New House, New Workshop - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: photonpunk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 07:33:16 pm
content: I've been a longtime lurker here, decided to finally make an account and post something.We just moved into a new house. At our old house, I walled in our 20x13 carport and turned it into a workshop. Besides electronics, it was also where I did light woodworking, home and car repairs ect. It felt tiny for all of those purposes, but it got the job done.The new house however has no carport, garage, shed, or unfinished basement that I can use as a workshop. After looking at my options and budget, I decided to buy a storage shed and turn that into my new workshop. The largest I can afford is 10x16. They are delivering it this week. I am getting a little nervous as I wait for it to be delivered though; I keep thinking about the piles of tools and parts I have to squeeze in there. Is this going to be large enough to be useable? Anyone want to share pics of their micro, multi-purpose workshop to make me feel better?

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 07:41:06 pm
content: Build a lean-to on the side of the shed for the tools and turn the entire thing into the shop. You don't say where in the US you're located, but you're likely gonna need to insulate + heat/AC, along with running power etc.And shame on you for buying a house without first considering the lab! Where are your priorities!!

author: photonpunk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 09:20:29 pm
content: I know, I know. In my defense though, moving here was a great financial move for us. We doubled the size of our house, have enough land now for some light farming, and actually decreased our mortgage payment in the process. The only really sacrifice was the workshop.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 09:25:40 pm
content: Turn one of the rooms (or part of a room) into a lab.

author: minibutmany
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 09:30:58 pm
content: My electronics lab is actually smaller than this. I used to also use it for some wood working but once I got more serious I started using the attic for that. Now that it is just electronics it is more than enough space for everything I do.

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 09:36:55 pm
content: Get rid of that pesky master bedroom king size bed and install the lab, you can sleep on the couch.

author: photonpunk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 09:37:40 pm
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on January 21, 2014, 09:25:40 pmGood idea, but really an option in my case. There is a small office which I will be using as a place to program, play with micro controllers, study, pay bills, ect. But there isn't enough space to do much more than that since there isn't really room for tools. Also, I prefer to have all my tools in one place. The rest of the rooms in the house are pretty much spoken for for other purposes, so the shed has to contain the workshop.

author: photonpunk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 09:38:41 pm
content: Quote from: dr.diesel on January 21, 2014, 09:36:55 pmI can pass this idea along to my wife, but I doubt it will get approval.

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 09:44:17 pm
content: One thing to keep in mind, many of the sheds I've seen I would not exactly call secure. A pile of nice test equipment might make for a decent score to some worthless dirtbag.

author: photonpunk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 09:49:50 pm
content: Taking a quick inventory, as far as large items I have a 14 in. bandsaw, sliding miter saw, grinder, drill press, tool chest, self-made storage bin for wood scraps, and wood working table. Then there are my electronics equipment and parts, enough to fill up a work bench. Hand tools aren't a problem as they will be on pegboard or in the tool chest. Going to have to get some kind of storage system though for the mountain of junk electronics I've collected. Need to purchase or build two workbenches, on for electronics and on for everything else. I think that about covers it.

author: photonpunk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 09:51:52 pm
content: Quote from: dr.diesel on January 21, 2014, 09:44:17 pmWay ahead of you there. This one is made of wood with no windows and one door, so that door will be the only entrance and it will be padlocked and put on our monitored security system.

author: dr.diesel
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 09:57:06 pm
content: Ok, many sheds have the door hinges on the outside, beware of that and mice as well.

author: GeoffS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 10:15:33 pm
content: I couldn't live without my shed!When I moved into my current place, the fact that it had a large shed (multiple sheds ) was a deciding factor.Main shed is 19x6 and there's a smaller, fully lined shed of about 3x3. (metres here)I've plenty of room in the house for a lab, not that I have much of one, but one day...Moving house has to be among the worst experiences of your life, next move I make is out of here feet first in a wooden box

author: hiddensoul
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 10:25:39 pm
content: I posted some pics of my small shack on my blog, the shack is 8x8 foot 2.4 x 2.4 metershttp://www.hamshack.org/2013/12/photos-of-shack-all-setup.html

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2014, 11:03:56 pm
content: I want more shed space too :-) I could get a lathe for free but I had to turn it down because I don't have the space. I'm thinking about expanding my current shed (3x2.5 meter) with a crossover between a car-port and a shed of about 3x2.5 meters). The bad thing is that I'll have to go through it to exit my garden.

author: photonpunk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 01:47:41 am
content: Quote from: GeoffS on January 21, 2014, 10:15:33 pmI agree. This move has been epically stressful. On the plus side, I lost 3 pounds from the exercise of carrying boxes. We don't ever plan to move again though. We plan to pay this place off and grow old here.

author: photonpunk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 04:10:12 pm
content: Any more micro-shop pics?Shed is supposed to be delivered today or tomorrow.

author: dfmischler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 04:33:11 pm
content: Quote from: photonpunk on January 21, 2014, 09:37:40 pmIf you keep them all in one place, then how the hell do you keep the wife from realizing how many tools/toys you have? I have to spread mine around the basement, garage, workshop (in the barn at home), as well as the office, shop and warehouse at work.

author: photonpunk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 04:51:51 pm
content: The key is to occasionally make something pretty for the wife, or fix something important to her. When you present said item to her, casually remark about how lucky she is to have a husband with an assortment of useful tools at his disposal. This enforces the idea that your workshop is really just for her benefit.

author: photonpunk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 05:49:30 pm
content: Scratch that, wont be delivered until Friday. So I have longer to be nervous about it. Great.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 22, 2014, 09:13:14 pm
content: The last time I told my wife I didn't have the tool to do what she wanted or the tool to do it in a timely manner, she said, "what are you waiting for, go get it." That has worked more than once. I love my wife.

author: hiddensoul
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 23, 2014, 04:48:03 am
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on January 22, 2014, 09:13:14 pmand here I was thinking I was taking advantage of my wife when I did that

author: photonpunk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2014, 06:52:21 pm
content: The shed is installed now. It's smaller then I'd like, but if I'm creative I think I can make it work well for me.Now I just need electricity. Just got the quote back from the electrician; $613 to run power out there and wire the lights and outlets. Way more then I thought it would be. Might have to end up doing it myself. Never wired a room before, but it's just a simple circuit right?

author: dfmischler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2014, 09:39:51 pm
content: Quote from: photonpunk on January 27, 2014, 06:52:21 pmMaking it work is pretty easy. Doing it right takes more knowledge. Suggest you find a copy of NFPA publication 70 (National Electrical Code). It will tell you what kind of cable to use for the connection between the house and shed, how deep to bury it, and many other details about how to do the job so it will be safe for you and any future owner.

author: dfmischler
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2014, 11:30:09 am
content: photonpunk - I sent you a PM regarding 2011 NEC (not sure if this forum gives PM alerts)

author: photonpunk
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2014, 12:02:29 pm
content: Thanks. I'll look over it before I start.