I am having a 30’W x 40’D x 12’H shop built and want some of you guys that enjoy designing stuff to weigh in. I’m hoping someone can come up with a great layout that makes the best use of space. It has a 12’W door to the left, and a man door to the right. There is a floor plug providing 110 & 220 at center and 12’ from the back wall. In a perfect world, I’d like to have a two post lift inside the roll-up door, which would essentially block off 12’W x 22’D, but the priority is the wood shop, so if it can’t happen, it can’t happen…
The equipment that matters in the layout:
– Full-size Delta cabinet saw with outfeed table
– Grizzly joiner with 6’ bed
– 12” Sliding miter that I would like to have at least a 6’ bench on either side
– Drill press
– (2) 1.5HP dust collectors (plan to have a ducted system)
– Upright compressor
– Stick and Wire welders (separate units). These, I would like situated by the roll-up door, as I will mostly work outside with them.
– 4’ bed lathe
– Bandsaw
– Scroll saw
– 13” planer
– Bench grinder
– Router table
– (2) 48”W rolling tool chest (mechanic’s tools)
– Lots of hardware storage (racks with plastic bins)
– Wood storage would be nice, even if it requires a loft
– Bookshelves for a large woodworking media collection
– A 3’ x 10’ wood workbench that used to belong to F.O. Stanley (Stanley Steamer car, Stanley Hotel) that he used to build violins on that I would like to have as a focal point of the shop.
– Lots and of other smaller pieces that I will likely build something like a Tool Dock to interchange out as needed.
It’s not a contest, per se, but I appreciate that this takes thought and time, and will gladly pay two hundred dollars to the person that comes up with the best design. I’m interested to see what you guys and gals come up with! – Floyd
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Replies
Post a floor plan with the measured details on it. Include openings (including windows), obstructions, and power outlet positions. Shade the area for your automotive lift. From your description I have no clue about the space's potential flow. More detail = better feedback.
Will do.
also what is floor? slab or crawlspace? on my recently completed shop one of the best features is dust collection, air, and power all accessed under floor. if you are pouring a slab, consider 'trenching' for same, and then cover with planks/grate.
Throw in a utility sink, subfloor ducting, a dustproof stereo cabinet - and you da man!
You know, I have one simple request, and that is to have sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads!
John's off his meds again...
Whew, where to start? I'm familiar with the size of your shop, as I have worked in mine of the same dimensions for over 40 years. Here is what I have fit in:
In machine room: 26" industrial planer; 24"x6' jointer; 8"x6' jointer; Powermatic 65 table saw; 12" radial arm saw; 36" bandsaw; 14" bandsaw; medium size shaper; large 2 spindle industrial shaper; overarm router, lathe, Marunaka fixed knife planer; hollow chisel mortiser, spindle sander, belt/disk sander, Hammond Glider Trim-O-Saw, Powermatic single end tenoner, drill press. The room is 30'x22', with an alcove that houses the lathe and plywood storage.
Bench room: 3'x7' workbench, two smaller workbenches, wood stove, drafting table, lots of storage units for tools, hardware, maintenance items, finishes, etc. Room is 20'x18'.
Metal room: 18"x54" metal lathe; 6"x18" surface grinder, pedestal grinder; 1"x42" belt sander; sharpening bench. Room is 10'x13'.
First: having an interior wall or two can be an advantage, as it provides more wall space for hanging storage spaces. Just don't put the walls in the wrong place!
Principles:
Machine room: put certain machines against the walls: drill press, lathe, sliding miter saw, compressor, tool chests, jointer, probably the bandsaw. (I also put the mortiser, tenoner, belt/disk sander and spindle sander next to a wall. Some on wheels.) Put the planer, jointer, and tablesaw near each other, as you will be using them sequentially to prepare stock. I put each of mine 16+ feet from a solid wall, and at least 10' from an openable window. So I can process 10' stock without opening a window, and 16' with an open window. (Can also use a door for this.)
Figure out how to get machines in close proximity. I have part of my table saw table also the extension of the radial arm saw table (and of my chop saw, which lines up with the RAS.) My router table is on retractable casters; when they are pulled up, its table is just a hair lower than the table saw table, and serves as my outfeed table. I have most of the occasionally used machines on wheels: both shapers, overarm router, fixed knife surfacer, belt/disk sander. Some are very heavy, with large casters (I use a 2x4 as a lever to move them.)
I believe if you get things right, the space for the hoist can be for assembly, for machines on casters, and for infeed or outfeed for your tablesaw, planer, and jointer. Your planer could certainly be on wheels.
I would cluster the mechanic/metal working stuff near the 12' door. Compressor in a corner, as no real access is needed. 4' tool chests against a wall next to the door. If there is not enough wall space, but more open space, you can put the tool chests back to back. I assume they are on wheels...
I have 3 lumber racks that are above head height: oak 4x4 verticals, with oak 2x10s arms mortised into them (and cut to a taper to give more room to the rack below.) These are not nearly as convenient as floor level racks, but are completely out of the way. I usually either stand on a machine or use a ladder to access the wood.
There is more to say, but it's bed time.
Harvey
GIMME? Here're some thoughts. When I was an architectural designer we didn't have clients who asked myself and a number of others to produce x amount of design work for nothing - with the idea that the client would then choose one plan and pay a pittance for that plan. Never happened. In the same wise I would never ask a number of furniture makers to make me a dining table on spec- then I would choose the one I liked the best and pay one of them a small fraction of what it was worth. Never will happen.
I am a professional designer as well, and my initial thoughts after reading the OP were identical to user-7627473. I don't believe the OP was meant to be exploitive but it could be interpreted that way. That said, good luck to anyone who is willing to take on the challenge!!!
I agree. That's why I provided information and tried to put the responsibility back on the OP. He is the only one who knows door/window location, electrical access, what type of work he intends to do, what else he might buy, etc. How he expects to work is a key factor in the layout design.