Building a New Wood Shop #11: Interior & Drywall Update...

Here’s a view of the front of the woodshop. The drywall is ALL up. But it needs another coat on the ceiling to smooth it out. . My neighbor Earl, a carpenter by trade, helped me put up a lot of the drywall. This window is where the woodworking bench will go. Right now it’s become a place for my wife & I to relax after doing an evening or day’s work on the shop or yard.

Next is a view of the rear / entrance to the woodshop. Those two 5 gallon paint containers in the corner on the right are waiting to go on the wall & ceiling. I’m painting everything white to give aid to these middle-age eyes. Notice that rope hanging from the ceiling?

That’s from the attic ladder that my son-in-law, Buck, helped me install yesterday. Buck was also the first person to help me out. When the project first started he helped tear out the old chain link fence & pull up the concreted in posts. I installed the attic ladder for a little storage space…, very little, and for access when I may need to run some electricity to a new tool or light.

Buck also helped me install the pictured heating & cooling unit. It operates properly. I say it operates “properly” because it doesn’t heat very well. It’s really made for a more southern climate where cooling is more important than heating. The heating is rated at 12,000 btu. That’s only about 3500 watts, which is a little more than twice the power of one of those little space heaters that you might put under a desk to warm your feet. Those little space heaters are rated at 1500 watts. It will be satisfactory in mild weather but I don’t want to be trying to keep up with electric bills when it is 30 degrees (F) or even 0 (F) outside. I’ve already made plans to purchase a ventless gas heater to install by that gas line in the corner. They’re not very expensive & will keep up fine. I have a “direct vent” gas heater in my garage & it ALWAYS works great. I love gas heat!!

The air conditioning portion of the unit is 18,000 btu. That will work fine for taking out the humidity on a hot August day in St.Louis. 18,000 btu cooling is capable of handling a thousand square feet & I only have just over 500 square feet.

There’s some plastering left to be done, some painting & I’m starting another portion of the project tomorrow. There will be another update coming a bit sooner than the last one.

-- Frank, Florissant, Missouri "The New Show-Me Woodshop"