I learned that outlets directly above the benches are a problem. The cords hang down on the bench. If I was doing it again, I'd plan for outlets on either side of the work surface or machine table, with racks or lipped shelves for the tools. Of course I built mine about 15 years ago. By the time you're done with yours, energy might be moved via lasers, or stored in batteries....
Wow Keith! The shop looks incredible! You have done a flawless job of planning and fabricating. I don't know how you can sleep at night with all of the details running through your mind. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. I am looking forward to seeing the shop fully completed. Thank you!
Sheetrock is for fire protection. If you have wood sheeting inside install a sprinkler system when time and money allows. Right now get big fire extinguishers placed at each small door, not garage doors. Also some battery powered smoke alarms for now.
+Ed Texley Thanks Ed - while we are all dried in and the outside is more or less done, there is still a lot to be done before I call this thing finished!
Hey Keith, the shop is really looking good. I know you are trying to keep other projects going as well, but don't spread yourself to thin. I'm sure myself and the other viewers can wait a little while you finish your super cool man cave/shop. It's great to watch it take shape.
It looks great Keith! I know it's a lot of work, it'll all happen in due time. Don't stress yourself over everything, take you time and do what needs to be done. See ya later on!
The shop is coming along great!!! I agree that you will never get an electrical outlet everywhere you need one. I have 4 Craftsman 30' electric chord reels mounted in my 30'X52' shop so I can get an extension chord wherever I need one. I use them almost every time I'm in the shop, and they more than make up for not having an outlet everywhere. Chris
It's pretty evident you worked as an electrician for some period of time. Your panel packout looks professional, the cabling looks neat and secure to the wall cases. Opting for a mirror panel is an installers dream for eliminating ugly feedlines over the beams, or at least a large bundle that would need to be supported across the hip. One suggestion is to use VFD controllers for each multiphase requirement. At dealer pricing they aren't too bad and they offer a lot more than just clean, symmetrical phase generation. And yes, I know the purse can get pretty light during projects like this. Regardless, this is a beautiful dream shop that truly makes most of the TH-cam world that follows you, envious of what you've accomplished. If they're like me, they are living through you while watching it come together. Thanks for allowing us to watch and enjoy.
+Ken Wolfe Thanks Ken - I like for my panel to be neat and I cannot stand a jumble of wires when I pull one open. I will be using a Rotary Phase Converter for the majority of my three phase power but I do use a VFD in a few places where I need a more balanced input.
+Garth Howe That is funny - I am exhausted too, but it is because of spending all weekend working on the barn.... Made a lot of progress today, but still so far to go....
Cool Keith, I'm happy for you! I only see one Major problem with the barn ( It's not in my back yard) Lol. All good things take time, alot of time. You will have something you and others will enjoy for years. Take care
You are a VERY busy man Keith! Don't forget to take some quality down time for yourself, to unwind and de-pressurize. Sometimes one has to just pause and contemplate the shape of the clouds. Your dream now has a substantive look and feel. Happy for you. Cheers.
Wow - what a collection of drive dogs! That really is one super handsome building - love the main roll-up door. All looking great. Can see a lot of work still needed - the high wiring and insulation will be a major bit of awkward work. One surprise - no cat this time. :-)
Your welcome Keith. I admire the beautiful shop you have built. I have wanted one of them all my life. As I don't know you personally but enjoy your video's. I am happy to see that a nice person like you will be able to make his dream come true. Sincerely Harold, Keep up the good work.
I am so envious of your new shop! Have you considered mosquito netting for those roll-up doorways? LOTS of places in there for wasps, carpenter bees and other such pests! Since you will be leaving them open for ventilation, the netting will let in the air but keep the bugs out.
LED lights are the way to go. I am slowly converting everything here to LED. When I run out of spare fluorescent bulbs I will throw out the fixtures and replace them with LED. That new shop is incredible. I cannot imagine what I would do with that much space.
+Amateur Redneck Workshop, I'll second that. Yes the initial cost is more, but I converted my shop over and i'm averaging a $10.00 a month savings on electric over the fluorescent units I had. They also turn on instantly in the cold. I did have an issue where they were putting out some RF energy that was making the radio sing, Put up an outside antenna and that went away. I did mount a few in the corner of the ceiling/wall. Those throw light "under" the equipment and kill some of the shadows where those tool thieving gremlins like to hide !!!
Hey Keith. Shop looks just great. You said that you would recommend them to others for the quality of their work. Here's an idea, make up a machined plaque with something like: Proudly built by American Craftsmen; and then puty their name on it so that everyone all over the world can see it. You have a huge audience that stretches around the globe so it might be something to pay them the gratitude they deserve. They really did do a good job on it. I have built things before and can easily see that they did a lot of extra things to make such a quality building. Keep up the great work!
Wood paneling isn't to costly, , what I did on one once, was put Tyvek which gave me an extra barrier, looks nice & I even painted mine, but you can insulate & cover it, then add your paneling at a later date..
Hello Keith, Very nice Odds&Ends and especially with the big shop update video, looking great and I also like all that wood. It is a big space so I can understand that when you have to do it on your own that it takes much time. My brother and me also install all electrics here in our house and I know that it isn't cheap. Mostly outside we used VMVK cable but I'm not sure how they name this kind of cable in the US. But it is great to see that the outside of the shop has finished and the inside now is dry and protected against rain. Mostly the weather can change much in these month and here it was could the last week with lots of rain but now the weather is getting nicer. Again thanx for the nice video and looking forward to the next one with many greetings from Roel !
+RoelTyros As always, thanks! The weather here this winter has been really wet, but not so much cold. We just got a lot more rain over the past few days - we need things to dry out....
The shop looks amazing Keith! Similar to what another commenter mentioned, my back yard is smaller than your new concrete apron. Oh, the city life. I suppose there is a financial up-side to living my dreams vicariously through your channel! Best, Paul.
I think you'll be glad you found the room in your budget to seal that floor. It will make a huge difference in cleanup down the road!! I epoxied mine in white. Everyone thought I was nuts but it has been very easy to keep clean and all those little nuts and bolts you drop are sooooo easy to find. Lots of good wishes for making this dream come true.
+ramosel The stuff I will use is basically a clear sealer so it will not be quite as nice as the epoxy, but it is affordable stuff for such a large area.
Amazing looking building. My father has one kind of like it but not a big and not as decked out as this one will be when finished but he loves his. Very cool.
