Brother had me at " I like to be in the shop, if it's just to move tools around". Also, retired and know good advice when it's presented. Good luck sir.
You are hitting the biggest market, which is overlooked by most youtubers imo, that is most people work in small shops or their garage. I think this is your niche and your biggest strength. You are awesome, thank you for the knowledge.
For anyone who may think this guy is wrong, as a person about to retire (slow way down) from a 30+ yr woodworking career, he is spot on. My first shop after apprenticeship was 15x15 and I left the backs off of some larger works so I could step through them (insanity in hindsight). Everything was and is on wheels. I use so many casters that I have extra casters being used as ballast in some of my taller tippy carts. I have moved shops 6 times, and every time I get the layout a little closer to right off the bat, but I always allow for a few months of moving around to get the feel right and safe for me. One big takeaway from my comment is that I ALWAYS place my table saw and other large machines where I can see the door to the shop as it opens. People are supposed to knock per the sign, but some forget. Do NOT get startled, you will damage something, and it will both hurt and cost you money. I have had shops where I placed bells on the door, and one where we had a red light that lit up when the machines were on- like an "ON AIR" sign. Liked the content and subscribed.
Regarding your planer and sander- I used to have a drum sander mounted under another tool. Nearly all my work is smaller lengths and widths, so when it came time to use it I would sit on a rolling mechanics stool and roll back and forth feeding stock and giving my feet a rest. One of the reasons I like smaller products is I can buy offcuts from bigger shops for cheap or even free and make a lot more profit while saving my back. Delivery or shipping is easier too.
Great video. First glimpse of his shop, I thought about the 16 foot beam I ripped into 1/4 by 3/4" strips and then had to cut 12:1 chamfers on the ends for scarfing them together. Then the close up of the wheels. Yep. And if you want a flip top, make it. Buying one won't work any better. All ease or difficulty will just be the weight differential of the two machines. (For Danmade's two machines flipper, the surface planner should be level with feed and off tables. The sander can be up or down. So put the pivot where the two will balance out the best. (weighing them is close, maybe close enough, but where the CG of those weights are is what counts.) The way to do this is bolt them to the plywood. Maybe screw on at a right angle another piece of plywood so it can slide along a pipe to see where they balance. This is where the pivot should go, even if it is off set from the plywood shelf. And make the height of the pivot work for the feed and off tables for the planer. Now I want to do this because it would be fun.) Light. Yeah, "I can see." just makes me groan. I've spent my life fixing stuff that half the people insist, "It works for me (I don't know what YOUR problem is...)" Ideally they would be directed down, with a grid, and not off to the side. Ideally you can never look to the top shelves and see any of the lights. (Not likely). The ones here would cause a lot of glare. No problem, just wear a baseball cap. Glare tires us and can make some things more difficult to see. Especially as we age over 50 and 60 heading for cataract surgery. Great tip about dust collection and air filtering. Some of the worst dust for our lungs is smaller than PM2.5 this stuff gets in our lungs and is very difficult for our bodies to get it out. I started wearing a respirator when I did epoxy, and it was so much more comfortable than the other masks and paper disposables, I just wore it all the time. After I drove myself nuts trying to find the adapters for a hand sander, duct tape and whatever... Just get it done. Keeps the work area clear, sandpaper lasts longer. One thing about big dust collection systems. If a permanent set up along a wall will work, then ABS. Once you connect to ABS distance becomes a lot cheaper. And ABS instead of thinner wall PVC. The squeeze on a thinner pipe uses up some of the suction.
All on point! I’ve had a small but productive home shop for 40 years. It took time but I came away with the same lessons. I hope people take this to heart
I can't understate how right you are about shop lighting. I have mine set up so all I have to do is walk in and say "Hey Google, shop on" and it turns into the surface of the sun, my exhaust fan comes on, my compressor starts up, and my stereo comes on. The day I realized I could do this literally changed my entire shop experience and I can't imagine going back.
