Alan has some great images of his shop. Let’s see what he has to say:
I think I’ve gotten my shop off to a good start, but it still has a long way to go. I got good tools, in the good locations, good lighting, electricity from the ceiling to keep the floor clear, and good dust collection. The next stage is to build some good shop cabinetry and a workbench.
Here is a panoramic shot of from the middle of the shop.
Another pano showcasing my jointer and tablesaw.
A pano of my miscellaneous workbench area.
My workshop computer is in the foreground. The 2 garden basement windows are the main way I get large rough lumber into my basement. You can see my facination with old clocks on the walls. I am also interested in CNC milling among other things.
This is the main woodworking area of my shop. You can see the air compressor line on the ceiling. The air compressor is on the opposite side of the basement.
The back area of the basement. I need to build an outfeed table / workbench at the back of the tablesaw here. I store my stains, glues, shellacs and whatnot here near the basement sink.
The workhorse tools of any shop… the jointer and the tablesaw.
If you want to see a video tour of Alan’s shop, you can check it out directly on his website.
18 Responses to “Alan’s Basement – Shop Tour”
Looking good. How big is your shop, thats got to be the biggest basement shop I,ve seen. I also know what you mean about the cabinets, I grow happier and happier with every shop project I do. Nothing beats having a a custom storage space for everything in your shop. I have nice cabinets all around and each tool has a cabinet underneath it for the acceseries that go with the tool. My wife thinks I am crazy, but it makes me happy, and if I am crazy she can’t blame me for the stupid things I say!!! so it’s a win win situation.
Nate
I’ve consumed about 700 sq. ft. of the basement for my workshop. What else was I supposed to use all that basement space for? :)
Alan : is that a woodshop or an aircraft hangar???
Really nice. So that is what a clean shop looks like? I’ve always wondered. Seriously though I am envious of your dust collection system. I just use a vacuum and Kansas wind. Thanks for sharing.
Those pano shots sure do a job on your floor trusses. I like all your equipment.
His shop is so big, each of his walls is in a different time zone
(what’s up with the clocks?!)
Drool drool droool! Nice set up …and the space! Oh what I wouldn’t give for more space!
OK is it ok to have a man crush on a basement? On tools?
Sheeesh I’ve had to build a floor in an odd shaped unfinished basement. I feel inadequate.
Nice shop indeed.
It would be interesting to know how big it is.
The whole basement is almost 1300 sq. ft. and I have taken over about 700 sq. ft. of that for my workshop.
awsome :) i love it
let see some projects …
Here was my first project… an outfeed table / workbench:
http://home.comcast.net/~panof.....index.html
Hi Alan, I just stumbled on this site,and started to look around.Geez,you are a talanted guy!Your storage shed is real
nice;love those doors.Your trailer hoist too was too cool!
I’m a CAD/CAM programmer.We use Mastercam for software.
I’m new to woodworking,and building a basement shop.One problem I’m wrestling with is which material to use for dust collection.Bill Pentz’s site gives a comprehensive look
but I’m still unsure.I would highly recommend that you read is treatise on dust control. Has your dust system worked out for you,and would you recommend I use it?My dust collector (a new Oneida 3 HP cyclone) is almost assembled,and I seem to be still cutting bait.Sometimes there seems to be just too many opinions,which makes me doubt what to do.
Can you offer any help?
Real nice shop!
Paul
Sorry, I didn’t get any automated notice of your questions… I was just scanning old links and found your questions. I am very happy with my dust collection. I would prefer more horsepower and a cyclone, but that will have to wait for more money. The most important thing IMHO is to have the power and the dust collection pipes overhead to avoid clutter and to have dust collection gates for each tool.
Hey Allen,
So this is the basement of what, the Empire State Building? I envy you all your space and all your tools. Nice shop!
Kimball
Well the shop is certainly very nice, but……the lava lamp on the desk really just puts it over the top.
Nice Shop! I may just try and tell my wife to get her Yukon out of my workshop and expand!
Jeff
Alen nice shop; how did you get your tool in the bacement? I’m bulding a house with bacement my planer is 700pd. can you give me some help? thanks Jim
Hi Alan. Do you find any reduction in suction using long flexible hoses instead of smooth plastic pipes? I notice the hose to the table saw in particular. The hose to the jointer has a smooth plastic pipe half way down from the ceiling. Was that to help the draw?