I have carpet squares and purchased a ton of extra in case of spills. Turns out I don't care about the spills and just let the stains be. Welcome to this amazing club!
I had a carpeted garage once. I used the old carpet from the house when i replaced it. Worked out well except every time i crawled under a car i got sleepy😴. It was warm too and much more comfortable than laying on concrete.
I just carpeted my shop last weekend. Rubber super short nap squares. Its awesome. Its actually much easier to clean than when I had individual floor mats because there's no nooks and crannies. As for dust I think it's actually better because it doesn't kick up the dust when you walk around, and it didn't get slippery like concrete with sawdust on it.
I have a short pile carpet in my shop and I love it (though a lot of friends have questioned my sanity). Messes clean up nicely, except metal shavings from the drill press or stains from stains or paint. In the case of metal shavings, I place a piece of 1/4" plywood around my drill press. I do the same thing for paints and stains. I also think it helps dampen machine and construction noise, as well as providing protection for falling tools. Try it - you'll like it.
True story- My grandmother used to complain about her sore feet working in our family hardware store. She asked my grandfather to put in carpet. He offered to carpet her shoe soles instead.
In my youth I did construction cleaning (90's). There was some serious investigation about carpets around then, since the sensus here in Sweden was that they are terrible. The result? Even in hospital corridors, carpets was not an issue per say from a health point of view. Given that you does some cleaning on a regular basis, a carpet could actually keep the amount of dust in the air down, compared to something like a hard floor. The carpet hold dirt and dust in place untill you go over it with the vaum cleaner, but if you have a hard floor every step will kick up whatever is on the floor into the air.
In my carpeted work shop, I use the plastic office chair mats in front of messy work stations where I do glue ups or finishing. It is also must in front of the drill press where I might have metal shavings. It also ssems to keep my feet warmer in the winter. I love my carpet.
My workshop is carpeted with tiles. When I saw the title of this video I thought you were going to talk me into removing it! I love it. Glad you agree.
I just had a 12 X 20 shed built and when I was trying to decide what to put down for flooring I remembered seeing this video. I should have watched it again and got the squares but I found some cheep carpet at the blue store for 55 cents a square foot. Since my floor was wood I stapled it down and since I don't move my tools around much it shouldn't be a problem. If I need to replace it I will get the squares next time. Thanks for the great video.
I moved my workshop from our garage to our basement, which is carpeted. It is an indoor/outdoor carpet glued to the concrete floor, like you would find on a porch or patio. I wasn't about to remove it all, so I gave it a shot. I agree with all your points about a carpeted shop, however, I use an ordinary carpet vacuum, the shop vac for larger messes. My wife got a new one for upstairs, so I got the old one. It works good. Thanks for sharing your tips and tricks.
I am impressed with your reasoning! True that you are not rolling around while lying down. It's a workshop. And it certainly looks better than a concrete floor!!!
My Grandpa was a bit clumsy and was always dropping nuts and bolts and other small parts. He had indoor/outdoor carpet glued down in his little machine shop so dropped items wouldn’t bounce and roll as much.
I had the same type of carpet in my previous shop. I miss it in my current shop and agree with all the points you made. So much nicer to walk and stand on.
Thank you for sharing James! I’ve been debating about doing this for years in my garage shop. As I get in my mid fifty’s, I can tell you from experience your feet and knees will thank you. Now comes the hard part of finding a block of time where I can empty my shop 😝
Industrial carpet is awesome. The biggest concern in a work shop in my opinion is finish spills as you mentioned. We use carpet squares in part of our basement for that same reason. Built in padding and self adhesive. If one gets messed up then just pick it up and drop a new one in. Only takes about 2 mins.
Couldn’t agree more. I covered my linoleum shop floor with Harbor Freight’s Anti-Fatigue Foam Mats and then placed carpet in front of my work bench. Like livin’ on a cloud!👍✌️😊🙏🏼⚒⚒⚒
Hi James. Thanks for the video. Very thought provoking as usual. Please do a follow up on this in about a year. I'm curious if rolling heavy tools around for a long while will cause the rubber back to fail. Thanks for all the help you provide.
My new 24 x 30 shop is all glue down commercial carpet. I was worried at first but it cleans super easy and you’re right, tools even my Sawstop PCS roll on it just fine. Big bonus to audio recording for my you tube videos too! No echoing in there 😁
I would have never considered it. I can see the pro’s outweighing the cons as long as you are just woodworking. If you do anything else, I wouldn’t ever consider it. Metal shavings, oil, grease, fire, mud, dirt, etc.