Also: there are ebay sellers who offer boxes of casters and high-end drawer slides in bulk for 1/10th the price of buying them retail. Get a 50lb box or two of casters and you're practically guaranteed six matching sets or more, and many of them are close enough that you can get away with a mismatch.
Also also: air filtration for the guys who "always wear their respirator" is absolutely critical because I *know* none of them wear it the entire time they're in the shop. There are particulates in the air for absolute ages after making cuts and you're just hurting yourself in the long run over an expense that's less than a couple nice meals out.
I only started this hobby a year ago. My shop is actually smaller than yours and I agree with every point you made. I added air filtration to my shop because of this video. I love that it lets me know when the air is not safe to breathe. Great tip. You probably saved me from some health problems.
I have been a woodworker (Hobby) since about 1965. I have all the things you mentioned. Lighting, wheels, dust collection, etc. Great, job laying it out for everyone. Thank you.
Really good! Just wanted to add one more thing about lighting. I got a couple of gallons of ULTRA PURE WHITE, high gloss paint at HD and hosed down my shop with an airless sprayer. What a difference! Bring the lighting up to where you almost need sunglasses and you can do much better work. With a lot of light your eyes have sharper focus and greater depth of field.
Your talk on lights is so true and will become more so as you get older, use plenty of led lights so you get no shadows and you'll be fine, people who's shops get cold in the winter be sure to get led's not florescent because they work fine in low temperatures while you get your wood stove fire up.
Your spot on about the lighting, lol. I used 2 garage single bulb incandescent fixtures until 5 years ago, then discovered real lighting. Holy cow, what a difference! It's like daylight.
This is very helpful. As someone with a single car garage, I really don't have much space so seeing your set up and learning what made the biggest impact is very helpful. Most RUclipsrs show massive workshops and their set ups are completely unattainable or useful for me to even look at.
I spent a lot of WOT hours designing my small shop and every bit of it changed when the actual shop came together, lol. I did both the computer generated layout and the tiny cardboard cutouts. WOT is right. Great video
The Barina lights are great! I have been using the 4000K lights in my garage/shop for years. They make my garage the most well lit room in my house. The ease of use and installation is priceless.
I can't tell you how refreshing it is to see a no-nonsense content creator that's more concerned with quality information, good editing and aesthetics and less concerned with their 'persona'. You're not trying to be some bombastic internet personality with a plastic smile presenting illusions of grandeur. You're just an average dude making content cause you like it! Subscribed. Liked. Shared. Keep em coming!
Great advice. You are what I like to call........right. Love the packing tape lighting too. One more thing. If you like to use a router table, replace one of the tablesaw wings with same. Makes great use of dead space, plus you've got the entire surface of the saw top to route longer pieces.
yeah, i thought about that but decided against it because i'd have to move my saw every time i would want to use the router table since my saw has to be up against the wall in my shop.
Your sense of humor is great! Just watched both of your vid drops. I finally got my "dream shop" and I still have the same problems that I had with my garage shop. I went from a 350 s/f space to a 1500 s/f space. I'm still having issues of where to put things to make effective use of the space. I've been in my new shop for just over a year and I'm about to make huge changes to the layout. I think it's just what woodworkers do.
Yeah, i often think that if i had more space, i would just fill it up with more stuff, and probably be left with some of the same challenges i have now 😀
@@peteg4526 Don't be too jealous. I pay for it. I found a great space in a small town that we were about to move to. The rent is $450 per month, but I still have to get electric, gas, etc. So I have to try to get out there and make around $750 per month to cover expenses. And with my 9-5 of owning a painting company that's sometimes hard to do.
I am glad someone finally has said "you don't need to do this..". I get tired of the posts that say you must do this, or you will be screwed. One thing on the wheels on tools, don't scrimp on the wheels. In a small shop you need to be able to have all four wheels swivel and be lockable.
Jon over at Lincoln Street Woodworks has the same approach about explaining what one doesn't need. He started in an apartment and grew to a one-car garage, so he has a similar experience at Dan.
