Workshop Design – 5 Keys to a Small Shop Layout | Woodworking
Workshop Design – 5 Keys to a Small Shop Layout | Woodworking
This is my workshop design tutorial on how to layout a small shop or any shop. My garage shop design works well for a variety of different types of projects of various sizes and shapes. If you follow this guide, you can layout your workshop or garage shop with confidence and maximizing your shop efficiency and flow.
I’ve found that my favorite ways to organize things in my shop is by designing my own shop furniture! Check out my plans here:
https://www.eveningwoodworker.com/buyplans/
00:00 Workshop Design Summary
00:35 Shop Layout with Graph paper
02:53 Design around your material flow
04:37 Keep things mobile
05:55 Plan for future growth
07:20 Utilize dead space
08:05 Store hand tools where they will be used
09:04 Bonus Tip!!
10:30 Woodworking wisdom!
Tools used in my shop:
Ridgid Spindle Sander: https://homedepot.sjv.io/vd1Ej
Ridgid Router 2.5hp https://homedepot.sjv.io/MeoRo
Husky 30gal Air Compressor: https://homedepot.sjv.io/mdro1
Dewalt 13in Thickness Planer: https://homedepot.sjv.io/LkoRY
Worksharp 3000: https://amzn.to/2UM88qs
Dewalt 12″ Sliding Compound Miter Saw: https://amzn.to/2UWVRiR
Jet Jointer JJ-6CSX: https://amzn.to/2UwVywd
Jet Mortiser: https://amzn.to/2QXtFLA
Dewalt 20V Drill Driver Combo: https://amzn.to/2JBEwXy
Dewalt Random Orbital Sander: https://amzn.to/2R5qP7t
Hegner Multi Max 18 Scroll Saw: https://amzn.to/34hF5iV
Portable Belt Sander: https://homedepot.sjv.io/XBEK3
2hp Dust Collector: https://amzn.to/2VbkKHV
Workshop Vac: https://amzn.to/3bF7ul6
Polyurethane mallet: https://amzn.to/3bVgl2z
Ridgid 12V Drill Driver Combo: https://homedepot.sjv.io/7gKK5
Hudson Shop Apron: https://amzn.to/2R5oSIb
Also check out my social media pages:
https://www.facebook.com/eveningwoodworker/
https://www.instagram.com/eveningwoodworker/
Website: https://www.eveningwoodworker.com/
My name is Jared. I am an engineer by day and a woodworker by night… usually after the kids are in bed and before the neighbors call the cops!
This channel is about all things woodworking. I do project build videos, how-to videos, shop setup and shop layout videos, tip & tricks, and tool reviews of the stuff I’m using. I will also show you how I organize and work in my small shop in 1 bay of my garage. If you want to improve your woodworking and get inspired with some creative projects and innovative designs, come join me as a fellow evening woodworker and let’s go make some sawdust!
Now go build something!
#shoptour #woodworking #workshopdesign
So here is my question: if you are starting from scratch and desire a small shop…..What would be the ideal size and layout? Grant it you have provided excellent tips for working within a given area……but what if you wanted to build a small shop out back?
Best video I have found….
This has been a great help.I appreciate your subtle fish symbol. 😀
I love a well-organized video. Kudos to you for putting out a great video! 👏 I look forward to watching your other videos.👍
Great tips, stayed for the bonus tip and subscribed! Keeping as many tools mobile is a game changer!
I’m curious as to if you operate a full time wood shop or if you do it part-time?
I have so many ideas and so little space…in my head… thanks for the video…it is going to be a great help…
nicely planned video, it’s a YAHOO for me!
Charlie puth?!
Where do the bourbon and jars go for when you’re finished a project?!
Hi from England, thank you for the extremely good and common sense advice you impart in this video, it is probably more appreciated than you realise, nice shop and tools, but most important you seem to be a nice man with a natural gift for presentation. Have a very pleasant day.
Do you have a link to your Apron?
What a fantastic video!! thank you so so much for the tips. I just moved into a new home so I’m building a shop from scratch and I didn’t know where to start, well now I do. And I really appreciate the effort you put into creating these basic principles. Thank you!
Awesome explanation and thought put into this. Thank you.
Its great and I envy your shop, but that is not a small shop. Great video though.
Hi berzer
Thanks!
This is an extremely good video, you have done well with it. These are things I think about a lot and you have been most helpful, so thanks for taking the time to do this. Looking forward to your next video. Regards, (Bill from Australia).
