Disabled Veteran dreaming of small wood shop in garage

[Edward Henry]

Hi folks I am a disabled Veteran and I have been dreaming of turning my 21.5" x 19' garage into a small wood shop, hoping to still park the car in it lol.

My main desire is small footstools, plaques, and small boxes/chests for wood burning projects, custome made frames or bases for edge lit acrylic or glass signs made with a Laser engraver I dream of having with the intention of maybe earning an extra $500-$1000 a month, not sure how it will ffect my VA disability or SSDI if I make any money or how to figure the tax explications though.

I am wondering what the must have equipment is? Hoping to set up way south of $10,000 but wil have to buy one item at a time and build the shop over several months so which ones first? I have a Grizzly outlet near me in Springfield, Mo thought I would get from there but not sure how good they are compared to say Dewalt and others.

I also thought about the Harbor Frieght wood working bench but it seems a bit flimsy.

The other obstacle is I have not touched any power tools since 1980's in high school so have to try and relearn everything again.

Any advice will be welcomed I am in no rush as I have to pay off some credit cards first.

[Peter Aeschliman]

Hi folks I am a disabled Veteran and I have been dreaming of turning my 21.5" x 19' garage into a small wood shop, hoping to still park the car in it lol.

My main desire is small footstools, plaques, and small boxes/chests for wood burning projects, custome made frames or bases for edge lit acrylic or glass signs made with a Laser engraver I dream of having with the intention of maybe earning an extra $500-$1000 a month, not sure how it will ffect my VA disability or SSDI if I make any money or how to figure the tax explications though.

I am wondering what the must have equipment is? Hoping to set up way south of $10,000 but wil have to buy one item at a time and build the shop over several months so which ones first? I have a Grizzly outlet near me in Springfield, Mo thought I would get from there but not sure how good they are compared to say Dewalt and others.

I also thought about the Harbor Frieght wood working bench but it seems a bit flimsy.

The other obstacle is I have not touched any power tools since 1980's in high school so have to try and relearn everything again.

Any advice will be welcomed I am in no rush as I have to pay off some credit cards first.

Thanks for your service and sacrifices, my friend.

I'm not sure what physical constraints you're facing, but for small scale projects such as the ones you describe, I think you can get away with bench top machinery. The added benefit is that you can build stands for the machines for a worktop height that is comfortable for you.

I would look into the Jet bench top jointer/planer combo machine for milling, a good quality small bandsaw, compound miter saw, a midi lathe, and a drill press.

A good quality set of bench chisels, a block plane, and a Number 5 hand plane would be a good start too. Lots to consider with sharpening, so you'll be better off doing some research.

If you can, build your own workbench after doing a lot of research on work holding practices.

Good luck!

[Mike Heidrick]

Thank you for your service and sacrifice. How close are you to Arlin? He has a shop for vets to use. Also what disabilities are you referring to. If we know we can help recomend tools and setups? Griz large power tools outclass any dewalt tools easily so your prox to Griz is great if you want new asian tools.

[Jim Dwight]

I bought two pneumatic nailers at HF recently and I used one last weekend quite a bit. Works great. But I've never purchased any of their stationary tools and I doubt I will. I don't have Grizzly stationary tools either but I may some day, I think they are significantly better than HF. I recently got 4 chisels (a set) from Aldi's really inexpensively. They needed sharpened, badly, but I later used them to chop out some oak flooring and they worked well. Very nice for the price. I got a couple quick clamps there and they also work well - I may go back for more. Seems like a silly place to get woodworking tools but the chisels and clamps are great deals. If you make frames out of premade material, you could cut the corners with a miter saw, hand or electric powered. But if you want to make the frame stock, you will need at least a small router table, sander, and table saw. Maybe start with premade pieces.

Thanks for your service and sorry for your disability. I hope woodworking turns into a hobby that is enjoyable and a source of income.

In terms of layout, I have a 14x24 garage/shop. I've parked in it once, to prove I can. I have to push the table saw to the end, the workbench to one side, and eliminate anything else loose that is in the way. I have a long wall where the CMS and RAS are. It has a bunch of drawers below their worksurface and hardwood storage above. Tools are also on the wall. That wall is pretty much done but the other one has a long way to go. If you have the space on the sides, arranging the tools there will leave the middle open for the vehicle.

