Re: [TheThinkTank] laying out a community bike workshop

8 Feb 2019

      Ulick,
Grease and oil stains: If they're on work surfaces, I say leave em'. 
It's a shop environment, it gets dirty.
Outlets - make sure they are strategically placed and enough of them. 
You should have a special area set aside for welding (where you install 
the outlet with the necessary voltage) unless you can ventilate the 
whole shop properly. I'd mark off the floor with hazard tape unless you 
have a whole separate room you can set aside, which would be nice since 
there's not a great need to blind random mechanics with the arc.
I don't know why you'd need a forge, unless you're doing serious 
professional framebuilding and fabrication.
Presentation apparatus: probably two separate setups, impromptu idea 
presenter via white or blackboard in the shop area; projector space 
should be elsewhere (in another room) because the latter could be more 
for inviting the general public (film festivals and the like) and should 
therefore be away from a shop environment.
Parts storage depends on the size of your space. If your space is huge, 
I'd recommend devoting a whole wall or corner to parts, so that they can 
be immediately available to mechanics. If not especially spacious, a 
separate room or building might be necessary.
Also regarding parts storage, imagine in advance what you want to have 
in stock - the quantity and range. If you're going for full spectrum (as 
we have), realize that your parts storage will be an ongoing curation 
process for the lifetime of the space. At the beginning, you may want to 
save everything in order to build up stock, but as you meet your storage 
limits it will be prudent to go over your caches and prune away the 
crappier parts. Or, you could be circumspect about part quality from the 
beginning, but that could be tricky since at a community bike shop part 
quality is highly relative. Imagining permanently sized and positioned 
spaces for each component is probably also a mistake, since all stock 
will swell and ebb over time and it will probably be pragmatic to 
relocate different component types to different bins or shelves 
repeatedly.
Regarding bike storage, I've said this before here, but I'll say it 
again: storing them vertically on walls or fences is very economical and 
ergonomic. It is, however, more difficult to use the space above them in 
that case because they sit taller than when both tires are on the 
ground, so decide what your priorities are.
Regarding tool storage, most of us seem to agree that basic tools should 
be duplicated at each workbench, while specialized tools should be 
stored separately. I would add: locked or not depending on your shop's 
security needs. We used to lock ours years ago, we don't any longer. I'm 
not sure I would find a separate bench for the specialized tools worth 
the cost in space (again, your specific square footage factors in).
Access: no stairs if possible. Ground level is best unless you're 
willing to make ramps.
Plumbing: eyewash stations are nice, and may be necessary for code in 
your area. A sink in the shop is nice if for no other reason than 
filling buckets to check tubes or filling water bottles. If you have 
outdoor space you should make sure you have a tap outside for hoses. We 
use ours mainly to water plants, but that's enough of a reason.
I'm not big on parts washers, but others disagree. I think you have to 
be very careful choosing the liquid used. Too weak and the washer is 
useless, too caustic and disposal is an environmental hazard.
Your lighting scheme sounds great.
Heating: insulate BEFORE you do anything else (well, other than plumbing 
and electrical). DO NOT fill the space with stuff and then insulate 
after the fact. It SUCKS. And be sure to insulate well! Heating bills 
will be drastically easier over time, and in cases where heat may go out 
having enough insulation means temporary heaters will do a better job.
Ventilation really depends on the size of the space. I find that large 
spaces need it much less.
Regarding pegboard as Jim mentioned, the melamine/masonite pegboard 
sucks (it falls apart and is susceptible to humidity), and I've heard 
metal pegboard gets the holes deformed over time. A friend just 
installed some heavy duty plastic pegboard though, and it feels and 
looks like it will last a long time. It was interesting. The benefit of 
pegboard of course being you can change positioning without having to 
rebuild the whole tool wall or fill it with more nail holes.
Jim's also on point in mentioning... Have Fun!! Getting these spaces 
ready for action can be extremely rewarding. If you build it, they will 
come :)
cyclista Nicholas
On 2019-02-08 04:02, Jim Bledsoe wrote:
...
hi, how high is the ceiling and what is the shape of your space
which way is north and where are the doors and windows
make a drawing of your space
then cut out squares/shapes that correspond to the program elements
listed above. play with it  or even make full size cardboard sheet 
things
and play with that
 avoid peg board  solid panels with nails and screws, painted outlines 
of
tools works
havefun
jim
On Thu, Feb 7, 2019 at 5:53 PM David Oliver nowhere3@gmail.com wrote:
...
Think about the floor, standing on concrete isn't very comfortable for
long. We've got horse trailer mats at Bikechain and similar rubber 
mats at
Bike Pirates but there are lots of different systems for making floors 
more
comfortable.
On Thu, Feb 7, 2019 at 8:23 PM Ulick O'Beirne ulickobeirne@gmail.com
wrote:
...
Hey guys,
Building from the ground up here in Clonakilty.
As part of a much larger arts centre application I'm writing a part 
of
the project to have a very strong repair workshop element, led by the
community bike shop (rarr!). So the bike workshop could be the 
beating
heart of a much larger busy space, managing a tool library, welding 
space,
paint spraying space.
The space would need to be really fit for purpose (firstly as a 
learning
bike workshop suited for subscribers, volunteers, workshop 
participants).
These are the design considerations I've been thinking about, and 
also a
rough drawing I did of this kind of set up with ideas I've practised 
in my
own limited workshop design and layout experience; stuff I've learned 
from
reading design books ({Pattern Language- I love you), and loads of
considerate tips I gleaned from reading your wonderful posts.
With the following considerations in place (below) could you add 
anything
or offer advise? Much appreciated. i love to read this thread. Ulick
PROPOSED MODEL FOR WORKSHOP ON THE SITE

Master bench ELEVATED (specialised more expensive tools located and

stored here. Space is also separated by a low partition, but one 
using that
station has a clear line of sight right across workshop.

space for a blackboard/screen/ projector

6- 8 workstations. more multi-use benches (1. washer station, wood

section)
-Fold away workshop (PRESSES/ CUPBOARDS/ COASTERS)

Lighting and electricity needs

Bench needs. i used scaffolding planks covered with 1/4" ply top on

my
last bike bench and I'm happy enough. Different benches of different
heights.

Power needs: possibly accommodating a medium arc and a tig welding

station (safely separated from bike workshop/ classroom)

Welding and forge (?) station

what do i do with grease and oil stains?

Storage needs (bikes, tools, parts possible to be all shuttered

away so
that the workshop is multifunctional

access needs (wheelchairs, physical disabilities,loading in, shop

access from street)

Power input needs (voltage, power outputs/ plugs (where/ how many?

Water needs (plumbing, sinks, etc)

Risk assessments, safety statement

lighting (I was thinking LED Strips over benches, then some more

ambient light, invite in natural light where possible

heating and ventilation needs

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Re: [TheThinkTank] laying out a community bike workshop

Cyclista Nicholas