Shop layout ideas

[mendozer]

I finished enclosing my garage and the door's going to be installed in about 4 weeks. I'm contemplating ideas for the space. My wife will park in one spot while the other half is my wood playground. I plan to do auto work in there as well. I had thoughts about tool layout but wanted experienced people to weigh in. I know some people like the miter-table-planer triad in close proximity almost like kitchen fridge-stove-sink layouts. Here's what I'm thinking of.

I don't actually recall the EXACT dimensions of the garage but it's around 21 feet or so. and it's almost midnight on a cold rainy winter night so I'm not going out there to measure

I was debating between specialized miter station/cabinets for the one side vs just 2x4 "shelving" with a workbench, then tools and totes can be resting on the shelves. that's quicker than dedicated cabinet fronts and such. I put the items in the picture to connotate where they would be in use, but things like the planer and belt sander can more than likely be stored under the counter and brought up as needed, maybe even with plywood angled feet for anchoring. I even toyed around with the idea of mounting them to 3/4" plywood on heavy duty hinges and folding them down off the wall studs, then when you want to use them, bring up the shelf and screw in some pipes on the bottom for table legs. I would do this for things like the scroll saw and sander, things that don't really need to move. Maybe cabinets for the top above the miter station. but I want the layout to be roughly 50% car, 50% wood. When working on large projects I'll move her car out so I'll have the full area. My table saw is on wheels as is my DC, jointer,scroll saw, and my workbench isn't but I thought about it.

Main concerns are efficient flow between areas and cleanliness. I plan to have DC vents near the usual areas, with unfortunately likely a ground hose for the table saw since it's in the middle. Or I could plumb piping above, but IDK about the suction power of that.

 

[captaingofast]

Looks a tad tight on the right. Nice garage map. What software did you use? My shop is a game of inches too with respect to elbow room. I use a scale drawing to arrange things, typically on a seasonal basis but also if I'm setting up for a particular project. Everything that goes in my shop is drawn exactly to scale as well. I try different configurations and pick one before I move anything. Much easier to do digitally than in the real world. I use CorelDraw. Up to v14 now. Started with v2.

 

[CraigStu]

I think the hinged to the wall would be awkward to use and it would eliminate storage under a typical bench/shelf. I'd put the 'table/router' and the bench on wheels. The bench needs high quality wheels that lock. Unless all you do on the jointer is small stuff, I'd put that on wheels too so it can be pulled out from the wall. I don't think I'd worry too much about efficient flow. Unless you expect to do stuff where you need to make dozens of one item, it's hobby rather than a production shop.

 

[chstrumpetdude]

Looks a tad tight on the right. Nice garage map. What software did you use? My shop is a game of inches too with respect to elbow room. I use a scale drawing to arrange things, typically on a seasonal basis but also if I'm setting up for a particular project. Everything that goes in my shop is drawn exactly to scale as well. I try different configurations and pick one before I move anything. Much easier to do digitally than in the real world. I use CorelDraw. Up to v14 now. Started with v2.

It looks like Grizzly's online layout tool to me. That is what I personally use since it has their whole tool lineup already.

 

[astroracer]

There are a bunch of threads here about putting everything on casters. That is what you need to do. That way it doesn't matter what layout you have as it is entirely reconfigurable to what you need at that point in time.
Look to the Harbor Freight furniture dollies for decent casters that can be adapted to just about anything. Buying the small ones for 8 or 9 dollars and stealing the casters is about as cheap as you will find. and I have never replaced one in the many years I have been using them...
This has a modified HF dollie under it. As do the rest of the pictured items.

A refurbished trash picked bathroom cabinet.

The engine box is screwed to the larger size HF dollie. That BBC sat on this cart for 7 years with no caster issues.

Setting the entire chassis on the small dollies makes it easily movable as well. As a note, everything in this pic is on casters except the bench the black cabinet is under. Everything else will roll out...

Hope this gives you some ideas...
Mark

 

[PhantomEB]

Yup I thought a 24x24 was small but I have done just fine since my off-road truck is small in as in bumper to bumper.

Everything is on casters, if small and could fit in a cupboard it damn well did so! Even my current drill press stand is on casters and when my 30T press comes.... it’s on casters too. They will have dedicated spots but movable if need be so.

