Help Me Design/ Build a Shop

LittleBittyBigJohn · May 24, 2024

Yeah the ladder was about 2 rungs too short to reach the top, so I backed the truck in and it's tall enough from the bed

. I'm more afraid of heights than I realized. Apparently as you get older that happens? It bounces, is it too vertical, is it going to fall backwards, does it have too much lean, is it going to slide out from under me... ugh. I have no idea why some projects get to where I just decide to do it the hard way on principle.

EddieWalker · May 24, 2024

I understand. I remember when I was in Junior High School, and my parents decided to put a new roof on a 2 story rental house that they owned. My brothers and I would time each other and race up the ladder with a load of cedar shingles to see who could do it faster. I remember doing it, but for the life of me, I can't comprehend that I was actually doing that!!!!!

We spent a week up there hamming in those shingles, and to the best of my memory, I remember thinking that it was fun. It's just so odd to be so fearless back then, and now to being so cautious about heights now.

I refuse to work on top of second story house if I have to climb a ladder to get up there. Just getting off the roof of a single story house gives me issues!!!

BigBlue1 · May 24, 2024

LittleBittyBigJohn said:
Yeah the ladder was about 2 rungs too short to reach the top, so I backed the truck in and it's tall enough from the bed . I'm more afraid of heights than I realized. Apparently as you get older that happens? It bounces, is it too vertical, is it going to fall backwards, does it have too much lean, is it going to slide out from under me... ugh. I have no idea why some projects get to where I just decide to do it the hard way on principle.

I'm usually pretty comfortable with heights. I have good ladders and being 24' up doesn't normally get a notice. But yesterday I rented a 50' tow-behind manlift to trim some dead limbs out of our larger Maple and Oak trees. At full extension up there in the treetops with a breeze blowing and the bucket swaying a bit as I leaned out as far as I could reach with the chainsaw to reach the highest branches I suddenly realized that I am not entirely immune to thinking of height issues. I lived though, so I guess

dstig1 · May 24, 2024

Heights didn't used to be an issue for me, but the older I get the more they are.... I am much more careful on the roof now.

Fuddyduddy1952 · May 24, 2024

LittleBittyBigJohn said:
So... apparently I'm cheap... Or it's the principle at this point... I'm going to do the stupid lights with what I have I guess...

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That's a good idea if the ladder is good, stable & strong. I'd tie both top ends of ladder to rafter and it can't go anywhere.

NHBX · May 25, 2024

Fuddyduddy1952 said:
I'd tie both top ends of ladder to rafter and it can't go anywhere.

And take the keys!

Fuddyduddy1952 · May 25, 2024

NHBX said:
And take the keys!

Leave truck in neutral...

Flogger · May 28, 2024

Over the years I have acquired a dozen sections of 5' scaffolding with two sets of wheels and two sets of screw jacks. It has been one of my best investments. The reason for a dozen sections is the house at the farm has 28' eaves.

LittleBittyBigJohn · Jun 20, 2024

I have decided on building out some 8' tall "walls" inside the main structure of the shop. I want to be able to put some small shelves and hang things on the walls. I waffled back and forth and I think this will work best. I'm just going to frame normal walls with studs on 24" centers. The walls aren't really holding anything up so I don't think 16" spacing is necessary. I'll do a treated bottom plate and add a tie plate from the steel gerts to the studs in several places to keep them from falling over. Then I'll skin them with 1/2 flame treated plywood.

This will also allow me to use Romex and wire up outlets just like a house instead of having to use so much conduit. I'll still use conduit if I need the wire outside of the framed wall portion, I'll just use a J box at the transition where needed, to terminate the conduit and make the switch to Romex.