Small Wood Shop Organization: Dealing With Corners In Your Layout
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- čas přidán 14. 05. 2023
- Corners are the most difficult space in your shop to use effectively. Often times they can't! So I review some options for uses and then rip my corner apart and built a new solution for myself.
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I have a smaller shop as I work on smaller things ( build R/C aircraft, model RR structures, armature astronomy stuff). In one corner I have a lazy Susan type multi level small tool holder where I store my 2nd level tools (ones I don't use as often as scalpel handles, pin vice, etc) but more than my seldom used tools ( tubing benders, hinge slotters, engine mount drill jigs, etc). In the other corner I keep my resin printer on a multi level shelf (I think it was sold as a chef's table for the kitchen) with the printer on the main shelf, cleaning supplies on the upper, and "dirty" items ( trays, cleaning containers, etc) on the bottom shelf.
Nice setup!
I love your honesty, I love your self-deprecating humor!
Thanks! ✌️
I love what you've done with the place.
I have one suggestion - instead of making a single, giant, long tool holder for that wall, make several smaller units. That way, as your tools, habits, work, and needs change, you can re-arrange them, or rebuild smaller pieces instead of a huge monolithic unit. Making them twelve to eighteen inches long also makes them easily portable, so you can bring a unit with tools you need to another work surface, or into the house, or wherever.
Making all your work surfaces the same height, including the mobile ones, is a game-changer that too few people think about until the first time they need to lay out a board that's too long for their bench, and have to rig something up with spacer blocks to span from the bench to their miter station or drill press cart or whatever.
Simple tip: Getting an exact height match is sometimes awkward if you're using castors - you don't always know the exact height of the castors. But all you need to do is put four casters on a table, wheels up, and lay a board on top of them. The board will lay flat across the four castors, and you can measure from the bottom of the board to the tabletop, and know the exact height that the castors will add to your cart.
I like the corner shelves; they're are a much better option in a small space than a full cabinet. Whatever is on the shelves is more visible and accessible than it would be in a cabinet.
I really love how you cut back the edge of the table to meet the mobile cart. It gives you more work space to reach the corner items and the pocket hole jig on the cart, turning a potential problem into an absolute advantage.
Thanks so much will! Actually that is what I’m going to do with that build instead of one long unit, I was sitting yesterday to plan out that build, and was thinking about how nobody else but me would want it that big, and another one of the commentators suggested the same thing, but I’ll give you both a shout out on that one because it’s definitely the smarter approach!
I stuck my drill press in one corner of my shop. It works very well there. I added a horizontal air cleaner behind the dp center column.
The other corner has a lumber storage rack on one wall with my jointer underneath plus small scrap bins in the real corner.
The wall between my drill press and my lumber rack is my french cleat clamp storage wall.
Great tips!
I have a typical 2 car garage shop, One corner by the garage door has the dust collector which vents outside, the other garage door corner is my metalworking / welding area so it has close to outside access. The man door to the shop is close to one of the back corners so i have my clamps hung behind where the door swings. The last corner is near my lathe and i have my sharpening grinder on a roiling toolbox, it rolls out to be used and so i can poke the knockout rod into the lathe headstock.
One thing to be aware of when designing corners is that nobody puts Baby in a corner!
Haha very nice Evan!
I put my air compressor in the corner, and above it mounted all my pneumatic tools and accessories. Since it's out of the way, also a good spot to hang your track saw tracks or long straight-edges/levels.
Good ideas! Tracks take up a bunch of space!
Above the workbench you could create an angled corner cabinet with lazy susan type shelves with holders around it for cordless tools/hand tools. On the bottom you could have a compressor or just a tool that could set level in the countertop and be used on that angle.
Good ideas!
I use the corners in my shop for random junk. This is a much better idea😂. Loving the channel, keep up the great work!
😂haha
Definitely put Baby in the corner.. Thanks for sharing!
😂
NOBODY… puts Baby in the corner. 🤪
Lol, beat me to the joke. 😂
Hey J - I'm going through the same process now. I've had my work bench down one side of a two car garage. It was cobbled together with some reclaimed office drawers and then some plywood base cabinets and my tools are "relegated" to the front 1/2 of the garage with my "miter station" on a mobile, OVERSIZED bench/cart. I'm stripping down the work bench and starting fresh wit ha miter station and lots of base cabinets. It's a lot of work and consumes a lot of time designing and planning space to ensure there's enough room for cutting, assembly etc. I appreciate your creative ideas and it gets my creativity going as well. Looking forward to the next installment and I'll be making a few carcasses this evening to get a little more accomplished and get the side hustle back up and running.
