The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Comfortable Shop size for a big bolt.

Hello,
For the past ump-teen year, building a shop to work on my toys has been in the plans, but some how gets pushed aside for other projects like kitchen renovations... how did that get to the top of the list???? Anyhow, kind of glad I didn't start it yet since I now have a two ton.I measured the truck and it was about 20 feet long, about 7 wide and 7 tall. I would like to use the shop to work on the mechanical and store it. I have a tractor shed to store my tractor and a portable with a cement floor for my old jeep station wagon and the daily runners go in the driveway. So it would be a shop to work on items. I don't want to build a GIANT shop, nor do I want to build a shop that I am always moving one thing to get to another. The major tools other than the usual hand tools are a mig welder ( one of those combo welders with the mig, tig and stick would be nice too), oxy-acytelene, drill press, bandsaw, compressor, and airlines. I had plans drawn up years ago that were 36 X 24 feet. The two garage doors open on the 24' gable end and the building design calls for 36' deep, but did have a wall planed at the 24' mark. I'm thinking that isn't going to work with a 20' truck. So, it may be open to 36. Any input would be appreciated, or any websites with examples. How tall should the walls be? I have to look into height restrictions even though I am in the country and on 3 acres. I built one building that has radient floor heating and it is great. Even if I don't put it in right away, I am thinking to at least have the tubing installed.

Whatever you think its probably not big enough.

Mine is 36 feet deep and 38 feet wide. Ceiling is as high as 14 feet. Probably don't need that much ceiling over most of it, but that's more than enough for a lift big enough to handle a big bolt.

I've got three stalls full today and no room for the one I want to work on tomorrow. Twice the shop would be good right now!

You can check out my shop project at www.MaxwellGarage.com.

Figure out the size you need to store your stuff, then double it and it will still be too small! I put up a 30x40 about 8 years ago and it's way too small. I have to move stuff all the time. I have a small 10x16 heated work shop in the back corner. With a little work I can get four cars and the small stuff in for the winter but can't do anything then. My thoughts are build so you can easily add on in the future if need be.

I've got a 30X50 about half the size I could put to use. No shop will ever be big enough go with what you can afford to pay for reasonably. No need to lose your house. Concrete floors are much easier to work with and keep clean. make sure you have adaquate electrical supply and number of outlets and proper voltages for the equipment you plan to add as time goes by.

Super 55 -- You'll never have TOO MUCH room !! LOL
I was thinking about just a pole barn thing...something with an open front, just to keep stuff out of the weather. Sure beats sun, wind and moisture.
Then a sand and gravel floor for now..something I can afford. Anything shelter is better than none.....just my 2 cents worth here ...

Why would you renovate kitchen? Do you have a door big enough to put your truck in there?....If you can't build it BIGGER at least go wider than 24'. That gets a little cramped with doors open working on a big truck. :hammering:

LOL! I did the kitchen first too and believe it was absolutely the smartest move. Before the shop gets bigger I'll do a new family room and master suite.

There are two good reasons for taking care of the house ahead or at least in tandem with the shop.

1) The family members who spend most their time in the house (wife in my case) will like the shop better if they don't feel the time and money spent there came at the expense of the house.

2) Improvement in the market value of the house creates equity which can be leveraged to spend more on the shop.

Unless you can build a nice shop with cash (I couldn't) home equity loans are a friendly way to get there. The higher the value of the house the more home equity is available to spend on the shop.

I have a 30x40x10' eave at home and it's a good size with the doors on the side. However in my new shop I just built im MO I went a lottle (not a misprint) bigger: it's 36x56 and tee's into a 20'x40'. I have a photo of it posted on my picturetrail site. It has an 16'x30' office with a full bath, closet. etc. so if Patsey kicks me out I can stay there with my toys while she cools off.

I went 36x48x14 tall with the plan to store my big bolts and have some work space. I already wish I had one more bay. I'll see if I can't email a picture. Matt

My shop is 30 by 60, plenty big right? I don't have all the tools that I would like to have, and it's already cramped. I plan on building on to it 60 by 60 and then maybe I will have enough shop. I really want to add a lift and a paint booth.

I have a large roll up door at each end of the shop. I really like that. Not only do I get a breeze through the shop, but I can drive straight through it when I need to.

Frank

I don't think that you can build a shop big enough. Mine is 30x58 and I can use more room.Eather the shop is too small or I have to many tools and toys

Oh yeah, well my shop is 50' x 150' x several miles high and its called the great freaking outdoors - kinda sucks!!

I used to have a 26 x 40 garage, then moved and now have a 9x9 shed - try that downsize!!! Ouch!!

Nodaknick,
That's my shop right now too. Except I have an old cracked concrete pad that has to go when I build. However, I live in a rain forest so it's tough working on it.

I have a 32x20 for my 6400. It's only a year old and so far I'm comfortable with the size. With a small garage all I have to do is spin around for my tools instead of walking from one end of the garage to the other.

~Ron

I have a 30' x 70' building that houses my commercial construction company, as well as my 4-5-6 Chevy trucks. I built a mezzanine for parts/inventory storage. It will hold two project trucks, at a time inside and approximately 10-12 outside in the fenced in area.

Fenced Lot

Fenced Lot

Shop

Shop

Mezzanine

My shop is full to the brim and I wish I had twice the space. Organization helps me fit so much stuff in my shop space.

Tony

Mine is 40 by 42 with 14' side walls. Right now, I have 2 big bolts, a half ton '41 shortbox and a '27 one ton on a car trailer inside with ample room to work. It will be even better if I ever build the loft that I had planned.
From what you describe 36 by 40 sounds like a good size. Don't forget to get taller doors.

Good luck

John

Yer kiddin' right? The question is, how big and how many?

my "sanity shed "32by24 10 foot high still spend most of the time out side.to many friends???to many children. yes even in the winter at -10to -30 wind chill.children are leaving but still to many friends tools and parts???junck i can't get ride of.