Looks like I'm moving

[Robinson1]

Submitted an offer on a house this morning. If all goes well looks like we'll be moving in a couple months. It's 45 minutes from our current location but much closer to my wife's work. Which is what prompted our move. I don't like her having to drive an hour home from work at midnight.

On top of that it places me more centrally in the middle of the area where the majority of my work is. I'm a residential general contractor.

I would have loved to have built but we've been looking for property the last two years and haven't been able to find a lot in an area we were both satisfied with and at a price we were willing to pay.

Anyway, enough rambling.

I'm losing my shop. Which was actually a building i converted on property owned by my family. But it was only a mile from our current location so it worked for me.

Property we are trying to buy is just a house on a 1/4 acre lot on the outskirts of a subdivision. It's actually the last house on a back street and only has a neighbor on one side. It's about as nice and private as you can get and not be way out in the country.

Building a shop is top priority for both of us. My wife wants the kitchen remodeled and I have to have workspace to build the cabinets.

There's no HOA or even really that much code enforcement on this area so I'm free to build pretty much what I want. However I'm pretty limited by lot size and according to fire ordinance can't build anything closer than 10 feet from property line.

Because of this I'm thinking the maximum I could do without overtaking the majority of the back yard would be a 16x30. And that may very well get reduced to 16x24 due to cost and our current money situation.

This will be a wood shop and wood shop only.

I'm rambling again! I'd like some advice from guys who have smaller wood shops and if anyone with similar size shops could post pictures of the way they are laid out inside.

My current shop is a 20x30 and downsizing to is bothering me as I'm feeling cramped in the current shop. I've got a table saw, miter saw, scroll saw, wood lathe, planer, router table, drill press and disc sander. Around 20 handheld power tools. Small stick welder, 30 gallon compressor, and full assortment of hand tools. Lots of clamps and things that need to hang on the wall.

I also want a heavy duty work bench against the wall and an assembly table that will double as saw outfeed. Im.fine with having some tools on mobile bases but things like the miter saw I want on permanent and dedicated cabinets.

Talk me through this guys. Any help or insight appreciated.

 

[garagelogician]

There's no HOA or even really that much code enforcement on this area so I'm free to build pretty much what I want. However I'm pretty limited by lot size and according to fire ordinance can't build anything closer than 10 feet from property line.

Can you get a variance on the setback if you rock/insulate it with fire rated materials? The shed on my property was built over the property line by the previous owner. I moved it forward so it is off the neighbor's lot, but it still is within the setback unless I decide to pour more concrete. I plan to insulate it, and the city inspector said everything would be kosher if I do that to fire code.

Good luck on the house purchase, hopefully they will accept and all goes well.

 

[rsanter]

There are a couple of things you can do to increase usable space without increasing footage.

Build taller and use the added heigh for item/material storage

Built an outside closet. In most shops wall space is at a premium for storage. Build an outside accessible closet with several doors. You can store the air compressor and dust collection in there but you can also store material there and even some non-woodworking things that the wife wants stored.

Everything on wheels. This is a must in my shop. Everything has its place and comes out to be used and back when it's done

Bob

 

[L5wolvesf]

Outside the box, or the lot in this case, how about a different piece of property for the business?

 

[ScottsGT]

I'm in a 2 car garage space I have for everything I do. I combine my wood working and auto mechanic work in the same area. So I have to be creative with my spacing and be able to tuck things away when the work changes.
Powertec casters on everything on legs. Move it to where I want to work, and lift the casters.
I use only "bench top" tools. Table saw, drum sander, router table, band saw, etc... Has to be small enough to go under a bench or a corner hideaway when I change over to pulling a car in.
I'm planning on purchasing a track saw for long and precise cuts instead of a really nice real estate eating table saw. I use my small table saw for smaller cuts and rips.

My next big project is going to be pull out storage/shelves from under my stairwell. As I have it planned on paper, I can put in a 2' wide and a 1' wide unit, about 42" deep and 90" tall and angled down where necessary, and still have enough space to put my small table saw on a cart and my band saw on an old typewriter stand with locking casters.
When I start this project, I'm planning on making a thread here for it.

 

[2nr]

I agree with wheels on everything, another suggestion would be to build with an attic to house the compressor, why waste floor space? If ventilation is adequate you should cut noise and floor usage. Another thought that may help, I had not only put my compressor in my shop attic but used it for unheated/cooled material storage

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

[-Brent-]

I second getting a variance, even if it's three more feet that nets you 48 sq ft.

 

[Robinson1]

Outside the box, or the lot in this case, how about a different piece of property for the business?

