I'm slowly moving along, very slowly. Just haven't been up to par these last couple of weeks. But, I've finally got my electrical permit and hopefully will start the wiring here in a few days. Confusion with that though as I've just been touching up on my NEC. That review was prompted by a visit to my local big box store in a quest for buying new outlet boxes.
I really didn't want to use plastic boxes, and so was looking for stud-mountable steel boxes. That was ridiculous... not a 3-1/2 deep bracket box in either Lowes or HD. I'm looking for the kind where there's a stud-mountable bracket on one side of the box. All either store had was 'old work' steel boxes that you set into a wall opening, or plastic boxes of several different sizes, mostly with integral angled nails mountings. The only stud-mountable steel boxes were these rather shallow 12-1/2 cu inch boxes. NEC requires much deeper if I'm to use 12 ga wire, but even if I used 14 ga, that only allows for five conductors... like maybe they're only for single-pole switches? I don't see the available 12-1/2 cu inch boxes as being good for even mounting a single-pole wall switch though.
For 12/2 wire, a middle-of-run receptacle box w/clamps would require a minimun 18 cu-in box, which would be a 2 x 3 x 3.5 [21 cu in.]. Both stores tell me I'd have to order them. Now, I know that those electrical isles are really busy, so I guess I'm a bit confused. Maybe everyone just uses plastic these days. I didn't think this was going to be a big deal, but I guess I'll have to visit one of the exclusively electrical suppliers in the area.
So on to the flooring: I ordered this shed with 12" o/c floor joists, as I want it well supported. Right now my equipment is fairly light weight with the heaviest tool being the Ridgid Jointer. The floor is "LP Smart Flooring" which is some kind of pressure-treated composite. I'd like to add another layer, that would wear better and be easily replaceble should it get damaged or worn.
I'm considering a laminate floor as it's easy to install and fairly inexpensive. Have any of you installed a laminate floor in your shop and/or what are your thoughts. My primary concern would be how slippery that might me with a bit of saw dust on it? I keep my basement shop really clean, with just a shop vac, and I have an HF dust collector for the new shop, so I expect it to be at least as clean. But would something like a laminate floor produce an unseen hazard, that my present OSB basement floor does not?
Your thoughts are appreciated,
CWS
I really didn't want to use plastic boxes, and so was looking for stud-mountable steel boxes. That was ridiculous... not a 3-1/2 deep bracket box in either Lowes or HD. I'm looking for the kind where there's a stud-mountable bracket on one side of the box. All either store had was 'old work' steel boxes that you set into a wall opening, or plastic boxes of several different sizes, mostly with integral angled nails mountings. The only stud-mountable steel boxes were these rather shallow 12-1/2 cu inch boxes. NEC requires much deeper if I'm to use 12 ga wire, but even if I used 14 ga, that only allows for five conductors... like maybe they're only for single-pole switches? I don't see the available 12-1/2 cu inch boxes as being good for even mounting a single-pole wall switch though.
For 12/2 wire, a middle-of-run receptacle box w/clamps would require a minimun 18 cu-in box, which would be a 2 x 3 x 3.5 [21 cu in.]. Both stores tell me I'd have to order them. Now, I know that those electrical isles are really busy, so I guess I'm a bit confused. Maybe everyone just uses plastic these days. I didn't think this was going to be a big deal, but I guess I'll have to visit one of the exclusively electrical suppliers in the area.
So on to the flooring: I ordered this shed with 12" o/c floor joists, as I want it well supported. Right now my equipment is fairly light weight with the heaviest tool being the Ridgid Jointer. The floor is "LP Smart Flooring" which is some kind of pressure-treated composite. I'd like to add another layer, that would wear better and be easily replaceble should it get damaged or worn.
I'm considering a laminate floor as it's easy to install and fairly inexpensive. Have any of you installed a laminate floor in your shop and/or what are your thoughts. My primary concern would be how slippery that might me with a bit of saw dust on it? I keep my basement shop really clean, with just a shop vac, and I have an HF dust collector for the new shop, so I expect it to be at least as clean. But would something like a laminate floor produce an unseen hazard, that my present OSB basement floor does not?
Your thoughts are appreciated,
CWS
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