Bart’s Standalone Shop

Shop Tour - Submitted by Bart from Saint Johns, MI
Added on February 14, 2013

I originally built this pole barn to store my boat and work on my cars. But after working on airplanes all day the last thing I wanted to do when I got home was to turn more wrenches. So the shop didn’t get much use. And then came the start….

I wanted to buy a shelf for under the TV to hold DVD’s and my wife said you can build something like that. So I started looking into it and got side tracked by plans for a router table and all the things you can do with one. Well that was my first project. It was so much fun, I was officially hooked. I sold my Shelby Mustang and started my wood shop.

The shop is 30’x 32′ with 11 ft. ceiling which gives me lots of room to move sheets of plywood even with the dust collection ducts hanging from the ceiling. I heat the shop with in-floor heating using a hot water heater which I highly recommend to anyone building a shop. Its nice and quiet and keeps my feet warm. I just finished re-doing the shop for the fifth time, hopefully the last! I painted the walls and ceiling, painted the green 6in. drain and sewer pipe that I used for dust collection black, which I think looks a lot better. I just finished building the split-top Roubo workbench using hard maple for the top and walnut for the base (Thanks for the great build, Marc) Anyways hope you enjoy the tour. Oh and by the way, I have yet to build the shelf for under my TV…although I do have some ideas brewing in my head.

Discussion

Bob Crosley February 14, 2013 1:03 pm

Dude, building the shelf would have been cheaper!

Seriously, that’s an amazing space to work. Could go on about the stuff I love about it, including the red walls, and the butcher block side tables for the CMS, but I have to give mad props for the CMS dust collection cabinet! When i grow up and have a real shop, I’m going to have to build one of those.

Fantastic idea.

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Eric February 14, 2013 1:26 pm

Very nice! Really like the finished look of the shop.
Maybe some day.

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Texfire February 14, 2013 1:31 pm

Nice setup! How do you like the plastic drapes you have on either side of the miter saw as a dust control method?

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- Bart February 14, 2013 4:33 pm
  
  Texfire, yes the drapes do help to keep the dust inside. In addition to the normal dust connection on the miter saw I also have a 4in hose connected on the bottom of the shelf just behind the saw. Works great. I got the drapes from a local restaurant supply store. they are a replacement section for a walk in cooler.
  
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TennesseeYankee February 14, 2013 2:07 pm

this shop is awesome. What a dream come true.
I must say, the color of the walls are the best thing about the whole shop. Does it give your work an unnatural hue?
Is your miter saw the Bosch 12″ Dual Bevel Glide saw? If so, how is the dust collection for that saw? Does the box you created for it effectively reduce the dust?

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- Bart February 14, 2013 5:00 pm
  
  Tennessee Yankee
  The Color does not seem to effect the hue. I have lots of overhead light.
  Yes its the new Bosch miter saw, the dust collection that comes on the saw works ok but its no festool. The box around it works really good. I have a 4in dc hose connected on the bottom of the shelf right behind the saw in addition.
  
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Peter Perrello February 14, 2013 4:16 pm

What’s the yellow box mounted to the lower side of the Powermatic Planer?

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- Bart February 14, 2013 5:08 pm
  
  the yellow box is a ivac remote switch for the dust collector. The tool is plugged in to the box and the box is pluged into the wall. There is another box on the dust collector. When the tool is turned on it sends a signal to turn on the DC, and when the tool is turned off it sends another signal to turn the DC off after 15 Sec. to allow all the chips to clear out off the DC hose. Its a lazy mans remote but I love it.
  
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Claude Stewart February 14, 2013 4:37 pm

Sweet!!

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Randy February 14, 2013 5:06 pm

Bart, where did you get those shelf brackets??? The big ones holding up the wood.
Thanks,

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- Bart February 14, 2013 7:45 pm
  
  Randy,
  Tan colored shelfs behind the jointer are gorilla racks from Menards and the gray shelves above the miter saw are from Menards also.
  
  Reply
Todd February 14, 2013 5:58 pm

What a beautiful workshop, I like the heated wood floors!

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- Bart February 14, 2013 7:54 pm
  
  Hi Todd
  I wish it was a wood floor but its a concrete floor that I painted with an epoxy paint. It is heated though. Which I would recommend anyone building a new shop to put in.
  
  Reply
Shawn February 14, 2013 7:28 pm

Wow. Does that dust collection set up on the miter saw actually work?

