I just learned about this list and thought I would bounce my ideas for an
interim shop off all and see what suggestions you may have.
I want to have a small shop with the maximum capability but the minimum
number of tools to fit into the minimum space. I will only have about 10x25
for shop space and that will also be storage and workspace for my truck. The
shop also must be for more than trucks and motorcycles, my new/old tractor
needs work some times too. So, maximum capabilities, minimum space, minimum
number of tools. That means no BIG lathe, no Bridgeport style mill, or no
CNC gantry plasma cutter.
I bought about 6 acres near Austin, TX. and am going to build an temporary
shop/storage building here in central Texas. The building will basically be
a "three car garage", 27x33, box-beam and box-column construction, with
strawbale infill; metal roof. One bay will be used for storage of "stuff",
one bay will be for wood-working and tractor (Oliver Super 55)
storage/repair and one bay will be a metal shop and truck repair bay.
My background/experience is more toward the welding/fabricating side rather
than the mechanical repair side. I have been a welding foreman in a metal
fab shop, taught welding at a technical school, ran a welding/fab/repair
shop.
As soon as this small building is finished, I will be starting on a larger 2
story "guest cottage/shop building". They shop space their will be 32x44
with 9' ceiling, walk out to ground level. (The guest cottage upstairs will
be 32x34 with 5' porches front and rear. Since the site is a hill, it is
also a walkout to ground level.)
Here is what I am thinking for tools and equipment:
Shop tools (minimum):
Lathe- mid-size
(Atlas/Craftsman 10x24 to 14x40, just missed a wonderful Clausing
Colchester 14x40 on eBay)
Mill- import mill/drill or Rockwell-type Mill (if available locally)
12-ton (or larger) hydraulic press
1-ton arbor press
MIG welder (real welder, 175 amp or better)
TIG welder (ideally a small square wave machine)
Oxy/Acetylene Torch set
(With my background, I can't exist without all three)
Horizontal/Vertical bandsaw (any one from cheap 4x6 to nice 7x12 w/coolant)
8" Grinder/buffer (like Baldor), use to sharpen, polish, detail, etc.
50+ pound anvil (or section of RR rail)
Steel welding table (on casters, preferably)
Big shop vice on stand (moveable, but not on casters)
Air compressor (5 rated HP or better), vertical tank preferred
Optional:
Parts washer/sink
Drill press (can use mill-drill to drill)
3-in-1 sheet metal machine
Sheet metal forming tools (shot bag, hammers, dollies, etc.)
Glass-bead blaster (benchtop or small floor model)
Disk/Belt sander (9" disk/6x48" belt)
Plasma cutter, portable
Small refrigerator (for cooling parts to press together, and keeping
refreshments cold)
And a full assortment of the usual/normal hand tools and portable power
tools.
Can you see anything I missed? Or anything superfluous? Or anything that
should become part of the minimum, rather than optional?
Mark V.S. in Austin, TX
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