Setup woodworking area in large shop question

[vrinner]

So I have a 40X60X20 building and am looking for a general ideas of where to setup the dusty/dirty woodworking and metal grinding area.

On the left side I have a mezzanine at 10'. The area under the mezzanine is 40X20...so basically I end up with a 40X20X10 area on the left then a 40X40X20 area on the right.

My shop area will be used mainly for working on/keeping cars then also light metal/welding/grinding and woodworking.

For woodworking the bigger stuff I have is a table saw, band saw, jig saw, radial arm saw, drill press, routing table.

Question is where would you rather put the woodworking area. In the open 40X40X20 area or the more enclose-able 40X20X10 area? I worried about the amount of dust created that will surely get on my cars eventually. Any thoughts/input would be appreciated.

 

[GForceJunky]

I can't speak from experience in a space of this size but I would probably put the woodshop under the mezzanine. You can wall off the space to contain dust/dirt (heck, it can be a temporary wall you fold out when you want to make dust) and because it's got a lower (but still high) ceiling it's convenient to route dust collector lines/air lines/electrical/etc. and also easy to light the area quite well. You can also hang/setup some air purifiers in addition to dust collection.

 

[ford33]

Unless you are an avid woodworker, the smaller space with lower ceiling will be sufficient. The 10 foot ceiling is still high enough to move an 8 foot panel sheet around the shop.

You are right to be concerned about wood dust. But not for getting it on your cars. Wood dust is hazardous to your health. The very fine particles are the worst for your lungs. Also, metal grinding and wood chips/dust is a recipe for a fire.

Invest some time to view ways to reduce the wood dust in your shop to help you keep it clean and your lungs healthy. There is plenty of options out there to retro-fit existing machines. I am not suggesting going crazy and catching every bit of wood dust. I am suggesting adding some dust chutes and an extra shop vacuum to catch the chips and dust at the source. A ceiling mounted air cleaner near the work area also helps a great deal.

My garage wood shop is not perfect for dust collection and I don't own dust collectors or expensive collection machines. Yet I am able to build tables, benches, beds, boxes and shop carts with less than 1 cup of wood chips left on the floor and little dust on my clothes at the end of a six hour day.

 

[RKA]

I don't know, how big is the jig saw?

I know bigger is usually better, but 40x20 is a good sized space for that equipment. You've got room to move and you can orient the equipment in a way that supports the workflow so you're not carrying parts back and forth across a huge shop. As long as you have a way to carry larger boards and sheet goods in, I think the smaller space is perfect. And as mentioned, the dust collection and lighting is easier (and cheaper) as well. I would leave some space open to accommodate a planer/jointer. That seems like the only thing missing with your setup.

If you do run out of space, consider wide doors between the two spaces. That would allow you to roll an assembly table/workbench to the large space when needed and move your lumber racks there as well. And frankly, when you're not doing things that are producing dust, opening up the doors might be desirable to create a more airy workspace. On the flip side, huge doors means less wall space for storage cabinets and shelving, so....

 

[kbs2244]

Even a 20x20 machine room, with the larger area for assembly, will be enough.

 

[ZRX61]

I'd put in under the mezzanine.

 

[ddawg16]

Another vote for under.....

And plan on a good dust collection system

 

[vrinner]

Thanks for all the input. Sounds like under the mezzanine it is!

I like the idea of some sort of temporary wall or at least large doors that I can open up when I'm not creating dust.

 

[86turbodsl]

i'm doing the same on my shop. Opposite corners, woodshop under a mezzanine, GOOD dust collection. Welding goes in the opposite corner. CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN before you light up the welder.

 

[ddawg16]

You might consider plastic curtains....

 

[MoonRise]

Woodworking?

Unless you are working with huge pieces/parts, put the woodworking zone in the closed-off section under the mezzanine.

Plan the dust collection system and install it now, not as an afterthought. Collect the dust at the sources as much as possible and also have fresh air intake and exhaust.

Metalworking with grinding and welding makes sparks AND metal dust/grit. Plan for that and again include fresh air intake and exhaust. Consider having a welding fume extractor (make or buy) in addition to the general ventilation (again, trying to collect the dust or fumes at the source instead of dealing with dust/fumes just spewing right into the workshop air).

BTW, metals sparks do not mix well with sawdust or other combustibles. Either airborne sawdust or sawdust/combustibles on the ground/floor. Keep the work zones separate IMNSHO.

Grinder sparks and welding BBs skittering on the floor can easily go 5 feet or more. Make the welding area with fire-resistant (or flat out fire proof) construction in mind.

 

[James-W]

Woodworking takes up quite a bit of room. Some members will say that you can get by with a much smaller woodworking shop by doing large sawing projects outside the shop. Well, I guess that is OK if the weather is nice, but depending on where you live that may not work out so well. I live in Wisconsin and it gets pretty cold here and we tend to get quite a bit of snow, although in recent years the snowfall has dropped quite a bit from what it was in the past. Still, moving a table saw outdoors in order to cut a piece of plywood is not my idea of a "fun thing" to do.

An example of needing more space is, if you want to rip a sheet of plywood lengthwise, then you need to have 8 feet in front of the saw and 8 feet behind the saw. Plus you need room to work so if you leave 2 feet in front and 2 feet behind, that means you will need 20 feet of open space. This means that at least while you are sawing the plywood, the area in front of and behind the saw, needs to be open. Same thing goes if you should buy a surface planer, you will need a lot of open space.

I have a 36X24 area and that is really too small, at least I think it is. I can do what I want in the garage, but I have to move things around in order to do it. I would prefer not having to do that, but I am restricted from having a larger garage by city building codes.

Anyway, if it were me, I would use the largest area for woodworking but you may prefer to have the larger area for working on vehicles. It all depends on what you prefer to have.