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Tiny Machine Shop Build (13x12.5)

kf4zht

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 20, 2008
Messages
712
Location
Calhoun, GA
Last year we moved to a larger house with a great neighborhood for the kiddo, but it has a much smaller shop and basement. Originally I was going to build a 2 car detached garage, but when I got a quote for driveway and foundation concrete of $10k, I realized it was going to be out of the budget. I don't think we are going to be in the house long enough for the investment

So, cleared out a room in the basement and it's going to be the new machine shop. Looks like I will end up with around 13x12.5' (.5 matters in this size).

Here is the raw space:


This is from the Gym side, there will be a wall added here:



Played with Sketchup for a while to get the layout how I wanted.



So the first wall went up. 2x6 to match the existing wall, and inside the header. It's secured with screws at the top, so if it changes down the road or we go to sell the house it can be removed easily.


Then the second wall. This one was 2x4s as it doesn't meet up with anything and I'm sure the extra 2" will be nice.


The cross bracing is for the subpanel. I plan on running all the electrical surface mount in conduit. Three reasons for this:
1. Already have several spools of THHN
2. Easy changes - get a new machine and need 220v instead, pull one wire and go
3. Recyclable - when we move I can remove everything from the shop and save it for the next house. The conduit and wire may be a toss, but the expensive parts will go. Most homeowners wouldnt use it anyway.

I did run 4 boxes that are traditional mounted and the lights are not surface mount. This way when we move this room will still be usable for whatever the next owner wants without being awkward.

Next is electrical. Ended the day with a run to home debt, and got a pile of stuff to start on.
 
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dr_clyde

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Joined
Jan 7, 2009
Messages
6,461
Location
Holland, MI
Must be a walk out? Looks like a cozy little space.

I once read a thread on PM about a guy who cut his kitchen floor out to get some machine tools craned into his basement...
 
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kf4zht

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 20, 2008
Messages
712
Location
Calhoun, GA
Must be a walk out? Looks like a cozy little space.

I once read a thread on PM about a guy who cut his kitchen floor out to get some machine tools craned into his basement...

It is a walk out. We bought it new and customized a few things. My big one was a double door in the basement. All the equipment is on dollys from the move out. I should be able to back the tilt bed up to the door and roll it right in.

The Welder and lathe each weight about 800-1000lbs, the mill is ~450, weld table is ~300 and the work bench takes 3-4 people to move it. The last house had a single 36" door and I got all the equipment in and out with just a case of beer and some friends.
 
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kf4zht

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Joined
Mar 20, 2008
Messages
712
Location
Calhoun, GA
Another weekend workday, lots of progress

Wall outlets are in. These won't really get used, but if this ever stops being a shop or we move I don't want a useless room
Drywall main panels is are up. Still need to trim in the tops and edge of the ceiling.
Lights are in! This is a huge one. I went with the Costco LED shop lights. 4 of them is bright but I will probably add a 5th over the welding table to avoid shadows.
Panel has power run to it, with the right cable. I asked the HD folks for 30ft of SER 2-2-2-4 and walked away to get stuff. Was too busy to notice they gave me USE. Apparently that HD doesnt carry it and assumed it was the same. :dunno: No issue returning it and getting it from another HD.








To do list:
Paint Walls
Run Conduit/Power
Trim up drywall
Fire caulk
Paint floor
Cove base
Weld table light
Find door
Move equipment in

Then the longer term:
Build compressor house
Compressor piping - thinking rapidair
Run speakers from adjacent stereo
Cabinets and storage

These pictures really make me want a fisheye lens. Its really hard to capture the room. Having all the drywall in and enough light to see really helps get the feel of the room. I'm sure it will change some on move in day.

The biggest thing that has me nervous is scrap/materials storage. I've looked at a ton of ideas, just need to get the space together to see where I can cram them. Some of it will probably just need me to be more selective - don't hold to to the 3 ft piece of angle iron twisted around like a corkscrew with random gouges out of it.
 
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rubberrodder

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 6, 2007
Messages
616
Location
Tacomatose Wa.
The milling machine in your scetchup looks a lot like the cylinder head machine I used when I worked in auto machine shops. What kind of machine work are you doing?
 

pepi

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 27, 2013
Messages
2,883
Location
Woodstock, GA
kf4zht,

Have the same mill down the road form you.... Woodstock. Great mill hogs some metal I'll say.

Greg
 
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