My husband and I are 50. I broke my back and have a 12-level spinal fusion. He's retired military and every joint from the waist down is damaged from wear and tear. In our area it's standard to build houses with a slab on grade foundation. I knew there was NO WAY I could handle walking on that all day. This would flat-out cripple me. For three years before moving into our house we rented an apartment to save money for the house build and that had a concrete floor. It. Was. HELL. My lower back did not appreciate that. When we had the house built we insisted on having an elevated foundation with floor joists. When the realtor objected to the extra expense, the builder (and older man) interrupted her and said that I was 100% correct. Concrete floors are agony for old/bad joints. That little bit of give and bounce from the joists makes all the difference. This is't just an issue for the elderly. Talk to people who work at a hospital, walmart or any of the big box stores. Their backs, hips, knees, and feet are killing them by the end of the day. They spend a TON of money on good shoes out of self defense. I've known young people who have had to quit their jobs because of that pain. So yeah. When you can, spend a little extra money and protect yourself from long-term problems. This will shorten the lifespan of these joints and disable you younger than you have to be.
My father put indoor/outdoor carpet in our garage. He liked it better than laying on a cold floor while working on the cars. He also used the shop vac to clean it and cut out squares and replaced then with different carpet. That was 40 years ago, plus it was nice for me to play on while he was working, or as I held the light for him.
My old office was damaged in a hurricane, and they ripped out hundreds of 2' x 2' carpet tiles and threw them out. Well, thought I, some day I might put these fine rubber-backed tiles into use! Fast forward six years and lo! I have put them down in my garage/shop, and they are WONDERFUL!
My shop is not carpeted but if it were my next improvement would be an irobot roomba, I would not expect it to be 100% effective, but I think it would substantially reduce clean up time.
I have carpet in my little shop. If any one asks ‘whats your hobby?’ The answer is ‘vacuming’ there are three in my workshup : one dedicated to the table saw, one as a shop vacuum and a handheld for the odd jobs. Works great very comfortable and it keeps the dust in the shop, Carpet traps dust until you vacuum.
yep had some old carpet in my shop for a while and your right, its way more comfortable and I use to clean less than my concrete floor. Alas , it finally had to go for the spillage issue. I'll have to keep my peepers open or I may just try those squares you mentioned. thanks for all the tips man.
Little tip, if you ever plan on hvlp, flat out dont unless you cover in plastic or tarp (in and of itself sucks cause itll stick to your feet and pull up as you walk) with aerosol, it wont last either. Itll look good for a while but inevitably solvents will pile up
I’ve had the working area of my shop covered in carpet tiles for 2 years and I love it. I much prefer the short pile carpet over concrete, and it looks nice as well.
I have had my shop carpeted for years and besides being comfortable to stand on, the other main plus is that IT KEEPS THE DUST DOWN and prevents it from flying around the shop until you just vacuum it up :)
I have an old drafty house and I love carpet. I’d much rather vacuum then sweep and then mop. And my feet be cold while walking on it. But carpet does have one big down side in that it can mold if it gets wet and my workshop is in the basement next to the laundry room. So I need a floor that’s comfortable to stand on, resistant to mold, is extremely durable and cheap, will not let moisture through from the concrete slab, and will help dampen the noise from loud woodworking tools, and one that won’t get slippery if it does get wet. I think I’m going to go with a rubber floor.
Two of the 'shop areas' that I use in my small place have low pile carpet too. Works great, feels great. As you note, vacuums up well, stays clean, and stains clean out of mine quite easily. I pulled three year old water proof glue off of one area. It's basically spun plastic.
Having read the title of this video and having carpet in my own woodworking workshop for the past 6years I was expecting to have to write in and defend my mental state! I appreciate the comfort that the carpet provides - no downside for me. .
I set up my shop in the basement in a space my son had used as a recording studio. I retained the carpet (large scrap from remodel project upstairs) on the concrete floor “as is”. Sawdust cleanup in the closely woven pile is not a problem. Definitely quieter. No plans to change it. Dust collection/ control in a small enclosed space required much more thought. Interesting discussion!
I have an airport floor in my shop - kind of rubber/venyl. The surface consists of 'stumpy nubs' that protect against slipping and accumulation of dust. You should have one of that in your next life.
I have carpet tiles that came from a commercial building site as leftovers. An electrician friend grabbed them years ago, so I swapped him a bowling ball for them. (Hey, I plugged and drilled it for him, it's okay!) Second hand commercial carpet tiles are super tough, and cheap as chips, BTW. Sometimes even free. There are guys who deal in them in bigger cities, or sometimes, the council tip shop has them. I had second hand tiles in a previous space. Nobody knew I hadn't shelled out a bundle for them, as I put the stained ones under benches. And lifting them up isn't too bad with a carpet spade, just don't get too keen with the glue.
I see you have many hand planes. I’m trying to refurbish a Stanley-Bailey number 6 and I’m looking for a blade assembly and cap. Can you send me in a direction where I may find those items. Also a few adjustment screws. Thank you
Ha! I've been contemplating ripping the carpet up from my garage shop floor until I saw this. Someone who owned our house before us had used a garage bay for an office and carpeted it with very similar short pile commercial carpet. It's a little stained near the garage doors and there are paint drips here and there, but it's still in solid shape overall. I was dreading the idea of ripping it all out until I saw this, and now I'll give that a solid second thought!
