Shop Fixtures and Furniture

[ken hatch]

My shop fixtures and furniture are all, how can I say this other than, "crap". When we moved to Tucson and the current house there were so many things needed in the house that setting up the shop while needed was way down the list. Because of that everything in the shop is either old fiberboard kitchen cabinets pulled out of the kitchen during the redo or thrown together sheet goods with pocket screws holding it together. I've finally reached the point where when I looked around the house the other day to see if anything needed to be built or even if there were room to add anything and I came up with nothing needed or room for it if built.

Long way around to: Time to work on the shop and make some better fixtures and furniture for it. While I can design, I'm not much for re-inventing the wheel, most of the time the ways of doing things that have stood the test of time are better than unproven ways. What I would like to see is how you address tool storage or shop fixtures and furniture you have seen that looks functional. Any photos would be appreciated.

ken

[roger wiegand]

I'm a big fan of drawers. This bank of cabinets allowed me to organize many shelves worth of piled up and unfindable "treasures" in a form that makes life much easier. I bought plastic small parts bins that fit the drawers to allow me to sort all of my accumulated screws, nuts, bolts, washers etc. They are fairly ordinary kitchen cabinet style cabinets made from prefinished maple plywood for the cases with BB drawers with heavy duty Blum undermount glides (a couple drawers have upward of 100 lbs of stuff in them.)

423321

[mike stenson]

I agree, I like drawers. My plan was drawers with bins, and the hand power tools being stored on shallow, full extension, drawers. Other than that, I can't really offer anything to look at. I'm still gutting the building that will become the shop, but because of that the subject is near and dear to me too. The previous owner had used a lot of peg board, I really have scoffed that for years, but I actually like the ease of movable wall mounted items. So I'll probably run French cleats around to allow for flexibility on most walls starting at about 4'.

[ken hatch]

I'm a big fan of drawers. This bank of cabinets allowed me to organize many shelves worth of piled up and unfindable "treasures" in a form that makes life much easier. I bought plastic small parts bins that fit the drawers to allow me to sort all of my accumulated screws, nuts, bolts, washers etc. They are fairly ordinary kitchen cabinet style cabinets made from prefinished maple plywood for the cases with BB drawers with heavy duty Blum undermount glides (a couple drawers have upward of 100 lbs of stuff in them.)



Roger,

We are kinda on the same page, with standard kitchen height base units where I have room for them.

ken

[ken hatch]

I agree, I like drawers. My plan was drawers with bins, and the hand power tools being stored on shallow, full extension, drawers. Other than that, I can't really offer anything to look at. I'm still gutting the building that will become the shop, but because of that the subject is near and dear to me too. The previous owner had used a lot of peg board, I really have scoffed that for years, but I actually like the ease of movable wall mounted items. So I'll probably run French cleats around to allow for flexibility on most walls starting at about 4'.


Mike,

I'm a fan of French cleats. peg board not so much :). My thinking is lower base units like Roger's and wall cabinets hung on french cleats for most of the tools. Where I run into a mental block is the design of the tool holding in the wall cabinets.

ken

[mike stenson]

Mike,

I'm a fan of French cleats. peg board not so much :). My thinking is lower base units like Roger's and wall cabinets hung on french cleats for most of the tools. Where I run into a mental block is the design of the tool holding in the wall cabinets.

ken

Ken,

Yes, I'm not a fan of the pegboard. Also not a fan of the black widows that keep crawling out of the holes (there are downsides to snuggling the Catalinas)

I agree with the tool holding design problems. In my last shop I used 3/4" BB ply (scraps really) to build the cases, then ran 1/2" and 1/8" grooves that allowed me to separate with ply. That worked well enough, but I'm not sure how I want to deal with it this time. The one thing I'm pretty sure of is that I don't want to do what I did last time, and just build as needed. It just ends up like bad urban planning, but in your shop.

I do like the kitchen cab base idea, they're fast and easy and it's a great solution.

[glenn bradley]

A cleat wall was the dawn of a new era for me. I have been using one in one way or another for over a decade. The new build will have them also.

423332 .

Don't sell pegboard short. The products available today are not those that we all remember. It allows for quick adjustments when we change our mind and adapts to this years Christmas gifts. I tend to stick panels on the ends of other fixtures. This takes advantage of unused space as opposed to eating up valuable wall space. It allows me to keep certain items handy where I use them and I can pick them off the pegs one-handed.

Ends of the bench:
423333

End of the outfeed table and side of the router table:
423334

Making custom holder for tools and mounting to pegboard or more permanently to plywood is a great way to personalize.

423330 . 423335423336423337423338

[Derek Cohen]

Ken

I have a double garage, but space is needed for one car (mine! ... which gets backed out when the shop is in use). The garage is longer than average - I planned for the extra bench space when we built the house. There are the usual large machines on the one half, which leaves precious little extra room. What is left needs to be used carefully. To this end, there is storage space reserved for specific tools in specific cabinets. I know where everything is, and it goes back when it is no longer needed (theoretically! :o).

Cabinets for tools, both hand and power ...


https://i.postimg.cc/MHkJc28V/3-zps8d9b0350.jpg

There are lots of drawers below, but I am not a big fan of drawers. Drawers are a recipe for losing items (out of sight is out of mind), or becoming frustrated as the item you want is at the rear. I prefer to keep commonly used things in plain sight.

