Hi Everyone,
We are in the planning phase for our new home, and I have a blank slate to construct a new workshop. Current plans provide a space of 14'-0"x22'-0" (though this might grow a bit depending on revisions for the garage, mudroom, etc.). Current features include:
So, my question is: What recommendations might you all have as to bench space, bench design, other workspace, tool storage, accessories, display space, etc.? I will gratefully welcome all advise, as I want to get this as close to right the first time.
Thanks in advance,
Paul
Starting at about 1:50
Bob Darwin's workshop.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Sounds like you will have a nice shop.
Make sure you have several circuits. Consider 20 amp circuits and make them dedicated circuits. Also outlets are more convenient if they are 3-4 feet off the floor.
I would make the sink a laudry tub type.
5 drawer rolling tool carts are nice for holding hobby tools.
Other things like work benches, storage, etc. can easily be moved around and added to as you use the work shop and get a feel for what works for you.
Good luck
GettysburgGFI duplex outlets at 6'-0" centers maximum. Air line fed from 40 gallon air compressor in the garage. The line will be regulated, filtered with drain risers and regulated outlets for the spray booth and general air supply.
You will need only 1 GFI outlet for each run of outlets. The GFI should be the first outlet closest to the electric panel. Any ground fault anywhere on the run of outets will trip the GFI. I have confirmed this in my house with my GFI tester.
Most hobby air brushes have a design pressure of 40 PSI.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
BigDaddyBob Darwin's workshop.
That's the same work shop that inspired me when I set up my shop.
Can't you tell?
Hopefully, with only a 14' x 22' space, the OP leaves room for his layout, or is that in a seperate room?
Mike.
My You Tube
I definetly agree with the 20amp circuits, and GFI's yes. You could run them as George suggests, depending on how many circuits you have for your outlets, then individual receptacles might be better, and as long as your going all the way, no holds barred, the ultimate in work shop, consider AFI/GFI receptacles.
You possitively want at least a GFI with in 6' of the wash tub/sink, that is a code in most states.
A little bit about one GFI for multiple receptacles, houses constructed in the mid to late 70's, at least here in WI., the elctrician would run the bathroom outlets on the same circuit as the outside outlets, and locate the GFI receptacle on the exterior.
If you don't know this, you can trip the bathroom receptacle, and have to go on a seach to find which receptacle had the GFI.
Discovered many varieties of this wiring plan while doing home inspections.
Thanks so much! I must admit I never thought about rolling tool chests for tool storage, and was instead thinking along the lines of standard cabinetry and counters.
The electrical plan does have the outlets above counter height (48"), but I need to verify the amperage of the circuits. All circuits are isolated for the workroom.
Woody Allen once joked that he priced what it would cost to join a Vic Tanny club so that he'd become muscular enough to protect himself while walking home -- and learned it was much cheaper to actually just hire Vic Tanny to walk him home. I feel the same way about Bob Darwin's workshop (I still remember the angry letters to the editor about Darwin't steam superdetailing articles and his workshop article - he had a "California" way of phrasing things that just set some guys off): it might be cheaper to hire Bob Darwin to do all the building for you!
I have few practical suggestions other than these:
The ability to keep out (fill in the blank: kids, pets, ex-wives, soon to be ex-wives, tax assessors, whatever).
Spider control. Other vermin control if vermin are a problem (see reference to kids, above).
Excellent lighting - including UNDER the workbench (to help find dropped stuff). Lighting good enough to take good digital pictures by without flash.
A floor surface without patterns - one solid color -- so that things like Kadee coupler springs and A line stirrup steps actually have a prayer of being found once dropped.
A cork board or "white board" or other such surface on the wall above the main workbench so that information about the task(s) at hand can be readily posted, without it cluttering up the workbench surface. I keep information about LaBelle lubricants and their uses, certain Kadee coupler info, a drawing and photo of typical AB brake piping and placement for freight cars, NMRA weight standards (with a ruler marked off in 1/4 oz. increments for NMRA weight), important dates for ACI labels, COTS stencils, railroad mergers and terminations, running board removal, solid bearing trucks in interchange, and certain other model and prototype info posted near the workbench for ready reference.
Related to the above, a place for a laptop visible from the workbench but not on the workbench.
Lots of scale rulers placed all sorts of places. Lots of vision enhancers, ditto.