You have convinced me to use carpet in my shop. Now I see it as a tool. I'll likely carpet stratigic areas as rhe ship is gonna double as a man cave as well where the guys can meet up around the table.
I have carpet in 1 of my work shops. It’s great. It’s nice when you drop a part and it bounces off the ground without getting damaged. If you can do it, it’s definitely worth it.
@@Tensquaremetreworkshop While we are on the topic, an aside, Technically....what is "Scratch" and why do we make EVERYTHING from it? (I made this loaf of bread from scratch and I made this workbench from scratch. That has gots to be some pretty good stuff and very useful. Where can I get me some?) The most useful tool in the shop? Credit card. You can fix anything with a credit card. My planer broke and I fixed it with my credit card. Bought a new one.
Here's a tip for cleanup on the carpet: Those rubber fingered/bristle brooms that are designed to sweep water and fur on a smooth floor work very well on carpet with wood shaving and chips. RAVMAG is one brand, Sweepa another.
I spent 37 years in Grocery Retail, primarily as a Manager, but didn't let the title Manager for you. I was out on my feet all day long. At least with the company I work. I had tendinitis, heel spurs, and bunions. I retired as soon as I was eligible and had a bunionectomy. The floors were always tile over cement, not very forgiving. I wished I had worn kneepads sooner. I installed carpet in a garage. It was a carpet that we replaced. We had a pool table there, so we didn't park the car in the garage.
I feel better now. My wife insisted on carpeting my workshop. To be fair, it's that special type of matting that collects dirt off shoes in laboratories and can be hosed down outside to remove the debris afterwards. It works really well.
I got a gym floor (ex movie set) - quite thick rubber matting. Super soft on feet and knees, kind to dropped tools, and - best of all - tolerant of grease and paint spills.
My dad used to let the chips and shavings from his lathe build up in front so that he had a home made anti-fatigue mat. He would take out some as it built up and it was just as, if not more comfortable under foot as the store bought mats.
When contractors built out new office space they laid the carpet first, before putting in the studs or hanging and finishing the drywall. Then they cleaned up everything with a shop vac. It saved them HOURS of fitting the carpet. I worked there two years and the dust never reappeared. Carpet helps control sound, too. Takes less care than tile.
Stumpy Nubs The thick (8-10mm) rubber ones (think car tire) are no issue for rolling machines. They use them in gyms. Bomb proof, quiet, insulating and easy to clean. But not as cheap or available as carpet. I got lucky on Craigslist, when a weightlifting place lost their lease, new would be over my budget. $120 for a pile that bottomed out my truck’s suspension. Damn things are heavy.
@@MarkDenovich Would you believe it! I got mine from a gym as well. This one was renovated and I got them for free. The downside was that they'd been outside for about six months, through an Irish winter and they were dirty and growing a green and black algae. Took a bit of cleaning and scrubbing and some were damaged quite badly, but I couldn't complain too much since they were free.
MadMulberry I paid $120 for about 1500sqft, also in pretty dirty condition. Sold some the leftovers at a higher price so nearly free in the end. I laid them all out on the driveway and scrubbed and powerwashed both sides. Wanted to be extra sure they weren’t going to make my shop smell like stale sweat. Got a workout in the process, moving the damn things around so much. Bought a new house a recently so I get to wrestle with them again as I transfer them to my new shop space. Who needs a gym membership?
I have just plywood floors and my knees ach at the end of the day. Ever since I saw the first video of this shop setup with the carpet. I wanted to do the same thing. Everything stumpy said about sweeping verses vacuuming is correct. In the spring, I will remove all of my machines and lay a section of commercial grade carpet. I've already picked it out at my local carpet store and just have to give the owner a call and he will order it for me. I'm paying extra to have them put it in since I want it done correctly.
Carpet would definitely be cheaper than many alternatives. My garage is already covered in linoleum (over concrete), but it gouges easily and isn't the most attractive choice. My biggest concern with carpet is the potential for staining. I actually spilled an entire can of stain and managed to clean it up with paint thinner -- can't do that with carpet. I use those foam floor tiles from Harbor Freight for small work areas -- also helps to protect project pieces when they get dropped.
At 1:45 you are using a router with a 2 sided fence. I want one for my router but can’t find anything close. What is the exact nomenclature of this fence? And where might I find a universal one to fit a Craftsmen router? Thanks
Interesting...I hope you update us about the carpet in, say, a year or three. I'm wondering how the weight of the machines moving across the carpet will affect it. I remember a carpeted industrial space where the carpet "stretched" and formed uneven spots over the five or six years the building was occupied by the company I worked for. But I don't think that carpet was glued over the entire floor; only the edges.
