DIY Workshops: show em off

If you fellow DIY’ers are like me at all, the word extravagant comes to mind. I will be going on deployment soon, and when I get back, I plan on building a shed/workshop for all my hammocking/DIY related stuff. No space is being allotted for yard junk or anything like that. I have full permission from the boss lady herself to let my imagination run free. Since I normally run my hammock imagination through you fine folks, I pose the question, if you had free reign to build a decent sized shed/garage strictly for a workshop and hammocking related business, how would you do it, and what type of stuff would you add? Keep in mind that I have about a 15’ x 15’ leeway here, and not much more, so I am limited in space, but I have seen some cool workshops in that small of an area. For those that already have an area to which I’m speaking, can you please snap some photos? I have six months to plan and work on this idea, so I want it to be perfect.

Awesome predicament you're in there buddy. ;) Sounds like you've got a great gal!


With 15x15 available, you've got lots of options. Here are some things I'd work into the plan if I was putting it together:

- 15' is a good hang length. Anchor points on two of the walls for testing a setup or rigging, or for "indoor hanging" when the mood strikes.

- Create a nice big workspace around your sewing machine to make handling all that fabric a bit easier.

- Leave a large enough area of smooth, clean, uncluttered floor space to lay out projects.

- Do you have a tree nearby? Locate the building so you can hang between the tree and a porch post or other outside anchor point.

- And just my personal preference-- Keep it rustic. This is after all, a pastime typically enjoyed in the woods!

Please let us know what you come up with, and be safe during your deployment!

-Klauss

Shug, at some point, posted his Man Cave/Nut Hut shots and he has a heck of place! You can see much of it in his videos as well. Would be great to take a look at.

Air Force? Where are you headed.

I'm out right now and my wife has suggested building an outbuilding for a workshop, but it would be for more than just hammocking. I'm going to make a few folding kayaks for the family...

Good luck on your deployment and the follow-up projects.

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Originally Posted by OneEye

. . . I'm going to make a few folding kayaks for the family.

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Cool! I used to own a Folbot, great memories!

-Klauss

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Originally Posted by OneEye

Air Force? Where are you headed.

I'm out right now and my wife has suggested building an outbuilding for a workshop, but it would be for more than just hammocking. I'm going to make a few folding kayaks for the family...

Good luck on your deployment and the follow-up projects.

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Navy Submariner, but can't say where I'm headed. thanks for the best wishes, I'm still a few months out now. At least I get to be here for the holidays.

First - thanks for your service.

+1 on anchor points
+1 on large area to work with fabric
I would add
- Good lighting and windows
- it would be nice to be able to open things up and still keep the bugs out during the summer months.

Good Luck with it.

I'll offer a couple of pics of my current space. I'm working on the walls, (plaster,) and it's messy sooo... :rolleyes: It's about 12 x 14 I think.

http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/u...0108Medium.jpg

Definitely recommend a place to hang and a "test" the equipment. ;) Preferably including a blanket and a place for books or other reading material. You know, for the full effect. :D

Shelving. Can't have too much shelving.

http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/u...0109Medium.jpg

I repurposed an old computer desk as my sewing table. Works for me.

http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/u...0114Medium.jpg

I can get the hammock out the way and use the floor for some things, but it'a a little cramped. If I'm cutting anything big I have to use the dining room or something. I can't keep this place cleared out enough...

It won't be perfect. Get that image out of your head. You will be forced to deal with competing problems. Total space versus practical building size. Storage space versus workspace. You _need_ at a bare minimum a decent sized table. That will depend on what you want to do. If you plan on doing a lot of tarps you will want a bigger table than if you are going to be doing gathered end hammocks and quilts. You will want at least 3 feet all the way around the table. Any more is not required and any less is awkward. Parts storage will grow as you take on more projects so that will need to be expandable. You will need a dedicated space for the sewing machine with enough space to work effective. Leave some room behind the machine so the work can slide off the table and on to a covered clean floor area. Fabric stock takes a whole lot of room depending on how much you want on hand and how you organize the new stock and the remnants/larger pieces you want to keep.

How you juggle all these basics is really entirely up to you. Then you can add the additional goodies... A place to do the silicon coating for the DIY silnyl you want to use. Storage space for down giving you a weather protected high volume loose storage area for both the final products and the down waiting to be stuffed. Oh yes... the balance and compromises you will have to juggle when you actually get around to planning and building this shop will give you ample time to brush up on your less than safe for office language. But it should be fun. Have a good time.

