Workshop interior layout

← Back to workshop series indexPublished: 2016 August 23

I’ve never had a workshop, so the primary goal for the interior layout is to remain flexible.

I’ll keep most of my initial equipment benchtop-sized and keep larger items on wheels.

That said, I do have a rough idea of what I’ll be doing:

• cross-cutting long pieces of framing lumber and trim
• ripping and cross-cutting sheet goods (for cabinets and some wall paneling)
• assembling and gluing-up cabinets and furniture

Beyond that, I also have a few general constraints:

• work areas should have natural light (darker areas can be used for storage)
• dust collector ducting should be short and straight
• CNC machine should be easily accessible from its computer terminal
• safety equipment (glasses, ear protection, respirators, etc) should be near the entrance so they’re immediately visible and available

There should be an open floor area near the overhead door suitable for:

• infrequent car parking (either storage when I’m out of the country or minor maintenance like oil or tire changes)
• quick material loading/unloading from backed-in trucks

There should be an area that can be enclosed with movable screens for metalworking (grinding/welding can throw off hot chips)

If there’s a loft space, materials should be moved there via a clear run of stairs (no corners) or some kind of manual lift/crane system.

Ideas I considered, but rejected:

• wood flooring: Some people find wood more comfy than concrete, and wood is certainly more forgiving to dropped tools. However, I have nice boots and can put down rubber floor mats if necessary.
• floor drain: For a drain to work, the floor needs to slope, but I’d rather have a completely level floor. That said, being able to clean by spraying down the floor seems like it could come in handy; perhaps water can be swept out the overhead door?