The Beginner's Guide to Small Woodshop Design
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- čas přidán 10. 03. 2022
- Small woodshops can be frustrating but is it the lack of space that's the issue......or how we visualize and use it?
Welcome to the Shop!
Links to products in my shop:
SawStop Table Saw: amzn.to/3Mojnz3
Orbital Sander: amzn.to/3Ibd5zC
Sandpaper: amzn.to/3L6UuXx
Dado Set: amzn.to/3hC4VWj
Japanese Ryoba Saw: amzn.to/3C1Gvi9
Japanese Dovetail Saw: amzn.to/3Iu0ita
Dewalt 734: amzn.to/3vqios5
Scary Sharp System: lddy.no/14zhr
Sharpening Jig: lddy.no/14zhq
My set of Narex Chisels: lddy.no/14zhp
Dewalt 735 (the one I’d get today): amzn.to/3HsLI3x
Drill Gauge: amzn.to/35RjFyb
Favorite F-Clamps: lddy.no/14zhw
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www.patreon.com/user?u=68455297 - Jak na to + styl
Crazy. You’ve just described the last year+ of my woodworking and shop journey. I’ve delayed so much waiting to get the “right tools”. Tool envy totally overshadowed skill envy. Hate to admit it, but I just realized that I’ve been collecting tools more than honing my skills. Thanks for setting me straight!!!!!! I watch thousands of hours of CZcams woodworking videos. Time to stop collecting! And time to start building. Thanks!!!!!!
Me too and hundreds of others!
Love the advice, especially the skill vs tool envy. I struggle with this all the time.
Thank you. I deal with it still but it gets better
Yeah, I think we all do at times for sure. I actually still have some furniture I built when I first started with just a skill saw and a router. Took me forever to figure out how to get it done and set up, but the stuff came out awesome.
You killed it when you spoke about spending money on tools you don’t need, I’ve wasted so much money and shop space on things I didn’t need.
Same here. Good thing I caught it early. Thank you for the comment.
Tool envy, dopamine fix, adhd, planning, self control, hell. Excellent video. You have a new sub!
Thank you. I appreciate your sub and comment.
I am in the re design phase right now so thanks for the info.
I have been struggling to design my shop for years now. Today, I was feeling like a real failure for not being able to make it happen. Your advice has given me new hope and an actual plan to get it done right/best for me. Thank you.
I hope it helps. Hopefully you’ll get some inspiration and work done. I appreciate your comment
I really enjoy your style. I appreciate your authenticity. You got yourself a new subscriber.
A simple but brilliant method, I'm 70 and don't do much now but your ways will save me space so thanks for posting from Garry in the UK
I have a small workspace. I've watched a few different videos on this topic but they were generally focused on specific designs, "this is how I laid out MY space". This is the first one I personally have seen that was about principles of laying out a small workspace that I can use to help me lay out My workspace. I appreciate it. I've already got some specific ideas that should help remove poor layouts that have been sources of frustration for years.
When you said you’d have a picture of where you started out, I thought you were making a clever joke that you had always worked in this area.
Love the videos. Im 29, finally got things going well in my career and I have time to pursue woodworking on the side. I have a one car garage that I work out of in my apartment and finding gems like this really help take the frustration out of managing a small workspace. 👍🏽
Thanks for the comment. I hope you find lots of joy in woodworking!
Great advise. I’m hobby working out of a 2 car garage with all sorts of storage, tools, motorcycle and always am envious of the larger shop folks. As you’ve said, just build.
Thank you.
I started with design over functionality in my workshop/ craftroom. I'm so glad you created this video. I'm actually working on projects now to figure out the best placement. Thanks so much!😊👍
Hey dude. Thank you for this video. The sense I got throughout was, I trust this guy, and am going with his advice. You checked all the boxes of trust worthiness, for me. Your mentioning “tool envy” dovetails with my definition of procrastination - fear of not being perfect. Anyhow, I’m throwing caution to the wind, and pull the lever $ to buy a few more power tools, and wing it. 🎉
Thank you for this video. Lots of good advice was provided and some most of us need to hear. Getting out into the shop and building something - anything - is great advice. You mentioned you made three layouts before you ever built your first project and I can relate. The mental paralysis of thinking you need everything perfect before you start can be huge. I've found myself doing this very thing so I appreciate your advice.
I subscribed and will check in again but only after I spend some time in the shop building something - anything!
Thank you! I'm starting to make a wood shop, the numbering makes sense.
