Hanger/workshop ideas wanted!

[Loneflier]

Hello all-I am getting close to building a workshop so that I can consolidate all my planes, charging equipment, batteries, radios, etc into one place. It will be detached from the main house, and am thinking probably in the 16' x 24' size, possibly as large as 24 x 24. One roll up garage door, one side entry door, and a few windows. I plan to have a window style HVAC large enough to heat and cool it, and lots of work space and hangers to store my planes. Also considering including a smaller upstairs storage area. Whichever way I go with though, it will all be insulated, and either paneled or dry walled, and LOTS of electrical outlets along the walls.

My question to all of you is what kind of work shop area do you have, and what would you want to add to it if you could. How do you store your planes and keep them safe? Simply hang them from the ceilings, or have racks on the wall to "stack" them? Did you go with custom built cabinets and workbenches, or purchase prebuilt benches and cabinets from places like Lowe's? I can see advantages with both. Just looking for some ideas here!

Thanks!

Rich

[CT]

Re: Hanger/workshop ideas wanted!

Your in a good spot, planning the build as a single use. Most of us usually just take over the garage/workshop and add or delete whats needed, thats my case anyway. The most important thing I need in my hanger is space, space, and space. If you have the real estate and can afford I would suggest building the largest possible bldg. That my friend is the constraint of most of our rc workshop/storage.
I find that hanging the birds vertically from the roof trusses diaganal brace keeps the nose at about the 8' level. Areas where I do not really need the headroom I will also hang from the ceiling joists so they hand down 4 to 6 feet. On empty walls I have made braces where I can storeplanes 3 deep, also by the tail. I find this layout to be the best use of limited space and also easy to access. In order not to mar the stabilizer on planes I use 2 1x4 spaced about 12" apart and pinnail a 1x4x6" crossways to both rails. These 1x4x6 will serve to support the stabilizer and the pinnail allows the piece to vary in angle to conform to any sweptback angle stabilizer (hope that makes sense) so much easier to draw than explain.
The birds with a delta tail ot fully movable tail (Eurofighter/ F-18/cannot be hung this way. I use cheap metal shelf brackets 12 x 14 fasten to ceiling joists and hang planes from the brackets upside down making sure to use pipe insulation around the arms where they cradle the bird. I have taken over the ping pong table covered with cardboard for my workbench which serves the purpose. Last year I decided to organize my thousands of parts and pieces and ordered cardboard storage bins from ebay 6wide 6 high 12 long and have them nicely set on shelving - 60 of them with areas on the front where one can classify motors, esc, electrical, wire, tires ect. I found that organizing the rc parts makes a HUGE difference, and also looks cool and professional. Dont forget to put a fire extinguisher and smoke detector.
If your planning a 24 x 24 you may want to be sure your HO Insurance carrier is notified so they can schedule the bldg on the policy. In CA a bldg that size would certainly get the attention of the tax collector in the County for the increase in value that is taxed on. If you have heat/air and electrical I highly encourage a bldg permit to alleviate headaches down the road unless you live in an area that is not regulated. When selling a prop in CA you have to disclose if all additions/remodeling was permitted. If not the buyer will have all the leverage in the sale.

[Loneflier]

Re: Hanger/workshop ideas wanted!

Hi CT-Thanks for the inputs and tips on hanging planes. I hope to start the shop early next year. I have some work obligations right now that don't allow me a lot of free time, and I want to be around when they start construction. I am definitely planning to get a build permit since that is required by law here, and even though the state didn't contribute a dime to my improvements, I am sure they will want a cut from property taxes too. Something about "death and taxes"! Ha! Not sure what the CA laws are, but we are not as restricted here in AL, and many of the homes in the neighborhood do have detached garages that have been added. Space isn't really an issue, but I am leaning towards the 16 x 24 size simply because it would be easier to heat and cool, and my previous home had a 16 x 16 shop that allowed me plenty of room, so this new one should work out fine.

I would use our attached 2 car garage for my shop, but our cats would destroy my planes and workspace since they seem to think the garage is THEIR territory.

Thanks again for the tips!

[doctormike]

RE: Hanger/workshop ideas wanted!

I have a 12 ft ceiling in my 990 sq. ft. shop. I hang my planes by their props using a slip noose and 1/8" nylon cord. I ran each cord over to the edge (I use eye hooks, pullies are too free) and down to a tie off point. I numbered each hanging point and the end of each cord. I used yellow electrical tape to number and flag the end of each cord. This has worked very well for me. The Doctor