Workshop plans

[rumblecloud]

I have a 40x60 pole barn which is used for storage, firewood and to park cars, trucks, the tractor and a variety of lawn and garden mowers, tillers, etc. When i built it, I had 40 feet of it concreted and left about 20 feet with sand and packed gravel. That's where I park the tractor and other leaky things - although the cars and trucks leak more than the tractor. Lately, I've been thinking of laying concrete in that area as well. Then insulating and adding heat so I can work on stuff year round.

My initial list is 6-inch concrete with rebar. Haven't decided on insulation - either spray foam or the standard pink stuff. Covered in OSB and sprayed bright white. I'll also have an I-beam with chain fall. For heat, a wood stove or propane fired overhead burner. I'm leaning toward wood cause I have an ample supply.

It's ten feet high so I think I could go with a floor hoist, but not sure about the expense and the additional concrete support that might be required.

If you were doing this, what would you do?

 

[Dirtman]

Spray insulation is sooo much easier, I have it in my barn that I actually use for my animals. I hired a guy to do it and it was cheaper than buying all the pink stuff. HOWEVER, it is no where near as good as the ole pink rolls covered in drywall, T1-11, or whatever. My workshop barn has ole fashion fiberglass rolls with T1-11 for interior side walls and stays way warmer. Both barns are identical (exterior wise, 20x45 with lofts at 10').

Not that I let my animals get cold, they just get extra hay for warmth. I prefer not to work in hay.

If you won't be in there much, I'd go with the spray and just keep a torpedo heater handy. If you're gonna be in there all day in the winter, you'll save more money insulting with rolls.

I'm no expert in construction or insulation though, just going on my experience with my own 2 crapholes. If I ever built a new barn it would just be insulated by 4 inch thick steel plating.

 

[sgtsandman]

I'm not sure 10' is enough height for a lift but I'm not an expert on them either.

As far as the work space, spray insulation is easier, like Dirman said but fiberglass insulation is better. If you could, I would try to isolate the work space in some way to minimize how much area needs heated. It could be a simple curtain made of poly tarps. You would be surprised how much even that simple thing would make if you don't want to build a hard barrier like a wall.

 

[racsan]

put a maze of pvc pipe dowm before your pour the floor, then in winter you can circulate hot water through it and not have such a cold floor.

 

[rumblecloud]

hmmmm.....that's interesting. Or some sort of radiant heating in the floor....

 

[Dirtman]

If you dig a small hole about 5,000 feet down below the shop floor heat will automatically radiate out of it...

 

[Curious Hound]

Ceiling height depends on type of lift. I think most 2 post lifts work better with 12 ft ceilings.

 

[Dirtman]

Triumph and bendpak both have 2 post lifts that will work with a ceiling height as low as 9 foot. We had the Triumph in our old shop with a 10 foot ceiling.

 

[scotts90ranger]

You said pole barn, so I'm assuming the trusses are paired around the poles? would the lift be between the pairs of trusses? If so, that'll work fine. Heck, even 2 post lifts with the cables/hoses overhead are about 11' wide, so if your trusses are spaced at 12' like most it'll fit between them.

And a lift doesn't need much in the way of concrete, 4" reinforced with rebar is all they call for up to 10k pound so if you want to go to 5" or 6" all the better...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

During two weeks of house arrest when daycare was closed I have watched a lot of VGG. A drive on lift really started appealing to me, and then I found the video where he gets his lift. I kinda like that it isn't stuck in one spot forever and ever too. Decided if I ever hit the lottery I would check into something similar.

4 Post Car Lift | Four Post Car Lifts for Home & Pro Garages

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www.wildfirelifts.com

 

[rumblecloud]

....

4 Post Car Lift | Four Post Car Lifts for Home & Pro Garages

Shop heavy-duty 4 post car lifts at Wildfire Lifts. Safe, reliable four post car lifts built for professionals, enthusiasts, and home garages.

www.wildfirelifts.com

I've seen these before bu totally forgot about them! I like the four post design for safety and the prices seem reasonable. These are going on the wish list.
Thanks.

 

[Curious Hound]

What are the advantages of a 4 post as far as actually working on the car? It looks to me like it restricts what you can do. The ramps are in the way and the vehicle is resting on it’s wheels. I’m not trying to argue anything. I just don’t understand and don’t have much experience with them. They do work great for wheel alignment guys.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

What are the advantages of a 4 post as far as actually working on the car? It looks to me like it restricts what you can do. The ramps are in the way and the vehicle is resting on it’s wheels. I’m not trying to argue anything. I just don’t understand and don’t have much experience with them. They do work great for wheel alignment guys.

There is an optional jack that rolls on a track between the runways to lift the vehicle to do whatever you need to do that way.

And stuff like can keep a feller awake at night:

Never being around one, the two posts are spooky to me, I like the stability of the drive on with four legs and generally I only ever work on one axle at a time. And with the funky motions of a TTB at full drop I think it would be nicer to work on a TTB that isn't all \--o-/. I think it would make the floor requirements less stringent too.

I am barely past they "hey, that looks really cool" phase though. Heightwise my truck clears my garage by less than a foot as it is.

 

[rumblecloud]

No argument from me. They would definitely limit suspension work. I still have to think about clearances both the physical limitations and the financial ones -- I have to get approvals from the CFO

 

[Roert42]

I feel like four post lifts just get in the way of everything I would want to work on. Probably be ok for doing PM stuff, but If i want to pull the trans or rear axle I gotta get it up on jacks anyway.