Located in the Pacific Northwest, the origins of my shop started last March when I decided I needed a separate building for my new woodworking hobby. I selected a 12′ x 18′ shop that matched my home due to neighborhood regulations. I then worked hard on getting the most functionality out of that size shop. The shop itself was one of my first major projects. The entire shop was built by me with a little help from friends and family. I did research on other small shops and tried to take the best of each and incorporate them into my shop. The shop is powered by a 100 amp sub panel with currently 10 of 12 20 amp circuits being used. The shop has electric heat and six 4′ fluorescent lights. This seems to provide all the power, light and heat I need.
The heart of the shop consists of a work station that contains my WoodTek 3 hp cabinet saw with built in router table similar to David Mark’s setup. Behind the table saw I built a version of Marc Spagnuolo’s assembly table. It serves dual functions as an out-feed table and assembly table. I use the space below to store some of my power hand tools. This is also where I set up my bench to plane when needed. The location in the center front third of my shop allows me to rip or plane material up to 8′ by opening the shop’s french doors and sliding my 14″ Grizzly band saw located on the back wall slightly to one side.
The left side of the shop has a 6″ Grizzly jointer and a Christopher Schwarz’s designed La Roubo work bench I just finished. The current jointer location allows me to joint material up to 48″. The jointer is equipped with a mobile base so if the material exceeds 48″ I just pull it away from the wall. The work bench is located next to a window to provide natural light and has most of my hand tools to my front and right.
At the front entrance of the shop is a mobile cabinet that I built to hold a bench top drill press that also has dual function as a isolating spindle sander. The lower section of the cabinet was built to hold my Ryobi 13″ planer, that I just pull out and position on the out-feed table when needed. Everything in the shop is easily connected to my Delta 1.5 hp dust collector located in the front right corner of the shop. I use a system of flexible and metal ducting to provide 3 dust collection hook ups that I switch from tool to tool as necessary. At some point in the future, I’m going to install more permanent ducting so that each tool has a dedicated connection.
On the rear right side of the shop is wood storage and my Makita 10″ sliding miter saw. This allows me to cut material down to more workable sizes efficiently before I have to move them around the shop. The miter saw table is lowered to allow the out-feed table to help support my work. On the back wall of the shop is my clamp storage. I found this design in Fine Woodworking, it allows easy access to all my clamps and I like the way it displays them. Also on the back wall is my 1.5 hp 14″ Grizzly band saw. It also incorporates a mobile base for movement if necessary, the location seems to work well though with the direction of cut across the shop.
All extra space on the walls is used for storage of some sort. Everything has it place so nothing is on my work table unless I’m using it, and because of the small size of the shop its not hard to get things out or put them back. That’s one of the beauties of a small shop everything has its place and that place is only a few steps away. I have really enjoyed working out the functionality of the shop and continue to fine tune it. I have enjoyed having a space to call my own, which is affectionately called “The Man Caveâ€Â.
46 Responses to “James’ Man Cave – Shop Tour”
Awesome! That seems like a really nice layout, man. The only thing I see you might want is a couple of nice anti-fatigue floor mats. Those things are a lifesaver!
Very nice man cave James. You’ve made excellent design choices to maximize the use of that space. I see you’ve got a use for blue tape that Marc didn’t cover in his article ;).
Opps, the little lady just caught me looking at wood porn again. She laughed and said, “that ain’t a Man Cave, it’s too pretty, more like it is the wife’s garden playhouse.” James, I suggest you change the locks frequently, and don’t let a single bulb be stored there or slowly you’ll be moving into a little corner of that nice shop. How do I know? Let’s just say…
Enjoy the space. I like the wood floors. So the anti-fatigue mats aren’t as critical, but still will be appreciated, I’d bet.
ciao
12×18, pretty nice. Good layout, good equipment list. And even better since you did it yourself…
That is 2′ deeper than the one I am planning for, sure is nice to see you can get everything you need in there!
Is that measurement including the little porch or is that your inside footprint?
yea, that includes the front porch.
Jim
Considering most of your stuff is floor models, and mine is mostly benchtop, I assume your shop would be equal to a 12×16 with no porch… And yours makes it look roomy… Thanks so much for posting this… I am now a LOT more confident that my entire shop will fit with no issues…
That’s a really nice shop you got. Congrats on the new Roubo.
My shop is very close to this dimension (12×16) and I’ve been struggling with the layout – thanks for the ideas and inspiration.
Real nice! Nice setup, and organization. Nice Bench, can only hope to have something similar one day.
what’s the SQFT?
nm, I missed the 12×18 first time reading through…
James,
Very nice. It may be small, but looks efficient. My “shop” is loaded with lawnmowers and bags of fertilizer. And you can barely see the floor since by dust collection consists of my backpack blower once a week.
Nice Work. Nice use of space.
Very nice job on the workbench. I built the same bench. I didn’t include the clamp on the side. I built it to accomodate the deadman, but I have yet to add it. I’m wondering how useful it really is.
The outside of your shop sure is pretty, James. It looks deceptively like a chick space rather than a man-cave. ;-)
ouch, yea maybe a little to cute.
C,mon! James is brilliant. He built an efficient, sleek man cave, but disguised it. Kind of like the bat cave.
Nice work James. Makes me jealous.
