How to Set Up a Woodshop

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Make sure the room or building you plan to use is large enough.

   Once you have spent time planning and installing your equipment, it is an awful feeling to realize you can't function effectively in your shop.
   
   Here are some basic items to consider when you plan your shop.
   
   List the major tools you plan to install in your workshop, using the footprint and user space required for each.
   
   Here are examples:
   Table saws are about four feet by four feet, and require room to stand and feed material from at the front, and room to allow material to discharge after it has been cut.
   
   This means you need an area over six feet wide, and at least ten feet long for this one machine.
   
   Miter saws are generally smaller machines, as small as two feet wide and two feet deep, and the lumber is put in front of the saw to be cut, so you need at least six feet of width, and two feet of depth for this machine.
   
   Band saws and scroll saws are fairly small machines as well, and for cutting small items, they can be operated in a space of about three feet by five feet when they are set up on an independent stand built for them.
   
   Table mounted routers, planers and shapers are another machine that usually has material fed through, and although they are fairly narrow machines, they require room on their front for material to be fed from, and at the rear for the material to be removed after the work is complete, so again, a space of about ten feet is needed for any significant work.
   
   Look at bench and table space you will need for assembling projects and mounting bench top machines.
   
   A workbench about three feet deep and six feet long will do for many ordinary projects, but most woodworkers would rather have too much space than to be crowded with too little.
   
   Consider how you will store material if you plan on storing more than just what you will use on individual projects, and remember, it is often less expensive to buy in larger quantities, and having spare material in the event of a mistake can keep a project going, rather than taking a trip to the local lumberyard.
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   Step 2: Make sure the room or building you are planning to utilize has sufficient lighting and electrical outlets to allow you to see what you are doing

   You should also remember that many tools require a fairly substantial amperage to operate, so you need to make sure the wiring is capable of handling the loads. 20 Amp circuits will work for ordinary 120V tools, but air compressors and welders may require 40 Amp, 220V circuits. , Cutting and sanding produces a lot of dust, and you may find it is difficult to breathe when the atmosphere is full of this stuff.
   
   Also, when using paints, stains, and adhesives you can find an explosive atmosphere is possible if ventilation is not maintained. , A roll-up door is wonderful if you can swing it, a double door will work, but if possible, plan to have at least a three foot door for your main entrance. , A standard eight foot ceiling is fine for a residence, but flipping an eight foot sheet of plywood in a workshop with an eight foot ceiling is next to impossible.
   
   If you are building your shop from scratch, consider a ten foot ceiling. , Leave walkways around the machines, and estimate the space handling materials will require for each. , You can also compromise by installing combination machines that can perform the job of more than one, single purpose machine. ,,,
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   Step 3: and to work without excessive extension cords.

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   Step 4: Insure the workshop has adequate ventilation.

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   Step 5: Check the size of your door opening

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   Step 6: especially if you are going to finish large projects that will need to be removed after completion.

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   Step 7: Look at your ceiling height.

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   Step 8: List the tools you plan to install in your workshop

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   Step 9: and draw a scale drawing of your floor plan showing the footprint of each machine

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    Step 10: allowing room for working around it as needed.

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    Step 11: Look for portable or semi-portable machines if you find you cannot accommodate full sized stationary machines.

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    Step 12: Look at specialized storage cabinets to keep small parts

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    Step 13: fasteners

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    Step 14: and small tools organized and out of the way.

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    Step 15: Consider installing peg board panels behind workbenches or on walls where hand tools and other items can be hung for easy access.

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    Step 16: Begin building or remodelling the space you plan to use for your workshop with an understanding that very few wood workers have the luxury of a shop with all the room and equipment they will ever need

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    Step 17: and sacrifices and compromises are almost inevitable

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    Step 18: but planning and coordination will make the process easier and more successful.

Detailed Guide

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