Working in a small shop is an exercise in compromise. With an interior dimension of 18 x 18, I had to get my big machines and chop saw in the middle of the room or centered on a wall in order to have clearance for long stock. The jointer and planer placement was the toughest to figure out and their current homes are an imperfect solution because I have to reach over the jointer to catch stock exiting the planer. The good thing is that it groups the jointer, tablesaw and planer together for easier dust collection. A two-stage collector is next on my shopping list and I should be able to access all three machines with a single drop from the ceiling.

My outfeed table, outfitted with a solid maple top and front vise, acts as an assembly table and a second workbench and I find myself using it as much as my primary workbench. Roughly half of the floor plan is dedicated to my handwork area which my favorite place to be in the shop.

The chopsaw, jointer, planer and bandsaw are situated for efficient rough milling of lumber. From there it heads to the tablesaw, then bench area.

Launch Gallery