Anyone have any ideas for setting up a work station outside during bad weather? It would need to be able to be set up and knocked down each day. Getting tired of the weather playing havoc with the schedule. Maybe something like a 10-15 foot self supported awning/canopy? Anyone working with something similar? You guys in the Pacific North-wet must have some tricks to accomodate the rain and continue working, no?
Edit, figured out I was looking for a canopy, not awning.
“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” Invictus, by Henley.
Edited 12/12/2005 8:05 pm ET by NickNukeEm
Replies
Not cheap, but they are affective. Quick, and easy to set up.
http://www.hutshop.com/ezupcanopies.html
http://www.hutshop.com has all kinds of canopies, but I prefer the EZup. I don't personally own one, but a team I used to race with had one.
---------------------
Swimming through the ashes of another life, no real reason to accept the way things have changed. Wrapped in guilt, sealed up tight.
Great, thanks. That didn't come up on my Google search.
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." Invictus, by Henley.
Gotta agree on the EZUP canopy. Got one this year for tailgating. We have never had one. Guy next to us brought 2 to one of the first FB games. Course there was a HUGE hail storm right before KO. Then my wife got canopy envy. And we had one for the next game. LOL If mama aint happy aint no one happy. Made all the difference
We got the 12x12 and like that size. And sidewalls would be nice. Oh, and a heater too. Beer cooler if ya got one. Got any nachos and lil smokies on?
Don't forget the semi truck to roll up to the job site
Used to be, before PVC conduit went up in price recently, that you could make a quick and easy shelter very quickly by stobbing the conduit in to ground and making a hoop that would support either bulk plastic sheeting or a tarp. Two 10' sticks of 1/2" conduit makes a decent sized space that is easy to extend by just adding hoops and plastic.
The ends of the conduit can be stuffed in the ground, use a lenth of rebar to make a hole if need be, or pieces of pipe can be hammered in and remain so the conduit slips down into it.
Half-inch PVC conduit is good for 20', perhaps 30', hoops if the wind is light. 3/4" and larger can be used to produce as large and as rugged a structure as anything your likely to need. Of course the plastic sheeting can needs to get thicker as the size increases. For more durable or longer lasting structures tarps can be used. Heavier plastic or tarps that are more expensive can be justified by their ability to be reused many times.
Unless your forced to do otherwise use grey electrical conduit. It is sunlight resistant and has a bell on one end that a seperate coupling. Its longer insertion length also makes for smoother and stronger hoops.
To hold the sheeting in place sandbags work well and can be emptied, dried and reused. You can also use lumber or dirt from on-site. Avoid rocks unless they are very smooth and gravel because they can damage the plastic.
Be careful with clear palstic in direct sunlight as it is easy to create a hothouse too warm to work in. Once saw plastic cased windows damaged by being stored under the direct sun. They warped pretty badly. Heat buildup can be an advantage in cold weather.
A whole kit: assorted tarps, 20 sticks of 1/2" conduit, empty sandbags and 20 -2' lengths of EMT cut at an angle, in a canvas bag, for stakes. The whole thing takes up only a little room.
You could also throw in a few more stakes and some light rope to help keep the end hoops up in a wind. Tie the rope to the top of the end hoop and tie it off to a stake some distance back.
I picked up a canopy that looks very similar to the pic Dustin posted ...
except for the price!
I got mine ... a 10x10 ... from Dicks Sporting Goods ... this past summer on sale for somewhere around $50 or so. Got it for camping ... and work.
it says it's a 2 person set up ... 2 does make it easier ... but one is possible and not so terribly difficult. Just set a tool bucket or something heavy on one leg and walk out/open the "X brace" supports that expand and fold.
a company I used to work with had a big canopy made up of round poles and couplings/fittings .... like pipe rail ... except it all just slipped together.
The Dicks model has side walls available for about another $40 ... that'll be the next addition to it. Just took a look ... all the rolling storage bag says is "Quest" ...
I was thinking about a bigger one ... but at 10x10 it's plenty big ... any bigger ... not sure if it's fit in someones driveway.
last company used to set theirs up and leave it up for the duration of a job with no good cutting stations ... worked great ... set up a heater ... and it's even comfortable .... OK .. a bit more comfortable ... in the winter. No sides but the top kept the snow/rain off and held a bit of the heat in.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I have one similar to yours. Mines a Caravan. Bought it at costco. I paid $200. 10X10, w/ 4 sides, stakes, four weight bags (just add pea gravel), and a wheeled carry case.