That would actually be ideal but I can't really afford it right now..maybe down the road but I need something to make due with in the mean time

 

[altersaddle]

My current shop is a 20x30 and downsizing to is bothering me as I'm feeling cramped in the current shop. I've got a table saw, miter saw, scroll saw, wood lathe, planer, router table, drill press and disc sander. Around 20 handheld power tools. Small stick welder, 30 gallon compressor, and full assortment of hand tools. Lots of clamps and things that need to hang on the wall.

I also want a heavy duty work bench against the wall and an assembly table that will double as saw outfeed. Im.fine with having some tools on mobile bases but things like the miter saw I want on permanent and dedicated cabinets.

I have a 12x24 building which is occupied by a sports car and some woodworking machines. I'll try to post up a sketch of how it's laid out right now.

Even if you're set on its home you should make provisions to move the stationary stuff. Almost all of my stuff is mobile, or could be mobile, although some is trapped in the back due to other things in front.

What do you use the compressor for? Could you swap the 30gal for a tiny portable 2-3gal one? Could it live outside?

I've got a medium sized table saw and plan on outfitting one wing with the router table.

I haven't used my chop saw in ages and am considering retiring it, and just using the skilsaw or handsaws for those jobs.

I got myself a small blast cabinet, used it a few times, and it's been sitting since. It has to go.

Wood lathe can do double duty as a disc sander.

 

[Robinson1]

What do you use the compressor for? Could you swap the 30gal for a tiny portable 2-3gal one? Could it live outside?

Can't really get by with anything smaller than 30. I do a lot of custom cabinets and built-ins. I spray 90% of my finishes. Big compressor has got to stay in my opinion.

 

[fowldarr]

I'll tell you next week. I'm moving as well and the dedicated shop is 16x30 and I have similar equipment. For me it's an upgrade as I always worked out of the garage, but I still want the space to be useable.

 

[jd_1138]

There are a couple of things you can do to increase usable space without increasing footage.

Build taller and use the added heigh for item/material storage

Built an outside closet. In most shops wall space is at a premium for storage. Build an outside accessible closet with several doors. You can store the air compressor and dust collection in there but you can also store material there and even some non-woodworking things that the wife wants stored.

Everything on wheels. This is a must in my shop. Everything has its place and comes out to be used and back when it's done

Bob

Yeah, like Ryan's new Festool work/storage table that he built on wheels. It'd be nice to push it out in front of the garage and work in the sunshine.

 

[earlthegoat2]

Unless you really like and use the lathe a lot, I say lose it and all its accessories. It is not needed for cabinet making and when I had mine, it sat a lot of the time. I've found you have to be a "turner" to have a lathe. Once again though, if you want it then keep it. That was just a suggestion from someone who has had a lathe clog up shop space.

I once built a floor cabinet 48" high, 48" wide and 24" deep out of a 9x10 shop with only a miter saw, circular saw, 14" bandsaw, drill press and hand tools. I don't recommend it but I have found since then the one big space **** in a wood shop is a tablesaw. Combining your heavy duty bench, out feed, and assembly tables can negate it a little and also getting a router table extension wing for the TS can help offset its dominance.

I've had several table saws over the years because of this love hate relationship I have with them. If your shop is only ever going to be a wood shop then there is no reason to part with it. It would get in my way as soon as I wanted to work on one of the cars.

 

[jd_1138]

Unless you really like and use the lathe a lot, I say lose it and all its accessories. It is not needed for cabinet making and when I had mine, it sat a lot of the time. I've found you have to be a "turner" to have a lathe. Once again though, if you want it then keep it. That was just a suggestion from someone who has had a lathe clog up shop space.

I once built a floor cabinet 48" high, 48" wide and 24" deep out of a 9x10 shop with only a miter saw, circular saw, 14" bandsaw, drill press and hand tools. I don't recommend it but I have found since then the one big space **** in a wood shop is a tablesaw. Combining your heavy duty bench, out feed, and assembly tables can negate it a little and also getting a router table extension wing for the TS can help offset its dominance.

I've had several table saws over the years because of this love hate relationship I have with them. If your shop is only ever going to be a wood shop then there is no reason to part with it. It would get in my way as soon as I wanted to work on one of the cars.

I'd say a TS is a must for any wood shop. Can even just get a small one and take it outside if need be. Sometimes running larger stock through it means bumping into stuff inside the garage unless you have a lot of space or it's set up like you said with the bench and outfeed table.

I have a neat little Delta TS that I bought for $30 off CL.

 

[matt_i]

If I was a GC I would need a place to store stuff. I think I would keep looking, get finances in order, be ready to strike when you find the perfect place.

 

[altersaddle]

Can't really get by with anything smaller than 30. I do a lot of custom cabinets and built-ins. I spray 90% of my finishes. Big compressor has got to stay in my opinion.

