Comments on: Evolution of a Workshop http://thewoodwhisperer.com/evolution-of-a-workshop/ Education and Entertainment for the modern woodworker. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:43:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Chester http://thewoodwhisperer.com/evolution-of-a-workshop/#comment-41568 Chester Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:01:13 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/evolution-of-a-workshop/#comment-41568 Shop design (layout) ... there must be some absolutes. I do not pretend to know these absolutes but will, just the same, make a stab at them here. Like ... 1- Any power tool that can get long boards fed through them should be in the middle and probably on wheels for flexibility. ????? (TS / Planer / Drum Sander / Joiner, etc.) 2- Tools that treat the wood in a static position while the tool moves over the wood would most ofter do well along a side wall with long lateral support for holding long pieces. My perfect shop would have a long side-wall with a very long table or counter. Cut into that counter would be a flush mounted chop saw, (down some ways) a flush-mounted radial arm saw, (down some ways)a flush-mounted power mortising machine and (down some ways)even my drill press (I know that the height variance of the drill press table could be a problem. But if the drill press was mobile it could be pulled forward when needs dictate a different table height from the fixed counter.) Norm has done something like this and I really like it. What do you think?? Shop design (layout) … there must be some absolutes.

I do not pretend to know these absolutes but will, just the same, make a stab at them here.

Like …
1- Any power tool that can get long boards fed through them should be in the middle and probably on wheels for flexibility. ????? (TS / Planer / Drum Sander / Joiner, etc.)

2- Tools that treat the wood in a static position while the tool moves over the wood would most ofter do well along a side wall with long lateral support for holding long pieces. My perfect shop would have a long side-wall with a very long table or counter. Cut into that counter would be a flush mounted chop saw, (down some ways) a flush-mounted radial arm saw, (down some ways)a flush-mounted power mortising machine and (down some ways)even my drill press (I know that the height variance of the drill press table could be a problem. But if the drill press was mobile it could be pulled forward when needs dictate a different table height from the fixed counter.) Norm has done something like this and I really like it.

What do you think??

]]> By: Kelly http://thewoodwhisperer.com/evolution-of-a-workshop/#comment-12333 Kelly Thu, 27 Dec 2007 23:45:15 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/evolution-of-a-workshop/#comment-12333 I had the chance to start over with a new shop earlier this year in a three stall garage. One stall would always be woodworking equipment, one for the wife’s car and one for mine when it’s really cold out (below zero) here in Minnesota. So far it’s working out well. I was starting from a basic 22’ by 34’ three stall garage shell and added the following: 1. Electrical – outlets and lights 2. Mechanical – heating and cooling 3. Insulation – walls and ceiling 4. Sheetrock – taped, finished and painted a bright white The best advise I would pass on to others is to add enough electrical capacity and lighting at the beginning, especially if you are going to cover the walls with sheetrock or paneling. Here’s my recommendations for electrical: 1. High output aperture industrial fluorescent lights every five feet with 3-way light switches on both ends of the shop 2. A minimum of two 220 circuits, alternating the circuits with every outlet, spaced approximate 16” or 32” apart 3. A minimum of four 110 circuits, alternating the circuits with every outlet, spaced every 16” or 32” apart 4. Ceiling drop cords for both 110 & 220 centered in each stall 5. If your shop is attached to your house and you have a hardwired smoke alarm system required by the newer electrical codes, be sure to add at smoke, fire and heat detector in the garage and connect it to the house system. That way if there’s a fire in the garage, especially when you are not in the shop, everyone in the house will know right away. 6. Wire for a heating system (ceiling mounted furnace, etc.) and cooling system (window AC unit, sump pump, etc.) now, even if you will not install them until later when funds are available. 7. Make it a pleasant place to spend time by installing a cable or satellite TV outlet. If you don’t have a cordless phone or wireless Internet access, pull cables for the telephone and computer network. 8. The one thing I omitted and will likely retrofit next summer is a high CFM exhaust fan to use when spraying finishes, the typical box fans in the windows just don’t cut it for my home made finishing booth. It would have added $300 during construction to enlarge the furnace chimney through the roof, now it will cost double that with the necessary permits (city requires a wall switch operation and inspection) and exterior changes to the garage side wall. By having so many lights installed, it really helps eliminate the shadows when doing finishing work and keeps you sane during the long winter months in the north. By placing your outlets on at least every other stud, you eliminate to the need for unsafe extension cords and there’s always an outlet within easy reach. Additionally, with all the cordless battery chargers, pencil sharpeners, radios, etc. that get plugged in, you never run out. The ceiling drops came in handy when I needed to move the jointer and planers close to the garage door openings to mill some 15’ boards, the 220 circuits where within easy reach. I spent about $2,500 on the electrical work that split out as $1,100 for materials, $200 for permits and $1,200 for labor by a licensed electrician. Those with more time, patience, and electrical knowledge might tackle this project themselves, but I appreciated the fact it was all done in three days. As you correctly state, the shop layout is never perfect. The only machine of mine that has not moved at least once in the last year is the table saw and the 3’ by 7’ out-feed table I attached to it. If you would like a PDF copy of my electrical plan, please email me at kelly@breit.com and I'll gladly send it out. Cheers, Kelly I had the chance to start over with a new shop earlier this year in a three stall garage. One stall would always be woodworking equipment, one for the wife’s car and one for mine when it’s really cold out (below zero) here in Minnesota. So far it’s working out well.