Keeping the carpet was a good move. I used to work in an automotive repair shop, and I quickly learned that walking on concrete all day is hard on your body.
Dang, Jimmy, you're getting all the love on this one. Too bad none of your fans were around when ol' Dave did his shop. Nothin' but mud-slingin' directed his way. The pioneers always get run over by the masses in time. Best, @HoneyOnWales
I have several "used" carpets in both my wood shop and mechanical shop. They get quite greasy and i throw them out. Always on lookout for used carpet to repurpose. Sometimes i need to roll it up out of the way but not often. But it sure is nice standing on carpet while working hood or waxing and cleaning.
The house I just purchased came with a large outbuilding which I set up as my workshop, it was carpeted with short pile carpet. 4 months later I've ripped it all up, even with regular cleaning it was a mess. Stumpy you must have a powerful shop vac! plus, it didn't feel right or creative in there... a bit like woodworking in your lounge!
I inherited a carpet garage which I used as a shop. The carpet was glued down and after awhile, I found the carpet to be no problem and rather liked it though, in my new shop, no carpet.
I would also imagine that the carpet will hold dust down to an extent. It's possible you could get less dust in the air from walking around in a carpeted shop versus a concrete floor. Thank you for the carpet squares idea. I might do part of my shop with that.
I love the carpet idea. But my question is about the retractable wheel lifts I saw on several machines throughout your shop. Where do you buy them. And did you modify them?
Have you looked at pvc tiles? Used in many shops and factories around the world. Really tough, more comfortable than concrete but probably better in terms of cleaning spills than carpet. Pricy though. Wish I could afford them for my workshop 😅
I agree there are advantages to having a floor covered with very short-pile carpeting. Anyone who's ever removed an old carpet, though, can attest the amount of dust and dirt that accumulates even with the best of care. As long as this doesn't bother you, or the advantages outweigh the dust accumulation, carpet away.
I noticed your oscillating belt sander in a ‘drawer’ behind you. Do you need any special clips or anything to hold it steady when it’s pulled out and in use?
I have carpet squares and purchased a ton of extra in case of spills. Turns out I don't care about the spills and just let the stains be. Welcome to this amazing club!
Our club needs a secret handshake.
Something involving shuffling your feet and shocking the heck out of the other person. ;)
About to join the gang!
Do the corners or edges come up when rolling heavy items across? Do you have a pad under?
I had a carpeted garage once. I used the old carpet from the house when i replaced it. Worked out well except every time i crawled under a car i got sleepy😴. It was warm too and much more comfortable than laying on concrete.
One of my first shops was carpeted. By "shop" I mean unit 364 in the Foxfire Apartment complex. :)
I just carpeted my shop last weekend. Rubber super short nap squares. Its awesome. Its actually much easier to clean than when I had individual floor mats because there's no nooks and crannies. As for dust I think it's actually better because it doesn't kick up the dust when you walk around, and it didn't get slippery like concrete with sawdust on it.
I have a short pile carpet in my shop and I love it (though a lot of friends have questioned my sanity). Messes clean up nicely, except metal shavings from the drill press or stains from stains or paint. In the case of metal shavings, I place a piece of 1/4" plywood around my drill press. I do the same thing for paints and stains. I also think it helps dampen machine and construction noise, as well as providing protection for falling tools. Try it - you'll like it.
Or you could glue carpet to your shoe soles for the same effect
True story- My grandmother used to complain about her sore feet working in our family hardware store. She asked my grandfather to put in carpet. He offered to carpet her shoe soles instead.
Jonathan Nagel the force is strong with this one
@@NoNORADon911 shag carpet or else 2 dust mops
BRILLIANT!
very smart 😛👍
The first thing I thought of when I saw the size of the new shop was noise from all that concrete - carpet totally makes sense in a space this large.
In my youth I did construction cleaning (90's). There was some serious investigation about carpets around then, since the sensus here in Sweden was that they are terrible. The result? Even in hospital corridors, carpets was not an issue per say from a health point of view. Given that you does some cleaning on a regular basis, a carpet could actually keep the amount of dust in the air down, compared to something like a hard floor. The carpet hold dirt and dust in place untill you go over it with the vaum cleaner, but if you have a hard floor every step will kick up whatever is on the floor into the air.
In my carpeted work shop, I use the plastic office chair mats in front of messy work stations where I do glue ups or finishing. It is also must in front of the drill press where I might have metal shavings. It also ssems to keep my feet warmer in the winter. I love my carpet.
My workshop is carpeted with tiles. When I saw the title of this video I thought you were going to talk me into removing it! I love it. Glad you agree.
