Tapping into the brainpool here

[jerrye]

OK, here's my situation. I have no shop. All of my projects must be done either on my 15'x15' deck, or if I need cover, on the front porch which is 6'x28'. I have only a BT3000 table saw and a benchtop drill press as standard "shop" tools: all else is handheld corded and cordless tools. I have been looking at plans for a portable workbench, as well as have a few ideas of my own, and have begun the process of designing a "mobile shop" (for lack of a better term) that I can house the BT and perhaps the bench, clamps, etc in. My biggest issue is what to do with large projects during prep, glue-up, finishing, and the like. Am I limited to smaller stuff right now, or stuff that can be built modular and then assembled? As I'm a rank newbie, might smaller stuff be better anyway?
Thanks in advance for your help and ideas.

 

[NCPete]

Jerry,

I would probably start looking at plans for a fixed shop, and use that as my current woodworking project. find a reasonably flat and level piece of ground in the backyard, and stake out a 'future shop'. get whatever permits might be needed, and start by laying down a 12X12 (or larger?) floor. Then work like Mike Davis did, do each piece, perhaps frame a wall when the money comes up for that much framing lumber, then the next, and so on. If it was permissible in my town (and with the CFO/SWMBO) that is how I would start a new 2 bay shop attached to the back of the house (corner lots do have their advantages).

sorry, no ideas on the 'portable shop' theme, some of my garage-shop bound stuff has wheels, and others have found their way outside permanently. just why does the riding mower need space in there, anyways?

 

[jerrye]

I actually do have an area ~15'x15' with about 7' headroom in the crawlspace beneath the house; access is through a 3'0 exterior door. I plan to put a shop down there someday just not any time soon as resources are going to other more needed things. Backyard space is limited and my neighborhood association has a couple of "scrooges" anyway, so I think exterior shop is out. I know my next move should be to start on the "underfloor" shop. Where do you recommend I start? Leveling and pouring a floor? Any idea what that would cost? BTW, the foundation has ~3'-4' of knee wall so I already have a place to hang pegboard/wallboard along three walls. Had electrician stub in conduit through floor from panel during rough-in so I could just add breakers and outlets for shop later. Maybe I have a better start than I thought?

 

[cpowell]

Jerry, I started out of a garage that was too small to work in. I'd drag my TS outside and work. I used a belt sander upside down in a 5 gallon bucket for sanding. Had a few hand tools.

I made some furniture with this arrangement using white pine, poplar from HD/Lowes and I learned a few things along the way. I did at least have the garage for glue-ups and finishing.

Given that you must work outside in the open you'll just have to be a "fair weather woodworker" for now. :lol: In the longer run, it would help to have even a small space to work from. Can you put a small shop in the backyard?

Chuck

 

[DavidF]

This thread makes me realize how lucky those of us that have a resonable shop are!!! I started in England over 20 years ago with an 8 x 12 "shed" extended that to 16 x 12 before coming over here to NH with a Small basement shop and now to my wonderful (but still too small) 20 x 20 dedicated shop. When I remember the long case clocks and competition winning furniture that I produced in that 8 x 12 "shed" I should be ashamed of myself when I complain about my current "lack of space" For a crafts person to produce anything on a back deck or outside says a lot more about their skill levels than they may be prepared to admit.. Well done to all you budding wood workers out there who can only dream of a decent shop. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[P Crews]

I use a workmate 425 as an additional workbench in my garage. It's lightweight and folds up for storage, although I never store it. Either me or the kids are using it for something. Put a shelf in the bottom and you can store tools there or put some blocks on it to give it more heft. I use it to hold items down for sanding, chiselling, hand plane, and even have used it for edge glueing. It's quite a versitile small bench. Just a thought for you.

Black & Decker Power Tools

 

[jerrye]

Have a "cheap" copy of a Workmate and it is that: CHEAP!!! Will use some of Christmas monies to rectify that. Thanks for all of the encouragement. Will begin work on the plans for shop. Mike, I'll have to check to see if digging out 1'-2' puts me close to the footing. As ground is sloped I will have to move some dirt. Maybe I can get down 6"-1'. Don't want the shop construction to put house at risk! Another concern is putting concrete floor all the way to foundation walls. The lower corner of floor area is where foundation drain is located. How do I keep from blocking that? Drainage below floor? Drain trough around perimeter?

