Should I Separate my Woodshop & Automotive tools/work spaces?

[JRodsGarage]

Just like the title asks. A little background, to set the story straight.

My wife and I are purchasing a new(to us) home that has something I've never been fortunate enough to have... I am finally going to have 4 garage spaces, however they are split. On one side of the house, I have a 3 car garage of which I will be parking the wifes Tahoe and my VW CC (and eventually my late grandfathers old Porsche), and on the other side, I have a pretty standard size 1 car (9.5'x19.5") that I am dedicating to my wood workshop.

My "plans" are to keep the 3 car nice and clean, almost showroom styled and the woodshop, well, a woodshop! The dilemma that I'm running into is, I'm not sure if I should locate all my tools/storage into the workshop, or should I keep the automotive stuff with the cars and visa versa.

The woodshop wont be big enough to house a car, so when I would do automotive work, it would have to be outside, or id have to go back an forth between garages.

It may sound like Im answering my own question, but I could be missing something. Anyone have this kind of situation?

Jeryd

 

[marinusdees]

Short answer is: Yes. (I've tried it both ways.)

 

[unslow1]

Yes, and it really ***** if your tools are in the autobody area of the garage.

 

[James-W]

If it is at all possible having separate areas for each work center is preferred.

By the way, a one car garage is too small for a wood shop, in my opinion it is too small anyway. Woodworking, by its very nature, requires a lot of space. By the time you get your woodworking equipment in there, and a nice size workbench, you won't have much room to do anything.

Keep in mind, just using a table saw to cut a full size sheet of plywood requires about 20 feet of space. Remember, you need 8 feet in front of the saw and 8 feet behind it. Then too, the table saw takes up some space as well so having at least 20 feet is about right.

 

[JRodsGarage]

Short answer is: Yes. (I've tried it both ways.)

Thank you!

Yes, and it really ***** if your tools are in the autobody area of the garage.

Yea, I can already see myself walking back and forth...

If it is at all possible having separate areas for each work center is preferred.

By the way, a one car garage is too small for a wood shop, in my opinion it is too small anyway. Woodworking, by its very nature, requires a lot of space. By the time you get your woodworking equipment in there, and a nice size workbench, you won't have much room to do anything.

Keep in mind, just using a table saw to cut a full size sheet of plywood requires about 20 feet of space. Remember, you need 8 feet in front of the saw and 8 feet behind it. Then too, the table saw takes up some space as well so having at least 20 feet is about right.

I want to agree with you, but I can say that Ive worked with less... Much less! It will be a tight space, but with strategic planning and design, it can be as effective as a bigger shop.
Luckily, I live in Southern California and its sunny 360 days of the year, so I have the option of opening the garage door and expanding out into the driveway.

With that said, I have been inspired by many hobbyist wood workers on here that do have similar sized shops, so I have been accumulating ideas from all of them.

Here is what I have designed so far. In my original post, I had a picture of the "plan" on SketchUp. As you will see in the first pic, I have my miter station affixed to the wall with plenty of storage cabinets both lower and upper. Underneath the miter area, you will see something with legs. That is my edited version of the Ron Paulk Workbench.
It will be on 360* casters and it will swing out from under the miter station(i have a removable dowel pivot point holding it in) and it is actually two pieces. The second half will continue to pivot out another 180* beyond the first piece to give me a 4' deep out feed table. I already have the DeWalt jobsite table saw pictured, and it will be suspended by 2" steel pipe which can be removed from the table's core when stored. The Paulk Workbench is a pretty impressive piece, I highly recommend checking it out.
It will also later house my router.

When breaking down a 4x8 sheet initially, I prefer to use a track saw anyways. That big of a sheet can be quite cumbersome to try to feed by myself(which I do 99.9% of my wood working anyways)

 

[NUTTSGT]

Being my garage was a former gas station with a convenience store, I have two separate sides to my garage. It works for me and I like it. Even though, the main toolbox is on the garage side, I have a smaller Cman 26" box with hand tools in it. They are for not only wood working projects but what I grab when doing a home repair or project.

 

[tez929rr]

Two sections, and that’s just an excuse to buy more tools.

 

[Max]

I'd split the tools between garages because most of the tools don't overlap. In the cases where the tools do overlap (screwdrivers, drills, wrenches for your power tools) I'd duplicate the tools. Besides saving a lot of walking back and forth it will help you minimize the tools you keep in the woodworking shop in the smaller area.

