Workshop in the woods

[8iowa]

One of the great advantages to the Shopsmith system is that you can operate in a very small space. For the past 27 years I've been content to use a little over 1/2 of a two car garage.

One of the great disadvantages of the Shopsmith system is that I have become too dog-goned comfortable working in a small space. When we built our vacation home in the Upper Peninsula I naturally decided to work once again in my garage. That is, until it became overwhelmed with stuff. Compounding the situation was the fact that I now have 1500 board feet of white pine to store, thanks to local trees that have fallen in storms. I have them sawn into boards and drying under a tarp - but I can't leave them outside forever.

My sweet wife suggested, that since we have enough land, why don't I build a workshop. Naturally I quickly followed up on such a wonderful and timely suggestion.

My new 24'x28' workshop is a "garage" package from Menards. The picture shown is the result of only 2 day's work by the crew from my Munising, MI builder. I'm acting as my own general contractor. I drew the site plan and obtained the permit myself. The shell of the building should be completed this week and the electrican can start Monday.

I'll update progress along the way. If anyone is considering building their own workshop I'll be glad to share tips and suggestions.318

[rkh2]

Love to have a shop like what you are building. I am in a 12 X 28 building, but back half is presently for storage that needs to be gone through. Will look forward to your progress and pictures. Looks like you will have plenty of room for "new toys", so you will have to watch that temptation.

[charlese]

My sweet wife suggested, that since we have enough land, why don't I build a workshop. Naturally I quickly followed up on such a wonderful and timely suggestion.

My new 24'x28' workshop is a "garage" package from Menards. The picture shown is the result of only 2 day's work by the crew from my Munising, MI builder. I'm acting as my own general contractor. I drew the site plan and obtained the permit myself. The shell of the building should be completed this week and the electrician can start Monday.

I'll update progress along the way. If anyone is considering building their own workshop I'll be glad to share tips and suggestions.

I am almost as thrilled as you - looking at your progress! Beautiful building!!Was momentarily surprised to see the steep pitch of the roof, but quickly remembered what snow is!. Very worthwhile project. Your better half should be happy also, getting that noise and dust out away from the house interior. She also need years of TLC for giving you the go ahead on this beautiful shop building.

Advice from me is don't scrimp on electric service and outlet boxes. But you probably already know that! I have 4 double duplex outlets, 2 single duplex wall and 4 ceiling duplex (all 20 amp) outlets along with one more dedicated for the TV and one more dedicated for the A/C. (All ground fault)Have never been sorry! Have never run out of outlets in my 16X 20 shop even with moving the SS around to various locations. You'll probably need some rubber floor mats for that concrete, unless of course you're going to put in a floating wood floor.

I'm jealous over your UP white pine!

As an old wild-land fire fighter, I couldn't help but notice that aerial fuel (tree branches) close to the building. Maybe now would be a good time to visit with your local fire agency to get their recommendations on fire prevention around your property. After all those years in the business, we look at all forested areas as fuel. Yes, this is a bit of paranoia, however it is well founded. This isn't always an unreasonable approach! Although this thinking sometimes ruins our enjoyed aesthetics of wild areas -It has saved properties and lives.
My best wishes!

[dusty]

That looks absolutely fantastic. I am so happy for you.

The surroundings are gorgeous. "Woodshop - A Little North of Heaven". This could make Norm envious.

Like they say in the real estate business - "Location Location Location"

Hope you are making taking a lot of photos to show regular progress. I said I was going to do that when we built our house but later I found that I had taken far too few.

[8iowa]

Many thanks guys, for the comments and suggestions. I am taking a lot of pictures, some of which I will post later. I'm on a 26.4 dial up here and moving pictures around is soooo sloooo.

I think I read somewhere that Norm recommends a shop to be a minimum of 24’x32’. However, his thought are to put a 1000 lb table saw in the middle with everything else having to find space around it. With the Shopsmith I knew that I could do very well in a basic 2 car garage space. I lengthened it to 28 feet due to a stairway in the back that goes up to the second floor. I’ll store and dry wood on the upper 12’x 28’ floor

The gambrel roof is designed to withstand the local snow load of 70 lbs per sq ft. When we bought this lot in '02 it was extremely dense with timber, mostly tamarack and black spruce, but red and white pine as well. I cleared it out quite a bit, saving about 500 board feet of white pine which is now cramping my space in the garage. I do have two nice white pine trees on either side of my new workshop. I'm trimming the lower branches that lean toward the workshop. I would hate to cut them down as they will provide a little shade on hot summer days. Even though the U.P. is heavily forested we have so many lakes and streams and rain that our fire hazard is much lower than out West.

I'm sketching out the electrical service and lighting. I'm planning to put in four equally spaced std incandescent fixtures on the ceiling and at least twelve electronic ballast fluorescent fixtures, each having two 32 Watt bulbs. I also plan to have front and rear outside lights with motion detectors.

My Shopsmith has a 240V motor and I have a long 40' heavy gauge extension cord, so I'll put my 240V receptacles at the mid point of each long wall and 20 amp 120V receptacles 42 inches high every 5 to six feet all around the interior.
The plans call for an 8'x24' concrete apron in front so I'll also have an outside receptacle. With my long extension cord I can even roll my Shopsmith outside.

Rather than have the usual overhead garage door, I have selected two 60 inch double doors for the front, one on the main entrance level and the other directly above opening up to the second story. I will be able to stand on the bed of my pick up truck and load wood to the upper floor. The 60”x82” opening should be plenty wide and high for anything I will be moving around..

[charlese]

Sounds like you really have your stuff together!

If I remember correctly the fire danger in Michigan is greatest in the Autumn. Sounds like you are doing one of the good prevention measures already by trimming branches. Brush and branches together are termed a fire ladder that allows fire to get off the ground. Still I hope you get in touch with your local fire protection agency. You can ask and they can answer. Knowledge like that doesn't hurt! Also their service should be free. You pay the taxes! Don't remember the history of fires in the UP, but do remember about the Peshtigo Wisconsin fire (same day as the great Chicago fire).

Your plan for outlets 42" off the floor and close together is excellent. You may even want to place them closer together over where you will place your main workbench.

I'll quit pestering now and will enjoy hearing of your progress!

[charlese]

I was just notified of the 320 wild fires burning 21,000 acres in the UP started by lightning. We are all hoping that your new beautiful shop is not in the vicinity of one of those. Sounds like a pretty rough situation.

Best wishes,

[paulmcohen]

[QUOTE=8iowa My Shopsmith has a 240V motor and I have a long 40' heavy gauge extension cord, so I'll put my 240V receptacles at the mid point of each long wall and 20 amp 120V receptacles 42 inches high every 5 to six feet all around the interior.
[/QUOTE]

Any advantage to a 240V Shopsmith? What this something you did or does Shopsmith sell it this way? I now have 240V in my shop, it was a free upgrade on my kitchen remodel.:D