Topic: Shop Equipment

[thrutheframe]

  I'm crazy for doing this but I have the chance to put together a real shop to build some bikes with a friend who has the room and the equipment/cash to get the equipment.  We have approx 40'x40' and we want to buy frames, store them and build 4 to 6 bikes a year for the next 10 or 20 years.  My question is, and without getting crazy, what equipment should we buy?  We have hand tools and widgets galore so I dont really need help there so much as big stuff.  Here is list of stuff I think we need.

Air compressor/compressor system, accessories
Bike lifts
Welder, accessories
Media blast cabinet, accessories
Parts washer
Tubing bender
Chop saw
Grinders
Clamps,and more clamps
Vices
Engine stands
Work benches
Id like to be able to make fenders and tanks but have NO CLUE what equipment I need.
Ventilation
Brooms and bucket and mops and dust control etc
Safety equipment


We would out source all painting, powder coat, plating and machine work, all of which are available within 2 miles of our space.  The space we will use is in an existing and successful light manufacturing facility.  Electrical power is readily available.  Did I miss anything?  I'm used to working in shops, but not bike shops.

Thanks for checking out my post.  I hope I get some good ideas of how to start this thing right.

SG

[MoMo]

Your list of equipment seems pretty much all inclusive, maybe a hydraulic press.  Question I have is, do you have a market? and is it large enough to generate enough income to support two people and their families?  Best wishes in your endeavor...Larry

[lone*X]

Just to name a few, there is always something else.  Fenders and gas tanks require a good band saw, a metal brake, an English Wheel, and a Planishing (sp?) hammer.  Pneumatic cutoffs, die grinders, files, and chisels.   There are also a bunch of specialty metal shaping hand tools which you don't find in many tool boxes.  Shaping hammers, leather pads, dollies, shears, punches, etc.  Metal shaping is an art that is acquired with lots of practice, many mistakes, and the loss of much blood. 

Oh, if you only have a 40x40 ft. shop you will run out of space very quickly.  Probably about the time you purchase all those frames and store them.  Good luck.  Many have tried this, and a few have actually made it work.

[MidTNJasonF]

Band saw either horizontal or vertical but if you have a chop saw I would recommend Vertical.

Drill Press. You will get sick of sending out machine work all the time when all you need is a few simple holes in brackets and no hand drills will not work long term for professional quality work in my opinion. Also makes fish mouthing tube with a simple Tube Notching Jig.

Sander, combo unit with a disk and a belt. Just does the trick better than a grinder for some jobs.

Buffing wheels, with arbors, buffing compounds, and a motor like a Baldor.

Soldering equipment. A good soldering iron makes all the difference. A good selection of hear shrink, connectors, and wire spools will be needed to wire up bikes. If you are building custom much of the original harness will go in the trash.


Personally for me a shop is not complete with out a small tool room lathe and I generally sub a small knee mill in for the drill press. You may not have the room for that but again most machine shops will get sick of doing little simple brackets and such for you or they will charge you an arm and a leg. Our shop rate is $60 an hour at a minimum if we like you and you are a good customer. It is $90 an hour plus a setup fee if you are a pushy pain in the ass with a couple of one off parts.

[thrutheframe]

Thanks for the input fellas.  I certainly see the use for a drill press and a lathe, I'll add it to my list.  The wiring stuff that Jason mentioned would certainly be included.   Some of this equipment is already in place but being used to build stop lights and specialized traffic control devices.  The frame storage thing wont cut into our floor space, we can easily hang those over head on hooks or if need be just store and lock those.   Photolar you make a huge point.  Luckily there really aren't two families to feed here, his kids are grown and I don't have any.  We both make good money and have time on our hands.  We mainly care about the bikes looking bad ass and having the equipment to do it right.

Again I appreciate everyone's input.