There’s no single best way to set up your workshop.
Since every handyman has unique interests, needs and resources, the trick to constructing a workshop that works for you is to learn to understand your needs and to maximize your resources.
Start with your shop space… For most of us a room in the basement or part of a garage will work.
Draw a sketch of your shop area as it exists. Take measurements and include your main shop tools and work or storage areas. Often, just the simple exercise of sketching will reveal inefficiencies in the layout or suggest better arrangements.
Be sure to include power sources, windows and doors in the drawing, as well as lights and any built-in fixtures, like shelving and wall cabinets.
Once you’ve drawn your existing shop, make a wish list of tools, accessories and systems you’d like to add over the next few years, including finishing booths, dust collection systems and lumber storage or drying areas.
Compare that list to your current shop space.
Can everything possibly fit? If not, you may want to amend your wish list, or look for ways to replace single-purpose tools with multi-purpose work areas that conserve space.
For example, consider replacing your old radial-arm saw with a sliding compound miter saw, or perhaps you might replace one or two of your larger stationary tools with smaller benchtop versions.
Pay attention to the space around tools as you plan, making sure to allow enough room to use each tool effectively and safely.
Refer to your plan on a regular basis and update it as your needs and circumstances change.
Setting Up a Small Woodworking Shop
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Every woodworker would like to have more workshop space. A large space is nice for many reasons, but you actually don’t need a large space to set up an effective shop. In order to demonstrate, we set up a complete woodworking shop in one corner of a typical two car garage.
This workshop includes all the key tools necessary to tackle a wide variety of woodworking projects and still allows two cars to park in the garage. Take a video tour of this shop with Rob Johnstone from Woodworker’s Journal. Rob points out his favorite tools in this shop and shares several tips to consider when setting up your workshop.
The 3 Most Common Mistakes When Setting Up Your Shop
Discover The 3 Most Common Mistakes When Setting Up Your Shop & How You Can Avoid Them.
The video explains the benefits of Ralph Chapman’s guide about setting up an affordable workshop and avoiding the most common mistakes offers anyone interested in woodworking.
[Video] 3 Most Common Mistakes
When Setting Up Shop
A woodworking friend of mine shared this video by Ralph Chapman with me that helped him set up his workshop.
The video explains the benefits of Ralph Chapman’s guide about setting up an affordable workshop and avoiding the most common mistakes offers to anyone interested in woodworking.
How to Set Up a Garage Workshop
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Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva heads to Chicago to transform a garage into a woodworking shop.
Setting Up Your Woodwork Workshop – Woodworking for Beginners
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There are many ways that workshops can be set up and sometimes is nice to get ideas from other people that we can apply to our own shops to make them more convenient to use, to clean, and work in. In this video Natasha gives us a refreshing look at setting up our workshops.
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