My new workshop - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 10:34:20 pm
content: Hi all,Never really introduced myself.......so here we go.I worked for 20 years in electronics/software systems (oil & gas), everything from construction, testing, installation and thro' to hardware & software design.However, 6 years ago I moved on to another company and gone completely is the electronics/software design side of things. For about 3 years I never really missed it, but when I started playing about with RC planes and designing a couple of pcb's it got me back into electronics again.......so much so I decided to convert my garden shed into a home workshop.A couple years later and I have decided the workshop is too small.......so am currently building a new one.Ian.Here's the old workshop:-And the status of the new workshop.....:-)

author: ecowarrior
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 11:04:05 pm
content: Looks a bit chilly

author: sonicj
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2011, 11:42:54 pm
content: whats up IanJ!man, the internet is a small place.-sj

author: tyblu
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2011, 06:04:56 am
content: I like the open look.

author: Hypernova
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 14, 2011, 10:24:06 am
content: Wouldn't it get hot in the summer?

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 15, 2011, 05:53:59 pm
content: Quote from: sonicj on February 13, 2011, 11:42:54 pmI'll get ma coat.Ian.

author: Sionyn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2011, 10:23:49 pm
content: dig those roses tins

author: zaoka
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2011, 05:00:49 am
content: Nice!I always wanted to have windows in front of the bench because of the light, you can also have fresh air and get rid of soldering smoke fastand the main thing its helty for the eyes because you dont look close objects all the time

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 01, 2011, 09:01:00 pm
content: Hi all,My new workshop is taking shape.......it got erected yesterday, and today I gave it a coat of paint and did some of the electrics including installing a webcam. Still got loads to do though, currently deliberating of storage/shelving options.Here's a screenshot thus far:Ian.

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 04, 2011, 07:05:19 pm
content: Getting there............

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 06, 2011, 10:37:04 am
content: My 1st wee project in the shop was carried out yesterday. I had imported a wee 110vac bench grinder (couldn't find anything similar in UK) and had bought a suitably rated step down transformer off Ebay.On power up of the step down (no load) it tripped the MCB's in my shop. Wow!Opening up the unit the wiring/soldering was absolute rubbish, almost as if a 5-year old had been let loose with a soldering iron (no offense to EEV 5-year olds!), a couple of dead shorts on the power switch and the primary wiring to the transformer itself. Re-wired/repaired and it's good to go.2nd project was late last night, my web/email server decided to let go so I hauled out the backup hardware but decided to upgrade Vista to Win7 whilst I was at it. Nice to have the workbenches to do this rather than the floor of my office in the house! Job done.YouTube vid of ma workshop. Still more shelving to go up and more stuff to move in.V5XT6SRZMHM

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 06, 2011, 11:39:10 am
content: good job Ian! How are you doing on insulation on the walls? How did you waterproof the roof?I noticed you have a generous number of mini drawers. Are these to stock parts?Do you guys stock large numbers of parts at home or leave that to your supplier and order what you need?

author: cybergibbons
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2011, 11:58:27 am
content: Yeah, the insulation was one of my concerns. My old shed was uninsulated, and never mind how uncomfortable it was working in there, it ruined electronics in short order.

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 06, 2011, 01:05:20 pm
content: Hi,Roof is waterproof as the felt is bonded down, although it hasn't rained in nearly a week (unheard of for Scotland!!!)....so yet to see if there are any problems.I didn't insulate the walls as I did with the last shed/workshop......I just plan on using low wattage shed/greenhouse heaters and keeping a constant temperature 24/7 (I don't care too much about the cost!). The last shed was really, really warm with the insulated walls even in the darkest winter and it was so air/watertight that condensation was a problem and the dreaded mould.......I just wanna try something different, but I'll possibly insulate the roof.........but I need a good day of driving rain to see if there are any problems before I do anything.The mini-drawers are for stock parts, it's the way we held parts of all description at my old work, so I guess I'm just looking to re-create that. I hate raking through boxes of "misc" for that all important res/cap/IC. Over the years I've collected sooooo much stuff thats hidden away in boxes it's about time it was all centralized.PS. The Sarel box on the wall houses the AC/DC adaptors for the ethernet hub, powerline adaptor, webcam etc. I 'hate' using up all my sockets on silly DC adaptors.Ian.