Another option that might work would be to keep the common tools in a roll around that ypu can move between the garages when needed.

Max

 

[jd_1138]

I'd split the tools between garages because most of the tools don't overlap. In the cases where the tools do overlap (screwdrivers, drills, wrenches for your power tools) I'd duplicate the tools. Besides saving a lot of walking back and forth it will help you minimize the tools you keep in the woodworking shop in the smaller area.

Another option that might work would be to keep the common tools in a roll around that ypu can move between the garages when needed.

Max

Yeah I think I'd duplicate the tools. Especially if the dupes are in a reasonably priced brand like Tekton, GW, etc.. I'd keep the better tools on the automotive side, and the cheaper set over in the woodshop with the clamps and such.

 

[Falcon67]

There's a reason I have multiple tool boxes LOL. As above, a lot of tools don't overlap. A nice 56" HF box in both locations would do it IMHO. Plenty of room for things like lathe tools, faceplates, blades, etc and either/both could be built into benches to save floor space.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Just like the title asks. A little background, to set the story straight.

My wife and I are purchasing a new(to us) home that has something I've never been fortunate enough to have... I am finally going to have 4 garage spaces, however they are split. On one side of the house, I have a 3 car garage of which I will be parking the wifes Tahoe and my VW CC (and eventually my late grandfathers old Porsche), and on the other side, I have a pretty standard size 1 car (9.5'x19.5") that I am dedicating to my wood workshop.

My "plans" are to keep the 3 car nice and clean, almost showroom styled and the woodshop, well, a woodshop! The dilemma that I'm running into is, I'm not sure if I should locate all my tools/storage into the workshop, or should I keep the automotive stuff with the cars and visa versa.

The woodshop wont be big enough to house a car, so when I would do automotive work, it would have to be outside, or id have to go back an forth between garages.

It may sound like Im answering my own question, but I could be missing something. Anyone have this kind of situation?

Jeryd

If it were me I'd do as you are already thinking, woodshop in the single, automotive in the 3bay. This will keep the dust contained to a small area and not all over automotive stuff. Been doing some woodwork in mine and dust is covering EVERYTHING.

As for tools that overlap or go between, depending on how often I'm inconvenienced with that dilemma would dictate if I want to duplicate. (I see what you're doing, "needing" more tools...yes I'd wanna duplicate)

But that said....

If it is at all possible having separate areas for each work center is preferred.

By the way, a one car garage is too small for a wood shop, in my opinion it is too small anyway. Woodworking, by its very nature, requires a lot of space. By the time you get your woodworking equipment in there, and a nice size workbench, you won't have much room to do anything.

Keep in mind, just using a table saw to cut a full size sheet of plywood requires about 20 feet of space. Remember, you need 8 feet in front of the saw and 8 feet behind it. Then too, the table saw takes up some space as well so having at least 20 feet is about right.

James said exactly what I thought initially "is it big enough?" Valid point.

In my 18.5' wide garage I'm in the middle of footprint with a 4x8, even a 4x4 sheet and cutting it there. The project is over on the side. Yours is half that width, your depth of 19.5 isn't a problem though but the width, it's tight.... If you're running a table saw, it's placement is critical. I'd suggest keeping your machines on wheels. Like the table saw, roll it out to the garage door edge and cut there. I'd keep the miter saw mobile as well to be able to do the same. You can still build a nice workbench but not set machines still. Maybe the DP if you give it enough space for material overhang. Next thing to think about, do you have space for your project to sit. With so much taken by workspace, do you have a place that the workpiece is waiting and assembled and you're not tripping over it? Toolboxes and benches will eat 2'x?' of space somewhere.



JRod, I think you can make it work but you'll still be inconvenienced a possibly cramped in some situations.

 

[Viper98912]

I'd tear down the back wall and enlarge the space to house a car AND your woodshop

 

[GrayFlattop]

They really should be distinct spaces. FWIW, my 24 x 40 is split with a partition wall and the wood shop is in the back - cars up front.

When it comes down to it, there aren't THAT Many tools that overlap. That said I keep most of the tools in the back half anyway for security, but other than screwdrivers, drills and compressed air - there is not a lot of tool sharing. Sometimes the drill press, but that is rare. Pick up a modest tool cabinet for the woodshop and fill it up. Buy more tools if you find you are making the trip back and forth too often.