Here's a previous thread started some time ago that has some photos of workshops

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ight=workshops

C'mon. Less jibber jabber and more pictures. :D

A 15'x15' hang hut/workshop sounds great. A large movable workbench and some sturdy shelves would finish it out very nicely.

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Originally Posted by Burning_Daylight

A 15'x15' hang hut/workshop sounds great. A large movable workbench and some sturdy shelves would finish it out very nicely.

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I Like it!! Hang hut it is

Awesome! Glad you like it, occasionally I have a good one.

I enjoyed seeing the stack of hammock blanks there (atleast I think those are :)) Can't have enough of those handy :lol:

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Originally Posted by hppyfngy

http://i629.photobucket.com/albums/u...0114Medium.jpg

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Originally Posted by Arothian

I enjoyed seeing the stack of hammock blanks there (atleast I think those are :)) Can't have enough of those handy :lol:

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Good call.

10 minute hammock at the ready in various colors. :D

So after looking at various different plans and talking with the boss lady, I am restricted in development with the outside, because I have to match the outside with the siding of the house, but the inside I'm thinking tounge and groove pine for the rustic look, and some simple flooring, and maybe a wood burning stove (a small one). I was also thinking of some high shelving to take advantage of the limited floor space so I can work on the big projects, but still have a place to store stuff, using 4x4 to reinforce the tieout for the hammock and grabbing a downed tree from a freind that does removal service, and bury the end far enough down to use as the second tie out point for the hammock (I wanted something true to what I might use out in the woods for true testing), and maybe a small porch and a covered area for my wood pile..

I'd put in a 6'x6' cutting table. Round the corners just a bit.
Nylon comes 5'-6' wide so this would accommodate the width and half the length of a 12' tarp and still not take up all you space.

I'd also consider hanging net storage hammocks from the ceiling (rafters), if high enough, to store completed quilts.

like this but better..http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/...DSCN0542_3.jpg

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Originally Posted by MAD777

I'd put in a 6'x6' cutting table. Round the corners just a bit.
Nylon comes 5'-6' wide so this would accommodate the width and half the length of a 12' tarp and still not take up all you space.

I'd also consider hanging net storage hammocks from the ceiling (rafters), if high enough, to store completed quilts.

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I Like both ideas!! maybe a table that has hinges to expand to that width when needed, but a normal working table most of the time. I also thought of a whiteboard for the creative juices when they should happen to flow:lol:

I wouldn't put a wood stove in a shop that small, because once you move it out from the walls enough for clearance from combustibles it will take up a lot of room. Consider electric in-floor heat so you wont have to take up any floor space with a heater or furnace. Also put in a loft for storage.

Well here is a photo of mine

The end hinged tables are 4X6, with the center table 4 foot wide also, but cut out for sitting near the machine in the middle.

Tables are topped with replaceable hardboard for cutting on. The legs are hinged so when the tables are are up they fold flat to the underside.

If the machines are cleared out, and inserts put in, I can have a 12X6 table for layouts. A pair of brackets clamped to the far end can hold a roll of fabric to pull from.
Lots of light on the work area is great also

Storage is some shelves, and a couple of shelf sections, out of view, but mostly bins under the tables, 2 stack and can hold most all of the camp gear and other stuff.

Sinking a machine into the surface helps a lot, like the one in the foreground

Holes drilled in the floor joists, at multiple points with straps, serve as the test hang, or nap area.

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Originally Posted by TZBrown

Well here is a photo of mine

The end hinged tables are 4X6, with the center table 4 foot wide also, but cut out for sitting near the machine in the middle.

Tables are topped with replaceable hardboard for cutting on. The legs are hinged so when the tables are are up they fold flat to the underside.

If the machines are cleared out, and inserts put in, I can have a 12X6 table for layouts. A pair of brackets clamped to the far end can hold a roll of fabric to pull from.
Lots of light on the work area is great also

Storage is some shelves, and a couple of shelf sections, out of view, but mostly bins under the tables, 2 stack and can hold most all of the camp gear and other stuff.

Sinking a machine into the surface helps a lot, like the one in the foreground

Holes drilled in the floor joists, at multiple points with straps, serve as the test hang, or nap area.

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That's awesome... :woot:When I build my new place I'm doing a table that.

Really liking that hinged insert there - great idea!