I just had a 12 X 20 shed built and when I was trying to decide what to put down for flooring I remembered seeing this video. I should have watched it again and got the squares but I found some cheep carpet at the blue store for 55 cents a square foot. Since my floor was wood I stapled it down and since I don't move my tools around much it shouldn't be a problem. If I need to replace it I will get the squares next time. Thanks for the great video.
I moved my workshop from our garage to our basement, which is carpeted. It is an indoor/outdoor carpet glued to the concrete floor, like you would find on a porch or patio. I wasn't about to remove it all, so I gave it a shot. I agree with all your points about a carpeted shop, however, I use an ordinary carpet vacuum, the shop vac for larger messes. My wife got a new one for upstairs, so I got the old one. It works good. Thanks for sharing your tips and tricks.
I am impressed with your reasoning! True that you are not rolling around while lying down. It's a workshop. And it certainly looks better than a concrete floor!!!
James, thank you for all the good service you provide. You seem well after your accident. I pray the hand is healing well.
My Grandpa was a bit clumsy and was always dropping nuts and bolts and other small parts. He had indoor/outdoor carpet glued down in his little machine shop so dropped items wouldn’t bounce and roll as much.
I had the same type of carpet in my previous shop. I miss it in my current shop and agree with all the points you made. So much nicer to walk and stand on.
Thank you for sharing James! I’ve been debating about doing this for years in my garage shop. As I get in my mid fifty’s, I can tell you from experience your feet and knees will thank you. Now comes the hard part of finding a block of time where I can empty my shop 😝
Industrial carpet is awesome. The biggest concern in a work shop in my opinion is finish spills as you mentioned. We use carpet squares in part of our basement for that same reason. Built in padding and self adhesive. If one gets messed up then just pick it up and drop a new one in. Only takes about 2 mins.
A drop cloth is an easy solution for finish spills. I like the canvass ones rather than the plastic.
Couldn’t agree more. I covered my linoleum shop floor with Harbor Freight’s Anti-Fatigue Foam Mats and then placed carpet in front of my work bench. Like livin’ on a cloud!👍✌️😊🙏🏼⚒⚒⚒
My shop is pretty small. I guess I could use the remnant of a 2x2 square for something. ;>
Hi James. Thanks for the video. Very thought provoking as usual. Please do a follow up on this in about a year. I'm curious if rolling heavy tools around for a long while will cause the rubber back to fail. Thanks for all the help you provide.
had carpet in my first shop loved it. great for kneeling on and so much warmer and quieter.
My new 24 x 30 shop is all glue down commercial carpet. I was worried at first but it cleans super easy and you’re right, tools even my Sawstop PCS roll on it just fine.
Big bonus to audio recording for my you tube videos too! No echoing in there 😁
Carpet squares are good for taking a quiet naps on hot days in the shop
Worked for us in kindergarten.
Two used Yoga Mats help for the Princesses One for a pillow and the other for more comfort. LOL ;-)) us older people need more cushioning
Turn a fleet of Roombas loose at night.
A workshop-grade roomba would be pretty neat. more powerful and with a larger capacity, built like a low-profile shop-vac.
'Ride of the Valkyries' starts to play
@@johngreco7171 the latest Roombas are self emptying, too.
@@mikeking7470 This hadn't occurred to me. I might look into grabbing one for my garage workshop.
I've always had carpet down in my garage...love it... totally cosy on these cold UK winters building my projects
I would have never considered it. I can see the pro’s outweighing the cons as long as you are just woodworking.
If you do anything else, I wouldn’t ever consider it. Metal shavings, oil, grease, fire, mud, dirt, etc.
My husband and I are 50. I broke my back and have a 12-level spinal fusion. He's retired military and every joint from the waist down is damaged from wear and tear.
In our area it's standard to build houses with a slab on grade foundation. I knew there was NO WAY I could handle walking on that all day. This would flat-out cripple me. For three years before moving into our house we rented an apartment to save money for the house build and that had a concrete floor. It. Was. HELL. My lower back did not appreciate that.
When we had the house built we insisted on having an elevated foundation with floor joists. When the realtor objected to the extra expense, the builder (and older man) interrupted her and said that I was 100% correct. Concrete floors are agony for old/bad joints. That little bit of give and bounce from the joists makes all the difference.
This is't just an issue for the elderly. Talk to people who work at a hospital, walmart or any of the big box stores. Their backs, hips, knees, and feet are killing them by the end of the day. They spend a TON of money on good shoes out of self defense. I've known young people who have had to quit their jobs because of that pain.
So yeah. When you can, spend a little extra money and protect yourself from long-term problems. This will shorten the lifespan of these joints and disable you younger than you have to be.
My father put indoor/outdoor carpet in our garage. He liked it better than laying on a cold floor while working on the cars. He also used the shop vac to clean it and cut out squares and replaced then with different carpet. That was 40 years ago, plus it was nice for me to play on while he was working, or as I held the light for him.