[Jebediah Eckert]

Thank you for your service. I don't have much to add except I have a grizzly jointer and bandsaw. I was very happy with the purchase, customer service, and the machine itself. Living close is nice if that is the route you go.

[Edward Henry]

Thanks for the replies, as far as Disability mostly PTSD and Depression, 6 months ago I had a total hip replacement with the other due eventually hip is great but leg muscles not so much but I can function.

Google search shows nearest Makershops are about 3+ hours away. Only thing I found local is for automotive mechanic tools and lessons.

Ok Grizzly is better than Dewalt but Asian made are there any comparable or better USA brands?

[Brian W Smith]

Think vertical as much as possible when planing.Drillpress with storage under has small footprint,with large output potential.A 14" bandsaw on wheels.A vertical 6x48 belt sander can be a huge time saver,without too much fl space.

Horizontal machinery,benches,storage units are space HOGS!!Even on wheels.A smallish combo machine may work well for you.Bigger $ going in,but may save space?

At least start checking C list for classic American pcs.Good luck with your shop,and start thinking about dust control.

[Edward Henry]

Also will I need to wire my garage for 220v or can I get 110v tools?

[Jim Dwight]

I'm in my second pretty much dedicated shop and I've never used 220V. Especially for the small stuff you've described, I don't think it is necessary. I've built half a dozen bedroom sets including ripping cherry and oak over 3 inches thick with my 15A saw. That is not to say a 3hp saw wouldn't be nice to have occasionally. But I've gotten by just fine with 110V tools. You need at least one 20A circuit, two would be better. Plus a 15A for lights. For one person, that will work. It has for me. I don't know of a tool you have to have to do what you describe that isn't available on 110V.

[Edward Henry]

This desire to assemble my own wood/CNC/Laser engraver shop is actually scaring me a little lol, I have not touched shop tools since high school in 1980's and I have found no places to get hands on training locally. Just hoping it will be something to keep my hands and mind active and perhaps a small income after expenses. I borrowed a friends table saw and hand held orbital sander but not used them yet. My first task is pay down or off my personal debt (hoping to be debt free by Dec. 2019 not including my home loan), then star slowly buying my shop equipment.

[Roger Feeley]

Also will I need to wire my garage for 220v or can I get 110v tools?

wire 220 if you can but don't fret too much. All my stuff is 110 except for the really good machines. I have a 3hp cabinet saw, a big lathe and a 17" bandsaw that are all 220. Basically, the limit of 110 is
about 1.5 hp. Above that and they pretty much go to 220.

[Edward Henry]

Would it be beneficial to just save longer and get the 220v versions of all the power tools I want since I have to save to buy one at a time anyways?

[Mike Heidrick]

Have you considered just using some cheap handplanes and hand tools? No debt and good for the soul?

[Roger Feeley]

Kind of depends on what you need to do. If you don't want to cut 2" oak very often, stick with 110. More amps mean more horsepower which means more muscle. If all you want to do is make some boxes out of 1/4" wood, 220v would be overkill.

If I had to choose, I would buy the less expensive saw, tune it up to a gnat's eyelash and buy the absolute best blades I can get. Remember, on a table saw, the blade is the tip of the spear and that's what matters. Start with a great blade and then make sure that your blade is adjusted relative to the miter slot and the fence.

Also, if you are cutting thicker stuff from time to time, it takes a lot less power to cut with a thin-kerf blade. That's another way to leverage less horsepower to cut thicker wood. It's also a way to save a lot of money on material if you are mass-producing parts. Say you have to cut out lot's of box parts from 1/4" stuff. Use a thin-kerf blade with a stabilizer and reduce the waste from kerf by half.

[Jim Finn]

Earning money from a home woodshop is not very easy but it can be done. I am retired and work in my woodshop 30-40 hours a week. I gross about what you are aiming at. I make small crafty items and sell them at street fairs and festivals and at a local farmers market. I do about 25 sales a year. If you would like to try this route you need to be ready to mass produce items that you know will sell. (through trial and error) I have scroll saws and make cedar boxes with images inlaid into the hinged lids. I make and sell about 300 of them a year. I stared in a garage workshop, but now I have a dedicated building for my small shop. Making the stuff is pretty straightforward but selling, not so much. There are a few scroll saw forums, on line,you can visit if you are interested in that kind of woodworking.

