How to Turn a One-Car Garage Into a Hand Tool Woodworking Shop
Many woodworkers are limited on space, but a garage can be an ideal wood shop. For woodworkers who plan to work primarily with traditional hand tools, the garage doesn't even need to have outlets. However, it's good to have electricity available, as proper lighting is absolutely necessary to work safely and accurately with your hand tools.
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Things You'll Need
- Track lighting
- Workbench
- Cabinets
- Counters with drawers
- Pegboard
- Fire extinguisher
- First-aid kit
Instructions
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Prepare your garage woodworking shop by removing everything from the garage. Check that the garage door opens and closes properly. Lubricate the rollers and hinges and make any necessary adjustments to the tracks. If you don't have an automatic garage door opener, check the condition of door lock and replace if necessary.
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2
Insulate and install sheet rock on the walls and ceiling if the garage has bare stud walls. Tape and float the seams of the sheet rock, and sand the joint compound smooth. Apply a light, flat paint to the walls to help disperse light around the room.
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3
Install track lighting in the ceiling. Track lighting is ideal for a wood shop because each spotlight can be focused on a specific area of the shop, eliminating shadows that can have you working in the dark.
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4
Place counters along the perimeter walls. Hang wall cabinets above the counters, with the shelves within easy reach but not infringing on the table space above the counters. Install pegboard between the countertops and the bottom of the cabinets for hanging hand tools.
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Position your workbench near the center of the garage. For a hand tool woodworking shop, the workbench is the center of activity. Allow enough space on each side of the bench so that you aren't bumping into other objects while working.
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Organize all your hand tools in the available spaces, including drawers, pegboards and cabinets above the counters. Keep all tools of a certain type together in one location.
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Install a fire extinguisher and first-aid kit on the wall in a spot that's easily accessed.
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Tips & Warnings
Reserve some floor space for building large projects such as cabinets or furniture.
Always return your tools to their designated spaces. Counter space is at a premium in a small shop, and unused tools can get in the way, creating a safety hazard.