The wall behind the work bench is storage for marking and measuring tools. This is important - they are where I can see them, and where they are easy to grab when needed. What I do not need to see are power tools, such as routers. They are tucked away behind these cabinet doors. As are woodies, such as hollows and rounds, as moulding planes, which need to be kept moisture-safe ...


https://i.postimg.cc/PqW8kYt5/6a-bench.jpg



Regards from Munich


Derek

[Mike Allen1010]

Ken, thanks for this thread, good opportunity to see ideas about how people organize their shop/tools which is something I always find interesting.

Like most of us I’m guessing, I’ve had many shop spaces over the years and based on trial and error have some preferences. For context I should say my current shop is roughly equivalent of a single car garage size and only stationary power tools I need to accommodate are a bandsaw and drill press.

Guiding principles for me our flexibility and keep tools as visible as possible. for those reasons I’m not a fan of kitchen style cabinets with doors or drawers – two easy to forget what’s in there. I have lots of white pegboard on the walls (good for visibility) with layout tools and open tills for planes and saws prominently featured. I also have tall, sample shaker style bookshelves for glue, finishings, power drills etc. things that don’t get used as often.

For a small tools that can be organizing drawers like chisels, carving tools etc. I have a rolling tool cabinet ( shelves on top and three banks of drawers on the bottom“, frankly doesn’t really get moved that often but when needed easy to bring drawer with chisels to bench.

My most recent tool storage option is a Chris Swarz “Anarchist tool chest” on rollers. I was lukewarm at first but now I really like it - not so much for day-to-day storage of frequently used tools, as I said I like tills/wall hangings for those,. The chest easy to move around, can use the top as a storage surface for work in process and Big sliding trays where you can keep joinery planes with lots of blades/accessories, like routers, plow planes etc. and keep all the components in one contained space.

I’ll try and post some pictures when I get a chance and look forward to seeing how other meanders organize tools storage in their shots. Ken thanks for the thread. Good luck with shop renovation.

Cheers, Mike

[Phil Mueller]

Like some, I like everything that I use regularly out in sight. I’ve made custom holders and stuck them to peg board. It’s easy to change as use of some tools change or expand (like MORE chisels!). If I find I’m constantly pulling out some tool not on the wall, I make a space and holder for it.

Below the peg board is a row of cabinets with an MDF top that I inherited from the previous owner. At some point that will be completely torn out and replaced with lower drawer units, and custom drawer organizers. I hate the cabinet door with drawers inside...can be a pain to have to open the cabinet to pull out the drawer. I also find with drawers that you often don’t need the depth...many items can fit into shallow drawers and would made organization a bit easier, so I’ll be looking to get or make a bank of shallow drawers.

Specialty tools and non-everyday stuff are kept out of sight in drawers. Drawers do get a bit disorganized and, frankly, a complete jumble of mess, but I’ve come to know what is in each drawer and with a little digging around can usually find what I need.

I tend to procrastinate less when reorganizing small areas rather than a complete shop redo. Just need to have some sense of order for everything in mind to keep from redoing things that were just redone (btdt).

[steven c newman]

A few years back, I built a large, five drawer Chest of Drawers for the shop.....and then set a metal ( Craftsman) tool chest on top of it.....

Build a couple, maybe out of Pine, to get a bit of practice in for building "Fine Furniture" sort of things.
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Build as plain or fancy as you wish...

[Jim Koepke]

Ken, thanks for this thread, good opportunity to see ideas about how people organize their shop/tools which is something I always find interesting.

+1 on that!

My shop is more like an organized mess at times. Some folks have mentioned a dislike for drawers. To me drawers are a good way to keep similar things in one place. My shop storage started with a couple of book shelves made before we moved here over a decade ago. The tall spaces for books left some unused space that seemed perfect to add in some drawers:

423378

From left to right the drawers hold spare block plane blades and a few other blades. Next is a drawer with various gimlets. The center drawer holds a #93 shoulder plane. Next is a bunch of measuring items like 6" rules, an angle gauge, a screw size gauge and a 12" & 24" four fold ruler. The last drawer holds various compasses and dividers.

Below that is a drawer to hold files and keep them from banging together. My shop could use about a half dozen more like this.

Two shelves were mounted with a space between them that was going to hold a plane till. Instead some shelves were added between the two shelves:

423379

This is where most of my bench planes reside. One of these days my round tuit will come and a more space efficient plane till will be built.

My brace storage has given me some ideas on another way to store these with less unusable space:

423380

There are a few planes and other things here taking space. Even the cabinet with the plastic drawers has a lot of little parts and plane blades. The not so good thing about them is if one of the drawers breaks.

One of my future plans is to make a large cabinet to hold fasteners and other hardware.

It is always something.

jtk

[Lee Schierer]

My only shop furniture other than a work mate is a multi function stool. It can also serve a a support for long pieces I'm ripping on my TS. A support for my large crosscut sled. A place to contemplate design improvements or how to fix errors. A grandkid booster so they can reach the work bench for projects.

As you can see, the center section can be height adjusted to make it more versatile than a regular stool.
423390

[ken hatch]

Ken

I have a double garage, but space is needed for one car (mine! ... which gets backed out when the shop is in use). The garage is longer than average - I planned for the extra bench space when we built the house. There are the usual large machines on the one half, which leaves precious little extra room. What is left needs to be used carefully. To this end, there is storage space reserved for specific tools in specific cabinets. I know where everything is, and it goes back when it is no longer needed (theoretically! :o).

Cabinets for tools, both hand and power ...




There are lots of drawers below, but I am not a big fan of drawers. Drawers are a recipe for losing items (out of sight is out of mind), or becoming frustrated as the item you want is at the rear. I prefer to keep commonly used things in plain sight.