Great video. I’ve been so excited to make a shop and get started on projects, but have a great deal of anxiety over the initial shop setup. I know that without guidance like this, I’ll fall into a paralysis of indecision. The way he breaks down what is actually important in designing a first shop is great for staying focused on what matters and avoiding losing the forest through the trees
Love the peg board! Thank you for talking about your workspace was very helpful for me
Awesome info. I am currently making several of the mistakes you are pointing out trying to design my huge workshop.
I'm just getting back into woodworking and it's good to know that the size space I have can be used as a shop.
I've watched 30+ videos on small shop design so far and you're is the most thoughful and forward-looking. Wish I could give you 100 likes. Well done. You earned a subscriber.
Love your thought process and advice. It's practical and humble, sage wisdom. Appreciate your content and your style of delivery. Keep it up!
Thank you for the comment it’s greatly appreciated!
You can make a lot of cool stuff with a circular saw while working on sawhorses - plus basic hand tools. Been there, done that - and it’s very valuable experience. Put that in a permanent space and you have a shop.
Thank you for this channel. Just about everything you say applies directly to me. I’m starting this hobby in my 40s as well and I’m learning all these lessons, some the hard way, some I’m avoiding thanks to makers like you. Thank you again!
You are so welcome! I'm so glad I'm helping. Thank you for commenting and watching.
This is good stuff. I've found myself in a similar situation: finding a balance between what you think you want and what you actually need. I'd love a big, beautiful bench and a spacious assembly table and one of those fancy router stations and an industrial jointer/planer, but I just don't have the space. Gotta economize my space. Everything has to serve dual purposes. I find it more intriguing, actually, to come up with ideas to do that. Keeps things interesting and inventive.
Anyway, thanks for the advice. I'm enjoying your channel. You're a relatable guy and easy to like.
Great stuff, lovely to see someone being realistic for a change 👍🏻
Excellent video! First time I see a video that addresses the reasoning behind shop design and provides a method. All videos I had seen suggest specific "tricks" or arrangements that worked for them. It really shows much appreciated depth of thought that is very satisfying to those who seek fundamentals. With a good dose of philosophy too! Thanks a lot
Thank you for that comment. I really appreciate it and I’m glad you liked it.
Hey man,
Thanks a lot for this video, you got a new subscriber !
I love the advices you share from experience, and I watched a lot of woodworking/workshop videos,
but the "start working before planing you workshop", "skill envy vs tools envy" and most of all, avoiding the "do it perfect or don't even start" are all things I needed to hear !
much love to you ! will stay tuned for your next videos !!!
Thank you. I appreciate your comment
Thank you for that. It is all excellent advice, especially about just getting on with it and not worrying whether you have the right tools.
Thank you for watching and commenting
I´ll have to be redundant and say "Thank you, I needed to hear that". We definitely learn by doing, not only by planning. I´ve been constantly reorganizing my small shop until I learned the right position for every little item. Magnetic bars have been a blessing in this regard for me.
I have this exact sized space for my shop. Thank you for being a real woodworker, thinking of the little guy trying to do it on the real world budget and sized shop.
Keep up the great videos, Cheers!
Thank you for the comment. It’s greatly appreciated
This is the first video I’ve found of your channel. The number prioritization system is so simple and smart. I’ve been overwhelmed trying to think of how to design our shop. This is very helpful. Thank you!
Thank you for the comment. I’m glad you found it helpful.
Damn you and your sensible advice. All reasonable, and balanced and making lots of sense.
I've already narrowed down my big list of new and expensive shiny tools, virtually finished my first ever SketchUp design of the new workshop, including a bench custom built for all those new tools.
Now, thanks to you, I'm going to throw it all away, go buy some wood, and make something.
Most likely a box.
Using tools I already have.
Damn it.
Seriously, love the channel. Nice to see someone my age making sensible videos with sage advice.
Awesome I hope it come out to your liking and if not no biggie because it’s all a learning experience.
Sometimes you don't know what's a bad idea until you do it, as long as you don't become "3 finger Joe". It's a never ending process.
I recently moved my shop/craft room from the basement to upstairs. This video is phenomenal. It's full great advice and information.
Thank you. I appreciate your comment. Hope the move bares good woodworking fruit.
Really good points. I remember one CZcams poster saying that he had a go fund me page, to raise money for a Sawstop. He stated that no one would take him seriously as a woodworker if he did not have one. I explained to him (with all due respect) that this was just not true. I referred him to 3 x 3 custom and explained that she used a DeWalt jobsite saw (at the time) and produced some really beautiful projects. In about a year I will be getting my Sawstop, but not because I have tool envy, but because I live alone, and if some accident should happen I would be in a world of hurt. For now, my DeWalt fits my needs just fine. Great video.
