I’ve read the “Smart Shop in a One-Car Garage” several times now getting many ideas from the article. I love the layout of this small shop, and am trying to model the one I am currently building after it.
My question is regarding the T-111 siding used on the _inside_ of the shop. Did you use any type of finish (polyurethane, lacquer, etc.) on the siding? I want to use the same type of siding (I have it on the outside of my shop too) for the walls inside, but have noticed that from just the few scrap pieces I have laying about there is a tremendous amount of sawdust that continually falls off the rough surface. Not a big deal in a woodshop I know but I like to keep the sawdust in the shop to a minimum.
Thanks for any help and keep up the fine articles!
Bob Opalko
Replies
Hmmmmmm, not sure a coating would help that significantly. Also not at all sure I'd use a rough surface inside. Seems like it would forever be a nagging problem. Just imagine spending your hard-earned money on an air cleaner, and finding it useless against all the dust trapped in that siding surface.
forestgirl Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Glad you've found the article helpful. As for the T-111 siding, no, I didn't put any coating on it. I'm sure that it does trap some sawdust in there, but I've never found it to be a big problem. That said, I'd never call my shop dust-free--I've yet to install a dedicated dust collector and rely on shop vacs switched to machines. And a wide broom.
As for finishing the T-111, I can't be certain, but I don't think you'd notice a huge difference unless you applied thick coats that offered a smooth surface. If you try it, let me know how it works.
Sorry I can't be of more help,
Matthew Teague
As a former firefighter, I remember some of the hottest fires we fought were rooms panelled and finished with polyurethane or varnish or worse lacquer. Once they got hot enough, they flashed quickly engulfing all the walls (and ceiling if it was panelled). And they were very hot fires. Panelling might be nice in a cozy library room, but in a woodshop the minimum should be half inch dry wall. And many building codes require garages attached to the home will be drywalled at least on the house side. Not only is there concern about fire but also automotive exhaust leaking into the home.
Would you be able to re-post the article? I'm in the process of moving to a house with less available shop space. Looking for any and all advice/photos, etc.
A couple other considerations:
If you're attached to the house, those walls should be 5/8" type x drywall for fire resistance.
Light reflects better off smooth, light surfaces. I used OSB with a couple of coats of white, semi-gloss paint for the reflectivity and as a surface to attach to. Save the aesthetics for the exterior.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled