What a mess!!!!!!

[Dansdad]

Ok des anyone have an idea how best to organize a 14x18 shop??? I have an 8'x4' table, drill press ,contractor table saw, 6" joiner, 14" bandsaw, and junk everywhere. Any thoughts would be appreciated....Thank You Dave

 

[wrench409]

Nope. I gave up and step over and around everything.

 

[Always_Thinkin]

Pictures?

 

[coachrick]

Ok des anyone have an idea how best to organize a 14x18 shop??? I have an 8'x4' table, drill press ,contractor table saw, 6" joiner, 14" bandsaw, and junk everywhere. Any thoughts would be appreciated....Thank You Dave

I'm gonna say Family Handyman and Handy magazines will have articles and/or vids on that very topic. If you join one of the forums, I'm sure someone there can direct you if it's not easy to find on the first or second try.

I'm a rolling shelf unit guy myself. My CMS is on a work-height rolling shelf that I can wheel into place or completely out of the way in a flash. I think working around that 4x8 table will be key, natch...and being on rollers might make the arrangement more flexible.

 

[Dansdad]

Thanks a great deal> I belong to Handyman..Ill check it out, I knew I would get help here

 

[admranger]

Get things up off the floor and on to the walls. Shelves, hooks, whatever, will help.

I've found that drawing a scale outline of the space and then cutting out some scale sized bits of paper to match the workbench, tool boxes, etc., etc. This will help you visualize things and it is a lot easier than moving the real thing around to try new layouts.

 

[pepi]

Maybe this will get you started, I am a metal worker so some of these tools I am unfamiliar with the foot print.

6" joiner, drill press , 14" bandsaw, 8'x4' table, along one wall

contractor table saw ....middle of floor ...

Junk along the other wall, rearrange as you see fit


Left hand side notice the casters on the tools

also 6" joiner, drill press , 14" bandsaw make them mobile add some casters for more flexibility

 

[Randyk]

Do what I just did in my refresh. Get a pallet jack, load everything onto pallets and wheel it out into the driveway. Makes for a lot of room in the shop.
Actually putting most everything on casters of some sort helps as you can shove it out of the way when your not using it. Car skates are great.

 

[zkling]

What kind of 14x18 shop is it? Where are the doors located? Can you provide a diagram.

What I find takes up the most space is the "junk" we all tend to save. Stuff that is too good to toss out, but still no immediate need for it. My advice is to go through what you really need/want to keep, then organize, then clean out again.

Power tools on wheels.
Bench against wall
Tool boxes / cabinets against wall for storage of parts.
Vertical storage is your friend. Stack as high as you can. Wall cabinets up high, shelves and drawers every place you can fit them.

Welcome to the SSC (Small Shop Club)
I personally find small shops more fascinating than large ones.

 

[crewchief888]

get rid of the junk.

move everything out of the garage, and start over.

 

[Perrorojo]

^ Move everything out and start over in sections.

 

[bczygan]

Build another shed!

 

[Ed Litsch]

It sounds like these guys gave you some good advice. A shop does you no good if you can't keep it organized. You need to know where things are by having a place for each thing and putting everything back in it's place when you get done using it.

 

[bobemmerich]

I agree. Move EVERYTHING that's not bolted/screwed down out. Then go ahead and make an outline of where you would like everything to go, this way you'll have a good idea of what will fit and where. Get as much off the floor as posssible.
Now if i could only follow my own advice...LOL