Closing up the shed...

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jonnys_spirit
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Closing up the shed...

Post by jonnys_spirit »

Just for a minute! Or a few months.

Moving from DT Nash into the sticks a little ways.

I'll be packing up the equipment and supplies for storage to prep for the move.

And the fun part will be building out the new shed as the dust settles and the maiden run in the new shed.

Shed & property requirements and wishlist:
Space
60A spa subpanel
Natural gas
Fire-box to cook on wood
Water in
Water out
Wine cellar (coolbot buildout to keep wines @ 55*F) - doesn;t need to be too pretty but a stone grotto with wood racking would be nice :)
Space on the new property to plant a few fruit trees a year for the next few years... And beehives..

Could be an outbuilding or walk-out basement but I'd like to be able to pull up to load in/out when I've got lots of heavy materials like buckets of juice, grapes, bags of grains/sugars, etc..

Anybody else moved their sheds? Anything good/bad/ugly you might like to share?

This is going to put a dent in the shelf stock!

Cheers!
-jonny
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Twisted Brick
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by Twisted Brick »

Sounds like a great opportunity to streamline more than a few processes not to mention storage efficiency, Johnny. Looking forward to seeing it come together.
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by subbrew »

Having a dedicated or semi-dedicated room or shed is great. I started this hobby shortly after moving to our present place. It has a large shop and one section is finished with hot and cold water, sink, cabinets and bathroom. That has become my brewing, distilling, fermenting, canning, honey processing, deer processing and ammo reloading room. It keeps the mess out of the house which keeps my wife happy, and gives me a place to escape to.

Make sure you put in a large enough sink, something you can get buckets and other large pieces in to clean. That is one thing I need to change in mine.

When thinking of hot water, think of how much you will use, an instant hot water heater might make sense if you will only be using hot water occasionally. Mine has a 60 gallon electric tank which I have to keep hot all the time although only use hot water a couple of times a week on average.

A wish I have is water hook ups for hoses. As I get older, I am starting to dislike hoisting buckets. So look at how you can lay things out to use valves and gravity to help the process.

Lastly, make it 50% bigger than you think you need.
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by Jstroke »

Good for you. If it were me, I would take some time and really think about convenience vs escape. Might seem really good to have a shop at the other side of the property. Might suck when it’s been raining for a week. Also think about resale. A “shed”, that can easily be turned into a garage or pole barn with headers already in place spaced for garage doors etc. brings more value. Hard to advertise onsite “brewery/winery”. Other than that, as previously indicated, lots of electric, insulated, heat, wash station, storage, and room to expand interests.
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by Salt Must Flow »

When I had a house fire, I had to set back up from scratch in a brand new garage. It's well insulated & heated, but no AC. Everything you mentioned is great, especially water, drain and plenty of electricity. My favorite part of my stilling area has always been my sink. A friend gave me an all stainless 3 compartment commercial kitchen sink! I originally hooked it up with cold water only, but that got annoying REAL quick. I later installed a relatively small electric tankless water heater under the sink. Love it! I even plumbed a water supply with ball valve beneath the sink for one of those soft, expandable garden hoses with a spray nozzle. I installed a floor drain beneath the sink too which comes in handy for many many uses.

My preference is at least 5000K LED bulbs for overhead lighting. Most other bulbs produce orange illumination making everything appear dim & gloomy. I prefer daylight, vibrant white light.

I ran an ethernet cable into the garage and connected it to a 'plug & play' router so I can have WiFi out there for a laptop. I hung a spare TV on the wall along with a sound bar. I can wirelessly connect to the TV with the laptop to watch/listen to anything. I can even connect to the sound bar with bluetooth from my phone or laptop. That's a convenience I really appreciate!
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by NZChris »

Only good things to report from my move.

A permanent setup for stripping with a preheater.
Better water pressure/flow control for the condensers.
Quality stereo amp and speakers in the shed.
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by Stonecutter »

Good luck to you Sir :thumbup:
I’m actually about to get into the same situation later this year. I have shut down production. We’re moving out of the city as well. Looking for some extra land for at least one fruit tree and a large garden.