The wall behind the work bench is storage for marking and measuring tools. This is important - they are where I can see them, and where they are easy to grab when needed. What I do not need to see are power tools, such as routers. They are tucked away behind these cabinet doors. As are woodies, such as hollows and rounds, as moulding planes, which need to be kept moisture-safe ...






Regards from Munich


Derek


Thanks Derek,

I expect I will make wall cabinets to hold similar that are on french cleats, or at least that is my thinking now. I like the idea of glass doors.

ken

[ken hatch]

+1 on that!

My shop is more like an organized mess at times. ...
jtk

Jim

That describes my shop if you added dis to the organized

ken

[ken hatch]

Ken, thanks for this thread, good opportunity to see ideas about how people organize their shop/tools which is something I always find interesting.

Like most of us I’m guessing, I’ve had many shop spaces over the years and based on trial and error have some preferences. For context I should say my current shop is roughly equivalent of a single car garage size and only stationary power tools I need to accommodate are a bandsaw and drill press.

Guiding principles for me our flexibility and keep tools as visible as possible. for those reasons I’m not a fan of kitchen style cabinets with doors or drawers – two easy to forget what’s in there. I have lots of white pegboard on the walls (good for visibility) with layout tools and open tills for planes and saws prominently featured. I also have tall, sample shaker style bookshelves for glue, finishings, power drills etc. things that don’t get used as often.

For a small tools that can be organizing drawers like chisels, carving tools etc. I have a rolling tool cabinet ( shelves on top and three banks of drawers on the bottom“, frankly doesn’t really get moved that often but when needed easy to bring drawer with chisels to bench.

My most recent tool storage option is a Chris Swarz “Anarchist tool chest” on rollers. I was lukewarm at first but now I really like it - not so much for day-to-day storage of frequently used tools, as I said I like tills/wall hangings for those,. The chest easy to move around, can use the top as a storage surface for work in process and Big sliding trays where you can keep joinery planes with lots of blades/accessories, like routers, plow planes etc. and keep all the components in one contained space.

I’ll try and post some pictures when I get a chance and look forward to seeing how other meanders organize tools storage in their shots. Ken thanks for the thread. Good luck with shop renovation.

Cheers, Mike

Mike,

Other than being disorganized I need to find some way to control dust or at least keep most of it off my tools. Of course the big problem is too many tools. I keep talking about getting down to a basic working set and then turn around and buy a new box of 10 chisels. I've a C.S. chest and the other day I noticed all the tools were covered in dust (the proximate cause of this post), of course the reason for that is I never close the lid. Go figure.

ken

[ken hatch]

Guys,

Thanks for the ideas and the photos. The thought of taking all the Jerry-rigged cabinets, boxes, tills and shelf's off the wall, replacing with something better and at the same time find someplace to keep the tools where I can use them is pretty overwhelming.

I'm not sure how to do it but I know it needs to be done.

ken

[Josh Robinson]

423396
A version of Norms workshop hutch the original design had drawers all the way across but I left the middle open for a pancake compressor. Has a good balance between deep and shallow full extension drawers and open cabinet area which I suppose you could fit with solid or glass doors. The upper section is designed with fully customizable dividers which I regretfully didn’t fully implement. It’s not nearly as elegant as some (Derek) but very basic, flexible and functional storage and holds a ton of tools.

[Derek Cohen]

Here are a few more items from my workshop for ideas for the space-limited ...

The first photo dates from over two decades ago. I re-purposed old kitchen units (topped with ply banded and with hardwood) and added a fold down top (with legs) ...

https://i.postimg.cc/TwzZt1jK/Cabinet2.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/NFhRLvYh/Cabinet4.jpg

Well ... it looked clean and tidy 25 years ago. Now it is more like this ...

https://i.postimg.cc/PxgHp2Pv/shooting-table2-zpse8ghj3q5.jpg

The sharpening station recently had a face lift from ...

https://i.postimg.cc/j5G1MqdB/Sharpening-Centre6.jpg

... to ...

https://i.postimg.cc/vHvNJGL0/1a.jpg

Those steel cabinets are where I keep all my glues, dyes, and finishes.

When I built my current bench (about 7 years ago), I did not add a tool tray to the bench. Instead I built one onto the wall behind the bench. This can carry all the tools currently being used, from marking to planing, etc. See this in the background here ...

https://i.postimg.cc/sxKKSbgH/D2a.jpg

There are fixtures within fixtures! Below is a cabinet from my first post. It houses spokeshaves, drawerknives and others similar items on one side, and rebate planes, and speciality planes on the other ...

https://i.postimg.cc/DykhjgLR/Router1.jpg

I built a drawer for router planes ...

https://i.postimg.cc/MTfM4kLc/Router-board1.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/2y4qkQrr/Router-board2.jpg

I ran out of space for lathe chisels, and so built slide out holders alongside a cabinet I made for storing sandpaper, dominos, biscuits, and other less-used items ..

https://i.postimg.cc/XN9MT9nP/Lathe1.jpg

Racks on both sides of the cabinet ...

https://i.postimg.cc/vTrpfwPy/Lathe2.jpg

Don't ignore the ceiling. I have hooks, which are really useful. These are positioned above and hold hoses for routers or fences for the tablesaw ...

https://i.postimg.cc/Ss3XsVzN/storage2.jpg

I thought that I lost my pin board (where I keep work drawings), which was on the back of the door) when I replaced the old solid rear door with a new half-glass door (for extra light). There was space below ...

https://i.postimg.cc/ncmxj7kW/door3.jpg


Hope this provides some ideas for you ..

Regards from Munich

Derek

[Josh Robinson]

Derek, where is your miter box and saw from?

[David Eisenhauer]

Derek's Dreadnaught sails again!!!!!

