I want to start by saying that I thoroughly enjoy the time I spend in my garage woodworking shop. The reason for that is I took the time beforehand to plan it out. I have a stationary radial arm saw with a fixed work bench, a table saw on a mobile base and folding tables to use when I need them. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best I can do with what I have. And, I can always make changes in the future.
Whether you are a woodworking hobbyist or a professional craftsman, your garage can provide the perfect area where you can create the ideal woodworking shop. Before you begin though, be sure and have a plan for your garage woodworking shop in writing. That way it is almost impossible to deviate from your plan.
“How do I come up with this plan?” you may ask. Well, in my opinion, you just need to follow these three easy steps.
Step 1. Your first, and most important, step must be to set your financial budget. This may sound incredibly obvious, but it is almost always the biggest mistake individuals make when they plan a project such as this. Their dreams can be bigger than their wallets. You should not make any purchases until you know how much money you have available.
Step 2. Next, you will need to determine the amount of floor space you will be able to dedicate to your new shop. This information will let you know if you are able to purchase stationary power tools, or portable power tools that must be moved whenever you need to work and stored away when the job is complete.
Step 3. Now that you know how much floor space is available and the type of woodworking power tools you will be purchasing, you will need to create a simple floor plan to determine the size and location of your work benches and storage cabinets. These drawings can just be simple sketches which you can refer to while you build your garage woodworking shop. Since you are building a woodworking shop, you can always buy customizable woodworking plans and build your own cabinets.
Here are several other factors to consider while planning your new shop.
- Is there adequate electrical supply for the power tools?
- Do you have proper lighting for safe working conditions?
- Will you need heat supply if you live in cold weather climates?
- If your garage is attached, or integral, will noise and dust be an issue in the rest of the house?
A properly designed garage woodworking shop can provide you with endless hours of enjoyment with your hobby or profession. A poorly designed shop will bring endless frustration. It all begins with a good plan.