kills the wiring and diode boards/chips. It's awful stuff. It took me a couple months of filthy labor to get the pool of paint/lubricants off the floor to where I could even walk safely and to clean up and inventory everything. I wish this on no one. Anyway, moving on. PRIORITIZE FIRE PROTECTION for your shops! Solvents cabinets. Fire alarms. Shut down power when you're away for a any period of time.
