I know, I know. Finally he shows his entire shop. Of course when you entire shop is less than 10′ x 16′ there isn’t much to show off.
First, here is my main work bench. Someday, I may build my own from scratch but I wanted to get to work so I bought a bench kit from Sjoberg. I did some research and for lesser expensive bench kits, it got lots of good reviews. There are better benches if you are willing to spend $1000′s of dollars (see Lie-Nielsen for example). A real big difference between many shop built benches (or these expensive ones I mentioned) and these in-expensive kits is the weight or mass. These inexpensive kits are prone to moving around as you use them. I’ve drilled holes into the leg bases and the floors so that I can have a removable anchor using dowels. It’s worked great.
Here is a shot of the entire corner where I have a quick/dirty shop made cabinet for hand planes/chisels/marking/measuring tools along with hand saws on the wall. I keep my saw benches (modeled after Christopher Schwarz’ design). This area has really worked out well as I move more towards using various hand tools. You will notice that I have a dust collection set up. This is somewhat the remnants from when I had my table saw (can you imagine a table saw taking up nearly the entire shop) but it’s still useful for shop cleanup and some of the remaining power tools (planer, sander). Notice that I still am working on that handcut dovetail hope chest.
Oposite my main bench is a secondary bench that I use for metal work (though I don’t do this much) and I can put a anvil or metal vise into the bench vises. Above this secondary bench, I have a cabinet purchased from the local borg which holds a few reference books and most of my finishing supplies. Also in the farthest corner, I have a scrap bin and trash on wheels (it’s helpful in such a small shop to allow everything to be mobile.
On the same wall but at the other end as the secondary bench, is where I have my benchtop drill press, benchtop planer, bench top oscillating sander, dovetail jig (for router cut dovetails). Above all that I have storage for fasteners and other misc hardware and supplies. Lastly, is my Craftsman (as in Sears) toolbox for hammers, screw drivers, wrenches, plyers, socket sets and such. Notice in front of the second door to my shop (which is hardly ever used) is a ladder. I use it to get to the overhead storage where I keep other wood odds and ends. Also you can just see my collection of bessy clamps that are vital to building anything.
Opposite the above power tool area is my Festool bench. It’s the orginal MFT 1080 (I think that is it’s number) bench (latest version is the MFT-3 which is a different shape but has the same essential features). I have the MFT bench on top of a shop made cabinet which holds routers (I have 4), circular saws (I have 3), router bits (never have enough), and some other misc tools. Next to that, you can see a band saw which I would like to change out the blade for a wider blade and tune it up so I can use it for cutting both smaller items (that the Festool circular saw has difficulty with) and cutting thicker material to be used for project. Behind the bandsaw, I have scraps that I haven’t put away but behind that I have a panel clamp system.
There are some other elements of my shop that are not actually in my shop. I have had several posts regarding my Sharpening Center which I keep in my garage. Now that you’ve seen the shop you can understand why. Also, if you noticed the dust collection looks like it comes through the wall, it does. I have a small shed outside of the shop where the dust collection system stays and makes it’s dust and noise which is not in the shop. Lastly, I have a sheet goods storage area in another shed (it’s a partitioned part of my gardening shed).
This is what makes up my woodworking efforts. I hope that you enjoyed the quick tour. I hope to put together a video tour as well but that will be later. If you have any questions, please post them in the comments and I will address them as I can.
