Moving to a smaller shop. Any advice?

[Mark Durrenberger]

I have a pretty good sized shop now but I’m downsizing from a full flat work nd turning shop to just a turning shop. I’m getting rid of my planer, jointer, tablesaw, even my router cabinet.

Remaining
Big lathe, little lathe (mostly for buffing) bandsaw grinder drill press chop saw and some sort of dust collection.

The new space will be roughly 9’x12’ with good ceiling height for a basement of 8’

What are some shop design tricks to use the space wisely?

 

[Peter D'Attomo]

Use your arm's length as a gauge for your immediate tools. The rest is storage.

 

[Steve Tiedman]

Toss in a workbench and a tool chest, and you've described my current workshop contents with what you're trimming down to. All of my gear is set in the dimensions of 11x22 feet. I wish the space was doubled.

My first workshop measured 9x11. Mini lathe on a stand, 8' long bench covered with everything, 14" bandsaw, a bit of wood piled on the floor, some shelves mounted high on the walls, and a few square feet to walk around. I wished the space was doubled.

Have you drawn out all these things on graph paper to see if they'll fit the new space? I don't see a work surface (bench or similar) on your list. Even a 2'x6' bench will take up a serious chunk of your 9x12.

I don't envy your task, but you may have to cut down further. Sell off a lathe.

 

[John K Jordan]

Perhaps consider ditching the little lathe and buffing on the large lathe. I use three 8" buffing wheels on individual 2MT collets, quick to change.
I've never had a use for a chop saw in a turning shop, do most cutting with the bandsaw, use a handheld circular saw to break down boards not too thick, otherwise an electric chainsaw.
I like the 18" bandsaw a lot better then my older 14".
A workbench with a vise is handy, even if narrow and against one wall, shallow drawers and shelves below for no wasted space.

Some major decisions depend on the type of woodturning you want to do. For example, some really want the lathe out in the middle of the room for turning bowls/hollow forms. For what I like to turn I'm happy with the lathe against the wall and make use of the wall space behind. The space where the lathe sits 8' long, designed that way on purpose even though the shop is large.


Wall space is premium for me. I cover most with floor to ceiling shelves and cabinets for tool, supplies, and wood storage. I put 1/2" plywood on all walls so I could mount shelves everywhere. A long thread had ideas on tool storage:

Thread 'Show us your tool rack/cart'

May 15, 2014

I'm finding myself sticking tools hear and there and need to make a proper tool rack or cart so they are organized and accessible. I'm looking for ideas and would love to see how you have solved this. What do you like or don't like about what you have? Any plans to change or expand? Does it include chucks and other accessories?
Thanks!
Doug

• Douglas Ladendorf
• Replies: 357
• Forum: Woodturning Discussion Forum

If you use the OneWay Wolverine & Varigrind for sharpening cut off most of the long v support so the sharpening station doesn't need to be so deep.

When planning my multipurpose shop I made scale drawings of the space and moved paper cutouts of everything I wanted to fit, keeping walking and working space in mind.

JKJ

 

[Alan Weinberg]

Perhaps consider ditching the little lathe

Agree.

 

[Bill Blasic]

Keep the little lathe as you know what it's like to have it. Don't find out what it's like not t have it.

 

[Mark Durrenberger]

Perhaps consider ditching the little lathe and buffing on the large lathe. I use three 8" buffing wheels on individual 2MT collets, quick to change.
I've never had a use for a chop saw in a turning shop, do most cutting with the bandsaw, use a handheld circular saw to break down boards not too thick, otherwise an electric chainsaw.
I like the 18" bandsaw a lot better then my older 14".
A workbench with a vise is handy, even if narrow and against one wall, shallow drawers and shelves below for no wasted space.

Some major decisions depend on the type of woodturning you want to do. For example, some really want the lathe out in the middle of the room for turning bowls/hollow forms. For what I like to turn I'm happy with the lathe against the wall and make use of the wall space behind. The space where the lathe sits 8' long, designed that way on purpose even though the shop is large.

View attachment 73473
Wall space is premium for me. I cover most with floor to ceiling shelves and cabinets for tool, supplies, and wood storage. I put 1/2" plywood on all walls so I could mount shelves everywhere. A long thread had ideas on tool storage:

Thread 'Show us your tool rack/cart'

May 15, 2014

I'm finding myself sticking tools hear and there and need to make a proper tool rack or cart so they are organized and accessible. I'm looking for ideas and would love to see how you have solved this. What do you like or don't like about what you have? Any plans to change or expand? Does it include chucks and other accessories?
Thanks!
Doug

• Douglas Ladendorf
• Replies: 357
• Forum: Woodturning Discussion Forum

If you use the OneWay Wolverine & Varigrind for sharpening cut off most of the long v support so the sharpening station doesn't need to be so deep.

When planning my multipurpose shop I made scale drawings of the space and moved paper cutouts of everything I wanted to fit, keeping walking and working space in mind.

JKJ

I agree keeping the chopsaw handy may not be necessary. It’s an older rigid and the blade brake works poorly. Maybe I’ll get rid of it and live without it for a bit. If I find I need one, I’ll go shopping.

I have the same PM lathe but I’m probably going to sell it and get a robust. I do a lot of hollowing so I need to work from the end….

And yes I’ll do the scale drawing in Sketchup and virtually rearrange

And fortunately, the basement has other storage areas so I won’t have to use the shop space to store wood or finishes (in fact, I’ll be able to have a finishing area, embellishment area, and a photo studio area outside the dust and noise area)

 

[Kirk Amidon]

Some thoughts

Wheels and casters are your friend. being able to tuck tools under a bench top/storage cabinet really helps. Move them out when in use, and replace when done.

Think in terms of Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary spaces and align your tools and processes this way. The only stuff in a prime space should be things that are really important and accessed often. Conversely, it is no fun to have to reach into awkward spots for thing you need frequently.

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Wheels and casters are your friend.

I agree completely agree with Kirk. My sharpening station, two bandsaws (I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of the 14” Delta saw after I bought the larger Jet saw), cabinet next to the lathe and jointer are all on wheels, and move around regularly as space demands arise. I also question whether or not a chop saw is necessary in a pure turning shop, but in my case it lives in semi-storage under a workbench since when needed it is such a useful tool. I think I’d have a hard time getting rid of my table saw. Most of the time it’s just a work surface, but when needed, it’s there.

 

[Dave Landers]

If you can, it's so much easier to visualize the space in real space rather than on graph paper or the computer. The paper layouts can help, but nothing beats standing in a space. So maybe you can rearrange your current bigger space and tape out the size of the new shop, then move some things around and get a feel for what works and what's going to fit (or not).
I moved to my new shop about 18 months ago, and my strategy was - I first figured out where I wanted my lathe. Stood there in the empty space for a while to "feel" it, then moved the lathe in. Made sure there were places for tools etc around the lathe (not just gouge racks, but grinders, drawers, etc). Once that was set, I did mostly the same with the next important tools (bandsaws & second lathe). Then kept going basically like that.
Utilize your ceiling where possible- dust collection duct, compressed air lines, vacuum lines, power outlets, whatever. That keeps stuff from eating up valuable wall space and keeps cords etc off the floor.

 

[John K Jordan]

The new space will be roughly 9’x12’ with good ceiling height for a basement of 8’

I think I’d have a hard time getting rid of my table saw. Most of the time it’s just a work surface, but when needed, it’s there.

I have a table saw, a PM with a slider, and don't use it often but won't get rid of it. And a number of other large tools I'd hate to be without. However my shop building is 24'x62'! (for woodturning + flatwood, welding, machine shop, electronics, equip repair, and hatching peacocks)

But moving to a 9'x12' shop space like Mark described? I'd have to do some SERIOUS downsizing and make careful decisions!!

For a woodturning-only shop 9x12' is certainly possible. Until I built the big shop for years I had my woodturning in 1/2 of a 2-car garage. The space was tight but I sure did a lot of happy woodturning, and made a lot of dry turning blanks from log sections. I'd do it again if needed, and probably will after running the farm gets to be too much and we move into a smaller place!

I posted this before, but this is how I had my garage shop set up, with more shelves behind me when standing at the lathe and bandsaw and wood processing off to the right. The garage door was to the left with a small air compressor and more shelves on either side of the door. The shop was so tight that when two of us used it one had to go outside before we could switch places at the lathe!

If I wanted to set this up for hollowing like Mark wants, I'd consider arranging it about the same except position the lathe so I could work from the end.

@Mark Durrenberger, please post your layout when you get it designed! I'm highly interested in what you come up with - want to learn from it. When we circle through the NE again maybe I'll stop and visit.

JKJ

 

[Kevin Jenness]

I'd put the lathes and grinder against one long wall with tool racks on the wall to either side. Dust collector (and compressor?) in a corner. Bandsaw, drill press and chopsaw on the opposite wall (with a workbench w/ vise?. Set it up so the chopsaw and bandsaw tables are the same height or the bandsaw is sufficiently higher to slide lumber under it for crosscutting. Line it out on paper or CAD and expect to change things around for fine tuning at least once. Make sure you have good lighting, both overall and task lighting at the lathe.

 

[John K Jordan]

I moved to my new shop about 18 months ago, and my strategy was - I first figured out where I wanted my lathe. Stood there in the empty space for a while to "feel" it, then moved the lathe in.

I did the same! I had designed everything on paper before hand but before I moved things in I stood in the space and imagined how it would work.

Hey, another idea: maybe make a full-sized paper lathe cutout to put on the floor!

I did something similar when we moved to this place. The house we moved from was larger and I wasn't even sure I could fit my piano into the space. So I taped big sheets of paper together and cut out a full-sized outline of the piano and one of the bench and moved it around until I figured out how to make it work. It was SO much easier to visualize not only the placement but the walking space too. Ended up putting it at an angle and even had plenty of space for a small fold-out sofa bed!



JKJ

 

[Mark Jundanian]

Wheels and casters are your friend. being able to tuck tools under a bench top/storage cabinet really helps. Move them out when in use, and replace when done.

Yes! And allows one to more easily rearrange the shop.

Since you have other work storage areas in the basement some seldom used tools could be stored outside of the shop. For example, a job site tablesaw on a folding, rolling stand.
A quality, accurate 12" sliding compound miter saw can do a lot of tablesaw functions. I buy dry wood in 16/4 boards several feet in length and cut off blanks as I need them. I can make the cut in one pass on the SCM, where I couldn't on a TS.

A SCM is one of those tools that is "move-able" if not truly "portable". Could go on a folding, rolling stand, too, or set on a workbench.

I've also seen temporary router tables the clamp to a workbench.

 

[Larry Mercier]

Most of the time it’s just a work surface, but when needed, it’s there.

I agree but I have enough room in my basement shop.

 

[Angela Gunn]

I'm guessing you are not turning glue-ups or segmented? I just bought a planer because I need to get very straight pieces for some of my projects.
And I wish I had a table saw for cutting large boards down to blanks, or for that matter making sleds for my bandsaw.
Perhaps some tools can be downsized to smaller versions that take less space (or are more easily moved when needed)?

 

[Dean Center]

Remaining
Big lathe, little lathe (mostly for buffing) bandsaw grinder drill press chop saw and some sort of dust collection.
The new space will be roughly 9’x12’ with good ceiling height for a basement of 8’

Based on my personal 10X12 shop, it's going to be very difficult to get all that in and be able to hollow from the end of a large lathe. It may depend on where the door/entry is located.

The dust collector can be nearby but outside. A vacuum pump and compressor are very useful and should be included, and can also be nearby but outside. You will need some sort of work surface/table. A chop saw is not needed for woodturning, as you can use the band saw. The drill press is not required but some folks prefer to use it for some functions.

There may be some remorse and grieving as you move from lots of space to turning in a closet. Those abandoned tools have provided you with much satisfaction.

 

[Mark Durrenberger]

Based on my personal 10X12 shop, it's going to be very difficult to get all that in and be able to hollow from the end of a large lathe. It may depend on where the door/entry is located.

The dust collector can be nearby but outside. A vacuum pump and compressor are very useful and should be included, and can also be nearby but outside. You will need some sort of work surface/table. A chop saw is not needed for woodturning, as you can use the band saw. The drill press is not required but some folks prefer to use it for some functions.

There may be some remorse and grieving as you move from lots of space to turning in a closet. Those abandoned tools have provided you with much satisfaction.

Compressor will be outside the space as will the dust collector. The dust makers will be in the space. The drill press is currently mounted to my workbench. I’ll probably keep that setup but I’ll make the bench narrower so I can reach the wall behind it and put shelves up.

 

[Tom Gall]

My basement shop is larger than yours (and only 7' head room). Problem was every flat surface (all tool tables & extensions, workbench, two foldable work tables, etc.) had "stuff" stored all over them. No room to work ... and too lazy to move all that crap!!! So, I added three shelves suspended from the ceiling joists (from "I might need that someday" stuff ) and one from Wire Shelving (ClosetMaid type). More of those to come.
This has nothing to do with getting rid of equipment/tools, etc., but might come in handy for you and others.

 

[hughie]

I have a pretty good sized shop now but I’m downsizing from a full flat work nd turning shop to just a turning shop. I’m getting rid of my planer, jointer, tablesaw, even my router cabinet.

Remaining
Big lathe, little lathe (mostly for buffing) bandsaw grinder drill press chop saw and some sort of dust collection.

The new space will be roughly 9’x12’ with good ceiling height for a basement of 8’

What are some shop design tricks to use the space wisely?

Dont do what I did and downsizeed my wood stash, I was overly zealous and have lived to regret it. It was a ruthless triage

 

[Mark Durrenberger]

No plans on eliminating wood. Just tools. Thanks.