In the shops I have had over the last thirty years and the shop I have now dust is always a problem. I have used various industrial sealers and different paints in my numerous attempts to alleviate the dust problem in different shops. Two of the shops were floating slabs and with both of them moisture weeping up through them created problems with the sealers and paints not adhering. The floors had large areas where the paint bubbled up and peeled badly. Once sealer is applied it has to be resealed every few years to maintain it. I have discovered that grinding and polishing the concrete solved both problems involving paint and sealers. Not only does it flatten a slab it permanently seals the pores in raw concrete whereas the polished floor will actually reflect the lighting in the building much more. I'm sold on it after having ground and polished concrete for a living some years ago. The nice part of it is that one can still epoxy or even paint over the polished concrete if a certain floor color is desired. Had I known forty-years ago of the benefits I would never have poured another slab for my own use without having it ground and polished before I began using the building. In my opinion it is money well spent on a process that never again has to be performed. It is a permanent solution to dust and debris constantly floating around in the shop and settling on everything. I have found that even the heating and air conditioning units and filtering systems I was using in those early years would have lasted much longer. I think the initial cost scares many away to the degree they never get the opportunity to experience the many benefits grinding and polishing a concrete floor can afford them. I know now that in the over-all cost of construction it is without a doubt one of the best investments I could ever make. Not only for the building but for me working in it. I no longer have to breathe the concrete particulates an unpolished concrete floor constantly emits.
+SteveS us Agreed, that would be my top priority too, along with radiant floor heating. If nothing else, have as much as possible roughed in for completion in the future.
LED is the way to go Keith. Even in your house! We switched all the fixtures to LED and they are plenty bright and less heat plus they advertise longer life. We got ours at Lowe's and I don't think the regular bulbs were that much. Hang in there; you're getting it going, Greg
Wow. Fantastic building Keith. The main and sub-panel is a great idea. There will always be those, "well, I could have..." moments but forethought right now sounds good. You know what you are going to need & want. Well done. Envious....
Keith putting a sub panel in will shorten up all the branch circuit runs and deals with voltage drop at the outlet. Otherwise you'd be increase wire gauge size to deal with long runs. It works better and ultimately saves wiring costs. Good call. Your shop is absolutely awesome- now you've got to fill it. I have shop envy!! Chris
+Ishta123 I just need to get it to where I can start moving machines in. I have a bunch of machinery piled up in my small shop and in storage that you guys have not even seen yet so I think a lot of you will be surprised at how quickly things fill up once moving day gets here!
Congrats on the shop, it's really coming along! The plywood on the lower walls is a great idea, I did the same thing when I remodeled the interior of my shop. Makes it much easier to hang stuff on the walls, as well as keeping the look you want on the inside.
Hi Keith ! I'm blown away by your project there ... Oh. I wish it was mine ! It will be nice to follow you in the process - CONGRATS here from "Keld in Denmark" !
Your shop is awesome. If I was lucky enough to have a shop like that someday, I would lease out my home and me and the wife would just move in the back corner..... You are doing a great job.
+Arthur Lee My shop is right behind the house, but I am kind of building it so that if I want to, I could move in there one day. You never know when the wife might kick me out of the house! Not really worried about it, but nice to have that option....
The iron rod you have there would be great for machine table repair . Such as mill machine table that has been drilled into, drill new hole the size of rod ,cut plug and press in
I had the same thought as William did! It does look like the top end of Noah's ark! Glad you got it at a point where the building is secure. Now you can relax a little about that. Looks GREAT!
Keith, here at home there is a small bbq resturant that put in some corrigated tin for a ceiling. At first I thought it was just cheesey, but speeking to the owner he explained that it was the look he was after. He even put one wall with it and finished it with moulding. It's really grown on me and I have thought about it for my shop. Reflects the light great and it was not expensive. That will fit well with the look you are after. If you would like I could see about taking some PICs of it for you.
+timholsten I have seen that kind of ceiling and like it. But, I am a bit concerned with a metal ceiling where I will be shooting video as I am afraid it will not be very good from a sound standpoint.
What a magnificent shop it is! Pure class with the old look yet brand new, everything straight and fresh unlike old buildings tend to be. I would be envious but find myself inspred instead. Thank you for the video.
Perforated plywood panels are great for ceiling covering. They are really light and the perforations help absorb noise, which can be a problem in a big, open shop. As for the walls, I am currently covering my shop walls with chipboard flooring panels. They are long and have tongue & groove edges, so they are easy to join. They were also by far the cheapest option I could find.
Great progress on your beautiful shop. I enjoy seeing it come together.I will try to send you photos of yhe progress on my very tiny shop ( compared to yours ).
Shop looks great Keith! I was through your area on my way to and from Florida. Noticed the signs for the museum of agriculture and thought about you. A suggestion on your lighting: You can get 200 watt equivalent CFL bulbs and porcelain fixtures relatively cheap. Can't wait to see the inside of the shop as you progress :)
If you have a underground service lateral coming in I'd go with a meter pedestal vs a overhead type meter socket, for frost reasons and appearance. Also, if your utility offers it a 320 amp service can have two 200 amp panels on it. Food for thought.
+Oldsmob455 Everything is underground where I am, so overhead is not even an option. As for frost reasons, that does not apply here this far south! Our codes do not even have a "frost line" as our ground never freezes!
what we done here for the sweating issue.. is use the foil/bubble/white poly insulation on top of the purlins but under the roof metal... additional benefit is the foil reflects the radiant heat
I'd suggest just using ceramic lamp sockets. No reason to buy fancy fixtures when you can just load them up with CFLs or LED bulbs. I'm hoping they start selling some affordable 100w equivalent LEDs in the $3 range in the near future. I really want to use them in my attic/basement/garage areas.
Place a long but thin strip of wood/metal along each roller-shutter during your rain-season (I'm in uk so that's year round...) and then get some thick plastic sheet or some rubber material over the top. You can then lower the roller onto that material and you'll have a downhill ramp outside of the building that'll prevent rain from running underneath the door and into the workshop.
FYI, Lowe's carries white labeled epoxy floor coatings from an extremely reputable supplier. It's called Epoxy-Coat and it's the cheapest 100% solids epoxy coating you can buy. Super durable, I have in my shop and in my kitchen.... It's a special order and they have a clear as well if you want to retain the concrete look.
