Vodo’s Newbie Garage Shop

Shop Tour - Submitted by James from Idaho
Added on February 26, 2013

I just got into woodworking last August 2012. The house I purchased in 2008 came with a ghetto mailbox–a tire rim with cement in it on a post. I finally got around to re-landscaping my yard and I wanted to replace my mailbox with a real one.

After a few weekends of frustrating hours designing what I wanted, I decided I clearly needed better tools to do a decent job. I spent HOURS on forums looking for advice. I found websites like the Wood Whisperer, LumberJocks and Sawmill creek and spent even MORE time there. The mailbox turned out very nice and elicited my favorite comment, “That’s the nicest $2000 mailbox I’ve ever seen!”. From this point I started watching Woodworks with David Marks and I went crazy. Within about 2 months I had transformed the garage into a “shop”.

I started by demolishing the old “shelves” that a previous owner of the house had just tacked on the walls, they were essentially cast-offs from a kitchen remodel. The garage was insulated, so I dry-walled all but the ceiling, put up pegboards, shelves, and a clamp rack. If I had to start over, I might have gone with an all-one-brand setup. Instead, I have been trying to find quality machines in my price range with good reviews and good value. My first “project” will be as many have done, a torsion box assembly table. Then, a workbench since right now all I have are these cobbled-together, wobbly 2×4 tables that I made 10 years ago. I also added extra electrical outlets, 2 new fixtures and a lot of daylight bulbs, plus a heater so I can work during Idaho winters.

As a fortunate boon, I was able to salvage the “tops” of 53 armoires from the hotel I manage, including all the hardware, hinges, knobs, etc. plus enough board feet of veneered MDF to fill an entire room in my house. I just need to get the shop in order so I can cut it down into usable stuff. Which means–torsion box assembly/outfeed table since I don’t have a big table saw. I don’t have a lot of hand tools yet or clamps but I’m working on it.

Equipment:

Bosch 4100-09 10-Inch Table Saw
Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Planer
Shop Fox W1741 8-Inch Jointer
Grizzly G0555X 14″ Bandsaw
Bosch 1617EVSPK 2-1/4-Horsepower Plunge & Fixed Base Router
JobMax Work System
Air Compressor
Ryobi Drill Press
Rigid 16 Gallon Shop-Vac
Hitachi NT32AE2 18-Gauge Brad Nailer
DEWALT D26453K 3 Amp Random Orbit Sander

Discussion

TennesseeYankee February 26, 2013 10:26 am

I love the peg board. I have tons of it. While peg board may not be pretty, it sure is practical.

I think your Shop Fox jointer is awesome.

Have fun building everything out

Reply
Jean-Charles Panzini February 26, 2013 12:11 pm

My suggestion to you is to watch Norm’s New Yankee Workshop if you haven’t done it yet!
I learned a lot watching episodes online. You can find free episodes weekly on the official website.

Reply
Bob Crosley February 26, 2013 12:14 pm

I think you did right on your machine purchases, buying the right tool at the right price. It’s pretty to an all grey, or all gold, or even all green is nice looking, but I don’t think it buys you anything in terms of anything more than the standalone machines do. It’s not like Festool where the tools are built to work together. You don’t get anything special by having a jointer and planer from the same company.

I’m jealous of your shop. I’m way behind you in tools. Trying very hard to stick to the old rule of not buying a tool until I have a project that needs it. But it’s not easy. Buying tools is FUN!

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John M February 26, 2013 1:07 pm

Nice. It sounds like you started much the way I did back in 2000.

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Planetruth February 26, 2013 1:47 pm

We were all there once—you’re off to a great start!

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Thomas G. Kaiser February 26, 2013 1:52 pm

Very clean in there, time to make some dust!!!!!

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Thomas G. Kaiser February 26, 2013 2:03 pm

By the way, I was just reading your writing and you talk about a torsion table. I posted one here on Dec 3 2012. Have a look at it and if you like it or have any question please feel free and write. Mine was based off of Marc’s but with one addition, more meat. You can find me in the whisperer’s foam. just write a personal note to me.

Thomas Kaiser

Reply
- James February 26, 2013 9:33 pm
  
  Thank you! I’ll check it out!
  
  Reply
- Ray March 8, 2013 7:37 am
  
  Hey all, I need to jump in here and comment about the torsion table, If you plan on making that your work bench? I would adjust your dimensions. I am currently working on one similar to the one Marc had built as an assembly table. It’s strong, and made out of old shipping crates, however, I have found that holding work is difficult to do and is very frustrating. I ended up grabbing a piece of particle board and drilled dog holes in it to aid my woes, but as a solid work surface it is not a very good work table. It’s just as it says, it’s an assembly table.
  However, I have seen another modular design, that was made to work as a work bench, I’ll look through and see if I can’t find it.
  Truth be told, Love the torsion table, it is dead flat, even with 1/2 ply for the top and bottom, but I would go with 2x4s if your wanting a solid and workable bench surface. Or dig deeper and build a Roubo, That’s my next step.
  
  Reply
James February 26, 2013 9:37 pm

Thank you for all the comments and advice! Keep them coming!

Reply
Roger February 27, 2013 5:20 am

There seems to be a car in your wood shop mate…… Has to go! :)

I’m 18 month and a little of 20grand in so fare. I had spent 10 grand before I could cut squares :) I started with painting floors and lining walls. It can feel overwhelming when you have been working for 6 months and you haven’t built a thing. But now it’s all paying off I’m three projects in and I’ve even managed to make some money with the shop?

Good luck and keep up the good work. Hope you have an understanding misses.
:)

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Ranny February 27, 2013 7:12 am

Pretty good shop so far. I noticed the wood from the armoires. If using them for another project, you might want to check out a 23 guage pin nailer. I used the grex pin nailer recently for base trim and just used touch up paint to cover the tiny holes.

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Jim February 27, 2013 4:29 pm

Good on ya!
I made due with my Bosch contractor saw for years while I was building my house. Super wobbly, so get it on a rock solid stand and Go Slow, and it will do what you need till the fantasies of a 3hp get the better of you. :-)

Reply
Brok Sorensen February 27, 2013 7:22 pm

James,
How do you like the Ryobi Drill Press? I am looking for something small and affordable. I would really only use it for drilling wood.
Thanks,
Brok

Reply
- James March 2, 2013 4:22 am
  
  So far, I have not had a problem with the Ryobi Drill Press. I haven’t done anything major with it though, but it has had enough power and precision for what I have used it for.
  
  Reply
Mike Hill March 10, 2013 10:45 am

Nice setup. My machine setup is similar to yours. You’re definitely set up for a lot of projects already. I also have a Jet dust collector which is a big step up from a shop vac. Especially when you’re using a jointer or planer. The one other item I use a lot that you didn’t list is a router table but that’s more of a preference than a necessity.

Reply

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Vodo’s Newbie Garage Shop

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