The Locost Shed

[vwscott]

Ive been a long time lurker and can now join in on the real fun.... To give everyone a bit of my background.. Ive worked in the auto collision industry for about 13 years.. 9 of those years in the paint shop and the last 4 in the office in administration and estimating.. My hobbies have been watercooled VW's, Autocross, Rock Crawling, and some light fabrication.. My wife and I currently have a 2 year old little boy that is becoming a great little helper.. Enough about me though...

So what is a Locost you ask.. Its a Lotus Seven Inspired sports car.. a quick little google search will fill in the blanks on what a Lotus Seven is if you need to ask. Ive been working on my Locost for about 2 years in my attached 2 car garage. My wife dosnt like me working next to her Audi, and its taking up my Wranglers parking spot making it tough for me to take and leave off the hard top to enjoy open air driving in the Jeep. So build the Locost a home I am.

Main use for my Locost Garage will be to store/ build the Locost.. but as I have an automotive painting background, I would love to have a nice backyard "booth".... The only painting I will do will be my own and mostly small stuff.

My build plan:

Structure:
14'x24' with 8' walls and 9' ceiling so the outer most sides of the ceiling will follow the roof pitch up to the 9' height. 2x8 floor joist on 12" centers.. 2 layers of 3/4 plywood for the floor. ( wood floor due to HOA size restrictions and permit reasons).. 2x4 stud walls with Smartside siding.. Galvalumn roof..

Interior:

Porcelian tile floor over cement board.. R13 insulation... 6 mil vapor barrier.. finished drywall.. 16 T8 dual bulb fixtures.. 2 3000 cfm air movers in attic moving air through filters in ceiling and out filters in floor... air compressor will be in external "dog house" on outer back wall..

more plans to come... Ive been working on the shed for about 2 months off and on after work and on weekends.. will add photos as things progress..

a couple current pics of the Locost

 

[JimVonBaden]

Very cool! If you don't mind my asking, how much did it cost in materials?

Oh, great car, MG windscreen?

Jim

 

[vwscott]

Very cool! If you don't mind my asking, how much did it cost in materials?

Oh, great car, MG windscreen?

Jim

So far cost is around $3700 and counting..

Windscreen is from an MG-B... but has been narrowed 14"

 

[Red Leader]

I think it looks great - gonna use it for a 'build barn' so to speak?

Nice work

 

[JimVonBaden]

So far cost is around $3700 and counting..

Windscreen is from an MG-B... but has been narrowed 14"

Very good price for the size!

Jim

 

[vwscott]

I think it looks great - gonna use it for a 'build barn' so to speak?

Nice work

I like it... My build barn... Ive always joked around and called it "Scotty's Backyard Bondo Barn "..

Im in the caulk, paint, and trim installation stage now... So it should really start looking like a completed project soon... Then comes interior.. Im also building a concrete and slate firepit in the backyard so ill take pics of it as well.

 

[NUTTSGT]

It came out looking nice.

Are the doors framed with 2x4s ?

 

[Thedoc14]

Does it sit on 2 timber skids, so you can move it around?

 

[vwscott]

The doors are each 4'x9' and are framed with 2x4s 16"on center... 1/2" sheet of advantec and some 1x4 stained pine boards... Needless to say they are very heavy...

The timber skids are there to meet a permit requirement of a portable outbuilding... Its a pretty heavy beast and doubt it will be moved any time soon...lol

 

[Glyn]

Lovely workshop! What are the holes in the floor for?

 

[vwscott]

The holes in the floor are for floor filter for the exhaust side of my "spray booth" function of the shop... It will be a positive presure down draft style spray enviroment. There will be covers for the holes while not in use.

 

[Patrick123]

What is the total cost of your floor going to be per square foot?

 

[Jagmandave]

Looks like a bike engine in the Locost? Which one?

Are you also on the Locost Forum with your build? I frequent the forum, although I'm not a member.....

 

[vwscott]

Looks like a bike engine in the Locost? Which one?

Are you also on the Locost Forum with your build? I frequent the forum, although I'm not a member.....

The engine is from a 2002 yamaha fz1.. 1000cc and about 150hp.. I chose it for a couple of reasons... It uses side draft carbs that will allow the airbox or intake filter setup to fit under the bonet... Also I was able to buy a whole bike for $2400 and sell all of the parts i didnt need and make back almost the whole purchase price... That is true Locost style .

I am on the locost forum... I dont have a build thread though... My build is so slow that Ill make one once I get a little further.


Cost of floor is unknown at this time... But ill let you know once tile is in.

 

[fomocoforrester]

As a Tiger Avon owner I can appreciate your locost build, but the question I have is why would you put the shed in the middle of the lawn instead of up against the back corner of your lot?

Maybe you have some set back regulation, or perhaps you're going to check your little ones lap times around it?....

 

[vwscott]

There is a large gas main that runs through the back of my property and no structuree can be within 25' of it... How the privacy fence is there who knows... A backyard track has crossed my mind since the build has started

 

[wugamumtafish]

I've been round these in the UK for years. If you get the original book, written by a guy called Ron Champion, I used to sell him used Caterham parts when he first started building these. Shout up if you need any advice; Caterhams are my thing, and have been for years, nice project, Ed

 

[antinym]

I'm building a Locost, too. I built a temporary shed in the back yard for storage, but I'm using all of the 2 car garage for the build. Sad that my Exige and Mini have to park outside, but all in the name of... umm... uh.. I'm not really sure.

 

[vwscott]

I'm building a Locost, too. I built a temporary shed in the back yard for storage, but I'm using all of the 2 car garage for the build. Sad that my Exige and Mini have to park outside, but all in the name of... umm... uh.. I'm not really sure.