These are all great points, as I moved from a very small one car garage to a larger 2 ½ garage with so much space, I quickly became disorganized with it. This information definitely gives ideas to help maximize all the space I have.
You sir, knocked it out of the park! Spot on advice... I need to pay attention to air filtration -- didn't realize it until I was out of the shop (aka two car garage) for 2 weeks with covid. I was absolutely stunned by the film of fine dust on everything! And I clean up at the end of every shop session (thanks to my 7th grade woodshop teacher Mr. Tozer, and thank you Mr. Tozer even tho' I did get a fair number of swats--yes it was in the 70's) I have a dust collector that I use on every single cut... air filtration is a real thing! Oh, and subscribed!
Really enjoy your concise but still witty commentary - and great tips for a small shop set-up. (Thanks for not overdoing it with tons of silly movie quotes or dad jokes.) I enjoy the "real talk" so much more. So glad you showed up in my feed. New subscriber, here!
Big fan of the miter station storage combo. I built a miter station/rolling storage that held EVERY tool I own, including a planer, jointer, and table saw. I used Ana White’s miter station plans if anyone is interested, and used one rolling cart for my table saw, and the other as an outfeed table. Fit ever tool I own into about 4’ x 12’ along one wall of my garage! Love the video, by the way!
Fantastic vid! As a small shop owner and hand tool only woodworker, my use of space is different than yours but I can really appreciate getting work done in a small space!
I already know how to use SketchUp, so I disagreed with the start of the video. But I kept watching, and your logic behind it is perfect. Now I agree, learning it or cutting paper is probably a WOT. Then everything else... perfect. Really relatable info, and really solid info for the small/garage shop folks. Great video, thank you!
Re. lighting. I got lucky a few years ago. A local business was switching over to LED lighting from low draw fluorescents. The old fixtures were sitting in a dumpster outside. Took 2 trips, but I got all the good ones. I now have 10 of the units in my garage shop. I now have really good lighting that draws less power than the random mixture of the older style units I had before. Now the lights don't dim when I first turn on my tablesaw. And I'll be building a mobile base for my bandsaw next year. My tablesaw is already on wheels and it's very helpful to be able to move the saw for more side clearance or longer outfeed as needed.
My shop is also around 200 sq ft (half of a 2-car garage), and I've used a lot of your tips (thinking in 3 dimensions, upgrading lighting, etc). This is a great video for those just starting out. Subscribed!
You had me at #1! Subscribed! I also recommend making the tool bases so that the work surfaces are at the same level. Then you can use, say, your table saw to support long stock when using your miter box.
Love your video, finally some connection to people who just love what they do and are not interested in wasting time. Real valuable tips. I find that I gain skill doing, not planning.
Completely agree. My shop is 16x16 and I don’t have time waste on layout, I can turn around and be at every tool or station..miter saw is a must for me. Well done.
Big fan of a mobile shop! I am moving into a 35’X35’ and still keeping everything on wheels. Subscribed and thank for taking the time to make this video, looking forward to more
Awesome video Dan. I have most everything on wheels - with you there, I try to get double or triple duty out of all my spaces. love your style and spirit. Keep it coming. Thank you.
Thanks for the tips. In a week or three, one will surface in my brain, and I will think "wow that is a great idea ". You are right. The advantage of a small shop is everything is close at hand. No need to over think work flow.
Love the tips, thanks for putting it together. The space below the miter saw is perfect for a vacuum for dust collection. The miter saw might just make the biggest mess of any saw in the shop so having dedicated dust collection is absolutely worth it.
THANK YOU!!! I LOVE my miter station, I use it all the time, and yes it takes up space, but it’s also a big storage area underneath, and having it perfectly level always is perfect. Mine is set up exactly like yours, even the trash can lol.
I am so happy for your channel popping up! My shop is similar in size. This video provided the most sensible advise I've heard. You nailed it with saying to think in cubic dimensions. Taking a look at my machine... There's a bunch of wasted space.
