You’re only as good as your tools. And that even extends to your workspace. Even if you have the right tools, if your work area isn’t set up properly, you can’t get the most out of them. And in some cases, it is also dangerous.
Wherever you have some room, you can set up a workspace that will make all your projects come out professionally. If you haven’t already turned your garage into a gym then you can make one there, or in a shed, or even a basement.
In this article, I will go over several things you need to have plus some tips on how to get your space set up for your workshop.
Prepare the Space
Before you can set up your shop, you have to understand how much space you’re working with. Go to your basement, garage, or any other area you plan to work in and clear out a section that can be sacrificed.
Once you have everything moved, then you have some clear space that you can measure. Figure out exactly how much floor space you have and then measure the walls. You’ll be using those too.
Clear away anything blocking access to your outlets and identify where you can add some lighting.
Then, draw it all out. Make a chart with the dimensions and then try to fit everything you want into the space on the paper. Your workbench, storage bins, and even your rubber flooring rolls to comfortably stand on.
Get the Walls Ready
Organization is going to be your best friend in your workshop. Use your walls as a place to hang your tools so they are easily reached and ready for action. Any accessories should also be hung up by adding a pegboard to your wall. All your chisels, planes, saws and everything else need to be hung where you can see them.
Shelves should also be put up on the walls to save on floor space.
Put Everything on Wheels
To really have your workflow on point, you should be able to move your furniture and benches around easily. Large stationary tools can disrupt your flow and cause you to regret how you set up your workshop.
Instead of rearranging everything, just put some castor wheels on the base so they can be moved to where you need it. Since every job is different, it pays to have this kind of flexibility.
You can also free up space by sliding smaller tools and tables under the larger ones when not in use.
Ventilate
All that saw dust in the air is unhealthy to breathe all day and is also a fire hazard. Then, the hot weather will turn your shop into an oven.
Put some vents in there to suck up as much as the dust as possible and then get a fan to keep the air circulating. You’ll even be drawing the humidity out of the shop to keep your wood in good shape and your tools from rusting.
