Build me a Dream workshop

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

stripper pole

It took entirely too long for that to be brought up....

[VINMAN]

[whiskyb]

When i built my 25X35 a few years back I installed a second floor with cathedral ceilings. It cost very little extra to add the second floor but thats where my bar, pool table and plasma are. Its a great place for the guys to hang out. We left a 8X12 section of the floor joists loose in their hangers so I can bring my motorcycles or sleds up in the off season. Never again would I have posts in the main level. Spend whatever extra you can for steel beams so everything is open

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by HelmetHead

Perhaps an underground work area like those oil change places have....drive the car over...walk below it and tinker without lifting.

In most locations you will have to call that a storm shelter. Very few cities will let you dig a grease pit.

[juan ruiz]

Is a "Car Workshop" not a strip join

[RWebb]

pits are disfavored because they trap fumes and a fair number of people have died in there...

space - lots and lots of space is the main thing - also the hardest thing to "change" later on

a vent hood for chemicals & an eye wash station are things often forgotten
I'd set it up a bit like a lab but that's just my history & bias

don't forget lots & lots of light

[Tim Hancock]

While my shop is by no means ideal, it has most of the things listed in this thread. The best thing about it in my opinion though is that it is sectioned off into separate rooms by internal garage doors. This allows me to use the different rooms for different activities like painting/sanding/storage/wrenching without having dust floating everywhere or without having to keep the thermostat or AC cranked up in all rooms.

[VINMAN]

Thats a great set-up Tim. Nice to have dividers.
I have a 3-car. One side is my gearhead side, other is my woodworking side. Middle is kind of the demilitarized zone. Tough to keep the dust from the wood from migrating over. Sucks when im trying to put together a motor or painting.

I pretty much have everytool I can possibly ever need. Including the beer fridge! Only thing on my wish list is a lift. Wanted to put in a 2-post, but height is an issue. I think I'm going with what Widebody has, the hidden scissor lift.

[svandamme]

my dream workshop comes with it's own test track...

[GH85Carrera]

That would be sweet.

[pete3799]

Originally Posted by svandamme

my dream workshop comes with it's own test track...

Show off

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by RWebb

pits are disfavored because they trap fumes and a fair number of people have died in there..

don't forget lots & lots of light

I always thought an über - grease pit would be cool,
Built in shelves and tool boxes, movable lights, compressed air bungs, smooth walls, (like ceramic tile) for easy cleaning, some sort of a nice lid that just disappears when you don't need it, I never gave a moment of thought to fumes.

[combatic]

I have been thinking about this 'dream' garage question for the past year+ and I am about to submit plans for a simple box (but it matches the house). Hopefully the auto gods willing I will have it built in the next few months. My garage is limited by lot space so it actually is something realistic for most of us. Here my criteria and what I plan to build/option for the garage (and why). Maybe it will help spur some ideas or generates some comments Maybe this could be your dream garage....

detached 24' x 32' two bay garage (build it as big as you can!)
-12' 3" high ceilings (so you can fit a lift and work on projects w/o hitting the lights)
-bend pak two post lift (you can do it all, brakes, transmission, suspension, oil + I am not getting any older and creepers and cardboard have lost their charm)
-2 bays split by an operable wall (floor to ceiling sliding wall as seen in schools/churches etc) (installing used track so that I can split my shop into a car side and have a dusty side to grind, weld, do woodwork, & paint when needed. The rest of the time the wall will be open)
-bathroom+sink (too much foot traffic in the city to do my business outside =)
-warehouse storage racks (you can fit bins, and set motors on these things and you can find them used cheap)
-50amp service (to support the welder)
-all plugs at bench height on all walls (all the walls will invariably get used and plugs down low get buried behind all that stuff you bring home and the tools)
-ceiling cord reel drops (if you have not used these in your own garage they are indispensible once you have used them)
-lots of daylight flourescent lighting (more lights = better work. You cheap guys can work in your caves with one bulb. I have to have daylight equivelent light)
-waste oil heater (I can pour all my oil, old gas in the tank and use it for heat in the winter. Expensive for an individual but I have access to one via the family deal)
-vent hood (protect your lungs!)
-windows (allow for good cross flow of air and get natural daylight in the shop. All of my windows will be up high to discourage unwanted prying eyes.
-dedicated 24' work bench with lots of plugs and overhead cabinets
-heavy movable work table (i will be doing wood working at times along with car/motorcycle resto.
-TV/Speakers (work and catch up on the 24 hours of Nurburgring!)
-mini fridge (for 'garage' beer)
-compressed air/air lines with hose reel drops (put compressor in a closet or exterior shed which I am considering for peace and quiet)
-TOOLS! (your choice but I would hope to have a small lathe/mill at some point but all of that will have to compete with the woodworking tools/welder)

other considerations-
air conditioning- I am in the Pacific NW so it is pretty mild here so I am not going crazy with heating/cooling. Though if I could afford it I would put in radiant heating in the concrete floor)
-water spigots (near where you wash/wax)
Dust Collection
oh, and comfy chairs for your friends to sit in and tell you 'how you are doing it wrong' while they drink your beer

The box-



Good luck with all your shops/garages!