Most workshops aren't planned, they just happen. Here's how to organize and improve your shop, no matter what you have now.
The Basement Workshop
We've all seen photos of the ultimate dream workshop. It has everything: good lighting, plenty of electrical outlets and unlimited room.
In reality, though, most workshops are either in the basement -- usually stuck in a corner -- or in a tiny portion of the garage.
We'll take you on a tour of two workshops -- one in a basement, the other in a garage -- and show you how to get the most out of both in terms of storage, organization, lighting and safety. But, first:
Clean And Plan
Go through your workshop and get rid of the things you havent used in, say, the last five years. (Chances are you won't use them in the next five years, either). Donate them or throw them out, but get rid of them. In short, unclutter your workshop area!
Now that that's done, grab a cup of coffee, sit down, read our tips and plan out your new or improved shop. Don't just plan in your head, either. Put your plan on paper. Find the best spot for the workbench -- the heart of any workshop, determine how many lights you need, and where and how you're going to store your tools and supplies.
Begin With A Workbench (See the accompanying visual diagram for this workbench plan by clicking on the icon below this text extension).
The workbench makes a shop. We looked at a number of homemade as well as commercial workbench kits and frankly didn't find one that had everything we wanted for our basement shop.
So, we built our own with the features that most workbenches lack: (1) A simple, easy-to-assemble design (it should go together in a couple of hours); (2) a perforated board for hanging tools; (3) two shelves (most designs have one) for storing power tools; and (4) an area to keep a shop vacuum and all of its accessories (a great piece of shop equipment, but a bulky, awkward pain to store).
Our benchs dimensions -- 6 ft. long; 36 in. high; and 28 in. wide -- were determined by our work space. However, you should build your workbench to fit your shop and, most importantly, you.
Workbench Cutting List
KEY PCS SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
A 2 2 x 4 x 66 pine
B 1 2 x 4 x 64-1/2 pine
C 3 2 x 4 x 22 pine
D 6 2 x 4 x 34-1/2 pine
E 5 2 x 4 x 20-1/2 pine
F 1 2x 4 x 34-1/4 pine
G 1 2 x 4 x 34-1/2 pine
H 1 2 x 4 x 31-1/2 pine
J 1 37-1/2 x 26 -- 1/2 plywood
K 2 22 x 36 -- 1/2 plywood
L 2 22 x 30 -- 1/2 perforated board
M 8 1-3/8 x 5 pine closet rod
N 3 2 x 10 x 72 pine
P 4 1 x 4 x 2-1/2 pine
Smart Tool Storage
The most efficient way to store hand tools, such as pliers, screwdrivers, socket wrenches and hammers is in a rolling tool chest. These chests come in a variety of sizes, with 2 to 20 drawers. The drawers get your tools organized and help you keep them that way. Prices start around $100 for smaller units, but plan on spending $250 to $350 for one that has plenty of drawers. It may seem like a lot of money, but it's the best single investment you'll make for your shop.
Hanging Storage
We've all seen shops where all the tools are hung on perforated board and hooks. Nice as it looks, there's lots of wasted space.
However, perforated board does work well for large, long or bulky tools that won't fit in a drawer, such as levers, squares, clamps and hand saws.
Perf-Board Installation
If your shop has concrete block walls (The Basement Workshop) youll need to attach 1 x 2 furring strips to the blocks, then secure the per-board to the strips.
Attach the furring strips with construction adhesive and special screws, such as Tapcon, that are designed for attaching wood to concrete. For more information, see How To Attach Wood To Concrete, Apr. 89, p. 53.
Attaching perf-board to a stud wall is easy (The Garage Workshop). Use 1-1/2 drywall screws. Drive one screw at each stud around the perimeter, and three evenly spaced screws into each stud that runs behind the board.
The only way to attach perf-board to furring strips or studs is to drive the screw through the flush surface of the board, not through one of the holes. If you attach it through a hole, the screwhead can easily be drawn completely through the perforation hole.
Storing nuts, washers, small screws and wire nuts is a bother. So instead of the old-coffee-can-full-of-everything on the shelf approach, try using storage bins or jars. Bins are available in different styles and sizes and are a great way to keep everything separated, without taking up a lot of space. The jar-type containers ($9.50 for 10 containers) are for use on perf-board. The tilt-bin organizers ($30 for both sizes) can be wall or perf-board mounted or left free standing.
There are some advantages to having your workshop in the basement: There's usually an easily accessible electrical source, if you need additional outlets, and hot or cold outdoor temperatures won't dictate whether or not you want to work in your shop. But finding enough shelf storage is always a problem. The best way to solve that problem is to design and build your own free standing shelf units.
But why not just buy a manufactured kit? Well, because these kits dictate how wide the shelves must be, and how many you'll have. By building your own, you make these decisions. In other words, you'll have tailor-made storage.
