Shop floor is concrete (so far)

Re: Shop floor is concrete (so far)

David Walser

I'd go with concrete (and cover it with shavings). The problem with other materials is that you're apt to frequently move heavy items across the floor. You're also apt to drop heavy items onto the floor. Unless you're very careful, a wood floor will quickly become dented and scratched. If you're worried about staining the floor, an epoxy coating with a non-skid surface would prevent staining and would look nice. Epoxy will also resist scratching and chipping when heavy items are dragged or dropped, however it will scratch and chip over time.

Re: Shop floor is concrete (so far)

John K Jordan

I thought about covering mine with cherry - I have a bunch in the barn. That would be great to walk on but a lot of work to cut the T&G. Then I planned to paint the concrete with epoxy paint. I started moving things in and using the shop and gave up on the paint. I'm happy with the concrete. Sweeps up nicely. I don't worry a bit if I spill something. Dropping lathe tools point down creates an opportunity to practice sharpening.

I worked at the wood industries at Berea College back in 1968. I don't remember about the basement where the heavy machining was done but the upper two floors ("normal" shop and assembly/finishing) had old wood floors and while darkened and scarred I thought they were wonderful.

JKJ

Re: Shop floor is concrete (so far)

Barry Irby

I agree. If you decide to epoxy it, wait for the slab to fully cure. At least thirty days. Better yet, carefully follow the manufacturers directions. There are also concrete sealants made to apply to new concrete.

Contemporary sealers are the best .......

JamieDonaldson

.....resolution for both a quick fix and dust sealer. Just don't use Thompson water sealer because it's not much better than no sealer, been there, done that! Check out concretesealerreviews.com for some good information.

Re: Contemporary sealers are the best .......

Pete in Holland MI

Most any sealer/epoxy/paint you put on there will make the surface look nice.......until it flakes/scratches/or is stained by spilled finish.

More importantly, with a little bit of wood sawdust or wood shavings, most of those finished surfaces will become very slippery to walk around on.

Proceed cautiously.

Pete

Re: Shop floor is concrete (so far)

Ron Solfest

In an unconstrained world (unlimited budget, time, and ample height/headroom) I would put sleepers down on 1ft spacing (deep enough to run ducting under, 2x6 or 2x8) and then cover with a dense hardwood like hickory. Great look, will age well, and easy on the feet.

With that, all of my shops have had concrete floors...including the latest one where I was as close as I’ll ever come to that ‘infinite resources’. I did run some subfloor ducting before the concrete was poured though this time

Good luck with your decision, and enjoy the shop planning and building process!

Re: Shop floor is concrete (so far)

Dick Hines

More important is what you put on the floor in front of your lathe. I put interlocking tiles coveted with a mat I got from Woodcraft. It really saves my legs and feet.

Re: Shop floor is concrete (so far)

John K Jordan

>>>More important is what you put on the floor in front of your lathe. I put interlocking tiles coveted with a mat I got from Woodcraft. It really saves my legs and feet.

I second that. I the spongy rubber mats at the bandsaw and especially at the lathes where I'm likely to stand a long time. (And good for when I drop a tool!)

JKJ

Re: Shop floor is concrete (so far)

Jeff Smith

After turning on a concrete floor for many years, the new shop has wood floors - so far 1-1/4 plywood on 2x12 joists on 1’ centers, fully insulated from below. The difference on the feet is remarkable. I did need to set 2 4x8 beams on jacks directly under the lathe area, but with a crawlspace that’s about 5 feet high, not too difficult to get accomplished on my own.

Eventually the plan is to install pine flooring over the ply - with minimal finish - it is a shop afterall. Things drop, greenwood ‘juice’ and shavings leave their residue...its all character.

The warmth (or lack of cold concrete) along with the gentle give of the wood floor really makes standing for long periods a lot less tiresome. I haven’t bothered to put in the anti-fatigue mat I used to use, but may in the future. Just icing on the cake.

pine floor

John K Jordan

Jeff,

I think the pine would be incredible. We have "heart" pine floors in this house and love them. When you do that in your shop please post some photos!

Hey, I suspect there may be more than one Jeff Smith in the world. Are you (or were you ever) at ORNL?

JKJ

Re: Shop floor is concrete (so far)

Don Orr

I painted my concrete shop floor, after it was cured and washed, with a 2 part water-borne epoxy paint (Muralo Ultra Tred I believe) and it has held up well for about 13 years and going strong. Very little odor and goes on well. I cut in around the sides and rolled the rest. Did 1 half of it at a time because I had stuff in there at the time. I did add anti slip sand to one side of the shop but not the other. I have mats in areas where I spend a lot of time on my feet. I have a few dings from dropped heavy items and some stains, but it's a work shop not my living room.

Concrete vs Wood floor

Barry Irby

There has been discussion of concrete vs wooden floors. Wood floors get the nod for decreasing fatigue. What I want to know is, is that really true? Do any of you have the experience that convinces you its true?