I waited to get a table saw till I could get a sawstop. Strictly for safety. I can be a bit daft sometimes lol. Thanks for your comment. You’ll love the sawstop.
I LOVE how honest this man is!!!! Everything I’ve experienced is exactly what this man is saying! First time I’ve ever heard it talked about!
Thank you for the comment. I try to be as open as I can about this woodworking journey.
I really appreciate your time making this video!! It helped me understand why im always getting stuck with projects lol. Great video. Peace
Damn good advice! Especially not confusing skill envy with tool envy. Another lesson that I learned later than I would have liked is that what you are making is less important than that you are making.
Truth. The more I make, even badly, the better I get and the more fun I have and the bigger my shop feels when I'm finishing projects. A shop feels small when nothing comes out of it.
Helpful to prioritize tool placement, the less steps the better. The video motivated me to inventory the shop to understand work flow. The excel spreadsheet shows location, shelf, tools, materials. Keep a running list to have a "home" for components.
Thanks dude! Very helpful! Especially your point of starting a project before major changes in the shop, excellent point!
Thank you. I appreciate the comment
Wow. Thank you. You included some great advice and ideas. Smart thinking and great communication skills.
Thank you. I appreciate the nice comment.
Thanks Jesse. Just like you, I have a small shop in my basement/crawlspace. I had to dig out some dirt to level it and put down a floor. I am always interested to see how space-challenged woodworkers do the hobby. I am now subscribed.
Thank you. I appreciate the comment. I hope you get the most out of your space.
Perfect timing on this. I'm currently in the process of finishing a workspace in the basement to turn into my shop. I had plans today to start deciding where to build cabinets and place shelving and racks etc. I think now I'll be waiting until I'm actually *in* the space with my tools so that I know where best to place "furniture" and streamline my layout. Great advice and keep up the excellent work on good videos!
Thank you. Good luck with your space. I hope it brings you much enjoyment.
I’m about to go through this mess. Thank you for all the advice.
Thank You. Good luck!
thank you !!!! skill vs tools - love it!!!!
Great video. I'm setting up a small shop and this has me really thinking about it in a new way
Thank you. I appreciate your comment and I hope this video helps in anyway.
great video, i'm upsizing to a similar size and appreciate the insights, especially around categorizing importance of what you need. plan on doing a lot of cleats to allow easier rearrangement as priority changes on what i am finding to be a 2 vs a 3/4 based on projects
This is the video I have been searching for. I have a 1 car spot for a shop and I have no clue how to set it up and I’m just procrastinating starting cause I’m hung up on shop design
Ty for the “reality” check. I have to get back into what I call doing a “self gratification” project mode. Work in my shop and do the improvements for a few days, then do a”make me happy - short” project. I need to get back into doing what I enjoy!!
I hope you do. Wood therapy is the best. Soothes the soul, keeps the hands busy and the mind quite
what's up ya big bear?! good stuff on this one. I don't remember if you touched on importance of designing within all dimensions. you can lay out a shop plan on paper but don't forget about all of the room on the Z-axis as well. if you can't go out... maybe you can go up! also, you can try to gaining much more square footage by claiming your neighbors garage thru Maker's Manifest Destiny. worth a shot.
I like that. Makers Manifest Destiny lol
Excellent video ton of great advice.!!!
Out of every CZcams channel yours hits home for me. My skills, experience, etc. While my parents are very much alive I never did anything with my dad until after they moved several hours away
Thank you for the heartfelt comment. It’s greatly appreciated.
I needed this video. I’ve been a DIYer for some time now and am finally in the process to rebuild my shed and double the size to give me a dedicated space(16x12) instead of doing projects in the garage. Seeing your size be only 8sq ft bigger then what I indeed to build helps me realize my space will be big enough and I’ll have to design the space to maximize it and the work flow.
I hope you make it a second home lol. My shop is my haven
Love the honesty
Thank you for the advice!
I must say, I have 2 pat myself on the back b/c I set up my shop with everything on wheels or hanging on the wall if at all possible. That I got right. My "workbench" is a hollow door on saw horses. I'm perfectly happy with that. Mind u, my projects r small. But I can take it down and put it outside on a nice day. I'm a small 67 yr old woman so I didn't really want 2 b dragging my miter saw around. :)
Even my table saw is on wheels. Mobility and convenience is definitely the key. Enjoying your channel.
Sounds like you shop is awesome. Glad your enjoying it….that’s both my channel and your shop.
This was a really useful video for me. As others mentioned not conflating tool and skill envy. But also do projects and design a workshop around that rather than trying to look into the future and see what workshop one might need.
