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Workshop Information

Location
United States
My shop is half of a one car garage, about 7'x18'. I make my living as a handyman/home renovator, so I need most of my tools to be compact and ultra portable. Compact and portable is a plus for hauling equipment to the jobsite, but also makes the space issue at home quite a bit more doable. I've got a corner of the basement as well that will be cleaned out this winter to set up a permanent glue-up/assembly/finishing area, but for now it's filled with non-woodworking tools.

On the outside looking in:


Combination tablesaw/router table:




This bench is mounted on wheels so that I can spin it around to access the 9" lathe mounted to the back side. I also added a storage shelf below for some less used tools (not shown):


A clustercuss of wall storage and a small bench:




A hinged sheet good rack. I had to build this out away from the wall about 15" in order to clear the rafters with 8' sheets on end. This left space for a small lumber rack behind the sheet goods. I keep mostly hardwoods on the rack, and have more space above the rafters in the back of the building for plain old 2x lumber. These two pics are older, showing some shelving in the back of the building that has since been purged:




I put my 13" delta planer on wheels:


Even my cutoff/scrap bin is on wheels:


Since I've only got space for a small benchtop 6" jointer, I made up a straight edge cutting jig for longer edge jointing. This also works great as a taper jig, and mitering case corners:


I've got a lot more plans in mind to further improve the efficiency of the small space, such as a moblie base for the tablesaw/router table, putting some shelves at about shoulder height on the back wall, and finding that machine from "honey I shrunk the kids"... So, it's a work in progress.

Gallery

Comments

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Nice little shop you got there.
I also have a really small shop so i know the challage.
My favorite here are the scrap on wheels, that is so cool.
Best thoughts,
Mads
 

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I have as much stuff on wheels as possible. I think that is the key to surviving in a small shop.
 

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My garage and shop are one in the same. Basically around larger tools I built shelving and cabinets (so as not to restrict but to utilize space). I also incorporated little things. One of the little things I did was to get a couple of the curtain rod holders (cheap ones) and run a dowel rod across. This I use to hold all my tapes (duck tap, packing, etc.). One the ends of the dowel rods (where it connects with the rod holder) I put one big head screw. By swivling the screw (turning dowel rod) the head of the screw slides down the side of the rod holder thus locking the dowel rod bar into place. When I want to remove tape I just turn the other way, then can lift the dowel rod off to get the roll of tape I need. You could probably do the same with a cup hook instead of curtian rod holder….
 

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Bench top power tools like you have always come in handy. I put in more drawers to get the little STUFF out of sight. Keeps the wife from giving me the evil eye so often about how much STUFF is out there…....
 

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Thanks, Scue!

RedRyder - I know myself too well; if I put something out of sight I will never find it!
 

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Nice Shop looks like you have the beginning of a great woodworking journey, If you were closer I would take you up on your other post.
 

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Nice shop space, It's nice to see someone else with a portamax set up. I don't know about you, but I have been using mine for about 20 years and I love it.
Regards, Richard
 

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Thanks guys! Ill have to update this again, because I've added about 1/3 the basement that I'm now using for my hand tools / assembly / finishing work. It's a lot warmer in there this time of year too!
The major drawback, other than hiking back and forth to the garage to do my milling, is that all finished pieces need to fit up the basement stairs when done. My biggest project to date that's made it through in one piece was a set of shelves 42"wide by 52" tall by 27" deep. I had to take the side door off the hinges to negotiate the corner for that one. I'm thinking of sticking to the small stuff from now on if I can help it!
 
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