Outstanding Video!!! At present, I am stuck with a small outdoor area in West Texas with barely an 6 ft AFF galvanized roof overhead. I am determined and will prevail. Your video was very informative and inspirational. Thanks
Nice video = became a subscriber. I’m designing/building a house with a 12’x33′ woodworking shop. A couple of things you might want to hit on are electrical (you mentioned it a bit), dust collection hoses, and dust collector (220 amp as well). In my shop I’m considering having a balcony area to use the pitch of the roof as a storage area for wood. Because I’m building a barn dominium I’m planning on building a wall between the 2 car garage and my shop and utilizing the vertical space up to the ceiling joists for wood storage. I’m "hoping" this isn’t a bad idea but thinking it will give me that extra vertical space that I can use that I wouldn’t have if I only had a 10′ ceiling.
The mats are a super idea…great video, something for everyone here.
I am getting ready to set up a garage shop and have been doing research. Like you, this is not my first garage shop (my 7th). Unlike you, I have also had my dream shop (35X55 metal building), wherein I set up spaces for ALL my hobbies – woodwork, cabinetry, leatherwork, metal work, auto mechanics, machine work, etc. Now, I’m back in a small space, but have a lot of big tools. Luckily, I have two small spaces now, so one will be for wood work and metal work, while the other will be for leatherwork. Your video reminded me of the basic principles I need to remember while planning out my woodworking/metalworking shop. My layout is turning out to be very similar to yours, however, I will be adding a good (not great) dust collection system, as I have learned that in a small shop, one of my greatest frustrations is having to spend an inordinate amount of time cleaning up between each work session. Thanks for a great video!
Please keep making videos! nice work
good wisdom! great video!!
is it me or do all these shop guys neglect to mention the dedicated wall that they can’t use because its needed to hang all their hand/digging tools..shovels, picks, sledges, etc take up a huge amount of storage or dare I say, floor space. it seems too important to not address this..
Interesting!
How about a stool??
A tip for a small shops – forget about the "material flow", if the shop is small enough everything is nearby. In case of small shops the more important is to utilize the dead space, so I would start planning from a bigger items – lumber storage – beams, large sheets; where to cut large plywood sheets. Where to put the shop vac / dust collection and how to attach to all large tools, so you won’t trip over a hose. There is some maneuverability regarding the hand tools – so keep them organized in groups – drill bits near drills, sanding stuff together, etc.
Love the way Americans call something a small shop when it’s double the size of mine
Jared do you have plans for the small parts storage unit you made? I need to make one as I am getting a few of those storage boxes. Thanks, Greg
Thanks a lot for this video! I am converting my old barn board garage into my workshop (very slowly),but I found that I’m not as organized as I should be. You just helped me out a ton in that respect. Keep up the excellent videos. Being a novice in the craft, I need all the help I can get! Cheers from Upstate New York!
Thanks for the great ideas and tips
♥thanks so much Bro ♥♥♥
Great video !!
can you show and explain how those 2×4 wood storage shelves work? they look adjustable they are very impressive
Thanks
Good tips, thanks
Great video! Loads of good tips! I’m trying to rearrange my shop and this is the stuff I need. Thanks for posting!
Enjoyed your video. I’m getting ready to put a shop together. Thanks for the info
really cool visual/design tool with the cutouts and placement on the drawn out graph paper. good project for when yer serious to get it done!!! think i’ll go this approach. thx!
This was hugely helpful. Thanks.
Love the shop and all the tips, hope to arrange my space better soon too
Thank you for this video man. Your shop is great. I just did something similar. Also, you inspired me to buy that apron. Thanks again.
Cool ideas, I have a similar size garage room . Your tips are really helpful
Never wear gloves when operating planer. Thanks for the video, good luck.😉
Yep, many have said this, great video, very helpful and insightful!
Good information thanks for posting
A well thought-out presentation! I have used some of these ideas downsizing from a pole barn shop to a 2 car garage, but I will certainly incorporate some of your concepts soon. One thing I found to be essential in order to process sheet goods and pieces at or over 8 feet long is to get as many surfaces as possible at exactly the same level – except for my workbench, which is lower. Plywood sheets glide in with the help of my radial arm saw table, across the router table (that doubles as an outfeed for the saw), and onto a narrow table behind the table saw. The workbench being below this level avoids your having to clear off things you’re working on and tools you have out. It was a challenge to get some tools on rollers to conform to this level concept, but it has been well worth it.
Several of my tools are paired up on rolling cabinets – even a back-to-back 12" restored bandsaw with a 10" "baby bandsaw." Pairing up tools allows them to store against a wall, but you spin them out to use the tool of choice. There’s a scroll saw with an orbital sander, etc. Again . . . great job on your video.
Very nice production!
Great video. Thanks
thank you! I like your instruction style. This is so helpful. I am thinking of setting up shop in my garage and this already save me so much time planning to fit everything together.