Popular Woodworking 2002-08 № 129, страница 58
Our example of work flow in a two-car garage. This is the same shop as shown in the other photos, so you know it works on more than paper. Just follow the red arrows to the easiest path for woodworking.The dotted lines show approximate infeed and outfeed room for lumber. Once you've decided where your workshop will be, it's time to decide how it will be used. Not Just for Woodworking We all know that a lot more happens in a home workshop than just woodworking. Hundreds of home fix-up projects take place there, from painting a closet door to rewiring a lamp. So even though you're planning on lots of woodworking, don't overlook the needs of other projects. Plan on extra storage for paint cans, mechanic's tools and a drawer or two for electrical tools and supplies. But before we worry about storage, let's pick some tools and machines. Picking Your Tools If woodworking will be an occasional activity, or space is at a high premium, consider buying bench-top machines. You can do a lot of work with a benchtop drill press, planer and band saw. While not as versatile as their floor-model big brothers, we recommend them for the small shop. On the other hand, we don't recommend benchtop table saws for any but the tiniest of shops. While a benchtop saw might be smaller, it's also less powerful and less accurate. Find a way to squeeze a contractor saw or cabinet saw in your shop on a mobile base. The same goes for the jointer. Like the table saw, benchtop jointers just don't satisfy the needs of most woodshops. We recommend carving out a section of floor space along the wall for a stationary 6" or 8" jointer. With these five machines (and an assortment of portable and hand tools) you'll be ready to build cabinets and shelves. However, if turning is your passion, a lathe may be at the top of the list, and the jointer and planer may disappear altogether. It's your choice. There are other tools that you'll want to have (or may own already), including a miter saw, scroll saw and bench grinder, but these can be added as you go along, and they don't take up much space. Placing Your Machines Once you know what machines will be in your workshop, you need to determine their location. Allow for infeed and outfeed space and place them near machines they're used with most frequently. Each machine requires space for itself and space to use the tool. With a table saw, you need to be able to maneuver a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood to the back, front and left side of the saw. This means a pretty big footprint for the ma- chine when in use (you can overlap the "in-use" footprints of multiple machines). We've added a diagram above that shows the necessary working footprint for each major machine. We suggest you draw up your shop on graph paper, cut out the tools (at left) and start trying different arrangements to see what works. The trick to positioning your machines in your shop is to create an orderly flow of work from raw lumber to the finished product. The work flow always starts where the wood is stored, or where it enters the workshop. Next, the lumber is prepared for use by jointing, planing and sawing to the proper dimensions. Conveniently, the machines required for these steps are also the ones that need the most power and create the most dust, allowing you to locate your power and dust collection in a "machining" area, with these machines close to one another. From the machining phase, the next step is joinery and assembly, usually requiring hand tools, a band saw, drill press and hand-held power tools, such as a router, biscuit joiner and brad nailer. A stable workbench or assembly table are ideal for this step. The assembly area should be located out of the way of the machining area, but not so far away that you end up carrying lots of milled lumber across the shop. Your hand and small power tools should be easily accessible (stored 57 |
