Building a workshop

4

4RNB

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4RNB
I am back on task moving forward with building an RV10, though I have one flying already. I need a project! I've just built my first EAA work table, am likely to order some tools from Cleveland this week. I have the full plans for the 10, am reading through those. I've met with another builder. I'd like to build in HVAC, there are less than optimal solutions available, best would be to build a new garage. I'd like input on a few things I have questions on, feel free to add. Similar stuff asked over at VAF.

1. I think to build at least 20x40, with half the space for a home gym, the rest for the build. Minisplit HVAC to heat/cool the entire space. I'm thinking at least 10 foot walls, all one room. I'm not sure if it matters build wise to have one room with vaulted ceiling (lots of space to heat/cool) or put in a ceiling.
2. I keep a 5HP oiled air compressor in a different building. I'm not sure how to pass the air through the walls, any ideas?
3. I might DIY paint. Any design concerns for the shop? How easy is it to push stuff to the side and inflate one of those temp structures?

What would you do if you could in my shoes?

FYI, there will not be any plumbing/water.

Thanks
 
Several options to move air from one place to another. Iron pipe. Some types of plastic designed specifically for compressed air...
10 foot is good - go with recessed fixtures - don't be a moron like me.

Personally I think the EAA work tables could be improved as noted in the attachment.
 

Attachments

Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
Several options to move air from one place to another. Iron pipe. Some types of plastic designed specifically for compressed air...
10 foot is good - go with recessed fixtures - don't be a moron like me.

Personally I think the EAA work tables could be improved as noted in the attachment.
Click to expand...

I have Maxair pipes. My concern is more so about moving it from one building to another, and the wall penetrations.
Plumbers bring water in and out under structures.
Electric goes in above or below ground using specialized fittings.

But what about air?

Recessed fixtures, you mean lights?

Any build concerns with regards to vaccine induced magnetism???
 
Having a ceiling can allow you to put fiberglass or blown insulating on the ceiling. This can greatly reduce heating and cooling costs - and also reduce the size/cost of the equipment.

However, it's important to consider your location in any analysis. It makes a huge difference in design decisions based on local climactic conditions. Coastal California, Central Nevada, North Dakota, Alabama, New York - all would have different recommendations related to HVAC.

I spent a life time designing these systems. If you contact me at gaw.ebm@gmail.com and send me your phone number I would be happy to discuss this with you.

Gary
 
Lndwarrior said:
Having a ceiling can allow you to put fiberglass or blown insulating on the ceiling. This can greatly reduce heating and cooling costs - and also reduce the size/cost of the equipment.

However, it's important to consider your location in any analysis. It makes a huge difference in design decisions based on local climactic conditions. Coastal California, Central Nevada, North Dakota, Alabama, New York - all would have different recommendations related to HVAC.

I spent a life time designing these systems. If you contact me at gaw.ebm@gmail.com and send me your phone number I would be happy to discuss this with you.

Gary
Click to expand...

Thanks.

I am thinking to do closed cell foam for the structure.
 
A good resource to check out are the forums at garagejournal.com. A few suggestions below having scratch built a sonex.

1) Put everything on casters. You will want to reconfigure your shop multiple times during the build depending on what you are working on (fuselage. Electronics, engine, etc) and having all your tools and tables easily moved around will be invaluable

2) Paint the walls and ceiling a light color and put in more lighting than you think you will need. Being able to see what you are doing and not trying to look at shadows while assembling parts helps alot.

3) If you paint or epoxy the floors do not go with one of those kits that have you broadcast different colored chips on top of the wet epoxy. It looks awesome but makes finding bolts/washers/small hardware difficult when you inevitably drop something.

4) Put retractable extension cords and air line reels on the ceiling. Having them overhead makes it easier to not be tripping over them when working.

5) Don't go overboard with the tools or the shop at the detriment of building the airplane. It's easy to spend a ton of money on tools and a build space and then run out of time/money/motivaton to actually build the airplane you intended. You aren't setting up a production factory. You are just building one airplane. Many others have built the same plane in their basement, or single car garage. I know of one guy who built a xenos in a 3 story townhouse in the city and another that built his airplane on his back deck. Actually building and doing at least a little each day on the airplane is more important than where you build.

5) if possible, have your build space attached to your house. Having to drive to the airport to build or even having to go outside to get to your build space will slow you down significantly. Those who build are more likely to finish it by accomplishing a little each day, every day no matter how small. Having the build space attached to the house is the easiest way to accomplish that. Even looking at the plans or drilling a few holes for 10 minutes before you go to bed adds up over time.
 
Watching. I have an area I'd like to build 40x50 workshop . Elevation is a bit tricky, but can use that to my advantage. Sinks about 4 feet from front to back. So I'm hoping that will help in the summer. Just step the foundation down. Would still like to put in a mini split. But they suck in cold weather. Waste oil, wood stove, or conventional. Got a few years to decide.
 
1. Nobody ever complains about having too much floorspace in a shop, so build as much as you can afford.

2. The only problem with running long airlines is having the SCFM to maintain pressure; tank size is more important than motor size in that regard, but the motor’s got to be able to keep up when you start running the tools. Duty cycle becomes important.

3. 10’ walls will allow an 8’ door height. Be creative with the space between the open door and ceiling/joists. Lots of storage available there. I’ve got 4x8 overhead racks that hold totes of rarely used stuff. Out of the way, but easy to get to. They hold 600lbs/rack.
 
4RNB said:
Captain G, above poster, has a link to his tube channel in his signature...should you really want to know. But you can't unsee what he shows, or unlearn what he teaches
Click to expand...
Dangit, ya got me. Here I was thinking @Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe had posted a bunch of vaccine 5G microchip tracking nonsense, and all I found was a bunch of controls engineering stuff I learned ages ago, shop stuff, and airplane stuff. :rofl:

I'm still wondering what on earth @4RNB meant by "vaccine induced magnetism". I'm hoping autocorrect, but I've never heard of such a thing if that's really what he meant.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
I'm still wondering what on earth @4RNB meant by "vaccine induced magnetism". I'm hoping autocorrect, but I've never heard of such a thing if that's really what he meant.
Click to expand...
Oh it's very real. It's an informative video and the results are shocking! Watch it here on YT. I watched it earlier hoping it was a parody of the topic, and I was not disappointed :)
 
kmacht said:
4) Put retractable extension cords and air line reels on the ceiling. Having them overhead makes it easier to not be tripping over them when working.
Click to expand...
I know there are ways around this problem, but I'd be reluctant to do this for electric. I experienced a fire with one of those electric reels, working with a friend in his grandfather's garage. We overloaded it with only a portion of the cord pulled out, and it could have gotten ugly had we not been paying attention!

I do love the idea of overhead utilities though!

I haven't worked on a homebuilt aircraft but I've daydreamed about it quite a bit. I rarely see mention of it for this purpose, but it seems to me that an overhead chain fall trolley seems like it would be handy in any workshop.
And also.... not so much for an aircraft build, but for future flexibility I'll probably add a floor drain and plumbing if I ever get around to building a custom shop

regarding ceiling height, it might not be a bad idea to go higher than 10ft for a portion of it. I don't know the dimensions of an RV-10, but the homebuilts I've thought about are pushing 9ft high on the gear. Might be nice to have a little more room to tip it off level (such as nose down for some reason that I can't imagine at the moment....)
and I'm also thinking of a space to park a future motorhome or something after the build is done.
 
If you are building the shop yourself - invest in a panel lift - not only does it make it easy to hang drywall solo, but I use mine to remove / install the wings (high wing aircraft).
 
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