Popular Woodworking 2006-12 № 159, страница 34

Combination machines have some advantages, too. Primarily, of course, they save space. In a very small workshop, a combination planer/jointer eliminates one bulky piece of equipment. And because these tools use a common set of knives for jointing and thickness planing, you'll be able to flatten wide pieces of lumber. That's a very big advantage. The Robland X31, for example, which combines a total of five machines in one, comes with 12" knives for jointing and planing.

The downside to combination machines is that it takes time to switch from one function to another. Key settings - such as the position of the fence - might have to be changed in switching from one job to another. Combination machines also tend to be more expensive than separate machines that do the same jobs. Even with these drawbacks, they're worth considering for very small shops.

Finding a Layout that Works in Your Space

If you've never set up a shop before, it's going to be hard to visualize the many possible layouts in the space you have

to work with. Machines are not only heavy, but they frequently require special connections - a 240-volt receptacle, for example, or a connection to the dust collection system. With that in mind, it makes sense to do as much as you can on paper before pushing machines around the shop.

Start by drawing a floor plan of the shop exactly to scale. Mark on it the locations of windows, doors, electrical outlets and any other features that might affect the operation of a stationary tool. Now make cutouts, also to scale, of each machine you need to find a home for. It's easy to move the machines around on paper.

Each machine requires a certain amount of clearance between it and nearby objects. Think of it as the tool's aura. For example, a table saw must be positioned so that long pieces of lumber can be run over the blade and ripped. Eight feet is a minimum benchmark for solid lumber (that's also the length of a full-size piece of plywood), so you'll need a space that's longer than 16' in which to place the table saw. It's better to allow a few extra feet on each end. You'll also need space on the left side

This shop allows plenty of infeed and outfeed room for the table saw. Tom Willenborg incorporated a second table saw in the extension table of his cabinet saw for a dado stack that's always ready to go.

Michigan-based craftsman John Wilson uses a band saw to cut out a canoe paddle in his shop. To cut a piece of stock this long he needs adequate infeed and outfeed room, but the saw could be backed up against a wall and still be effective.

of the saw so you can maneuver a full sheet of plywood up on the table.

A jointer and planer also need generous allowances of room on both the infeed and outfeed sides. But because you are more likely to cut stock roughly to length before jointing and planing, you may not need quite as much room as you would with the table saw. And you won't need nearly as much width.

In a large shop it won't be a problem locating the saw to provide these kinds of clearances. In a small shop, you may need to take advantage of a window or a door. You might, for example, give yourself 12' of space on the infeed side of the table saw and only 6' on the outfeed side. By positioning the saw near a door, you can always accommodate those extra-length boards when you need to.

Another key element is the relative heights of adjacent tools and fixtures. You might, for example, have plenty of room on infeed and outfeed sides of a table saw to handle long pieces of stock. That part of it works out just fine. But what about potential interference on the side? Maybe you were planning on

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