Popular Woodworking 2006-10 № 157, страница 37

This is my one-car garage shop (attached to my condominium). No, the car won't fit. You'll find a 10" cabinet saw (with dust collector and router table mounted in the wing), 6" jointer, 14" band saw, and 10" sliding compound miter saw. All machines but the table saw are on wheels that allow me to store them against the walls, but quickly pull them out for use. A roller stand makes working with long stock on the table saw easier, while taking up very little floor space. To the right of the table saw is one of two knock-down assembly tables. This is the small one. You'll also notice task lighting over the important areas (unfortunately, no windows). By the way, I did take the bicycles, golf clubs and some gardening tools out of the garage for the photo. Despite no room for my car, it's still a multi-purpose area.

As you move deeper into my shop you'll find the requisite hand tools, a 13" benchtop planer (stored under the bench) and a small benchtop drill press (tucked away under the clamps). There's a benchtop belt/disc sander tucked away on the other side of that cabinet. Out of view to the right are two storage cabinets with five routers, three random-orbit sanders, a fleet of pneumatic nailers and sundry portable power tools. You'll also notice a half-dozen cordless drills stored within easy reach in recycled tennis shoes screwed to the wall. The workbench is still temporary. I'll get around to building the real one any day now. And yes, every shop deserves a swimsuit calendar and a few other personal touches.

Garage Shops

Garage shops (we're talking about attached garages in this case) offer interesting challenges of their own, mostly space related. While you can set up shop in a one- or two-car garage, you will be limited to a smaller space than in many basements, but the space will be more uniformly arranged. No pillars, or bump-outs to work around and the ceiling height is usually 7'6" or more. Plus the ceiling isn't cluttered with ductwork or pipes. On the other hand, there's usually a garage door running across part of the ceiling.

The first decision is whether or not you expect to park your car in the garage as well as use it as a woodworking shop. The two can co-exist, but there will be compromises. In a one-car garage, the compromise is likely to be too much to ask for most dedicated woodworkers. Tools and work surfaces will need to be stored away to allow space for the car. This adds a fair amount of set-up and take-down time to your already limited woodworking time. And you're still going to have to squeeze in and out of the car. My honest recommendation is that a one-car garage shop should be a dedicated space. The car will acclimate to the great outdoors.

With a two-car garage you still have the possibility of parking at least one car in the space, sharing it with the tools and machinery. The compromise here is losing the "fourth wall" of your shop to the car. This may seem a small thing, but in practice it can put a real crimp in your storage space. Also, when sharing the garage, you have to consider dirt and damage to your car. A fine coating of walnut dust isn't in the manufacturer's recommendations - let alone a board that slips and takes out a fender or mirror.

Back to the garage door (or doors). This is one of the great aspects of a garage shop. Bringing materials and projects in and out of the shop is greatly simplified with this large opening. In comfortable weather the open door allows fresh air and natural light for your shop. With windows in the garage doors, natural lighting is still available

Popular Woodworking