Here’s another book we recently received from the publisher and we’re giving you an opportunity to win a copy. Leave a comment here for your chance to win.
Setting Up Your Workshop: Straight Talk for Today’s Woodworker (Back To Basics) from Fox Chapel Publishing looks like a neat little book that covers a lot of topics. The Shop Layout chapter includes scale drawings of typical shop machines so you can layout your shop on paper first. It also includes things like lighting, electricity, floors and ceilings, and heating and ventilation. There is a Workbench chapter that includes instructions for building a bench as well as information on vises and other accessories. Shop Accessories includes dust collection, bench grinders, and air compressors. The Storage chapter has info on storing lumber, hand tools, clamps and the like. Finally, there is a section on Work Surfaces and one on Safety. This looks like a good book to look at before (and even after) you set up your shop.
Lucky KenHANGITALL is the winner. His comment was chosen at random.
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I'm just setting up my garage workshop and could really use some help thinkng through mhy shop layout in such a limited space. Thanks for a chance to win a book like this!
I'm working on the plan for a third bay shop in my garage. It is about 170 square feet of soon to be heaven. I've received some good advice from John White and other who responded to my blog post. The best piece on a garage shop of this size I have seen to date is from 2002/2003 FW Tools & Shops, by Michael Teague, entitled "Smart Shop in a One-Car Garage". It is really great, but I like to see this book might update Michael Teague's example.
I am also in the process of reorganizing my shop. I have most of the power tools on wheels and are thus movable. I have an off-cut/ assembly table and a rudimentary workbench. I have also installed an overhead dust collection using an Oneida Cyclone, (works great). What I need some help with is some additional storage ideas and layout of tools to accomodate my larger projects. I am currently building a small dinghy sailboat. (A high performance sailing skiff, PaperJet 14). I sure could use some advice on my shop!!
My son and I are setting up a wood shop and welcome all the help we can get. Have awesome tools. Now have to learn how to use them. Have a feeling this book would do the trick.
I've got a couple of the other "Back to Basics" books and they are really very good. This one would feel right at home in my collection with a couple of its siblings. ;^)
Thanks for the chance to generate this "family reunion".
Sounds like a good collection. The scale drawings of machines is a good idea - I use Adobe Illustrator to make scale "what-ifs" while working on layouts & it's a huge time saver. CAD would be even better I'm sure. I'm in my third shop now and anything that can help with the shop planning process is time & effort well spent.
I'm relatively new to woodworking, and when we relocated from Georgia to Virginia, I left behind a 2-car garage and an 8x12 shed to a custom-built 14x28 building-for-everything (tools, bikes, gardening equipment, auto maintenance gear, Christmas tree stand, etc.). I'm trying to figure out 1) the best way to lay out my machines 2) in the limited space I have, as well as figure out different "levels of accessibility" for different tools. This book looks like precisely the kind of guide I need. Thanks for the opportunity!
Couldn't come out at a better time. I am looking at setting up shop in my tiny garage and need all the advice and ideas I can get. Thanks for the book.
Hi Guys I am based in South Africa so don't get very much good help so books like this are invaluable. I have been a busy business man for two many year and now have just started getting back into my passion woodworking. So getting a good set up to start would be great.
This would be a very timely book for me as I am just beginning to set up in woodworking. I have a few task specific tools and machines but always on the lookout for more. It would be nice to start off orderly because I'm notorious for cornering myself with clutter so that I hardly have room to work. I find that gleaning from the experts is very helpful in most things.
Our woodworking club gets new members, mostly retirees who have in their working lives had very little experience of working with wood. Such a book as this "Back to Basics" would be a valuable addition to our library and give all new members a fresh starting point in their new found woodworking experience. We all need to get back to basics sometime to remember all that we have forgotten.
I would like to rearrange my shop for better efficiency and a better work environment. This book sure would help me do that. Thanks for a chance to win this great book!
I have a shop but it is so unorganized I always have to move something around to get to any tool to use it. This book would be a big help in organizing my shop and making it more enjoyable to use.
Somebody up there loves me! My basement is being finished as I write this and within a couple of weeks, I'll have to make some decisions on setting up my shop. I'm sure this book would come in handy.Your timing is impeccable. Thanks, Robert
Enough space in a basement workshop is my main problem. Some ideas on organizing things would help. Also, my old workbench has never been very efficient, so I could use some pointers there, too.
I've been working out in my 24/24 garage,and I have to keep moving tools around to get something done. The book would really help me get organized. Thanks for the contest.
I am always interested in ways of improving my shop. It is very small and is in need of ways to better organize it. It sounds like this book would be a great help.
