must-have workshop features

[drygulch]

What would you do differently in your next shop? Or what are your favorite features of your current shop? Anything you've found to be a must-have?

As much as I hate relocating my shop and starting from scratch, I do like being able to rethink/rework some things. A mixed blessing...

A few planned upgrades so far:

• Compressor in adjacent space. This was more a function of opportunity at the new place.
• Lots of whiteboard. I use tempered hardboard as my wallboard, which is nice and tough for a shop and relatively cheap. But this time, the top half will be the "dry erase" version all the way around the shop. It can be a large memorial of half-finished project designs...
• Surface mount electrical with a raceway along the top. Hassle free for adding new runs.

A few things I will continue:

• Sliding doors for built-in cabinets/shelving. Keeps grinding/saw dust off everything and no door clearance issues during sprawling projects.
• Laptop of little value mounted on a swing arm over the end of the workbench. I'm always needing to look up something and prefer this form factor over a cell phone.
• Tools mounted on rolling base cabinets with double-locking casters. Mobile and lots of built-in storage. Pref all drawers.
• Binder with laminated copies of reference material that I use a lot in the shop. E.g. drill sizes for given taps, quick refs for machines, etc.

Lemme know what ya got. I appreciate your input.

Greg

 

[Lil Foot]

Floor space, floor space, floor space.

 

[drygulch]

Floor space, floor space, floor space.

Amen to that.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I'm designing my new shop right now.
It will be a split shop with metal and mechanical on one half, and wood working on the other half.
16' tall ceilings, other dimensions to be determined, leaning to 80' wide and 60' deep.
Section of Fire proof walls for welding and cutting work
4 post overhead gantry crane (I have it already)
4 Home depot (style) racks inside for lumber storage
I have 8 right now, 4 will go in a lean to for large wood beams and long lumber and steel storage.
Floor drains to an oil and grease trap
Insulated and heated floors
Very large metal plate embedded in slab with ground bus to wall for welding and plasma.
Embedded tie down rails and points (great for tractor splitting and frame work).
1/2 bath, and small office space
20,000 watts of LED UFO lights
Full fire suppression system.
Air lines throughout and mutiple ceiling drop reels.
Multiple ceiling electrical drops and drop reels.
Underground chase ways for Suction air (exhaust removal) and Dust collection.
Remote suction air, remote dust collection and remote air compressor and dryer.

I'm sure I'll come up with more as I finalize the design.

 

[PHPaul]

We think much alike, I've incorporated many/most of the ideas in the original post in my little shop. It's my first (and likely last...) heated shop which is a HUGE blessing. Only notes: I detest tools on rolling bases. A necessary evil in limited space, but invariably move when you least desire it. Also, don't much care for doors on storage. I want to be able to see what I'm looking for at a glance.

On my planet, there are three things you simply can not have too much of: Space, Storage and Light.

If I were to hit the MegaBucks and build a new, purpose-built shop, it'd be much like IWM's list.

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

I think @North Idaho Wolfman set the benchmark.

Only thing(s) I would add would be based on my specific uses.

1. Mudroom and stall for dog washing.
2. Either bathroom /shower (if not then I guess dog washing station works but need at least a large sink
3. Sandblast station
4. Potentially a a large bake oven or a small paint booth.
5. Walk in freezer.
6. Industrial shelving for storing implements to the heavens (and an actual forklift)

 

[chim]

A roof and walls.