Power and water luxuries is what I’ll be looking for. I’m wrestling between using an outdoor stilling shack/RV shed or making it work downstairs. Cooking and moving 26 gallons of mash around is the biggest factor. Keep us posted Jonny
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by tjsc5f »

jonnys_spirit wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2024 7:28 am And the fun part will be building out the new shed as the dust settles and the maiden run in the new shed.
I'm moving from a crowded subdivision out to the sticks here pretty soon myself. The wife already gave me the go-ahead to build a dedicated still shed so now I'm trying to figure out what the ideal size and layout will be! In my county, we can build a shed up to 10'x12' without pulling permits, so I'm hoping I can make something in that size work, definitely interested to see what you come up with.
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by Saltbush Bill »

The only advice I have is to decide what size shed you think you want, add some to that to make slightly bigger.
Now DOUBLE that size,.....this shed should now be big enough keep you happy for at least a few years,.......that is before you decide that you could do with a bit more space.
Sheds have a funny habit of quickly becoming filled with "stuff" and suddenly seeming to small.
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by The Baker »

tjsc5f wrote: Sat Jan 27, 2024 8:16 pm
jonnys_spirit wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2024 7:28 am And the fun part will be building out the new shed as the dust settles and the maiden run in the new shed.
I'm moving from a crowded subdivision out to the sticks here pretty soon myself. The wife already gave me the go-ahead to build a dedicated still shed so now I'm trying to figure out what the ideal size and layout will be! In my county, we can build a shed up to 10'x12' without pulling permits, so I'm hoping I can make something in that size work, definitely interested to see what you come up with.
Just wondering...
can you include a basement or a mezzanine or a second floor...?

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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by still_stirrin »

The Baker wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 4:15 amJust wondering...
can you include a basement or a mezzanine or a second floor...?

Geoff
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by tjsc5f »

The Baker wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 4:15 am can you include a basement or a mezzanine or a second floor...?
Loft for sure!
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by jonnys_spirit »

tjsc5f wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 4:21 pm
The Baker wrote: Sun Jan 28, 2024 4:15 am can you include a basement or a mezzanine or a second floor...?
Loft for sure!
Gonna need a loft with a hole in the floor for the extra tall packed column. Will need to design a controller with remotes upstairs AND downstairs..

-jonny
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by OlympicMtDoo »

Just a thought jonny, I built my shed with a 10' ceiling, gives me room for a lot of shelving plus the height for tall columns. Have fun.
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by Bradster68 »

OlympicMtDoo wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 11:35 am Just a thought jonny, I built my shed with a 10' ceiling, gives me room for a lot of shelving plus the height for tall columns. Have fun.
I recently poured my concrete in my garage and started building cabinets and shelves.
I'm at 9 feet but that extra foot is great for storage or what have you
10 feet :thumbup: would be an huge bonus.
Always something to consider
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by OtisT »

OlympicMtDoo wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 11:35 am Just a thought jonny, I built my shed with a 10' ceiling, gives me room for a lot of shelving plus the height for tall columns. Have fun.
Or add a cupola to it for “looks”. :wink:
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by Yummyrum »

I moved to new home and shed last year . The one thing I always wanted to do but never got around to was to have all my fermenters in an over flow tray that drained to the drain . Already I have had several messes which have required hosing out my garage around the fermentation /distilling area . Thankfully I have a corrugated iron shed on a concrete slab so any water just runs outside , but it still makes a mess .
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by tjsc5f »

Yummyrum wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 7:04 pm Thankfully I have a corrugated iron shed on a concrete slab so any water just runs outside , but it still makes a mess .
I was thinking concrete slab that sloped to the middle on both sides to a central drain the length of the shed for just this LOL
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by Yummyrum »

tjsc5f wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 8:57 pm
Yummyrum wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 7:04 pm Thankfully I have a corrugated iron shed on a concrete slab so any water just runs outside , but it still makes a mess .
I was thinking concrete slab that sloped to the middle on both sides to a central drain the length of the shed for just this LOL
I like that tjsc5f :thumbup:
At first I was thinking to deal with spillages and slops but come to think of it , I have to take my 200l fermenters outside to clean them out . It would be great to be able to dump them and wash them into a big drained area right there in the shed .
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by NormandieStill »

Yummyrum wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 9:26 pm
tjsc5f wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 8:57 pm
Yummyrum wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 7:04 pm Thankfully I have a corrugated iron shed on a concrete slab so any water just runs outside , but it still makes a mess .
I was thinking concrete slab that sloped to the middle on both sides to a central drain the length of the shed for just this LOL
I like that tjsc5f :thumbup:
At first I was thinking to deal with spillages and slops but come to think of it , I have to take my 200l fermenters outside to clean them out . It would be great to be able to dump them and wash them into a big drained area right there in the shed .
Just don't get carried away and start emptying the still the same way. Hot acids and concrete are unhappy bedfellows.

I'm somewhat jealous of you chaps with enough space to think about rinsing barrels inside.
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by jonnys_spirit »

Another thing I'd like to work into the plan one way or another is a way to empty spent grain / slop / stillage into a larg'ish PVC pipe that feeds into the compost pile that can also be rinsed - with the help of gravity...

