Shop Ideas

[manager]

I was not quite sure which category to put this topic in so I decided to apply it to machinery and equipment because shops go hand in hand.

Just wondering if anyone out there knew of some websites that have some great shop ideas or floor plans. I'm planning on building in the near future... I hope, and was looking for some insight. Also, if anyone has any ideas themselves, it would be great to hear about it!

[countryguy]

Hi Manager.Here is a reply to the same question that I replied to in a different forum.I hope it is a bit helpful to you too.
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We too are going to be building a shop so I thought I would pass on the info I have gathered so far.


1)It's never too big!!Build the building with the future in mind not just the present.Ours is going to be 42x72x20 with a 24x18,possibly 30x18 door.The 20ft height will allow use of overhead cranes to pull engines out of tall equipment like combines.I would like to build bigger but we all know price becomes quite the issue!!


2)Even if you don't think you will be using floor heat put in the kitec piping anyway.You may change your mind later and if the piping isn't there you will be S.O.L.It would be terrible to say "I should have done it" in all the later years to come.The piping isn't alot of money and from what I hear the electric boiler heat isn't all that costly to run.You would also have the option to one day heat the floor with an outdoor wood fired boiler.


3)The builders I have talked to are now advising guys to put the main door to one side of the building.This allows you to bring in a machine and still have plenty of room on the other side of the building to do other stuff if the machine has to be in there for a while.This idea I am torn on.It sure is a practical idea but the building sure wouldn't look as nice on the outside.


4)Adding windows high up on the sunny sides of the building add alot of welcome sunlight while not allowing "culprits" to have easy access to the building.


I believe a good shop is one of the best investments a farm can make.If you compare it to the cost of just one new machine,even a used one, and can use the building to keep the old stuff rolling the price isn't bad at all.It makes it seem cheap actually.


That's about all I have to share.If anyone else has any good ideas I'd also be interested in hearing them.
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Since I made that reply I decided to go down to an 18 ft height to save a little cost.Figured I might not need it that high after all.

What kind of shop are you planning to build?

[frustrated1]

Prairie Farm Report produces a very good bunch of videos on shop ideas. Very well worth the dollar investment. Ag Com Productions I think is the website.

The bigger the better. We built too small about 20 years ago. It will work well as the "new" calving barn. The new shop(if it comes) will be 50 by 80 or 100. If I can't do that, I won't build again. Make sure you have room for at least one project to sit. ie: a combine in the winter.

The neighbours put 2 doors on the side of thier shop. One large 22by 16(?) for machinery and one smaller for a loader tractor, pickup, whatever. They also purchased an old in floor single pole hoist which works fantastic.

I agree to put the floor heat in. Another neighbour just set his farm up this fall with an outdoor coal fired boiler and is laughing at us paying for natural gas.

We have a row of windows on either side about 10ft up as well as a window section in the overhead door. You can not beat the natural lite.

A sump and water are a must.

I could talk shops forever but if you have a little time invest in those videos. Not every idea works for everyone but they sure are interesting.

DON'T build too small. Build as big as you can possibly imagine yourself needing then add another 1000sq ft. It's better to spend a little extra on the building now even if it means holding off a year on some of the toys to fill it.

[manager]

thanks for the ideas guys. i'm planning on building a floor heated shop / machine storage in one structure with a door connecting the two areas. Maybe 60 by 100 with the split in the middle. If anyone out there has input on these structures, it would be great to hear it. Also is a pit and good idea or a bad one. How about bi-fold doors compared to overhead?

[frustrated1]

At the risk of you thinking I own shares, one of those videos has a section on doors.

[frustrated1]

Sorry, gave you the old address. Go to www.farmvideos.com

[poorboy]

If you go with a 20 foot high sidewall, you could add a large lean too, for little cost. This would provide cheap space to add on in the future. A 20 foot high main wall should allow for a lean to that is about 1/2 the width of the shop with a 14 or 16 foot high door.

Goodon gave me a quote on a 50'x100'x20'high building and it could have 2 lean too's that would be 24'wide x 100' long on each side with a 16'door. I figure that I could heat the center and have great storage on each side.

[Pilgrimfarmer]

Might be too late but...
Build to the maximum width you can afford. It's easy to add some extra length in the future if you need it, but you can't add to the width.

[Pilgrimfarmer]

Might be too late but...
Build to the maximum width you can afford. It's easy to add some extra length in the future if you need it, but you can't add to the width.