Its kinda funny, the directions say do not use in the rain. I havent had to use it too much as most of my work is indoors, but its nice to have that insurance when you have to set up all your saws and have no garage to work in.
Edited 12/12/2005 9:46 pm ET by MSA1
I guess the Dicks store wasn't kidding when they said it was a "big sale" ...
sounds like I got a good deal?
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Thanks for the info, there's a Dicks not far from here. Are there side walls available? I found a few 10x15s on the net, anywhere from $250-$500. Side walls are about $150-250 extra. So Dicks is looking better. How long to put up by yourself? Nice photo, by the way. Sunnier and warmer times.
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." Invictus, by Henley.
side wall kit is available ...
think some zipper door might be too?
maybe just a choice of soild side walls and screen side walls?
with 2 people ... 3 to 5 minutes. No time at all ... very easy.
with one guy ... maybe 10. nothing's heavy or hard to do ... just gotta figure out the system. If U are planning solo lifts ... I'd get help for the first one ... just to see how it's supposed to happen ... then improvise from there.
like I said ... the biggest trick was keeping the one foot planted while walking open the other wide.
That pic was from the boy's first real camping trip ... picked up a much bigger tent over TGiving at the outlets in Lancaster ... got a 3 room/stand up height .... 2 "rooms" and one attached screen room w/o the floor ... bigger tent means way more camping next year.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
here's a pic of it on a weekend off ...
JeffView Image
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Edited 12/12/2005 9:07 pm ET by JeffBuck
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/family/index.jsp?cp=1331044&doVSearch=no&categoryId=712492&page=1&pageBucket=0&doVSearch=no
here's a link to the Dick's page ...
I think mine is the first one that's going for $99 now.
Lotsa different ones in there ... though I couldn't see much difference? Might be different materials ... can't figure out all the different prices.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I have a 10x10 EzUp. Not enough room to set up a decent workstation and to haul in stuff when the sky opens up.
I have worked under a 10x20 and that's a good deal. Plenty of room for your stuff and a couple of chairs when you feel like sitting down.
Sam's Club has a 10x20, with sides, for $198. I paid that much for the EzUp, without sides.
I bought a 12X12 Quest from Dick's for $100.00. The first time I used it was to finish a crown molding job with a nor'easter coming in. I had my DW708, a biscuit cutter and a jigsaw set up under it with a halogen light, and I was able to finish the job. BUT... I left it up that night because it was raining so hard. I had it staked and tied down, but over night, the winds were strong enough that one of the tie-down loops on the corner ripped of. When I returned in the morning the frame was a twisted mess. If I can get the parts for it, it's likely repairable. The take-home points here are 1) I would not have been able to finish the job without it, and 2) these canopies (at least mine) aren't suitable for very windy conditions, especially if it will be left unattended.
I have a 10x20 set up I bought from our local lumber yard. It came with a 10x20 tarp, all the connector pieces, and the bungy type tiedowns with a plastic ball. I had to supply the 3/4" heavy guage electrical conduit. I use a bunch of 10 foot lengths, but have used shorter lengths along one side to provide slope, too.
Sets up easilly in a few minutes, maybe 15 by the time I take everything out of the van. I can also set it up 10x10 by folding the tarp over itself, or virtually any other length by changing the length of the conduit in the roof structure.
I think I paid about 100 bucks for the kit and maybe another 100 for the conduit. Only problem is, I end up setting it up as temporary/semi permanant shelter and before you know it, it snows on it and bends the crap out of the conduit. Happened again last week.
But it's very handy for work stations on the job, working on a car out of the elements...whatever. One of those "I can't believe I never had one of these until now" deals.
Then, just this fall I finally added a fold out awning to the side of my van. You know, the kind they sell for motor homes and campers? I haven't need it yet, but I'm ready for the next time I work at someone's house and need to make just a few cuts on something that shouldn't get wet, or set up my sawhorses for a day. Been crawling around in the back of that van using my miterbox far too long.
I wrap the top edge of a tarp around a 1 X, screw it to the facia, and tie ropes to the other edge and stake them to the ground.
Edited 12/13/2005 2:32 pm ET by wane