How to Design a Woodworking Workshop
Woodworking requires dedicated space for equipment, wood storage and current projects that are between raw wood and completion. Taking time to design this workshop area pays off with increased enjoyment of the woodworking process and improved safety and productivity. As home improvement and remodeling expert Bob Vila says, the bottom line in designing your personal workshop is making sure it works for you, so gather ideas from others but modify them to suit your needs. (See References 1)
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Instructions
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Inventory and measure your current woodworking equipment, supplies and projects to create the baseline for your workshop needs. List the problems you want the new workshop design to fix and create a wish list of equipment and systems you would add to your workshop if funds were unlimited.
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Set parameters for available space, the time and skills needed to build or set up your workshop area and how much you can afford to spend. Get prices for the materials you need and the things you want, then work with your finances to create a realistic monetary budget.
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Determine how much space your big tools take up and estimate your storage needs for tools and supplies. Consider things like tool placement for efficiency, whether you need a separate finishing area and how you will move finished projects out of the workshop.
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Include problem fixes in your plan. According to Fine Woodworking, noise reduction can be accomplished several ways, so decide which solution to include in your design and your budget. (See References 2)
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List potential safety issues and their solutions. Fine Woodworking notes that this can include adequate ventilation, lighting and electrical service, proper storage of stains and varnishes and locating the first aid kit close to potential danger sources such as the band or table saw. (See References 2)
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Arrange to-scale paper templates representing equipment, workbench and storage areas and working room on a graph-paper workshop outline, as Proven Woodworking suggests. (See References 3) Consider how you work and ways to improve use of the space. Continue reworking the design until you feel confident it will meet your needs without exceeding your budget.
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Tips & Warnings
Start your workshop design process by determine the level of comfort and functionality you want to achieve, according to Fine Woodworking. (See References 2) Group your machinery by workflow and make sure you consider in-feed and out-feed room around each machine. Proven Woodworking suggests overlapping the feed areas of two pieces of equipment to save space without sacrificing functionality. (See References 3) Installing rubber feet on your machinery may reduce noise enough or you could design your new building with the drywall offset from the ceiling joists and extra insulation. (See References 2) Ask yourself practical questions such as, will you be transforming a corner of the garage or building a new freestanding structure? Do you make pen sets or furniture?
Determine applicable building codes and required permits. If using a contractor, get a written bid, check references and sign a contract. Consider where and how you can legally dispose of sawdust and hazardous chemicals.
References
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