Nice Tony, I want to see pics!
@@BitnerBuilt I forgot to mention the corners. In one I've got an 80 gallon air compressor (for the car restoration work) on a mobile base and attached to a hose reel, and in an adjacent corner is a smaller dust collector. Delta makes a smaller, 1HP collector that takes up about 2/3 or so of the space (width x depth) and is about 18" shorter than the standard. So that has saved some room fitting into what otherwise would be a wasted bit of space. I'll send some in progress pics and I'd appreciate your feedback. Thanks. I'm really enjoying your content - it resonates with me more than most others. Keep up the great work. TV
I saw your Corner Shelf video a few weeks ago. My snowbird season workshop lives in a 6-foot X 10-foot shed. Several tools are on caster equipped cabinets and roll out under an open walled roof to be used. There is an L shaped work bench and French cleats on all four walls. I now have six of those corner shelves which are in three of the corners. Thanks a lot for that video.
Oh great glad you like them!
Really like the honesty and humility in your presentation, as well as the clear explanation of all your considerations.
Thanks Duncan!
I like the corner cleat shelves, but would make one a router bit holder. You can easily display bits to grab and go. I like the under cabinet lights too. That really helps to open up the corner space visually.
Good thoughts John!
I’m putting my dust collector in the corner. Just have to figure out my duct routing. Thanks for the idea
I never wrong with the dust collector!
Using my corner as a camp corner. Need length and that dead space is great for some clamps
Good thinking!
Love the French cleat corner shelf. I always felt that a French cleat corner is lost as you put tools on one side and then the other (like a kitchen cabinets in a l shape). This also allows to add lighting via a clamp light to the shelf (or a magnifier or battery powered fan, etc)
Thanks! Hmmm I have a clamp magnifier that I do use out here and it lost its home, putting it off the corner shelf I hadn’t of thought, going to give that a try!
That was a great idea for the portable A/C unit, the only thing better would be investing in a mini split A/C unit that could be mounted up on the wall (above the usable space)
I’m with you, hoping maybe next year, all about the $$
I use carousels in corners to hold fasteners, glue, paint and the like. I also have my air compressor and dust collector in a corner.
nice!
You might consider adding a small split unit, prices have dropped & are relatively easy to install. A lazy Susan in the corner may sore a ton of your pocket hole stuff
I debated it… honestly, I end up spending more on these CZcams videos than I make currently so would have to be down the road!
My wood storage is a train wreck. I also have a corner with an inconveniently located vise. Thank you for providing inspiration to get in there and rework that part of my shop.
Vice placement! It’s gonna be one of my new mantras
Love the corner french cleat shelves! One of my next shop projects is to convert an old table-top lazy susan into a drill bit / router bit organizer for one of my corners. A couple of those shelves would be the perfect way to use the space above it, maybe with an undermount led light under the bottom shelf.
That sounds like a great idea Bill! I just added with those another light above as that corner was dark and really like how it looks now up top
In one of my corners I have a cart that has my pancake compressor on top and in 2 drawers I store accessories for it, at the bottom is where I keep an extension cord and air hoses. The whole thing is on wheels so I can when it around when needed in the driveway or across the garage.
Nice Christopher!
Since I have a 8x8 shed to work in and the roof is like a barn roof so I would built one long table along the back of the shed which is what I plan on doing and making some system to hang tools on the one short wall since I have to use my mitre and table saw outside the shed.
Very cool! I would love to see pictures! I’m really intrigued by the shed shops!
I am about to start re-organizing my portion of our 2-car garage which consists of most of one long wall so I will have one dead corner. My original thought was to create a bin for vertical wood storage and I am thinking now that maybe I would want to put that on casters. But my biggest issue is in creating storage under the workbenches (two 6' long w/miter station in between). I am debating between building in shelves and drawers vs. building storage on a cart that would roll under the benchtop and lock into place.
One of the really nice things about doing a roll out cart from under that bench is if you put a solid top on that cart, it becomes another full work space for assembly or supporting material or for drying things, one of mine, I use as a spray paint / poly Station, another rollout cart. I have as a router top. Once you take the bed out or lower it, slides back under the station. if you could even still put the shelves and drawers on that cart if that was the look wanted to go for, thanks for sharing!
Love this vid. Definitely great ideas. I ended up putting my rather large generator under the corner in my 1-car garage shop, with a sander cart like yours that I can pull out to roll out the generator during hurricane season, then roll back under for the rest of the year. I'll be using the French cleat shelf idea for the upper part of that corner - great use of space!
Thanks so much! Yeah, generator is a great thing to place in that corner!