Oh, I agree completely! Sorry, I didn’t intend it as a criticism. I’m actually very impressed by the “camouflage”.
Awesome shop. I love the idea of building it on piers and having a wood floor. Did you insulate the floor? I was thinking that when I build mine it would be cool if I could run the dust collection and electrical through the floor locally to each tool rather than the clutter of having it overhead. Any comments on this approach?
I actually ran some of the electric under the shop for the table saw and a central outlet for hand tools and some day I think I might run the dust collection under the shop also, so I think that would be a good plan.
If it’s possible, could you post how much it cost you to build your wonderful man cave? I’m starting to plan/dream about building my own off building.
Great shop and beautiful workbench! Fits in well in the yard and can’t do anything but help your property value.
Thanks!!
Awesome use of space! Gave me some idea of what can be done in the small space. I have a 12×17 small barn housing my lawn equipment currently – thinking of converting into a shop. I work out of my garage now and doing the tool shuffle gets old. Plus I have no heat for the MN winters…
How did you go about doing your layout? On paper? Or computer? Any other lessons you learned in laying out a small space? Did you buy tools based on the space? Or did you have them prior to building?
James, this tour came at a good time. I’ve been working out of a single car garage for the past 2 years and It’s beyond frustrating. I’ve really been focusing lately on getting organized and finding a home for everything. It can get quite discouraging but seeing what you’ve been able to accomplish gives me hope. Thanks for sharing. Be safe!
WOW, you have great tools within a little space. I have big space but little tools…..we need to meet up! lol
Good Job, The shop looks great
This has to be the best small shop I have seen.
Nice job on the construction and the interior layout.
I love an orderly shop.
Nice and neat. I’m not sure if the floormats are as necessary with the wood floor.
Do you use your miter saw much? Looked a bit awkward in its current spot.
I wish there was a space-efficient solution for dust collection — maybe something that lofts well, where it can be lowered to service the canister/bags. Are your jointer and planer on the dust-collector, or hooked up only when in use?
Matt
Beautiful ! Greeat info !
Very nice, and very efficient use of the space.
Man U really r organized. I have a 12 x 24 and still I fight to get things just right. It always looks cluttered. Beautiful structure. Thanks for sharing.
That is a sweet shop. It gives me ideas for my dream shop someday.
Looks good. I just finished the table that you have posted on your wall. I chickened out and didn’t put the iron spreaders between the legs. It still turned out nice. It was difficult for me to make the breadboard ends but I am a novice!
The bread board end were no fun for me either. I’m about 2/3 done now, starting the drawers.
James, nice work. The shop looks great and I bet it blends in nicely with the materials used on your home. I like that you have french doors to open when ripping longer material. The interior is well thought out. How many hours did it take to complete this project?
Way to many!!!
Very nice shop indeed. Well thought out.
Maybe you’ve already thought of it but you can rip or resaw really long stock on your bandsaw.
Just move it forward about a foot and open both windows :)
Yea have done that, but not through the windows:)
I’m building a new home and need to build a small shop/shed about the size of yours. I, like you, will have to make it match the house. I was worried about not having much room a shop that size, but you shop looks good. Much better than my current garage/shop. Now I just need some better tools.
Thanks, its pretty small but works well for me.
Muchas felicidades, me encanto tu taller, por odenado y limpio, ademas de que me diste algunas ideas de como organizar el mio. Ya que el tamaño del taller que yo tengo es muy similar al tuyo.
Saludos desde Mèxico.
Very nice a lot of thinking went in to it.I have no experience woodtek. What do you think?
I like the Woodtek saw, I haven’t had a ton of experience with other cabinet saws but this one does everything I have asked of it.
Hi Jim: Just came across this & it’s what I was looking for as far as a small shop set up! I am planning to purchase a 12′ x 24′ shed & will now be able to incorporate much of your layout design in my little shop! Thanks for posting & keep up the good work at “The Man Cave” wood shop!!!
Steve
Thanks steve, with that little be more size I think you will have a nice little shop. I could always use just a little more more but don’t we always.
Jim
Looks great!
It’s amazing what we small shop wood workers can do out of necessity.
My only concern is the saw blades mounted above the door.
I wouldn’t want someone to close the door too hard and end up with a blade embedded in their head.
But it looks like a very functional floor plan.
I might have to steal some ideas.
John
Thanks for the complements. Actually the saw blades are mounted on dowels that are angled up so they can’t get off very easy. Hopes it give you some good ideas and I’m always opened to suggestions.
Jim
James, awesome shop! I posted a topic in the forum about a potential new 12×20′ shop and someone pointed me your way as a fine example of what one can do with a small space.
Do you mind me asking what is the dimension from the right side wall to the left edge of your tablesaw? Reason I am asking is that I have a PM2000, and I am considering a layout similar to yours with the TS against the right wall, then a small narrow walkway, then the jointer placed along the left wall. My worry is that the walkway will be too small. I have a Delta DJ20 jointer and the Powermatic saw both of which I am worried might be a few inches larger than your tools.
Thanks in advance for your helpful reply.
Hi Ben
I’m updating some photos on my forum page of my all my changes since this was posted. I also took some measurements. My Woodtek it up against the wall and is 78 inches long, that leave me a space of 58 inches to the opposing wall. If you need anything else just let me know.