View Poll Results: Finishing room 8x8 or 8x10 in a 720 sq. ft. shop?

Voters
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  • Yes - build that finishing room

    23 82.14%
  • No - it's a waste of space

    5 17.86%
  • Don't finish - leave all projects in an unfinished state

    0 0%
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Thread: Finishing Room

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Lewiston, Idaho
    Posts
    28,504

    Finishing Room

    Folks....I'm at a point where I need to make a major decision about my new shop. My new shop is 30x24....I had a desire of putting a small finishing room in one corner of it. The finishing room would be 8x8 or 8x10 with a finished ceiling height of 9'7". I will probably never spray finishes just brush or wipe-on. I'm at the point where I need to either frame it in or give up on the idea altogether. The big sticking point is heating and ventilating it. I live in a cold climate and will be heating the shop by a NG outside vented (exhaust and fresh air) gas heater. What do you folks do for finishing......what's your opinion on a small finishing room in a 720 sq.ft. shop. If you recommend a finishing room what would you do for heat and ventilation? If you recommend No finishing room, how would you handle finishing?
    Ken

    So much to learn, so little time.....

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    3,789
    From my perpective, 720 sq ft is a LOT of space and you can certainly afford to devote a small percentage of it to a finishing room.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Chappell Hill, Texas
    Posts
    4,741
    Ken, in that size space, you might be better off with a finishing "area" instead of a finishing room.

    For brush on or rag on finishes, the only reason (I can think of) that you would really need a room would be to close off the area so you could continue to make sawdust. Do you need to do this?

    If you didn't have a wall, the space would still be more functional for converting to an assembly area, staging area, photography area, etc.

    Another wall would give you more space for hanging items (jigs, tools, templates, clamps, etc.) and getting items off the floor if you have that need.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Burlington, Vermont
    Posts
    25
    You might consider some sort of drop down cloth to close off the area to some extent when you need it dust free. Something similar to pull down window shades. They will be out of the way when no needed and easily pulled down when you do. Paul Held

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Monroe, MI
    Posts
    11,896
    I asked a similar question last winter. I had an existing 6x10 room. Most thougth that 6x10 was too small. Not sure that the extra 2 feet would make that much difference. I ended up using the space as an office. I have a desk, an older computer (with wireless ethernet to the house), small fridge, and some shelving for books and the stereo in there. It is working out nicely. I fully insulated even the interior walls so that I could someday heat it separately with a small electric baseboard. I figure someday my daughter will be able to use it to work on homework or play on the computer when she's older and I want to work out there when my wife's not home.

    The only problem is that with the insulated walls, it gets warm in there in the summer from the computer and fridge. I have a small blower I want to use to equalize the temperature between the main area and the office, filtering the air on the way.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,678
    With no spraying, I think that Todd has the right idea and you can always put in provisions for curtaining off an area for dust control if you need to continue machining while finishing is in progress on another project. And should you ever decide to spray, there are really great water-based finishes that don't require a dedicated finishing room with super-duper-explosion-proof accomodations. (One of the reasons I use them)

    Do consider a separate, sound-abated room for your DC and compressor, however...it makes a huge difference in personal comfort when working.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Just outside of Spring Green, Wisconsin
    Posts
    9,442
    Ken, first of all, never say, "never"! Who knows? You might get some awesome deal on a HVLP system or such and decide that's the way to go! So yes, I'm saying you should and I would go for the larger one. I'm one of those people who is either, working on more than one project at a time or (mostly) failed a bit in the planning stages and by the time I get to finishing, I find that I need to mill/cut/etc.. just one or two more pieces! Ahhh, but I've got stuff drying over there by the TS and planer! Actually, I really DO have a finishing room, but having just moved in last year and, downsizing a LOT, there's still too much garbage in there, as it's being used as a holding area until we get other projects completed on the house. I'm really chomping at the bit to get the stuff out of there, so that I can fully utilize my whole shop! I'd say plan for the future and go with the additional room today!
    Cheers,
    John K. Miliunas

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  8. #8
    Ken,

    If you are like me, if you don't build it now - before you actually are using the shop - it will never get built. Always a project that is (seems) more important than working on the shop.
    Wood is Good!
    Greetings from The Green Mountain State!

