Looking for tips for a new workroom

[Stephen Richard]

If  you are going to be working long periods, put some cushioned flooring in that is washable.  It will make standing so much more easy.

[JoanFrances]

If  you are going to be working long periods, put some cushioned flooring in that is washable.  It will make standing so much more easy.

Great tip, Stephen.  I bought the interlocking rubber flooring for infront of my work area, wish I had enough $$$$$ to do the entire floor with it.  Great stuff

[Glassic]

If  you are going to be working long periods, put some cushioned flooring in that is washable.  It will make standing so much more easy.

Great tip, Stephen.  I bought the interlocking rubber flooring for infront of my work area, wish I had enough $$$$$ to do the entire floor with it.  Great stuff

Yes, I have rubber too, Canadian Tire do good tiles and Menards have a good, and cheaper, selection of the solid interlocking mats.

[Kev]

Isn't it cheaper to just wear good shoes?..LOL

I would also think that trying to sweep up all the glass shards means you have to pick up all the mats to sweep. I'll stick with the sneakers..lol

[JoanFrances]

Isn't it cheaper to just wear good shoes?..LOL

I would also think that trying to sweep up all the glass shards means you have to pick up all the mats to sweep. I'll stick with the sneakers..lol

Kev, these mates don't need to be picked up.  They are like 3ft squares that lock together to make them as wide or long as you want them to be like floor covering.  I sweep and vac mine all the time without any more problems than anyother floor. 

[Glassic]

Isn't it cheaper to just wear good shoes?..LOL

I would also think that trying to sweep up all the glass shards means you have to pick up all the mats to sweep. I'll stick with the sneakers..lol

That's why I have Canadian Tire, it's holey!

[JudyK]

I have a big holey matt too, 3'x5'. It's heavy and I do take it outside for a good shake now and then. But my favorites are these little gel based bathroom rugs. They are light and I kick them over to where ever I am most. the cush is amazing and I feel so much better. My knees were complaining before I got them at Bed and Bath.

[Ozzieglassie]

Ditto Judy and in the strong Oz sun it can be even more of an issue. I was also taught that for Oz conditions never to use less than 1/4" leads cos they disappear under the strong light conditions.

[Ozzieglassie]

Re sky lights. if you are planning on doing much work/painting/cutting on light boxes then can the skylights have black out blinds on them? Having light coming from behind/above you makes light box work harder, less accurate.
Re getting a kiln, try to position it so there are no drafts across it, ie not in the air path btwn 2 doors or bwtn a door and a window. But also try to keep it out of a general thoroughfare for safety reasons.
Sounds like you are going to have a great space and heaps of good times ahead.

[Kev]

Oh..I thought the mats were like a honeycomb with lots of holes in them.

[Glassic]

Mine are, sorta, but the ShopVac makes short work of the cleaning.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/3/HouseHome/HomeDecor/Flooring/PRD~0683000P/10-pack+Multy+Tile.jsp?locale=en

[JudyK]

Oh nice matts, and partitioned too. Mine is all in one big 3'x5' piece, and made of soft black rubber. My husband got it for me from his auto parts suppliers. I like my little gel bath matts best. The surface is like suede and the glass and stuff does not stick to it. The gel squish is just right and I can move them without bending over.

I agree on the sky light. Too hard to control the light. I love light , Can't have too much, except when you don't want it.

We have already discussed power but I  would like to revisit that. I have wanted power outlets above the table so I don't have to bend over and find them behind stuff. But I constantly plug in and out of my power strip over the table, dragging cords over the work. This stinks. I have to be too careful . Right now I am dragging cords over cut pattern pieces :(   . after some thought. I think I would rather have a built in work bench with the power on the face of the bench every 3 feet. Recessed under the table edge surface by a few inches, so I am not dragging stuff and myself across it's surface or pour water on it.

[Glassic]

Yes, Nancy just bought me another two packs!
I had a GFI put in on the ceiling above the table, has a heavy duty short extention cord, and room for another, looped up to an accessable height should I need it.

[JoanFrances]

good point about the cords Nancy.  What I did to eliminate that was, I use cup hooks to hold the cord out of the way.  I have 3 different strips.  One at each end of the work table and one more towards the middle.   All of the cords stay plugged in and I just switch the strip on and off,  The good thing is, is that if I am soldering than only that and my lights are really drawing power.  Same if I am grinding, so I don't have to worry about over use of the strip at any one point. 

The place I used to take classes was a fire trap with extension cords all over the place and because of that the soldering irons used to have to compete for the peak power.  Electric is nothing to mess with.  People don't think about how dangerous it is if you over load your lines. 

[glasisfun]

You have all given me so much to think about.  Thank you.  I guess I will be back to the drawing board.  I have a computer program, but just get frustrated with it.  I do better with pencil and paper. :-)

I currently keep the zinc under the table on the floor, gutter sounds so much better.  I am getting lots of great new ideas and that is just what I am hoping for before we start this thing.

I did think about a half bath out there too Joan!  I am so glad you did too as I read it to my husband and told him "see, I am not the only one who does not want to have to run into the house to go!"  Thanks for your support on that idea.  He thought it was to extravagant when I first mentioned it.    

Mats will be a must for me to stand long periods of time.  And will have to rethink the placement of windows after reading all this.....  After being downstairs in the basement and rewiring the room to get more light, I think I am possessed with the idea "more light is better". 

 

[ct4mom]

Sounds like your on the right track. Good luck with the build and keep us updated.