My old office was damaged in a hurricane, and they ripped out hundreds of 2' x 2' carpet tiles and threw them out. Well, thought I, some day I might put these fine rubber-backed tiles into use! Fast forward six years and lo! I have put them down in my garage/shop, and they are WONDERFUL!
My shop is not carpeted but if it were my next improvement would be an irobot roomba, I would not expect it to be 100% effective, but I think it would substantially reduce clean up time.
Too cool, I love it. You rock! Well spoken, James. Be Well, Do Good Work, and Stay in Touch!
interesting idea...the one about curing the damp :-) I think moving my workshop to another country might be the best option ;-)
The carpet I have is a harvesting cord type that sits straight on top of the concrete floor. It’s been down 11 years now and is fine.
My first commercial building i had my shop in was carpeted, i loved it, I used to where crocs, it was so comfy.
I have carpet in my little shop. If any one asks ‘whats your hobby?’ The answer is ‘vacuming’ there are three in my workshup : one dedicated to the table saw, one as a shop vacuum and a handheld for the odd jobs. Works great very comfortable and it keeps the dust in the shop, Carpet traps dust until you vacuum.
yep had some old carpet in my shop for a while and your right, its way more comfortable and I use to clean less than my concrete floor. Alas , it finally had to go for the spillage issue. I'll have to keep my peepers open or I may just try those squares you mentioned. thanks for all the tips man.
Little tip, if you ever plan on hvlp, flat out dont unless you cover in plastic or tarp (in and of itself sucks cause itll stick to your feet and pull up as you walk) with aerosol, it wont last either. Itll look good for a while but inevitably solvents will pile up
I’ve had the working area of my shop covered in carpet tiles for 2 years and I love it. I much prefer the short pile carpet over concrete, and it looks nice as well.
I have had my shop carpeted for years and besides being comfortable to stand on, the other main plus is that IT KEEPS THE DUST DOWN and prevents it from flying around the shop until you just vacuum it up :)
I have an old drafty house and I love carpet. I’d much rather vacuum then sweep and then mop. And my feet be cold while walking on it. But carpet does have one big down side in that it can mold if it gets wet and my workshop is in the basement next to the laundry room. So I need a floor that’s comfortable to stand on, resistant to mold, is extremely durable and cheap, will not let moisture through from the concrete slab, and will help dampen the noise from loud woodworking tools, and one that won’t get slippery if it does get wet. I think I’m going to go with a rubber floor.
Excellent idea Stubs! It all makes sense when you are honest enough to drop the pre-conceptions. Cheers Mate!
Thanks for the carpet idea James.. Great video!
Two of the 'shop areas' that I use in my small place have low pile carpet too. Works great, feels great. As you note, vacuums up well, stays clean, and stains clean out of mine quite easily. I pulled three year old water proof glue off of one area. It's basically spun plastic.
Having read the title of this video and having carpet in my own woodworking workshop for the past 6years I was expecting to have to write in and defend my mental state! I appreciate the comfort that the carpet provides - no downside for me. .
Do ypu have anything under the carpet?
The new shop looks amazing. Can't wait for a tour. Thanks for sharing.
I set up my shop in the basement in a space my son had used as a recording studio. I retained the carpet (large scrap from remodel project upstairs) on the concrete floor “as is”. Sawdust cleanup in the closely woven pile is not a problem. Definitely quieter. No plans to change it. Dust collection/ control in a small enclosed space required much more thought.
Interesting discussion!
Great idea, Yeah the carpet squares is the best way to go. Easy to replace whenever one of them gets badly stained.
I have an airport floor in my shop - kind of rubber/venyl. The surface consists of 'stumpy nubs' that protect against slipping and accumulation of dust. You should have one of that in your next life.
I got you beat. I looked at a house for sale that had a bathroom carpeted. I don't have to describe what the area around the toilet smelled like.
I love having carpet to work on! Works great for all my equipment.
I have carpet tiles that came from a commercial building site as leftovers. An electrician friend grabbed them years ago, so I swapped him a bowling ball for them. (Hey, I plugged and drilled it for him, it's okay!)
Second hand commercial carpet tiles are super tough, and cheap as chips, BTW. Sometimes even free. There are guys who deal in them in bigger cities, or sometimes, the council tip shop has them. I had second hand tiles in a previous space. Nobody knew I hadn't shelled out a bundle for them, as I put the stained ones under benches.
And lifting them up isn't too bad with a carpet spade, just don't get too keen with the glue.
I just glue carpet squares on the corners. When one wears too much, I switch it for one on the edge of the area. No new replacement needed.
I see you have many hand planes. I’m trying to refurbish a Stanley-Bailey number 6 and I’m looking for a blade assembly and cap. Can you send me in a direction where I may find those items. Also a few adjustment screws.