I'm stoked! Thanks for these tips, all things I can do in the short term to get my shop more functional. I have some big workbenches that just get cluttered. I can replace the two with one on wheels and that will open up my shop for the miter stand, storage, air filtration and dust vac.
Great video. I too have a very small shop. It is a one car garage which is about 25 x 14 feet in size. I have a lot of tools, full size table saw, 8" jointer, 13"planner, 10" band saw, lathe just to name a few. In my shop most of these tools are on wheels so that I can roll them out to use and then roll them up against the wall when I'm finished. I know that I'm never going to have a bigger space... I'm just happy to have what I have now. I do have a dust filter and a dust collector similar to what you have. The filter hangs from the ceiling and the collector is on wheels. As I say... I am just grateful to even have a shop.
JOKE that stands for...? Oh, yes...'joke'. Seriously, I built my mitre stand where I can flip it and the cabinet it's on, is on wheels. You have encouraged me to keep doing things this way. Thanks for the tips.
In the end, when organizing a shop, my walls are my best friends, along side the floor. There, I installed swinging panels like we've seen at K-Mart to display posters they are selling. Using this approach, I more than double the square footage of my wall space, so I can mount most my layout tools (rulers, templates, tapes, compasses, etc.).
Having all of your tools on mobile bases is one of the best ideas. And having a shop that's fluid will help you improve layout, productivity, and as he pointed out, just a reason to hang out in the shop.
Setting up shop in my garage right now. Thanks for the video. I'm a contractor who is starting to do some woodworking on the side. I built an 8' x 30" table. And it has tablesaw, jigsaw table, router lift, drill press, and the miter saw. All on industrial wheels.
My man ... Just came across this vid. I love your line of thinking. As I recently had a long time in coming shop/storage to get my carport back building built I am treating it like a small shop. I want to utilize every square inch not to cramp everything up. Your insight is very helpful. Thanks for sharing. Still waiting for power to building but I am making plans as we speak. Area lights are up and running on temporary power. Wall plugs are in the works.... I immediately thought " I'm putting everything on wheels" . Like I said earlier, I have wanted a dedicated area for my tools for years, now it's happening. I respect your thoughts!
I like and will consider: - the wheels to make everything mobile. This will help in cleaning up and rearranging. - LED [white] lights. It's easy to make mistakes in less light/darkness. Plus, why make things hard on the eyes? - Dust collection and air filter. Dust collection and separation are visible at the instant. However, it's the next day after clean up when the dust settles, the dirty environment is seen. Also, this will make it easier for the dust respirator. - the third dimensiones. I just cannot affort to waste any space! Plus, I'll be using one machine as a time therefore I need to make the benchtop space more shareable too! Thanks for the lovely video! I definitely need to groom my gray beard a lot like yours!😊
Excellent video. I'm a potter setting up my studio and have had similar revelations. EVERYTHING on casters with one exception, and if I find a new exception then the previous one goes on casters. My equivalent of the 3rd dimension paradigm is a saying, "Everything has to pay rent twice." ...so find a way to create storage under the equipment and over the equipment when not in use.
Just had this channel recommended to me for the first time, and this is a great first video! I actually have a pretty nice, big shop area, but once material for future projects and all the tools went in, there was NO space left. I have maybe 10-15sq feet of actual workspace. I bought a couple of tool stands, then was unhappy with how crappy they are and made some others. At this time, I move my power tools to the edges of the area when not in use, and drag them into the middle area when I need to use them. I only have one self-designed tool stand with casters on it, and I am ridiculously happy with that one tool stand!!! Wonderful tips about small workshops, and that's from a 5-year veteran of struggling with a small workspace.
I just want to give praise to this video. Funny, informative, no drivel; just the reasons and some brief explanation and I love your sense of humor. Please keep injecting that into your vids. A++! From some internet stranger that has no business grading videos.