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 07, 2011, 02:41:57 pm
content: Update:Have order Celotex TB4035 sheets for the roof. Expensive, but good thing is that they have an internalvapour control layer, preventing thermal bridging.............so hopefully avoiding damp/condensation without having to get too complicated with the install.Will put on the roof only for starters and see how the temperature of my shed is affected. Worst case scenario I'll have to do all the walls also......but I doubt it.NB. The floor I'm not going to touch.Ian.

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 11, 2011, 03:47:39 pm
content: Hi all,Insulation & damp-proofing.Things I have learned about keeping a shed warm & relatively damp free. It's not a definitive list and not the optimum way to do things, but they seem to work for me and are easy to implement.Yes, the workshop was a tad cold and I struggled to get the temperature up.......but after fitting the Kingspan/Celotex on the roof only and putting down another floor layer (wood) with a polythene membrane sandwiched between it's made a hell of a difference.I've put together a do's & don'ts of what I found:-1. DON'T, just throw polystyrene sheets between the wall uprights (and roof) and simply plasterboard over them. Whilst it will be cosy to begin with, dampness and condensation will be a problem. Also, whilst plasterboard is easy to cut and put up, it'll just soak up moisture and buckle/rot over time.2. DON'T, throw your shed base down, even if it's on slabs, without first putting down a vapour barrier (polythene sheeting) over the whole area. The wooden floor of your base will soak up moisture from the ground especially if there is not a good air gap (flow) between the base and the ground. It's not so much that it can rot the wood over time but more the fact it will just make for a cold floor that never seems to be absolutely bone dry. If you miss out on this step (like me) then lay polythene down over the shed floor (inside) and lay down another floor (tiling, wood or anything) over the top. This will stop moisture getting all the way into your shed and will make the floor stronger also.3. DO, fit Celotex type insulation between the roof and wall battons. Kingspan/Celotex has a built in vapour barrier by way of a foil film on both sides and is extremely efficient as an insulator. You can then clad directly over the Kingspan/Celotex.4. DON'T, simply put household loft insulation between the roof and wall battons and clad over it. The insulation will just draw in moisture and before you know it you'll have a damp problem.5. DO, try to fit secondary glazing even if it is just a perspex sheet on the inside side of the windows. Leave at least a 10mm gap and seal it best you can all the way round. This will help prevent condensation and also keep the shed that little bit warmer.6. DON'T, buy a metal shed to use as a workshop. You'll have the mother of all condensation problems especially if you are heating the shed.7. DO, run two heaters if it's a permanent workspace to be used all year round. Use one heater that'll tickover all the time day or night just to keep the frost/damp out, and another one to blast the shed up to temperature before you go out there. It's a wooden shed, so be careful with the type of heaters you choose.Some update photos:-

author: david77
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2011, 04:59:17 pm
content: Good job Ian.That shed looks quite cosy insideA man needs a shed, doesn't he?

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2011, 05:16:06 pm
content: I'm in the market for a new shed (real soon hopefully) so could you answer a couple of questions?1) What size is it? (Looks about 8'x6' to me)2)Where did you buy it?3)What is the quality like? (Old shed collapsed in the snow...only 20yrs old sic!)4)How easy was it to erect? One, Two more people?Thanks in advanceps Nice Job

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 11, 2011, 06:32:37 pm
content: Quote from: FreeThinker on March 11, 2011, 05:16:06 pm

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2011, 08:19:47 pm
content: Wow!16x9 , Doesn't look that big from the outside but looked enormous on the inside that's why I asked, thought it might be Tardis like Lol. No room for any thing that large on my merge estate 8'x6' max.Like the door window arrangement leaves plenty of running bench space and wall hanging.Agree about B&Q expensive rubbish.Local shed maker is just expensive, looking for something reasonable but not too expensive (credit crunch after all). Can't decide if I want a door in the gable end or on the side to maximise use but in the end price will be the deciding factor.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 12, 2011, 12:47:38 am
content: I like the little vacuum cleaner on the wall. As if that will ever be used...Excellent work Ian.A man always needs a shed david77. Especially one with a lock.

author: david77
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2011, 03:14:23 pm
content: @FreeThinker:A TARDIS like shed would be great, wouldn't it? Infinite storage space, space for a couple of workshops... and only the footprint of a old police call box

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 14, 2011, 06:26:03 am
content: What did you build the wire spool holders? What type of rod? And what were the brackets that were on the wall from?