I was starting from a basic 22’ by 34’ three stall garage shell and added the following:

1. Electrical – outlets and lights
2. Mechanical – heating and cooling
3. Insulation – walls and ceiling
4. Sheetrock – taped, finished and painted a bright white

The best advise I would pass on to others is to add enough electrical capacity and lighting at the beginning, especially if you are going to cover the walls with sheetrock or paneling. Here’s my recommendations for electrical:

1. High output aperture industrial fluorescent lights every five feet with 3-way light switches on both ends of the shop

2. A minimum of two 220 circuits, alternating the circuits with every outlet, spaced approximate 16” or 32” apart

3. A minimum of four 110 circuits, alternating the circuits with every outlet, spaced every 16” or 32” apart

4. Ceiling drop cords for both 110 & 220 centered in each stall

5. If your shop is attached to your house and you have a hardwired smoke alarm system required by the newer electrical codes, be sure to add at smoke, fire and heat detector in the garage and connect it to the house system. That way if there’s a fire in the garage, especially when you are not in the shop, everyone in the house will know right away.

6. Wire for a heating system (ceiling mounted furnace, etc.) and cooling system (window AC unit, sump pump, etc.) now, even if you will not install them until later when funds are available.

7. Make it a pleasant place to spend time by installing a cable or satellite TV outlet. If you don’t have a cordless phone or wireless Internet access, pull cables for the telephone and computer network.

8. The one thing I omitted and will likely retrofit next summer is a high CFM exhaust fan to use when spraying finishes, the typical box fans in the windows just don’t cut it for my home made finishing booth. It would have added $300 during construction to enlarge the furnace chimney through the roof, now it will cost double that with the necessary permits (city requires a wall switch operation and inspection) and exterior changes to the garage side wall.

By having so many lights installed, it really helps eliminate the shadows when doing finishing work and keeps you sane during the long winter months in the north. By placing your outlets on at least every other stud, you eliminate to the need for unsafe extension cords and there’s always an outlet within easy reach. Additionally, with all the cordless battery chargers, pencil sharpeners, radios, etc. that get plugged in, you never run out. The ceiling drops came in handy when I needed to move the jointer and planers close to the garage door openings to mill some 15’ boards, the 220 circuits where within easy reach.

I spent about $2,500 on the electrical work that split out as $1,100 for materials, $200 for permits and $1,200 for labor by a licensed electrician. Those with more time, patience, and electrical knowledge might tackle this project themselves, but I appreciated the fact it was all done in three days.

As you correctly state, the shop layout is never perfect. The only machine of mine that has not moved at least once in the last year is the table saw and the 3’ by 7’ out-feed table I attached to it.

If you would like a PDF copy of my electrical plan, please email me at kelly@breit.com and I’ll gladly send it out.

Cheers,

Kelly

]]> By: Dave Tinley http://thewoodwhisperer.com/evolution-of-a-workshop/#comment-12313 Dave Tinley Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:13:21 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/evolution-of-a-workshop/#comment-12313 Eight years ago, when my wife threw me out of the garage, she let me build a shop. And the thing she kept saying over and over again, is " your only going to build one, so build it big enough". I made it 24 x 40 thinking I had plenty of room-ha, boy was I naive. In those eight years I must have rearrange tools probally 3 times a year. Yes, some where due to adding a new drum sander, or a bigger band saw, but mostly it was because the direction of my projects changed. First furniture repair, then building furniture, now its cabinet making and soon to add veneering. I will say this tho, a by product of all the rearranging was a plus, because I sure got the shop cleaned up. All those scraps of hardwood and plywood got tossed in the burn pile or neatly stored some where. Misc hardware that I had bought on sale ,or for a project "I was going to get around to" got put in its place. So there is a plus to the madness !! Oh, and as a side bar- I just had another 480 sq foot slab poured at the back of the shop to expand. So I will be moving machinery, cabinets, and tools once more, and I know this will be the last time. Yea- right............... Thanks Dave Eight years ago, when my wife threw me out of the garage, she let me build a shop. And the thing she kept saying over and over again, is ” your only going to build one, so build it big enough”.
I made it 24 x 40 thinking I had plenty of room-ha, boy was I naive.
In those eight years I must have rearrange tools probally 3 times a year. Yes, some where due to adding a new drum sander, or a bigger band saw, but mostly it was because the direction of my projects changed. First furniture repair, then building furniture, now its cabinet making and soon to add veneering.
I will say this tho, a by product of all the rearranging was a plus, because I sure got the shop cleaned up. All those scraps of hardwood and plywood got tossed in the burn pile or neatly stored some where. Misc hardware that I had bought on sale ,or for a project “I was going to get around to” got put in its place.
So there is a plus to the madness !!
Oh, and as a side bar- I just had another 480 sq foot slab poured at the back of the shop to expand.

So I will be moving machinery, cabinets, and tools once more, and I know this will be the last time.

Yea- right……………

Thanks
Dave

]]> By: Vic http://thewoodwhisperer.com/evolution-of-a-workshop/#comment-12283 Vic Thu, 27 Dec 2007 01:15:12 +0000 http://thewoodwhisperer.com/evolution-of-a-workshop/#comment-12283 Marc: I know I asked you that question last year, but someone else's question must've sparked the article. The clue was that it was asked by a "gentleman". Seriously, thanks for all the help you give me. I'd be stumbling around lost without your advise. Marc:
I know I asked you that question last year, but someone else’s question must’ve sparked the article. The clue was that it was asked by a “gentleman”. Seriously, thanks for all the help you give me.
I’d be stumbling around lost without your advise.

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