Thank you so much for your content! So much in so few time, are you even human?! XD
I'm currently working on my dyi projects in a very small space (64 square feet tops)
I'm waiting on my house being built with my shop in the garage, I hope to get a CNC/laser engraver or a 3D printer workspace in my corner with the charging station add I know one of the initial plug will be there.
As a former 3 désigner I know I will figure something out.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much Jean-Baptiste! I figured if I’m gonna give this CZcams thing a go I need to really go for it right? I’ll start slowing down, but I wanted to start off with a decent amount of content. Oh, it sounds like you’re gonna have all the toys! I have the CNC and engraver, I did buy a 3-D printer at one point, and ended up returning it because I didn’t find it as useful as I was hoping for in my shop stuff, anything you’ve made with your printer that you can recommend for in the woodshop space? I tried doing holders and things and the way I was doing it or designing. It just wasn’t working for me personally / wasn’t as strong as I wanted. Thanks!
@@BitnerBuilt I don't have any of the toys yet, I am looking into which one should be the one I'll buy (I'm thinking laser cutter/engraver, although I know sometimes 3D printing some shop stuff could be interesting).
I believe that 3D printing is good for non structural parts if done in plastic, which is why my heart (and head) are leaning towards the laser cutter/engraver to do prototypes/templates and other crazy things like Dennis from HookedOnWood.
PS: call me JB (and not maybe, I'm not Carly Rae J. ;-) )
A book style hanging organizer is what I'm thinking of putting in the corner. Thanks!
Ahh those are very cool good idea!
I put my desk in one corner.
Dust collection in another.
Back end of my surface grinder with milling machine 90degrees to it in the 3rd.
And two tambour door cabinets in the 4th so the one only opens about 60% but with the crates in it easy access to them still.
That’s some good tips, Keith!
I utilized my corner for my Laser CNC enclosure. I mainly just do tumblers, but it has been pretty solid location. I just have a discounted "EL" desk top from Ikea sitting on two portable work benches, so my under counter storage is non existent, but im working on it! along with other projects around the house that I have no time for.
Nice yea I should have suggested CNC, or laser, definitely a good place for those
Good idea is to put few machnes on Merry-go-round. It shoudl be big enaugh to give acces to evry machine, and that way you can put few in one spacel.
I've seen: Driil pres, sander, scrollsaw, sharpener. Neither of them usualy need big acces, but all of them are rather tall, and takes space, and are havy and cumbersome.
Benith storage also on merry-go-round,
Here are the fifth one to recommend the merry-go-round, I like it I never thought about it for this application (have one in my kitchen) great tip!
I've always liked corners for small workstations, like soldering, small assemblies, and small parts storage. I also like them for running machines like 3d printers, lasers, or cnc routers.
Good thoughts Ethan!
My shop is in the basement with the sump pump in one corner. To maximize that corner, I extended the two adjacent work surfaces to meet in the corner and put my old and very heavy jig saw in the corner diangelily. I made some corner shelves similar to yours over the jig saw, but had to build around the sump exhaust pipe. Now I have a bit more storage and moved one of my less used tools out of the way to a spot that doesn't interfere but is still easily assessable when needed.
That’s great robert! I have to sumps in my Basement, so I know the pain design wise, sounds like you make a really great solution even with the restrictions!
That's another fine mess you've gotten me into! Thanks for the tips Justin. 👍
Haha your welcome Wayne!
I just got my dust collector put together yesterday afternoon. I had plans for it to go in the corner beside the garge door, but I vastly underestimated (failed to measure) its size and had to put it elsewhere. I think instead, I am going to utilize that space for clamp storage. It is big enough for a ton of clamps but really too small for the space to be used for an actual tool or bench. I'm really liking the idea of the corner shelves as well. I may throw a few of those in there for storing chemicals and such.
As a side note, I recorded my dust collector assembly with hopes of learning how to edit it and post my first CZcams video. It's nowhere near the quality of your production, but hopefully, it will get some interest and be the start of something fun.
Nice Brian!
5.30 pm I'm really liking your video's. My shop is my one bedroom Apt. So I've got lumber behind my doors under the bed where ever I can find a place to put things .the maintenance men like my spot so it's pretty organized but it is different. I SURE wish I had some suggestions for your corner but I'm refurbishing my 70 year old craftsman 71/2 in. Table saw.
Oh wow you have the saw in the apartment too?!?
What I do for vise mounts is insert t nuts from the bottom, then it is easy to remove and reinstall as needed.
