Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | May 23, 2010 09:57am | #1

   Dave,

   My preference is to go long, with power tools on one end and benches and assembly tables on the other.  In a square set up longer stock being run through the machines gets fouled by equipment along the walls too easily.  A table saw, jointer, planer, and bandsaw all need at least 18' of clear floor to run an 8' board through lengthwise.  

2. 
   RalphBarker | May 23, 2010 11:17am | #2

   square-ish vs. rectangular-ish

   Given the same square footage, both shapes will have the same linear wall space, just divided differently.

   For more practical work flow, however, I'd lean toward the longer rectangle shape, as well.

1. 
   flactem | May 23, 2010 02:31pm | #3

   Thanks John and Ralph.

   This my thinking as well -- going long.  Plus -- if I ever want to partition off an end (for finishing for example) it will be easier to do with a narrower shop.

   Dave

2. 
   BruceS | May 25, 2010 09:52am | #7

   Not true

   Just using simple numbers.

   1.  1 X 12 = 12 sqft.  or 26 lineal ft of wall.

   2.  2 X 6 = 12 sqft  or 16 lineal ft of wall.

   The closer to round you build, the more ecconomical it will be to build.

   But My shop is 24" X 30" two stories,  so I broke the cost rule in favor of ease of flow.

1. 
   RalphBarker | May 25, 2010 10:01am | #8

   I knew someone would catch me on that erroneous statement. But, it sounded good at the time.  ;-)

3. 
   bduffin104 | May 23, 2010 11:35pm | #4

   Just make sure you have a door or slot in the wall behind the table saw so you can stick long boards out there  to rip them. That will save lots of floor space.

   I'd prefer the rectangle also.

   Bret

4. 
   swenson | May 24, 2010 12:44am | #5

   One thing to consider is the HP of your dust collector and how long a pipe run will it support.  A long shop might mean a longer run of pipe.  But grouping dusty tools in one end might solve that problem.  Just one thing to think about.  Good luck with your new shop.

5. 
   Jammersix | May 25, 2010 12:18am | #6

   Two Thoughts

   One, I would go with longer. If you have a machine like a 735, that puts out a huge volume of air, it can go at the end of a long run for dust collection. A long main run is a lot easier to deal with than the spaghetti dust collection plans I seem to come up with.

   Two, I would want a garage door and a road. Not so it can someday become a garage, but so you can back a pickup up and unload material before it rains.

6. 
   flactem | May 27, 2010 02:29pm | #9

   I'm trying this a second time -- my jpg didn't load the first time.

   Thanks for all the comments/suggestions.  I am going long -- 16 x 32 for the shop.  It will have a garage door -- but at the end of a long side, based on where the shop will sit relative to yard/house.  I will be able to angle the table saw to make use of the garage door if I need to rip something really long.

   I've attached a sketch of the shop layout.  Any suggestions?

   Thanks,

   Dave

   
7. 
   FrankDrackman | May 28, 2010 04:40pm | #10

   Your Math is Wrong

   "Better check the numbers.  A 24x24 shop has 576 square feet, and 96 feet of linear wall space.   An 18 x 36 shop has 576 square feet of area, but it has 104 linear feet of wall. "

   I think that you made a mistake.  18 x 36 is 648 sf.  18 x 32 is 576 sf and 96 linear feet.

1. 
   Draugnar | Jun 18, 2012 04:18pm | #12

   Your math is just as wrong.

   And your math is just as wrong. 18x32 has 36+64 linear wall space or 100 linear feet total.  Basic geometry says, assuming identical square footage, the linear space gets larger as the rectangle gets longer. A 576x1 (unrelaistci obviously) would have 1054 linear feet. Add the two dimension and multiply by two. And if you realkly want a lot of wall space, build the room only 1" wide so that you have 6812 feet per side wall or >13624 feet of wall.

1. 
   swenson | Jun 22, 2012 06:45am | #13

   Better late than never.

   All those wrong mathers quit this thread two years ago. 

8. 
   woodworkerdad | Jul 13, 2010 10:04am | #11

   i will say from experience my shop is 14 x 22.  i often find my trouble is crosscutting afull sheet of ply wood. mitre saw gets in way  my table all the way to one side  and miter on the other. so hope table is mobile.

   looks great  like the stove in the corner. always looking for better ideas for myshop.