Ideas garage shop space benches heat and lighting

Yep, second the comment about adding mucho power outlets and lighting. I added 220v and 220 3phase service to my detached shop several years ago, and have outgrown the original electric outlets I installed THREE times now. I need to go around again, installing a few more -critical- circuits and outlets. You mentioned welders and grinders. You might need both 20 amp and 60 amp 220 single phase circuits for these. Naturally,with separate wall sockets. And of course 3 phase. So,with 120 for hand tools, you will have probably at least four distinct circuits around various places in your shop. I mark every 220 outlet with the amperage with a permanent marker, just to sort out which is which.

My mistake was thinking my work stations would be fixed in one location. I underestimated. So have needed to go add more 3P, 60 amp220v and 20 amp 220v - mostly adjacent to my original work areas, cause I added more machinery over time. Also moved equipment around when I discovered a better workflow.

BTW. An oversized master panel for the shop is money well spent. The extra slots for circuit breakers will likely come in handy some day - probably sooner than you might imagine!:encourage:

Good luck!
Glenn
 
image.jpeg Yes power is a concern. I have a fair bit of 120 outlets through the garage and will be adding another complet panel for 220 on the other side with a 60 amp circuit a 20 amp and also a 30 amp. I ll be able to run the equipment as long as I think about things as I am a one man shop. Winter with the 220 heater drawing 26amps at max plus the welder will be my most draw at once with a small kick toe 110 heater close to the floor facing the lathe. I do plan to cnc a rong fu rf 31 down the rd so I will have to consider what is run at the time. I just hope my girfriend doesn t want to do any laundry at the same time as the house only has 100 amps. Over time the lights will be converted over to leds. Ready to get wired up now with the panel 6 gauge cable and vfd sitting on the bench and thanks Glenn!
 
image.jpeg image.jpeg I did say it wasn t going happen overnight. Seems like ther just isn't enough time. Trying to get more insulation and a vapour barrier behind all the walls. It was -2 celcius sat. Morning. Came across the previous owners 120v wiring route and didn t like it so an easy pull the fiber board down and have at it turned into a project to re route. Still need to finish it up on that wall. Finally got my 220 to the garage and panel in and the trench over the drive back in with the lawn still to go. Didn t wire up the vfd as I am still not up to speed with the Yaskawa v1000 and need to run some lines from the panel for a 240v heater and the Vfd. I was very pleased with panel and tek cable being a cdn. Product. Worth the extra coin!
 
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One thing I've found very useful over the years is to have narrow workbench, around 18" deep along most of one wall. Unless your doing carpentry a wide bench ends up as a catch all for all kinds of things (plus it's further to reach for stuff 'running away') Unless your very well disciplined, you end up with part projects getting pushed to back of bench while the 'hunnydew' stuff or 'quick fix' gets worked on
 
Hey Mark, I've been redoing much of my shop recently, but it's also been à slow 30 year project. Lots of natural lighting, I installed 4 windows on one wall that was about 45' long, 54" wide, 36" tall. They really help to bring in light, and heat that wall has lots of southern exposure.
I am also working with 60 amps in the garage, for heat I may use a wood stove and a propane heater. The propane heater to keep the shop temp 55 degrees all day and night, and the wood stove for when I'm out there.
I had also installed skylites a couple decades back, cheapo units but they don't leak, 20" wide 48" long. They really bring in heat during the winter, and lots of natural light. One of the best things I've ever done.
Led lights, can't live without them, low energy usage, but lots of light. I bought 4 units 4' long to supplement the fluorescent units, but liked them so much I changed the bulbs in the fluorescent to leds also
Benches and storage are my next are to tackle after I get the exterior of the shop finished. I still need to insulate the 6" walls and sheet rock the inside. I purchased 3 roll around cabinets last sumer to go with the 3 full height cabinets I already have. I am thinking like crazy pj's said, 24" wide counter space wherever practice around the perimeter of the shop. One of the tops is going to be 9' long, 2 or possibly 3 roll around cabinets underneath. This fits between the 13x40 enco lathe and the 14x40 pm lathe. I am trying to maintain a good section of clear floor in the center of the shop for working.
Lots of stuff, lots more 2, slowly moving out one Bay full of woodworking equipment to give me more space to work and set up cabinets. I have a 3 Bay shop, not as much room as it sounds around 900 soft.
Looking to also take advantage of having some outdoor storage, in covered racks, I need to get some of the wood and metal out of the shop area.

Hth
Rich
 
As far as wall coverings, this is what I am thinking, my shop has been dreary aging pine studs, dark forever, I want bright now, easy to clean. Sheet rock over insulation, bottom 3 feet, either vinyl bead board, or a pretty finished texture 4 11 plywood painted white, above that to ceiling frp glued to the wall. If it gets oil, grease, dirt on it, easy wipe off cleanup. I'm tired of looking at dark and dirty, I want the shop to look good for a change!!! :D:D:cool:
 
Rich I was all set to use a wood stove. Even to the point of lugging two chords of wood up stairs in the loft but insurance is the killer. Called around and as soon as a wood stove was mentioned the tone changed. I never gave it another thought. A good 240v heater up in the cealing and a small heater under the bench facing the lathe is what I ll be doing.
 
Hey Mark. I love reading your posts, especially being a fellow canuks. Noticed you on a different post telling about your new lathe. GRATZ. I'm seriously drooling. Lol. Love the machines you got so far and how things are going for you. Every little step is one step closer to your own fully stocked business.
I was curious on your garage panel for power. Out here in SK I started an electrical apprenticeship ages ago and my boss told us we had to mount panels on a pc of 3/4" plywood. I don't know if that was code at the time or just to make it easier to staple wires down going in and out of the panel. I don't want to be the critic but just thought I'd ask as every province is different.

Keep up the amazing work though bud. Man I am seriously envious of your progress in such a short amount of time.
 
Hey Mark, my shop is not finished by a long shot, but this is what is looks like now. It took a lot of work because most of the walls were so badly rotted they were rebuilt from the ground up. 6" studs, and r19 insulation, xp blue board drywall, and white Frp plastic laminate. 4' double bulb led lights. It's very bright and clean looking now.
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Looking to add propane heat next week, make it nice and toasty warm for the winter.

I see things are getting closers for you, I really hope this adventure of yours takes off big!!:encourage:
 
View attachment 242386 Yes power is a concern. I have a fair bit of 120 outlets through the garage and will be adding another complet panel for 220 on the other side with a 60 amp circuit a 20 amp and also a 30 amp. I ll be able to run the equipment as long as I think about things as I am a one man shop. Winter with the 220 heater drawing 26amps at max plus the welder will be my most draw at once with a small kick toe 110 heater close to the floor facing the lathe. I do plan to cnc a rong fu rf 31 down the rd so I will have to consider what is run at the time. I just hope my girfriend doesn t want to do any laundry at the same time as the house only has 100 amps. Over time the lights will be converted over to leds. Ready to get wired up now with the panel 6 gauge cable and vfd sitting on the bench and thanks Glenn!
That #6 teck cable was definitely the more expensive route. You could gone with 1 1/4" conduit and 1/0 aluminum cables for the same price. And the aluminum would have given you more headroom in that 60amps with no loss over the distance.
Food for thought.
I wish I had a detached garage. Then I wouldn't get complaints that I'm vibrating the whole house.
 
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