i can't friggen believe it...

[atotalnincompoop]

my girlfriend wanted to put a, now get this...a "wood working" shop in my new "hot rod" shop
there will be no wood cutting in the garage. period!!
so, now i have to build a small out building for her hobby shop.
i was thinking about maybe 12' wide x 16' long, gambrel roof, for lots of headroom and some overhead storage, heated by small woodstove, anybody have a small shop like this already, looking for ideas and inspiration.
thanks

 

[bad_idea]

I am thinking of building one of similiar size for a wood working shop in my backyard. I also don't want the saw dust in my garage. I am curious to see how this one pans out.

 

[kb2tha]

The type of projects she intends to build along with current and planned equipment needs may help determine the size of the new building. We all know that you can never have too big of a garage. Maybe she is thinking along the same lines about a ww shop.

I do have some woodworking tools in 1/2 of my garage space and I tend to agree that the two just don't mix well. Although I don't see any more dust from my tablesaw than I get when taking paint off of truck fenders or refinishing the two gas pumps I just did.

Perhaps with some encouragement, you could get your GF to help out in the garage, if that is a good thing for you. I believe many of us on this forum would welcome a partner in the garage.
FWIW

 

[Perryk]

Leave it alone for a few days, she will either forget or move onto something else.

 

[garboui]

Leave it alone for a few days, she will either forget or move onto something else.

12-20K for a out shop to keep her quiet or ~1-2K in something diamond including to keep her quiet?

 

[atotalnincompoop]

 

[atotalnincompoop]

Leave it alone for a few days, she will either forget or move onto something else.

she forgets nothing

 

[64dragnwagon]

You could always buy one of the prebuilt wood buildings and have it set up on your property. Almost no work and if she decides she doesn't like her hobby you can sell it.

 

[trbomax]

I think you have the right attitude by wanting to build her a shop, but my experience has proved that you would be better off to build on to your shop for her. Build it using one common wall,heat it separately and put an entrance door between them. From a psycoligical standpoint,this will show your intrest in her hobbys and a willingness to include her in your life while she persues her own interests.Putting her"outback" in her own building is not a good foundation for building a relationship.Another plus is that if for whatever reason the addition is not needed for a woodshop it will be easy and handy to convert to other uses.

 

[Ocho]

I think you have the right attitude by wanting to build her a shop, but my experience has proved that you would be better off to build on to your shop for her....Another plus is that if for whatever reason the addition is not needed for a woodshop it will be easy and handy to convert to other uses.

This.

 

[atotalnincompoop]

she will be doing basic woodworking, some simple projects from planters to muskoka chairs, that type of stuff. the tools will be mitre saw, table saw, drill press etc and a work table.

 

[atotalnincompoop]

From a psycoligical standpoint,this will show your intrest in her hobbys and a willingness to include her in your life while she persues her own interests.Putting her"outback" in her own building is not a good foundation for building a relationship..

i had to read that twice
its not that i'm not interested in her and i would like a wood shop, i just don't want any sawdust on my hot rods

 

[bradleykd]

its a girlfriend... I wouldn't be doing any major construction for somebody i'm not willing to marry yet.... Just tell her no. That's what I did with my wife. Now she understands that the shop is my area, her interests have no place there... lol

 

[dlenkewich]

I'd be thrilled if my lady wanted a hobby shop. Would gladly make room for her in mine until we mutually agreed she out grew the space and needed her own.

As for the above post - been with my Girlfriend 5 years. The title you put on the relationship doesn't have much to do with anything.

 

[John in OH]

I think you have the right attitude by wanting to build her a shop, but my experience has proved that you would be better off to build on to your shop for her. Build it using one common wall,heat it separately and put an entrance door between them. From a psycoligical standpoint,this will show your intrest in her hobbys and a willingness to include her in your life while she persues her own interests.Putting her"outback" in her own building is not a good foundation for building a relationship.Another plus is that if for whatever reason the addition is not needed for a woodshop it will be easy and handy to convert to other uses.

Trbomax speaks with great wisdom! I've been married to the same woman for 40 years and this type of gesture really helps cement a relationship. Every woman I ever met craves companionship so having her "next" to you, even if in a separate room, will make her much happier than being stuck in a lonely shed. From a practical standpoint, it's always nice to have somebody nearby when you need an extra hand.

 

[R6 Racer]

I think you have the right attitude by wanting to build her a shop, but my experience has proved that you would be better off to build on to your shop for her. Build it using one common wall,heat it separately and put an entrance door between them. From a psycoligical standpoint,this will show your intrest in her hobbys and a willingness to include her in your life while she persues her own interests.Putting her"outback" in her own building is not a good foundation for building a relationship.Another plus is that if for whatever reason the addition is not needed for a woodshop it will be easy and handy to convert to other uses.