[Derek Cohen]

Derek, where is your miter box and saw from?

Josh, it is a Miller's Falls #15 1/2, which looked like this when I bought it ...

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRestorations/MFMitreboxRebuild_html_m4254e416.jpg

I rebuilt the mitre box completely, and then built the saw. This was the result ..

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRestorations/MFMitreboxRebuild_html_m7c4cc0bd.jpg

The article is here: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolRestorations/MFMitreboxRebuild.html

Regards from Munich

Derek

[jeff norris 2011]

I think it is important to decide - philosophically - your approach to your shop fixtures. Are you building them to be functional? Functional and beautiful? A way to show of your skills? a chance to acquire new skills? spare no expense? show creative you can be on a budget? Do you want everything unified (wood type style etc)?

[ken hatch]

I guess I should show what I'm dealing with. We brought this house 10 years ago, it is a 1970 track house setting on a beautiful piece of land. In hindsight it should have been a tear-down but instead I pulled my tools out of storage (where they had been for ~10 years while I tried to keep beans and tortillas on the table) and started beavering away. Bottom line, lots of new tools were added with little time to think or do much to store them. Quick and dirty was the order of the day. The house is finished, as much as a house is ever finished, and it is time to tend to my shop.

Starting with what I call the "tool room". It is a general junk room and where I keep saw stuff and grinders:

423489

The west wall, little used chisels and planes, chair stuff, and other junk:

423490

The north wall is behind the main workbench and has most of the day to day tools:

423491

The east wall is where the sharpening stuff is kept, more little used chisels and planes, and the main clamp rack:

423492

It was all done on the fly with little time or thought, "that looks about right, nail that sucker".

ken

[ken hatch]

I think it is important to decide - philosophically - your approach to your shop fixtures. Are you building them to be functional? Functional and beautiful? A way to show of your skills? a chance to acquire new skills? spare no expense? show creative you can be on a budget? Do you want everything unified (wood type style etc)?

Jeff,

All good advice if you have the time to think about it :o, but like I expect most shops mine was put together on the fly. I suspect even on the re-build there will be a lot of quick and dirty, less than the first time but still some.

ken

[Phil Mueller]

You know the problem with reorganization is that after it’s done you can’t remember where anything is :confused:. Probably obvious, but I’d start with deciding what tools/supplies go together and what wall makes most sense for those groupings of things. I’m an experienced procrastinator, and most self-help books in that area highly suggest breaking things down into smaller manageable pieces...like take one wall at a time sort of thing.

The other thing that you have to accept, is that it’s gonna be a bigger mess until it’s done. If you have the time, would love to follow along to see what you come up with.

[Josh Robinson]

Ken, ever watched “Marie Kondo” lol. Half joking half serious....google her.

[ken hatch]

You know the problem with reorganization is that after it’s done you can’t remember where anything is :confused:. Probably obvious, but I’d start with deciding what tools/supplies go together and what wall makes most sense for those groupings of things. I’m an experienced procrastinator, and most self-help books in that area highly suggest breaking things down into smaller manageable pieces...like take one wall at a time sort of thing.

The other thing that you have to accept, is that it’s gonna be a bigger mess until it’s done. If you have the time, would love to follow along to see what you come up with.

Phil,

1+ procrastinator, drives MsBubba nuts. I expect I will start on the north wall and by the time it is finished, if ever, I will be sick of the project and find some way to put finishing off :o.

ken

[ken hatch]

Ken, ever watched “Marie Kondo” lol. Half joking half serious....google her.

Josh,

MsBubba would love it, at least for my stuff. :)

Thanks for the heads up.

ken

[mike stenson]

Phil,

1+ procrastinator, drives MsBubba nuts. I expect I will start on the north wall and by the time it is finished, if ever, I will be sick of the project and find some way to put finishing off :o.

ken

I love having to move things around to do something. Well, not really, but that's where I am now. Nothing makes it easier to procrastinate :(

[Jim Koepke]

All good advice if you have the time to think about it , but like I expect most shops mine was put together on the fly.

My flies are still a buzzin'. Yesterday another box to store/sort carving tools was slapped together. It will relieve the crowding of chisels and carving tools in a couple other boxes.

jtk

[Derek Cohen]

Jeff,

All good advice if you have the time to think about it :o, but like I expect most shops mine was put together on the fly. I suspect even on the re-build there will be a lot of quick and dirty, less than the first time but still some.

ken

Ken

My current workshop has evolved over 25 years. I would call this "on the fly". I'd rather be building furniture than workshops.

Regards from Munich

Derek

[David Eisenhauer]

Lordy Ken. Pick a storage/cabinet/etc style and get started, please, now. No more Moravians for a while. That "tool room" photo is a photo better left unshared.

[ken hatch]

Lordy Ken. Pick a storage/cabinet/etc style and get started, please, now. No more Moravians for a while. That "tool room" photo is a photo better left unshared.

Yeah David, some things can't be unseen. I've a chair in the works once it is finished I'll start on the north wall. I'm not sure what will happen with the tool room aka Fibber McGee's closet other than a dumpster and "stay/go".

Are you making a trip to the desert this spring? It should be pretty, been a wet Winter.

ken

[ken hatch]

Ken

My current workshop has evolved over 25 years. I would call this "on the fly". I'd rather be building furniture than workshops.

Regards from Munich

Derek

Derek,

Pretty much the same here but there comes a time and that time is now. I expect I'll work on the behind the bench stuff and then the rest will evolve over time.

Thanks for your input,

ken

[jeff norris 2011]

Ken

I'd rather be building furniture than workshops.




