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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2014
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    Canberra
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    Default Newbie's shed design

    Husband and I downsized into a new house about 3 months ago with very limited storage. Interest by my 29yo son to do a woodworking course earlier in the year has led to son and me completing a short 6 wk course at the technology institute and now half way through a fine woodworking 12 wk course at the uni. And we have caught the bug!

    We have acquired second hand lathe, band saw, router, table saw and triton workbench and are now in the process of organising a workshop build in the backyard. The plan is for a 7m x 3.7m construction with 2 rooms: one for bikes and ski gear and the other for workshop. The workshop side is currently drawn up to be 3.5m x 4.67m (2.7m ceiling) internal measurements with a 1m wide 'porch' outside. One long side is to be against the fence (just got the tick this week from electricity dudes to build on easement ) and one short side the internal wall to the bike room. The other short side (east) is to have a 1.8m high window - so possibly work bench underneath. The other long side is planned to have a 3.6m sliding glass door to make use of northerly aspect in the cold winter months here. This also has the advantage of having a 1.8m opening for extra space needed for processing larger pieces. Walls and ceiling will be lined with plywood, floor concrete, external colorbond, walls insulated.

    Although we do not have much gear atm we would like to pick up a planer/thicknesser combo, drill press and other pieces. I am concerned about the size although do realise I will need to be smart with the internal layout and being able to move machinery around - either on their own bases or cabinets with wheels.

    Our plans need to be finalised and submitted this week for DA. I am just starting to get twitchy hoping that the size will work for us (despite husband saying it is 'huge' already!). As to what work will we do? - I imagine small stuff but son keen to do some furniture

    Concerns are:
    1. Should sliding door be smaller to allow for better use of front corners? - although this would restrict the usable opening space considerably as it would need to go to 3 panels with only 1 opening
    2. Should I be accommodating a facility to have DC outside (started reading up on this topic last week and it totally did my head in)
    3. Am I going to regret not going bigger in 12 months time!

    Jane

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
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    27,756

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by lovetoride View Post
    1. Should sliding door be smaller to allow for better use of front corners? - although this would restrict the usable opening space considerably as it would need to go to 3 panels with only 1 opening
    Sliding doors are not easy to seal so they are not very compatible with having the DC outside. Remember when a DC is outside and on it generates a negative pressure inside a shed. Air vents into the shed should be on the wall opposite the DC or (unless a breeze is blowing) the fine dust goes straight back into the shed.

    2. Should I be accommodating a facility to have DC outside (started reading up on this topic last week and it totally did my head in)
    Yep definitely. Now you have the bug it would be incredibly frustrating for you to have to give it up if you were to develop an allergy to wood dust.

    3. Am I going to regret not going bigger in 12 months time!
    Unfortunately yes.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Dundowran Beach
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    76
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    19,922

    Post

    Welcome aboard!!

    I don't envy your small space so it will do you well to consider having as mezzanine floor for storage. You might also consider going to a 3000mm wall height.


    Look at mounting machines on wheeled bases so you can move them about and create more space.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    May 1999
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    Grovedale, Victoria Australia
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    66
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    Tell you husband to suck it up.

    Your son and yourself need more room so extend the shed to 10m at least, can never have enough room.

    Think of the room you use at the workshop now and work out how much 2 people would really need then add more for storage.
    Jim Carroll
    One Good Turn Deserves Another. CWS, Vicmarc, Robert Sorby, Woodcut, Tormek, Woodfast
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  6. #5
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Kojonup WA
    Age
    55
    Posts
    31

    Unhappy Need your space

    Hi, I started off with a 6x3 shed and ended up taking most of my equipment outside to use due to lack of space. (not easy with 350kg thicknesser) I then went to a 6x4, I didn't even try just stored it all. I am now in the process of finishing off a 12x6 and finally happy, then again I have put nothing in yet so only time will tell. SWMBO says that's it though.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Albury Well Just Outside
    Posts
    13,315

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by lovetoride View Post
    ...3. Am I going to regret not going bigger in 12 months time!...
    I would say yes. Splitting the shed in two and the size you are left with is not that big internally.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Bowral
    Posts
    837

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    I had a double garage workshop size at our old place that was also shared with a lot of junk stored by in-laws. So I effectively had a single garage - about 6.6 x 3.5 to work in. Definitely not big enough for me. But then again I'm not set up to save space and I tend to like spreading out a bit. I've seen some amazingly efficient space-saving workshops (a lot of them are here), and people do find a way to make the best use of the available space.

    But, I've never seen anyone wish for a smaller shed. I've just built a 12m x 9m shed at our new place, of which about 52.25 sqm will be for my workshop. 2.7m high walls, but the peak of the roof in the middle is 5m high. So I've much more room than I used to have. Still getting it all organized, so I'm yet to find out what it feels like in use, but I used floor plans before I started to work out where everything would go, and I think it will be big enough. But just in case I'm putting in a 2.5m folding door between the workshop and the 2 car garage, so that I can expand into the garage if necessary. I have (or will have in some cases) a combination saw/thicknesser/jointer/spindle moulder, a lathe, a dusty (to go outside) plus a couple of cyclone shop vacs, a large drill press, a band saw, a disk/belt sander, compressor, and a large work bench. Plus three home built bench/cupboards for sharpening, assembly, tool storage, etc.

    My darling initially thought the shed was enormous, way too big. Now that we've filled it with stuff she realizes that for our purposes it will only just be big enough. Go larger if you can.
    Bob C.

    Never give up.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Canberra
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    237

    Default

    Thanks for the replies. After further backyard measuring and contemplation it does not seem that we can increase. I thought the suggestion to go up to 3m would be a definite possibility but after consultation with architect we are restricted due to overhead power lines.

    I will certainly endeavour to have everything other than lathe on wheels and be innovative with cabinets and bases. And I will also endeavour to NOT be negative in what I am getting and will have one of the most organised and efficient uses of space in the workshop .

    Just need to get my head around DC needs now and see what I need to consider as part of the construction process. Another night of reading coming up...

    Jane

  10. #9
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Woodstock (Cowra)
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    74
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    3,372

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    Get an 'off the shelf' garden shed (which doesn't need any council approval) put ski's & bikes in that and use the shed as you want
    The person who never made a mistake never made anything

    Cheers
    Ray

  11. #10
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Canberra
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    237

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by rwbuild View Post
    Get an 'off the shelf' garden shed (which doesn't need any council approval) put ski's & bikes in that and use the shed as you want
    We are getting an 'off the shelf' garden shed too. It is for the gardening stuff . And also a double carport. Limited space. I suppose that can be what 'downsizing' equates to.

    I will manage. And have fun accepting the challenge. [After hearing tonight of my daughter's friend/work colleague having 2 friends that have died in the last few weeks through accidents - I am grateful for what my family has. Some problems have just dissolved.]

  12. #11
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    Sep 2012
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    Coffs Harbour
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    I think your taking the right attitude for sure. Some people dont even have a garage that want to get into woodwork. Im sure youll organise it in a way that you can use everything. Just remember you can never have enough storage. Oh and clamps

  13. #12
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    Sep 2012
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    Default

    Hows the shed coming along Jane?

  14. #13
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Canberra
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    Default

    Building approval just came through before Christmas. Waiting on builder to return from leave to submit insurance cover and licence details for the BA. We are in Japan, skiing, atm so will get onto builder on our return.

    At at least we got the nod for building on the fence and under the powerlines.

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