Noted. I've got a similar setup, a 20 gallon 120V compressor that is perfect for my needs - if I had to upgrade I'd get something like the Rol-Air 5230K30CS, an electric wheelbarrow unit. 230V, 5hp, 18CFM, 10 gallons.

I had a little 5 gallon rattler and it was OK, but I could easily outrun it with a die grinder and painting was iffy.

 

[johnnyradiant]

I built two kitchens worth of cabinets in a 40' container without utilizing the full 40' of depth. Compressor is in another building plumbed to the container. Along with bench space, and wood storage I was running a joiner, planer, table saw, radial arm saw, band saw, and drill press at the time. It was not fun and I would never go back to my container shop for that kinda project but when push comes to shove 8' X 8' X 40' can get you a fair distance out of necessity. Band saw worked better wheeled out of the shop for all but the smallest or simplest cuts, and it just seemed less hassle to do the planing outside too. Spraying I did very sparingly back then, and I normally did it in a different spot.

 

[rayra]

There's a scandinavian? gent here that showcased a very compact wood shop built in IIRC a shipping container. What struck me about his setup is how he arranged his woodworking machines in a highly efficient compact manner, allowing for infeed and outfeed requirements but still managing for an 'interference fit' if you take my meaning. Consider your tool layouts, experiment, you might find a compact arrangement or even some non-traditional arrangement that can let you arrange a shop that is smaller or that doesn't squat in the middle of your back yard. Or that will let you place it furthest away from your neighbor to reduce noise impacts.

I'm in an L.A. suburb, property widths are 60'. My 'shop' is a quadrant of my attached 2-car garage. I've built a hush cabinet for my noisy compressor, insulated my ceiling, garage door and exterior garage walls, and utilize a large rolling work table that also serves as router table and feed support for my table saw.
I try to get along with my close neighbors. And a 1/4 acre lot is no noise buffer at all.
I see a lot of YouTube craftsman with nice garage or backyard shops and I have to wonder how well they get along with their neighbors just tens of feet away.

/not to harp on it too much


Did a major kitchen remodel in my garage space, including fabricating 43 doors and drawer fronts. It got a little silly, but it could be done in a constrained space.

 

[kbs2244]

Split the compressor.
Put the tank in the rafters and the pump under the bench.
Some 3/4 inch hose can connect them.
Using larger metal pipe with a drain leg will give you some cooling/drying effect.

 

[sqznby]

Submitted an offer on a house this morning. If all goes well looks like we'll be moving in a couple months. It's 45 minutes from our current location but much closer to my wife's work. Which is what prompted our move. I don't like her having to drive an hour home from work at midnight.

On top of that it places me more centrally in the middle of the area where the majority of my work is. I'm a residential general contractor.

I would have loved to have built but we've been looking for property the last two years and haven't been able to find a lot in an area we were both satisfied with and at a price we were willing to pay.

Anyway, enough rambling.

I'm losing my shop. Which was actually a building i converted on property owned by my family. But it was only a mile from our current location so it worked for me.

Property we are trying to buy is just a house on a 1/4 acre lot on the outskirts of a subdivision. It's actually the last house on a back street and only has a neighbor on one side. It's about as nice and private as you can get and not be way out in the country.

Building a shop is top priority for both of us. My wife wants the kitchen remodeled and I have to have workspace to build the cabinets.

There's no HOA or even really that much code enforcement on this area so I'm free to build pretty much what I want. However I'm pretty limited by lot size and according to fire ordinance can't build anything closer than 10 feet from property line.

Because of this I'm thinking the maximum I could do without overtaking the majority of the back yard would be a 16x30. And that may very well get reduced to 16x24 due to cost and our current money situation.

This will be a wood shop and wood shop only.

I'm rambling again! I'd like some advice from guys who have smaller wood shops and if anyone with similar size shops could post pictures of the way they are laid out inside.

My current shop is a 20x30 and downsizing to is bothering me as I'm feeling cramped in the current shop. I've got a table saw, miter saw, scroll saw, wood lathe, planer, router table, drill press and disc sander. Around 20 handheld power tools. Small stick welder, 30 gallon compressor, and full assortment of hand tools. Lots of clamps and things that need to hang on the wall.

I also want a heavy duty work bench against the wall and an assembly table that will double as saw outfeed. Im.fine with having some tools on mobile bases but things like the miter saw I want on permanent and dedicated cabinets.

Talk me through this guys. Any help or insight appreciated.

Have you heard anything yet?
So exciting yet so stressful.

Great idea kbs2244, splitting the compressor is a great idea. I'm going to use that when I'm ready