Your Tractor Shop Ideas

[Rainbody]

I'm going to put some money into improving my shop. Im sure many of you have some great tractor shops and Id like to hear your ideas or things you'd do different. As of now, I'm going to concrete the floor, double the overhang, maybe a 2 ton crane on an I beam or even a solvent tank.
Right now its a 50x60 building with MH lighting and compressed air system to run tools. Thanks for the input.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

The overhead crane would be nice when needed. The semi retired welder that I use has an old shop behind his house but it has a nice hoist on an I-beam and he uses it to do all of the heavy lifting. He even used it to get the 150 pound backhoe thumb in place to spot weld it and that was sweet.

I think a lot of over hang at the doors are nice so you can keep working with the doors open in the summer even with some hard rain.

 

[AGRIMAN]

Well, one of the best things I done when building my new shop was to run all the electrical underneath the floor, it saved a lot of money when wiring it plus it looks really neat and clean. I picked up this 3 ton A frame hoist that works really good. I found a nice 2 1/2 ton overhead bridge crane at a great price that I really wanted, but it was 480volt 3 phase which I do not have. I had skylights installed which are well worth the money.

You can see my inside panel box it that same picture. I also lined the inside with metal to protect my insolation (not finished in that picture?lol.)

 

[Gale Hawkins]

That 3 ton A frame hoist is very nice and a back saver I am sure.

 

[sixdogs]

I'm in a colder climate and I would suggest radiant heat for those who are. Even if you don't use it in the winter, spring is more pleasant when you can get to work earlier in the season. Plus, it keeps condensation down. I did not do this and wish I did. Insulation is the other big issue but it's pricey.

Things I did that make a huge difference are a vapor barrier under the concrete and an epoxy coated surface to the concrete. Not Home Depot water based paint but solvent based contractor-type epoxy. Floor looks like a million $$, is easy clean up and no-none-zero oil stains. Solvent based epoxy ain't cheap.

Add extra lights and outlets and 220 in a couple places.

Doing this work now is the cheapest it will ever be.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

50X50 is a nice size; my shop is a lot smaller, so this comes from my "wish I had done this" list. I have a lean-to on the back that is very handy for keeping stuff out of the weather, but wish now that I had poured a concrete apron in front and back.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I agree with sixdogs when building is the cheapest time to do the upgrades. That even applies where you have a shop and doing some up grading go ahead and do a little extra.

One thing with almost any shop is how hard it is to work outside the shop on something that you can not pull inside very well due to size or projects taking up inside room. You have a 15 minute project to do but you are not going to spend 3 hours moving stuff so you can get the piece into the shop is what I am talking about.

So more side door openings with outside connections for air, water, 120/240 with a combo out different outlet options would be nice for sure.

If in the planning stage if one could plan as many lean-to type sheds as possible would be nice. We got one of those two story CMB storage/shops built like you see in the parking lot of Lowes, etc. For next to nothing we got a 12' lean-to on one side but should have put on on both sides in hindsight.

The point about more eves is good especially if you have side doors, outlets, etc to protect. A 3'-4' overhand is awesome and still does not block access if you have a driveway down that side of the building.

Spending an extra 10-20% at the time of building or remodeling sounds like SO much money but not three years later.

 

[sixdogs]

Good point and yes on the concrete aprons or at least one apron. Mine are so handy I forgot I had one. Another good point is the doors. From an easy to use perspective, experience has taught me to put one in the center of a gable end and the other 2/3 of the way back on the side. This allows me to get the most IN and also get the most OUT without a lot of hassle.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Good point and yes on the concrete aprons or at least one apron. Mine are so handy I forgot I had one. Another good point is the doors. From an easy to use perspective, experience has taught me to put one in the center of a gable end and the other 2/3 of the way back on the side. This allows me to get the most IN and also get the most OUT without a lot of hassle.

I put a 16 foot overhead door in the front of my shop; I love it for my purposes, but if you intend to use the loft space, you have to take into account that you will lose about 10 ft. from the door back, or at least it will restrict your overhead space. I hate the sliding doors, but they don't present this problem.

 

[texasjohn]

Outside lights all around. Shed along the side, both sides if you can. Electric outlets on outside walls...good for plugging in battery chargers, tools.
Water and sink in building. Skylights. 220 each end for welder. Pallet racks along walls for storage. With concrete floor, put EVERYTHING on wheels...work benches, tool boxes, EVERYTHING....allows rearrangement, else when you get something in the shop, it's gonna stay where you put it, and you WON'T move it, even though your needs change over time. Did I say put casters/wheels on EVERYTHING?? I mean it....costs very little overall to gain absolute maximum flexibility for your entire space.