Perfect shop

[flatrock58]

I like all the ideas since I am planning my new shop.  Please add some pictures of your shops too.

[johnnyllama]

  As has been said, it's never big enough. Mines 40 x 60, 12' ceilings and it's too small. It depends on what your plans are though. I build custom kitchen cabinetry and furniture for a living so I need a lot of space. I could double the size and still eventually want more. We have a 24" planer, 2 table saws, 2 drill presses, a line boring machine, cutoff saw, shaper, wide belt sander, drum sander, lathe, etc. I put as many tools on wheels as possible. Our work/assembly tables have drawer space underneath and are also moveable. We are gradually closing in all open shelf space behind doors so dust is easier to control. A separate finish room is a nice option if you can. The tall ceilings let us run a 2' deep shelf at 9' all along one 60' wall for seldom used stuff. A tall plywood rack has about 10 dividers to store assorted sheet goods, and 42" deep pallet racking for storing hardwoods. I've got infloor radiant heat with an outdoor boiler, and a phase converter for 3 phase. White painted walls on most areas with a white steel liner panel ceiling and florescent lighting keep it pretty bright. Good luck!

  

  

  

 

[flatrock58]

Nice Shop johnnyllama.  I was thinking I could build a 40x 60 with 16' sheds on either side and be happy.  Since I am more in the hobby woodworking and sawmilling that might work for now.  The problem is I will have to buy lots more equipment to fill it up!

[ScottAR]

Be sure to have a bathroom.  Since we don't heat the shop all the time we put up shelves in the bathroom  to put paint and such with a small heater.   

[hackberry jake]

Mmmm sweet table saws Johnnyllama. What kind is the second one with the slider?

[Brad_bb]

Have a separate room for storage and supplies that is easily accessed from the main shop.  Keep the shop space dedicated for tools and work space, and install both heating and air conditioning.

Set your compressor up outside of the main shop for noise control.  Same thing with your dust collection system.

Allow plenty of room to maneuver around equipment.

Spot on SCsmith42!  I'm about to build a new shop.  My woodworking room is going to be 36wide X 26 long.  The size really depends on what you plan to be doing.  If you're doing secondary work on long stock, more length would be in order.  One thing you can plan is a concrete apron or driveway in front of the door so that you can move a machine outside to do really long stuff.    At the size the original poster mentioned, I would not want to have to work on a vehicle in that space.  If that is needed, add more length.

I've found that (besides the compressor and dust collection being outside of the workspace), the table saw should go in the center of the room.  I find that is the first station for most projects and is used on virtually all projects.  Pivoting to the right or left, depending on what you prefer, should be your woodworking bench/assembly table.  Those are the two stations I work at most, so I want just a short pivot between them.

[johnnyllama]

Jake, that's an older Mini-Max with a 52" crosscut capability. I'd love a full sized slider but until we add on just not enough room. Got this one on Craig's List recently, it's in great shape but I'm building a new, longer crosscut fence for it, with flip stops. Then I'll probably part with the Powermatic 68 even though it's a good saw. My wife says if I had a 20,000sq.ft. shop I'd still have too many tools to fit!

[hackberry jake]

I know exactly what you mean. I think the closest I will ever get to a slider is the crosscut sled  :-\

[POSTON WIDEHEAD]

I think the closest I will ever get to a slider is the crosscut sled  :-\

I know one that walks and talks.  :D

[Just Me]

Jake, that's an older Mini-Max with a 52" crosscut capability. I'd love a full sized slider but until we add on just not enough room. Got this one on Craig's List recently, it's in great shape but I'm building a new, longer crosscut fence for it, with flip stops. Then I'll probably part with the Powermatic 68 even though it's a good saw. My wife says if I had a 20,000sq.ft. shop I'd still have too many tools to fit!

I have a variation of that same MiniMax that I bought new, it has been an awesome saw for twenty years. So versatile! When I downsized I had an Altendorf slider, but had no place for it, kept a Powermatic 66 and the Minimax.

I went from 4700 ft to a three car garage, lots of stuff had to go away. I sold the Altendorf, 36" Oliver,  12" Porter Jointer, 52" Timesavers wide belt. I am learning new lessons on how to be efficient with space. I have a 48x36 pole barn I am going to move into when I get enough money ahead to finish it, but the lessons I am learning in the small shop will help when I get out there as I will still be working in about a third of the space compared to the old shop.

I have the Minimax, a SCM 520 planer, MiniMax 12"jointer, 20" bandsaw and two large benches stuffed in the three car garage and rotate other tools out of the barn as I need them. I have a panel router in the basement, which makes my wife real happy when I use that. :-\

One thing I really hate about the small spavce is the mess a router makes. I do a lot of curved work and use a router a lot. In my old shop I had a big bench in the middle of the room and when I was done I just swept up. In the garage every time I route something it throws shavings from corner to corner so I can see the need for the enclosed tool room in the new shop.

The thing I miss the most is not having the room to have three or four projects going on at one time. I like to be able to walk away from something I am stumped on and work on something else while I ponder. Also not having a dedicated finish area is a pain in the tush, especially in the winter when outside is not an option.

I think the only way you could ever achieve the perfect shop is if you are doing the same thing all the time. My shop is not that way, its always something different.

[sawguy21]

'I do not like mixing parking or mechanical with the wood shop so I made the doors small enough so I could not get riding mowers etc into the shop.'  :D :D I would be guilty of that. We are moving in April, I am going to have a shop!!! It will be two bays of a three bay garage but that is a lot more than the 12x16 garden shed I have now. I will have to be careful though, I will be like you guys and fill it fast.

[ely]

dad has just this weekend got his 30 x 50 ready for spray foam... it is one of the vehicle/machine/wood shop. I know my dad and how he works, so I am a bit apprehensive about putting it all together. I will give it a try until I catch someone laying a greasy bearing on my woodworking tools. at that time I will build me a wood shop.