Shop setup

C L Wilkins

C L Wilkins

Joined
Mar 18, 1999
Messages
2,112
I am basically starting over from scratch. I am re-inventing the wheel and re-thinking my shop from the ground up. Basically I am tired of the "small" work area in my garage and I am taking over the whole thing to be used as my "knife making" shop. Bear in mind that I do not forge (I would have to move from this neighborhood), only stock removal. My "shop" is about 20' x 20'.

First, workspace or bench area? The most I can get against the walls. Next, lighting. Third, dust removal/collection.

One concern I have is the noise from the dust collection. Where do you guys have yours? Outside? In a cabinet? Where?

Any suggestions on setup would be greatly appreciated. I have all the standard tools already (grinder, buffer, drill press, etc) just proper placement and location is a question.

C Wilkins
 
Just my 2 cents worth of advice, but with an area that large, I think that you should have a separate area(enclosed) for your grinding. That way you can vent it and keep the dust away from the finishing area. I think that if you paint it white, it would also help the lighting situation too. As for noise reduction, think about building a foam-lined cover for the squirrel cage, ducted to the outside, and the downdraft foam-lined too. Hope this helps, keep us informed.
 
C.L...When you build your benches make sure you have a work area you can sit at with a comfortable chair. It will make for a great place for detail and finish work. I use an old office type swivel chair with rollers, it sure makes for comfortable detailing. I use a modified shop vac for dust collection. It is under the bench in its own plywood closet that has been sound insulated. Right now I have to move the hose from each work station, but it does the job.
I have my vises, Dremel and attachments, and all my files and such at the area of the bench where I can work seated. The Belt grinder, scroll and band saws are in a line at a bench area where I stand to work. I have a seperate bench where I have my drill press, buffers and paper wheels for sharpening. I have 2 light 48 in tubes over each work station. I sold my 300# anvil and have a small 24 pounder with a short horn I can set on the bench and use when I need it. I also have an area where I do epoxy work etc. All my small c-clamps hang there for easy access. That way I can leave stuff there to dry and not have it in the way of doing other things.
I hope this has been some help to you.

Jake
 
Howdy There C L....!
I know what you are going thur about your shop. I did visit a few shops before I set up my own and I most agree about enclosing or separating your grinder area from your finish area. Even a dust system or filter helps a great deal, but enclosing that is best. One item that constructed was a bench that runs across one end of my garage. That way I have my scollsaw, bandsaw, grinders and buffers located on area that I have a vaccum system piped to each machine. You can run the piping along the wall or under the bench and it is out of the way. I also agree about using a separate area for finishing, it should be an area that you are comfortable working and clean. I have two separate benches that I use for the finishing and one for leather working. The idea about enclosing the dust collection is good, I have done that yet. I worked it an industry that required hearing prection, so I am use to wear ear muffs when I work. My suugestion is to visit other shops and just sit down for a short time and think about what and were you like for things to go. Good Luck with your project.
"Possum"

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Thomas Clegg
 
wow, big shop! i'm in a 10'x12' shop, and it works great. first thing is to keep every accesory for a certain machine next to, or in the machine cabinet. (you can use steel storage cabinets for machine cabinets) for example i keep all my finishing and buffing supplies in my buffer's cabinet. and i keep the hand finishing bench next to the buffer.
next thing, bandsaws for wood need alot of room. 1)figure out how large the longest board you will saw is. 2) if it's a 14" that meens you can cut a 28" board in half, so keep if far away enough from the wall so that you can cut that.
keep your dust collector nearest to the machine that needs the most cfm. the father away from the collector the more the cfm drops. buy a dust collector based on how much cfm the machines your using need. calculate the cfm lose before you buy one, and how many machines will be on it. buy a little book called dust collection, it's helpful.
give yourself room around your machines. not all machines need to be next to the walls, make your self little walk ways around your machines, you will be able to fit more machines in your shop.
keep it organized! put everthing away when your done. have storage for all you tools, and drill bits, and other little things. have a big, moble tool chest. your can store alot in those things. moble bases save space!
 
For lighting, go to lowes and get about 6 of the 12-15$ 300 or 500 watt halogen flood lights. They will be cheaper and put out more light than you could ever get with flourescent. put them along the walls of your shop up by the ceiling. Maybe put one or two direcly abover your bench and have them pointed down at the bench. Make sure its at an angle that isn't shining in your face all the time though. They light at any temperature too. Thats the biggest problem with flourescent, my shops not heated and when I had flourescent lights only 1 or 2 of them would ever work in the cold.I still have them in my garage and even though its insulated only about half of them work, and not very well. especially when my mom decides to leave the garage door up. I have no idea why she does that, but the lights don't work until an hour or two after you close it again.

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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
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