Yes that WAS my deal too. But at some point you run out of projects for your own house and you realize you spend as much time in your shop as you do in your house, so why not make your shop nice?

I am not there yet, but I can see it my near future. So if a shop project comes up now I am thinking long term.

[ken hatch]

Yes that WAS my deal too. But at some point you run out of projects for your own house and you realize you spend as much time in your shop as you do in your house, so why not make your shop nice?

I am not there yet, but I can see it my near future. So if a shop project comes up now I am thinking long term.

Jeff,

Ain't that the truth :o.

ken

[David Eisenhauer]

Made a run to Death Valley in November, thinking about a run all the way to Glacier Nat'l park next late spring. Did some Colorado and Wyoming earlier this summer. Big Bend this winter. I definitely could do some Sonora desert when things are blooming this spring. I may have to get you to keep an eye on the blooms for me. I enjoy it.

[ken hatch]

Made a run to Death Valley in November, thinking about a run all the way to Glacier Nat'l park next late spring. Did some Colorado and Wyoming earlier this summer. Big Bend this winter. I definitely could do some Sonora desert when things are blooming this spring. I may have to get you to keep an eye on the blooms for me. I enjoy it.


David,

Will do, fi things start lookin g good I'll PM you.

ken

P.S. We are in the early planning for the PNW this coming late spring.

[Phil Mueller]

Given your other recent post on the new chisels from Stan, I’m just curious if the North wall design will include a 275 chisel wall cabinet. I know that won’t hold all your daily users, but look forward to what you come up with;)

[ken hatch]

Given your other recent post on the new chisels from Stan, I’m just curious if the North wall design will include a 275 chisel wall cabinet. I know that won’t hold all your daily users, but look forward to what you come up with;)

Phil,

It's not 275 daily users, only 250 :o. OK, so I have a chisel problem. It is safer and much cheaper than Blondes and Porsche's.

BTW, my thoughts are to buy chisels while the old Smiths are still alive and making this very unique "art" form. Where that falls apart is I'll likely die about the same time they do and MsBubba will give them to the local GoodWill to haul off. Go figure,

ken

[Mike Allen1010]

I'm really enjoying this thread – who doesn't like shop pictures? In fact I'm now convinced that an SMC Neander traveling shop tour and cocktail party would be tons of fun! Come on, a bunch of people with shared interest in hand tool woodworking hanging out in our favorite place – the shop, mix in a little good whiskey to liven things up and I gotta believe it would be a great time!

I really appreciate all those who shared pictures of their shops. It's really helpful to see good ideas about how others organizer tools etc. Derek, Glenn, Jim and Roger I really admire your neat organization. I confess I was feeling pretty good about myself until I saw your shops and now realize I've got a long way to go to put things in order etc.

Compelled by the spirit of sharing some pictures my shop: about the size of one car garage with door, window and high ceilings.

https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/1_zpspd2mxhs9.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/1_zpspd2mxhs9.jpg.html)


Moving counterclockwise, the eight-foot bench takes up the bulk of the workspace. One of my New Year's resolutions was to clean out the rats nest of scraps, jig etc. accumulating under the bench so build some plastic bins for scrap storage.

https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/2_zpsvubwvko6.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/2_zpsvubwvko6.jpg.html)

Plane tills above my original workbench from the 1970s, now use primarily for messy stuff like glue ups. Also handy for storing shooting boards, clamp tills etc. below. I consider it luxury to be able to leave the shooting board on this 2nd bench. Fact that I have 2 plane tills is testimony to the idea you always underestimate how much tool storage you're gonna need.

https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/3_zpsemv30vci.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/3_zpsemv30vci.jpg.html)

Along that same wall is sharpening station with clamps storage above. For me essential to have sharpening stones always readily available, otherwise I'd probably never sharpen if I had to get them out of storage to use.

https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/4_zpsbbgtgdpu.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/4_zpsbbgtgdpu.jpg.html)

Along back wall is rolling tool cabinet, one of my first projects – can't believe that was 30 years ago. Trays handy for chisels, carving tools. Also where I keep my block, Japanese, joinery planes, scapers, drill bits etc.. Box below holds molding planes and the cabinet on the floor to the left is for screws etc. Small box on top holds sandpaper, and behind it to the right is glue up table.

https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/5_zpsmndec8cj.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/5_zpsmndec8cj.jpg.html)

Along the other wall are layout tools hanging from the pegboard and saw tills – full size on the left and joinery saws on the right. Front left is Sharwz anarchist tool chest on rollers. Probably my most used shop appliance is the saw table – for me absolutely essential, and behind it bandsaw and router table I inherited from my uncle that I don't really use very much.

https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/6_zps1orv1swl.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/6_zps1orv1swl.jpg.html)

https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/7_zpsoj9fisab.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/7_zpsoj9fisab.jpg.html)

https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/8_zps6nvirxzv.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/8_zps6nvirxzv.jpg.html)

I keep small F clamps on rack under my tail vice.
https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/9_zpsfbtj9rop.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/9_zpsfbtj9rop.jpg.html)

All in all, not a lot of floor space, probably because no TS/stationary power tools etc. I hope those interested in wood woodworking aren't dissuaded by mistaken belief they need big space and expensive power tools to get started. I really enjoy visitors and all are welcome if you're every in the San Diego area.


Cheers, Mike

[Mike Allen1010]

Phil,

It's not 275 daily users, only 250 :o. OK, so I have a chisel problem. It is safer and much cheaper than Blondes and Porsche's.