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- Bart February 14, 2013 7:58 pm
  
  Shawn
  I would say it catches 90-95 % of the dust. I’m pretty happy with it.
  
  Reply
Bart February 14, 2013 8:08 pm

A lot of you seemed interested in the miter saw set up so I will post some close up pictures of it some time in the next week in my photo gallery on the wood Talk online forum.
http://www.woodtalkonline.com/.....1256-bart/

Reply
Steve February 14, 2013 8:43 pm

Bart,
Absolutely beautiful shop. I, like the others, like your miter saw box. I also like the paint on the DC piping. How did you go about painting that? Spray, brush?
Thanks

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- Bart February 15, 2013 10:12 am
  
  Lots of spray cans. It really sucked but the end product was worth it. I think it was rustolium spray cans for plastic.
  
  Reply
Thomas G. Kaiser February 14, 2013 9:48 pm

Like the way you have set up the tools and the organization, I’m big into both. I think sometimes working on my shop is more fun than some projects. Love seeing your shop and others as well. Keep spending time in there and you will live longer.

Thomas

Reply
- Bart February 15, 2013 10:26 am
  
  Thomas
  I feel the same way. Working on the shop and finding the best way to organize things is almost as much fun as building something. Still there is nothing like looking at a piece of furniture you just finished and thinking how it all came from rough lumber. Woodworking is awesome!!
  
  Reply
bigred February 14, 2013 10:01 pm

that is one expensive DVD shelf. but i do the same thing often. i almost always find an excuse to buy a new tool when i start a new project.

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Vic Hubbard February 14, 2013 10:30 pm

Very Nice, Bart. I have the same basic set-up for my SCMS DC hood. I borrowed that design from Mark Hochstein (Loogie). Works great and I still haven’t added the curtain. Great job on the bench, too!

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- Bart February 15, 2013 10:53 am
  
  Hi Vic,
  I dont remember who it was but I got the idea from someones post on WTO Forum 3-4 years ago. You should put the curtains on, it really makes a big difference. I picked mine up from a local restaurant supply store. They are a replacement strip for a walk in cooler.
  
  Reply
  - Vic Hubbard February 16, 2013 9:28 am
    
    Heh! Yea, I will, sooner or later. I’m really happy with the system even without the curtain, but they would definitely add directional velocity to the mix. I’m pretty sure I know the WTO post and yes, that would be Loogie’s. He has since improved the design. http://www.gunpowderwoodworks......art-2.html
    
    Reply
Doug McPherson February 15, 2013 5:56 am

SUPER SWEET SHOP! You are about an hour from me. I’d love to connect sometime and see what kinds of projects come out of your beautiful space.

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Rob J. February 15, 2013 7:17 am

Really great shop. Great size, plenty of room. Really ;ike your miter saw enclosure and vac. system there.

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Carter February 15, 2013 7:20 am

That must have been one nice Shelby Cobra! Beautiful Shop.

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Tom Pritchard February 15, 2013 7:41 am

What a fabulous shop. Top of the line equipment and layed out very well. The American flag adds a nice touch.

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TerryMcK February 15, 2013 7:53 am

Really nice shop Bart. I particularly like the cyclone in the closet. I really must do that with mine. Some great ideas there :)

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Steve February 15, 2013 8:10 am

Very nice shop!!

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Tim February 15, 2013 8:35 am

Bart… really nice shop. You’ve got a lot of good comments on it… orange you glad you posted it?!?!

… sorry… had to do it. I’ve been listening to too much Woodtalk lately…

Reply
Jeff Merrill February 15, 2013 9:41 am

Wow, very nice shop Bart, I like all the different brands of machines that you have.
I have been wanting to upgrade my machines for a while now but I am torn between medium to higher end machines. Powermatic being the higher end for me but I am also looking at alot of the Grizzly machines due to affordability. Could you possibly give a general comparison between the two of what you like and dislike. For example you have a grizzly joiner and a powermatic planer, then you have two band saws of each brand, why not go with the same brand? I guess I’m funny like that in wanting to stay with the same brand all the way around. That is what I am trying to make up my mind in what I should purchase.

Reply
lance February 15, 2013 10:44 am

Great shop. The lay out is perfict. I realy like the miter station.
What did you use for the top of it? It looks like they are 2×4 edge glued. How did you set the miter saw below the top?