I belive we all can learn something from one another. No matter how many times one may have set up a shop, you can always see something that should be moved a little or placed some where different. Looking at books and studying layouts can always be important in setting up a shop or making changes. Just do not try to read and study them all or you will get so confused you will not know which way is best. Just pick one and go for it. Changes can be made later.
I believe that an organized shop will ad to the efficiency of my shop as much as the the latest tool would add. This book should be read by any woodworker - a novice or seasoned veteran.
I am in the process of setting up work shop in a two car garage and this book would be helpful. I need some help on how my woodworking tools can get along with my 82 GMC pick-up. So far the '82 says it was there first.
The many projects on my honey-do list are often delayed and/or unreasonably extended because of a too-small shop filled with tools and materials; and not enough useful working space. Much time is spent in moving things in order to run equipment or perform tasks. Therefore; this publication would doubtless be beneficial in correcting this flaw! However; truth be known, some of the above mentionned hesitation may be attributed to my own flaws; i.e. procrastination.
Maybe there is something I've not already considered when I am ready to move from Garage to professional dedicated shop in 2011. The book may have the solution to an undiagnosed problem, dilemma, or oversight.....great planning produces greater results! The book could be a really nice tool?
I'm over 80 years old and have just moved into less than 2/3rds the space we had and a didicated free standing shop. I'm having dificulties downsizing and desiding which tools I can do without. Maybe this book would help. K
I've got a new house with a garage which I've taken over as a shop for my boat. Thing is, once the boat is in there, I don't have much in the way room. I'm looking for ways to maximize space usage and a book like this would sure come in handy!
I have all the necessary equippment and dust collection plus a decent sized basement now. What I need is some help sorting out the appropriate layout. This book sounds like it may help.
I have expanded my one garage shop several times by pushing out walls into a second garage on or two feet. all of this to be able to put my power tools in a more usable position. When I think it is right I always have to do it again. It would help to have a guide instead of moving heavy equipment around.
I'm in the process of re-organizing my shop which shares space with electrical and mechanical trades. Space is at a premium and this book would help me immensely.
My husband and I both work in our shop, an old garage that we moved in onto a cement slab. This book would be wonderful to have in our shop! Thanks for all the tips and helpful articles.
I too have a small basement shop, I sure need help squeezing out every inch of available space and utilizing every possible resource of power and lighting.
I would like to know how to expand my shop from a 2-car garage to a 3-car garage, put both cars in, and still be able to move around. The shop expansion is not going to happen, because of real estate setback limitations.
Barring that expansion, I am willing to leave one car out of the garage, so I need suggestions on making good use of my one-car-garage equivalent space. Because of the hillside placement of the house, the architect made the garage ceiling 15 feet high. So there is some hope.
It would be interesting to see the approach taken in this book.
Some approaches are too elementary, some much too detailed (though that is good for the beginner), some just repeat ideas found in every other publication (not a bad idea to repeat good ideas). Hopefully this publication has some enovations and some true and tried basics.
Just moved into a new house where finally I have a reasonably sized foot print. I am always looking for ways to improve my efficiency and organization.
I use my garage for woodworking but it is hardly set up as a shop. I want to get it arranged into an efficiently organized and comfortable place to work. So I hope this book will help me achieve that goal.
This book looks like it would have a lot of valuable information on how to set up a shop. Not only about tools and such, but about which is the most durable flooring, the brightest lighting, the best dust collection and everything else to set up the perfect shop. I hope I win this book!
I finally got to finish reading the book. I thought it was very well done but some of it was a little to basic. I think that a follow up book for improving and expanding a basic shop would be a great addition. Show us how the pros tackle their shops. All in all I liked the book and love Fine Woodworking.
With its graceful curves, cabriole legs, and ornamental back splat, a Queen Anne side chair is a bucket list build for many woodworkers. Dan Faia had a very specific Queen…
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Oct 24, 2010
Comments
I'm just setting up my garage workshop and could really use some help thinkng through mhy shop layout in such a limited space. Thanks for a chance to win a book like this!
ooh! nice you mean there is a way to get everything off the floor!!?!!! :-0
My wife wants more organisation in my shop. This book may help.
I'm trying to figure out the best way to layout my machines and dust collection system. This book would really help.
I'm in the process of redoing my shop after a tree fell on it. This book would sure help.
I'm working on the plan for a third bay shop in my garage. It is about 170 square feet of soon to be heaven. I've received some good advice from John White and other who responded to my blog post. The best piece on a garage shop of this size I have seen to date is from 2002/2003 FW Tools & Shops, by Michael Teague, entitled "Smart Shop in a One-Car Garage". It is really great, but I like to see this book might update Michael Teague's example.
