Thread: Setting up shop

Have you sketched out a plan for the shp[? always a good place to start.

Not yet, but I've used the shop layout planner over at the Grizzly tools website for my last two shops. Once I lay out the area for the laundry room I'll put my final measurements into the planner and start "moving machinery around."

If you haven't tried it out before, it's free.

Grizzly.com® -- Workshop Planner

Pete, I have been building my workshop for 15 years and it is very helpful to give a lot of thought to dust extraction and buy the biggest unit you can afford and put blast gates to each machine to maximise efficiency. Hav a second samller mobile unit for back up. Also have machines on "trolleys" with lockable wheels (about $90 from Carbatec)
Bob

Good ones Bob. I've got a few tools on casters, but need to add a mobile base to the jointer, and I need a rolling bench or cart for the smaller bench top tools like the grinder, scroll saw, etc...

I think I'll have enough room to wall off a little dust collection closet where I'd like to tuck a dust collector into and then run the line out from there. Dust collection certainly makes you re-think shop layout all over again!

I was lucky enough to get hold of a couple of old desks which I cut up and used as bases with lockable wheels. Less than half the price of the metal units from carbatec. Do not however make the mistake I made with first one of using two swivel and two fixed wheels. You need to be an expert parallel parker to get the machine where you want it

I find the frustration always comes between wanting the shed set up and wanting to do work in it. Interesting if you do both at once you'll find what you use the most and what you really don't need. (N.B. I said 'don't need' NOT 'Don't want')

Because I have a lot of tools I want but don't really need

Loved you previous blog as well Pete.


Catch you later

Stephen