We put fluorescent lights under the welding hood and added motion-sensor lights at each end. After considering various heating systems, the Larsons chose to equip their building with a 300,000 BTU furnace. Ceiling fans in the main area of the shop also aid heating by blowing warm air from the ceiling down to dry and warm the concrete floor. In warmer months, we open the shop doors for a few hours in the early morning to let the floor cool off. Then, if we keep the doors closed, the shop stays cool throughout the day.
Few things illustrate the shop's organization better than the tools.
In an effort to resist hanging tools on the wall, the Larsons built tool carts and tool boards. Tools are color coded so they can be easily returned to the proper cart or board. Attachments for the four air hoses that dangle from reels at each corner of the shop are also color coded to aid organization. Air and water lines and electrical conduit are all installed high on the metal-clad walls for safety and to remove the temptation to hang things on them. Perforated metal on the shop ceiling reduces the noise level.