On Sun, 20 Jun 2010 00:15:46 -0400, Bill wrote the
following:

Thank you for your reply. It contains a lot of good information!

Josepi wrote:
Sounds like you are well on your way!! The first blow with the hammer was
the hardest! YIKES!!

Yes, I think we've discussed how difficult it can be to "start" here
before. After a few days of procrastinating, working on other things, I
made a list one evening, and it was easy as 1, 2, 3 the next day. I
think I didn't work so fast, because I wasn't so sure about Steps 4, 5
and 6! Perhaps procrastinating a bit after Step 2, I went on a 90
minute shopping trip to Menards and made a very detailed list of
virtually everything I thought I needed. Evidentally 240v, 20Amp
outlets are not popular, as I did not find what I was looking for
stocked. I thought I wanted the 3-prong type and The only ones they had
were ones which lock with a twist (still 3-prong).

I prefer them. L6-20 for my 240v circuits I installed in my shop when
I moved in.


I , again decide, never to drill less than 3/4" ones again!...LOL

3/4" sounded "right" to me to. I was planning to drill a practice hole
before I committed myself to see how well the cables fit! : )

My fave size.

A long spade bit with extension works well. It
avoids chips in your eyes if overhead or high run,
allows you to come in on a fairly straight angle without the next joist/
truss pushing your drill out,
allows a better "in-line" view so your holes do not go up and down.

Yes, I've also read in more than one place about the "importance" of
getting your holes lined up. They even suggested a jig (prop) to
assist. Most of the holes I need to drill will be through the studs in
the garage wall.

Cut a V in a piece of tubafore and rest your auger on it, eh?
I like a 50" height. It's always over bench/table/stand height.


- Drill the furthest one and work your way backward so the previous is
always in site or ping chalk lines to get your holes lined up.

Yes!



- drill individual holes for larger cables. ALl conductors need cooling.
Three 2 wire cables (6 conductors) in any hole so there is always cooling to
each conductor inside-

Three 10-2 Romex cables in one hole okay?

I'm a 1-hole/1-wire kinda guy. If the NEC won't let you put Romex
into a conduit, why stuff wires together at all? Remember that when
you're in a workshop, most of your plugins are high-amp tools. Act
accordingly, eh?


- before insulating shoot foam into the ceiling holes to re-vapour barrier.

Thank you for mentioning that --that wasn't even on my list!

They have a special foam for wiring use, too. It's fluorescent
orange, so the inspector can tell it's the correct stuff. It doesn't
melt as easily if there's a fire so your upper walls/attic stay safer
longer in the event of a fire.
http://cableorganizer.com/abesco-fire-rated-foam/


Dont' forget speaker cables, Ethernet (CAT5 or 5e or 6), intercom, phone,
remote control for dust collector, thermostats... video camera security
cables, weather vane, wind turbine, exhaust port in eaves...think hard and
take your time.

Gosh, that's the type of thinking that got me where I am now--and that
was "just" over electricity and lighting. You have a vivid
imagination--maybe you are in sales? : )



It occurred to me this week
that it would be nice to have a shop radio--don't laugh I just got a
sturdy wooden "shop chair" last week.

Those are two things you really don't need in a shop. The radio takes
your attention away from sharp spinny things which are often reaching
for your fingers, and the chair lets you goof off too much. Calculate
in the office, not the shop.


After seeing how hot it gets, I
have to wonder where "air conditioning" might fit onto a list. I will
probably have to make-do with a shop fan. That would go well with all

I convinced the HVAC guys that I wouldn't be parking in the new shop,
so they let me vent an A/C (and heat) into the 2-car shop. I installed
18 brand new holes in the door to the utility room (house side) and
put Filtrete filters over them. It stays down to 80F during 105+
summer days and at 55F or above in the winter at 17F outside. HVAC
for the shop is absolutely wonderful. Just Do It!


of that dry-wall dust I'm making! : ) I already noticed white tracks
throughout the house the other day--burglars!!! I cleaned them up
before SWMBO came home!

It's TOOL TIME! Time for a HEPA dust collector, Bill. Leave those
tracks the next time and when SWMBO screams, offer to buy a dust
collector which nabs every bit of dust. She'll jump/you get the new
toy. Win/win, wot?


--
Peace of mind is that mental condition in which you have accepted the worst.
-- Lin Yutang