Chris Gochnour’s shop really is this tidy
There is perhaps no more orderly and clean shop than Chris Gochnour's marvelous, sun-soaked shop in the Salt Lake City area
Oct 06, 2017
I’ve worked at Fine Woodworking for almost 10 years. In that time, I have traveled to a great many shops, most of them belonging to professional furniture makers. I’ve seen them first hand, and watched as they got used. Here’s something that I’ve noticed: The vast majority of professional furniture makers that I’ve worked with keep a tidy shop. You might think it odd that I should go out of my way to make this point, but you wouldn’t if you knew how many emails I’ve read, or how many times I’ve been told in person, that the shops we show are artificially clean, and that any furniture maker worth his or her salt is too busy to sweep the floor and put tools back in the rack or cabinet. I know there are great furniture makers with messy shops. I learned in one like that. However, most of the ones I’ve seen aren’t like that at all. An orderly shop is easier to use. It’s more efficient, and less time is wasted looking for a tool, or clearing a mess from a workbench or machine table so that you can get work done.
There is perhaps no more orderly and clean shop than Chris Gochnour’s marvelous, sun-soaked shop in the Salt Lake City area. Here are some pictures that I’ve taken during my last few trips there. And yes, it really is this beautiful, this well-organized, and this clean.
First up is the spacious area where Chris keeps his primary bench, which is going to be featured in the 2018 Tools and Shops issue. Hand tools are stored within reach, and neatly organized by type. As the Shakers were found of saying: A place for everything and everything in its place.
Next up is a detail of the saw and chisel till. Chris might have a problem with chisels. And saws. Well, really with just about every type of hand tool.
To the left of the saw and chisel rack is a similar one for hand planes. That empty slot? it’s for a No. 4 smoother, which Chris doesn’t use very often, so he doesn’t keep it in the rack. The planes lean back slightly and hang on boot laces. In case you are wondering, the burled knocker hanging on the left side is a mallet. It’s definitely not a muddler for making mint juleps. Remember, kids, alcohol and woodworking don’t mix.
Beneath the plane and saw tills is an open rack for clamps, spokeshaves, some card scrapers, a few files, screw drivers. Note that a large swath of space is dedicated for chisel overflow. And I promise you, there are still more chisels tucked away inside his two wall-hung tool cabinets.
On the other side of the shop is this lovely clamp rack. This type of order is quite pleasing, if I’m being honest. Notice how the parallel jaw clamps on the right are being hung? If you rest them on the lower jaw or, even worse, on the locking mechanism, they have a tendency to “lock” and can be a pain in the clamp to open. This method for storing is way better.
Chris is also a big fan of vintage machines. I love this old Delta drill press.
He had a beautiful old Oliver 166 16 in. jointer that he restored, but it’s been replaced by an awesome and brand new 16 in. jointer.
More on FineWoodworking.com:
- House Your Tools in High Style – Plywood cabinet and simple joinery speed construction time without compromising the elegant look
- Keep Planes Close at Hand – Planes go in and out in seconds with this easy-to-make rack
- Shop Tour: Gochnour’s Garage Workshop – See how Chris took a small garage shop and transformed it into a dream space
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
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Comments
It is hard to believe someone could keep a space that tidy and actually empty looking, almost looks like a studio set! I have to admit I never have my shop it that condition, but maybe Chris as a professional builds one piece at a time and is able to avoid the clutter. As an amateur my shop becomes a catch all for all my hobbies which are many, poor excuse I know, you need to develope good habits. Matt, I would have enjoyed seeing photos of the machine side of Chris's shop. Thanks for the post.
So, does Chris sweep up after planing for a while? Use a floor sweep? Have a maid? Shavings and sawdust are really unavoidable so in addition to smart storage, plenty of room there must also be a clean up strategy. Can you shed light please?
My shop looks like this at the end of each day, because I tidy it up, put every tool in its place and dispose of dust and shavings. It's part of the rhythm of the day, and it somehow leaves my mind tidy as well - it brings closure to a day's work.
I used to enforce a similar discipline when I was a marine engineer. It's how we communicate that we have standards, and hold each other to account for them.
I have sometimes used other people's shops, but if it looks like a bomb hit it then I just don't feel at ease.
I see why Chis shop was chosen. Now lets see this new Joiner!
I'll second the request for "how does he work"? I don't doubt that there are folks this tidy - though sadly I'm not one.
Would Chris be willing to indulge us with a timelapse video of him working in his shop? Just one of those "photo every 15 seconds" things so we can see *how* he works.
Although my shop is not nearly this pristine, the only way I can keep order is to maintain a second shop for things such as, working on lawn mowers, bicycles, or taking apart the washing machine. That second shop is cluttered with various tools, spare parts (I could build a space shuttle) and fasteners. (The stack method of organization works here.) As a result, my wood shop is organized, calm and peaceful...
73
My little Shop does duty as a lawn mower shop, sometimes car work, honey-do jobs and reading woodworking Lansing, magazines, books... I try to keep it clean but I'm still working on building all the benches, shelves and cabinets I want. We moved to this house just over a year ago and shop projects take a back seat to building furniture for Mama. 😀
I don't think it is that hard to keep a shop clean. I spend the last 10 minutes before I go inside the house to sweep up shavings, put tools away, etc. That's really all it takes. Fortunately, hand tools don't generate that much fine dust. Also, I think it's key to have a place that everything belongs. Clutter creeps in when there isn't enough space to store things.
It is no surprise that Chris's shop is so well organized. When he was working out of small garage twenty-five years ago it was no different. It a pleasure and inspiration to follow your career Chris. Keep it up.
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