Reply
- Bart February 17, 2013 6:25 pm
  
  Hi Lance,
  The tops are a butcher block I ordered from Grizzly. I could have made them but they were on sale for a good price. I posted some close up pics of the mitter saw on my Gallery shows how shelf is attached.
  
  Reply
Larry February 15, 2013 10:44 am

Fabulous shop… I think that a square shop of these dimensions is better for placement of tools…rather than a narrow longer workspace..especially love the clear plastic guard curtain of the Chop Saw…

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Dan Power February 15, 2013 11:59 am

Bart,
Great job. I am building a 22x 26 shop with a barn style roof so I have about 25′ x 10′ x 6′ 6” on the top section. I have just finished the sheeting and have it all done with 1/2” plywood. I have the CV 1800 ready to install. I just got to put a finish on the garage floor, paint the trim on the windows and I am ready to go. There are so many questions that I would love to ask you about that I cannot get into here, but your shop has definitely sparked my interest and it is an excellent job you have done. I need to contact you if you don’t mind. Marc suggested that I leave my email here but I am a bit weary of doing that. Do you have another way that I can get my email to you, if you don’t mind the questions that is? Again, great shop.

Regards,
Dan

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo February 15, 2013 1:35 pm
  
  I emailed Bart your contact info.
  
  Reply
  - TennesseeYankee March 12, 2013 9:37 am
    
    Marc,
    
    I have a number of questions for Bart. Is there any way you could ask him if it was alright if I got his email address to send the questions directly to him?
    
    Many thanks,
    
    Chad
    
    Reply
Dave Stanton February 16, 2013 2:02 am

Bart, great job. like you I feel that getting the shop set up correctly could be more fun than actually making stuff in there.
Have you had any thoughts after the fact about if you could have done it better if you weren’t so keen to get it done?

Reply
- Bart February 17, 2013 6:35 pm
  
  Dave,
  Two things, First I wish I ran water and sewer to it. I would love to have a bathroom and sink for sharpening stuff. Second I would have built it another 10ft longer so I could put a spray room in. In the future I will probably add it on the back. other than that I am really happy with how its set up.
  
  Reply
Bart February 16, 2013 1:42 pm

Thanks for all the great comments. And a great big THANKS to my wife for being understanding and letting me have my dream shop! I posted some more photos and close ups of the mitter saw in my photo gallery on wood talk online.

Reply
Emmrys February 16, 2013 1:45 pm

I always like shop tours and get lots of idea for my shop space. Bart, for some reason your shop got me more jazzed up that most. From the outside it is just downright pretty. Then the inside takes your breath away. You are equipped to make anything you want any way you want. The place is neat, organized and looks so comfortable. What a great place to spend time. I know you don’t have the shelf built for the DVDs but I did see shelves in the shop so I know you have your priorities all worked out. Enjoy that shop and know there are lots of us in all sorts of spaces doing the same thing.

Reply
John Wolfe February 16, 2013 10:26 pm

Nice shop, Bart! Is that a white board on the door of the DC system? If so, that’s a really cool idea for quickly sketching out ideas.

Reply
- Bart February 17, 2013 6:44 pm
  
  John,
  Yes it is a white board. at first I used the White shower board used for bathrooms from Home Depot which worked ok but you had to use a little elbow grease to wipe it off if you left the writing on for a long time. I just happened to be in the right place when some one at work was getting rid of a huge dry erase board. I got it for free. cut it to fit the front door, and use it to jot down ideas and my kids love to draw pictures on it for me.
  
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Mitchell February 19, 2013 7:11 am

Gorgeous shop. The best I’ve seen yet. You have done great job on organization! Hope you keep it as clean & neat as photos. Dream shop indeed. Did you try overbade dust collection f/ Saw Stop or just go w/ Excalibur f/ beginning?

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- Bart February 19, 2013 9:02 am
  
  Mitchell,
  I had the Excalibur from my previous saw. I have been wanting to try the guard that came with it to see how it compares just havent done it yet.
  
  Reply
Mitchell February 19, 2013 10:36 am

Bart,
I have a Saw Stop w/ Beismier & a Sears TS w/ the Incra TS fence. I’ve found the Incra accurate but time commsuming to lock TS on carriage & both front & back w/ thumb screws. Do you feel that having TS on Saw Stop & these locks outweigh Beismier that came w/ Saw Stop?

