With the hunt for property underway and the house plans half finished, we need to get a push on the "barn".

Here is how it goes in our family: build the big barn first, live in one half while building the house, the other half is for housing all construction equipment and custom finish work materials.
Once that is done and moved out of the barn, the half lived in is usually relegated as the 'garage/workshop' for anything with an engine.

Final dimentions lower floor:
16'H x 56'L x 46.5'W
Wall centered between with interior two doors, one double for pass through.
Upper floor: roof with 12/12 pitch (some years get up to 6' of snow over a month), 4'x4' swing doors at each end.
Pad pour is typical and less expensive though a "pit" will need to be added to accommodate access to lift and work bay.

^Hydraulic lift: I can't see where working on *all* vehicles this wouldn't be very handy.
Used with seperate engine lift block are easy to pick up

^Air compressor: one 6 gal 2.6CFM@90psi
one 60 gal 11.8CFM@90psi (7hp, upright) both belt drive
*We will have access to a 7.9CFM@90psi, my bro has one he keeps in one of his 5 WellsCargo trailers (spoiled brat).

^Cherry picker: old school, haven't looked lately at whats changed in this department. I've thought about a ceiling mounted track but would need spec's to make sure beams are able to handle it.

What other large type mechanical units would you find an "essential"? This is supposed to be the "basics" but stuff is pretty cheap right now, just about anything you can think of is from a shop closing down to a company moving out of state.

^Floor jacks: don't currently have a decent one, what is your *first* choice? Not considered portable, got that already.

^Ramps: I still prefer them over stationary 4pt jacks but have both. Considering I bought them for the land yacht there is no need to upgrade (ramps), floor jacks seem...pointless?

^Tool chests: this is where I'm a nut. Everything has a place and by end of work, goes back in its place!. When I want something I don't want to have to hunt it down!
What kind? Which have you used in the past you wouldn't give up for anything and others were just good for pushing down a hill to see how fast it would go?

^Work surface over cabinets: Nowdays there are more options for much less. Some can't be metal (has something to do with that "electrical current transferrence" thingie) but some seem too slick as in: set down torque wrench, watch it slide 6" just from surface type, now out of reach.
What surface would you think is fully functional no matter what your working on?

^Flooring: there is all sorts of stuff you can do over crete now but what would you prefer? Snap together has-some-cushion non slip or mastic mold?

^Computers: We're both into random geekery so two computers would be needed - laptop for tuning/PCM goofing, one with internet connect for part/can't figure it/is there a DYI site somewhere?

Considering the 'bay' would be long enough I've thought about walling in one end for a 'body' booth. Super ventilated for working with strippers, paint, most anything that will leave you loopy and eat a couple of thousand brain cells in one sniff. Suggestions?

The 'upstairs' would house parts, tires, etc. Storage area for all sorts of stuff. No question about this.

I'm tired enough to have lost ideas I had earlier - lighting would be one. Flouresent is not idealistic unless your using the right bulbs. Suggestions?

Oh, guess the first question is: what kind of work are we going to use it for?
Pretty much everything you all have done on the running gear and engines, though we do want to try restoring the van (major body work). Eventually we would like to have something from each generation - selling for a nickle left in a barn that needs just about everything to be restored and bored, keep one or two mostly stock with a few mods. Some will be 'restored' to re-sell if its interesting enough to pick up in the first place - some will be for track and need constant attention.
Throw in basic maintence for daily drivers, construction tools, farm equipment and thats what we are planning on keeping busy with. A 'hobby' that is paced by expendible income.

Feel free to fire away!

Don't forget a welder set up and probably a metal topped table for welding

I'd also incorporate a floor drain (if its allowed by code) to allow for easy clean up.

Might also want a source of heat for the winter and possibly a big fan for the summer.

1. Lighting I would even have some lights on the walls, great for detailing.

2. Phone.

3. TV Speedvision is a must.

The welder - my bro is considering giving up the Mig welder, he doesn't use it much though Dad likes to tinker with it at times. Its usually set up on the other side with the construction equipment/shop. It will be on-site, whether it remains there once we're done building the main structures is still questionable. Regardless it will be fairly close to us when we need it.

Its funny since things like floor drains, heating/cooling/ventilation, windows for natural light and a phone are figured into the floor plans. We learned the most from the last shop - construction company growth, making furniture (wood & metal), and my brother taking 7 years to rebuild a 67' Sunbeam (or was it a 63'?) didn't take much re-arranging to do. At least there will be a full bathroom with a galley out there...no need for 'sleeping in the doghouse'

There is a debate on how big the 'shop tv' should be. What good is having a shop like this without an old couch with duct tape patching the dogs need to be kicked off after grabbing a cold and "thinking about it" (aka: watching Speedvision, NASCAR, and Overhaulin')??? VCR and DVD player is now a must.

The lighting is still a question. Who has worked in a shop and needed "better lighting"? What would have been "better"? I never felt we got the lighting right - even my bro is having the same issue in his 'barn' right now. Halogen direct on the solid wall is a thought, not sure how well that would work.

One thing already done: checked the CCR's in all the areas. A new listing for 120 acres came up in Lyle, I'm heading out next week to check that out along with a few other 10 - 25 acre sites closer to White Salmon for sale. None for sale now have any restrictions or would need any approval from the Gorge Planning Commission.

First: Contact the county(ies) and find out what you can build where, they are always helpful giving out building code and planning information
Second: Go online to see what MLS are active
Third: Find a realtor
Fourth: negotiate, negotiate, negotiate

A lathe and milling maching would be sweet.

Someday I will have both in a shop. Luckily our machine shop here at work is unoccupied due to no papers being printed downtown anymore. It's all mine to use as I please. I've made many brackets and parts for the lifelong chevelle project in my garage thus far.

