Small Workshop Design // My 4 Essential Tips

Small Workshop Design doesn't need to be complicated. My 4 tips will help you optimize your small space. Covering layout, design and overall improvements. Forget everything you've read or heard about setting up a small workshop. I will go into detail and give you specific do's and don'ts to turn your small space into a safe and efficient workshop.

[Lincolnstww]

Support the channel by visiting my Etsy Shop and using affiliate links in the video description. Do it - and I'll keep making videos.

[erpinterfaces]

I could drone on blubbering how great your videos are but everyone else has already done that. Really great, thank you.

[LukePendergrass]

I really appreciate what you're doing on YouTube. You're not a professional shop owner, telling us how great a $5k cabinet saw is when you pair it with the $4k dust collection system. You tend to give practical advice, which is relatable for 90% of woodworkers. Your shop also happens to be the size of the 'average shop'; 10' x 20', 1-stall garage, or half of a 2-car garage.

[christopherdahle]

This video should be required viewing for anyone trying to work out of a garage shop. He who dies with the most tools definitely does not win, he just spends all his shop time moving tools and machines around in order to find a flat space to repair the toaster.

[michaelraugh]

Another point in a small shop that people tend to overlook: it's worth a little extra effort to establish a standard height for certain tools. For instance, putting your planer at the same height as the tablesaw means you can set up the planer right in front of the tablesaw (or outfeed table) for supporting long boards -- no need for extended planer tables or support stands. Put your miter saw at the same height and it can use your outfeed table for long pieces. This approach takes a little more work up front building a shorter stand or raising a tool on blocks, but the mobility and space gains for worth it.

[OzSafe]

I’m new to woodworking (2yrs) and in the beginning I just wanted to do woodwork so I needed EVERYTHING. Then after a while I found I was showing more interest in furniture than anything else. About the same time I realised I was happier using machines than hand tools. Then as my skills and confidence increased I found myself attracted to Mid-Century Modern furniture.
I ended up selling everything that I didn’t need to build solid Mid-Century Modern furniture and used that money to invest in quality tools specific to do it.
I guess the best tip in woodworking I’ve discovered is that it’s expensive to work out exactly what you want to do in your shop.
Because you’re new and don’t know what this is yet, sales people also know this, which is why they sell you stuff they know you will offload to the next sucker once you work out what it is you want to do in your shop.
For me, the most expensive thing I’ve bought was knowledge. Knowledge of wood, knowledge of tools, and most importantly knowledge of what I wanted to do in my shop.

[jasonl]

Well done, I never thought someone would be able to fit a Mitch hedberg clip into a wood shop video. He was the best.

[JoelJC]

This is by far the best YouTube Video on Small Woodworking Workshop. Great advice. Wish I had seen this sooner.

[mikejones-weeo]

As 35 year woodworker I can tell you this is spot on. The work flow tip was pure genius once I realized it.

[thetoolman]

Tip 3, especially, is gold. I've spent so much time designing, building and perfecting shop furniture and storage that I would have been better off spending on projects! Great insight for the beginner.

If I have a tip 5, it is to clean the shop regularly. I tend to get absorbed doing multiple projects, and let dust accumulate. It's better to take a little time to clean up more frequently than to take a whole weekend to deep clean once in a while.

[ilivelivemusic]

I like the way you buck conventional wisdom to give practical advice. Your suggestions make a lot of sense. Only place where I differ, and this is just a personal preference, is that I enjoy building the shop furniture (like a drill bit rack that no one else will care about) and find it a good way to improve my skills for the friends and family projects.

[FiendishFuManchu]

I’m about to finally move into a shop that’s roughly the same size (20x10) and this was absolutely incredible advice, one of the best woodworking tips videos I’ve seen on here

[anthonytinsley]

This has been the most refreshing shop setup video I've ever seen!!! Thank you for reminding me about using a little common sense to set up everything. I've been watching these shop tour videos for the past 2 years trying to come up with ideas for my new place but hated every single layout I came up with! I honestly felt like I worked better in a damn 12x8 shed/outside then I do now in 2 sheds (16x12, and 10x6) and it's all because I've been trying to set it up like it's a production/professional shop. Thank you for bringing me back to reality and for helping me look at everything in a more realistic and relaxed approach!!!

[WadeColwill]

As someone who only has one side of a two car garage, this is great advice.

The point about building storage solutions instead of actual things is spot on. We all get sidetracked. 🤣

[KeithCooper-Albuquerque]

I'm an old, retired guy who is trying to get into woodworking. I'm glad I found your channel because your tips make sense, are entertaining, and are funny. I have subscribed. This video has helped me to focus on a great solution for my garage shop. Thanks so much!

[richardchalmers]

Hollow core doors are great for making shelves and other items. They’re easily found at thrift stores and yard sales. Easily cut, very rigid and light weight.

[brettfaris]

Great video. I am a hobbyist woodworker that had to take over a family single car garage. So far I have conquered 70% of the garage with 30% more to go.

[MrWillis]

I'm late to the conversation but my biggest tip is "Try to keep heavy tools where you can use them."

One example of mine I have is a heavy, bulky spindle/belt sander it's awesome but getting it out if the box setting it up, setting the extraction up then putting it all away after took ages. Now it is set up in a corner and it stays there so the most I have to do is connect the workshop vac hose and turn it on. If I have a spare 10 minutes I can do 9 minutes work. You can't do this with everything in a small workshop but if you can do it with some of the tools you use the most it makes a massive difference to productivity.

[harperc]

Ive been watching videos about small shops lately to try and accumulate better ideas for our garage. It is also a one-car garage which it seems NO ONE on youtube has...except this one. This has been very helpful and I appreciate the tips. They are unique and crucial for small shops. We have to split ours in half so storage on one side and "shop" on the other. Its a tight fit.. The insulation is a nice thought too; I did not consider the door letting out/in so much sound. I am glad I finally found a relatable video; thank you for sharing!

[andreaselme]

As a new owner of a 5-in-1 combination machine I am suprised how little I see these machines in hobby shops on YouTube. I too have a one car garage myself and my SCM C30g takes up maybe 3x4ft of floor space in it's smallest configuration without add-ons (accessories hang on my wall). I would really recommend one to a serious hobbyist!