Actually, did the exact same thing Rick and then literally never took it off again 😂 so if you notice in the video, the three holes are still there because they are threaded with the T nuts. Now I have it in my head to keep it modular and keep it off at all times unless I need it
I did notice that as well.
You technically mentioned it in the video, but I love the compressor/hose reel idea and will be attempting this in my corner! Thanks and keep up the great work!
Yes great use for the corner!
Thank you for a really good and helpful video :) I'm building my own (small) shop these days, and my suggestion for use of a corner is what I plan to do next to my main workbench: 3D printers. They mostly just stand around printing by themselves, I only need to get to them to remove the print. (A 3D printer is such an underrated tool for a woodshop, even a cheap one will let you print amazing tools and jigs).
great suggestion!
Hi I'm from the UK and watch a lot of videos on here and I have to say that you explain everything so good that I would say even hobbyist can understand and make things for them selfs with the ideas that you have great to watch and learn from thank you yours konrad much appreciated
Wow, thank you so much!
I use one of my corners as a drying rack for cabinet doors and cutting boards. On wheels of course. Another corner has stacks of milk crates that I use to store pvc fittings in by size. It’s also a great place for spiders and wasps nest 😂
They do need a home too Keith 😂
I've been fighting shop layout for the past two years its a never ending battle plus the price for plywood is still crazy
I know….. I had oak tops before but at $100 each I had to swap to cabinet grade for this build
@@BitnerBuilt gotta do what you gotta do haha
As a corner suggestion, you could build the tabletop with two 45 deg cuts to make a long sweeping 90 (I hope you know what I mean) then put your AC unit right in the middle, and build open shelving on each side to eliminate the need to have hidden storage.
Very good idea JJ!
Your welcome keep them coming there are so many people who try to be funny instead of doing what they should be doing explaining and showing once again thank you yours konrad
👍
Great tips, and I’m really enjoying your channel. We think a lot alike, but your shop is sooo much further along than mine! I have one half of a 2 car garage. I use one corner for long clamp storage (anything over 3’) along with a bin for long dowels and stock for walking stick projects. The other corner is for my 3D printer, set on a 45 deg angle. Garbage and recycling cans below and a rack above for filament storage. One tip that I have, along the lines of your ‘casters make the world go-round’ comment, is that instead of fixed shelving or french cleats along the wall space, I use rolling chrome wire racks that so I can reposition and rearrange my shop as needed without emptying all the contents. They are beefy enough to hold heavy benchtop tools (planer, oscillating sander, etc) for storage until needed. Keep up the great work!
Thanks D! Hey, if you have a link to those rolling chrome wire shelves, throw it in the comments, would love to take a look. Any recommendations for useful things on the 3-D printer in the shop? I purchased a 3-D printer and ended up returning it after a week because I wasn’t really accomplishing what I wanted to do with it and ended up buying the CNC machine instead. But now I’ve been kind of floating back to maybe I should pick up another one and give it more of a chance.
Besides dust collection, I tend to use my corners for stuff that I can't part with, but only rarely use.
That’s a good way of phrasing it, Mortimer!
I work out of our garage as well and my insists on parking in my workshop so I have to have all of my major tools on casters for movement and storage. I like the ideas you present and hopefully will be able to put them to use when I finally get to build a separate workshop later this year.
Ooo separate shop , the fun you will have!
People are so unreasonable. "Ooh, I want my $30,000 complex machine out of the path of a hailstorm." Babies. ;)
Liked and subscribed. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks!
you could use corners for brooms, ladders, or a trash can
Good thoughts!
Drop-down tables are great for corners. Then stands/ cabinets/ tools on wheels are great!
Also, go ahead and finish painting that bare drywall! At least with primer
EDIT: So, I wrote all that, and then you mentioned everything but the painting, in the rest of the video.
Or cover it over with wood sheeting like I’m doing in the next video when I finish the rest of the enclosure and drawers (I said not done with the full build 😉)
@@BitnerBuilt Doh! You got me there. Looking forward to it.
Thanks for the inspiration, coach. Taking over my husband’s wood shop to make it my own (he has another bigger shop). Enjoying the info - please keep it coming.
Thanks island girl, lucky you!
Haha just realized the coach shirt 😂 just got back from coaching my kids soccer game!
How about a rotating or spinning tool cart thank you for all the great videos. Looking forward to winning.