The wife wont let her S4 be outside at night... My jeep has a hard top so i didnt mind it being out for a couple of year... But i realy wanted to take the top off and leave it off.. So it must go in... Ill drive my '82 rabbit truck if the weather looks bad...

 

[Jim Stabe]

So far cost is around $3700 and counting..

Windscreen is from an MG-B... but has been narrowed 14"

The windshield looks good on there, better than the fabricated ones most people make. I had to do the opposite on my car and make a wider one and am in the process of cutting glass for it. How did you cut the glass down?

 

[vwscott]

The windshield looks good on there, better than the fabricated ones most people make. I had to do the opposite on my car and mke a wider one and am in the process of cutting glass for it. How did you cut the glass down?

I have not cut the final glass yet... But have made a few test runs on some scrap windshields from work... Here is a video of the method im useing..

 

[don long]

The holes in the floor are for floor filter for the exhaust side of my "spray booth" function of the shop... It will be a positive presure down draft style spray enviroment. There will be covers for the holes while not in use.

When you said spray booth my ears perked, great idea
how will you pressurize your box and second what about the overspray from under the box? any concerns

ps I retired from the collision industry in 2005 after 40 years in the game
it's a good one!

 

[Jim Stabe]

I have not cut the final glass yet... But have made a few test runs on some scrap windshields from work... Here is a video of the method im useing..

How have the tests worked out? Do you have any pictures? Make sure you post the results here, I'm very interested. I'm getting ready to cut the glass for mine, it is a '66 Impala. It is one of the few I found that enough curvature and width to fit my widened car. I plan to sand blast mine and I will post my results here as well.

Good luck.

 

[vwscott]

When you said spray booth my ears perked, great idea
how will you pressurize your box and second what about the overspray from under the box? any concerns

ps I retired from the collision industry in 2005 after 40 years in the game
it's a good one!

I plan to try a dew different type of filters in the floor to cut down on overspray... We'll see how it works...

As far as the glass cutting... No pics of test cuts.. But it works pretty good.... Very slow going though..

 

[vwscott]

Here are a few updated photos... Its been slow going... More to come.

 

[Tims Arrow]

Nice idea with the inbuilt vents for the booth, And ozclubbies.com.au has a few peaple to bounce ideas off of for the Low cost.
My build so far is in the rolling stage.

 

[Jim Stabe]

Have you cut the glass for your windshield yet? I used basically the same setup that the guy used in the video you posted and I have described it pretty well at the end of part 2 and start of part 3 in the links in my signature. It works really well and I could probably duplicate my windshield in about 2 hours knowing what I know now. Do you have a site with progress on your car?

 

[vwscott]

I have not cut the final windshield but a few test pieces that went very well... I have yet to make a build page for the car yet... It has been on the back burner for a bit to complete the shed and allow my little boy tp grow up a bit so he can help and remember working on it.

 

[upndown]

All 3 look like fun projects! Especially the last one, those are memories that will last your little guy a lifetime..Something we don't see enough of these days!! Good on ya Scott..

 

[vwscott]

well... life took over a bit there and the shop had to wait its turn... now with a 4 year old son and a pregnant wife, its time to work on the shop again. a little update photo. the floor is being painted currently with an oil based porch paint... phase one lights are up.. ceiling fans are in.. Ill be painting in it shortly.

 

[metalhead140]

Awesome! Any progress on the locost?

 

[panthersteve]

When I read the title I thought Locost was going to mean "Low Cost"

 

[metalhead140]

Well, it does! That's kind of the point of building a locost... But I think he's built the building on a pretty tight budget too.

 

[don long]

VWSCOTT
I would be very concerned spraying paint in that room with all that exposed electrical. Every spray booth I have ever been involved with has had explosion proof fixtures inside and all electrical plumbing on the outside of the booth

The solvents in the paint are very flamable, and one arc in an electrical box could make some very undesirable fireworks. JMHO

 

[Modern Jess]

I had no idea you could cut down a safety-glass type windshield. Learn something new every day.

Love the Locost build, btw!

 

[HSpencer]

Building looks great. I like the way you finished the inside. Seems to be really roomy in there. Thanks for posting your build!!

Best Regards
Herb Spencer

 

[vwscott]

No progress has been made to the Locost other than gathering parts... the shop so far has been fairly "Low Cost".. fairly..lol... I have not sprayed any paint in it yet, but when I do, it will not be until ive done as much as can to make sure it is as safe as possible.. I will post more pics up soon as the floor is now painted and looks really nice.. Very little will will actually get painted at home as I have access to two GFS paint booths as work.. but for small projects and priming, Ill be set.

 

[Jere]

I hate to be a stickinthemud but you don't want to be breathing that glass as you are cutting it, or have a kid around for that. The water mist might help a little but you shouldn't risk it. When the water dries that silicon dust will be every where no matter how much you sweep. I was just reading about a guy that helped design some giant telescopes (like the Hubble if I remember right). He had an untimely end after an un protected visit to a mirror cutting factory or someplace like that. Maybe get it cut somewhere else, or go with some coated poly carb.

Love the project otherwise, I have the Haynes version of the collin Chapman book (the originals seem to sell for hundreds). I have wanted to build one for a long while now. Good luck with the project!

always act like the smallest lobster in the grocery store tank

 

[vwscott]

Floor has been painted with valspar oil based utility and porch paint... took a while to decide on which paint to go with.. found some good reviews with this paint on OSB in a shed


Next is finishing the fan filter boxes and get working

 

[Bib Overalls]

Are you building the Locost from the book or did you get a "package." I hate to say "kit" because kits come with instructions. We all know that self reliant Garage Journal types don't need instructions.