As others have also said... ^^^this^^^

Steve

 

[RHD 4 LIFE]

I too say an addition and not another out building! On a side note I would not use an open flame heat source in a wood working shop. Easy way to get burned!

 

[Super Sport]

What about the basement?

 

[camarotoolman]

you could wall of a section of your building. Its own door, heat, etc. If she changes hobbies, use it for you grinding, or "dirty work" area. or just remove. Also 12x16 is too small for a wood shop, with machines, wook bench, storage, tools, there wouldn't be room to make anything.

 

[gunguy]

^^^This too.

12x16 is too small, especially if she plans to handle 4x8 sheet goods through a table saw.

Jim

 

[bams50]

The title you put on the relationship doesn't have much to do with anything.

Unfortunately, the reality is this is incorrect. Marriage isn't just some 'label', it's a covenant, or contract. As in the business world, what's said doesn't mean much, it's what the contract says that means something. People get in trouble all the time thinking they have 'rights' without marriage, only to find out the hard way that this is simply not true.

This is not for or against marriage, or for or against dating. But it IS two different levels. First, you have to judge whether this is a whim; if she will actually be doing woodwork long term, or if it's a passing fancy. You're the only one that knows her. If she tends to stick with something, do the minimum; I like the portable building idea. Easy to sell if she flakes out or leaves. If you were married, I would say to still make the same judgement, but if you felt she was serious, do an addition.

I've been with my girlfriend 27 years. Thanks to flaky parents who are still married but hate each other she is terrified of marriage. I made peace with our relationship because I love her and she is literally one of the best people I've ever known. But it's understood that she is in no position to dictate what I do or what she can 'make' me do or give her. If she will someday marry me, THEN she will become half owner of everything I have, and have say in things like what WE would do with OUR shop. Until then, we are two separate entities, not joined as one. Marriage makes all the difference.

Think about the portable building. If needed it can be easily sent down the road, clean and easy.

Just like a girlfriend

 

[karl1672]

she forgets nothing

They never do

 

[nehog]

12-20K for a out shop to keep her quiet or ~1-2K in something diamond including to keep her quiet?

Clearly someone here has not bought bribe level diamonds recently! Last time I checked, that shop and a diamond that would work as a bribe (inducement!) would have been about equal in cost.

 

[Nowater]

My garage is a woodworking shop, and at 24 by 36 I still look at saving space. I think Delta has a free tool layout software application on their website, that beats paper cutouts. If not Delta, then another campany might. She will need a solid floor if her machines go on wheels. Depending on your climate, a table saw can be placed in front of a door. When ripping an eight foot long board, eight feet of clear space is required outside, and then eight feet past the saw blade inside-plus room to move around.

I suggest a layout first based on her proposed work. By the way, some of the leading lathe turners are women, with some even having their own 'signature' line of lathe tools. Check out the videos on You-tube.

If you can add on to your garage, as suggested, you may be able to share tools, like a drill press. Even for woodworking, she may want a standard metal type vice. You get the idea. Good luck.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I think you have the right attitude by wanting to build her a shop, but my experience has proved that you would be better off to build on to your shop for her. Build it using one common wall,heat it separately and put an entrance door between them. From a psycoligical standpoint,this will show your intrest in her hobbys and a willingness to include her in your life while she persues her own interests.Putting her"outback" in her own building is not a good foundation for building a relationship.Another plus is that if for whatever reason the addition is not needed for a woodshop it will be easy and handy to convert to other uses.

Saves me from typing it.


trbomax's advice . . .

 

[BD1]

What about changing girl friends ???

Addition perfect. She can help design , locate equipment, and do basic layout

of her area. OR, if you do concrete slab maybe she could be a part of that.

 

[NUTTSGT]

What about changing girl friends ???

Addition perfect. She can help design , locate equipment, and do basic layout

of her area. OR, if you do concrete slab maybe she could be a part of that.

If he changes GFs, then he now has a bigger garage.

 

[brianh]

My wife is a woodworker as am I, set up a spot in the shop that is hers alone of course she has access to all the tools but I keep my stuff out of her spot. 12x16 is not going to work by the time the tools are set up there will be no room to make anything.

Supplies and materials need to be factored in not just the tools.

My wife has a 10x20 spot that is hers just her hand tools and workbench in it.

 

[Scuderia-F1]

I think you have the right attitude by wanting to build her a shop, but my experience has proved that you would be better off to build on to your shop for her. Build it using one common wall,heat it separately and put an entrance door between them. From a psycoligical standpoint,this will show your intrest in her hobbys and a willingness to include her in your life while she persues her own interests.Putting her"outback" in her own building is not a good foundation for building a relationship.Another plus is that if for whatever reason the addition is not needed for a woodshop it will be easy and handy to convert to other uses.

Well said!

