NEW MEMBER/ need help!!

[WOODGEEK]

I have spent quite a bit of time looking over the forum and read tons of helpful hints,and I even put my two cents worth in on Clints pen supply search(a.k.a. Angala). I hail from the mountains of North Carolina, far NW corner, close to VA and TN. Getting ready to get into some serious woodworking, as soon as the new shop is built anyhow. ANY advice would be welcomed. It will be a 24X36, concrete floors, board and batton on the outside, vinyl windows, tin roof.Any do's and don'ts?? Please!! I'm begging for all the advice I can get where layout and storage issues are concerned. And workbenches?? Attached to the wall or not? Lighting? Heating(got a great deal on a Monitor heater/barrel/stand combo, probably gonna go that way).

[Johanna]

Shop plans sound great -- wish I had that extra 12 feet (mine is 20 x 24).

Lighting -- lots of it -- I have 8 flourescent fixtures in mine and could use a couple more.

Power -- lots and lots of outlets. Put some in the overhead. Put them every 4-6 feet on walls at 48" up from the floor. Be sure to provide for 220 circuit(s) even if you do not yet have any 220 tools. You will eventually have some.

Workbench(s) -- there should be at least one that is accessible from all 4 sides. Workbenches need to be HEAVY. They need good vises.

Have fun! Planning a new shop is quite a project. I'm still revising my original plans for my shop that was built five years ago.

Johanna

[BOB (Guest)]

Far NW corner of North Carolina? Boy, you are WAY OUT THERE! Imagine!
Anyway, you have enough space to set yourself up a heavy primary bench. I advocate building cabinetry under the bench to make use of the space and add weight as well. It will also make clean-up easier if you store things in there (so as they won't get dusty). Johanna was right, get lots of lighting in there! Maybe you should also consider a plexiglass box to set up a TV in. Yes. What about air conditioning? I wonder if you need it being way out there in North Carolina! Good God almighty!

[Messman]

Wish I had that much shop mine is only 12 x 24. But any way, yes I agree with everything that has bee said so far. One thing that many people over look when setting up shop is Flow. Try to set upi your tools, benches, lighting, electric, etc.... with the flow of work in mind. Once you figure out the flow of work you figure out the position of tools, which will give you an idea of what type of storage needs to go where. For example where you have your start point (where you start cutting / milling stock to size), you want to have your sheet and large stock storage. Each work area will have specific storage needs. Good luck.

Anything is possible when you get past your fear

Keep On Woodworking
Chris

http://members.cox.net/messman123/messman.htm

[carol j]

Congratulations - sounds like you'll have a great shop. My advise is this: start with a good dust collection and air filtration system. This should be your first purchase.Sawdust is very dangerous. Your shop isn't small so you'll need a powerful DC that will accommodate long runs of pipe and all the machines you own now and intend to buy. Get a DC with a bag that will filter down to 1 micron. A good air filtration system will clear the air of the very fine stuff floating around in the air that never makes it into the DC, but will make it into your lungs. I would spend some time researching systems and how to set them up. There are some good books out there that explain it all. Good luck and have fun.

Carol

[clint (Guest)]

that is a nice size shop. i also agree with everyones idears
there maybe one thing left out a finishing area? i still do not have one.may be already thought of too.by the way welcome.i do not think that i have spoken to any one for a while here so hi!
angala i am making my delivery of pens today thanks for your
input.

[WOODGEEK (Guest)]

Thanks to everyone who has offered the input! Thanks A TON!! You all have given me a lot that I haven't even considered. The info has been very helpful. I am looking forward to putting all this great info to use. Any more tips or info is greatly appreciated. Look forward to hearing from everyone. And yes, I am way out, and the air conditioning won't much be an issue, we live in a deep valley, and are installing 8 32X60 windows, 3 on each side and two on one end, and a garage door and entry door on the other end.

KUDOS,
Angala

[cricket]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-30-04 AT 10:02PM (CDT)

what tools do you plan on using. you may want to put the table saw {if u get 1} in the middle of the shop so you have room to rip long pieces as well as wide pieces with out hitting anything.
then put a work table/catcher it.

are you going to have a miter saw? if so, build you a work station/storage area. build the saw frame at working height the the rest of the station, each side of the saw level with the bed of the miter saw so you can lay your work on it.

are you going to have a joiner? if so, build a storage cabinet on the recieving end. make it low enough that you can mount rollers or roller bearing plates to catch long boards.

are you going to have a drill press, belt/disk sander, full size band saw or bench top,[or both like us]?if yes build a storage area/work station that will accomadate all of these[thats what we did,our shop is 16x32]


a good dust collector is a must as saw dust is considered to cause cancer. not mention bad respitory ailments.

[John Lucas]

You have a shop the same sizr at Norm does at the New Yankee Workshop. I would suggest you go to his site and see how he has it laid ot.