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It's time to move out of the one car garage with my power tools(bought my wife a new car). Every time I use the table saw or band saw, gotta put it back against the wall to get the car in.
So I want to build a shop out back. You know the saying-"build it bigger than you need", but in this case I can only afford, I figured, about a 12x16 or 12x20 shed kit. We live in the Rockies so I'll insulate it and probably put a heat source of some kind.
Have some of you tried this and what size would be sufficient? Power toolwise, I have a 14" bandsaw, small table saw, and floor drill press, and the regulars like routers, drills etc.
Could some of you post your sheds if you've got 'em?
Thanks All!!
Dave

Dave,

I don't have a shed, but a single car garage, about 12 x 20, like one of your
kits. I have the same floor tools as you, plus a 6" x 48" belt/10" disk sander
and 12' x 2' workbench against a wall. I share the space with the kids' bikes,
roller blades, scooters, camp stuff etc. It's a bit tight, but if I had it all for
shop space, it would be just great. I'd feel like I could really spread out.

Ed Barajas' shop in a box might give you some ideas, though it's a lot bigger.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Dave I built my own little shop in the back yard almost 2 years ago now.

Mine is irregularly shaped totals 185 sft, the longest wall is 16', the shortest one is 10'. I have a delta unisaw, delta 14" bandsaw, a 10' bench with built in go-deck, home built 24" wide drum sander, a semi-permanent spray booth all in there. So if you can build either of those two sizes (the 12x20 would be great) than I say you can do it.

My shop is insulated, heated, has a small a/c unit. No windows to maximize wall space for cabinets and hanging jigs. I also built it with 8' walls with 2x10 as the truss' than I added some rafter beams which I covered over to make about 9'-6" in the center. I added a loft which the go-bar deck top is. (Pictures will really help with all this).

It's a little bit tight but I really don't need much more space. I could easily build 15-20 guitars a year in there with no problem.

I'll try and get some pictures up for you soon.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

I got some grief from the "code enforcement officials" because my shed was over 100 sf. In fact they made me tear it down and then apply for a permit.

Codes sucks.I`ve been a building contractor for 30 years,and I can relate.
              James W B

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Dave, I was going to mention avoiding windows, as Rod said. But... with
one exception. Having one big window where the buffer sits really helps
to check the proggess of the buffing.

Long

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"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” -Heraclitus of Ephesus

Ok, here are my pics.

As you will see, I've moved things around a bit over the years to maximize the space, but with the upper loft and the build-in go-bar deck (I also use it as a bench at times) I get by.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Chris, I've got a bench w/some of my tools downstairs in the basement also. I have to share it with the furnace and the washer/dryer. Was a little worried about the dust w/the furnace so close, that's why I thought it be a better idea to get it all somewhere else.
Robert, I found out that here, if you build a skid structure(you know like the backyard sheds you see at Home Depot) it's ok. If I pour concrete-that's the kicker. Then it's time to get a permit.
Bob, this structure comes w/a window. I think some natural light would be nice.
Talked to one of our local home stores(150 miles away, yea it's a long ways from everything here)and priced their "kit" 12x16 & 12x20. Price if $1532 & $1586 plus $240 to get it to my place. Man, I think that's real reasonable!? Kit comes with all siding,roofing,frame lumber, nails, screws, and skids. Maybe put in a pellet stove or small propane heater. What do ya think?

Dave

Hey Rod! I'd like to see your shop!
Dave

Dave, you see the pictures I hope

I'll take a pic of the outside tomorrow so you get the general idea.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Yea Rod I did see them. I was trying to find an "edit" button but couldn't. Sorry.
Dave

No prob man, just ribbin ya.

I really love my little shop, the best part about it.....



It's Alllllll Mine

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

My shop is a 10'X20'extension of my two car garage. I try to maximize space by putting some equipment on casters or using smaller portable equipment I can store away when I don't need it. I have a 10" table saw on caster, a 14" bandsaw on casters, a 10" radial arm saw that is centered on the long wall, a three foot lathe on one of the shorter walls, a drill press and two work benches. One bench covers the long wall where the radial arm is mounted and a six foot one on casters with storage below for my routers, sanders and a six incher joiner. I made the movable table the same height as my table saw so I can use it as run off support if I am working on something large. I also have a 10" surface planer I store on casters in the floor space below the radial arm. My perfromax 16-32 is on casters that I move out of the shop area when not in use. The real down side is that my dust collection system is limited right now to my 16 gallon shop vac. Works ok but a pain to move around. All my finish work is done by hand in the house. Some day I might install a knock down spray booth but that is another project.
Bob

Bob,
Wow! You must be really organized. Looks like you have a lot of tools. A 10x20 area isn't very big.
I'm in the process of installing casters on my bandsaw, drill press, and table saw. The shed I wanna build is going to wait till this spring. We still have snow here and will continue through part of May. You need to post a photo so we can see your area!

Dave