Redoing The Work Shop

Hi John,

I am in a similar situation but, my shop is almost completly ripped apart as I am redoing everything. I find my self sitting in the woodshop staring at the walls and ceiling for hours trying to figure out what to do and where to put all the tools, elec., dust collection, cabinets, tools, etc, etc.

I am very new to this site (three days now) and fairly new to woodworking as a hobby. I had thought that I might try to post the particulars of my shop on the blog space here and see if people would collaborate with me as to the best way to redesign everything and help me with the best layout.

What did you use to create the drawings of your shop layout and cabinets? Sketchup?

-- Hutch - North Dallas, Tx - Safety First

Sounds like an interesting idea. You will have to take some pictures.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

I am also in a single car garage and my workshop evloved. As I got a new tool I made a stand on casters, so it’s a mish mash of different materials and styles. It’s needs to be re-done.
I’m thinking of putting tools on heavy duty sliders under the work surface and using the space under that for storage. I’m still in the planning stage, so I too sit and stare.

-- If we learn from our mistakes, I'm getting a fantastic education.

I think each one of us have those periods where we work to perfect the limited space we have for our workshops. I too need to begin organizing my garage so I can store my equipment more efficiently and still get at least one car into the two car garage. I am thinking, individual cabinets with locking casters and bench saw, miter saw and planer and storage beneath.

Dalec

Building a shop is like any other building project. Initially it looks fine on paper and seems to work well but once you are settled in you realize that changes could be made to make it work better. Re-doing your shop design this way is a major undertaking but it will allow you to correct the initial design.

Hopefully you will have some before and after pictures.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

I took a few video clip pictures with my digital camera, but I think they came out to small and grainy to put here. Will have to get a movie camera someday to show it off. (maybe I can borrow one from one of my friends). So…I will try to take some snap shots of it instead.

-- JJohn