[Deb Clarkson]

Kudos to you on making a priority of becoming debt free, but with some creative scrounging you can probably start aquiring some things now. One example; Old dishwashers of the portable type can make good rolling stands for benchtop type tools, plus you can store stuff on the rollout racks inside. People will be glad to give these to you just to get rid of them. Take a hard look at anything anyone wants to get rid of with an eye to repairing or repurposing, but be picky about what you drag home or you'll end up with a garage full of junk and no room to work.

[Stew Hagerty]

First of all, Thank you for your service!

I am a disabled woodworker, although I am not a veteran. I work from a wheelchair, and I have set up a fully accessible shop. It's all 110v, I have nothing at the moment that runs on 220v, and I get by just fine. Would a nice big 3hp Delta Unisaw be nice? Absolutely! But I do just fine with my 25 year old Craftsman.

In my shop I have that Craftsman tablesaw that I have upgraded with an extension table and better fence. I've got a nice big, heavy traditional workbench with both face & tail vises. I have a 14" bandsaw, with a riser to increase the resaw capacity. I've never needed that much capacity yet, but I've got it if & when I do. I splurged on a really awesome Incra router table (and I've never regretted it for one single second!). I've got a nice big Delta floor model drill press that I wouldn't trade for anything (well except maybe that Unisaw, LOL). I just recently sold my sliding compound miter saw and bought a big 12" DeWalt DW716XPS dual bevel compound miter saw (non-sliding). I almost never need to cut anything wider than its 10" capacity, and it is much easier to control the dust output with it. I also recently picked up a Jet JDS-12B 12" disc sander, and I absolutely love it. The table is nice & big, not to mention it's rock solid and adjusts easily. It even comes with a jig to help you accurately edge sand circles. 2-3 years ago I bought a Powermatic PM701 benchtop mortiser, along with a set of chisels for it that I bought from Lee Valley. This thing works really slick! I don't know if it still is, but at the time it was the best benchtop mortiser on the market. I also have one of the venerable DeWalt 735 lunchbox planers, and a Grizzly G0723 spindle sander.

Grizzly Tools... For the price, Grizzly makes very good tools. I have their G0555X bandsaw and could not be happier. It has a nice 1 1/2hp motor that comes wired 110v, but can be converted to 220v, and all of the power I've ever needed. I confess I have been taking a long hard look at the G0771 table saw. They may call it a "Hybrid", but it's basically built like a cabinet saw, complete with cabinet mounted trunions. I do happen to also be really happy with my Grizzly spindle sander. It has a long stroke compared to most competitors and the dust collection works fantastic. Oh... Speaking of dust collection. I have one of the quite popular Harbor Freight 2hp dust collectors. I popped a Winn filter on top in place of the cloth bag. It bumps the filtration up to something just shy of HEPA. One more very important power tool is my Tormek T-8. It's my newest tool and frankly, I don't know how I ever did without it! It's freakin amazing! It's super fast, and a quick run over the stropping wheel results in sharper, more consistent tools than I've ever been able to accomplish by hand.

In addition to the stationary & bench tools, I have a Porter Cable biscuit joiner; Makita track saw; a Shop Fox scroll saw;Porter cable 18v cordless tool set, 2-drills, impact driver, circular saw, & sawzall; and a DeWalt grinder/polisher. This is all not to mention, of course, hand tools. The longer I woodwork, the more I come to love hand tools. I have a full set (3-8) of vintage Stanly handplanes, plus a couple extras from Lee Valley (bevel up smoother, skew rabbet plane, small plow plane, and router plane), and Lie Nielsen (rabbeting block plane). I also have a variety of handsaws, which I taught myself how to sharpen.

Please, if you have any questions at all, feel free to send me an email. I'd be more than happy to talk to you about working in the shop with disabilities. By the way, I'm also on antidepressants. Hey, with all of my problems, you'd be on them too. Woodworking has been amazing therapy for me, both mentally & physically. Good luck, man.

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[Edward Henry]

First of all, Thank you for your service!