Thank you
I like the nod to the Dave the drunken woodworker haha cool video
Ha! I've been contemplating ripping the carpet up from my garage shop floor until I saw this. Someone who owned our house before us had used a garage bay for an office and carpeted it with very similar short pile commercial carpet. It's a little stained near the garage doors and there are paint drips here and there, but it's still in solid shape overall. I was dreading the idea of ripping it all out until I saw this, and now I'll give that a solid second thought!
You have convinced me to use carpet in my shop. Now I see it as a tool. I'll likely carpet stratigic areas as rhe ship is gonna double as a man cave as well where the guys can meet up around the table.
I have carpet in 1 of my work shops. It’s great. It’s nice when you drop a part and it bounces off the ground without getting damaged. If you can do it, it’s definitely worth it.
Looks good and good idea.
PS: Technically "concrete". Kind of like bread and flour. 😁
Technically, the most important ingredient in concrete is... wait for it... cement :)
@@StumpyNubs I am aware. 15 years in Alpena at the cement plant. 😊
@@Tensquaremetreworkshop While we are on the topic, an aside, Technically....what is "Scratch" and why do we make EVERYTHING from it? (I made this loaf of bread from scratch and I made this workbench from scratch. That has gots to be some pretty good stuff and very useful. Where can I get me some?) The most useful tool in the shop? Credit card. You can fix anything with a credit card. My planer broke and I fixed it with my credit card. Bought a new one.
Technically, this is a woodworking video, not a masonry tutorial.
@@StumpyNubs Masonry is brick, block, or stone and mortar. Very different from concrete.
Here's a tip for cleanup on the carpet: Those rubber fingered/bristle brooms that are designed to sweep water and fur on a smooth floor work very well on carpet with wood shaving and chips. RAVMAG is one brand, Sweepa another.
The clear hard plastic office chair pad, under the drill press and in the painting area and pretty much good to go if have dust collection.
I spent 37 years in Grocery Retail, primarily as a Manager, but didn't let the title Manager for you. I was out on my feet all day long. At least with the company I work. I had tendinitis, heel spurs, and bunions. I retired as soon as I was eligible and had a bunionectomy. The floors were always tile over cement, not very forgiving. I wished I had worn kneepads sooner. I installed carpet in a garage. It was a carpet that we replaced. We had a pool table there, so we didn't park the car in the garage.
I feel better now. My wife insisted on carpeting my workshop. To be fair, it's that special type of matting that collects dirt off shoes in laboratories and can be hosed down outside to remove the debris afterwards.
It works really well.
I got a gym floor (ex movie set) - quite thick rubber matting. Super soft on feet and knees, kind to dropped tools, and - best of all - tolerant of grease and paint spills.
My dad used to let the chips and shavings from his lathe build up in front so that he had a home made anti-fatigue mat. He would take out some as it built up and it was just as, if not more comfortable under foot as the store bought mats.
When contractors built out new office space they laid the carpet first, before putting in the studs or hanging and finishing the drywall. Then they cleaned up everything with a shop vac. It saved them HOURS of fitting the carpet. I worked there two years and the dust never reappeared. Carpet helps control sound, too. Takes less care than tile.
I've had 18 x 18 commercial carpet squares in my workshop for more than 30 years. I think they're great.
Stephen Miller hey, 18x18 squares just came out 18.5 years ago so I call bs! Lol
@@fatthumbenterprises8083 sorry man, these were design samples, not for sale. I have way over 100 of them, no 2 are alike.
Four words - interlocking rubber floor tiles!
2500 square feet of those will set you back quite a bit. But even in a smaller shop they suck if you want to roll machines around.
Stumpy Nubs The thick (8-10mm) rubber ones (think car tire) are no issue for rolling machines. They use them in gyms. Bomb proof, quiet, insulating and easy to clean. But not as cheap or available as carpet. I got lucky on Craigslist, when a weightlifting place lost their lease, new would be over my budget. $120 for a pile that bottomed out my truck’s suspension. Damn things are heavy.
@@MarkDenovich Would you believe it! I got mine from a gym as well. This one was renovated and I got them for free. The downside was that they'd been outside for about six months, through an Irish winter and they were dirty and growing a green and black algae. Took a bit of cleaning and scrubbing and some were damaged quite badly, but I couldn't complain too much since they were free.
MadMulberry I paid $120 for about 1500sqft, also in pretty dirty condition. Sold some the leftovers at a higher price so nearly free in the end. I laid them all out on the driveway and scrubbed and powerwashed both sides. Wanted to be extra sure they weren’t going to make my shop smell like stale sweat. Got a workout in the process, moving the damn things around so much. Bought a new house a recently so I get to wrestle with them again as I transfer them to my new shop space. Who needs a gym membership?