Just amazing. And Keith, don't worry about the vid's man. Get that shop done, its been a long time coming. If its weeks or a month between vid's. Who cares. You have a real life and a dream shop that needs to get done. So, gitter done buddy. We're not going anywhere. :-) Shop looks absolutely unbelievable. Build it how you want. Its yours after all.
+Brian Streufert Thanks Brian - I hope to be able to keep up some videos in between but there is not doubt that the shop is going to eat up a lot of my time...
The shop is looking real nice. Maybe you could line the interior with T 1-11 barn siding or perhaps use ply bead. Either way it will be something you could stain. I am lining mine with 1/2 OSB painted white. Simple, clean, and durable. All the best! Mike
hey Keith you are doing a great looking job with the wiring one think i suggest is the balance the breakers and load over both sides of the panel so you dont over load the one side or the other
+eldoradony Yes, but it is dripping on bare ground ground right now. As soon as it dries up some, I will be doing some dirt work around the shop and then some landscaping that will cut most of that out.
I would use a belt line of peg board around the whole shop, as it will come in handy with hanging tools, cords, and other things where they will be needed. Just my .02 cents. The shop is looking awesome!!!.........Kevin
Don't know much about rods, but what strikes me 1st is the heat input would properly me much higher dealing with cast iron rod. The idea is very interesting.
Keith, love the shop! You might want to consider vinyl siding for interior walls, it's washable. A note about the floor---it might need some grinding or polishing before applying the sealer, though it's a lot of money but might add longer life. ....13
ALL i CAN SAY IS...GREEN WITH ENVY!!!... love the shop Thats a big shop with a lot of lighting needs Might I suggest setting up a solar powered low voltage system for lighting only... both area lights and individual machine lights....some with motion detectors....I plan on doing something similar to my shop
5:30.....true cast iron torch welding rods are square, due to being a casting.....still need flux, and a lot of heat....round rods are usually some sort of brazing....
Awesome shop progress Keith! Just for peace of mind, you may want to consider putting alarm contacts on the service doors, and 1 or 2 motion detectors inside that just run to a beeper or notifier in your house. Doesn't need to be a monitored system, just something to wake you up if someone gets ballsy enough to try something. And DON'T make a video about it!!! Also have you considered standard screw-in LED floods? With so many fixtures and such high ceilings you may get good light coverage without having to spend a small fortune on the 4' fixtures. Maybe try a test with half a dozen, if it doesn't work out, just return them and get your money back!
+Adam W We have an alarm in our house and I will be adding the shop to the alarm system we already have. I already have my small shop hooked up that same way. As for the regular LED screw in bulbs, that is what I will use down the center section of the shop where I will be using the old fashioned looking drop down lights.
Keith, like EldoradoNY said, gutters will go a long way preserving the T1-11 siding. I would also add a narrow concrete walkway, pitched away from the wall, all the way around the building. You can channel all the rain water away and into your pond.
+Railfan 439 Gutters are on the list, but once I get some dirt work done around the building and some landscaping, it will go a long ways towards splashing when I can get rid of that bare ground out there. I need things to dry up a bit first - we have had a ton of rain this winter....
+Keith Rucker - VintageMachinery.org Watching your videos is as pleasurable as watching my favorite TV shows. I'm serious. I like that you're a down to earth guy. Very talented as well. :) That being said, I always look forward to your next video.
Shop looks great! I remember when i did my shop it seemed like it would take forever. I did all my own work as well except for the framing. I would also suggest having the insulation foam sprayed in. I did in mine and it makes such a difference. It's quieter and it seals everything extremely well. It's a little on the expensive side so if you can stage it it might help. Honestly you should at least look into it. Keep up the good work.
+TODD FINK A way to cut some of that cost is to cut foam sheets to fit between the studs with a 1/2" gap or so. Then use the spray in foam to "glue" those in place. It really helps keep the building warmer and cooler in summer.
I like your sub panel idea because if you don't do it you'll have the problem i have now. The machine shed here is 48'x150' with a 100 amp service on one end, there's so many feet of wire to outlets on the end of the building that the 20 amp breakers were'nt enough to run a basic 30 gallon air compressor (portable), chop saw, bench grinder & drill press. I had to up to 30 amp breakers.
as for the lights, you can mount sockets in each box, then as you budget for light fixtures you can just plug them in, that way you can have your inspection & final sooner, then add the other later...
+Keith Rucker - VintageMachinery.org ... any chance on buying a copy of the plans from you..?? of course a little video on how or what you did & finished product would be cool
Put LP hardboard panel siding on the lower 4' of your shop walls, it takes paint very well. Paint it a glossy color, saw a shop like this it looked really nice. Craig
With that kastweld filler rod you use the red flux (Brazo brand, is what I prefer)where with the bronze filler rod you use the white flux. The flux is used the same as you would do with normal brazing. This info is just to inform you, since you stated you weren't sure about it's proper use. You want to use a NEUTRAL FLAME when using this type of rod.The filler rod will not flow out as much as the bronze rod does, it sort of comes off as a blob and can be smoothed off with torch as you go along. As with any cast welding, when finished you want to keep the repaired item from cooling too fast, if it were me I would have a dedicated plywood box about 4 foot square and 18 inches deep (big enough to handle fairly large pieces) that is 2/3rds filled with powdered lime, sort of bury repaired item in box of lime then cover with more lime, you'll be amazed as to how long it will be before the item cools enough to handle bare handed, the item will still be warm two days after it has been buried in the lime.
What, no cupola on the top? That would really finish off that barn look of the shop Keith and of course with a weather vane or a lightning rod with the glass ball or both. That would be some good projects with woodworking and metal work included which would be some interesting video material. Anyway, nice shop Keith and thanks for sharing all this with us! Jamie
You have a problem with water splashing up onto your wood siding. I would put up rain gutters, that will help to some degree. If you don't the wood will rot in short time. Regarding the acid on the concrete: Use a floor grinder instead. That way you will get a pretty structure and you won't damage your concrete with acid.
+Panzax I still have some work to do outside - dirt work around the building, some landscaping, and perhaps even some gutters down the road. Things will be better once I get some landscaping in so that the water is not dripping on bare ground.