I am a disabled woodworker, although I am not a veteran. I work from a wheelchair, and I have set up a fully accessible shop. It's all 110v, I have nothing at the moment that runs on 220v, and I get by just fine. Would a nice big 3hp Delta Unisaw be nice? Absolutely! But I do just fine with my 25 year old Craftsman.

In my shop I have that Craftsman tablesaw that I have upgraded with an extension table and better fence. I've got a nice big, heavy traditional workbench with both face & tail vises. I have a 14" bandsaw, with a riser to increase the resaw capacity. I've never needed that much capacity yet, but I've got it if & when I do. I splurged on a really awesome Incra router table (and I've never regretted it for one single second!). I've got a nice big Delta floor model drill press that I wouldn't trade for anything (well except maybe that Unisaw, LOL). I just recently sold my sliding compound miter saw and bought a big 12" DeWalt DW716XPS dual bevel compound miter saw (non-sliding). I almost never need to cut anything wider than its 10" capacity, and it is much easier to control the dust output with it. I also recently picked up a Jet JDS-12B 12" disc sander, and I absolutely love it. The table is nice & big, not to mention it's rock solid and adjusts easily. It even comes with a jig to help you accurately edge sand circles. 2-3 years ago I bought a Powermatic PM701 benchtop mortiser, along with a set of chisels for it that I bought from Lee Valley. This thing works really slick! I don't know if it still is, but at the time it was the best benchtop mortiser on the market. I also have one of the venerable DeWalt 735 lunchbox planers, and a Grizzly G0723 spindle sander.

Grizzly Tools... For the price, Grizzly makes very good tools. I have their G0555X bandsaw and could not be happier. It has a nice 1 1/2hp motor that comes wired 110v, but can be converted to 220v, and all of the power I've ever needed. I confess I have been taking a long hard look at the G0771 table saw. They may call it a "Hybrid", but it's basically built like a cabinet saw, complete with cabinet mounted trunions. I do happen to also be really happy with my Grizzly spindle sander. It has a long stroke compared to most competitors and the dust collection works fantastic. Oh... Speaking of dust collection. I have one of the quite popular Harbor Freight 2hp dust collectors. I popped a Winn filter on top in place of the cloth bag. It bumps the filtration up to something just shy of HEPA. One more very important power tool is my Tormek T-8. It's my newest tool and frankly, I don't know how I ever did without it! It's freakin amazing! It's super fast, and a quick run over the stropping wheel results in sharper, more consistent tools than I've ever been able to accomplish by hand.

In addition to the stationary & bench tools, I have a Porter Cable biscuit joiner; Makita track saw; a Shop Fox scroll saw;Porter cable 18v cordless tool set, 2-drills, impact driver, circular saw, & sawzall; and a DeWalt grinder/polisher. This is all not to mention, of course, hand tools. The longer I woodwork, the more I come to love hand tools. I have a full set (3-8) of vintage Stanly handplanes, plus a couple extras from Lee Valley (bevel up smoother, skew rabbet plane, small plow plane, and router plane), and Lie Nielsen (rabbeting block plane). I also have a variety of handsaws, which I taught myself how to sharpen.

Please, if you have any questions at all, feel free to send me an email. I'd be more than happy to talk to you about working in the shop with disabilities. By the way, I'm also on antidepressants. Hey, with all of my problems, you'd be on them too. Woodworking has been amazing therapy for me, both mentally & physically. Good luck, man.

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Thanks for the reply, I understand the antidepressant issue, I am on Some from time to time (Thankfully my Service Dog keeps me from needing as many as I did) and actually had not considered them in the equation from a safety point of view. I am not wheelchair bound but often have stability issues use a cane and when real bad a walker but would not be in the wood shop at those times. I mostly have been drooling in the Grizzly catalog and hoping to get clearance or used products from them as I can afford them. Thanks for the Harbor freight dust collector suggestion I will look into it, I was looking at the Harbor freight wood workbench as a cheap starter but I am concerned with stability and not thrilled that the Dog holes are open into the top two draws for dust and debris to enter. You have quite a collection of equipment and a few I had not considered that I will look into.

[Edward Henry]

Have you considered just using some cheap handplanes and hand tools? No debt and good for the soul?

Not really I have leg pain and balance issues if I stand too long so figured a powered wood shop I could accomplish more in shorter time to work with my issues.