I can’t stress overhead storage any more than I already do. I am already thinking of taking down my wall decorations and building more enclosed cupboards the whole length down one side as I am already wall to wall on the head wall where my bench and tool storage is.

Now for yours,

why two doors?
What’s the long thing next to the car? Bench, table or storage rack?

 

[mendozer]

Thanks for the replies. Most of my tools are on wheels already. Table saw (with router wing) is on wheels. Jointer is a grizzly with wheels. Scroll saw on wheels. DC on a cart I made for it on wheels. Miter saw is currently on a mobile stand, but that will change with a built in bench. I was going to make a mobile flip cart for my belt/disc sander and planer to use. My bench right now isn't on wheels, but can easily be modified or simply placed on a giant plywood piece with HF dollies underneath.

I measured today since I have to calculate insulation. 18.5 feet long walls (not total space, so there's about 18-20 inches extra of the concrete corners) by 8 feet (again, about 2.5 feet above this for the gluelam beam and rafters). So about 400 ft in total (about 20x20 square).

I'd like to try to keep most dust making items on one side so I can plumb accordingly with the DC too. I might make an overhead hose for the table saw, or maybe a floor line and just watch my step haha

 

[mendozer]

Also I'm on the fence between 7/16 OSB wall sheating vs 15/32 plywood. $15 vs $9. If i plan on handing anything heavy I'll of course use studs, but is there any other argument for using plywood other than seeing grain?

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, Car Parking and Cabinet / Wood Shop are not compatible uses for the same space.

 

[mendozer]

IMHO, Car Parking and Cabinet / Wood Shop are not compatible uses for the same space.

It's only parking during the winter for my wife's car. I park outside and during the non-winter months so will she. So whenever I need to use the space, there won't be a car in there. The shelving I'll put up on the car side will be the same depth as the wall so it's flush with the garage door opening. No doors, just 2x4 shelving. Stuff can go in plastic totes or similar.

I drew up a quick sketch of a miter bench too using the free cabinets I got from a friend, adding cubbies/shelves above. I already have parts bins for screws and bolts and such.

 

[dfiler2]

I also put everything on casters, my original thought was I could move them around and figure out what worked best before leaving them in place. After 5 years my table saw is the only thing that has a permanent spot. It's really nice to be able to place things where they work best depending on the project and I love having my 4' x 8' workbench so I can work all the way around it.

 

[CraigStu]

IMHO, Car Parking and Cabinet / Wood Shop are not compatible uses for the same space.

I disagree. I've done exactly that for 30+ years now. My wood working projects seem to happen in spurts. We moved last April and I cut a few pieces of wood here and there. 1st week in Dec I started on a wall of shelves in my wife's sewing room. Two week project. Radial arm saw was rolled over to the garage door so I could open it when cutting and blow most of the **** outside. Most of the 2 weeks my wife parked outside. Maybe 4 nights she parked inside since it would be raining the next morning. Mixing uses may not be ideal but I can't afford three shops so I make it work just fine.

 

[u2slow]

Also I'm on the fence between 7/16 OSB wall sheating vs 15/32 plywood. $15 vs $9. If i plan on handing anything heavy I'll of course use studs, but is there any other argument for using plywood other than seeing grain?

I only use plywood. 1/2" is a logical size. Takes paint easier. Had enough go-rounds with wet, damp, swollen OSB. Also like being able to screw things to the wall anywhere.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I don't know if it will be helpful or not, but if you've got 10 minutes to kill, you might get some ideas from the video I made about my 20x21 shop.

I'm not a woodworker, not even very good at carpentry, but I do a lot of work in my small shop.

 

[Falcon67]

IMHO, Car Parking and Cabinet / Wood Shop are not compatible uses for the same space.

You'd be upset I guess to find me milling a 2x4 on the G0519 LOL.

 

[mendozer]

I don't know if it will be helpful or not, but if you've got 10 minutes to kill, you might get some ideas from the video I made about my 20x21 shop.

I'm not a woodworker, not even very good at carpentry, but I do a lot of work in my small shop.

I like the detailed yet ergonomic storage you have there. Noting where you work on things as well. I wish I could get a air powered jack for my rigs. I've got a 4runner and a F250, not gonna happen