Large Scale Central

Your Workshop

General Discussion
#1

I just recently acquired some space from the head office and land baron (ie wife) and am going put together a better space for my workshop. Its located inside my barn and has a lot of space for all my tools. Currently I usually setup the table saw on a stand, setup the miter saw on its stand, set a piece of plywood on some sawhorses, all in front of my garage on the concrete slab and then use the tailgate of my pickup as table to put things on. It takes me about 30 mins to setup and then 30 or so to tear down, which I have to do everytime I am done working for the day. This dont work that great for time when I get home from work and have an hour or two to do some work.

Well, I “lobbyed” (well actually probably whined) enough to get the space that was located in the barn as a workshop. Obviously all workshops are different based on the tastes of thier builder and I have no doubt that mine will be the same. But, I’d like some ideas for various things you have put in your workshops.

So post some photos please.

#2

You don’t wanna see what my shop looks like, so I’ll just make suggestions. (although it’s been seen in various pix of projects I’ve posted on here)

A good radial arm saw or chop saw, a good band saw, and a good table saw. I use these 3 things the most.

Mine was set up a long time ago as a woodworking shop, but I’ve drifted away from that lately.

Plenty of lights and outlets. A table top drill press is optional.

A dremel tool with a flexible shaft get’s more use then just about anything.

then of course, is the usual hand tools that come in handy, usually a modelers choice.

#3

To Ken’s list, I’d add a small drill press, and a bench grinder.

My workshop bench is sturdily built from 2x stock, with 3/4" MDF for the top.

Dont forget shelves for projects, and cubbies for supplies.

#4

Trains are an after-thought in my workshop. I build giant-scale R/C airplanes…There is nothing more I would require for trains that I don’t already have for planes.

My only thought about workshops…You can never have too much light, or too many outlets. I ran a 20 amp 110v line to the bench and 220v to the garage. My one regret is the lack of a paint hood, but in my neck-of-the-woods one that has any value to me would run into 10’s of thousands of $$$!

#5
Mark V said:
My one regret is the lack of a paint hood...
When I want to spray, which isn't very often, I go out to the space between the shed and the fence on a windless day.
#6

To the list I would add:

I have one of the older Dremel combination disk/belt sanders I use routinely.
The folks at Harbor Freight carry a small (3" blade) chopsaw that comes in handy. MicroMark carries a wide selection of saw blades to include metal cutoff wheels.

Jerry

#7

And if you are swinging for the bleachers, a joiner and thickness planer. I am working on a set of D&RGW 6000 series flat cars being made from pine board leftovers from other projects, and just plain scrounged. Those tools are indespensable for getting flat and straight material. Of course a good hand plane also works, but a whole lot more effort.

Bob C.

#8

OH…and plenty of clamps…in all sizes…:wink:

#9

I like drawers for keeping all my stuff in. My workbench is really an old desk with 3 drawers on each side and they’re all full of things I use on a regular basis.

(http://www.jbrr.com/Pics/Workbench/P1020132.jpg)

Plenty of light!!! Lots of shelves for paints and other things; and all close by. Off to the left, there’s a Dremel tool hangar. I’ve also got a metal cabinet that has 9 drawers, each about 2 inches high. I have a separate drawers for: files, glue, sanding, hand saws, cutters, etc. In addition to the table saw and drill press, I’d recommend the mini-chop saw from Harbor Freight and a good soldering station.

#10

In a barn moisture might be a problem. Don’t forget to buff and oil every tool, every time.

#11

Oy…mill, lathe, central vac, storage and more storage, air compressor, comfy chair,…

#12

DVD player…appropriate Railroad videos…small fridge and coffee maker…

#13

My Juniata Falls shop is still under construction as well. One of my main probs is fitting everything in it that I want, since teh trains in their boxes have to co-habitat.

I lined my shop in white pegboard. Using heavy duty hangers, I have spots to hang raw tie strips as well as complete track “panels”. I also have a couple dozen trucks hanging by their LGB style loop couplers.

For parts storage, I decided that a mish-mash of cheap metal filing cabinets was the answer. Good Will often has 2-drawer units for five dollars and recently I got a five drawer for 9.99… missed out on the other by a couple minutes. There is a hauling company in Altoona that sorts the “trash” and recovers much of the recyclable stuff. Picked up two more 2-drawers for five each as well as a hardwood potato & onion cabinet.

#14

Heh I dont have to worry about that Mik. To call it a Barn is a bit of an overstatement. When I first moved onto the place we convertyed part of it into a one bedroom apartment. As the family grew we took over more of the “barn” When I bought the place from my in-laws a few years ago, we switched places and they took the remainder of the “barn” and converted it into a garage area. My father-in-law has now moved and so the space is mine to do as I please (with the wives approval mind you :wink: ). So the space is pretty good sized to do many things.

I have most of the tools I need. I’m still looking for a belt saw I’d like, but for now I have everything I need.

I like your organized look Bruce.

I was thinking of building a central island out of 2x4s and make it at a height that I can stand and still do my work. I like the island because I can move around the ntire area of the worktop. I seem to work better if I’m standing, must be that nervous leg syndrom or something like that. I’ll put it on castors so I can move it around the area if needed and get a stool to use if I do want to sit down.

I was thinking about scrap pieces of wood. In building my trestle I accumilated a lot of pieces of redwood which are too good to throw away and so they sit in a plastic bucket at the moment. What have you guys used to organize those little pieces of wood that are too good to throw?

As far as shelving, I plan on building some with cubby holes so I can put a complete project in the one space and not worry about things getting mixed up. I dont really plan on having alot of half finished projects, because it bugs the heck out of me to see unfinished work. But i figure if I’m accumilating various parts to start a project then i can put them in one place and not have search for a part I got a while back for a project and now I cant remember where I put it (sounds all too familiar to me).

My asking for pictures is to get any ideas. I figure dont reinvent the wheel if someone already has.

#15

Storage, Storage, Storage. I acquired some old microfilm cabinets from work (kind used for rolls of microfilm - about the size of old 8mm movie rolls). some i have are only 18" deep, others 24" deep. But they sure can store a lot of stuff.

#16

I use a high tech plastic bucket for the short bits…and a tall kitchen garbage can for storing longer bits…

#17

Be nice to have a large space for a workshop, this is what little niche I could carve out in the house:

(http://1stclass.mylargescale.com/vsmith/workshop%20%202.JPG)

This was taken about 2004, sadly its almost identical today, if anything its even more crowded, but at least its inside where there AC.

#18

Jake,

For organizing strip lumber, plastic strips (square, round or rectangular), metal rod, wood dowel, etc., I like using PVC pipe in various lengths and diameters as required to store those kinds of materials. Cut the PVC to length and ‘weld’ an end cap on one end and slide fit a cap on the other. I then take the label maker and mark the end cap with the appropriate label. Works great for me and keeps things from getting bent or broken.

For large cutoffs - I use an old 30 gal galvanized trash can that sits on a plywood base with casters on the bottom.

For small screws, bolts, nuts, etc. - I use old glass baby food jars. These work great since there is no need to label.

The best thing I ever found in the MicroMark catalog was the 3 tier round tool tray that rotates. There are 2 of these on my modeling bench.

Jerry

#19

Here are a couple shots of me and my incredibly messy workspace. I shot these back in May when a similar topic came up on another site:

(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Miscellaneous_files/Media/IMG_6483/IMG_6483.jpg)

(http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_Miscellaneous_files/Media/IMG_6484/IMG_6484.jpg)

#20

Do you guys have a cure for containing messy jobs like sanding, welding and grinding? Shop vac hooked to the table saw helps, but things like welding or grinding make an awful mess.