BTW, my thoughts are to buy chisels while the old Smiths are still alive and making this very unique "art" form. Where that falls apart is I'll likely die about the same time they do and MsBubba will give them to the local GoodWill to haul off. Go figure,

ken

Ken, I share your interest in preserving the art of fine toolmakers. To me there's something super ironic about how much we as hand tool woodworkers highly value these tools that are ideally designed and tuned to perfectly perform their intended tasks, and yet most people likely see them as "junk".

I started working in the late 1970s after reading James Krenov's book "Cabinetmakers Notebook". Seeing the beautiful furniture he created with simple hand tools was super inspiring to me and I got some second Sears Craftsman planes, chisels and tried to do the same. As you might guess super frustrating – I had no idea how to sharpen/tune/use these tools and of course I didn't get remotely close to making beautiful shavings or really anything else. It took me many years of trial and error, reading etc. before I learned the importance of quality tools and how to make them work properly.

In those days before Lee Valley, Lee Nielsen etc., contemporary quality tools weren't available, and I couldn't afford the good vintage stuff even if I knew how to identify it. I clearly remember the absolute agony I felt when I learned the woman I was dating (now my wife Sherrie) grandfather had been a cabinetmaker in Greenwich Village for 40 years, and when he passed away, the family sold off the entire shop for essentially the price of scrap etc. Today I have only a couple of his tools and I can only imagine the treasures that likely went to the dump or secondhand store etc.

Today I still feel a sense of "discovering a lost treasure" when I find a top-of-the-line vintage handsaw, plane etc. and experience the quality work they're capable of. I have a secret fantasy that when I'm gone, some aspiring woodworker will find my shop full of tools and be assisted on his journey towards mastering the craft. Seems like I need to do the right thing and find a way to make that happen. Any suggestions?

Best, Mike

[Frederick Skelly]

OK, so I have a chisel problem. It is safer and much cheaper than Blondes and Porsche's.

.....but not nearly as much fun, my friend. ;)

[mike stenson]

I've actually gotten the interior partitions down enough, and run lighting enough, to where I can say I have a workspace again (which is actually amazing after working with a single 3 1/2" metal vise and a set of horses). So I figured I'd post a couple pictures of what I've got to work with. Which currently isn't much, as really none of my previous storage survived the pack rats. This will pretty much be the bench area, although I'll get rid of the bench and it's reused kitchen cab bases that are at the back of the room and move my bench closer to the window. There's really a lot of space in here, so it's also another good reason to build another (bigger and simpler) bench. The dartboard will stay in the hand tool area, near the bench. It's handy.

The wall on the left hand side, along with the 2x4 shelving will go away, as there's another 10x12' space on the other side, and while I'll have somewhat separate work areas, having actual partitions is rather limiting. The two 'shop areas' that were originally framed were still filled with stuff (such as the lumber hanging on the wall, along with an alarming amount of random hardware) so it's just starting to come into focus as to the space I have to work with as I clear things out.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-L2nPQtq/0/c3242c2f/XL/i-L2nPQtq-XL.jpg

I do have to share the building with a couple cars, but that's fine. I should have plenty of space (certainly bigger than my last 14x18 shop). The entire left side of the building is raised 8" or so, which is pretty awkward as a garage, but I'll use that for an electronics bench and a metal working bench, along with storage. The few larger power tools I have will probably just remain on mobile bases. So I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in this thread, as I've got a lot of work ahead of me in this regard.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-j24SGBL/0/f1e23f30/XL/i-j24SGBL-XL.jpg

[Derek Cohen]

Thank you all for your comments and photos. And thanks to you, Mike, for starting this thread. It is interesting how one lays out a workshop and organises both work space and storage since these impact on how we approach builds. I am interested in the mindset of others in this regard, and whether you have made a conscious effort to think through the way you have organised your workshop? For example, did you give thought to the flow between work stations? Did you prioritise tool access? Do you find what you have makes it easier/harder to remain focussed? We could add questions on lighting, dust control, and music. How important are these?

I will say that my curiosity has meant that I have acquired more hand tools than I need (what a surprise!). I do not have duplicates of the same tool, although I may have a few of the same type of tool, such as smoothers or wood/metal hand planes. I attempt to reduce the presence of all tools bar those in current use (which may be chosen because they are favourites or because it is just fun to have a change). I want access, but I do not want to see them all.

Here is an older photo of the bench and hand tool work area. Fixtures live under- or behind the bench. Only marking/measuring tools are on the wall behind the bench. The hand planes I use most - a choice of wood or metal - is in an open rack. The chisels in use are in a rack behind the bench. All else is behind closed doors ...

https://i.postimg.cc/prN81J5D/6b21f130-1c2b-46fe-8a89-ba5d20aaec6d-zps9g0slxmv.jpg

It is usually wood or metal - and even so, there are choices here of jacks, jointers and smoothers (this photo was taken about 7 years ago)).

Behind the closed doors are power routers and accessories, moulding planes, other metal planes, and a couple of chisel sets. Out of sight is out of mind.

My intension here is to show work flow, not tools (it is impossible to avoid showing tools - I dislike the "look what I have got" posts. I have had this workshop for 30 years).

With new machine additions/upgrades (this was taken prior to a new lathe about 18 months ago), there are always some changes in the layout, but I have been settled on the workflow process for some years now.

https://i.postimg.cc/fyX08D1z/Overhead1.jpg

All the power tools are moved into one area, and the jointer/thicknesser-planer and bandsaw are kept close to each other ...

https://i.postimg.cc/76FDZ9tw/11a.jpg

This makes it easier to get the rough sawn boards prepared for dimensioning, and then to the work bench for hand tool work.

