I am just beginning and the only place I have to work is the basement, there are no windows and is about 20x20, I was reading on building shops and I can only dream. I cant afford to build and to start I am only doing this for myself and friends.Will I run into trouble with no windows? I will have plenty lighting.How much for fumes and vapors from chemicals wil I have?Any suggestions are helpful, I hope I can still do taxidermy in my basement It is all I have... Help... Thanks Tim Also when reading on shops only on person mentioned a sink I would thind it is needed?
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Tim, I worked in my basement for several years. Mine is very damp and has 2 windows that didn't open. The ceiling(floor joists) was so low I often thought about wearing a helmet(grin). Good lighting is imperative. I wore a respirator(and still do) to protect myself from various fumes. I had no sinks either, but did have a hose and a sump pump hole....eh? Man, those were the bad old days. Get the best respirator you can get. Good luck.
I work out of my basement, with hopes of building a shop someday. It can be done, but be careful of the fumes from painting., they can get strong without good ventilation. Also, the smell from certain animals can drive you out of the house, LOL! I might suggest a fan blowing towards a coyote, and NEVER skin a mink inside, period! I did, found the glands on its hind end (the hard way), and left the house for a few minutes. Even after lighting every scented candle in the house, my wife came home for work, and had a few choice words for me, hehehehe! Now. as far as a sink, I use the kitchen sink, (again, put up with comments from the wife and always wash it out afterwards). I spin all my hides in the washing machine, the put the rinse cycle on to keep her happy. It can be done, in the basement, just be resourceful with the other household appliances.
Bill
I too had a shop in basement. i just found the mink glands the other day when i did my first one in sis's garage LMAO.
Thanks guys! I thought I was SOL. One thing will the fumes bother my kids up stairs? Fumes we are talking From paint and or tanning chemicals?Any helpful hints on a respirator? Thanks again...
Tim
and laquer based paints are probably the worst culprits for fumes in the house...what else am I forgetting?
I know that this is not what you want to hear, but its the truth! I know that a lot of us started this way. However, the fumes from BONDO alone are enough to actually send you to the hospital! Last month found me at my Doc's office with irregular heart beats, thought that I was having a heart attack. Long story short, chemical exposure. Symptoms are triggered by BONDO(as well as other) fumes. I do use a OSHA approved, filter respirator when I work with all chemicals. After I was "done" with what I was working on I'd take the mask off to better view my work and hang around instead of leaving the shop for the exhaust system to totally vent the room. If your not worried about "gassing" yourself, then think about the other people who might live in the house with you!
You should seriously give this a very hard second thought before you go much further! I doubt that ANYONE here will disagree with me on this point.
Hope that you can find a better alternative.
Mitchell
I would not recommend anything that would be flammable,could set off any pilot lights you might have.(ie.furnace,dryer)
water based paints, do bondo outside whenever possible. Instead of Bondo for small applications, use Epo-Grip liquid fast set (very little odor).
that you can build and install in one of your small windows. It will pull all of the fumes, smells and oders out. I have sent you an email and can send drawings with dimensions on them so you can build the same.
It works great! No fumes in the house. In fact, you cannot tell that I use bondo after I am done.
Doug
I also had a shop in my basement, until Oct 15th of last year. I do live in a flood plain and should have known better, the water rose 5 feet in four hours. The cellar filled in 20 minutes, no time to get everything out. Starting from scratch again.
Lance T
I know it can be a pain when first starting out as I am in my basement also. I have decided after many days of bondo smell,gloss,and any other funk that might come up stairs.
If you have a wife and children make sure they are gone when anything like that is being used.I cant afford to and wife isnt to happy about it but Im taking over half the garage and will park outside.wont be huge 12X32 but more then enough for what I do.
I mainly do fish and birds a few mammals not many.
If you do stay in the basement get alot of ventalation.
2 furnace fans and duct them out some way or another. Everyone will thank you for it.
Good Luck, Andy
We are talking bondo and paint and thinners, there is an alternative for bondo Epo-Grip, I am not doing fish right now and not much for birds, as for deer and mammals , remember I am new how much painting with mammals? aside from that I am going to do some of my own tanning and from skinning fleshing pickle tanning to mount how much in there should be ventilated due to hazzards? thanks again.....