Flexible Shop

[thatoregonlife]

I've just finished building my first shop. It's 60' x 24' with a large vaulted ceiling. I'm 31 years old and my wife and I have a young family. I love woodworking, tinkering periodically with cars and desire to use my shop to shoot hoops, play ping pong and hang with my family in the winter when it's cold and raining. Here is my question(s):

1. My shop is currently a shell inside with no insulation. I'm getting ready to wire circuits (already have 200amp panel) and wondering what suggestions you might have for making this shop easy to move from one thing to the next. Said another way, how can I maximize the space to be able to fit my family needs and for woodworking, cars, etc. What tips might you have? Are there any products that are helpful for moving woodworking tools to make space for other things?
2. For all you who use your shop to spend time with your young families any good ideas for things to include in the build? Example: Brackets for an indoor swing, etc.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Max]

Welcome to the forum! And congratulations on your new shop.

I do a lot of woodworking and the issue is dust. I have a dust collector as well as a ceiling fan/filter and still - dust. If you can, I think partitioning off the wood working area would be a big win. If you don’t want a fixed wall, they make plastic curtains on rods or rails that you can move out of the way at need as well.

Pretty much all woodworking tools can be mounted on wheeled bases that lock for stability and unlock when you want to move them. Even my 54” wide unisaw can move this way, so another option is to clean up after use and roll them off to a corner. But if you do much WW this can get old fast…

If your shop is going to be very multi-purpose, think carefully about how much light you may want where. Different tasks may need different light, so you may want to have a relatively high amount of light that you can dim at need…

 

[ddurrett896]

Everything has to be on wheels. Below is an example of a rolling work bench that serves as the table saw, miter saw, work table plus additional storage.

Table Saw Workbench Miter Saw Workbench Mobile Workbench - Etsy

This Workbench Storage item by 3BWoodWorkingShop has 101 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from United States. Listed on Sep 2, 2022

www.etsy.com

 

[thickhead]

I agree that things need to be mobile and likely need good curtains. If structure is tall enough, build a partial second floor loft that leaves room to still shoot hoops. Loft can be storage or additional work space with work space below it - then half the building would still be wide open. A 24x24 lofted working area would still leave you a 36x24 wide open section of the building.

https://www.curtain-and-divider.com/

 

[thatoregonlife]

Great feedback and suggestions! Love the idea of putting everything on wheels. I have a Unisaw as well and hadn’t thought about that as a moveable piece.

 

[RPH]

Get some foam floor tile from harbor freight. Book shelf’s at their level. Chalk and pencil with paper. Make a kiddy rec area. Their own tools, play style. Works great with the grandkids.
Tonka toys!

 

[Max]

Great feedback and suggestions! Love the idea of putting everything on wheels. I have a Unisaw as well and hadn’t thought about that as a moveable piece.

I used this base on my unisaw: https://www.grizzly.com/products/shop-fox-extension-kit-for-d2057a-or-d2058a/d2259a. Note that you also need this part: https://www.grizzly.com/products/shop-fox-mini-mobile-base/d2260a



The Grizzly combo is under $200. As you can see you turn the screws so the base is lifted off the wheels when you want it stable. Delta has one as well for about $350, but I can’t say if it’s worth it or overpriced…

 

[thatoregonlife]

@Max - thanks!

@RPH - great suggestion, fun way to get little ones engaged with the shop.

Anyone else got fun ideas for the shop for kiddos?

 

[RPH]

@Max - thanks!

@RPH - great suggestion, fun way to get little ones engaged with the shop.

Anyone else got fun ideas for the shop for kiddos?

Remember to make it big enough so you get to play in it too.
Best times in your shop could be spent in 81 square foot areas. Floors are for drawing on! Never seen chalk hurt a floor, only adds color and imagination to the experiences.