Hey Good timing! I am setting up my workshop and would love to read this book.
Jim
I can always accommodate another book.
The timing is perfect. I need to rearrange my shop, it's just not working for me.
Sounds interesting, I want one!
This book is for me; thanks for the chance to win.
In the process of setting up my workshop right now, in fact, so this would be fantastic! Thanks!
I am also in the process of reorganizing my shop. I have most of the power tools on wheels and are thus movable. I have an off-cut/ assembly table and a rudimentary workbench. I have also installed an overhead dust collection using an Oneida Cyclone, (works great). What I need some help with is some additional storage ideas and layout of tools to accomodate my larger projects. I am currently building a small dinghy sailboat. (A high performance sailing skiff, PaperJet 14). I sure could use some advice on my shop!!
Thanks, Best Regards, Michael H.
I've scanned through this book before and picked up a few tips. I'd love to read the whole thing. Sign me up
Would love to have it.
I am always looking for ways to improve my shop.
Yeah Baby, I need this book.
This book looks like something I could use.
Looks like just the information I need to arrange my shop as the basement gets transformed.
This would be great! Thanks.
Count me in.
Count me in!
add me to the list too
I think it would be a great resource for someone with more stuff that garage.
I think it would be a great resource for someone with more stuff than garage.
Add me to the list
Sounds like a great book.
My son and I are setting up a wood shop and welcome all the help we can get. Have awesome tools. Now have to learn how to use them. Have a feeling this book would do the trick.
In the process of building a shop. This would be a great resource to complete the space.
Working on a basement workshop and this would be a nice birthday present (Nov. 2nd)
I've got a couple of the other "Back to Basics" books and they are really very good. This one would feel right at home in my collection with a couple of its siblings. ;^)
Thanks for the chance to generate this "family reunion".
John
Sounds like a good collection. The scale drawings of machines is a good idea - I use Adobe Illustrator to make scale "what-ifs" while working on layouts & it's a huge time saver. CAD would be even better I'm sure. I'm in my third shop now and anything that can help with the shop planning process is time & effort well spent.
This looks like it would be a great help in getting my small shop set up.
Always interested in Shop setup stuff.
Looks interesting. I can use the organization.
Count me in. I'm always up for a book on shop organization.
Still having trouble getting everything set up 'Just So'. I think this will help.
Always would like a good book.
Nice book
This type of book, publishers please note, is very useful when bound so that it can lay flat.
Just what I need!
I hope I win this book.
I need some ideas for my shop.
I would love to win a copy of this book. I am in the middle of upgrading my shop...
I'm relatively new to woodworking, and when we relocated from Georgia to Virginia, I left behind a 2-car garage and an 8x12 shed to a custom-built 14x28 building-for-everything (tools, bikes, gardening equipment, auto maintenance gear, Christmas tree stand, etc.). I'm trying to figure out 1) the best way to lay out my machines 2) in the limited space I have, as well as figure out different "levels of accessibility" for different tools. This book looks like precisely the kind of guide I need. Thanks for the opportunity!
I have recently added several new pieces of equipment and I need to do a new layout of my shop.
Couldn't come out at a better time. I am looking at setting up shop in my tiny garage and need all the advice and ideas I can get. Thanks for the book.
Hi Guys I am based in South Africa so don't get very much good help so books like this are invaluable. I have been a busy business man for two many year and now have just started getting back into my passion woodworking. So getting a good set up to start would be great.
Tim Smith
This would be a very timely book for me as I am just beginning to set up in woodworking. I have a few task specific tools and machines but always on the lookout for more. It would be nice to start off orderly because I'm notorious for cornering myself with clutter so that I hardly have room to work. I find that gleaning from the experts is very helpful in most things.
Our woodworking club gets new members, mostly retirees who have in their working lives had very little experience of working with wood. Such a book as this "Back to Basics" would be a valuable addition to our library and give all new members a fresh starting point in their new found woodworking experience. We all need to get back to basics sometime to remember all that we have forgotten.
I am building a new workshop, this would be a great book to help me design the shop.
I am always looking for ideas to improve my existing workshop. So I would be thrilled to win this book.
I would like to rearrange my shop for better efficiency and a better work environment. This book sure would help me do that. Thanks for a chance to win this great book!
I'm always looking for ways to improve shop layout and organization.
Free stuff is awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am continuously re-organizing my shop :-). Would be good to have a new inspiration.
OMG! If ever there was a book I SHOULD read it would be this one.