Cheers!
-j
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by Deplorable »

jonnys_spirit wrote: Thu Feb 01, 2024 9:09 am Another thing I'd like to work into the plan one way or another is a way to empty spent grain / slop / stillage into a larg'ish PVC pipe that feeds into the compost pile that can also be rinsed - with the help of gravity...

Cheers!
-j
Into a hog trough would be ideal. There isn't much nutrition left in them grains, but they'll be happy, and happy pigs make good bacon.
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by NormandieStill »

In the latest Whiskey Tribe video there's a few seconds where they show exactly that sort of drain. A channel cut into the concrete with a wide grill over it leading straight out of the building.
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by The Booze Pipe »

Best of luck! Moving set my distilling hobby back three years!
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by NorthWoodsAb »

OlympicMtDoo wrote: Wed Jan 31, 2024 11:35 am Just a thought jonny, I built my shed with a 10' ceiling, gives me room for a lot of shelving plus the height for tall columns. Have fun.
+1 on extra ceiling height.

I moved to an acreage 4 years ago, old farm house with unfinished basement, but low ceiling height just over 6 feet. I set up my lab in one end of basement. I works but limits my column height.
My plan is to build an out door stilling shed. 10' walls, gambril roof so there is plenty of loft space for storage.
Like your grotto idea, I'd like to put a basement under shed for moderate temp control storage/root cellar. I have enough slope on property to have walk out from basement. 16x20 would be a nice size for what I'm looking at. Adequate power supply, hot/cold water and drainage are a must.
Good luck
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by EricTheRed »

tjsc5f wrote: Sat Jan 27, 2024 8:16 pm
jonnys_spirit wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2024 7:28 am And the fun part will be building out the new shed as the dust settles and the maiden run in the new shed.
I'm moving from a crowded subdivision out to the sticks here pretty soon myself. The wife already gave me the go-ahead to build a dedicated still shed so now I'm trying to figure out what the ideal size and layout will be! In my county, we can build a shed up to 10'x12' without pulling permits, so I'm hoping I can make something in that size work, definitely interested to see what you come up with.
Build 2.
Mash shed
Still shed

Then aging shed
Sampling shed

:ebiggrin:
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by NormandieStill »

EricTheRed wrote: Fri Feb 16, 2024 12:23 am
tjsc5f wrote: Sat Jan 27, 2024 8:16 pm
jonnys_spirit wrote: Fri Jan 26, 2024 7:28 am And the fun part will be building out the new shed as the dust settles and the maiden run in the new shed.
I'm moving from a crowded subdivision out to the sticks here pretty soon myself. The wife already gave me the go-ahead to build a dedicated still shed so now I'm trying to figure out what the ideal size and layout will be! In my county, we can build a shed up to 10'x12' without pulling permits, so I'm hoping I can make something in that size work, definitely interested to see what you come up with.
Build 2.
Mash shed
Still shed

Then aging shed
Sampling shed

:ebiggrin:
Ah... A man after my own heart. I'm up to four sheds in the garden so far, and have got the go-ahead for building a 5th (which will be my brewing / stilling shed). At some point I hope to dig into the chalk bank that forms one side of our plot and build a walk-in cold store.

I consider myself an honorary member of Pratchett's Men Of The Sheds.
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by jonnys_spirit »

"Jonny's Wine and Likker Grotto" will use one of these to keep the wine/storage cellar @ 55*F with some insulated walls, stone finishing, wine/bottle racks and I'd like to do gas flame mantle lighting..
https://www.storeitcold.com/

I'll push for a three compartment stainless commercial sink and floor drain if I can swing that too. Preheater and copper thumper same size as the main boiler will allow stripping large AG batches on grain in one day so less actual running throughout the year to keep the barels full.. Maybe a chugger pump or two and a couple keg water heaters...

Cheers!
-j
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i prefer my mash shaken, not stirred
————
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by tjsc5f »

EricTheRed wrote: Fri Feb 16, 2024 12:23 am Build 2.
Mash shed
Still shed

Then aging shed
Sampling shed

:ebiggrin:
After looking more into the codes, I found out I can go up to 200sq ft, so we're up to a 12ft x 16ft shed. After that is filled up, I'll make a case for shed #2 :D
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Re: Closing up the shed...

Post by NorthWoodsAb »

tjsc5f wrote: Fri Feb 16, 2024 5:32 am
EricTheRed wrote: Fri Feb 16, 2024 12:23 am Build 2.
Mash shed
Still shed

Then aging shed
Sampling shed

:ebiggrin:
After looking more into the codes, I found out I can go up to 200sq ft, so we're up to a 12ft x 16ft shed. After that is filled up, I'll make a case for shed #2 :D
Same code applies here but there is a way around that. Build the shed then put a covered lean to on one or both sides after main shed completed. Makes for a very nice sized out building.
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