    Kurt

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    N Illinois
    Posts
    4,602

    Add

    I'd do it while you can at this stage of construction. Couldn't you add it later also tho? its a simple 2 walls erected in a corner. Just a thought.
    Jerry

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Just outside of Spring Green, Wisconsin
    Posts
    9,442
    Quote Originally Posted by Jerry Olexa
    Couldn't you add it later also tho? its a simple 2 walls erected in a corner. Just a thought.
    Jerry, I'm with Kurt on this one! I've had some hardboard sitting in my rack since about April or so, destined to reskin my counter areas and maybe even my assemble bench. The hardboard is still there, the counters are still there (somewhere under all the stuff! ), but "other" projects have taken priority over the shop maintenance! I know if it were me, and I had that "intent", by the time I finally had time to do it, I'd spend a week trying to reorganize the shop, because I'd have used up that 80 sq/ft for something else!

    I also had another thought on the room. Ken, you're talking close to 10' ceiling in the finishing room. Unless you're making gargantuan projects, might I suggest knocking it down to about a foot and a half or even two? Then, as long as you're framing, throw some 2x8's up there and OSB on top of them and you have yourself some instant storage for less used items or even lumber "overflow". Just an idea...
    Cheers,
    John K. Miliunas

    Cannot find REALITY.SYS. Universe halted.
    60 grit is a turning tool, ain't it?
    SMC is totally supported by volunteers and your generosity! Please help if you can!
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  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Posts
    15,332
    You can dedicate a corner of the shop for finsihing but I would not make it a permanent set-up right now. Perhaps you can rough-in future plumbing and electrical if you figure out down the road to make the room. Just take lots of pictures and mark everything so you don't forget--you old guys have enough memory lapses as it is!

    Remember that shop arrangements are bound to change over time as will your taste for various types of woodworking.

    Get comfy and into your shop and then see how a finsihing room might pan out or if you can get by with a few sheets of plastic or whatever. It *should* be easy to add two walls and a door later on...if you plan for it now.
    Wood: a fickle medium....

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  12. Portable finishing area

    I create a " finishing area" in my shop withsome lightweight panels made of furring strips screwed together, covered with some heavy poly and hinged like a privacy screen. This lets me fold it up and lean it against the wall when I don't need it yet quickly set up an area that is somewhat separated from the rest of the shop activities. Since I almost always do smaller projects, boxes, small tables, clocks etc. this serves my needs well. I can set it up, do a little finishing and still work in the other areas of my shop. When I do larger projects then all other shop activity gets put on hold.
    Big Mike

    I have done so much with so little for so long I am now qualified to do anything with nothing......

    P.S. If you are interested in plans for any project that I post, just put some money in an envelope and mail it to me and I will keep it.

  13. #13
    I would go with the 8x10. Use a 4' base board heater. Insulate the walls for a quick warm up in the winter. And on 1 or 2 walls, build in shelves, for finishing supplies and other hardware.
    Serves two purposes. Storage, Finishing.

    Steve


  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Muscatine, IA
    Posts
    120
    I think Wood Online had a shop tip describing a spraybooth that was heavy sheets of plastic hanging from the ceiling that could be rolled up when not in use. If you have an area that is close to ventilation I think this would be the way to go.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    3,789
    Quote Originally Posted by Steve Clardy
    I would go with the 8x10. Use a 4' base board heater. Insulate the walls for a quick warm up in the winter. And on 1 or 2 walls, build in shelves, for finishing supplies and other hardware.
    Serves two purposes. Storage, Finishing.

    Steve
    I very much like Steve's suggestions. Go for them ...

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