Honestly in the woodshop, I no longer use air drills (replaced by cordless long ago) so all I need for compressed air is something to power a blow gun or for a brad nailer. You could run a pipe (or a piece of nylon air brake tubing) from one to the other for that load, or buy a second smaller compressor.

You can make this set-up work!

 

[LXCam]

Take the area you plan on parking the Porsche in and make it a nice clean mechanical area. After all most all Porsche are the size of a shoebox so it shouldn't be all that hard to find a happy medium.

Btw, where ya at? I'm in riverside.

 

[niget2002]

I do both in a single 2-car garage. I'm constantly having to blow saw dust off of the automotive tools.

 

[JRodsGarage]

Being my garage was a former gas station with a convenience store, I have two separate sides to my garage. It works for me and I like it. Even though, the main toolbox is on the garage side, I have a smaller Cman 26" box with hand tools in it. They are for not only wood working projects but what I grab when doing a home repair or project.

Yeah I think I'd duplicate the tools. Especially if the dupes are in a reasonably priced brand like Tekton, GW, etc.. I'd keep the better tools on the automotive side, and the cheaper set over in the woodshop with the clamps and such.

Yea, I think that might be what I do. Hopefully I can get away with a smaller box. Not alot of room to work with!

Two sections, and that’s just an excuse to buy more tools.

I'd split the tools between garages because most of the tools don't overlap. In the cases where the tools do overlap (screwdrivers, drills, wrenches for your power tools) I'd duplicate the tools. Besides saving a lot of walking back and forth it will help you minimize the tools you keep in the woodworking shop in the smaller area.

Another option that might work would be to keep the common tools in a roll around that ypu can move between the garages when needed.
Max

This might also be an option. My toolbox situation would support this. I have two smaller boxes that are easily rolled around. At least until I get some duplicate tools that I know that I will need/use.

There's a reason I have multiple tool boxes LOL. As above, a lot of tools don't overlap. A nice 56" HF box in both locations would do it IMHO. Plenty of room for things like lathe tools, faceplates, blades, etc and either/both could be built into benches to save floor space.

If it were me I'd do as you are already thinking, woodshop in the single, automotive in the 3bay. This will keep the dust contained to a small area and not all over automotive stuff. Been doing some woodwork in mine and dust is covering EVERYTHING.

JRod, I think you can make it work but you'll still be inconvenienced a possibly cramped in some situations.

Oh yea, I know all about the dust covering everything... I am super meticulous about the paintwork on my cars, even down to the rags having their own dirty bin and working in the current two car that I have is eating me away every time I do work. Dont forget overspray, OMG the overspray!
I can definitely work in cramped situations. As i mentioned in my response post to him, I can always expand into the driveway. Im not sure if you saw my last post with the pictures, with my table saw. Its a little guy, but its a damn good saw for its size! Super mobile too.
Also, almost everything that I have, that sits on the ground, is on wheels. I had to keep everything mobile to be able to park a car inside when Im done.

I'd tear down the back wall and enlarge the space to house a car AND your woodshop

Not sure that I could get the wife on board with that... HAHA

They really should be distinct spaces. FWIW, my 24 x 40 is split with a partition wall and the wood shop is in the back - cars up front.

Honestly in the woodshop, I no longer use air drills (replaced by cordless long ago) so all I need for compressed air is something to power a blow gun or for a brad nailer. You could run a pipe (or a piece of nylon air brake tubing) from one to the other for that load, or buy a second smaller compressor.

You can make this set-up work!

Yes, I have a small pancake compressor that will probably stay in the wood shop. I might get a bigger one for the other garage, but we shall see. Id like to get a big one and maybe run some air over like you mentioned. That is just a pipe dream. HAHA, see what i did there?!

 

[JRodsGarage]

Take the area you plan on parking the Porsche in and make it a nice clean mechanical area. After all most all Porsche are the size of a shoebox so it shouldn't be all that hard to find a happy medium.

Btw, where ya at? I'm in riverside.

Thats exactly what Im planning! I will have my pressure washer and other detail equipment over on that side, ive even considered a MaxJax later down the road...
I currently live in Yucaipa but the new house is up in Apple Valley. Trying to get a single story closer to work is what drove us up there.

I do both in a single 2-car garage. I'm constantly having to blow saw dust off of the automotive tools.

Yea, thats what Im working out of right now too!

 

[Git]

What do you actually consider a woodshop to be? Are you thinking of having any larger tools like a tablesaw, jointer, planer, dust collection? Personally, I think using the separate 1 stall for woodshop is not going to work out that great...

