Thread: Your Workshops

Originally Posted by Richard Findley

Hi Guys,

I currently use space in someone elses workshop which is ok at the moment but I plan to build a small workshop at the end of my garden. What I wondered was... What size workshops do some of you guys work out of and what kit have you squeezed into the space available?

Cheers,

Richard

Hi Richard,

2 x 2.5m by 3m high. I resides at the bottom of the garden and butts onto the chook shed which also houses chook food, garden tools etc. It has a bench 1m deep so there isnt much room. I bolt the lathe onto the bench when I use it, there is a smaller bench with a grinder and the shelves between the joists house my stuff. Basically I can only do one thing at a time, eg turn, route, etc

Get something bigger than mine,

For years it was 2.7 x 3.6 with not much more than a bench and handtools, the garage sometimes got used to assemble if required. Recently an extension expanded size to 3.9 x 8.0 which is like heaven compared to the old space. Equipment is a dusty, benchtop thicknesser and jointer along with a router table and drill press which came from the old shed.

I currently use space in someone elses workshop which is ok at the moment but I plan to build a small workshop at the end of my garden. What I wondered was... What size workshops do some of you guys work out of and what kit have you squeezed into the space available?

Hi Richard,

Build as big as you can afford or as big as your allowed to. The more space the better, my last workshop was 6x6x2.5 and it was too small.


Having lived in the UK for several years I realize that you may be hampered by a small backyard. But still build one as big as you can,you might need a heater tho'...

As for kit, I have two lathes, grinder, polishing mop setup, drill stand, two benches, sundry power tools, a truck load of shelving to go around the walls, and a Burmese cat supervisor

There's one or two articles on WWW WW sites on workshop design that are worth a scan.

Hughie is right IMO. Go as big as you can. Machinery and timber will expand to fit any space available ;-}

The layout can make life easier; grinder, toolbench and lathe need to be grouped, bandsaw and drill press can be further away. Bandsaw on quality castors helps maximise what space you have. Most of all, think about the routing of the dusty ducts to minimise bends as well as pipes underfoot.

Good luck!

eg: http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/wk_pla...277993,00.html

http://home.comcast.net/~hchute/woodshop_shoplayouts.htm

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...d=5960&t=44350

My shed is 5 x 5m; would be OK if I finished one or two WIPs and got them out.

Richard,
Go as big as you can. I have a 2.8x3.8 tin shed that I put in the back yard when her indoors decided that the garage was for cars. I have the bandsaw on wheels and set up the table saw or thicknesser so that the timber points out the door. It is one task at a time then move stuff to do the next bit. I have to put any decent size projects together in the garage in any case with a lot of back and forth looking for the tape or the pencil. Not the ideal set up. I am sure a lot get by with less space and I have seen some clever use made of small spaces. Working space is the thing I crave more than the latest hi tech bit of sawdust making equipment.

Regards
John

6M x 7M workshop and 6M x 7M storage and the car stays out in the weather
No matter how big it's never big enough and the more space you have the more you fill

Have never measured it but I use half of a 4 car garage and its still not enough room.

Go as big as you can, but I warn you, it will never be big enough!

My last one was really small ... but the great thing was that it was organised, everything had a place ... and it had large double barn doors. I could open it up in good weather and work inside and out. Apparently it isn't teh siz that counts but the way you use it ... or was that about something else?

1st was out doors using saw horses and top of dads wooden tool box back steps anything as a bench.
later on built 6'x6'shed
now use small garage shared with car

Code OF Practice

5.1 SIZE AND SHAPE.
Any given shed shall ALWAYS be too small.

Originally Posted by rat52

Code OF Practice

5.1 SIZE AND SHAPE.
Any given shed shall ALWAYS be too small.

and never enough tools



6.1. A bloke shall NEVER have enough tools. It is an immutable Law of Shed Physics that there is no known quantum of any given tool that can be considered to be in excess of requirements.

This will always equate to the size of shed needed devided by the amount of tools/machinery plus work area needed to use said tools.

G'day.
Yep. Never big enough...

I have a 7mx9m shed with a 7m x6m covered car port.
ran out of room in the shed, so closed in the carport. Have now run out of room again. Am now looking at fitting a 9mx6m skillion off the side of the shed.