Workshop Starting Kit & Organization

[Ian Davlin The Looth Group]

Is this shop going to be primarily for new construction, repair or both ?

[Robbert V]

It will be (primarily) for new construction only.

[Ian Davlin The Looth Group]

I’d say that in a space that size, making your power tools easy to store to maximize bench top space is going to be important.

As far as dust collection goes, I would really recommend something small that attaches very close to each machine. Running duct requires a larger machine taking up more space and reduces stowability of the other machines etc.

Just, in generally, building guitars requires a lot of benchtop real estate, I’d get used to being able to maximize it by utilizing wall hanging space and really well planned drawers.

If you are going to use a go bar deck, I have a design on here for a very collapsable version.

https://dev.loothgroup.com/post-imgcap/collapsible-and-height-adjustable-go-bar-deck/

[Robbert V]

Hey @ianloothgroup-com , thanks so much for your advice. The bench top real estate resonates and you’re right. It makes me think more about shelves and stuff like that. And thank you so much for that go-bar design, that’s something I’ll definitely give a try! Valuable!

[Peter Katsaros Katsaros Guitars]

Hey Robbert,

As Ian said benchtop space is premium. I work in a 12×16 space. I have a drill press on the floor, benchtop band saw and combo sander on top of one bench(they are easy enough to move out of the way). Below the bench I use a good shop vac as dust collection. I also use the empty space avaialable as a go-bar deck. I have cubbies for router storage. On the opposite wall I have a “clean” bench. I keep that one tidy and is used for set-ups and repairs mostly, but also comes in handy during a build at times. I don’t like a bunch of shit on the walls, so I built custom storage for almost everything under bench top space. It takes time to build out, but the more time you spend in there working the more you will know what you need.

cheers

Pete

[Robbert V]

Thanks for the valuable insights @petekatsaros ! We’re kinda in the same game related to space…

Another question that pops up from what you mention; would you consider using the middle of the workshop for a ‘clean’ work bench or would that make it all to ‘crowded’ (I know it’s personal, but better ask people with more experience.

I bought an old drawing table (Nike Eskilstuna), that can be adjusted in height, which makes it handy for all kinda jobs. I was thinking of putting it in the centre.

[Peter Katsaros Katsaros Guitars]

I personally don’t like anything in the middle of the room because I will run into it(my stool is the only thing that floats around the room), and with such small space you need room to move. When I built out, and still am, I go with the mindset of how can I make the most out of the perimeter of the room? you can build benches all the way around!

[Robbert V]

Thank you. I like the “efficient perimeter vision”.

[Karl Borum – Borum Acoustics]

An ‘island” on wheels with integral drawers is better than just a table. I have a mobile computer station table thing- it takes up “cubic space,” from the top, down to the floor, that could be used to store tons of essentials like sandpaper, sanding blocks, wood cutoffs, vacuum accessories, finishing accessories and consumables etc. I’m finding that I need MUCH more drawer space for storage than bench top- because the bench top ends up as storage when there is nowhere else to store things. I was in the process of building out storage drawers every winter, until Baltic birch tripled in price!

I’ve built two chests-of-drawers, one is a double set of drawers (6 in total) that tucks under my woodworking bench, the other is 5 drawers on wheels under my wall bench, and they are full. This may give you a heads up on what you may end up needing to store, and the only reason I’ve detailed it:

Drawer 1: Specialty Measuring tools and gauges, 1x2x3 blocks, brass and aluminum gauge blocks and gauges, dial indicators

Drawer 2: Sharpening equipment, stones, hones, honing guides, strop compound, card scraper sharpening holder tools, cheese graters and card scrapers

Drawer 3: Dremel, fixed base, plunge base, rosette base, all bits and bearings for binding, box of pearl blanks, and everything else related to precision routing.

Drawer 4: Smaller jigs, templates, headstock clamps, Hanger 9 heaters, some specialty tools that I don’t use often.

Drawer 5: Three Sanding beams, various wood spacers and reusable wood shims, templates and flat wooden sanding blocks, platforms, waist spreaders.

Drawer 6: Sandpaper rolls, sanding sticks and belts, steel wool, larger foam contour sanding block, sanding block material.

The working chest; 4 drawers:

Drawer 1: Smallest drawer: Twist drill index 1/64″, Brad Point index, Metric Twist Index, Forsner Bit Box, all drilling realted bits and short drill chuck.

Drawer 2: Three set of calipers w/ boxes, best Irwin Chisel box, Japan Chisels, chisel hoop setter,

Drawer 3: Porter Cable Battery Drill 1, Tuner Battery Drill, Battery flashlight, Tap set, DIe Set, Luthier;s Friend Sand station

Drawer 4: Largest drawer; Hook and Look Sandpaper: about 30 boxes total of 5″ diameter oxide, abranet, Buflex, all grades of synthetic scotchbrite. This is in addition to the 8 rolls of PSA paper on the pegboard above the bench.

I need another one or two of these chests- 10 more drawers might do it. I bought a tool chest from Harbor Freight (awesome chest) but it was a behemoth huge monster that would not fit in my small shop, so I donated it to my wife’s studio.

I wrote this up to give you an idea of all the things you may need to be storing as your skills, and craft progress- it’s a lot. So, for me, the drawers for storage are just as important as the horizontal surfaces. If you use a table, have drawers under it, and make it somewhat mobile. WHen choosing casters, USE DUAL LOCKING CASTERS THAT LOCK THE WHEEL AND THE STEM….. thats all I got