Shop Setup

I’m really in favor of my mobile bench. It can accomodate just about any project. Well, I haven’t found a non-accomodating one yet. So I would suggest placing your assembly table out in the middle. If it has casters, then you can roll it out of the way.

Something else to consider is that most of your stock comes in 8’ lengths. So you’ll want to be able to swing a 2×4 and have it accessable to all your saws, etc. In other words: is your miter station too close to the bandsaw, and vise-versa?

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

I’m a big fan of having everything as mobile as possible in my tiny shop, but in a big space like you’ve got to work with, that may not be so important. About the only thing I would worry about is making sure things are arranged so that you have maximum room for infeed/outfeed on your saws.

One other piece of advice based on my experience: Because there is going to be dust no matter what, I recommend cabinets over open shelving whenever possible.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

I’ve been considering the cabinet option a lot more lately. I do not have a dust collector yet (besides my shop vac). I don’t so much mind the saw dust, but the mice are sometimes overwhelming. Living in the country, it’s hard to keep them all out. I’ve got a couple lazy cats, but they don’t do much. So, I’m slowly replacing everything that is open with some cabinets or sealed drawers. About the end of August this year, I’m going to make about 30 sealed containers for the DeCon poison so my dogs can’t get to it, and I’m going to put them all over the barns (I’m pretty tired of mice… lol…)

As far as the mobility goes, the bandsaw that I just bought is the first tool I’ve ever had on a mobile base. I really like being able to easily push it around the shop. I’m trying to finish my miter center now, it’s 120 inches long and it has a 52 inch gap between cabinets. The countertops extend 10 inches on each side past the cabinets to the opening for the miter saw. The miter saw will sit on the top in a recess between the counter tops. This leaves a big void underneath. So, I’m thinking of making a mobile assembly cart with cabinets to fit underneath the miter center. It will store under there or come out and be a mini workbench. I really like the idea of the assembly table, because right now it’s the top of my table saw…

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

Steve,
I wish I had the space that you do, someday?
I like to keep the jointer, planer, table saw and band saw near where the lumber racks are withenough room to swing full size sheets of plywood around without hitting anyhing. I am a big fan of mobile tables for moving stock from one machine to the next. And fo a assembly table like what Marc (wood whisperer) made for his shop with lots of built in storage for assembly type supplies. I suppose it also depends on where your power plugs are as well.

-- Ed Collinge- Edmonds, WA.

I just bought some other electrical boxes. I’m going to do some rewiring and hang three outlets with four plug in’s each from my trusses down the length of the barn. I also have outlets every 8 feet or so around the walls. I’m trying to make it where I can put a major power tool in the center and plug it in at the ceiling without having the power cord on the floor to trip on.

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

I think Grizzly has a FREE floor plan program where you can arrange various things & move them around… etc… Has a lot of images to select from and you can make your own, IIRC…

Take a look at their site… It’s easy to get & use…

Glad you have all that room to play with… you must feel like a KING! (I would!)

-- Have Fun! Joe Lyddon - Home: http://www.WoodworkStuff.net ... My Small Gallery: http://www.ncwoodworker.net/pp/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=1389"

Hi Steve

Because my shop is small, I will have everything mobile. I am going to have an assembly table like Marc of Wood Whisper has. The table saw and assembly table should be the same height. That way assembly table can be your front catch table as well. The miter saw and bench drill drill press will be on one mobile unit. The Ridgid edge/belt spindle sander and Grizzly 12” baby drum sander will be a mobile unit. The Router table will be another mobile unit. The band saw, planer/jointer will be mobile.

All tools and supplies should be behind doors or in drawers. Only thing out would be clamps on walls some where. Even if I had a bigger shop, I would still probably have stationary equipment on wheels. I will be posting some pictures soon. The 200amp service is in and the shop is wired. Plenty of light is a must! The 5HP cyclone is here and I am ordering all the duct work the end of the month. Good Luck! Keep us posted

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

Everything in my shop has been moved to a new spot a few times except for the board rack. If you are setting up a shop I would say you should start with wood storage. I would build twice as much storage as you think you need. Doesn’t take long to fill them up. :>)

Steve, I agree with Josh. Get your storage organised first. Deep storage shelves are often useless unless you have items you don’t need to access very often.
Putting your machines on mobile stands will help a lot when you have those large pieces to manouvre.
Either a mobile switch for your dust extractor or a switch at each connected machine is definitely a plus.
My shed is full of stuff I can’t live without. LOL

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Hi Korz.

Setting up your shop depends on the way you like to work. If you look at my shop on my homesite, you’ll see that my main 8’x4’ workbench, a glueup table on sawhorses, and my tablesaw are in a line down the center. Jointer, drill press, RAS, bandsaw, and planer are to the sides. I like this because all the parts of my current project are on a flat surface with my machines surrounding them. I can measure and do layout of mortises, etc., then turn around and cut & mill or whatever and return them to a work surface for the next step. I have an 8’x3’ side bench attached to the wall for my mortising machine, small vise for tuning tenons, and other crap. My shop is fairly good sized, 18’x56’, so I have the space I need at this time. I have a separate breaker box for my shop and have 220 installed, although I do not use it yet. My dream would be a big run of face high cabinets w/doors to keep out the dust, but I have to figure out where to put them. Setting up your shop will be a good time.

As always, bbqKing

-- bbqKing, Lawrenceville

Steve, as you mentioned, everyone has their own way of doing it; and will have numerous ideas. The best solution will come to you after you move things around 3 or 4 hundred times. It’s a personal thing. One thing I’ll agree with the others about, is a good general purpose/assembly table. Before TWW did his table, David Marks did one for Woodworks on DIY. I feel Marks gives a better and easier to follow process. Check him out at diynetwork.com. You can make it is big or small as you like and it will be an asset in a very short time. In addition to an assembly table, unless you want it strewn with tools, get yourself or build a tool cart. It will allow you to move the most used tools around the shop (screwdrivers, pencils, square, cordless, etc…) as well as allowing you to keep it right next to your assembly table with everything where it is supposed to be.

Tom

-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.

I have been working on the build out of my shop for over a year now. You need to think about how you like to work. Then layer power (where tools CAN go), lighting (so you CAN see your fingers), Dust Collection, and then Storage. Other thing to think about are are you going to run lines for your air compressor, Air Cleaner, etc. Hope this helps.

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"