The bench remains the heart of the workshop, whether it is handtool or power use. Here is a photo of a power router in use at the bench. Note the hook in the ceiling rafter for holding the hose and cables. At the window is the sharpening centre ... just a step away from the bench (I was fortunate enough to plumb in water when building the house/garage) ..

https://i.postimg.cc/nz1vWpRN/Routing.jpg

Wood storage and access is as important as tool storage. It needs to be out of the way and yet easy enough to access. I do not have a large storage area, and generally keep enough for a few projects, as well as any timber than "materialises". The storage area is in the areas immediately entering the garage, to either side.

One side (Jarrah from Oz, and Hard Maple from the USA) ...

http://www.inthewoodshop.com/Furniture/Kitchen%20Rebuild_html_m23898ebf.jpg


I love the "concept" of a clean bench, with tools in use only ...

https://i.postimg.cc/T2ctZ5Jj/D1a.jpg

... but the reality is that there are never enough work surfaces!

https://i.postimg.cc/Gt09Zk6L/Tailvise2a-zpsoztwxd9j.jpg

Regards from Singapore (leaving tomorrow for home)

Derek

[Phil Mueller]

A small shop pretty much demands some level of organization, or I wouldn’t even be able to move around. It also keeps things a bit minimalist. The cabinet and wall space above it, and shelf below the bench houses everything I use on a regular basis. This was from about 2 years ago, and while some tools have been added and subtracted based on what I use most often, there has been no additional space...so if new tools get added, something gets stored away.

423858


Off to the right, behind the bench is a contractors saw, lunch box planer and a shelf with a chop saw and disk sander. And behind me from where I am taking the picture is a router table on a mobile base. When ever needed, they need to be pulled out, used, and put back.

Beyond the door in the picture, is a small storage room. I have a small three shelf area with some specialty tools not used on every project (like shoulder planes, spoke shaves, router planes, etc).

From a work flow basis, there really isn’t one. Essentially, turn around, grab a tool, turn back around and work at the bench. Maybe a few steps to go in the storage room and grab something.

This has for obvious reasons kept me a primarily hand tool user, although I will say the router table and compact router gets used rather frequently.

And I’ll admit that the drawers and shelves in the cabinet have become a big mess. My plan is to tear out the entire cabinet and rebuild something with more, but smaller pull out drawers or trays of some kind. Still working through that plan. Probably a next winter project.

[ken hatch]

A small shop pretty much demands some level of organization, or I wouldn’t even be able to move around. It also keeps things a bit minimalist. The cabinet and wall space above it, and shelf below the bench houses everything I use on a regular basis. This was from about 2 years ago, and while some tools have been added and subtracted based on what I use most often, there has been no additional space...so if new tools get added, something gets stored away.

423858


Off to the right, behind the bench is a contractors saw, lunch box planer and a shelf with a chop saw and disk sander. And behind me from where I am taking the picture is a router table on a mobile base. When ever needed, they need to be pulled out, used, and put back.

Beyond the door in the picture, is a small storage room. I have a small three shelf area with some specialty tools not used on every project (like shoulder planes, spoke shaves, router planes, etc).

From a work flow basis, there really isn’t one. Essentially, turn around, grab a tool, turn back around and work at the bench. Maybe a few steps to go in the storage room and grab something.

This has for obvious reasons kept me a primarily hand tool user, although I will say the router table and compact router gets used rather frequently.

And I’ll admit that the drawers and shelves in the cabinet have become a big mess. My plan is to tear out the entire cabinet and rebuild something with more, but smaller pull out drawers or trays of some kind. Still working through that plan. Probably a next winter project.

Phil,

The space you have looks well organized. Hand tools help keep a small shop usable. My only question is; Did you clean it up for the photo or does it stay that way?

I keep thinking about losing the power tools in my shop but truth told the only one I do not use and could be removed with no loss is the table saw. The band saw is a must have and the planer is almost as important. The joiner takes up little room and then the real problem, if you have a single power tool you need dust collection and dust collection takes a big chunk of room. The other problem with my shop is if I lost the power tools I'd just fill the space with another work bench :p.

ken

[ken hatch]

"...the reality is that there are never enough work surfaces!"

Derek,

Ain't that the truth.

BTW, it was good to see a few shavings on the bench.

ken

[ken hatch]

I'm really enjoying this thread – who doesn't like shop pictures? In fact I'm now convinced that an SMC Neander traveling shop tour and cocktail party would be tons of fun! Come on, a bunch of people with shared interest in hand tool woodworking hanging out in our favorite place – the shop, mix in a little good whiskey to liven things up and I gotta believe it would be a great time!

I really appreciate all those who shared pictures of their shops. It's really helpful to see good ideas about how others organizer tools etc. Derek, Glenn, Jim and Roger I really admire your neat organization. I confess I was feeling pretty good about myself until I saw your shops and now realize I've got a long way to go to put things in order etc.

