How I set up my small workshop

How I set up my small workshop, for over 30 years, I did not have a workshop for my handyman projects. I used garages and sheds, or even just outdoors as my work space.

A couple of years ago I finally had the money and time to build a workshop. I will tell you how I set up my small workshop and what tools I have bought for the workshop.

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Find some space

The first thing to do when planning a workshop, is to find somewhere to put your workshop. Many different places are used for workshops, from a stand alone shed to a basement or garage, or even just a spare room.

I choose to build a stand alone shed that measures 20 foot x 10 foot out of Colourbond sheeting. A garage will give you a fair bit of space for a workshop, and basements vary in size but have been utilized as a workshop. Your space will need power also for the many workshop tools you will use.

Why do you need a workshop

Workshops are great for handymen or women, who want to build projects which may take a period of time to complete. Having a workshop enables you to work whenever you want to. Not having to worry about the weather or messing up a clean space or room.

Your own workshop lets you have an area where you can leave a project until you can get back to it, without having to pack it and your tools away each time.

Another benefit of a workshop is the tools you can have that aren’t portable, for example a drill press, bench grinder, joiners and planers. These tools allow you to build just about anything you can imagine.

This is how I set up my small workshop.

Layout

The layout of your workshop will depend on the space you have available and the type of projects you will be building.

In my workshop, I have a large mobile work bench in the center that hold a table saw, compound sliding mitre saw and a small router table, it measures 8 x 4 foot and has castors to wheel it around when required.

Around the walls of my workshop, I have a bench grinder, drill press, disk/belt sander and storage for portable tools and materials. There is also a wood lathe, but I have to take this outside to use as the workshop is to small to accommodate working at the lathe.

A shop vac is used for dust collection, its not ideal but it is better than nothing.

Your layout should follow your building stages, your table saw is usually the center of the work process. A mitre saw is situated along a wall. Drill press and bandsaws require room to move around so allow space around these.

Tools not used often like planers and joiners can be put in areas that are out of the way. But these also need space around them when being operated.

tools for your workshop

There are many tools you may want for your workshop. Such as planer, joiner,drill press bandsaw, table saw, bench grinder, sanding station. If you have a large workshop you will be able to fit these all in, however if your workshop is small, you need to prioritize what is the most useful.

As previously mentioned I have a table saw, mitre saw, drill press, bench grinder and disk/belt sander. These allow me to complete all the projects I have carried out.

All these tools were not bought as soon as I built my workshop. But over time I have been able to acquire them as needed. The bench grinder and the saws were tools I have had since I built the workshop.

The size of my workshop does not allow space for a planer or joiner, so I improvise where needed.