Just came across your channel for the first time, and the subject matter is something that goes straight to the heart of my frustrations. I'm in - subscribed. 👍
Glad I found your channel - I also have a 1-car garage I'm working in. ;) The best advice I would give is this: if you can put your dust collector OUTSIDE, then you don't need the filter bag, and you get back about 30 cubic feet of space. I built a little "shaving shack" on the other side of my wall to protect the impeller motor from rain, and additional bonus - when I empty it and it drops random dust, it's already outside. My second best advice would be that exposed ceiling joists are a goldmine once you realize a standard milk crate fits between them with exactly enough clearance. Make some wide sheet metal brackets that cradle the bottom of the milk crate and you have tons of storage space for stuff you don't use often.
This video really hits home for me. I am in a small section of the garage and am always looking for ways to organize things more as I get more tools. So many youtubers are in these huge 2k+ square foot shops with 100k + dollars in tools. I am taking some of your ideas and using them in my space. It never dawned on me to put my tools on wheels to easily move them around. That's brilliant. I am now subscribed.
I like you. I suspect MOST of us have shops like yours. Mine certainly is. And MOST of us just cant afford to drop 6 thousand on a professionally installed new lighting system. We’re like you.. Walmart leds and duct tape baby.
I just stumbled across this video ( and your channel by default), and I have to say thank you. Well presented, and no unnecessary sounds to listen over. A new subscriber right here.
I am in the midst of building my shop in a corner of my garage, 200 ft2 that can grow when the vehicles are moved and stations rolled apart. I like the idea of the miter saw station using the pre-made carts (“Small Shop Tour”) and the focus on light (from the “5 small shop don’ts”). I have added light to my garage/workshop area and realize that it is not enough thanks to your video. For the larger garage project, I found graphical layouts useful because they gave me a starting point, and I made changes as I started the build out (my shop is defined by being under a 10’ by 8’ mezzanine I built in a corner of the garage). I have created an electrical plan that includes new circuits for the shop equipment and other items in the space that require power (designs influenced by the “Wood Whisper” and others) that is the next phase of the instillation. I am also looking at various air filtration methods and built a test Corsi-Rosenthal box filter that has helped my asthmatic daughter sleep better. I will modify this design to fit in the shop space I have. My first project will be to flatten a stack of white oak slabs that are 70” long and up to 26” wide which will create a lot of dust, I have designed my own jig with dust collection ports to feed into a 2hp Harbor Freight dust collector. I am also concerned with noise control - what methods do you use to keep the sound at a manageable level given your tools and dust collector are in the shop without sound baffles or other barriers? Your video is inspirational and consistent with ideas from other videos I have watched. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
Great tips! Tools on wheels, light, and using all vertical wall space for storage are the main things that I have done to fit everything in half of a 2 car garage. Dust collection is also important.
Your video popped up , I watched, and I subscribed. Excellent tips and your simple ways of no nonsense woodworking tips, keep them coming.💯 A lot of us are in that small space dilemma.
Love this video. So good. Keep up your humor. Don't change. I just built a 196sq ft shop from scratch. I think I am all set but your video helps reinforce ideas.
Good tips! I work out of a 190sgft shed that I insulated and put pine shiplap on to clean it up. I like your point about mobility, which is key to success in a small shop. Also, the Miter is a winner. I end up using mine for nearly every project. BTW: I have the Festool CSC/Kapex and track saw. I use these to do nearly everything that a big beautiful cabinet saw can do. Blessings!
I have the same size drum sander as you. I built a flip-top stand with that on one side, and on the other side my belt/spindle sander AND 12" disc sander. SO handy.
Please continue with the small shop theme. Keep up the great work!
You’re like, you know, a real person. RUclips needs more people like you.
😀 Thanks!
I agree 100%! I just recently found his channel and I’m loving it haha.
Brother had me at " I like to be in the shop, if it's just to move tools around". Also, retired and know good advice when it's presented. Good luck sir.
