Shopsmith Forums

I'm in the very beginning stages of either buying or building a storage shed that has the potential of becoming my wood shop (which is currently my garage, and my wife wants it back).

I'm soliciting opinions on what folks think would be a good size shed, not a pole barn, would be. Electricity and heat would be a year out or so.

Minimum tools would be:
Pro planer, 10er as a lathe, MK 5 or 7, router table, 14" jet band saw and a dust collector, the big Harbor Freight one, the jointer, scroll saw, strip & 6" belt sanders as STP's.

14x16Ft I think would about right, dive or take a couple feet.

If you use the SketchUp 3D modeling tool, they have a Mark V and various other woodworking machines in their 3D Warehouse of images that you can insert into your model. You can pick a floor space, put your various machines in it, move them around to see how they fit.

Mines 16x20 and at times that just is not enough. I would say it really depends on what you plan to do in it.

First, I don't think there is an ideal size. Second, no matter what size you start with I think you will at some point want more space. So I would build as large as the budget and space will allow.

Personally, I think choices like outlets,windows, doors etc carry more weight then just plain size. I have about 450 sqft and I would happily go smaller with a shop that 100% woodshop...

But I am not a commercial venture

Mine is 16X20 It is perfect for one Mark V, jointer, bandsaw, scroll saw, belt sander, strip sander, SS router table, extension tables, thickness planer, cabinets to hold saw blades, chisels, hand tools and other accessories. There is also room for a lumber rack and room for assembly of projects. All wall space is taken up with an A/C, cabinets, lumber storage, jigs, clamps, a sink with water source, and storage shelves. Even the double door has stuff hanging. AND there is only one small window.

I only have one Mark V and one stand alone thickness planer. All other power tools are Shopsmith special use attachments.

It gets crowded when also used as storage for house stuff. Since you call your future shop a shed for storage, you need to be careful about the floor space that will be taken by your machines. I noticed that you have (or will have) multiple floor standing machines.

Three feet larger than whatever you currently have!

About 50% bigger than you actually have.