[Edward Henry]

Jim nice boxes, I am thinking my first projects will be custom shaped plaques for wood burning I THINK I can make them cheaper than buy at craft stores like Michaels or Hobby Lobby.

[Stew Hagerty]

Edward, my suggestion would be to steer clear of any workbench that isn't strong, sturdy, and heavy enough to not easily move around.

There is nothing wrong with starting out with a bench made from 2x4's and plywood. I have my tradional bench, but I also have one that has a 2x4 frame covered with plywood because it's full of drawers, and for the top I laminated a sheet of 3/4" plywood between 2 sheets of 3/4' OSB. I made really sure that I glued it up on a perfectly flat surface and it turned out great. In use, I added a 1/4" hardboard top that I can replace as needed.

That Grizzly G0771 table saw is on clearance r8ght now because they are bringing out a new model to replace it. What is does have, like I said, are cabinet mounted trunions like a regular cabinet saw, what it doesn't have, is not the world's best fence, but that is something that can always be upgraded for a couple hundred bucks.

It's counterpart is the G0715P. It's is a "true" hybrid, meaning that it has an enclosed base with improved dust collection, but it has top mounted trunions like a contractor saw. It does, however, have a nice fence.

The G0711 is $695 while the G0715P is $775 right now.

I spoke with a rep from Grizzly who told me that the replacement for the G0711 will basically just be an updated version with a few tweaks and improvements, including a nice new fence. He was under the impression that the new model will be out shortly after the first of the year. Naturally he had no idea of what the price point may be yet, but he said it will undoubtedly be priced higher than the G0711.

[Edward Henry]

Thanks, great information.

[Mark Lawrence]

I feel some instruction is very important for both your safety and also your efficiency. If you unable to get direct instruction, there are some very good videos you can get. Look at what fine woodworking has to offer. I have some older VCR tapes that are now on DVD.

Eg Kelly Mehler's Table saw video; Mark Dugniski's Bandsaw tape and Woodworking machine tape.

Take care of yourself. Be safe.

[Edward Henry]

Sound advice thank you.

[Justin Ludwig]

With a limited budget, find the tools you like new by searching Grizzly and whatnot, then go to classifieds and Craiglist. There should be plenty of woodworkers around you that you can visit and see stuff first hand. Since you haven't done any woodworking in a long time and are thinking about jumping in the deep end, just be advised you're about to "drink from a firehose" for information: not only wood working, but tooling and machining set up. It can make your head spin. Try searching your local craigslist for deals. Copy this into Google without the quotes: " tool site:springfield.craigslist.org/ " replace "tool" with what you're looking for to search for it.
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I've lost too many friends and fellow Sailors and Soldiers to PTSD. I know your pain. I've been in 17 years and deployed 3 times so far. The coolest thing about woodworking is it's a tangible endeavor. You start with scrap and have a final product. If you start out making simple gifts, you will find it most rewarding and the addiction sets in. It's very therapeutic. With some basic cheap tools you can make a lot of stuff. Don't spend too much too fast - let your shop grow with your abilities.

[George Courson]

Edward,
I'm a disabled VET as well, just getting into wood-turning myself. I live in Lima, Peru because I can't live up there on what I get in disability.
Anyway, as to the dilemma of what to do about the money you make, if your married or have family, they might be able to help you out with the tax's. Heck, most people might not even request a receipt, knowing your predicament.
But as I said, if your married or have family, start there.

[Bryan Rocker]

Good afternoon fellow disabled Vet. I can tell you from experience that many of the tools you many be looking for can be found IF you are patient. Before I went for a table saw I would get yourself a 14"+bandsaw with a riser block. Extremely useful and versatile. I picked an old Rockwell from the 1950's and it runs like a champ and there isn't a plastic part on it except for the tires.

Feel free to PM with questions on most anything.

Earning money should not hurt your VA unless your rated at 100%. SSDI I am not sure of although my wife tells me I should look into it.

One quick note about working on your concrete floor, go to Sam's and pick up those multicolored 2'x2' tiles in an 8 pack for 21 bucks and put them down where you are standing. It may not stop your pain but may slow it down......

Thanks for supporting and defending this great country of ours!!!!!