Hi Keith I have and use that rod on cast iron I believe it is pure cast iron use the right flux and you can have great luck. Do a weld up in one pass or you may have holes show up and make sure you have the part very hot Good Luck
You should router out he Starrett box & put the smaller ones inside it as well, maybe all your smaller ones, to have them in one place, really cool, Oh I really enjoy watching your videos, I've learned a lot from you, THANKS....
The shop is looking good; I like chip board instead of plywood and it's cheaper. made from wood chips and glue it has a neat color pattern to it also. I know what you mean about work and the honey do lists getting in the way of your shop building fun LOL
+DS75921 I have not even started pricing wall material yet - too many things to do before I get there. Right now, it is just a challenge to find time to work out there between work and family. Back on the road again this week and weekend....
i noticed the light brown line down the lenth of your building. meaning water is sp;ashing against it due to not having gutters. im sure you have that in the works. that shop is my dream shop. and will never happen. i cant wait to see you working in it.
+Bison Workshop The splashing is worse right now because there is no landscaping or grass, just bare ground. I am waiting on things to dry up some to do some dirt work around the building and then will put a pine straw bed around the outside that will prevent most of the splashing.
Keith - I sometimes see steel barns up north where some of the roof panels are replaced with translucent panels to provide interior sunlight. I am curious if that is also done in the south and/or if you considered doing that. We also have factories built in the 1800's that are of the same basic shape as your shop but have windows around nearly the entire exterior to provide lighting without electricity. Heck I don't know, maybe sunlight is a bad thing in a machine shop.
+cemx86 thats why Saw-tooth roofs were so popular in the industrial boom in the country, especially in the north/ northeast. a lot of natural light and allowed for natural venting as well. I like the clear panels on the roof panels. Ill have to keep that in mind.
+cemx86 You do see the clear panels in a lot of metal buildings. The down side to them is that the plastic will break down over time and they start to leak long before the metal roof needs work. And you loose a lot of insulation opportunities around them.
+Robert Giovannucci Thanks Bob - I have a place picked out in the shop for my American Flag - Can't wait for things to get far enough along to hang it!
I'm not sure if this is practical with the fixtures you have for the lighting, but if you're going LED you might want to consider a DC lighting circuit so that you don't have to have LED lamps with built-in switching converters. The converters are one of the main failure modes of LED lamps, so concentrating that in a single, suitably-specced dedicated converter somewhere would probably save you money in the long run, as well as improving the overall efficiency of the lighting circuit.
It's too late for you now, but for your viewers who may build in the future, there are translucent overhead doors that let in light, but retain privacy. It's a HUGE advantage in light.
Great looking shop ..... I know you are really excited, and I admire the determination you show for any project you undertake.
+carver3419 Thank you!
I learned that outlets directly above the benches are a problem. The cords hang down on the bench. If I was doing it again, I'd plan for outlets on either side of the work surface or machine table, with racks or lipped shelves for the tools. Of course I built mine about 15 years ago. By the time you're done with yours, energy might be moved via lasers, or stored in batteries....
Wow Keith! The shop looks incredible! You have done a flawless job of planning and fabricating. I don't know how you can sleep at night with all of the details running through your mind. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. I am looking forward to seeing the shop fully completed. Thank you!
+Dave Mckim Sleep? What's Sleep?
Sheetrock is for fire protection. If you have wood sheeting inside install a sprinkler system when time and money allows. Right now get big fire extinguishers placed at each small door, not garage doors. Also some battery powered smoke alarms for now.
+user990077 good advice.
It's a building to be proud of Keith. I've enjoyed watching the whole saga and congrats to you. Thanks for sharing your dream.
+Ed Texley Thanks Ed - while we are all dried in and the outside is more or less done, there is still a lot to be done before I call this thing finished!
+Keith Rucker - VintageMachinery.org I don't know about you, but I seem to be never "quite" done. I guess that's what keeps me going out there.
Hey Keith, the shop is really looking good. I know you are trying to keep other projects going as well, but don't spread yourself to thin. I'm sure myself and the other viewers can wait a little while you finish your super cool man cave/shop. It's great to watch it take shape.
+Bernard E Thanks!
It looks great Keith! I know it's a lot of work, it'll all happen in due time. Don't stress yourself over everything, take you time and do what needs to be done. See ya later on!
+Abom79 Thanks Adam!
The shop is coming along great!!! I agree that you will never get an electrical outlet everywhere you need one. I have 4 Craftsman 30' electric chord reels mounted in my 30'X52' shop so I can get an extension chord wherever I need one. I use them almost every time I'm in the shop, and they more than make up for not having an outlet everywhere. Chris
+shadowdog500 I am planning on adding a few of those myself!
It's pretty evident you worked as an electrician for some period of time. Your panel packout looks professional, the cabling looks neat and secure to the wall cases. Opting for a mirror panel is an installers dream for eliminating ugly feedlines over the beams, or at least a large bundle that would need to be supported across the hip. One suggestion is to use VFD controllers for each multiphase requirement. At dealer pricing they aren't too bad and they offer a lot more than just clean, symmetrical phase generation. And yes, I know the purse can get pretty light during projects like this. Regardless, this is a beautiful dream shop that truly makes most of the TH-cam world that follows you, envious of what you've accomplished. If they're like me, they are living through you while watching it come together. Thanks for allowing us to watch and enjoy.
+Ken Wolfe Thanks Ken - I like for my panel to be neat and I cannot stand a jumble of wires when I pull one open. I will be using a Rotary Phase Converter for the majority of my three phase power but I do use a VFD in a few places where I need a more balanced input.
I'm exhausted just thinking of all the work to be done ... it will be an awesome shop when you finish.
+Garth Howe That is funny - I am exhausted too, but it is because of spending all weekend working on the barn.... Made a lot of progress today, but still so far to go....
Cool Keith, I'm happy for you! I only see one Major problem with the barn
( It's not in my back yard) Lol. All good things take time, alot of time. You will have something you and others will enjoy for years. Take care
+Eric Snyder Thanks Eric - as for your back yard, you are the only one to blame for there not being one there.....
American wooden buildings seem so majestic, yet look so flimsy! Nice to see the project well on its way. Thanks for sharing!
+Andrew Schembri That is just the way we build them. For the most part, they seem to hold up very well!
You are a VERY busy man Keith! Don't forget to take some quality down time for yourself, to unwind and de-pressurize. Sometimes one has to just pause and contemplate the shape of the clouds. Your dream now has a substantive look and feel.
Happy for you. Cheers.