My shop has zero organization. Sad, so sad.
I have a shop but it is so unorganized I always have to move something around to get to any tool to use it. This book would be a big help in organizing my shop and making it more enjoyable to use.
thanks!
Somebody up there loves me! My basement is being finished as I write this and within a couple of weeks, I'll have to make some decisions on setting up my shop. I'm sure this book would come in handy.Your timing is impeccable. Thanks, Robert
My shop is always a work in progress. I'm continually making it better. This book would help.
I am trying to organize my garage-come-workshop. Wow, this seems like a book I could use.
Looks like a great book that covers a variety of topics.
This book would help as I convert my one car garage to a functional shop.
Sounds like an interesting book. I would like to read it.
Maybe this can help end the shop clutter
Enough space in a basement workshop is my main problem. Some ideas on organizing things would help. Also, my old workbench has never been very efficient, so I could use some pointers there, too.
Just now overhauling my shop, and the book could come in handy. Thanks for the book contest!
Sounds like a book I could use. Thanks for the opportunity!
I've been working out in my 24/24 garage,and I have to keep moving tools around to get something done. The book would really help me get organized. Thanks for the contest.
with tools all over my shop maybe this is something I need to look into
I need organization in my garage.
I can always use more help to get me organized.
Sounds like an interesting book.
I'm finally getting my garage converted over and am reading every book I can find on setting up shops.
sounds like a book that may be useful.
My shop is overcrouded and doesn't have enough storage space. Hopefully this book will help me.
just getting ready to reorganize the shop after some time away from it.
Just getting ready to re-organize the shop after some time away from it. Would like this book.
I'm always interested in ideas for making my shop more efficient.
just added workshop onto garage this book could be very helpful in setting it up right
I am always interested in ways of improving my shop. It is very small and is in need of ways to better organize it. It sounds like this book would be a great help.
I belive we all can learn something from one another. No matter how many times one may have set up a shop, you can always see something that should be moved a little or placed some where different. Looking at books and studying layouts can always be important in setting up a shop or making changes. Just do not try to read and study them all or you will get so confused you will not know which way is best. Just pick one and go for it. Changes can be made later.
I believe that an organized shop will ad to the efficiency of my shop as much as the the latest tool would add. This book should be read by any woodworker - a novice or seasoned veteran.
Always looking for a different perspective on layout.
Thanks for the opportunity. This would be great for setting up my new shop.
I am in the process of setting up work shop in a two car garage and this book would be helpful. I need some help on how my woodworking tools can get along with my 82 GMC pick-up. So far the '82 says it was there first.
This would be excellent. I'm just starting out and would love ideas to set up a shop.
i've been in my shop for about 2 years. i STILL need help getting it to a steady working state!
The many projects on my honey-do list are often delayed and/or unreasonably extended because of a too-small shop filled with tools and materials; and not enough useful working space. Much time is spent in moving things in order to run equipment or perform tasks. Therefore; this publication would doubtless be beneficial in correcting this flaw! However; truth be known, some of the above mentionned hesitation may be attributed to my own flaws; i.e. procrastination.
Currently expanding shop space.
Book may have some ideas as to the ideal use of the new space
TOM
I'm considering either redoing my shop; or starting over. I'm short of ideas - this book will help.
Just now setting up my shop (12'x20') this book would come in handy.
My shop is in desperate need of a reorganization. i bet this book would get it back to its glory days.
Really like to have this
Maybe there is something I've not already considered when I am ready to move from Garage to professional dedicated shop in 2011. The book may have the solution to an undiagnosed problem, dilemma, or oversight.....great planning produces greater results! The book could be a really nice tool?
This book would be a nice incentive for me to finally get my shop in order. Thanks.
I'm over 80 years old and have just moved into less than 2/3rds the space we had and a didicated free standing shop. I'm having dificulties downsizing and desiding which tools I can do without. Maybe this book would help. K
I've got a new house with a garage which I've taken over as a shop for my boat. Thing is, once the boat is in there, I don't have much in the way room. I'm looking for ways to maximize space usage and a book like this would sure come in handy!
I have a small basement shop and I am always looking for ways
to set it up or organize.
Im looking to reorganize my shop. This would be a great help.
I have a large barn to replace garage space, but I don't want to spread out too much and reduce other barn useage.
I have all the necessary equippment and dust collection plus a decent sized basement now. What I need is some help sorting out the appropriate layout. This book sounds like it may help.
Since becoming engaged, my fiance and I are combining our metalsmithing and wood shops. This book would make a smooth transition!