Thank you. I’m glad it was useful to you. I appreciate your comment.
This is the first of your videos that I have stumbled across, and I quickly became a subscriber. I have a modestly sized workshop in my basement, which is currently a disaster. I got interested in woodworking in my teens, made a few projects, and then life happened. About ten years ago, I got the woodworking itch again, bought some tools, and found a few things I liked building. Then the rest of the house started invading my workshop, some of my tools needed repair and/or upgrading, and suddenly my workshop is a disaster. Now I am approaching my 58th, and I am in the midst of trying to get things put back together, and reorganized. Thank you for the great advise!!
Glad your back in the shop! Thank you for subscribing
Have to say, great video for us beginning this journey. Thanks for the tips!
Thank you for your comment!
Thank you sir! I needed to hear the tool envy and the priority on tool placement.
I learned after hundreds of wasted dollars lol
The tool envy is real! I also tend to think I can't do something yet and instead of using my cool tools and being more trustful with my skills, I tend to arrange stuff in the shop and buy more stuff.
Happened to me for sure.
Very helpful advice. Thank you.
Thank you for commenting
I started building around 10 years of age, no shop just tools and a driveway.
Now 68 I've arranged many a small shop, one thing for sure is your setup works till you get another tool. Best advice, keep large tools on wheels and if possible mount them on a large cart with space underneath for smaller power tools and use a tool chest for small seldom used hand tools. Good luck and enjoy the journey.
Thanks for this. I’ve been struggling on organization priority and fighting clutter. Love the small shop.
Seems like most of us start out in a space like this or limited to one side of a garage.
I had the same issue. Especially since I thought I had to have a wall display for my hand tools which I don't use as much as I thought I would. The number system helped me, and I've been happy since.
Kind of like that myself with the shop. I put off starting things to work on the shop. I do enjoy working on my shop though.
That probably started when I got my first job. That was cleaning up and organizing in a small commercial sheet metal shop( heating and air conditioning).
This definitely hit home, thanks for sharing this, I enjoyed the video.
Thank you for the comment. It’s greatly appreciated.
Great stuff. If there is anything constant in my shop it's that I'm changing up the layout. I have 3 main issues. I'm often changing major tools buy buying fixing and selling. I have a massive supply of wood on hand. Finally I have a lot of tools in a small area. I like your number system. I definitely have a lot of 3's and 4's in the spot for 1's. My plans this year are to use up a lot of the excess wood, sell off some unnecessary tools and organize what's left.
I have the opposite problem with wood. Not enough. This summer I’m going to build a kiln and buy as much wood as the wife allows lol
great examples to work with. top video!
Thank you for your comment. It’s greatly appreciated.
Great advice. I really need to get my space sorted. It really is a nightmare and every now and then have to move everything because a storm is coming and wife wants her car back in the garage...lol
Love your videos. Thank you.
Thank you. Garages aren’t for cars lol
Really helpful advice. Thanks!
Thank you. I appreciate your comment.
I have the same size space 10x20 its nice to see that you make the best of it. Great video, I enjoy your content
Thank you. I appreciate your comment.
@@generationswoodcraft I really am inspired by you.
This is great. I am just starting out and this was so helpful
I'm so glad! I appreciate the comment as well!
I am new to woodworking at 62 years. I wanted to set up a great workshop but didn’t know what I needed and where to place it. Areas 1,2,3 yes!
Workflow, production, maximization.“Take what you have, get in there and work! What a relief to hear this because I did not know where I needed to start. I was just going to buy and buy more. 💰😭 then you said, Don’t confuse skill envy” with “tool envy”.
This video gave me permission to pause and take a long breath and enjoy the process of growing “Even big shops want more” and “ put as many things on wheels as you can.”. All smart stuff ! Thank you for the video!
Welcome to woodworking! Enjoy the ride.
Appreciate the 1,2,3 tips 👊🏻
Best advice ever. Thanks!
Thank you for watching
I love the flip cart!!!
It’s starting to fell apart. I made some mistakes that are starting to show through. Gonna design another one and make a video sometime this year
Great content, thanks for the honesty.
Thanks for the comment. Greatly appreciated.
You deserved it, hope your channel will grow much more quickly. @@generationswoodcraft
Pretty cool walking in your shop scene !!
Thank you.
Adding depth to the pegboard wall is a solid idea, think I will need to modify my pegboard the same way
I’m actually going to redo mine and I think I’m adding a more depth I need just a few more inches to really utilize the back of the doors.
