Shop Layout Advice/Resources/Help

Steve my idea would be to, as I’ve done in the past, then d an outline of your shop, then go to each of your tools and draw them out to scale cut them out and then try different tools in different spots until you get a set up that works for you. Grizzly also has a free save-able program that allows you to design a shop most of the tools available in it are Grizzly but you’ll find items there that are about the measurement of the tools you have. https://www.grizzly.com/workshopplanner.aspx

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

Wow, I had the same advice to give you but someone else beat me to it. Hope the grizzly site works for you, it did me.

-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps

”...my current shop space exceeds my skill set but falls short of my ego. ” If I were to follow this all I’d need for my skill is a shoebox….thanks for a great line LOL! Can I use this as my tag line? Great link, John.

-- ...it's rennovation time!!!

I have a program that I got at Staples , in the clearance bin. 3D Home Architect, Broderbund. I paid $3 for it. You can create a room, or a whole house. Make a room to your size, then put in objects the size of your tools. They didn’t have workbenches, so I used tables and other furniture piece sized accordingly. Then you can zoom around, looking at different angles, from above,walk through. I have seen the grizz shop planner, but really didn’t use it. You could do the same with graph paper.Or you could follow the way I ultimately do things, just blunder in headfirst, and worry about it later. Good luck!

-- I'm a lumberjock and I'm ok, I sleep all night and I work all day!

Lots of light. Lots of electricity. Lots of mobile bases.

-- Just 'cause a cat has kittens in the oven, it don't make 'em biscuits.

Steve,
I am also in the same enviable position as you, in that I’ll soon be moving into a new workshop space of a similar size.

I have tackled my layout “problem” by looking at workflow to minimise to-ing and fro-ing.
I divided the shop into work zones by function
1. Receiving and Storage
2. Sizing
3. Processing
4. Joinery
5. Assembly
6. Finishing
and I even managed to fit in a “Mechanics Corner” for all the non-wood work required on the farm.

I have laid it out in SketchUp, and am quite pleased with the ideas. We’ll see how practical it is real operation over the next year or so.

If you want my SketchUp file, PM me with your email address.

Is there any way I can attach a couple of pdf files to this message showing the planned layout?

-- I may be schizophrenic, but at least I have each other.

Let me get this right…You have 960sq. ft. “under” your garage?! Wow!

My suggestions…Lighting, power outlets, having adequate power, ventilation…which also means that by partitioning with walls, you’ll need to heat or cool a smaller space. Partitioning will also allow you to create a finishing room, storage room, quiet room for your compressor, dust system, etc.

Todd Clippenger had a great idea to run 240vac to his outlets…4 way outlets…two on one leg, the other two on the other leg. Makes for two different breakers and the ability to have 240vac if needed.

Lots of stuff to consider.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

First I would think about the room and not the tools. Lights, elec outlets including over hear compressed air lines. What about air circulation ? are you going to include a spray booth, even if its for future use, now 1st the ideal time to do it. and of course dust collection lines. As for Machines I think that only you can decide that based on how you use them and how often. example next to my table saw I have my 6×48belt sander with 9” disc simply be cause those 2 tools get used the most. The most important thing is to allow plenty of space around each tool and I wouldn’t built any thing in Until I was completely comfortable with the placement. That really a lot of what its all about, what you find to be a comfortable with.

-- RTB. "dumb animals are not stupid they simply can't talk "