help with wood shop layout please

[atch]

I've not found what I'm looking for by using the search option.

I would like to partition off a corner of my shop to confine woodworking to only one room. This room could be 10x20, 15x20, or 20x20. I would like to minimize the size of this room in order to leave as much space as possible for other tasks in the rest of the shop.

I have:

table saw
radial arm saw
thickness planer
jointer
bandsaw
power miter box
drill press
scroll saw
several routers; two of them in router tables
all of the hand held tools you'd expect
assorted file cabinets and 18x36 storage cabinets that could be dedicated to woodworking tools/accessories

I've got a home made shaper that I've had for over 40 years and only used a couple of times. If there's room fine but I can do without it.

On both of the 20' sides I'll have a door. One will be a walkthrough door to the outside (probably 30"); the other can be any size and will connect to the rest of the shop. I envision this one to be a double door but would not have to be. I probably could just do a 36" single. This one must be large enough, however, to get tools, materials, and finished projects in and out of. File cabinets and/or storage cabinets could be located on the other side of the 20' wall between this room and the rest of the shop if necessary.

I would like to build a work station combining the radial arm saw and the miter box. Possibly I could have the drill press at one end where I could adjust the drill press table to the same elevation of the rest of the work station. A router table might be incorporated in this station also.

Although a 4x8 work bench would be nice I just don't think that there will be enough space. I'll make do with using the work station discussed above or build something small. I've got a couple of 2'x8' benches that I could use in here or could build something specific. Table saw is on casters so it could be utilized as part of a bench also if I build a bench the same work height. It can also be moved in and out of storage as needed.

The jointer and planer seldom get used and can be stored in a corner or something.

The radial arm saw and drill press are used more than all the rest of the tools put together. Followed by the table saw and miter box.

Access to the radial saw and drill press is required at all times. Everything else could be moved into and out of storage.

There is plenty of electrical capacity in the building but no outlets in this space. I can wire the space to accommodate the tools as necessary. Although I'm running everything on 110 V now many can and will be hooked up 220 V.

I'll install lighting after tool placement.

Sheet goods and dimension lumber can be stored elsewhere.

Compressor is already located in the other part of the shop, as is the future bathroom.

Ceiling is 11' so overhead space is available if I can figure out how to use it. I can build shelving above stationary tools as needed and/or buy/make wall cabinets.

Paints, other finishes, and other liquids are stored in a different heated room.

Does anyone envision a lay out including all of this in 10x20? 15x20? 20x20?

Anyone done it?

Pix?

Layout drawings?

 

[Kaizen]

sorry didn't read all your details but am also researching same thing. I have a little less then what you have going into about a 12x30 shop. I've watched a lot of videos on you tube about it. I put in dust collection and an outlet 8 feet out in the middle of the room for my table saw. i'll have an outfeed/assembly table for the table saw. everything else I've seen is people making everything mobile or have it in dead space. one example was to the right of the table saw.......so you'll never normally have stuff beyond where the fence will reach....so put the surface planer there so you have the same feed area behind and in front of both machines going the same way. search small shop layout and you can get some info. so on one bench area consider all tools you put the material in like the chop saw or sliding circular saw. you can have a mortiser and a drill press in the same area.
i'm leaving the area next to the shop open so I can expand or contract depending on whether i'm doing welding or woodworking.

 

[Cyberbear]

With such small equipment space and what's remaining for actual use is too small to be effective, unless you are only making small craft items. I started out in an 18 x 20 two car garage but only had a minimum of free standing machines, and within two years had out grown that space and decided to add another 600 sq/ft. Before I was done I had 2700 sq/ft under roof and went two story over 1/3 of it.

 

[Orionrising]

http://www.grizzly.com/workshopplanner

use this grizzly has a workshop planner tool

 

[gnpenning]

You didn't mention the size of the equipment. Are they table top or full size? Are any of them on wheels?

Put the RAS and chop saw on the same bench with some space between. Put one of the router tables in the wing of the table saw, you might be able to put both in a wing depending on your saw. Drill press can go on same wall on wheels to roll out as needed or set table to same height as RAS and use it as a table extension. Bandsaw can go on the same wall. Planer or jointer can go on the right side of table saw with the working direction going the other way for the jointer.

You can make the tops of all the same height or have some roll under the bench of the taller tools.

 

[Showkey]

Publications like Fine Woodworking and other have published 100 of articles and a number of books on shop layout with emphasis on productivity, small/medium/large shop, one car garage shop all the way to the ultimate shop.