+Rain Coast I actually did some of that this weekend. Things are just too crazy at work right now...
Wow - what a collection of drive dogs!
That really is one super handsome building - love the main roll-up door. All looking great. Can see a lot of work still needed - the high wiring and insulation will be a major bit of awkward work.
One surprise - no cat this time. :-)
+ChrisB257 Josie was out chasing alligators in the woods and was too busy to pay you guys a visit this time. She sends her apologies....
Your welcome Keith. I admire the beautiful shop you have built. I have wanted one of them all my life. As I don't know you personally but enjoy your video's. I am happy to see that a nice person like you will be able to make his dream come true. Sincerely Harold, Keep up the good work.
+toolnut72 novice machinest Thank you Harold!
I am so envious of your new shop! Have you considered mosquito netting for those roll-up doorways? LOTS of places in there for wasps, carpenter bees and other such pests! Since you will be leaving them open for ventilation, the netting will let in the air but keep the bugs out.
+Kendall Comeaux They will only be open when I am in the shop. I am not that worried about a few bugs...
LED lights are the way to go. I am slowly converting everything here to LED. When I run out of spare fluorescent bulbs I will throw out the fixtures and replace them with LED. That new shop is incredible. I cannot imagine what I would do with that much space.
+Amateur Redneck Workshop, I'll second that. Yes the initial cost is more, but I converted my shop over and i'm averaging a $10.00 a month savings on electric over the fluorescent units I had. They also turn on instantly in the cold. I did have an issue where they were putting out some RF energy that was making the radio sing, Put up an outside antenna and that went away. I did mount a few in the corner of the ceiling/wall. Those throw light "under" the equipment and kill some of the shadows where those tool thieving gremlins like to hide !!!
Hey Keith. Shop looks just great.
You said that you would recommend them to others for the quality of their work.
Here's an idea, make up a machined plaque with something like: Proudly built by American Craftsmen; and then puty their name on it so that everyone all over the world can see it.
You have a huge audience that stretches around the globe so it might be something to pay them the gratitude they deserve.
They really did do a good job on it. I have built things before and can easily see that they did a lot of extra things to make such a quality building.
Keep up the great work!
+Steven Thompson Not a bad idea!
Wood paneling isn't to costly, , what I did on one once, was put Tyvek which gave me an extra barrier, looks nice & I even painted mine, but you can insulate & cover it, then add your paneling at a later date..
Hello Keith,
Very nice Odds&Ends and especially with the big shop update video, looking great and I also like all that wood. It is a big space so I can understand that when you have to do it on your own that it takes much time.
My brother and me also install all electrics here in our house and I know that it isn't cheap. Mostly outside we used VMVK cable but I'm not sure how they name this kind of cable in the US.
But it is great to see that the outside of the shop has finished and the inside now is dry and protected against rain. Mostly the weather can change much in these month and here it was could the last week with lots of rain but now the weather is getting nicer.
Again thanx for the nice video and looking forward to the next one with many greetings from Roel !
+RoelTyros As always, thanks! The weather here this winter has been really wet, but not so much cold. We just got a lot more rain over the past few days - we need things to dry out....
The shop looks amazing Keith! Similar to what another commenter mentioned, my back yard is smaller than your new concrete apron. Oh, the city life. I suppose there is a financial up-side to living my dreams vicariously through your channel! Best, Paul.
+Paul Culbert I would go crazy living in a cramped up city. This country boy needs some open space!
I think you'll be glad you found the room in your budget to seal that floor. It will make a huge difference in cleanup down the road!! I epoxied mine in white. Everyone thought I was nuts but it has been very easy to keep clean and all those little nuts and bolts you drop are sooooo easy to find. Lots of good wishes for making this dream come true.
+ramosel The stuff I will use is basically a clear sealer so it will not be quite as nice as the epoxy, but it is affordable stuff for such a large area.
Amazing looking building. My father has one kind of like it but not a big and not as decked out as this one will be when finished but he loves his. Very cool.
In the shops I have had over the last thirty years and the shop I have now dust is always a problem. I have used various industrial sealers and different paints in my numerous attempts to alleviate the dust problem in different shops. Two of the shops were floating slabs and with both of them moisture weeping up through them created problems with the sealers and paints not adhering. The floors had large areas where the paint bubbled up and peeled badly. Once sealer is applied it has to be resealed every few years to maintain it. I have discovered that grinding and polishing the concrete solved both problems involving paint and sealers. Not only does it flatten a slab it permanently seals the pores in raw concrete whereas the polished floor will actually reflect the lighting in the building much more. I'm sold on it after having ground and polished concrete for a living some years ago. The nice part of it is that one can still epoxy or even paint over the polished concrete if a certain floor color is desired. Had I known forty-years ago of the benefits I would never have poured another slab for my own use without having it ground and polished before I began using the building. In my opinion it is money well spent on a process that never again has to be performed. It is a permanent solution to dust and debris constantly floating around in the shop and settling on everything. I have found that even the heating and air conditioning units and filtering systems I was using in those early years would have lasted much longer. I think the initial cost scares many away to the degree they never get the opportunity to experience the many benefits grinding and polishing a concrete floor can afford them. I know now that in the over-all cost of construction it is without a doubt one of the best investments I could ever make. Not only for the building but for me working in it. I no longer have to breathe the concrete particulates an unpolished concrete floor constantly emits.
+Ramjet74 Something to look into....
Super insulate the building. You'll be very happy you did especially when it is cold or hot.
+SteveS us Agreed, that would be my top priority too, along with radiant floor heating. If nothing else, have as much as possible roughed in for completion in the future.
+SteveS us Insulation is a priority.
Really shaping up very nice, Keith. Thanks for the video and update. And thanks for making the time for us.
+Joseph Magedanz Thank you Joseph!
Your shop looks awesome. When the contractor was done at mine, I would tell folks "it's 90% done, with 90% to go". Have fun, it'll get done.
+1musicsearcher I like that - 90% done and 90% to go!
LED is the way to go Keith. Even in your house! We switched all the fixtures to LED and they are plenty bright and less heat plus they advertise longer life. We got ours at Lowe's and I don't think the regular bulbs were that much. Hang in there; you're getting it going, Greg
+Charles Compton I have already changed out nearly bulb in the house to LED - we like them!
Your building has that WOW factor. Looking good Keith.
+Thomas A Sprouse Thank you!
That shop really turned out great.