Compelled by the spirit of sharing some pictures my shop: about the size of one car garage with door, window and high ceilings.

https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/1_zpspd2mxhs9.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/1_zpspd2mxhs9.jpg.html)


Moving counterclockwise, the eight-foot bench takes up the bulk of the workspace. One of my New Year's resolutions was to clean out the rats nest of scraps, jig etc. accumulating under the bench so build some plastic bins for scrap storage.

https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/2_zpsvubwvko6.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/2_zpsvubwvko6.jpg.html)

Plane tills above my original workbench from the 1970s, now use primarily for messy stuff like glue ups. Also handy for storing shooting boards, clamp tills etc. below. I consider it luxury to be able to leave the shooting board on this 2nd bench. Fact that I have 2 plane tills is testimony to the idea you always underestimate how much tool storage you're gonna need.

https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/3_zpsemv30vci.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/3_zpsemv30vci.jpg.html)

Along that same wall is sharpening station with clamps storage above. For me essential to have sharpening stones always readily available, otherwise I'd probably never sharpen if I had to get them out of storage to use.

https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/4_zpsbbgtgdpu.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/4_zpsbbgtgdpu.jpg.html)

Along back wall is rolling tool cabinet, one of my first projects – can't believe that was 30 years ago. Trays handy for chisels, carving tools. Also where I keep my block, Japanese, joinery planes, scapers, drill bits etc.. Box below holds molding planes and the cabinet on the floor to the left is for screws etc. Small box on top holds sandpaper, and behind it to the right is glue up table.

https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/5_zpsmndec8cj.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/5_zpsmndec8cj.jpg.html)

Along the other wall are layout tools hanging from the pegboard and saw tills – full size on the left and joinery saws on the right. Front left is Sharwz anarchist tool chest on rollers. Probably my most used shop appliance is the saw table – for me absolutely essential, and behind it bandsaw and router table I inherited from my uncle that I don't really use very much.

https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/6_zps1orv1swl.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/6_zps1orv1swl.jpg.html)

https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/7_zpsoj9fisab.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/7_zpsoj9fisab.jpg.html)

https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/8_zps6nvirxzv.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/8_zps6nvirxzv.jpg.html)

I keep small F clamps on rack under my tail vice.
https://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w498/mikeallen1010/My%20shop/9_zpsfbtj9rop.jpg (http://s1078.photobucket.com/user/mikeallen1010/media/My%20shop/9_zpsfbtj9rop.jpg.html)

All in all, not a lot of floor space, probably because no TS/stationary power tools etc. I hope those interested in wood woodworking aren't dissuaded by mistaken belief they need big space and expensive power tools to get started. I really enjoy visitors and all are welcome if you're every in the San Diego area.


Cheers, Mike

Mike,

You have done a much better job of stuffing the 10lbs of stuff into a 5lbs box than I have. Looks usable and a comfortable place to work.

1+ on shop tours, there is always whisky and maybe even BBQ here at Casa Chaos to enjoy along with the "there I waz with one burning and one turning" stories.

ken

[ken hatch]

Ken, I share your interest in preserving the art of fine toolmakers. To me there's something super ironic about how much we as hand tool woodworkers highly value these tools that are ideally designed and tuned to perfectly perform their intended tasks, and yet most people likely see them as "junk".

I started working in the late 1970s after reading James Krenov's book "Cabinetmakers Notebook". Seeing the beautiful furniture he created with simple hand tools was super inspiring to me and I got some second Sears Craftsman planes, chisels and tried to do the same. As you might guess super frustrating – I had no idea how to sharpen/tune/use these tools and of course I didn't get remotely close to making beautiful shavings or really anything else. It took me many years of trial and error, reading etc. before I learned the importance of quality tools and how to make them work properly.

In those days before Lee Valley, Lee Nielsen etc., contemporary quality tools weren't available, and I couldn't afford the good vintage stuff even if I knew how to identify it. I clearly remember the absolute agony I felt when I learned the woman I was dating (now my wife Sherrie) grandfather had been a cabinetmaker in Greenwich Village for 40 years, and when he passed away, the family sold off the entire shop for essentially the price of scrap etc. Today I have only a couple of his tools and I can only imagine the treasures that likely went to the dump or secondhand store etc.

Today I still feel a sense of "discovering a lost treasure" when I find a top-of-the-line vintage handsaw, plane etc. and experience the quality work they're capable of. I have a secret fantasy that when I'm gone, some aspiring woodworker will find my shop full of tools and be assisted on his journey towards mastering the craft. Seems like I need to do the right thing and find a way to make that happen. Any suggestions?

Best, Mike

Mike,

Like you I started the journey in the 70's. Houston, TX didn't have a lot to offer in either wood or tools but I did run across "Fine Woodworking" and the Garrett Wade catalog. Both beat out "Playboy" and for many years "Fine Woodworking" was my Krenov.

I don't like to think of myself as a collector but there are areas where I buy unneeded tools such as Japanese chisels, wood stock plows, Stanley type 9 and 10 planes, and Pre-1933 Marples chisels. There will come a time in the not too distant future where either MsBubba or the kids will have to deal with my "junk". I've spent some time thinking about it and have not come up with a good answer. I know I do not want them to be snatched up by bottom feeders looking to make a profit and/or stuck in some tool museum's storage room isn't the best answer either. That question might make a good forum topic.

ken

P.S. Just need to add: The best answer I've come up with is giving tools to younger and poorer woodworkers which I have done in the past. But that is not easy to do. To either find 'em or qualify them.

[Phil Mueller]

Ha, maybe a little cleaning before the picture, but truth is the small size just demands things be kept fairly neat or it would become completely out of control. The space, for the most part, does look like that most of the time. It gets cleaned and tools put away after every step of a project.

[Josh Robinson]

Phil, nice clean shop, hats off! Ken, I have recently started to think about my tools after I’m gone, and I agree that could be an interesting thread. I have two kids, close to the same age. I’m planning to build two tool chest with a basic set of core hand tools in each . Each with a fair distribution of the best of each tool that I end up with and each will have one or two tools that came from my dad or grand parents and a little write up of what the tools are and how they are used or maybe include a book like the Anarchists Tool Chest by CS so they have some idea of what they have. It might be something either of them would use, or display or if they wanted to sell it, they might get a good price for it. Everything else could go in a garage sell.