Request for Help: Setting up Shop

[jaurand]

Hey all you puzzle makers,

I need some help! I'm going to build a shop at my house. (All my tools are at a shop about 45 minutes from home). I'm looking for any thoughts, ideas, or considerations for building and laying out the shop.

My intent is to have two rooms - one for the power tools, and one for handwork, assembly and finishing. Heated, running water, good insulation (for noise reduction so I don't make the neighbors angry!).

What else should I be thinking about?

Any feedback will be greatly appreciated!

J

[Canuck]

It sounds like you're already on the right track with a separate room for assembly...really I don't think there's a set way to set up a workshop, however if you can have a separate spot for your Dust collection system completely tucked away so noise is not an issue, (preferably in another room or closet) that would be best....you'll thank me later 

Typically everything would center around the Tablesaw...

[Arc Light]

Edit.....John posted before I could   Great advice 


Hello Jeff, sounds fantastic!!!  The one thing I didn't put any thought into when buying the table saw and setting up the shop in our connected garage is a dust collection system.  I am now finding that inside the house we have a light bit of dust gathering on everything, just hope the wife doesn't notice    I am now in the process of finding a system that will work in my confined space.  You may already have a system, but in case you don't and especially if the shop is connected to the house I thought I would mention it.

This is a great idea for a thread, and I am sure we will see some neat ideas and suggestions here.

[Canuck]

I think it's safe to say you'll never eliminate all the dust, however if you haven't purchased a dc yet, I would strongly urge you to get the biggest and best you're money can buy and set up some rigid pipes to every tool with shut off gates at each...if you've ever seen any college/school workshop set-up, that's a good model to go by!! 

[jaurand]

Thanks Guys!

I think the shop will be a separate building from the house, so that will keep the dust down (aside from what I track in!).

Isolating the dust collector for noise control is a great idea. I'll have to see if I can work that out.

Dust collection is a concern for me. As I get older, I find the sawdust bothers me more and more, especially with some of the exotics. I have a small dust collector now, but will be upgrading to something heftier with the new shop. (Time to start saving pennies.)

Fortunately, I already have most of the gear, so the investment is in the building.

Let me know if you have any other thoughts/ideas!

Thanks,

Jeff

[Canuck]

Oh well, let's talk power outlets then    I would definitely run them midway along all walls every couple of feet and make sure you set up for 220 volt at least for the planer and dc anyway...don't forget room for a lathe   

[jaurand]

I'm not a woodturner (yet). One of these days I'll have to actually learn to use a lathe, and then add it to my repertoire of tools. Of course, my mom still has my very first woodworking project, a bowl I made in 7th grade shop class. Maybe I should be turning!

[mike toulouzas]

I'm not a woodturner (yet). One of these days I'll have to actually learn to use a lathe, and then add it to my repertoire of tools. Of course, my mom still has my very first woodworking project, a bowl I made in 7th grade shop class. Maybe I should be turning!

Make sure Jaurand You put a lot of plugs for electricity on the power tools.On every corner.It seems that there never enough. Compresed air is also an issue(It makes noise too so isolation or something to keep the db down.TOy will need Buckets to put the ofcuts of left overs from all the exotics woods you cut ,Beleave me Everytime you will feel bad to through een the tinyest piece.You will say to your self : ''i am sure i am going to make something of it in the future.And with no time You will end up with thousents of left overs(which you will still wont through away again.So a lot of Buckets....
A chair  will be nice too.
Go for it.And any help you need we are here for you to .....

[Chinnomotto]

Hey Jeff,

Very good advise given so far

But if I were you, I'd quit while you still have a life and family

Once that sawdust gets into your brain, you become one of us

Walking zoombies that automatically goes into the shed

And can only think Puzzles, Puzzles,Puzzles

Ah Heaven!,,,,a lathe, A LATHE!,,,,somebody mention a LATHE!

Oh, get a pot belly stove too, keeps you warm and burns all your boo boos

[Trooper]

What else should I be thinking about?

J

Shame on all my fellow puzzle makers.  You have missed the most important piece of equipment that should be first in the workshop.......THE BAR FRIDGE.......stocked full of water.  Of course a bit of hops, yeast and sugar mixed into the water for just the right amount of time wouldn't go astray either.   

[Roby]

I must agree.  It is not that such beverages really go along with power equipment, but the woodshop should be a man-space.  It is a place that, at least temporarily, takes you away from the little shelia.  A man should be able to go to the shop, turn on some equipment to make some noise and fake working, and set back and take a break while the wife thinks that something of accomplishment is going on inside.

I would say that wheels are a nice addition also.  Put everything on wheels.  You can push it against the wall when not in use, and pull it out easily when you need it.   

[jaurand]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm meeting with the contractor on Monday to discuss options. I'm hoping to get it under roof before the snow flies - not sure if I can make it! Wish me luck!

[Trooper]

Roby, I also should have thought of the wheels.  Everything in my workshop has wheels under it (except the lathe and bandsaw) and I can just roll out the piece of equipment that I want to use and all others stay against the wall.  That leaves me with the most working space available when I'm swinging pieces of wood etc. around or walking through to other parts of the workshop without having to play 'dodgem cars' or 'human maze' with all the other equipment.  I found that the very small price of the wheels and dollys were money very well spent. 

jaurand, your initial post seems to suggest that you are wanting to build your new workshop and I am assuming it will be a 'new' building from scratch complete with floor.  When I built my workshop (it is 15 metres long) I put a 5 1/2" fall from the front towards the back, when I poured the concrete floor.  What this means is that every now and then, when it needs it, I wheel all the equipment around and simply get the hose and hose all the crap and crud right out the back door.  By doing this once in a while I get a MUCH BETTER cleaning job than I could ever imagine by broom or dustpan & brush in small sections after I work in that area.  Food for thought!!!

[Roby]

Did I already mention rafters?  Put your air compressor up in the rafters so that it is out of the way, but so that the hose can reach to all places in the shop.  At the same time, you can cover the celing in most areas except for the middle, which allows extra storage up top, but also provides a nice cool air flow in the summer if you open a window and turn on a vent fan in the attic area, as well as keeps it a lot warmer in the winter if you cover the center hole.

Still, it is not a really cool shop, nor the expensive equipment that makes it.  It is the man in the shop.  My shop is covered in dust, my equipment is mostly outdated, I use cheap saw blades and freeze my butt off in the winter from improper heating, but I like to think that I make a decent puzzle.  You are your best piece of equipment.

[Chinnomotto]

Master Master,

I'm back. Reading your post about the person as the best piece of equipment, you might change your mind after this post

And Jeff, my last ditch attempt to save your soul, use the money for the kids education, and a good relaxing holiday.
You don't want to walk our roads,,,,,sleepless nights, day dreaming, itch and hay fevers, dust everywhere, no money

If the pics don't convince you, you are a stubborn man, welcome to the club

After 30 years of woodworking, this is the end result. My excuse is there is a limited window of time spent in the shed, and cleaning up is not exactly one my good points, I'd rather make a puzzle

Lucky the wall opens as a lean to, I do my sawing and lathe work in the garden,,,,,so my neighbours hate me,,,,

At least I found my table saw, now theres 5 hand grenades somewhere in there, I need them for that new lathe coming,,,,,