Ha ha, thanks! Think positive
My shop is one side of a 2 car garage so I have a similar set of problems I've been working to solve. I put wall mounted shelves in the space above the "workbench" top (which doesn't have a workbench under it at the moment). I'm using those shelves for commonly used consumables and tools (screws, staples, sandpaper, safety equipment, etc. I need to make some shelf organizers to help better organize the shelves, but so far I'm pretty happy with them. I didn't think to cut the shelves at a 45 degree - they're just L shaped. I've been thinking of keeping my trash can in the corner and I hadn't decided on what to do on the right side of the corner, but I like the idea of making a small cart that I can use either for more table space or for storing smaller benchtop tools like a spindle sander. Unfortunately to the right of my corner is a door to the back yard, so that makes it a lot more difficult. The other corner in my shop has my dust collector (next to the trash/recycle cans), so same thought process there.
Very nice! Maybe try and view that door near the corner as a positive and try to take the mindset of working it into your layout, perhaps you want to have a primary tool that faces to the side where the door is instead of out like you usually would so you could stand in front of that door with lots of space to move around with some thing, just a thought!
@@BitnerBuilt That's sort of how I'm viewing it in the context of needing to cut something long like trim pieces. Currently the table saw outfeed is going towards the door (albeit probably 10ft away). The miter saw is next to the right side of the table saw so work pieces are oriented the same way as the table saw. I might consider putting a folding table/work surface attached to the door as you showed in the video, though I have to be careful because the door opens towards the corner and could interfere with the shelves. I'll need to take some measurements and ponder a bit more.
So I use 45deg shelves for corners in my shop, but if I didn’t do that I would put a floor sweep dust collector there. The pipe would easily run down the corner making it simple to set up.
That’s a good one!
Do you ever sleep?? So many well planned out videos in such a short period. I'm in what was a two car garage (we've never parked anything in it in 30 years), but mine has barely 8' ceilings. I can't put things high on the walls out of reach as easily since I try to use as much wall space as possible. In one of my corners, I built a 4'x8'x2' cabinet that I store all of my tubs of misc things (painting supplies, plumbing supplies, electrical, etc). In the other corner I have the obligatory freezer. Of course I have things stacked on top of it and magnetic stuff on the side. You've given some great tips that will be useful to many. I'm in the process of trying to reorganize my shop because I'm thinking about a CNC, but don't have the room. I've even just bought a bigger shed to hopefully ease my hoarder tendencies with wood (I currently have about a 5'x8' area that's full). It's a never ending process. - Chris
yea those hoarder tendencies are hard, I just made a huge pile of French cleat holders to give away to a local guy if he wants them because I keep holding onto them thinking I might repurpose but honestly, I make those holders custom every time.... CNC really is a great machine what about attaching it to a board and then hinge it on the wall? that way it could fold up when not in use and not take up any floor space? You would have to offset it so it didn't hit the wall when folded. just an idea!
You should get a Mini Split heat pump, Use as an AC in summer & heater in winter
I would love one when the budget allows!
on the Shop Dust Collector Setup I'm in wheelchair most of the time while doing woodworking so I would have to put the Shop Dust Collector in that dead spot might be good idea
Yea the corners great for dust collectors to get them out of the way!
Thanks! I really appreciate the suggestions.
Glad you like them!
Extreeeeemely useful, thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
How about mounting drawers under your cleat shelves? That would be a good plan to offer.
That’s a good idea!
I would use a corner cabinet with a carousel, or Lazy Susan in it like in the kitchen so you could put stuff in it and then turn it one and get stuff out of it . Another great video great tips thanks for sharing
Lots of Lazy Susan recommendations, I never thought about that before for heavy shop stuff, but it would work! Thanks, Jim
Hey Jim email me at Justin@bitnerbuilt.com you are one of the 2 Bitfix winners!
My corners have a (1) Trash can (2) Snapmaker (3) Kiln (4) plastic shelves. The Snapmaker is placed so that the front and right sides of the enclosure can both be opened up.
Nice Gregory! yea I really should have talked about cnc, laser, 3d printer for the corner. How do you like the snap maker?
@@BitnerBuilt I have only used the 3D printer part so far. I do like it. One of the first projects I had to make was a dust port for the CNC router as when I do use it, I would definitely like to have dust collection on it.
Dust collector with a movable cart in front of the collection bag/drum. Don't need to access often.
Great use
You can get an insulating “blanket” (Sleeve”?) for that exhaust on your Portable AC that will drop that heat factor buy a HUGE amount. We got one last summer and it dropped the temp of that exhaust tube from something like 140 degrees to mid 80s.
Oh very cool tip. I actually just bought a mini split this week to install. More because of the electric price running my 2 infrared heaters, it’s been crazy so hoping the mini split will improve it all
How about a lazy susan for hardware storage... or dowels
Good thoughts a few lazy Susan’s, should have been in the video!
