Must haves in a new shop?

[fcat700]

What would be number one on your list of fetures/options if you were building a new shop?

 

[eagle1]

Looks like its gonna be pretty sweet so..
Always gonna be running for parts so better get on of these.-
http://www.ferrari.com/english/gt_sport cars/CurrentRange/458_Spider/Pages/458-spider.aspx
Of course beer fridge is a given but might as well make it look good with one of these.
http://stores.teamhard.com/Categories.bok?category=Beer+Fridge+Wraps
Need anymore ideas?

 

[scott_b]

Just a few...
Great lighting, when you think you have enough, double it
Outlets everywhere
Large sink with hot and cold running water
Floor drain
If you are going to have a lift installed put recessed lighting in the floor shining up on the bottom of the car
Run air line drops to strategic places
Provisions for heat, in slab or unit heater, if a unit heater wire for ceiling fans

If you want a great resource try www.garagejournal.com

 

[yoopermike]

Parts washer
Welder
Cutting torches
Press
Lathe
LARGE compressor
TV, bar, couch...

 

[chillywilly]

One wall of trails maps.

 

[snoluver1]

I think if I were building a new shop my first "want" would be in floor heat, in conjunction with floor drains and properly pitched concrete work.
It is amazing how much more quickly you can dry out a snow/slush covered vehical and floor with in floor heat!

 

[lenny]

I think if I were building a new shop my first "want" would be in floor heat, in conjunction with floor drains and properly pitched concrete work.
It is amazing how much more quickly you can dry out a snow/slush covered vehical and floor with in floor heat!

bingo! I will not ever build a place without in floor heat. It's also the most efficient and less cost to operate, more to build but will pay off in a few years

 

[xcr440]

All good ideas.

Having a winch on a floor mounted swivel arm lift is a must in a shop that size.

 

[indy_500]

car lift, VERY inexpensive just make sure to make it big enough to fit one! worth every penny

 

[polarisrider1]

In floor heat and a hoist. Plenty of lighting. Beer on tap, Big screen TV and some tunes. large Floor drains. White pole barn metal ceiling and walls and work in some diamond plate. An Amsoil rack well stocked. very large air compressor. Drop air, light and electric (reel type). A man cave sign with man cave rules posted. Oh! and a urinal.

 

[dj2muchjunk]

all of the above , in floor heat is awesome , just remember it's slow to heat up and slow to cool down, I have it and love it!

 

[ezra]

a huge bird cage for the strippers to dance in
oh and a separate well insulated closet for air compressor with / sound Chanel/and some vibra block or any sound deadening foam or mat/
deff steel I beam across ceiling to hang electric hoist on dolly to roll from side to side of shop.
pref from sled/atv/any man toy to work bench on one side of shop to pallet racking on other side of shop

 

[Cat600]

a huge bird cage for the strippers to dance in

But how would they get to the stripper pole?

 

[warner]

alot of pals stopping in makes a great shop.. we have shop night every thursday night to work on our pullin tractors and there is anywhere from 6-15 dudes that stop in every week... the tin can barrel fills quickly and work comes way to fast the following day!!

 

[mjkaliszak]

I like what I have heard, I have a suggestion that at least plagues me from time to time. Since I'm forced to look stuff up on the computer I would like to have in my Man Kave ( TM ) a large monitor maybe one for each bay. It seems like my 17" lap top isn't big enough to see ( drawings,prints , schematics, or blown up pages ( aka zoomed in micro fiche ) ) With a big monitor it would be easier to see a larger view of what your looking at ! Like 55" ?

 

[freezinbevr]

In floor heat and a hoist. Plenty of lighting. Beer on tap, Big screen TV and some tunes. large Floor drains. White pole barn metal ceiling and walls and work in some diamond plate. An Amsoil rack well stocked. very large air compressor. Drop air, light and electric (reel type). A man cave sign with man cave rules posted. Oh! and a urinal.

All the above!!!

Minus da Amsoil, kinda a Sea n Snow guy here!? . But all the other suggestions are great!

 

[luke_duke]

I am putting in a 36x52 foot garage. This place is my place to design totally the way I want. My cost for the in-floor heat was $11,500(price includes everything needed from start to finish by a plumbing and heating company). This is a lot of money and I am on the fence if I want to do the in-floor heat since I really won't be using the garage really all that much and is crazy expensive. Any input on this is welcome.

I also have a questions, I will have 12 foot ceilings so I believe I will be fine for a car lift if I decide to put one in. My question is do I need to have piers or thicker concrete where this goes? I am not planning on putting it in for a few years so I haven't planned any specifics on where to put it. Does this need to be decided before?

 

[SledTL]

A huge sound system always is sweet

 

[jonw]

All really good suggestions here.

I built a 50x60 shop last year. here are a couple things I think I did right, at least for my needs. I'll leave out the things I screwed up! .

- split mine into 3 separate areas (to control heat in all 3). 1) large 30x50 cold storage; 2) 30x30 oversized 2-car garage/workshop with heat to keep snow melted off sleds, etc.; 3) 20x30 man-cave with bathroom, including urinal, fridge, sink, kegerator. Heated to comfortable room temp.
- bright, bright lighting
- OSB sheeting on all walls (except man-cave, which is dry-walled)
- floor drain in garage bays

good luck!!

 

[wilson]

don't need any piers or thicker concrete... just dont put it too close to exspantion joints or cuts