I had a fatigue mat in front of my lathe, but it made it so difficult to roll things around that I have laid it aside. Come to think of it, when I am turning I often end up standing on the shavings.

Wouldn't it make more sense to wear soft shoes?

Re: Concrete vs Wood floor

David Walser

Barry -- Yes, it makes a difference. How much of a difference depends on the individual, how long they will be standing or walking on the surface, how much weight they might carry, and how solid the floor might be. (A wood floor built on top of a concrete pad will have less give than one that's built on joists. And, how close together and how the joists are supported also factor in.)

Our bodies are remarkably sensitive to such differences. I try to run for exercise regularly. My usual route takes me over concrete (sidewalks), asphalt (roadway), and compacted dirt (graded dirt road). If I run far on the concrete, my feet and ankles will tell me that was a stupid idea. Running on the asphalt is better, but not by much. Running on the compacted dirt, which is fairly hard -- this is Arizona after all, doesn't bother my joints. Another route takes me on an asphalt bike/jogging path. The asphalt is laid over compacted dirt. That's even easier on my body.

So yes, there is a difference in the 'give' between wooden and concrete floors. However, that difference, while good for your feet, isn't good for using your machinery. If there is enough give to make a difference on your joints, there is enough give to introduce vibration.

Re: Concrete vs Wood floor

mikeee12345

Working on a solid concrete floor poured directly onto the foundation provides zero cushioning

for the human body. Talk to anyone that has worked their entire life on such a surface and most

of these people will have incurred plenty of health issues from the hours spent working on this type

of solid surface. Any time you can provide a softer surface to stand and work on you will increase the

length of time you can comfortably stand or work on such a surface. A wood floor usually has floor joists which usually provides a great deal of flex as you walk across the floor, the flooring is usually nailed on top

of a sub-flooring which also provides a cushion as you walk on the surface.

Re: pine floor

Jeff Smith

John - last time I checked, the Seattle phone book had 28 Jeff Smiths - four of which owned or worked in the same kind of business I was in for nearly 40 years. There are nearly 5,800on LinkedIn...

Sorry, I never worked there.

The pine flooring I’m looking at isthe cheapest stuff Lumber Liquidators offers. I’m thinking it’ll work just fine.

Re: Concrete vs Wood floor

Jeff Smith

In my new shop, I didn’t have the option of a poured slab. the crawlspace under the turning area is nearly 5’...joists were the only viable option (or a megalithic pour, but living on a small island, the transportation costs would have been megalithic, too)

Even with 2x12’s on 12” centers the lathe wanted to go walkabout with a lage, unbalanced blank (Robust AB 3hp - nearly 900 lbs with tools and whatnot attached). I added two beams directly under the lathe legs and jacked them in place. Its solid as a rock now.

There’s been a huge difference in comfort while turning on the wood floor over my old shops slab. I think the warmth helps, too, but I have much less foot, ankle and knee pain after a day in the shop.

Re: Contemporary sealers are the best .......

Jorge

Thank you Jamie

Re: Shop floor is concrete (so far)

Jorge

Ron, agree wood floor would be the best, but the building itself went over the budget. I'll have wood under the lathe

Re: Shop floor is concrete (so far)

Jorge

Hi Don, thanks for the info, good to know it is long lived. I think I will go the epoxy way, but I will wait until the radiant heat is up and running for a few weeks.

Re: Shop floor is concrete (so far)

Jorge

Thanks for the advice John, I will look for those pads.

Re: Concrete vs Wood floor

Jorge

Mikee, I am aware of how hard standing on concrete is. I did work in a factory long ago.

Re: Concrete vs Wood floor

Jorge

Hi Jeff, I turn 200 pound blacks (or more) very irregular, but got good at prepping them, my lathe never was a waltzing Matilda, it is not and it will never be anchored to the concrete; a late turner around this island had the bigger Powermatic, the 24" something (mine is the 20") and did anchor it to the concrete, a very unbalanced blank, broke the cast legs.

Re: Concrete vs Wood floor

Jeff Smith

Jorge - I don’t like bolting the lathe. In my old shop - with concrete slab - my lathe never wandered. When 1st installed in thenew shop, I wanted to walk with large unbalanced blanks. After reinforcing the flooring and adding a couple of beams spanning the lathe loded joists, it is now very secure.

Any new shop will have its pecadillos, just need to find the adjustments to be able to either elininate them or learn to live with them.

I do envy the radiant heat - we have itin our house, but didn’t think of it for the shop. A good heating system is the next thing I need to figure out...along with finding the time for all the other finishing touches that seem to go on forever.

Re: Concrete vs Wood floor

Jorge

"along with finding the time for all the other finishing touches that seem to go on forever. "

Jeff one of my dreams for the shop is to finish the house I started building in 1977! OK most of it is repairs that have been waiting bur life goes on...