+1970chevelle396 Thank you!
Wow. Fantastic building Keith. The main and sub-panel is a great idea. There will always be those, "well, I could have..." moments but forethought right now sounds good. You know what you are going to need & want. Well done. Envious....
+Doug Bourdo I am trying to think ahead, but I know that it won't be perfect....
I am love'n that shop Keith .. Super nice ! Great tool gifts man .. Thumbs up..
+ShawnMrFixitlee Thanks Shawn!
Keith putting a sub panel in will shorten up all the branch circuit runs and deals with voltage drop at the outlet. Otherwise you'd be increase wire gauge size to deal with long runs. It works better and ultimately saves wiring costs. Good call. Your shop is absolutely awesome- now you've got to fill it. I have shop envy!! Chris
+Ishta123 I just need to get it to where I can start moving machines in. I have a bunch of machinery piled up in my small shop and in storage that you guys have not even seen yet so I think a lot of you will be surprised at how quickly things fill up once moving day gets here!
Congrats on the shop, it's really coming along! The plywood on the lower walls is a great idea, I did the same thing when I remodeled the interior of my shop. Makes it much easier to hang stuff on the walls, as well as keeping the look you want on the inside.
+Tom Herbert Very true - I can't wait to get things to that point!
Hi Keith !
I'm blown away by your project there ... Oh. I wish it was mine !
It will be nice to follow you in the process - CONGRATS here from "Keld in Denmark" !
+Keld Sørensen Thank you Keld - it is coming along nicely, but still a long way to go!
That is awesome to have reached a big milestone on realizing your dream shop! I like the looks of the way it turned out.
+bcbloc02 I have been keeping an eye on yours as well. I like that pressure treated poplar siding you are using!
Horse fence for an old horse barn. :-) I think it is safe to say it will certainly be a one of a kind building. lol
Your shop is awesome. If I was lucky enough to have a shop like that someday, I would lease out my home and me and the wife would just move in the back corner..... You are doing a great job.
+Arthur Lee My shop is right behind the house, but I am kind of building it so that if I want to, I could move in there one day. You never know when the wife might kick me out of the house! Not really worried about it, but nice to have that option....
I hope to have a nice big shop like yours one day. Looks VERY nice!
+Jose Delgado Thanks Jose!
The iron rod you have there would be great for machine table repair . Such as mill machine table that has been drilled into, drill new hole the size of rod ,cut plug and press in
I had the same thought as William did! It does look like the top end of Noah's ark! Glad you got it at a point where the building is secure. Now you can relax a little about that. Looks GREAT!
+Bob Nokes Yes, it does kind of look that way. Now, I just need two of everything to go in the shop!
Awesome shop.
Keith, by painting or covering by white siding inside walls you can save tons of money for a light stuff.
Impressive shop.
+cncua Thanks!
Keith, here at home there is a small bbq resturant that put in some corrigated tin for a ceiling. At first I thought it was just cheesey, but speeking to the owner he explained that it was the look he was after. He even put one wall with it and finished it with moulding. It's really grown on me and I have thought about it for my shop. Reflects the light great and it was not expensive. That will fit well with the look you are after. If you would like I could see about taking some PICs of it for you.
+timholsten I have seen that kind of ceiling and like it. But, I am a bit concerned with a metal ceiling where I will be shooting video as I am afraid it will not be very good from a sound standpoint.
What a magnificent shop it is! Pure class with the old look yet brand new, everything straight and fresh unlike old buildings tend to be.
I would be envious but find myself inspred instead.
Thank you for the video.
Perforated plywood panels are great for ceiling covering. They are really light and the perforations help absorb noise, which can be a problem in a big, open shop.
As for the walls, I am currently covering my shop walls with chipboard flooring panels. They are long and have tongue & groove edges, so they are easy to join. They were also by far the cheapest option I could find.
+Sideslip I am looking at my options and that is one of them!
A very nice shop and also a lot of work still to be done. Thanks for sharing your dream.
+Rob Gerrits Thanks Rob!
The shop is awesome! Dreams can come true!
+outsidescrewball Thanks Chuck!
Wow the shop looks awesome! So exciting!
+MattsMotorz Thanks!
looking Good Keith. Good job squaring off those wires in the main panel
+TIM WILSON I like for things to be neat in a panel...
looks good
thanks for the tour.
Have a Jesus filled day
Greg in Michigan
+Greg Homestead Thank you Greg!
coming along nice. looking forward to the finished product, Keith.
+Jonathan Trevino Thanks - as am I!
Looking really good Keith love the look of the shop
+Mike Palmer (MP Custom Blades) Thank you!
Great progress on your beautiful shop. I enjoy seeing it come together.I will try to send you photos of yhe progress on my very tiny shop ( compared to yours ).
+Don Dotson I would love to see them!
Shop looks great Keith! I was through your area on my way to and from Florida. Noticed the signs for the museum of agriculture and thought about you. A suggestion on your lighting: You can get 200 watt equivalent CFL bulbs and porcelain fixtures relatively cheap. Can't wait to see the inside of the shop as you progress :)
+Rj Bin1971 Just put up a bunch of porcelain fixtures this weekend, but probably going to put LED lights in them.
If you have a underground service lateral coming in I'd go with a meter pedestal vs a overhead type meter socket, for frost reasons and appearance. Also, if your utility offers it a 320 amp service can have two 200 amp panels on it. Food for thought.
+Oldsmob455 Everything is underground where I am, so overhead is not even an option. As for frost reasons, that does not apply here this far south! Our codes do not even have a "frost line" as our ground never freezes!
what we done here for the sweating issue.. is use the foil/bubble/white poly insulation on top of the purlins but under the roof metal... additional benefit is the foil reflects the radiant heat
+Sean Taray Food for thought!
I'd suggest just using ceramic lamp sockets. No reason to buy fancy fixtures when you can just load them up with CFLs or LED bulbs. I'm hoping they start selling some affordable 100w equivalent LEDs in the $3 range in the near future. I really want to use them in my attic/basement/garage areas.
Place a long but thin strip of wood/metal along each roller-shutter during your rain-season (I'm in uk so that's year round...) and then get some thick plastic sheet or some rubber material over the top. You can then lower the roller onto that material and you'll have a downhill ramp outside of the building that'll prevent rain from running underneath the door and into the workshop.
