[sandt38]

Not sure where to put this, but since it pertains to equipment I'll put it here.

I am a small shop guy, myself and while I like looking at the big fancy shops and dreaming, the reality of the situation is I need to focus on making my shop well organized and buying the right tool to fit in my work space. I have visited dbhost's page several times to read up and get ideas, as like myself he has a smaller work area, but he has quite a lot of equipment and it appears quite roomy. And for those of you interested, he has a VERY detailed workshop page here on LJ's, and you should check it out.

So I am hoping I can get a collection of folks with smaller work areas, say 500Sq ft or less. Maybe we can all look at each other's workshops and get an idea of what works and what doesn't, and what tools we can buy as bench tops, instead of free standing, and have it work for us. I have just shy of 300 sq feet (a 12' X 24' dedicated space) myself, and I am trying to keep my workshop info here updated.

Hopefully you will accept the fact that we don't need to have big shops to make up for a lack of other thing (hahaha!) and share with the rest of us with smaller workspaces.

 

[Timberwerks]

My studio is about 170 sf and serves me just fine. I mainly work with hand tools so I don't need the large work space. My old shop was 3,000 and I can do just as much here as I did there.

 

[Mike67]

I have an old counter top screwed to the wall that I use as a sort of workbench and lots of machines fit under it when not in use - mortiser, small sanders, even the benchtop planer. I put them on furniture dollies so I can easily roll them under. All the big machines are on wheels and move around as needed. Only the DC and table saw stay put.

 

[sandt38]

Could you share some photos with us? I know they are mostly hand tools and they are stowed away easily, but maybe you have some storage advice to share with us. Stepping dwon from 3000SQ Ft you must have quite a lot of tools.

 

[terry603]

me. i have to set up benches with a top outside my front door, using extention cords.
the only power tool i can use inside is my chop saw.
12×24 inside dedicated space,,what i would do for something like that.

 

[richgreer]

My shop measures 17' x 22' plus a 2' x 12" alcove. The total is just shy of 400 square feet. I don't consider this a small shop. I consider it a medium size shop. In my opinion, if you are strategic about where you place your tools, this can be an adequate size. I have 8' of clearance on both the infeed and outfeed sides of my planer, TS and jointer. The only tool on a mobile base is the jointer and I seldom have to move it.

Of course, I wish I had more space (we always do) but this is sufficient for me.

As an FYI - I am able to store most of my wood inventory outside of my shop and that helps a lot.

 

[sandt38]

Rich, I looked at your shop. Nice use of space. I have a question with regards to your drill press. I see you have elected to use a benchtop unit and build your own base. What kind of work do you do with it, and do you ever find it inadequate… I don't mean with regards to power, but perhaps capacity.

I ask because i love mission style furniture, and I would like to start doing some mortise and tenon joinery. While the projects I have in mind are mostly fairly small (TV/stereo stand, end tables, etc), I want to attempt a bed headboard and footboard with M&T joinery. Do you feel like the benchtop drill press would be sufficient for such work? I would love to save the space and money with a benchtop, but I am just not sure of the capacity.

Thanks!

 

[dbhost]

Thanks for the shop plug!

I honestly have been studying various workshop setups, equipment etc… to come up with something that works for me…

No doubt you have caught on to the tricks of my approach but I figure I should share here…

#1. Use the most tool that you can fit into the small space. If you don't need an aircraft carrier for a jointer, but will only use a benchtop jointer, use a benchtop jointer. They take up a LOT less space.
#2. Use vertical space as well as you can. My tool stacker is an example of that idea. If you want something like that mobile, Wood Magazine has a good plan available made with construction lumber and peg board…
#3. Peg boards. I haven't compressed mine yet, but those flip out clamshell cabinets with peg boards in layers are great for storing a LOT of tools in a small space.
#4. Avoid the free standing router table. Instead add a router wing to your table saw. (You already did that)
#5. Along the same lines, you need outfeed support for your table saw. Make your workbench act as an outfeed support as well. For even BETTER results, another wood mag plan has a workbench plan that goes OVER the table saw once lifted up on its movable casters.
#6. Keep everything movable except for the lathe. That needs to be as solid as physically possible.
#7. Use wall space, AND ceiling space for storing stuff like ladders, mount shelves for handheld power tools, jigs etc…
#8. If you haven't picked up a jointer, or planer yet, you MIGHT want to save up some bucks and get one of the combination machines. Grizzly sells a really nice 12" combo machine. Kind of spendy, but well worth it from what I can tell…
#9. Got exposed studs? Well depending on your climate, AND your building codes, insulate it, and cover with something along the lines of T1-11 plywood, 1/2" OSB or whatever. Sheet rock it if you have to. Likewise insulate and radiant barrier that roof. (Remember the perspective here. I am living and working in coastal Texas, and it is stinking HOT here…)
#10. Got empty space under the table saw wings? There are some good space saving options. One is to build a table saw workstation with full on drawers etc… Or the other is to just slide your trash can under the router, and maybe a shop vac in there, that kind of thing… Leave the lid off that trash can, and most of the chips flying under the table end up in the can…

To be honest, if I can finally manage to purge every last single non shop item from my shop, I would feel like I am in an auditorium. And I am in 373 sq/ft….