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- Bart February 19, 2013 1:52 pm
  
  Mitchell,
  Honestly, I rarely use the the thumb screw that locks the front of the Incra fence. I find the main handle that locks the fence does just fine for most of my cuts. I do use it sometimes when I have thick or really big piece to cut. The one thing I liked about the Beismier style fence is being able to put a saddle over it for a taller fence. But I came up with a way to do it on the incra thats almost as easy.
  
  Reply
  - Dave Stanton February 22, 2013 11:55 pm
    
    Saddle over the fence….BRILLIANT!, Such an obvious thing but didn’t even think about it. Thanks!
    
    Reply
Jeff Merrill February 19, 2013 12:21 pm

Bart, how well do you like your Grizzly machines?
The reviews I have read on them are pretty much mixed, good and bad.

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- Bart February 19, 2013 1:38 pm
  
  I have the Grizzly 18in bandsaw, 8in jointer w/straight blades and the spindle sander and they work great for me as a hobbyist. Not sure how it would do for a pro, running it all day. I do want to get the powermatic 8in. jointer with the helical head though. I have the PM planer with helical head and love it. I know I can change out the head on the Grizzly but there just something about having a PM. Someday when I’m having a weak moment I will probably get one. Then I could give a better comparison between the two. The helical head is defiantly worth the extra money!
  
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Andrew Mac February 20, 2013 6:35 am

Great shop!!!

For the mitre saw setup I have a couple questions. Where did you purchase the two green tables that the saw mounts between and what fence did you use on those tables?

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- Bart February 20, 2013 5:35 pm
  
  Andrew,
  The Tables are actually metal shelf components from Menards. They have lots of different ways you can mix and match them. They come in 4′, 6′, and 8′ lengths, different heights and depths. here is a link (They are Tan color)
  http://www.menards.com/main/bu.....c-9540.htm
  The fence is a Kreg precision measuring system.
  http://www.rockler.com/product.....te=ROCKLER
  
  Reply
  - Andrew February 28, 2013 6:34 pm
    
    Very helpful, thanks again!!
    
    Reply
michael mccafrey February 20, 2013 11:53 am

Wonderfull.

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Jose Varela February 20, 2013 4:51 pm

Nice workshop, but exchange I the color of the walls, for one mas relaxing.

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Dan June 30, 2013 8:43 pm

Can you say a bit about the dust collection system? Trying to size one for a very similar shop and am lost figuring out how much I need. 3hp? more? manufacturers?

Love what you did with the place!

Dan

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Chris Armstrong August 11, 2013 6:54 pm

I’ve been consuming every “shop tour” I can trying to get ideas. This is easily my favorite shop I’ve seen. Amazing job!!

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Paul Williams January 7, 2014 1:07 pm

Bart,

I really like your SCMS set up using the gorilla racking. I am familiar with gorilla racking, just not the specific racking you used to build that station. It appears to be some sort of workbench with drawers underneath, but I have never seen these specific units at Menards here in Wisconsin. They also appear to be 8′ in length and I am guessing 2 foot in width. I was thinking of also incorporating a router table in my set up as well. One last thing, what did you use for the bench top on these? it looks like maple?

Thanks,

Paul

Reply
- Bart January 20, 2014 9:23 pm
  
  Hi Paul
  Yes I purchased these at Menards they are in the shelving department. They offer them in different heights, in 4ft, 6ft, and 8ft lengths and different depths. I believe mine are 24in deep. The drawers are are an accessory purchased separately. If they don’t carry them at your store I’m sure if you ask a sales person and they can order them. I ordered the tops from grizzly.com they are maple. I used an 8ft on one side of my scms and a 6ft section on the other. I used angle iron bolted on each side to drop down the miter saw so its level with the top. If you visit my page on WTOnline there are more pics.
  
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Bobbie July 4, 2014 4:54 pm

Bart.
Wow, a really nice space with plenty of space for material handling and assembly.

I see a Powermatic drill press and it appears to have a rolling base. If there is a set of wheels there; what is the make and model?

Thank you for taking the time to share the pics.

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Tim July 27, 2014 10:27 am

Bart

How did u make the clear boxes that have on the end of your drops?

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Kenny August 7, 2014 8:49 am

Hey! Isn’t that Donna from Suits on the TV screen in the shot of the dust collector cabinet.
Doesn’t the closet restrict airflow/thus performance of the dust collector?

Reply

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Bart’s Standalone Shop

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