Nothing like the first time you flip that Rigid sander over on a flip cart if you know what I mean. I am 16' x 10' and most of my projects are shop maximizing storage. I like hand tool work so I got rid of my chop saw and jointer, those two freed up a lot of space. One thing I can say after getting rid of my window unit and electric heater like yours is a mini split is the bomb.
Looking forward to the next project video
Thank you.
Great advice, my workshop is on my back porch. Which i have two doors, is the entrance to my house. So all i have is a table saw, combination router table which i built, miter saw stand with wings that fold down when not in use, table top drill press. Which is on on movable table with storage drawers, my belt, disc sander. I have a clamp rack under my wall storage unit
Sounds like you are making great use of the space.
Great advice but....I waited for a long time before buying my first miter saw. I went all in on compound miter saw (Dewalt)...TIME!!! It saves so much time, it is far easier than putting that cross cut sled on table saw and then take it off for ripping. So some tools are a must have:)
I waited way to long to get my 12” Dewalt Miter Saw
Thank you, I needed to hear that
Hope it helps. Thanks for commenting.
I just loved this video :) Very useful Infos and a very humble / sympathetic demeanour. I’ll definitely use the number/priority system. Thanks a bunch and by the way… I’m a (gladly) subscriber now. :p
Thank you! I appreciate the comment and subscription.
Excellent advice man.
Thank you. I appreciate the comment.
Working in a small shop as well. I’m guilty of paralysis by analysis often in the shop bouncing future to do list🥴. Funny sometimes I find myself originally intending to start a new project or proof of concept but then get sidetracked trying to fix or improve on another setup that I feel is ruining my workflow ironically 😂. By the time I know it the days over and not much progress overall 🥴. Figured this is probably pretty common roadblock for people starting out in woodworking. So getting passed these hiccups and actually completing a project or improvement in my shop always keeps me coming back 😁
Hola! 🖐I like this video. Thanks for sharing your experience, lots of good info. Take care and have a good one, Adios! 👊
Thank you for watching in for your comment. It’s much appreciated.
I have space envy.I use mainly hand tools but the space I have is 12”x8” shed with a 7” x 2” work bench in it.
You got the sub because of the shirt and hat Jesse lol. Loved the info, I got a small basement that i can work out of for now. I might do a 14X30 outside the walk out door to the basement later. The info kind of hit home a little too much too lol
Great advice thanks 🙏
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for watching and commenting
Hinged peg board, genius!
You said it is about workflow, not design flow.
You need to build something to know if the layout is functional.
Great instructional video.
Thanks for taking the time.❤
Great videos man! Subscribed
Thank you for subscribing
Shop envy vs tool envy is the best thing I've heard in awhile. Thanks!
Thank you for the comment!
Great video brother!
Thank you. I appreciate the comment
Tool envy versus skill envy ... the curse of craftsmen everywhere.
Hope I don't ramble on too long. Reinforcing everything you said. I moved and went from almost 1300 sq ft to about 550 sq ft of shop; about 170 sq ft being a loft with limited headspace. I had planned all along to upgrade my woodworking capabilities and had to downsize the metalworking machinery. Everything in the first floor of the shop is on wheels with the exception of two benches. One is in the outfeed area of the table saw and the other is somewhat precision leveled for building RC airplanes and has a view of the back yard flower garden which my wife maintains beautifully so it's a nice view. The table saw, jointer, thickness planer, drill press, router table, 14" band saw, assembly table and miter saw table are all on wheels. The small metal lathe weighs over 500 pounds and is on a bench with retractable wheels. It requires removing all 21 drawers from the bench to extend the wheels. My mill/drill machine tips the scales at about 700 pounds and is also on very heavy duty locking wheels. There's also an old chest of drawers on wheels, a stand with a small fridge, dvd player/receiver/amp for tunes and TV on wheels, a big 2 hp dust collector and a shop vac with a Dust Deputy, all on wheels. Without the wheels, I could not have positioned the mill/drill and lathe and could not access the planer or jointer. The router table would be hard to use if not mobile.
I only bought tools when I kept finding that I needed (name the tool) over and over; not just because a CZcamsr said it was the best thing since sliced bread. I only upgraded when I felt the tool I had was limiting ability or quality. Everything I bought was out of need rather than want. One example was the table saw. I went from a $100 sheet metal "table saw" to a Craftsman with a cast aluminum top and plastic housing (which was a huge upgrade) to an old Craftsman contractor's saw, another big upgrade, to my current circa 2004 Craftsman cabinet saw with an incremental fence and built in router table; not the one mentioned previously. The current saw exceeds my skill level so I see no upgrades without moving AND coming into a wad of money.
Great comment. I always love to hear stories about people’s shops.
Great video!!
Thank you