A lazy Susan is a circle, it'll never be as space efficient as something that's square like a set of drawers or shelves. Maybe acceptable in a corner, but I probably still wouldn't.
Came across your channel a few weeks ago and love the information and delivery. I’m move soon and will be building out a 12x15 area for my shop. I will be using some of your ideas. Thanks and keep it up.
Awesome, thanks Juan
Glad to find your channel - I love it because you’re very relatable. This segment was very helpful and gave me great ideas to redo my corner of my garage shop! Thank you!
Thanks so much!
put a cnc in the corner with an acrylic lid that also acts as a counter.
Well that’s what I’m doing with the laser engraver on the right! But it is a great suggestion, thanks!
I enjoy your videos very much, the way you walk through processes. I have a suggestion to offer, if you already have this suggest, I apologize for the duplication.
How about a lazy susan style rotating shelf design for storage for corners. This is the simple idea. I have a much more confusing explanation of what I did in my garage and carport. While it may be confusing to others, it makes perfect sense to me. But then I tell people, “You can’t fool me, I’m too stupid.” Feel free to pass on my explanation, you can’t hurt my feelings, I was in the Marines, I was in the Fire Service for 50 years as my main source of income, and, most importantly, I used to hold the flashlight for my Dad.
I have a three car garage where I have two pick ups and a lot of carts and a work bench on wheels (very heavy and now difficult to move because of all the “treasures” stored on the flat “work” area). I lined the walls with cabinets (4’ x 8’ boxes with either 16” or 24” sides that I mounted vertically on walls, with the back side on the mud sill to keep the the bottoms off the concrete floor by at least 10” - while it may sound confusing, it makes perfect sense to me). There is a point to this filibuster, with a 36” work bench (which has evolved into another flat area “treasure” storage area), I had a corner area left me with an access of around 30” making almost useless.
My solution was to make a lazy Susan with rotating shelves. I took two 4’ x 8’ x .75” plywood and made 3 - 47” circles. I installed .75” shelves, which will be used to support the lazy susan. I had some .75” ID roller bearings that put into the permanently mounted shelves that was placed to where my 47” circles had 360 degree clearance. I took .75” all-thread and mounted it vertically through the holes in the permanent shelves. I put a block on the floor ran the all thread up through the first shelf (which is about 10” off the floor), then maneuvered my first 47” circled with its .75” ID roller bearing in the center onto the the all-thread that I had double nutted to keep the rotating shelve at a proper distance for the 2” caster wheels that I installed on the bottom of the rotating shelf that rode on the permanent shelf. I actually had the all-thread in short lengths that I used couplers to connect the all-thread together.
I continued the process two more times. I have much more easily accessible in my corner. I did the same lazy susan one tier rotating shelf on at each end of a mezzanine style shelf I have in a carport that is at a 5-foot level for easy access from the floor for garden supplies without having to climb a ladder to get to the little stuff in the back.
I will stop inconveniencing electrons and close. Thank you for videos.
Respectfully submitted
Haha thanks and wow thanks for the detailed suggestion. Yes a big lazy Susan is a great option for the corner! I debated it last week when I ripped apart the corner of the shop for the 3rd time this year (went with a L shaped double decker enclosure for 3d printers and lasers) since they don’t move and need limited input from me they can be in a odd reach spot. Thanks again!
For the AC issue I just had a Mitsubishi mini split unit. It was a little pricey but well worth it. It cools my entire three car shop and I’m in Florida.
Trust me, I want one, I just bought a pool, so my big purchase budgets gone for the rest of the year
@@BitnerBuilt I used to have one of those freestanding ac's and my min isplit paid for itself in 18 months just from the amount my electric bill dropped. Those freestanding units are terribly inefficient.
@@viewkeeper1your absolutely right, I ended up buying a diy mini split about 2 months ago ago and love it - apart for the ac I really saved on money with it heating the garage the electric infrared ceiling heaters I had cost crazy money to run
It’s really hard to set up corners. Im building a 12 x 20 shop and layout is the most important thing . I’m thinking one of the corners is getting a bench that runs into it with a round lazy Susan type shelf.
It definitely is, the solution I made definitely isn’t perfect, but it was the best that I could really come up with for my specific needs. A lot of people in the comments here have suggested a Lazy Susan scenario for it but it’s also been pointed out that that also minimizes a lot of the space being that it’s a circle in a square, but I can definitely see how a Lazy Susan would work well for some bench mounted stuff that would spin on top or hand tools underneath, so you can utilize that deep storage, but still get to it fairly easily
I enjoyed your video! I am working on designing my workshop and this helps!
That’s great Terry, thanks so much!
