There could be one other option.
If your house has a single panel (150a or 200a) you should be able to swap the single lug meter can for a dual lug meter can. This dual meter can allows you to connect two service panels to one common meter (one for the house and one for the garage). The thing you'll need to figure out is what the max amprage your local electric company allows to be hooked up to their dual meter can. Some allow 400a total (2) 200a panels and some only allow 350a total (1) 200 & (1) 150a panel.
Once this is fgured out and approved you would install a 200A fused raintight disconnect switch next to the meter and fuse it for your panel size 150a or 200a. The garage panel would then be feed out of this new disconnect switch. If you installed a 40 circuit panel you would have enough breaker space to make EVERYTHING in the garage have it's own didicated breaker!
You will NEVER use or need a 200a service for a backyard hobby garage. The only reason to go big is you get more breaker spaces. Remember, the only BIG items you listed are all intermittant duty things...you might be welding and the compressor kicks on for 5 minutes or the AC kicks on while you're sand blasting with the compressor running. A 100a panel would be fine for all of this as long as you don't run out of breaker space!
BREAKER SPACES NEEDED;
2 Welder 50a (stick)
2 Welder 20a (MIG)
2 Air Compressor
2 Lift
2 A/C
1 lights inside
1 lights outside
4 120v GFIC outlets (North, South, East and West walls)
1 120v GFIC outlets for garage door openers
1 120v GFIC outlet outside
Total 18 spaces used
Mike B