 

[BWS]

Educate her on the dangers of woodworking dust.Lead her to Bill Pentz(sp) site.it will get her thinking.

Not trying to be a **** here.....but if she or anyone is not willing to protect themselves......and this makes a DIRECT impact on clean air for the hot-rod shop....then you're just going down a oneway st.

If designed/calc'd right you could get a nice spraybooth out of all this should she tire of the idea.......A spraybooth IS critical when discussing woodworking.Most folks just want to cut sumthin or slap together a pce so they don't give their lungs or "finishing" the due respect.

We have a heck of a cabinet shop that coexists with a welding/fab shop and a pretty dam nice machine shop.This would've been a pipe dream without considering air quality.


PS,we have a 600 sq ft spraybooth.....that got used alot in the past for WW'n.Theres a bunch of M/C's parked in there now(hint/hint).Best of luck,BW

 

[darkk]

my girlfriend wanted to put a, now get this...a "wood working" shop in my new "hot rod" shop

Let her, tell her the only wood in the shop will be yours and you will doing all the tool handling...

 

[Jackfre]

You are fortunate to have a girl who works with her hands. I like the adjoining space idea. Your proposed dimensions are to small unless it is largely a hand tool shop. Having had excellent primary and secondary dust collection in my old place it is a primary design consideration as I'm drawing up the plans for my new garage/wood shop. As adjoining space DC will keep you happier in your clean hot rod shop. If she's a keeper, build her what she wants. 37 yrs experience with one tells me that if you play this right you can have a lot of fun in the negotiations

 

[ddawg16]

Clearly someone here has not bought bribe level diamonds recently! Last time I checked, that shop and a diamond that would work as a bribe (inducement!) would have been about equal in cost.

And if she leaves you....she takes the diamonds.....but the shop would stay....

 

[ozyborn]

No, you are thinking it all wrong. Build a much larger shop and you use it, then let her use the current smaller one....

 

[Weekend_warrior]

I agree with trbomax.

I would add to that to keep dust out make sure the door between the two seals well and kept shut when not walking through it. Make your side of the shop has a positive pressure so it does not **** dust in but pushes it out. Also, an inexpensive or homade dust collection system for her tools in the shop will go a long way to help keep her side clean and dust out of yours. Work with her a bit to keep the shop clean and make sure she understands the collection system.

 

[cashishift]

^^^This too.

12x16 is too small, especially if she plans to handle 4x8 sheet goods through a table saw.

Jim

yep.. too small.

 

[atotalnincompoop]

you guys are right about the table saw, and come to think of it, she may never use the table saw, so scratch that as a size requirement
we both like a woodstove for a little shop, its nice heat and smells good as well.

as for all the relationship advise, thanks i guess.

 

[Zeke]

she will be doing basic woodworking, some simple projects from planters to muskoka chairs, that type of stuff. the tools will be mitre saw, table saw, drill press etc and a work table.

I had all of that in a 15 x 15 shop. It had strategically placed windows and doors so that long stock could be fed in from beyond the walls. I had double doors in front and the table saw in the center closer to the doors. That way I could feed in a 4 x 8 sheet and still have more than 8' outfeed. On the occasion that I needed to run long stock through the saw, I had a window opposite the doors. In one end and out the other.

The miter saw was on a wall bench with a window at the corner where long stock could be fed in again with plenty of room on the opposite side for cut offs. 10' is about the max you will ever need and that is if you buy 20' boards.

All benches, tables and the table saw were the same height which made it easy to build and move cabinets around. Almost everything was stored low although the wall with the miter saw was the most complex with upper cabinets and shelves. One wall was left solid for material storage, both sheets and sticks. Could only keep about 14 footers inside, but that never seemed to be a problem.

Even if it's freezing outside, the doors/windows were opened only long enough to make a cut. Never lost much heat. A small shop does need good ventilation for finishing and good dust collection or it will fill up fast. So plan that out well.

I have seen the same set up in an 8' x 20' single car garage. And it had a Unisaw in it! This guy can make anything. Of course, we all spill out into the area outside on pleasant days. I prefer to work outside.

 

[c_mccann]

Make her first wood project to build her own woodshop...

 

[GarageEnvy]

I think trbomax had it nailed and I agree that sawdust will get everywhere but the 12'x16' is going to be a difficult work space. For a decade I worked out of a 14'x18' shed. Like Zeke, I had the table saw, miter saw, drill press, lathe and planer. It was tight and the table saw really kills the space. If your projects aren't too large and you could possibly do without the table saw, it would make things a lot more enjoyable. The loft is a must do for that size space. My new shop area is actually inside my garage. It's not separated from the vehicle storage and the dust is a nuisance. The dedicated space is about 14' wide but 33' deep and is adequate. No, you won't catch me saying big enough.