I have expanded my one garage shop several times by pushing out walls into a second garage on or two feet. all of this to be able to put my power tools in a more usable position. When I think it is right I always have to do it again. It would help to have a guide instead of moving heavy equipment around.
Just starting to get going on woodworking and getting all the information I can.
I have a small basement shop and I need to reorganize, bad!
I'm in the process of re-organizing my shop which shares space with electrical and mechanical trades. Space is at a premium and this book would help me immensely.
My garage shop needs reorganizing badly
If there's one thing I need help with, it's organization! :p
My husband and I both work in our shop, an old garage that we moved in onto a cement slab. This book would be wonderful to have in our shop! Thanks for all the tips and helpful articles.
I'm in the midst of reorganizing my shop. This book might be the direction I need.
Does this have tips on how to kick the rest of the family out of the garage so I can have all the space for a real shop? If so, this is what I need!
I too have a small basement shop, I sure need help squeezing out every inch of available space and utilizing every possible resource of power and lighting.
Comment
I would like to know how to expand my shop from a 2-car garage to a 3-car garage, put both cars in, and still be able to move around. The shop expansion is not going to happen, because of real estate setback limitations.
Barring that expansion, I am willing to leave one car out of the garage, so I need suggestions on making good use of my one-car-garage equivalent space. Because of the hillside placement of the house, the architect made the garage ceiling 15 feet high. So there is some hope.
Anyhow, this book might help.
I would like this book in order to get ideas on how to maximize a small area, provide adequate lighting, and capitalize on technology and equipment.
I need the book.
The shop is never big enough but organization is key. Any hints or help the book can provide would be helpful.
I just like many others am setting up my shop... and the book would be great to aid. Cheers
Any help with organazation would be G R E A T... You mean I would not have to move a machine to use it. :+)
I am just getting back into woodworking and could use all the help I can get.
It would be interesting to see the approach taken in this book.
Some approaches are too elementary, some much too detailed (though that is good for the beginner), some just repeat ideas found in every other publication (not a bad idea to repeat good ideas). Hopefully this publication has some enovations and some true and tried basics.
Hopefully this publication has some tried and true basics as well as some new innovations. It will be interesting to see.
It will be interesting to see if this publication has some good old tried and true ideas as well as some new innovative ideas.
I always reorganize my shop. Some new ideas would be very helpful.
Just moved into a new house where finally I have a reasonably sized foot print. I am always looking for ways to improve my efficiency and organization.
Thanks for the opportunity to win this book.
Dana
I am rearranging my shop, so this would be very timely!
Ted
I am rearranging my shop, so this would be very timely!
Ted
I am about to set up shop so this book may well be helpful.
I look forward to being able to have a place to share ideas.
Thanks for the chance to win this one.
Sounds like just what I need to help improve my present shop. Hope I win.
I use my garage for woodworking but it is hardly set up as a shop. I want to get it arranged into an efficiently organized and comfortable place to work. So I hope this book will help me achieve that goal.
Looking forward to reading this book!!
This book looks like it would have a lot of valuable information on how to set up a shop. Not only about tools and such, but about which is the most durable flooring, the brightest lighting, the best dust collection and everything else to set up the perfect shop. I hope I win this book!
A lot of workshop setup books are so basic in their recommendations that they're pretty well useless.
This one, with the layouts of tools, looks like it could have a lot of very practical advice.
Please put me on the list to win this.
This sounds like it could be a nice reference book to have. Does it tackle the 2 car garage shop? My wife refuses to park in the Drive way overnight.
Sounds like a book I could really use. By description it has everything in it. Thanks
Just read the review great ideas, your book will be useful to reset my shop in a house 20'x25', built in '1900'. I love this place.
Allan B
Moving into a new shop and could always use ideas. Thanks for the opprotunity
Moving into a new shop and could always use ideas. Thanks for the opportunity
pick me, pick me :)
Sounds good.
It will be great to win the book ; the comment cannot be based on the content as I do not have it yet
This book would be a help in setting up a shop! And a workbench plan would be a bonus...
I am re setting up shop so this would be a great book to help maximize my shop enjoyment.
I am looking for new ideas to organized my shop better.
Now that's a book I need. Moved recently and have to set up a new shop in a smaller available space.
I finally got to finish reading the book. I thought it was very well done but some of it was a little to basic. I think that a follow up book for improving and expanding a basic shop would be a great addition. Show us how the pros tackle their shops. All in all I liked the book and love Fine Woodworking.
Just about to set up my real first shop in the garage. This book would be helpful as I always hate to do things wrong before I do them right.
This book would be just the ticket to prep for my shop move!
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