So Google........woodshop layout (change to planer, design) ............you will get 1000's of images, 100 of YouTube videos, 10s of thousand articles and books, free and paid software layout plannners.

http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/articles/12-shop-layout-tips/

http://www.fundamentalsofwoodworkin...hop-organization/shop-organization-and-layout

http://www.grizzly.com/workshopplanner

http://www.finewoodworking.com/2000/01/01/shop-layout

 

[cheechi]

Outfeed table? DP table or just the unit itself? Cabinet saw or portable or what?

Sounds to me either your list is incomplete or photos are the only way to get a good answer. For example if you have no outfeed table now, build one where the bottom shelf can have the planer, second shelf the jointer, and the top is the outfeed. Since these are both used infrequently you really only need to make open shelves wide enough for when they are.

dust collection?

 

[Majordisorder]

I would get rid of the RAS and homemade shaper. You have a table saw and mitre saw. One of your routers is probably be more useful than the shaper. That would free up some space for a better layout.

Make the tables all the same height as was mentioned. Maybe the table saw a 1/4" higher. Line your table saw up with the doors so ripping long stock is possible. Keep stuff off the floor and avoid open shelves. A few well organized cabinets will hold more than cluttered walls. Layout really depends on what you mostly make.

 

[Angelfire]

I may have missed what you're planning to build in this space? Building cabinets will require a different layout from say building bird houses. I'm assuming since the jointer and planar don't get used much, you're not building cabinetry or furniture....I find those two tools are absolutely essential particularly given I start with rough lumber. Some of the keys to a wood shop that I used in my own are putting the tablesaw at the center of your work. Plenty of space around it, outfeed tables etc....and a bench...a big heavy one. For me, I couldn't build big enough to do exactly what I wanted so what I ended up doing was laying it out such that I could use the bench as an infeed or outfeed table if needed. My bench will also serve as my glue up table (a separate one would be preferred but again, space is a limiting factor). Put everything on wheels. I operated out of a two car garage before my shop (still in construction unfortunately) and essentially had all the tools rolled to one side when not working. Rolled them out to the free side when doing work. Yeah, it took time and wasn't always fun but it worked. If you're set on keeping extra tools that you don't use, pick a spot and roll them all there, then pull out when needed.

At the end of the day, I approached the layout much like you would a kitchen with a "triangle" approach. For me, the tablesaw, jointer, and planar are used the most so I aligned those such that I can run through the planar and stack the wood right in front of the jointer. Then joint, and stack right next to the table saw. Rip, crosscut etc....then it's all about the bench. So my advice is to really look at your workflow and locate tools accordingly.
Cheers.

 

[jimreed2160]

It sounds like you have some happy problems to solve, Atch, but I don't think the planners will help much. Your needs seem a little different.

I recommend you carefully study your needs. If you have had a shaper for 40 years, then you have been doing ww for some time. Surely your needs have evolved. I find that my current ww projects are smaller than before and that repair is higher on the list than new construction. So one big consideration is type of ww projects. Large case goods and cabinets require large flat surfaces. Smaller projects require less. It is something to ponder.

Size--as large as possible. I say go for the 20 x 20.

Downsizing--It is hard but necessary. Get rid of the stuff you think you might need one day. That day has come and gone. Downsize and specialize. You will appreciate the lack of clutter. 86 that 40 yo shaper and send it on to some young guy who needs one. Give the scroll saw a hard look. If you have not turned it on since 2010, get rid of it. Scroll saws are cool but they occupy expensive real estate and generally cannot justify their keep.

Start with what you know. Block off the space and make it bare. Then set up the RAS, chop, and DP as a single work station. Add the TS in the middle of the floor. Put those smaller work tables around the walls. A 4 x 8 assembly table would be nice but it will swallow up your room. Perhaps you can build a table with the TS in the middle. Just lower the blade and you have a nice big assembly table.

Add tools (on wheels, if possible) as you use them. At some point you will fill up the space.

Just my $.02 worth. Good luck with your project. Be sure to visit the Woodworking 101 thread in the GENERAL TOOLS discussion group. We have posted lots of ww lore along with pictures of some really nice workshop layouts. I am sure you will pick up some ideas there.

 

[RWorth]

just a suggestion, I hate tools on wheels, so I'm setting all my large tools up to be moved with my pallet jack, easy to move, and solid on the floor when I'm using them. I also have a 4x8 assembly table that moves easily with my lifting cart. my shop is 26x 40 and it's easy to fill when I'm setup to do a project. mobility is your friend.