I would think about doing something like this:

wife (or best car) gets the single, separate 1 stall
other car gets the single stall in the 3 stall garage
woodshop gets 2 stalls and you have the option of using one of the woodshop stall for a car

 

[tez929rr]

We built a shop building about twelve years ago; it’s about a 75 yard walk from the gaarage adjacent to the house. The first time I made the trip several times for tools I realized I needed complete sets in each building. Now there is another building about 50 feet from the shop. I put a tool cart in there during the finish out phase, and I realized I am going to need at least a decent set in there permanently.

It’s a good problem to have.

 

[PNWguy]

Separation is a good thing, unless your woodworking is going to be very infrequent.

 

[Max]

What do you actually consider a woodshop to be? Are you thinking of having any larger tools like a tablesaw, jointer, planer, dust collection? Personally, I think using the separate 1 stall for woodshop is not going to work out that great...

I would think about doing something like this:

wife (or best car) gets the single, separate 1 stall
other car gets the single stall in the 3 stall garage
woodshop gets 2 stalls and you have the option of using one of the woodshop stall for a car

Git makes a good point. In our old house we had a 3 car garage, and I put up a non-structural wall to split it into a 1 car and 2 car bay. (I had a connecting man door so I could easily go between them.). This kept the dust controlled. In your case, when the Porsche shows up it could go in the workshop, and then it gios to the driveway when you're woodworking.

Max

 

[mmb617]

Separate for sure. I wouldn't want all the sawdust in the garage. I have a 4 bay garage and then a separate 14x18 building where my wood working tools are. Yeah it's a little smaller than ideal but it works for me. It helps that I have a garage door on one end that I can open and let longer pieces stick out when needed. I have a radial arm saw that's pretty much immovable along one wall but my table saw and chop saws I move around as needed.

The tools that are interchangeable for both areas tend to be smaller hand tools that aren't that expensive so it makes sense to just duplicate them. I have a tote bag that holds my cordless drills and impacts and that I move around to where it's needed.

Once in a while I have a project that requires more space than I have in the wood shop and when that happens I temporarily move the cars out of the garage and use that space then clean up after. It also helps that my lift bay where all the garage tools are kept is separated by a wall from the other 3 bays of the garage, so I use the larger area when I have to do wood work there without having sawdust all through my tools.

 

[tuner4life]

Yes you should separate.. I had been doing the wood work in the shop where I do car work, and there was wood dust everywhere no matter how hard I tried to control it.. And I also found myself leaving grease marks on the wood and wood tools. Currently moving the wood stuff to the house garage and leaving the cars in the shop.

Everything is working out great, except I can't decide where to put the storage/charging station for the drill and bit driver because I seem to use it equally for cars and wood projects anymore lol.

 

[bjcouche]

Ideally you'd have THREE spaces.
One for the wood shop to keep the dust off the cars and automotive tools.
One for the Auto shop to keep the grease, oil, dirt off everything and to minimize tools brought from the auto shop into the wood shop. Inevitably if you move tools from the auto to wood shop you'll be sanding on some oak or walnut, turn the board over and find a huge grease stain from grease transferred from some tool from the auto shop!
Lastly one space for the daily driver / wife's cars. You don't want the wife to have to walk by and constantly see the mess in your auto shop, unless you like keeping your auto shop operating room clean....

 

[RandyZ71]

YES! I am finally getting to do that very thing. 33x40 for the project car, 30x30 two car for parking. 24x40 under construction for the woodworking tools. I fought the sawdust on the project car/grease on the wood in a single 30x60 for years!

 

[FauszHausz]

I have this same problem, except I’m trying to store two motorcycles - an Indian and a KTM - along with a wood shop in a single car garage


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[crewchief888]

i keep mine separate.

woodworking type stuff stays in the basement. i do most wood working projects in the house, usually over the winter, when i dont really want to be outside. ive put together a very primitive dust collector to cut down on the saw dust.

my garage is small, and unheated, 19Dx22W, and i have an 8x10 shed for the riding mower, yard tools, and her gardening "stuff"
i made room for the wifes new car in the garage a couple weeks ago, and have room for my harley.
drill press, belt sander, welder, ect i have on wheels so i can shuffle things around when i need to.

if i need to make more than a couple cuts, i can always move the miter saw/stand or the table saw out into the driveway to work.