+A2ZGAMEGUIDESX The concrete at the door has a ramp up to it and the driveway drains away from the shop. This has not been a problem.
Sorry I just assumed the concrete was flat all over
FYI, Lowe's carries white labeled epoxy floor coatings from an extremely reputable supplier. It's called Epoxy-Coat and it's the cheapest 100% solids epoxy coating you can buy. Super durable, I have in my shop and in my kitchen.... It's a special order and they have a clear as well if you want to retain the concrete look.
+ck m I will check it out. Last time I looked at the epoxy finish, it was way too expensive for such a large area that I have to cover!
Thanks for the update! Make sure you install some low voltage cabling too :)
Just amazing. And Keith, don't worry about the vid's man. Get that shop done, its been a long time coming. If its weeks or a month between vid's. Who cares. You have a real life and a dream shop that needs to get done. So, gitter done buddy. We're not going anywhere. :-)
Shop looks absolutely unbelievable. Build it how you want. Its yours after all.
+Brian Streufert Thanks Brian - I hope to be able to keep up some videos in between but there is not doubt that the shop is going to eat up a lot of my time...
The shop is looking real nice. Maybe you could line the interior with T 1-11 barn siding or perhaps use ply bead. Either way it will be something you could stain. I am lining mine with 1/2 OSB painted white. Simple, clean, and durable.
All the best!
Mike
+Junk Mikes World I used OSB in mine and painted it white as well. It's held up well over 10 years now.
+Junk Mikes World I need to look and see what my options are - I like the idea of ply bead. We will see when the time comes!
It is looking really good, Keith!
+Bill rouleau Thanks Bill!
hey Keith you are doing a great looking job with the wiring one think i suggest is the balance the breakers and load over both sides of the panel so you dont over load the one side or the other
+chris rhodes Still lots of circuits to put in there... I have a plan....
So glad you decided to go LED.
+Landrew0 I think that in the long run, I will be much happier. Now, I just have to figure out which fixtures to buy and start buying them....
Thrilled for you, mate. Helps me keep my dreams alive, here, downunder.
Cheers
+Max G Thank you kind sir!
The shop looks great. You may want to consider gutters. I see the roof drip is already splashing mud on your siding.
+eldoradony Yes, but it is dripping on bare ground ground right now. As soon as it dries up some, I will be doing some dirt work around the shop and then some landscaping that will cut most of that out.
I would use a belt line of peg board around the whole shop, as it will come in handy with hanging tools, cords, and other things where they will be needed. Just my .02 cents. The shop is looking awesome!!!.........Kevin
+skinny6523 That is what I did in the smaller building I have at home that I shoot videos in from time to time.
Don't know much about rods, but what strikes me 1st is the heat input would properly me much higher dealing with cast iron rod. The idea is very interesting.
+Tom Herd I am interested in giving it a try and seeing how it works.
Keith, love the shop! You might want to consider vinyl siding for interior walls, it's washable. A note about the floor---it might need some grinding or polishing before applying the sealer, though it's a lot of money but might add longer life.
....13
+arkansas13 Probably won't be doing any grinding - what I have will have to be good enough and should last a lifetime.
ALL i CAN SAY IS...GREEN WITH ENVY!!!... love the shop
Thats a big shop with a lot of lighting needs Might I suggest setting up a solar powered low voltage system for lighting only... both area lights and individual machine lights....some with motion detectors....I plan on doing something similar to my shop
+made by steve I have looked into solar panels for the shop - that might come at some point in time but not in the budget for now.
5:30.....true cast iron torch welding rods are square, due to being a casting.....still need flux, and a lot of heat....round rods are usually some sort of brazing....
I have both round and square.
only found you channel keith and iam hooked .love your shop looking forworded to fitting out time to see what you install .good luck .
+Lorna Nichol Glad to have you on board here! Thanks!
Looks great can't wait to see the finished project. P.S. I love the wood look as well
Thank you!
Awesome shop progress Keith! Just for peace of mind, you may want to consider putting alarm contacts on the service doors, and 1 or 2 motion detectors inside that just run to a beeper or notifier in your house. Doesn't need to be a monitored system, just something to wake you up if someone gets ballsy enough to try something. And DON'T make a video about it!!! Also have you considered standard screw-in LED floods? With so many fixtures and such high ceilings you may get good light coverage without having to spend a small fortune on the 4' fixtures. Maybe try a test with half a dozen, if it doesn't work out, just return them and get your money back!
+Adam W We have an alarm in our house and I will be adding the shop to the alarm system we already have. I already have my small shop hooked up that same way. As for the regular LED screw in bulbs, that is what I will use down the center section of the shop where I will be using the old fashioned looking drop down lights.
Keith, like EldoradoNY said, gutters will go a long way preserving the T1-11 siding. I would also add a narrow concrete walkway, pitched away from the wall, all the way around the building. You can channel all the rain water away and into your pond.
+Railfan 439 Gutters are on the list, but once I get some dirt work done around the building and some landscaping, it will go a long ways towards splashing when I can get rid of that bare ground out there. I need things to dry up a bit first - we have had a ton of rain this winter....
Send some of the rain out here to California. We could sure use it. El Nino turned into an El No-No.
It's looking great Keith!
+Glenn Martin Thanks Glenn!
+Keith Rucker - VintageMachinery.org Watching your videos is as pleasurable as watching my favorite TV shows. I'm serious. I like that you're a down to earth guy. Very talented as well. :) That being said, I always look forward to your next video.
Shop looks great! I remember when i did my shop it seemed like it would take forever.
I did all my own work as well except for the framing. I would also suggest having the insulation foam sprayed in. I did in mine and it makes such a difference. It's quieter and it seals everything extremely well. It's a little on the expensive side so if you can stage it it might help. Honestly you should at least look into it.
Keep up the good work.
+TODD FINK A way to cut some of that cost is to cut foam sheets to fit between the studs with a 1/2" gap or so. Then use the spray in foam to "glue" those in place. It really helps keep the building warmer and cooler in summer.
+TODD FINK We used the spray in foam stuff in a building at work. It is amazing stuff.
I like your sub panel idea because if you don't do it you'll have the problem i have now. The machine shed here is 48'x150' with a 100 amp service on one end, there's so many feet of wire to outlets on the end of the building that the 20 amp breakers were'nt enough to run a basic 30 gallon air compressor (portable), chop saw, bench grinder & drill press. I had to up to 30 amp breakers.