A sitting down workbench with the usual ease of access to tools and parts. But a high workbench that can be worked on while standing up. Before I retired I noticed more and more colleagues getting desks for their (office) work that are at standing height, and I find myself taking some projects to the layout (which is fairly tall by layout standards), so that I can work standing up. For example I find I prefer to solder, use the Dremel tool, and apply decals standing up. Not sure why, but I do.
An Amazon Echo with "Alexa" voice programmed to tell you who or what number is calling you on the phone. Particularly useful during elections. It's mostly junk calls anyway but I find this saves a lot of interupting things to pick up the phone and learn that way that it is a junk call.
A first aid kit. Gin optional but suggested.
If you can find it (or them) but point of purchase displays intended for Plastruct or Evergreen displays at stores to keep supplies of styrene or ABS plastic in. I bought my "lazy susan" style Plastruct display for $15 at a hobby shop that was going under - and it came with lots of the plastic! A very efficient way to store and find.
Shelves. Lots and lots of shelves.
An uncluttered floor plan that allows or even encourages thorough cleaning (vacuum or mopping) of the floor on a regular basis.
Go thou and do as I say - not as I do
Dave Nelson
G Paine Thanks for the very useful points. As I recall, the discussion with the builder have the GFIs in the first duplex location, but also mentioned GFIs protecting the circuits at the panel as an option. all circuits for the workshop are dedicated. I will make sure we nail this down. If I am correct and there is a possibility they might want to put GFIs in the panel, is there a benefit to either method? I know the air supply will be serious over-kill, but I anticipate a need for a leg to supply air for a variety of purposes in the shop when doing some prototyping. The airbrush leg will feed a manifold since I have to share the booth with the boss and her craft projects (its just not a perfect world!) Gettysburg GFI duplex outlets at 6'-0" centers maximum. Air line fed from 40 gallon air compressor in the garage. The line will be regulated, filtered with drain risers and regulated outlets for the spray booth and general air supply. You will need only 1 GFI outlet for each run of outlets. The GFI should be the first outlet closest to the electric panel. Any ground fault anywhere on the run of outets will trip the GFI. I have confirmed this in my house with my GFI tester. Most hobby air brushes have a design pressure of 40 PSI.
Thanks for the very useful points. As I recall, the discussion with the builder have the GFIs in the first duplex location, but also mentioned GFIs protecting the circuits at the panel as an option. all circuits for the workshop are dedicated. I will make sure we nail this down. If I am correct and there is a possibility they might want to put GFIs in the panel, is there a benefit to either method?
I know the air supply will be serious over-kill, but I anticipate a need for a leg to supply air for a variety of purposes in the shop when doing some prototyping. The airbrush leg will feed a manifold since I have to share the booth with the boss and her craft projects (its just not a perfect world!)
Gettysburg GFI duplex outlets at 6'-0" centers maximum. Air line fed from 40 gallon air compressor in the garage. The line will be regulated, filtered with drain risers and regulated outlets for the spray booth and general air supply.
mbinsewi Geez, I don't think my workspace ever looks that clean! The layout - believe it or not - will be a shelf style built into the bookcases in the library (books below, layout, displays above). The builder we are using in Pennsylvania only builds over basements, so that room would be available, but I can already see stairs and my knees are not going to be good friends. The layout (n-scale, central Indiana, 1950s) will be built in sections and slipped into place, the connections made and facings installed to provide a (hopefully) finished look. BigDaddy Bob Darwin's workshop. That's the same work shop that inspired me when I set up my shop. Can't you tell? Hopefully, with only a 14' x 22' space, the OP leaves room for his layout, or is that in a seperate room? Mike.
Geez, I don't think my workspace ever looks that clean!
The layout - believe it or not - will be a shelf style built into the bookcases in the library (books below, layout, displays above). The builder we are using in Pennsylvania only builds over basements, so that room would be available, but I can already see stairs and my knees are not going to be good friends. The layout (n-scale, central Indiana, 1950s) will be built in sections and slipped into place, the connections made and facings installed to provide a (hopefully) finished look.
BigDaddy Bob Darwin's workshop.
I think that is an excellent idea, making the layout part of the library! I like that.
Mine, and all of the well organized space in the pictures, are in the basement.
I'm sure basements are a part of life in PA., as they are here in WI. I can understand the stair thing.
We have a small cape cod style, so stairways are a fact of life. Down to the basement for layout, laundry, and wife's office, up to second floor for master bath and bedroom.
So, is this shop for other hobbies, and activities along with railroad projects? You mention your wife wants access to the paint booth.