Carpeted mine w gently used carpeting a few years back. Love it
This is the Mythbusters of woodworking show. 👍👍
I have just plywood floors and my knees ach at the end of the day. Ever since I saw the first video of this shop setup with the carpet. I wanted to do the same thing. Everything stumpy said about sweeping verses vacuuming is correct. In the spring, I will remove all of my machines and lay a section of commercial grade carpet. I've already picked it out at my local carpet store and just have to give the owner a call and he will order it for me. I'm paying extra to have them put it in since I want it done correctly.
Carpet would definitely be cheaper than many alternatives. My garage is already covered in linoleum (over concrete), but it gouges easily and isn't the most attractive choice. My biggest concern with carpet is the potential for staining. I actually spilled an entire can of stain and managed to clean it up with paint thinner -- can't do that with carpet. I use those foam floor tiles from Harbor Freight for small work areas -- also helps to protect project pieces when they get dropped.
At 1:45 you are using a router with a 2 sided fence. I want one for my router but can’t find anything close. What is the exact nomenclature of this fence? And where might I find a universal one to fit a Craftsmen router? Thanks
It's the M-Power CRB7 with the mortise attachment. They are universal for most routers.
Ok, I like the carpet squares idea!
Interesting...I hope you update us about the carpet in, say, a year or three. I'm wondering how the weight of the machines moving across the carpet will affect it. I remember a carpeted industrial space where the carpet "stretched" and formed uneven spots over the five or six years the building was occupied by the company I worked for. But I don't think that carpet was glued over the entire floor; only the edges.
Check back in 6 years, then :)
Keeping the carpet was a good move. I used to work in an automotive repair shop, and I quickly learned that walking on concrete all day is hard on your body.
Dang, Jimmy, you're getting all the love on this one. Too bad none of your fans were around when ol' Dave did his shop. Nothin' but mud-slingin' directed his way. The pioneers always get run over by the masses in time. Best, @HoneyOnWales
Carpet tiles are amazing. I will have them in my future shop.
dampening sound I feel would be a very underrated factor, aside from comfort on your feet
Carpet will also help with sound bouncing around in the room. Sound proofing. Every little bit helps.
I have vinyl over carpet in my workshop, very soft on the feet and easy to clean
Agreed. Have carpet in my work area. Great on the feet and back.
This makes a lot of sense, will be looking into this!
I have several "used" carpets in both my wood shop and mechanical shop. They get quite greasy and i throw them out. Always on lookout for used carpet to repurpose. Sometimes i need to roll it up out of the way but not often. But it sure is nice standing on carpet while working hood or waxing and cleaning.
Another winner!! Let’s sawdust build up ti level floor really? I mean really!?!?
Finally someone with common sense ( or cents ).
The house I just purchased came with a large outbuilding which I set up as my workshop, it was carpeted with short pile carpet. 4 months later I've ripped it all up, even with regular cleaning it was a mess. Stumpy you must have a powerful shop vac! plus, it didn't feel right or creative in there... a bit like woodworking in your lounge!
Appreciate the follow-up on the carpeted floor. I thought you were nuts a first. Perhaps not.
What is the status of your finger? Healing proces going well?
I think it's almost fully regrown now
I have been thinking about doing it for a couple of years now. Now I just need to do it.
How are your hands doing?
I inherited a carpet garage which I used as a shop. The carpet was glued down and after awhile, I found the carpet to be no problem and rather liked it though, in my new shop, no carpet.
I would also imagine that the carpet will hold dust down to an extent. It's possible you could get less dust in the air from walking around in a carpeted shop versus a concrete floor. Thank you for the carpet squares idea. I might do part of my shop with that.
I love the carpet idea. But my question is about the retractable wheel lifts I saw on several machines throughout your shop. Where do you buy them. And did you modify them?
The mobile bases? I buy the Portamate brand. You can get them online or at woodworking stores.
Have you looked at pvc tiles? Used in many shops and factories around the world. Really tough, more comfortable than concrete but probably better in terms of cleaning spills than carpet. Pricy though. Wish I could afford them for my workshop 😅
I bet sound reverberating is greatly diminished. Plus I'm assuming a suspended ceiling, should help quiet things nicely
May I suggest installing concrete floors ILO cement? Lots more durable and less dusty.
I agree there are advantages to having a floor covered with very short-pile carpeting. Anyone who's ever removed an old carpet, though, can attest the amount of dust and dirt that accumulates even with the best of care. As long as this doesn't bother you, or the advantages outweigh the dust accumulation, carpet away.
Very similar to what I have in my shop and works great. Also keeps noise down a little.
Love your videos! Can you please start naming the beer you're drinking in each video? Whether by speaking it or listing it in the description? Thanks!
Let's name this one... Tom.
My shop is carpeted. I love it.
I noticed your oscillating belt sander in a ‘drawer’ behind you. Do you need any special clips or anything to hold it steady when it’s pulled out and in use?
I put a stick behind the edge of the platform to keep it from pushing back in.
@@StumpyNubs 💡👍🏼