 

[sapwood]

Jerry,
I helped my pop make his "basement shop" in the sixties. The house had a "half" basement. My brother and I crawled through the small access door to the other side and dug out the dirt a bucket at a time. Pop drilled through the concrete block divider, put in a door, poured a floor, and hung a few lights. The shop "bench" was a section of rock we couldn't remove, so he poured concreted to make a ledge, thus the workbench. Later we extended to an area under the porch to make bedroom for me. It had low ceilings, one light, and block walls . . . but it was mine!

So start digging, it can be done :mrgreen:
Roger

 

[jerrye]

Will probably get started as soon as I figure out how to get a skid steer loader through the door...someone once mentioned something about a shovel...what is that?:roll:

 

[Dusty Sawyer]

Ah yes, the great workshop debate. My first house had a slab in the back where a garage had been planned by the original owner. I set to work and created a nice 16x20 shop with reinforced rafters for storage, 200 amp service, separate lines droped every four feet, telephone, heavy duty built in shelves from floor to ceiling along the back wall, and twin 4x8 sliding rail doors on the entrance.

Then HRH (Her Royal Highness) decided that we should move. My shop is currently setup in the garage which is 2 1/2 cars wide and extra deep. However, it is a bit packed and I have concern about so much loose wood fiber and self milled wood inside the house that bugs might find irresistable.

Now that I have recently put in some additional shelving and built a number of custom rolling cabinets for the current workshop, HRH has once again decided she wants to move. This time she has promised me a separate and dedicated work area built for the specific purpose of providing a workshop area for me.

I too have however kept projects under tarp during the job. A temporary indoor finishing/drying area can always be set up, but leaving tools outside is a huge risk in Charlotte. For quite a while I did have my setup on the back deck which is inside the fence where my two large dogs stand guard.

Best solution; work toward that dedicated shop and build it in a modular style that can be easily added onto.

-David

 

[jeff...]

Keep your shop tools where the LOYL will have to climb over them to get in and out of the house. You'll have a shop in no time :icon_thum

 

[jerrye]

Keep your shop tools where the LOYL will have to climb over them to get in and out of the house. You'll have a shop in no time :icon_thum

Tried that...doesn't work!:rolf: Any other suggestions?:crybaby2:

 

[JRD]

Boy do I understand.

My workshop is a closet off the carport. Tools are drug out, set up, used and then broken down and put back when I'm done. The carport os cold, drafty, sometimes wet, but I still am able to get work done.

Perhaps someday we'll both have real shops. Until then, keep making sawdust and keep smiling.

Jim

 

[jeff...]

Persistence - don't give up or in - get a few more big tools, keep piling them up infront of the doors :-D.

 

[jerrye]

Persistence - don't give up or in - get a few more big tools, keep piling them up infront of the doors :-D.

So, Jeff, did it take parking the WM in front of the door to get yours?:eusa_whis

 

[Travis Porter]

I myself started in a 6 ft by 25 ft area too small for much at my parents house. I did almost all of my finishing in my apartment.

IMO, going slow and making sure you want to continue the time and money investment is important. I have started and jumped into too many hobbies full bore and got tired of them. Working on the front porch is realistic to me to start with and then figure out what you are going to do with your underhouse space. My advice is to not rush and evaluate it, maybe get a few bids from some contractors and get some ideas from them as well, and see how it goes.

 

[jeff...]

So, Jeff, did it take parking the WM in front of the door to get yours?:eusa_whis

Nope just a pile of logs :rolf:

 

[drlstairs]

I've been building stairs for almost 25 yrs out of a truck. I have worked all across the country and half way around the world. Where you work is of little consequence. If you have the time you'll find a way. The covered porch would be my first choice. It makes for easy clean up, too.

 

[erasmussen]

All my tools have to be on wheels, as I roll them out on the carport to use them, sometimes hot sometimes cold and sometimes wet
when the rain blows in :crybaby2::crybaby2:
But I still manage to get a little work done

 

[NCPete]

sounds like you do. your 7 feet, can you dig further, before pouring a floor???

years ago, my father and grandfather dug out the basement for the house my dad grew up in, long after the house had actually been built. wonder how much lower you could go, to get some more headroom?