New Shop Thread

[gee-dub]

More joints sealed and the second service panel added.

 

[Coop]

What is the item in the first pic? Second pic, new codes here require two ground rods a certain distance apart, after all of these years! 

[gee-dub]

First pic just shows the holes cut to accept 2" pipe nipples.  Used with conduit lock nuts and insulating bushings this creates a pathway between boxes as per the NEC.  One is for the feeds between service panels.  The other is just in case I need pathway for who-knows-what years from now.

The original plan was two ground rods at a set distance. We even drew it that way originally. Current code allows the use of a WWII era technology; a Ufer ground.  This is a concrete encased electrode and this is what I went with.

[gee-dub]

Nothing that shows but I finished sealing the control joints.
 

[gee-dub]

How furniture makers bore for Romex

[Chestnut]

Did ya use a forstner bit from each side to minimize the tearout too?

[gee-dub]

6 hours ago, Chestnut said:

Did ya use a forstner bit from each side to minimize the tearout too?

Seriously, I did use a backer board to make the self-feed keep feeding once it exited the 2x.  Pretty much the effort involved is holding the drill motor and aiming .

[Coop]

Your OCD has been exposed and shines brightly. 

Don’t forget the metal strips across the front of the 2x’s although it looks like the holes are far enough back not to be hit by the drywall screws. 

[wtnhighlander]

Glenn, I know nothing about codes in your locale, but experience has taught me that conduit is a wonderful thing for accomodating all those shop changes that weren't anticipated prior to construction. Even if outlet locations remain the same, conduit makes it a breeze to re-pull wire for a heavier circut if needed.

[gee-dub]

Thanks for all the input guys.  That is the real value of these forums.  All the holes for internal wiring are drilled.

[Mark J]

I was hoping someone else would ask, but alas, I will have to admit my ignorance.  Why so many holes for the Romex?  Is that for multiple circuits coming out of the breaker box?  

[gee-dub]

Yes. Lots of dedicated circuits.

[gee-dub]

I will have an outdoor switch and outlet at each door.  I like the box just shy of flush and use a quick "jig" to help with alignment. 

These lockable covers will activate a "porch" light over each door and provide an outlet for whatever one may want one for in those areas.

 

[gee-dub]

Finished the external electrical boxes today but this was the highlight.

 

 

[Coop]

But with all the trusses, you will have minimal attic storage? Darn good start! 

[Tom King]

That type of attic ladder is a Major upgrade over the old, flimsy wooden ones.  I put one in the rental house, so two big guys could get a new air handler in the attic.  It held all that weight with no ill effects.

I like those platform ladders too.  I ordered two taller ones, when Lowes had a ladder sale back around Black Friday, and they're still not here yet.

[gee-dub]

11 hours ago, Coop said:

But with all the trusses, you will have minimal attic storage? Darn good start! 

I went back and forth on an alternate truss configuration to increase storage for quite some time. In the end there were a few contributing factors.

- Where I live attic temps can reach 160 degrees for extended periods.
- I have other outbuildings for storage.
- I'm not getting any younger.
- I had to make some tough decisions as to how to spend the budget.

If I wanted that additional storage, and believe me I had a plan including it . . . decking, storage layout, access, etc. I could have gone with a full or partial different truss format, insulated differently or done some other very doable design changes to make the space usable for such.

In the end, the environment, intended use, existing outbuildings, and cost led me to my current design. There will be platforms at about 12" above the joists to clear the insulation. There will be adequate space to store resilient, light weight or delicate items like seasonal decorations. There will be about 40 square feet of stackable space that can be easily reached from the ladder.

This brings up a possibly interesting factor that the design took into account. I'm getting older. Things like boatloads of storage in an overhead, while attractive, in reality are not key benefits to my next score of years on this rock. I spent the money on HVAC instead which I would not have dreamed of 10 years ago.

A lot of the focus on this shop is on the fact that it will be my last shop. Many items are present not for today but for 10 years from today. Although I can't see it this morning I imagine there will come a day when I will be glad to have heat or A/C in the shop to make things more comfortable for my poor, weary, body

P.s. I will add a lightweight "box" to the underside of the ladder cover panel to hold some insulating material.  The unit comes with a bit of foam bard built in but that is no match for the full-force of our SoCal summers in this area. Although this will be proud of the ceiling it will be about even with the lighting fixtures.

[Chestnut]

I tossed the idea about attic storage when I finished my garage and I came to the same conclusion. Attic space is just difficult to access and the cost is reduced insulation. Items that would go in an attic would be items i wouldn't use for years.

My other thought is, if i need that much storage space my problem isn't the storage space it's the junk I'm storing and I'd be better served to ditch the stuff than create needless storage space.

 

[wtnhighlander]

Junk collection mysteriously expand to occupy all available storage space, much like Microsoft Windows expands to consume available computer memory.

Dropping the attic as a large storage area is a good call!

[Coop]

But where would you store your 6 bags of duck decoys ( unfortunately not used in 15 years) or your 8 wooden crates of 5 cent Coke bottles that you put up there 25 years ago when you built the garage (that has never had a vehicle in it) ? 

And ebay and craigslist are not options as I’m too old to get up there and get them down. OP’s decision is a good one!

[gee-dub]

This showed up.

And I got a small amount of electrical done for the amount of time I spent on it.

It is amazing how much longer this takes for one than it does for two.

[gee-dub]

Boring update . . . . Been running wire
 

[Chestnut]

Is it a boring update because you've been drilling a lot of holes... .

[RichardA]

4 hours ago, gee-dub said:

Boring update . . . . Been running wire
 

Were you trying to catch it?  Did you?     just trying to help take the boring out of it.

[wtnhighlander]

@gee-dub, I wish I had thought of it...I have a 1960's era electrician's drill I could loan you. The gearbox is folded back on the motor so that with a typical spade or short auger bit, it still fits between studs so the holes are square-through.

Weighs about 40#, though!