 

[DanLyke]

300 square feet? I'm looking at building myself a "big" shop in the back yard, and it'll be about 240. My current one seems to be about 130 square feet. I do finishing, sheet goods breakdown and major glue-ups outside (luckily, I live in a climate where I know it's not going to rain for 5 months out of the year, but that's also a climate where real estate costs a ton).

All my tools are benchtop or hand-held except for the drill press. When I build the bigger shop, rather than having a router table that clamps to the top of my Festool MFT table I'll have a roll-around, much like my planer is on.

 

[reggiek]

I went from a small shop (a 12' X 12' - storage building) to a 33' X 64' converted horse barn. Although, I have expanded a bit…I still find that I must make the best use of available space. I have a great book that I got from Woodsmith called Small Shops….it has great ideas on making stands for tools that have dual purposes…like a flip over sander/planer table - where one side of the table is a dewalt bench planer and you pivot the table (with a locking mech) to a sander on the other side. Another great idea is a corner lazy susan type table that rotates around and has a bench top drill press, jig saw, sander….etc. There are some great ideas on storage - like a dual duty cart that hold sheet goods and lumber. For my shop I have also put shelves on every possible wall space….and even used the upper ceiling area for wood storage….the book also shows how to put cabinets under every tool stand and workbench….This small shop book is a must for folks with limited space.

 

[Bahremu]

My shop is about 150sf; it's small, but workable. I start most projects by doing the large piece work in the backyard. A 4×8 sheet doesn't fit down the stairs into my shop. Every panel has to be proken down either at the BORG or in the backyard.

I end up carrying most tools into the backyard to work. Then I do the glue-ups on the dining table.

 

[sandt38]

Keep them coming folks! Let's get some pics and details if we could too. It is easier to learn and ask questions if we have visuals. Store your images on Photobucket.com, or tinypic.com if you need hosts. Photobucket requires an account set-up, but tinypic is a simple freesource picture host.

Dan, I know Petaluma. One 2 of my sons live in San Jose. I lived in, and they were born in SoCal. Nice area.

 

[pvwoodcrafts]

I'm ashamed to say I have a 24×48 shop and 3- 24×24 lumber buildings and a dry kiln, and its not big enough

 

[dbhost]

pvwoodcrafts. I take it you are more than just a hobbyist then right?

 

[pvwoodcrafts]

Yeah my wife and I are both full time woodworkers. Heres our shop.

 

[sandt38]

DB is right. I walked into several buildings without the thermo-block on the ceilings, then walked into one with the block, and there had to be a 10-15 degree difference in the buildings. As you can see in pic 2, I opted for the thermo-block ;-).

 

[Tim_456]

the only thing I can add to dbhost's posting is to put everything you can on wheels. On one wall I have some sturdy shelves that hold things like my spindle sander, bench grinder, nailers, etc. Under that is floor space that I use to tuck away my jointer, planer cart, drill press cart, and router table. Then I just push/pull whatever tool i need and it's got a home to go back to.

Oh, also, don't discount that certain tools don't have to be co-located. My compressor is out in the garage and I run a 50ft hose into the basement to a secondary tank and regulator. I also used to keep my jointer and planer up the garage and would do all my dimensioning prior to moving it to the basement. Not ideal, but depending on the space there's always compromises.

 

[lilredweldingrod]

This just reminded me that it is time ti update my shop photos. Rand

 

[BHuber]

I have a 12×16 and it works out well. I do have to do all my sheet cutting in the garage to break it down to more manageable parts.
Mobil bases are a must and all the big tools are on them. Cabinets under the bench are really helpful for storing all kinds of things and keeping them clean.
I am sure you have heard this before but it really really helps in a little shop "A place for everything and everything in its place".
Here are the 4 walls of the shop, if you want to see a little more you can go the link below, then do next in the upper right corner of the screen.

http://www.pbase.com/wlhuber/image/111944699

 

[Howie]

My current shop is 12×30, I bought a portable building when I moved to Florida and it serves me very well as I am just renting at this time. Almost everything is on wheels and it makes it very convient.
My last shop I built myself and was 12X16 (13'5 high for lumber storage) and everything was movable. It was addiquit but as always needed to be bigger. Plans were for an 8×16 addition but my wife got transferred.
My old shop was in the garage(one car) so it didn't take long to convince wife we needed more space(she is very good about helping me when I need it and she's smart along with it <g>)
Pictures will follow when I figure out Photobucket.

Sandt38- how do you like the router on the TS? I have the same saw(love it) and have been thinking about an Incra positioner for it. I already have one on my router table.