Great video! I always tend to put my scroll saw or floor drill press in the corner. Often skinny and long and perfect to slide in the corner.
Great options for the corner!
A corner space might be a good location to leave a compressor, if you have a retractable air hose sort of situation. I'm also giving thought in my new shop to using it as a stand-by area for my benchtop tools that get moved in and out of the main work area - 10" bandsaw, small router table, etc.
A bench grinder station would probably work well in a corner, as long as you don't find yourself grinding large pieces. Mine is used to take jagged edges off pottery, and for sharpening tools. So a lot of extra room around it isn't necessary.
All great stuff Eric! Thanks!
The corner makes a great spray painting nook
Great tip Doug! First to suggest that!
My four corners are dust collector...lathe...sheet goods...beer fridge!
My corners ARE dust, collectors… They don’t have dust collectors! 😜🤪
How did I not remember the beer fridge!
@@BitnerBuilt there's always room to squeeze one in!
I like that new corner and it gives you more working area. Since you have a vent already on the wall I would use it for my CO2 Laser
Thanks rich! Yeah, that 6 inch vent is going to be where the new laser engraver enclosure goes, how do you like your CO2 laser?
@@BitnerBuilt
That is great! Can’t wait to see videos. We have the Thunder Nova 35 and my wife loves it as she used more than I did. The only problem is that we had a serious Auto accident last year and have not been able to do any woodworking or use the laser while we are recovering. However, recently our doctors have given us the ok to start slow and small. Now we began to clean so that we can start using it again as part of our recovery process. There are great expensive machines out there such as the Trotec and Epilog but for the price and customer service Thunder is a great machine.
@@richvalle4343 oh man well hope you guys are on the mend and get to play with your fun toys again soon!
Rich, Email me at justin@bitnerbuilt.com your one of the Bitfix winners!
I would put a bandsaw on wheels in the corner if it is an occasional use machine. Tall but not a big footprint typically. Thx.
Great tip!
Use the abandoned 6” vent to vent the laser enclosure.
Yep that’s the plan!
I also try to minimize the storage requirements in my shop. I dont like to collect stuff and i dont like biying more than i realistically expect to use in a modest timeframe. I have one "long term storage" tote that i empty every so often
Yea that’s a struggle for most, it’s great you can do that, getting rid of all that scrap in the corner was a little step in that direction for me 😅
@@BitnerBuilt yeah...every little bit adds up. I've moved shops twice in the past 5 years, so that also helps control my "habits"
I have my screw drivers, allen keys, punches and bradawls mounted in wood blocks on a board which is hinged on one side with a magnet on the other side. This is mounted in the corner and i can swing it out when i need access to the tools.
Ahh now that’s a unique one! Very cool tip Gary!
I ended up squaring up my space. I had a long skinny place, but I didn't need that space. I ended up building racking into my corner.
Nice!
a “benchtop tool garage/hotel” (shelving to park those tools you don’t use very often)
That is a very good idea!
@@BitnerBuilt i’m a big fan of your cart that has the interchangeable top, i’ve been considering doing something like that for a while now, but my concept used dowel pegs to secure the tool… but your locking mechanism is a bit easier to future proof when adding more tools in the future.
I put corner shelves that hook over the French cleats. As you know they move as bigger of smaller items end up on the shelf., I need a bit fix. Going to see if there is a link where I can buy.
Nice! I have a link in the description, I love those things
Dust collector good in corner but emptying is becomes difficult. Depends on what is packed in front/side of it. I also think a four drawer file cabinet with less often used tools and supplies works in corner. Another thing to think about is leaving a space. We pack so much in our shops it’s often impossible but keeping it clear is nice. I have one wall in my shop that the dust collection runs behind and all my power tools are lined up. At the end of that wall I wanted to pack one more tool on a cart in there. To have access at all times I hung a shallow shelf and some fold up, heavy duty saw horses on the lower wall. It works but it’s less than ideal because I always want to fill that empty spot with something. Usually shop vac gets rolled in there or project parts.
I’d rather see a modular sectioned version of your big tool holder. Four or more parts in a row with flexibility and easier to make out of scraps. Easier to build different dividers inside each of them. Could build one longer than the other but they are all the same dimensions and would look great lined up.
Great thoughts Fearsome! You know I was just sketching out that video because I’m gonna start working on it this afternoon for the hand tool parts and I was thinking how most people aren’t going to build it the way I was thinking I was going to do it, and so breaking it up into building 4 different Layouts but all the same dimensions so they can be lined up next to each other is a fantastic idea. It will look like one consecutive unit but can move to otherplaces as needed for flexibility makes so much sense! I really appreciate it! I’m gonna attribute that one to you in the video!
