New Shop? Where to Start?

Article - December 26, 2007

This week’s question comes from Eric. He writes:

I finally have a two car attached garage that I’ve talked my wife into letting me keep as a workshop only. The trouble is, I watch all the woodworking programs and shows, and I don’t what to do first. Like most people my age (29), I haven’t got an extensive budget. First, how do I get started? I have a router, compound miter saw, lots of hand tools, clamps, compressor, nail guns, skill saws, a jig saw and a Dremmel. What’s the next major tool to buy? How do I arrange my garage? I’d like to maximize the space with areas to keep stock and a little bit of yard storage too (no sheds with my HOA). I haven’t found a functional plan that works for me yet. Any ideas? Lastly, will you send me a list of a novice’s guide to starting a working shop out of a two car garage? I was quite impressed with your shop and aspire to have one of my own one day.

And here was my reply:
Hey Eric. Congrats on the garage. From your list of tools, it sounds like you have everything needed for a small weekender shop. But if you plan to get serious, there are 3 major tools that you will eventually need. The tablesaw, the planer, and the jointer (in that order). How soon you need them is up to you. My suggestion is start building projects. As soon as you hit a wall because you don’t have a particular piece of a equipment, that’s how you know what you next purchase will be. Lots of people buy pre-dimensioned lumber and cut their sheetgoods with a circular saw. So its certainly possible to survive without the big set of tools. As far as arrangement, the best thing to do is look at other people’s shops. The best place to do that is right here on our site: Shop Tours. You should also check out our sister site, NewToWoodworking.com where we have a special article on Setting up Shop.

Just remember that a shop is always being rearranged. I have yet to find the “perfect” setup. Check out this article I wrote on the topic. And you might find some helpful info here as well: Fine Woodworking Article”

Discussion

Tomcat1066 December 26, 2007 3:39 pm

Just some FYI to Eric, Grizzly has an interactive program that will let you play around a bit with shop layout. You can place equipment and move it around to see how it will work in your shop. The downside is that it is all Grizzly products, but find a Grizzly product close in size to what you have or are getting, and it should give you a fair idea. Just go to grizzly.com and look on the left hand side.

Reply
thewoodwhisperer December 26, 2007 3:51 pm

Excellent suggestion. I’ve used that program a number of times myself. Very simple and fun.

Reply
Tomcat1066 December 26, 2007 5:47 pm

Yeah…I use it to fantasize about my dream shop.

However, it’s great to help tweak a small shop to hold more stuff than you would think can fit and still be usable!

Reply
Vic December 26, 2007 6:07 pm

Eric, as you go forward, I would also suggest you start thinking what type of woodworking interests you most. That decision can change whether you center your shop around a tablesaw or, instead a bandsaw. While I have both, my main interest is in curvilinear work over panel work. Therefore, as I set up shop, the work-flow will center around the bandsaw. Tomcat, thanks for the heads up on the Grizzly program. I’m almost ready to start placement in my new shop and that will come in very handy.

Reply
baldy December 26, 2007 7:38 pm

Well Eric here is my 2 cents!! I built a 12’x24′ shed in the back yard to house all the other “stuff” that one requires to store and half of it is for lumber storage. Tablesaw and outfeed table in the center pushed towards the garage door. i have a big 16′ door. On the right side of the garage looking to the door I have my jointer/planer and SCMS and a work bench. On the left side I built a 16′ work bench/small tool storage etc. I ran a 20 amp 120V extension cord to my table saw to give it some juice. Fluorescent lights above the bench and TS. The only thing I don’t like so far is that I have to open the garage door to jointer boards longer than 30″. Hope that helps a little.

Reply
John Heaney December 26, 2007 10:46 pm

“…there are 4 major tools that you will eventually need. The tablesaw, the planer, and the jointer (in that order).”

I’m dying to know what the fourth tool is.

Reply
thewoodwhisperer December 26, 2007 10:48 pm

lol. OK so there are only three. :)

Reply
Tomcat1066 December 27, 2007 3:11 am

Don’t worry Marc. There’s three kinds of people in this world. Those who can count, and those who can’t ;)

Reply
Steve December 27, 2007 6:35 am

Could the fourth be a bandsaw?

Reply
Jonathan December 27, 2007 8:31 am

Eric. Start with a plan. Measure out your shop and your tools – including the ones you don’t have, but you think you will get soon – and play around on paper. I would suggest including the infeed and outfeed of each of the tools. Here is a layout that I created as my “starting” plan. http://www.theworkshopproject......out_v2.gif

I agree with Marc, that the shop is always going to change and evolve. Don’t get hung up on getting it right. Just get it done right now.

Reply
Kelly December 27, 2007 4:50 pm

Dream shop electrical recommendations ….

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 wifeâ

Reply
Danny Boy December 27, 2007 8:38 pm

I’d like to ask a follow up questions, if I may. Is there a specific reason to get a planer before a joiner?

Reply
thewoodwhisperer December 27, 2007 8:52 pm

For your reference Danny Boy: http://www.thewoodwhisperer.co.....-the-week/

Reply
William December 31, 2007 7:50 am

Excellent electrical advice from Kelly. The best thing I did early on in my “2-car” shop was to install a dedicated 60 amp sub-panel and run a bunch of 110 and 220 circuits and lots of lighting. Even if you decide to move down the road, a tricked out garage can be a selling feature. Be sure that everything is permitted and meets or exceeds Code.

I think the key to the small garage shop is to mobilize your forces – everything goes up on wheels, preferably a good roller stand that sits down firmly on the ground. Even my Unisaw is mobilized, though only for shop cleanout purposes since rolling it around knocks the long extension table out of alignment.

An important consideration in small shop layout is infeed and outfeed space. I position my table saw centered from left to right near the garage door, giving me about 14 feet of infeed. I can still have an outfeed table and be able to close the garage door.

The other consideration is maximum use of storage space. All my “bench top” tools (planer, drill press, etc) go on top of shopmade roller cabinets with lots of drawers for storage. Shop furniture makes for great first projects, by the way.

My problem is where to store the scuba gear, but that’s for another forum.

Reply
JHop May 29, 2009 11:04 pm

Currently reading (ok, flipping through) a book entitled _Setting up your own Woodworking Shop,_ by Bill Stankus. Proving very informative. I’m not assimilating all of the info yet because I’m working out of the basement, which serves three duties already (and wood working would be the fourth, fifth, and sixth duties I’m trying to squeeze out of it…)

Reply

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

New Shop? Where to Start?

Advertisers