It Appears to be Time to Downsize

[ERLover]

Sorry to hear that big D. My basement shop is 15x15ft. All dedicated tools and an ER, lunch box jointer. Every thing on castors except the band saw and work bench. With a Jet 1100 dust collector. Plus a 20" deep x30" cabinet and a 2x4ft finishing bench.

[dusty]

Sorry to hear that big D. My basement shop is 15x15ft. All dedicated tools and an ER, lunch box jointer. Every thing on castors except the band saw and work bench. With a Jet 1100 dust collector. Plus a 20" deep x30" cabinet and a 2x4ft finishing bench.

No need to be sorry, ER. This is a matter of choice. It is not being forced upon us. Also, it is not like I am being ejected from a space like Johns. My current shop is about 20x20.

[robinson46176]

No need to be sorry, ER. This is a matter of choice. It is not being forced upon us. Also, it is not like I am being ejected from a space like Johns. My current shop is about 20x20.[/quote]



It's a wise man that tries to plan ahead. Of course sometimes life just laughs at us when we do but we still need to at least act like we are still in the driver's seat.

I have done a lot of planning for eventualities including a few hard choices. On the bright side of it I have actually made the right decisions a few times...

You've got this...


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[ecom1]

I think you'll be fine Dusty - my basement shop is 12x14, and I'm good with everything except large cabinets. I break down large sheets in the garage, and on the rare occasion I've had to make something too large to easily handle in the shop (once, and I could have done it if tried), I could move to the garage for assembly. In a 1 car garage, you might have to leave out the lounge chair and HDTV, but I think you'll have lots of room to make kindling

[Hobbyman2]

Can you build a shop or shed in the back yard?


just having storage helps ..



Hobbyman2

[dusty]

Good food for thought as we progress into this. The decision "where" has not yet been made. Fortunately, we have options. Unfortunately, options then necessitate decision. This decision also involves other family members and their needs become a part of the decision as well.

Doubt Not for It Shall Be Done.

[Dansmith]

As stated in an earlier post, I started re-arranging my small shop over the weekend. I have since moved tools around three times for just the right fit, contemplating where to place them with as much functionality and as little need to move them around in the future. Only use of the shop will tell.

I am finding that the biggest issue to work around is placement of the stand alone table saw to allow for ripping of long boards and not having to move any tools, table saw included.

I plan to make some storage shelves very soon. Will see how it works out.

[everettdavis]

Ron Paulk is a homebuilder that has some great videos on his design(s) of a mobile trailer based shop that travels to his work site.

This can give you a few ideas for working in a small space, and with a small trailer, you might find some useful ways to keep things in a smaller space keeping the body of that garage more open for working on projects.

It may not fit your needs exactly, but the ideas are going to be relevant to others here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvWYkzuNssM

Everett

[robinson46176]

As stated in an earlier post, I started re-arranging my small shop over the weekend. I have since moved tools around three times for just the right fit, contemplating where to place them with as much functionality and as little need to move them around in the future. Only use of the shop will tell.

I am finding that the biggest issue to work around is placement of the stand alone table saw to allow for ripping of long boards and not having to move any tools, table saw included.

I plan to make some storage shelves very soon. Will see how it works out.

WHEELS WHEELS WHEELS !!!!!
Wheels on almost everything. My storage shelves are on wheels. All of my machines are on wheels including all of my Shopsmiths. My heavy old steel office desk that I use as a sitting bench is not yet but will be very soon. All of my lumber storage so far is on wheels. Stuff not on wheels belongs on the walls on my cleat system and far enough off of the floor that I can sweep under it. My bench is not on wheels yet but I have a batch of those 4 caster furniture movers dollies and I could move it easily that way. I am not on wheels either...



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[Dansmith]

As stated in an earlier post, I started re-arranging my small shop over the weekend. I have since moved tools around three times for just the right fit, contemplating where to place them with as much functionality and as little need to move them around in the future. Only use of the shop will tell.

I am finding that the biggest issue to work around is placement of the stand alone table saw to allow for ripping of long boards and not having to move any tools, table saw included.

I plan to make some storage shelves very soon. Will see how it works out.

WHEELS WHEELS WHEELS !!!!!
Wheels on almost everything. ...



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I have everything on wheels except my jointer (hard to move). I still prefer to move them as little as posible. Tried out the new set-up today to make a hanging shelf. Worked out great.