+jasonmushersee I hope not to have that problem...
as for the lights, you can mount sockets in each box, then as you budget for light fixtures you can just plug them in, that way you can have your inspection & final sooner, then add the other later...
+Bob White I have already tied all the wires together in the light boxes with wire nuts so that I can add a few at a time.
+Keith Rucker - VintageMachinery.org ... any chance on buying a copy of the plans from you..??
of course a little video on how or what you did & finished product would be cool
The Shop is looking Amazing!!
+Charles Marlin Thanks Charles!
Put LP hardboard panel siding on the lower 4' of your shop walls, it takes paint very well. Paint it a glossy color, saw a shop like this it looked really nice.
Craig
+Craig S Thanks - looking into my options....
Glad you have such an awesome shop, I low you will enjoy it!
With that kastweld filler rod you use the red flux (Brazo brand, is what I prefer)where with the bronze filler rod you use the white flux. The flux is used the same as you would do with normal brazing. This info is just to inform you, since you stated you weren't sure about it's proper use. You want to use a NEUTRAL FLAME when using this type of rod.The filler rod will not flow out as much as the bronze rod does, it sort of comes off as a blob and can be smoothed off with torch as you go along. As with any cast welding, when finished you want to keep the repaired item from cooling too fast, if it were me I would have a dedicated plywood box about 4 foot square and 18 inches deep (big enough to handle fairly large pieces) that is 2/3rds filled with powdered lime, sort of bury repaired item in box of lime then cover with more lime, you'll be amazed as to how long it will be before the item cools enough to handle bare handed, the item will still be warm two days after it has been buried in the lime.
+Nortekj Thanks for the info - looking forward to trying them out!
What, no cupola on the top? That would really finish off that barn look of the shop Keith and of course with a weather vane or a lightning rod with the glass ball or both. That would be some good projects with woodworking and metal work included which would be some interesting video material. Anyway, nice shop Keith and thanks for sharing all this with us! Jamie
+wvrockcrusher My wife has suggested a cupola as well. Don't be surprised if one does not show up one day!
great shop Keith, ya there is a ways to go but the dream lives.
+Steve S Thanks Steve!
You have a problem with water splashing up onto your wood siding. I would put up rain gutters, that will help to some degree. If you don't the wood will rot in short time.
Regarding the acid on the concrete: Use a floor grinder instead. That way you will get a pretty structure and you won't damage your concrete with acid.
+Panzax I still have some work to do outside - dirt work around the building, some landscaping, and perhaps even some gutters down the road. Things will be better once I get some landscaping in so that the water is not dripping on bare ground.
Hi Keith I have and use that rod on cast iron I believe it is pure cast iron use the right flux and you can have great luck. Do a weld up in one pass or you may have holes show up and make sure you have the part very hot Good Luck
+THE IRONWORKER Thanks - looking forward to giving it a try.
RUCKER-WORKS, Building 1, Wood and Metal Shop. Entrance right of the front gate. Access only for authorized Personnel.
+Hermann Straub LOL!!!
Yes, I also would keep the "barn" look. Greetings from the Netherlands
+Eric Beckers Thanks Eric!
THE SHOP LOOKS GREAT. WISH I COULD COME DOWN AND HELP YOU. THANKS KEITH.
+ROBERT HORNER Thanks - I wish you could too!
You should router out he Starrett box & put the smaller ones inside it as well, maybe all your smaller ones, to have them in one place, really cool, Oh I really enjoy watching your videos, I've learned a lot from you, THANKS....
+Bob White Thanks Bob!
Thanks for the up date
+Tom Bellus My pleasure Tom!
just a thought, consider a pendant plug and air line near the apron and roll up door. I've found that very handy.
+Mark Bernier Things that will come in due time....
The shop is looking good; I like chip board instead of plywood and it's cheaper. made from wood chips and glue it has a neat color pattern to it also. I know what you mean about work and the honey do lists getting in the way of your shop building fun LOL
+DS75921 I have not even started pricing wall material yet - too many things to do before I get there. Right now, it is just a challenge to find time to work out there between work and family. Back on the road again this week and weekend....
i noticed the light brown line down the lenth of your building. meaning water is sp;ashing against it due to not having gutters. im sure you have that in the works. that shop is my dream shop. and will never happen. i cant wait to see you working in it.
+Bison Workshop The splashing is worse right now because there is no landscaping or grass, just bare ground. I am waiting on things to dry up some to do some dirt work around the building and then will put a pine straw bed around the outside that will prevent most of the splashing.
Keith - I sometimes see steel barns up north where some of the roof panels are replaced with translucent panels to provide interior sunlight. I am curious if that is also done in the south and/or if you considered doing that. We also have factories built in the 1800's that are of the same basic shape as your shop but have windows around nearly the entire exterior to provide lighting without electricity. Heck I don't know, maybe sunlight is a bad thing in a machine shop.
+cemx86 thats why Saw-tooth roofs were so popular in the industrial boom in the country, especially in the north/ northeast. a lot of natural light and allowed for natural venting as well. I like the clear panels on the roof panels. Ill have to keep that in mind.
+cemx86 You do see the clear panels in a lot of metal buildings. The down side to them is that the plastic will break down over time and they start to leak long before the metal roof needs work. And you loose a lot of insulation opportunities around them.
Keith I love your shop, putting sub panel in is smart thing to do, I sure you know this remove the green bonding screw in sub panel.
+Joe Tiller Yes, you have to have two buses in the sub panel - one for the neutral and another for the ground, and they cannot be bonded.
Shop look great, Keith! Hope to see more updates soon.
Bob G.
The Flag Guy.
+Robert Giovannucci Thanks Bob - I have a place picked out in the shop for my American Flag - Can't wait for things to get far enough along to hang it!
I'm not sure if this is practical with the fixtures you have for the lighting, but if you're going LED you might want to consider a DC lighting circuit so that you don't have to have LED lamps with built-in switching converters. The converters are one of the main failure modes of LED lamps, so concentrating that in a single, suitably-specced dedicated converter somewhere would probably save you money in the long run, as well as improving the overall efficiency of the lighting circuit.
+marinedalek Something to think about. Thomas Edison would be proud to know that people might be going back to DC with these new LED light!
It's too late for you now, but for your viewers who may build in the future, there are translucent overhead doors that let in light, but retain privacy.
It's a HUGE advantage in light.