It's been quite a while since I've posted here. We finally built our new house and I just started layout and wiring my new workshop. I put up 6 - 2' x 2' recessed fluorescent fixtures in the ceiling last night and have started wiring the wall receptacles for my workbenches and cabinets. I am wondering what the best way is to wire for my table saw, band saw and planer. They will be out in the shop away from the walls. I live in Texas so we don't have a basement and my shop is on a concrete slab. I've looked at a lot of shop plans and I've never noticed how the machines standing out on the floor are wired. Do I use extension cords on the floor? Should I put boxes in the ceiling, drop a stick of conduit with a receptacle on the end for each machine? Any ideas?

The new shop must be exciting for you!

I've been in literally hundreds of shops over the years and seen all sorts of solutions.

Personally, I prefer wires and hoses dropping down from the ceiling. It just works for me, especially with routers.

The difficulty with drops is keeping cords clear of the work area especially around the table saw. Often, the power cord is dropped along side the DC pipe well off to the side.

Running lines across the floor is a tripping hazard and a pian if you have mobile carts, unless you have a built up floor and can run them in channels under the floor. I've seen it done, but it requires a lot of extra construction.

Ralph

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www.consultingwoodworker.com

Yes, this is exciting. This is the first time that I will have a real shop. Most of my life I've been working out of one garage or another.

I like the idea of dropping the power down from the ceiling and heavy duty short extension cords my do the trick. That way, I can prewire for the equipment I don't have yet and when it arrives all I'll have to do is plug it into the ceiling.

Thanks for the idea and the feedback. Now I can finish wiring this weekend and insulate the ceiling.

I don't know if I'm doing this right but here it goes......I hope the picture loads. Here's the latest project for my shop that I built over the past 2 weekends. I built 3 - 4' base units and 6 - 2' x 36" wall units. The left and right hand base units have 6 drawers and 2 slide out shelves. The center 4' unit has 2 drawers and 4 slide out shelves. The wall cabinets all have adjustable shelving. It's really nice to have some place to store all my tools and woodworking supplies.

Leeanne





Edited: 02/15/2010 at 07:00 PM by speclt

I finished my shop lighting this past weekend. I'm using 2' x 2' troffer type florescent fixtures the use 2 - 32 watt U tube lamps. The fixtures fit nicely between the truss joist set at 2' on centers. I have a total of 10 fixtures switched from a 4 gang wall box so that I can turn on only what I need. I've located 5 of the fixtures over the layout and finish area, 3 over my table saw area and 2 over my chop saw and router table.

Leeanne