Chris, yes, we're blowing in at least 12" of insulation in the ceiling. Have it sitting on two pallets waiting for the ceiling to be finish. The bottom 8' of the walls are plywood for two reasons, we can mount things to the walls like shelves, air piping and air hose reels. Also, if one panel gets damaged (I've been known to drive my forklift into walls) we can unscrew a panel and replace it. Also a third reason, if for some reason I have to get to the wiring in the walls, maybe to add an outlet or light, it'll be fairly easy to get at.

We placed the air compressor up in the mezzanine to save a little floor space in the shop area and also to eliminate some of the noise. So far it seems to be working pretty good. I need to run pipe down throw the floor of the mezzanine for supply and a separate pipe to drain the tank of water. I'll air hose reels on the walls and I have four drop electric reels hanging from the ceiling. I actually got the idea accidentally when I rented my second shop. The previous tenant was a machine shop and had power drops from the ceiling ever so often for their machines. The landlord told me he would have the drops removed before I moved in. I told him not to, just leave them hang. That was a great decision, made for handy power and avoided extension cords on the floor. The reel make them even better because I adjust them just to miss the mast of my forklift but low enough for me to reach them.

 

Sounds good, Bob. So this is for your business. Right?

Is it on your new property?

And, will have room for working on trucks?

 

It is for my business, the only way I could justify such a project.

No, I will not have any room to work on trucks in this building, it is strictly for business purposes. Like all my other business tools it cannot be used for personal use. The only reason I'll be installing my lift is to work on my daily driver which is officially a company owned vehicle. I will have to reserve all personal automotive activity to my unheated dimly lit garage across the driveway from my house.

 

Dimly lit? Get those LED shop lights. Will turn on immediately and burn bright even in cold WI orPA winter's. And uses less energy. I love mine.

 

Abe, yeah, I have 24 four footers going in the pole building. 16 on the main ceiling where it's 15' high and another 8 under the mezzanine, in the area where I'll be most of my me measuring, drilling and tapping. I like lots of light when I'm working. We temporally rigged up three lights from the beams on the high ceiling and they did a fair job at lighting the entire shop. Can't wait to see how they light up the place once I get them all lit.

 

I was sold on LED lights when working at one of my customer's shop. They have two large rooms, both about the same size. Last year they got a grant from the utility company to pay to replace all the lights in their building. One day the did one room and came back then next day to do the other. You could really tell the difference. The LEDs gave off an almost pure white light, compared to the florescents which in comparison gave off a dingy yellow.

 

I got a call yesterday to from the trucking company to tell me they were delivering my heater today. Just got it off the truck an in my shed.

 

We have the building pretty much done. I have the furnace installed on the ceiling along with the LED lights, ceiling fans and retractable power cord reels. Still have to do some minor finish touches and straighten out the stuff and finding a place for everything. I've already done a few customer jobs in it, working out great.

I'm already experiencing the benefits of the insulation. Right now we're having a heat wave, I'm sure like most of the country, with temps in the high 80 to mid 90s. The shop is staying about 10 or more degrees cooler than the outside as long as I keep the overhead door shut. I don't have AC but when the temps drop at night I open the windows and close them first thing in the morning. When working inside it starts to feel warm until I walk outside for a few minutes and then come back in. I can really feel the difference. With the LEDs it's like working under a super nova, well not quite but it's very well lit. The ceiling fans also help with the heat, keeps the air circulating. The reel cords are super handy to have just about head height, eliminates the need for extension cords that lay around the floor. Not looking forward to winter but I'm interesting in seeing how the furnace keeps the place warm.

 

Sure wish I had a shop that size and with that ceiling height..looking very nice Bob..

 

Thanks. I need the height because I sometimes lift 6-7' high control systems with my forklift. Plus my two post lift I think is 13' high.

I am really loving those LED lights. Way better than florescents and 200% better than those stupid high efficient florescnts they tried to push on us.

 

Last winter I installed a couple 4ft led lights in my shop and have been about adding more but was aprahensive about how many it would take. Seeing what you've done makes me want to go ahead with mine. I also will be putting in ceiling fans to distribute heated air in the winter and just moving air in the summer. You're looking good there Bob keep up the good work!

 

I put two 4 foot LED lights above my work bench in my garage two years ago. I love them. I have two old style florescent lights elsewhere in my garage. I thought I should have another LED light over my hood area. Harbor Freight had a good deal on LED lights but whenever they got them in they went out the door just as fast.

Last night at Walmart they had LED lights for $16.97! I got one. Great price.

 

Two things really sold me on LED lights. First, I think I mentioned it in an earlier post, one of my customer's had a big shop with two large rooms. They got a grant to have the electric company come in and change all of the florescent lights with LED. It was a two day project. They got one room done the first and you could really tell the difference. The LEDs gave off a nice bright white light while the old florescents were dingy yellow by comparison. Second, while trying to work in my shop in the winter before I had any insulation or heat the old florescents would take a long time to light up and even then if it was below freezing they would fully light up. The LEDs flip on nice and bright right away and again, give off a nicer, brighter light.

My wife works for COSTCO and she watches for their sales. I got my my lights on sale, limit 24, for $20 each, normally they're $30. I need another eight to go under the mezzanine and waiting for another sale.

 

I opened the box today and saw that there is no pull cord for power. Where I want to put it I need a pull string. So I'm gonna have to put this one above my workbench and put the workbench light in this location since it has a pull string.

 

All mine from COSTCO had pull cords. I dont need them because I'm controlling all the lights with a walk switch. Just had to make sure they were all pulled "ON" before coming down off the lift.

Had to work in the shop today with the big overhead door open, still noticeably cooler than outside. Supposed to get down to around 70° tonight but upper 90s for tomorrow and the weekend. I'm opening the windows tonight to let it cool down and sealing it up first thing in the morning. Floor is staying pretty dry, probably because of the ceiling fans.