With a shop on the first floor, I can see why dust and fumes, and proper ventilation are a concern.
Wow, such wonderful ideas! Not that I would EVER feed the carpet monster, but the under bench light just became a must-have.
My current iteration of the counter/cabinet plans has an island counter for large projects that require 360 access, plus some additional storage. It will be a simple improvement to frame a base to raise it an additional few inches to avoid some stooping.
Thanks again.
Thank you. I wish I could take full credit for the layout idea, but it is a variation on a theme from some design work I did years ago.
I have an aversion to basements from living in west-central Indiana. A dry basement there was the one without tides.
The shop will be used for a variety of scale and railroading modeling projects, possibly some engineering work (if I get bored), and my wife's projects in a separate area. She plans to make small floral arrangements and crafts for patients at the hospitals where our kids practice.
We put off moving until the kids finished med school, but by the time they finished fellowships we were ready to retire and build our retirement home. So I guess you can say this is a bad case of delayed gratification.
Another question, if I may. I currently plan four bench areas: A "dirty" area for primary construction, a "clean" zone for final detailing and finishing, an area for painting and weathering, and an island bench for large projects and working while standing. Is this a good idea or half-baked like most of them I have? Ultimately I hope to have as efficient a workspace as possible to help make up for lost time.
Thanks again for your help.
GettysburgAnother question, if I may. I currently plan four bench areas: A "dirty" area for primary construction, a "clean" zone for final detailing and finishing, an area for painting and weathering, and an island bench for large projects and working while standing. Is this a good idea or half-baked like most of them I have? Ultimately I hope to have as efficient a workspace as possible to help make up for lost time.
I'd say yes to a special standing height workbench and for keeping the vented painting area separate. But the dirty/cluttered workbench plus a pristine workbench? Well, just how self disciplined are you? I think Hal Miller had an editorial in MR on just that idea - his workbench is so cluttered the only solution is to build another workbench. But it is not like there is some finite amount of clutter such that once it is all on bench 1, there is none left for bench 2. Clutter is infinite. Like in high school physics: a gas expands to fill the available space. (Or as they say, once you open a can of worms the only way to get them back in, is to get a bigger can.)
Not that there is anything wrong with two (or three) cluttered workbenches if you have the room. Me, I lack the strength of will. More workbenches to be sure, but one to be the "cleanroom" bench? Now that I am too old to dream about dating supermodels , that could be my new fantasy.
Well put Dave. . Build another work bench is exactly what I did. I like the OP's standing height bench, with access to all sides. A big YES if you have the room.
The last bench I just built is standing height, but I also have a stool there as well, which usually ends up holding more stuff.
Oh, I'm not that organized, but I do have multiple projects going at once. The problem is, I'm also a klutz, so have had some truly unfortunate events in my time. If I have an area dedicated to finishing my hope is I'll spend less time in salvaging nearly complete projects that are contaminated with dust, dirt and sundry goofs.
dknelson An Amazon Echo with "Alexa" voice programmed to tell you who or what number is calling you on the phone.
I borrow my wifes Alexa since we have Music Unlimited and can ask her to play about anything I can think of. Since my wife is British, she programmed Alexa to speak with a British accent, which is actually more posh "southern" England accent.
A first aid kit.
With Exacto knives, at least bandaids and Savlon antibacterial cream (or US equivelent) anti bacterial.
Gin optional but suggested.
For Gin and tonics, or Vodka for gimlets, for a little variety.
If you can find it (or them) but point of purchase displays intended for Plastruct or Evergreen displays at stores to keep supplies of styrene or ABS plastic in. I bought my "lazy susan" style Plastruct display for $15 at a hobby shop that was going under - and it came with lots of the plastic!
Plastic pieces can be very handy too.
Shelves.
Lots and lots of shelves. Yes.
The first thing I got when I moved into the utility room was to get lots of shelves for storing trains - wire shelves, even cheap 6' tall bookshelves.
In addition, lots of shelves by the work bench to store projects or rolling stock being worked on, or half worked on - a necessity to actually have some actual space at the bench to work on things.
I don't have the money the OP has to throw at a work shop but at least I have a 14x14 unfinished room in the basement that will serve as a train storage room with work shop.
I'm having to throw lots of money at getting the basement finished to build a layout so all those extra things are secondary when funds are limited, for me at least.