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 14, 2011, 07:36:52 pm
content: Quote from: george graves on March 14, 2011, 06:26:03 amCheap wooden curtain pole c/w brackets. Just throw away the rings and the decorative ball ends.....Ian.

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 26, 2012, 06:00:17 pm
content: Update:-Just finished extending the workshop by 8ft.Now the pedestal drill and grinder etc are in a different area from the soldering iron........so now at last I'm not forever trying to keep the workshop dust & debri free.Plenty more room for storage also.I was also getting tired of moving the dev latop in & out of the house all the time (don't want to leave it in the workshop overnight) so came up with the idea of using a KVM and now have a dev PC in the server cupboard in the house and three cat6 cables out to the workshop to give me 1440x900, keyb/mouse, sound & additional USB (for Arduino etc).Ian.

author: slateraptor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2012, 06:59:21 pm
content: Awesome...all you need now is a pair tin cans, long piece of string, andthis sign.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2012, 02:00:22 am
content: Quote from: tyblu on February 14, 2011, 06:04:56 amI love big, clear glass windows.

author: Kevin.D
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2012, 09:20:57 am
content: I love the huge shed wish I had the room for such size.qoute :- "DO, run two heaters if it's a permanent workspace to be used all year round. Use one heater that'll tickover all the time day or night just to keep the frost/damp out, and another one to blast the shed up to temperature before you go out there. It's a wooden shed, so be careful with the type of heaters you choose".Ian I see your heating with an electric heater.? )It'l cost 3 times more to heat electric v.s gas. GAS approx 5 pence per KWh- Electric approx 15 pence per KWh .I would plumb a radiater in to my house gas central heating I think if i had a shed that size .Expensive in the short term to fit but in the long term would save you a fortune I bet.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 27, 2012, 09:48:03 am
content: Quote from: ivan747 on March 27, 2012, 02:00:22 amThey also double as excellent whiteboards!Dave.

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2012, 02:05:15 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on March 27, 2012, 09:48:03 amDon't try this at home children

author: bubucis
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2012, 02:36:37 pm
content: I have had failures (magic smoke) in two (out of five total) electric oil filled heaters that look similar to yours. Here in the US retial return policy is generous, so I just returned them back to the Home Depot and got the new ones. Nevertheless they did spark and went up in smoke, so I do not leave them unattended anymore.Heat pump might be a better option.

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 27, 2012, 07:54:16 pm
content: Quote from: kevotronic on March 27, 2012, 09:20:57 amHi,Not shown in the video is my wee oil filled heater which I use for tickover. The wee electric heater I use for heat on demand. The key however is the KingSpan/Celotex insulation which makes a huge difference to retaining heat.Net result is that my heating bill hasn't lifted that much really.....although yes plumbing in a radiator from the house would be better.I'm not planning on heating the extension and have still to fit a door.Ian.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2012, 08:05:32 pm
content: Running hot water out from your house to an outbuilding is.. mildly insane. It adds a huge amount of potential for leaks, not to mention massive loss of heat on the run.

author: dfnr2
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2012, 09:50:46 pm
content: Ian,Awesome workshop. I have a question for you, about those large plastic drawer-bins on the left side of the photo looking along the length of the workshop. I have very similar bins (made by Iris), and find that when stacked high enough (6 high), they want to tilt forward. Are you stabilizing these in any way? Are yours stable on their own?Thanks,Dave

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2012, 02:19:31 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on March 27, 2012, 09:48:03 amUntil you discover you were using permanent markers on your dorm's window

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 28, 2012, 11:00:46 am
content: Quote from: dfnr2 on March 27, 2012, 09:50:46 pmNot sure where you are located but I got mine from Homebase in the UK. They don't want to tilt forward at all and I haven't stabalized them at all.I think these are similar if not the same manufacturer at least:-http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=110&storeId=10151&partNumber=1673670Ian.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2012, 12:54:05 pm
content: I've got some of those (acquired for a sensible £8 or so, not 25 quid..) and find them fairly unstable. They're pretty easy to secure to a wall, though, you only need a screw.

author: rbola35618
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2012, 12:34:30 am
content: I am so jealuse of your workshopWish my wife would clean up her junk out of the garage so I can turn it into my dream workshopRobert

author: FreeThinker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2012, 07:33:28 am
content: Quote from: rbola35618 on April 01, 2012, 12:34:30 amDream on my friend

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2012, 09:35:34 am
content: Here is one built by my brother in law.