Love the content! Instead of corner ideas, I'd like to provide some objective feedback on the video so you can improve your workflow going forward. I noticed that the audio levels were not consistent between different takes. I had to raise and lower the volume a few times while watching this video. Normalizing the audio levels will address the inconsistencies for future content. Keep up the great work, your videos are appreciated!
Thanks for the tip MB I’ll take a look at it!
Throw in a Mr Cool AC Split System in the wall...Very DIY friendly, don't need an HVAC tech to install and you will be happy your floor space will be free of the mammoth unit.
Yea wasn’t in the current budget but I have been eyeing one of those kits
How about a tools rotator(sanders/drilpress etc..) with movable casters.
I like it!
I think I may put my drill press on a cart that is triangle and fits in the corner, on casters of course
Good option, do you use your press a lot? I use mine all the time so it lives in the middle of the shop, corner is for more rarely used, just a thought 👍
Corner spaces suck. I have a water softener for the house in one corner and the others are basically catch alls. I might do a modified french cleat corner like yours on the other side of my garage door. 🤔
The back of my garage is being used as storage, so I have homemade shelves on one side and plastic shelves and a bunch of misc junk on the other.
One thing I am looking to do is an American Flag French Cleat system on my empty wall and make a blue paint cabinet for spray can storage for the “field.”
Yes they do 😂 shoot me a pic of that American flag French clear when it’s done - sounds cool!
Great work on your channel. Keep it up. BTW, no link in description to corner french cleat wall and locking pins you mentioned.
Thanks Doug! I just added them if you check again, I forgot, thanks for letting me know!
@@BitnerBuilt No problems at all. I wasn’t complaining, just thought you’d want to know. I was able to find your video pretty easily. I’m getting ready to build out a new woodworking shop for the boys in our ministry here in Virginia (The Aloha House of Hope). I’m coming up with ideas on how I want to utilize all the space and am taking the best ideas from may of the guys I’ve watched on YT from some time (e.g. Next Level Carpentry, Wood Whisperer, Bourbon Moth, Stumpy Numbs, etc.) Your channel is fairly new (and you’re doing a great job!) and you have some ideas that are different which I like.
@@kiheidude oh no I was happy you told me! That’s awesome and thanks so much for the compliment, I’m nowhere near as good as those guys, but good company to be a lumped with 😁
@@BitnerBuilt Over 5,000 subscribers in one month - not too shabby IMO. The Bible says there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors. I wish you well.
Love your videos. Where did you get that long apron. I would like one if they aren't too expensive.
Thanks! Here’s the link amzn.to/48NvUWV
SO…. Four corners in a room… right? LOL. One corner… has my double doors that lead outside. I have some lumber and things stored there. This is also right where I have a set of stairs (the underside). So I have a shelf there with medium size cutoffs. THings that are not full length. My second corner… also a door that goes into the house. That is where my dump sink is and metal cabinet with paint. Third corner…. THere is about three feet and then a window. I have lumber storage on the wall here. We took down a walnut tree on our property and this is where the walnut is stored from that. My fourth and final corner…. This is where I have my xcarve. It is also where a window is that I have a small (but beautiful) view of the Ohio River. Lots of storage under this and the dust collector for the xcarve is housed in it. On the joining wall I have my laser. This has been a great use of this corner.
I really like those corner French cleat brackets. However… The only corner that could hold these are where I have the xcarve and the wood storage. I can’t even reach the walls beyond the xcarve. So I have a tv mounted there that I use for programming the xcarve and the laser.
Haha well your corners are already busy!
Corner dust collection is always a good idea because it's one of the few tools we need little infeed/outfeed/access. One thought I had was a pull out lazy suzan or a standard lazy suzan for the things you need to access less often, but want to utilize the corner as much as possible.
Good thoughts 5280!
I've got a scroll saw in my corner. Yard tools in another.
👍
How do you keep sawdust from clogging the portable air conditioner filter and vent? I have one that I want to put one in my shop
I try to use my dust collector, really efficiently through the shop, but yeah, there’s always sawdust at the filter, so I hit it with the air hose once every two weeks or so that was another reason not to put it up high
I would have built a super econo sized lazy susan.
Good thought!
I have bunch of small stuff on my workbench where to put them
Well, depending on what it is, small parts storage bins/organizers are good for a little itty-bitty things. Some thing like my dado box tool holder great for hand sized items like pliers, glued etc.
W3 both had same idea lol
Nice
How high are your counter tops?
Depends where in the shop your standing as it’s a sloped floor, 38.5-42in tall