One thing I wish I had where I last lived and made a priority this time, is a utility sink. A utility sink is a MUST for all kinds of messy projects needing water to wash up or mix plaster, or rinse out things, you name it! My wife and I purchased one used off of a facebook garage sale site and I had our plumber plumb it in when running the pipes to the basement bathroom which still needs to be finished.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Gettysburg I currently plan four bench areas: A "dirty" area for primary construction, a "clean" zone for final detailing and finishing, an area for painting and weathering, and an island bench for large projects and working while standing. Is this a good idea or half-baked like most of them I have?
If you are like me, what you really need to do is create benches where the tops tilt up at 45 degrees when not in use but go horizontal when you need to use them. Sort of the opposite to a drafting table. That will discourage you from piling "stuff" on top of the tables. "Stuff" loves a flat surface.
Gettysburg Hi Everyone, We are in the planning phase for our new home, and I have a blank slate to construct a new workshop. Current plans provide a space of 14'-0"x22'-0" (though this might grow a bit depending on revisions for the garage, mudroom, etc.). Current features include: Combination tile & carpet floor. Large paired window for natural light. Exterior passage door (to patio/deck). Passage door to garage. Drop-in ceiling with flush LED fixtures that can be relocated as required. LED tracklights GFI duplex outlets at 6'-0" centers maximum. Air line fed from 40 gallon air compressor in the garage. The line will be regulated, filtered with drain risers and regulated outlets for the spray booth and general air supply. Spray booth. 3D printer. Possible/probable laser cutter and CNC engraver. Full HVAC. Fume extractor for air exchange. Sink. And of course, refrigerator, microwave and coffee pot! So, my question is: What recommendations might you all have as to bench space, bench design, other workspace, tool storage, accessories, display space, etc.? I will gratefully welcome all advise, as I want to get this as close to right the first time. Thanks in advance, Paul
Dream house cost could vary alot based on those 3 important real estate factors - Location, location, location.
IRONROOSTERoutlets are more convenient if they are 3-4 feet off the floor.
I agree. I have a double outlet box mounted on the top of one of the workbench legs so it is right beside me when I am sitting at the bench. One of the outlet holes has a switch in it. The switch controls the power to the three outlets and it also controls the workbench lights. When I turn the lights off everything on the workbench goes dead. That reduces the possibility of leaving a soldering iron or a power supply on. The same thing could be done with a power bar if you have the space.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
And now you know why the workshop will be off the garage and not the house. In our current home the garage workbench sits beside the door into the house. I haven't seen the top for years because every time I get it cleaned off my wife finds more "stuff" that needs to relocate. Its like ants to a sugar cube; she just can't leave it alone.
I love the idea. The shop has multiple circuits, but I need to have one light on the primary bench circuit. Thanks!
The house or the shop?
The builder quoted $17k-$20k to shell and finish the shop expansion to the base plan. The budget for the funishings is in the neighborhood of $10k. As an engineer I can design and install some of the systems myself provided I can feed the correct information to the builder to rough in. That is cutting the costs quite a bit. A lot of tools and equipment I have purchased and stored when I found sales, etc. over the past few years in preparation. This helped a great deal as well, plus I knew what the major components would be, making design decisions that much easier.
This project is all about making an efficient workspace after years of struggling with all the constraints imposed by not having a properly dedicated area. We held off moving until the kids finished medical school and were in practice. Since this will be our retirement home, I hope and plan to spend a lot of time piddling in the shop.
As for the house, we are keeping it at $300k-$325k because we don't want a mortgage. As was noted, it is all about location, and that seems about average for the area of PA we are moving to. Grammy wants to be near the grandbabies!
Thanks for the info. I like to hear from other areas about price as I live in an area that is out of this world as far as price being near San Francisco. I paid $265 for a manufactured home which is dirt cheap around here.
I'll be plugging in the NCE Power Cab for my 17 x 17 around the walls shelf layout into a local wall outlet. The workbench grinder and soldering iron will be plugged into another wall outlet. I can't think of any other electrical device that will be used on the layout.
- Douglas
GettysburgI haven't seen the top for years because every time I get it cleaned off my wife finds more "stuff" that needs to relocate. Its like ants to a sugar cube; she just can't leave it alone.
Wow, your wife? I don't have that problem, I beat her to it! Show me a clean work bench, and in no time, I'll show you a bench that you can't possibly pile any more on, except for me that is, because there is always room for one more item.
You only need 1 GFCI outlet if you feed the remaining outlets from it.