Build Thread (Garage/workshop)

[jim_l]

Westy's new home is up to roof height, 6 meters * just short of 4 meters (it might fit in!) Your thoughts on:

• An RSJ across the middle for a hoist to lift engines out , is 7" * 4" enough with a 4 meter span?
  
• Concrete floor is a bit rough - any recommendations for a self levelling coumpound ?
  
• What to coat the floor with after - sticky tyres tend to peel floor paint off.
  
• Lighting - Bright enough Flourescents down the middle ? or light from the sides ??
  
• Roof - rubberised or fibreglass?
  
• It is single skin, should I batten it out, insulate and line it (e.g. MDF) or leave as is.
  

Any other recommendations??

Jim

[Johnson]

I cant help with a lot of that but having been in workshops for the last 25 years the best thing you can do is lots of light and plenty of power sockets around the place.

Definitely insulate it and get a water supply in there so you can wash up when finished.

You can never have too much light when working on cars.

What about some sort of tiled floor? There was someone at the last Goodwood Breakfast Club displaying click together flooring for workshops.

Finally I wouldn't worry about using a RSJ for a hoist you can get a fold engine crane for £250 much more flexible IMHO

[Norman Verona]

Lots of brackets and hooks on the walls to hang stuff on. If the floor is clear then you've done it correctly.

Paint all walls and ceiling white.

Get some lowbayl workshop lighting. Expensive but worth it.

[peterg]

What about some sort of tiled floor? There was someone at the last Goodwood Breakfast Club displaying click together flooring for workshops.

http://www.evertile.co.uk/garages/

[dombanks]

i used a standard wooden roof joist in my garage for a chain block. i think it only cost about 20 quid. its tiney garage and space is a premium so an foldy engine hoist wasnt really an option as i would be able to store it very well.

having a sink with warm water would be a real help if you can get it.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

A 4m long 152x89x19 UB will manage a safe working load of 1500Kg as a point load from the centre of the beam so should be plenty enough for your engine

The smallest steel section you could safely get away with is 127x76x13 UB which will have a SWL of 500kg for lifting in the centre.

[Norman Verona]

Huge price range but http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1311&_nkw=folding+engine+crane&_sacat=See-All-Categories start at around 100 quid.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

I use a beam with a chain hoist on a girder trolley and find it great for working on the Westy. The biggest advantage I can see for that compared to a conventional engine crane is that when lifting you don't have to consider where the legs of the crane will go or trying to get them under the car. It also takes up next to no room for storage. My beam is mounted a couple of metres off the back wall of the garage, so If I drive in forwards there's plenty of room for working on the engine, or alternatively if I go in bavkwards I can sling a strop around the rollbar and lift the back of the car up onto axle stands.

[Mark (smokey mow)]

For the roof I would say it's down to personal preferance between going for a single ply membrane or GRP, but personally given the choice I would go for the GRP.

Some of the most durable floor finishes I have seen for garages are Epoxy Resin. Theres a few different types available from roll on finishes for flat surfaces to those that can be trowled on and self levelling on uneven or rough floors. They're very hard wearing, being more common in commercial industrial buildings and are chmical resistant should you spill anything

[Norman Verona]

Smokey. that looks nice.

However, I have used the crane for lifting stuff all over the farm as well as in the garage. Best use was to lift the huge slate slab sections out of the ground where they made a wall around the pig pen. They're now on the kitchen floor.

I've pulled a (small) tree root out with it.

I only had a problem with the axle stands getting in the way of the crane legs once. After the first time I used it I knew to position the axle stand in a place where they don't get in the way.

[jim_l]

Thanks all, some useful pointers there..

Tell me more about this Lowbay lighting - bewildering array of stuff out there using this name! Where does it go - does it just replace conventional overhead stuff?

[Norman Verona]

I have 4 in my workshop in a diamond over the car space.

This is the items I purchased:

250 Watt HQI Metal Halide Low Bay with Lamp

from here: http://www.scldirect...y-lighting.html

However they will be available where ever you are.

ed to add that I hadn't realise the c&p for the description was a link. So, they're so good you've got them twice!

They take a few minutes to warm up but when fully on the light is as good as you'll get for working on a car.