Source
r/Machinists•
akmark

How to find a R&D/Flex Space/Workshop to rent?

I'm looking to find a place to live where I can do light machine work (lathe, mill, so on) and I'm having quite a bit of trouble trying to find a place that fits this as if there is a spot it gets washed out by the more common apartments. I'm really only looking to rent/lease the space because it's unlikely I'll be in this area for more than 5 years. I am not attached to anyone so I don't really care if I have to walk past a lathe to get to the bathroom but I would prefer for that bathroom to have a shower and hot water.

Does anyone have any good ideas on where to start looking for a place like this?

Posted Jun 5, 2014, 11:33 PM UTC

210
VRC4040•

Our industrial park is full of the typicaal 1200 sq ft overhead door units. With usually 10% office space, the rest high bay shop. Guy next door who does custom cycles sleeps there with his GF all the time. Look for a small industrial park unit instead of a residential apartment.

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akmarkOP•

This is a wonderful idea. There is an industrial park close to where my normal job is so I will definitely take a look into this. Thanks!

1
herbhemphufferhal9000 cnc•

look for warehouse space,our shop rents a section of a larger building that has 4 businesses in it

2
mmediamantool & die•

I usually craigslist search "garage door" "artist" or "phase" and put a budget in I'd be willing to pay. Take a peak

Setup an LLC or some type of business so the utilities and taxes look legit and not like a college student living out of an office/garage.

Camp showers, solar showers, and cabin showers are very easy to put in a space once you have it.

An old van makes a great bedroom that's an excluded zone from dust/oil/smells/welding soot etc.

Keep living the dream man! I was doing this off and on for the last few years in the midwest. Ended up buying a house with a 2 car garage and large basement for cheaper than I was paying commercial rent.

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akmarkOP•

The difficulty I have had is that craigslist washes out any listings from my area because it's grouped together with a big city, which is why I reached out to reddit. I'm unfortunately in one of those jobs where it's very likely that I'll have to move in about 5 years, and housing prices are high enough in the northeast where just buying a plot of land and throwing up a shed is still quite a chunk of change.

The LLC is definitely a good idea as well, I hadn't thought of that but it would be helpful for liability. Thankfully a shower isn't a problem since I found out there was a shower where I work that where I can help myself.

Keep living the dream man! I was doing this off and on for the last few years in the midwest. Ended up buying a house with a 2 car garage and large basement for cheaper than I was paying commercial rent.

I'm glad that someone else out there is as willing go a little past normal. I just finished college and have got the job but realized that if I wanted to start to fabricate things I need to do it now before I become embedded in an apartment lease where I obviously can't set up tools and run them at all hours when I have time.

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greenbuggy•

where is the locale you're wanting to get a space? What is your budget? These details will help us determine much better what your options may be.

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akmarkOP•

My budget is up to 1400-1600/mo including expenses such as heat, electricity, etc. I'd prefer to keep it closer to 1200/mo at best. I'm in the northeast US so there seems to be no shortage of irregular buildings where this live/work situation would crop up.

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[deleted]•

[deleted]

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bobotwf•

I am not attached to anyone so I don't really care if I have to walk past a lathe to get to the bathroom

I don't follow, are you accusing the lathe of coming on to you? Are you looking to live in this place? Did you put the lathe there or did someone else? What's going on?

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akmarkOP•

I am looking to live in this place, I was just expressing that if it is slightly absurd/irregular that doesn't bother me either.

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bobotwf•

Ahh, In many locales it's illegal to live in commercial space. This mostly means your landlord either can't know or has to be shady, or will tell you to go away. They sometimes have work/live type spaces where artists can do their business, but the ones I've seen have had the areas separated. Think Bob's burgers, not sleeping in aisle 15 of Home Depot.

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