 

[95riosnake]

Delta mobile bases go a long way in maximizing flexibility in smaller shops. I have all my woodworking equipment on Delta bases. They have a foot pedal to step on to lower the front caster wheel and raise it off the leveling feet for maneuvering, then you lift the pedal up with your foot to lower it back down onto the leveling feet for a stable feel. The mobile base is especially useful for things like a planer and a table saw since both usually require substantial infeed and outfeed clearance. I set my planer up in the middle of the room when I need to use it, then when I'm done it rolls over to the corner out of the way. They make those bases in a bunch of different sizes. I just buy whatever is close to what I need, then either cut them down and weld them back together to fit if needed, or make steel frames to bolt to the bottom of the machine to fit the base properly depending on the application.

 

[ALinCarolina]

Lots of good advice so far. At first glance, that seems like a lot of equipment to fit in that size space and still have room to work. Depending on size of your projects you will like to have an assembly table or place to set components as you make them too.
I would agree with lots of mobile bases, try to make as many tool surfaces the same height to be able to use them as outfeed tables and to support long work pieces.
Router tables can be incorporated into other surfaces. There are lots of plans available to have several bench top tools on one bench that rotates among them (one on the top at a time) Difficult to describe but a search would probably reveal many plans.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd make what you can mobile on wheels. When you're not using it, it can be stored along a wall or out of the way to allow for larger projects or the use of other tools.

I have a work table centrally located, in this picture I was redoing the top, but you can see casters on one end. I can simply pick one end up and roll it to another spot.


Here's another picture of the wood shop side of the garage. My RAS is along one wall, with a bench right beside it for larger stock. It was built from two lower kitchen cabinets with a spot for the shop vac in between them.

You'll also spot the miter saw on a rolling cart with a small drill press on the other end. I have a larger floor model DP on the other side of the garage. Somewhere in there is a roller stand that I can use with either the table saw, RAS or miter saw.

Table saw is an older Cman with caster to allow it to be moved around. Planer on wheels, same for the bandsaw and belt sander.






Having the ability to move things around very easily will make your work area seem larger than it is.

 

[TerryH]

If you keep all the tools mentioned I don't think there is any way to position them all for use. You will have to have at least a good portion of them mobile and store them when not in use. Workshop layout is all about material flow. Material storage nearer the first machines in the process and so on. For me that means that my rough lumber storage is right by my jointer which is right by my planer which is right in between my table saw and my miter saw bench. Going to be hard to do with that tool list even in the max of 20'x20'.

 

[laurie71]

I'd suggest clearing out the corner you plan on doing this in, moving your stuff in and experimenting with layouts in the intended space. Mark the floor with tape lines so you know what your constraints are. Once you figure out a layout that seems to work well for a few different projects, you can finalize the size of the room you'll close in.

 

[rvieceli]

This is an interesting article for your size.

http://www.finewoodworking.com/2006/08/17/smart-shop-in-a-one-car-garage

 

[beakie]

dust collection?

if you are doing as much wood working as it sounds like you plan too, dust collection should be top priority.
it will save your health, and keep everything sooo much cleaner.


RAS, mitre saw & jointer along a wall (outfeed for jointer onto combo bench for RAS & mitre saw) hard ducted for dust collection, maybe even the router tables depending on their design
table saw can have flex hose attached when needed, and an overblade guard/duct would be a big improvement too.

planer & bandsaw on rolling bases, have attached to ducting along wall via flex hoses.

have dust collector in other part of building (quieter) and run 6" ducting from it along wall with wyes where needed. add a few gates and that should help keep your shop, and more importantly your lungs clean.

 

[Milton Shaw]

One space saver I used is to lower the planer to where it fits under the right side table of the table saw. Both need full length for long boards and it works very will in my shop. Lots of luck, the space will get taken and less and less room to move around. It's rough when you have several hobbies that use big tools and need the same space used in different ways. Woodworking, metal working, welding, automobile repair, etc. It goes on and on as to what you needs space for.

 

[atch]

Thanx for all the thought you guys put into this and the resulting replies.

Of course I forgot the lathe and who knows what else.

Except for the radial arm saw, drill press, and band saw these tools are either on casters or are small enough to move easily. Even the (rather big) table saw is on casters. I welded up an angle iron frame and installed casters on the frame. If I get a good layout I might remove this frame/castors though.

The lathe is (as are most) a bench top mount. Has anyone ever mounted a lathe under a removable panel in a work surface and made a way to raise the lathe into position?

 

[cheechi]

a bit too james bondy but it would be cool. Why not build a rotating top that has the lathe bolted to it and something else on the bottom?

 

[Bigbandguy]

Rather than have a separate worktable I have a removable table top that I place over the table saw which is on a mobile base. I don't use the table saw nearly as much as the Miter so doing double duty as a table works pretty well for me. The whole thing can be moved out of the way when not needed. That comes in handy in a way too small workshop.