I have a smaller lathe - well I call it the smaller one compared to the one in bro's barn. Milling would be on the "Christmas list"

We are seriously contemplating the 120 acre site. I keep wondering if I could get away with putting a small track in, just a little oval mile, nuthin special but very similar to the one Dale put in to **** off NASCAR a long time ago in NC.
The land really has the potential for it.

I'm headed down next week to take a look - I think its going to be hard to pass up.

Thats sounds like a great idea. Will ya have LS1TECH.com track days?

Don't do halogen lighting. First off you need to determine the installed height of the fixture and then take into account the reflective values of the finishes you will have on the wall, ceiling and floor. Being an electrical engineer I deal with photometrics on every job I do. There is a ton of light fixtures to choose from that will do what you want for less money and lower energy costs once you decide on what your doing.

As for a track, I highly doubt you'll get that permitted with the county.

With everything in your list you will have to get a service agreement set up with the local electrical utility company and provide them with your expected connected load and demand load. This will be way more than a standard 200-400amp service. If you are over 400amps investigate getting a 480v feed from them. This will reduce your electrical installation cost somewhat and provide 480v power for the garage. Then you can install 277v lighting which provides you with even more options.

If you can't do an oval track.. Try to make just a straight 1/8 or 1/4.. That's not as obvious to be used for racing. Oh man I am going to have my own track when I grow up...

What, were you standing next to me yesterday at the track or sumpin?!

I just happened to run into someone that does...track stuff. Can't say too much, its a ways off if it ever comes to be but you all would be the first...er...second to know.
(it always werids me out when I'm thinking of doing something, *the* person everyone wants just kinda pops up outta the blue and you end up spending time doing the one on one hashing the real poop on how to get something done.)

Right. See this is what I needed, I actually thought some halogen lighting would be better! Not really keen on hiring someone to design the garage (its MY garage!) but I wouldn't mind shelling out a few bills for the best surface finish and lighting. Guess the best would be to build it without finishing the walls or floors - then it could be easier to see what there is to work with.

As far as electric goes, non issue. We are going to be off grid - the 'barn' will have its own dedicated power source. If it eats all the power that can be generated for it thats okay, if not, it will fall into the rest that will be sold back to the power grid.

It wouldn't be for lack of trying...

Hey, I didn't see a fridge for the beer listed anywhere! Or a stereo!

And by hyd lift, did you mean one of them 4-poster car lifts? If I was building a no-holds barred garage, a lift would be #1 on my list. If the ceiling wouldn't allow it, then I'd do a pit.

As for tools, how about 1 of everything? I'd want a drill press, a brake (for bending metal), a lathe, a welder, a cutting torch, a press (for doing u-joints & such), a big-*** air compressor with ALL of the attachments, 2 bench grinders (1 for grinding & 1 for polishing), a small room with a huge exhaust fan for painting small parts....excuse me, I have to go smoke a cigar.

As for lighting, halogens are bright, but they have issues. They give off LOTS of heat (good for winter, bad for summer). They cause lots of reflections (good for working on engines, bad for waxing cars). And they suck a LOT of current. My CB pops when mine are on & my air compressor fires up (& I only have 2 of the 500W lamps). I'd put in a mix of incandescant & flourescant fixtures in the ceiling, a halogen in each corner, and a bunch of ceiling outlets for retractable drop lights.

And I'd also want one of them portable oil drains. They are on wheels, with adj height, and are great for draining oil & tranny fluid with the car on the lift. No splatters!

lol, read back - this will be the vacated "living" side while building. Its the "old" fridge, the "old" stove (apartment sized, gotta have the burners) the "tiny" bathroom w/shower, the "cheap" phone, the "old" stereo..pretty much anything we won't care about dust getting on - except the plasma which is still in debate


I'd want a drill press
Check. Have the bench one. The monster is in Dad's shop (which will be 16 miles away).

a brake (for bending metal)
On the 'wish' list, must have if going to do the van first!

a lathe, a welder, a cutting torch
Check Check Check. Dad still holds the monsters on those..

a press (for doing u-joints & such),
Dad says he *thinks* he still has his. Since he says he doesn't know and finds it, I GET IT!

a big-*** air compressor with ALL of the attachments,
check. one large, one small. Sharing tools with bro's garage (he lives in Mexico from Oct to May every year)

2 bench grinders (1 for grinding & 1 for polishing),
I have three. I keep wondering if they are breeding in the shed or something.

a small room with a huge exhaust fan for painting small parts
Trying to draw that in now - it will probably be the "bedroom" while its the living space.

....excuse me, I have to go smoke a cigar.
You all can have one when you come down to christen it

Guess it should have been mentioned Dad was a metal arts and woodshop teacher for over 20 years. Then we started the family business of building custom homes. Toss in Grandpa's shop because he was a custom wood boat builder and there are more of the 'big' items than most people have lying around. Some of them are really old but ya just can't kill em' - treat them right and they work forever (you remember those 6' tall band saws? yep, Dad still has his). Some of what I don't have will be in bro's shop where he and Dad have it set up. If its portable, the Wells Cargo trailers can handle it effectively (pick one of 5 - my bro is insane sometimes).

So what most people need to beg, borrow or steal I've already got, its the little things like a good press and brake for metal working I may have to "borrow".

Halogen in the corners and drop lights are good ideas. Whats got Dad kinda wound is he's never drawn up plans for a CAR shop, carpentry and metal work no problem but he's bugging me for the details and I'm at the point of: "lets get the basics, we'll figure that out when its almost done" which drives him nuts.
Of course, being "Daddy's little girl" makes him put up with me