Shop improvements and upgrades. Better Space!

[Advanced Design]

My 60’ x 100’ shop was built by my Dad and Uncle nearly 50 years ago. It has served the family farm and heavy equipment business, then my hobby shop well.

When I say they built it, they did much of the work themselves. They secured heavy steel pipe and rod for the materials, drug these into their little barn work shop in the woods, and proceeded to weld up the walls and rafters for this building.

Then they used their tractors and winch truck, with very long gin poles, to put it together. I can remember Uncle running the winch truck, lifting one of the rafters up into position with Dad riding on the rafter to position then weld it in place.

When you are a little guy looking up at what they were doing, you couldn’t help but think they were kinda like Superman.

[Advanced Design]

The front half of the shop has received improvements with more concrete, insulation, heat and lighting since my wife and I bought it in 1996. It is a nice space for our use.

This is the shop where Dad taught me to tune up cars, weld, and fix equipment. I worked on my first car (1969 Mach 1) and my wife’s first car (Pinto) way back when we were first dating in the 1970’s.

Since I am kinda of a sentimental old guy, this building is important to me.

[Advanced Design]

While it is really cool to keep a building in the family for half a century, the potential downside is the impact hoarding “needed” parts for that long.

It comes about innocently enough. Living in a rural area running your own equipment, you don’t want any down time when you break down and have to run to town. Gotta get going again for planting, working ground, harvesting, clearing land...so you hang on to that old cog, belt, chain, clamp in case you need it. And you often did.

So we ended up with a lot of “spare parts” on the walls.

[Advanced Design]

Some more...

[Advanced Design]

Another example...

[Advanced Design]

This of course is all in the back half of the shop, dimensions 60’ x 50’.

My goals here are to clear the area and turn it into a much more efficient, user friendly and better looking storage space.

We have a lot of work in front of us!

[truckster]

Man, am I jealous of your shop. I would love to have that kind of space.

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by truckster

Man, am I jealous of your shop. I would love to have that kind of space.

We do enjoy the space, though basically traded out the large suburban home for the small house, property and shop back on the farm.

First step I needed to do was focus on cleaning out the space.

[Advanced Design]

I hired several guys and we spent about 4 solid days cleaning out “stuff”. There was a lot that went into the recycle bins. Anyone need a V belt?

[Advanced Design]

There were a large number of heavy wood blocks used when working on equipment.

[Advanced Design]

Handy for moving the heavier stuff.....4620...

[nlped]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

There were a large number of heavy wood blocks used when working on equipment.

I have the exact same Ranger too. It’s a workhorse.

[nlped]

Nice!!! Good thing you caught this before it got much worse. That could have been catastrophic.

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by nlped

Nice!!! Good thing you caught this before it got much worse. That could have been catastrophic.

Yes! I was suspicious there might be a possible issue. The North side of the building used to have oil field pipe racks outside, was covered with metal and stayed damp most of the time. Fortunately, the pipes on the east and south walls are fine.

Next up...dirt work for concrete.

[mongocanfly]

good you caught it before sumpin bad happened....

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

good you caught it before sumpin bad happened....

Oh for sure!

Originally Posted by nlped

Woo Hoo!!! Love concrete.

Me too! Makes for exciting improvements. And I’ve wanted to do this since we bought the building. Some things just take time.

Originally Posted by wahl4m

doug - its nice to live in "oil well" country ! the locals have the knowledge & talent to fix anything right !!!! keep up the pics ! it looks like one of my bldgs . put some insulation & big rod under that new floor ! we just did a big bldg at jrs shop with spray on foam & 30" of attic insulation ! BOY did it make a heat & sound differance!!!!!!!!!!!!!now we got to finish sheetrock & move everything back to the walls ! i feel for you -its a lot of work -probably go to menards & buy several of the narrower -front to back pallet -racks -that way -you cannot bury the stuff placed on the shelves ?? if i was closer -id come & help for a day or so ! anyway it looks good -keep pics rolling in see ya ! big mike

Thanks Mike. Good ideas! Right now I am not planning for insulation as I think I have plenty of heated space. Never enough storage racks though....

[Advanced Design]

The concrete guys have some good equipment. Very nice Cat skid steer...

[nlped]

Originally Posted by Advanced Design

Next up...dirt work for concrete.

Woo Hoo!!! Love concrete.

[wahl4m]

doug - its nice to live in "oil well" country ! the locals have the knowledge & talent to fix anything right !!!! keep up the pics ! it looks like one of my bldgs . put some insulation & big rod under that new floor ! we just did a big bldg at jrs shop with spray on foam & 30" of attic insulation ! BOY did it make a heat & sound differance!!!!!!!!!!!!!now we got to finish sheetrock & move everything back to the walls ! i feel for you -its a lot of work -probably go to menards & buy several of the narrower -front to back pallet -racks -that way -you cannot bury the stuff placed on the shelves ?? if i was closer -id come & help for a day or so ! anyway it looks good -keep pics rolling in see ya ! big mike

[Advanced Design]

Once dug down to the needed level for 6” of concrete, they laid in plastic underlayment, reinforcing wire and grade stakes.

[Advanced Design]

They moved pretty quickly getting this done.

[Advanced Design]

They also drilled into the existing concrete for rebar connectors.

[nlped]

^^^Phenomenal!!!

[mongocanfly]

that's gonna be sweet when you get done....

[Advanced Design]

Originally Posted by nlped

^^^Phenomenal!!!

Yeah, it does look like they were doing a good job!

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

that's gonna be sweet when you get done....

Way nicer than dirt for sure.

Originally Posted by richard2717

Lot a concrete.....what about 50 yards? looks like what i was looking at when pouring mine back in the late 90's and I still cringe over the bill back then. Could not imagine doing it again today.......but.... nothing like working on concrete vs dirt. Very nice shop you have there

Very close Richard, 59.45 yards calculated. I think the concrete will open up lots of possibilities when working on stuff. Sure make it easier to store things as well. And thanks for your kind words.