Thank you! 🙏🏾😃
You are hitting the biggest market, which is overlooked by most youtubers imo, that is most people work in small shops or their garage. I think this is your niche and your biggest strength. You are awesome, thank you for the knowledge.
Thank you very much! I really appreciate it!
Totally agree, and great tips too!
This!
Also, I have decided that we are friends now because you packing-taped your cords to the ceiling. I respect that level of practical thinking.
😂 thanks!
"Those people are what I like to call...wrong..." This comment alone got an instant like and sub. Great video and advice!
Nice 😀... Thanks a lot!
Just setting up my first shop in a one car garage. This was what I would like to call, helpful.
awesome! glad it was helpful 👍🏾😀
@@danmadewoodworking i second that sediment with only having a unheated, uninsulated shed at my disposal 😅
For anyone who may think this guy is wrong, as a person about to retire (slow way down) from a 30+ yr woodworking career, he is spot on. My first shop after apprenticeship was 15x15 and I left the backs off of some larger works so I could step through them (insanity in hindsight). Everything was and is on wheels. I use so many casters that I have extra casters being used as ballast in some of my taller tippy carts. I have moved shops 6 times, and every time I get the layout a little closer to right off the bat, but I always allow for a few months of moving around to get the feel right and safe for me. One big takeaway from my comment is that I ALWAYS place my table saw and other large machines where I can see the door to the shop as it opens. People are supposed to knock per the sign, but some forget. Do NOT get startled, you will damage something, and it will both hurt and cost you money. I have had shops where I placed bells on the door, and one where we had a red light that lit up when the machines were on- like an "ON AIR" sign. Liked the content and subscribed.
Regarding your planer and sander- I used to have a drum sander mounted under another tool. Nearly all my work is smaller lengths and widths, so when it came time to use it I would sit on a rolling mechanics stool and roll back and forth feeding stock and giving my feet a rest. One of the reasons I like smaller products is I can buy offcuts from bigger shops for cheap or even free and make a lot more profit while saving my back. Delivery or shipping is easier too.
congrats on the retirement!
Great video. First glimpse of his shop, I thought about the 16 foot beam I ripped into 1/4 by 3/4" strips and then had to cut 12:1 chamfers on the ends for scarfing them together. Then the close up of the wheels. Yep.
And if you want a flip top, make it. Buying one won't work any better. All ease or difficulty will just be the weight differential of the two machines. (For Danmade's two machines flipper, the surface planner should be level with feed and off tables. The sander can be up or down.
So put the pivot where the two will balance out the best. (weighing them is close, maybe close enough, but where the CG of those weights are is what counts.) The way to do this is bolt them to the plywood. Maybe screw on at a right angle another piece of plywood so it can slide along a pipe to see where they balance. This is where the pivot should go, even if it is off set from the plywood shelf. And make the height of the pivot work for the feed and off tables for the planer. Now I want to do this because it would be fun.)
Light. Yeah, "I can see." just makes me groan. I've spent my life fixing stuff that half the people insist, "It works for me (I don't know what YOUR problem is...)" Ideally they would be directed down, with a grid, and not off to the side. Ideally you can never look to the top shelves and see any of the lights. (Not likely). The ones here would cause a lot of glare. No problem, just wear a baseball cap. Glare tires us and can make some things more difficult to see. Especially as we age over 50 and 60 heading for cataract surgery.
Great tip about dust collection and air filtering. Some of the worst dust for our lungs is smaller than PM2.5 this stuff gets in our lungs and is very difficult for our bodies to get it out. I started wearing a respirator when I did epoxy, and it was so much more comfortable than the other masks and paper disposables, I just wore it all the time. After I drove myself nuts trying to find the adapters for a hand sander, duct tape and whatever... Just get it done. Keeps the work area clear, sandpaper lasts longer.
One thing about big dust collection systems. If a permanent set up along a wall will work, then ABS. Once you connect to ABS distance becomes a lot cheaper. And ABS instead of thinner wall PVC. The squeeze on a thinner pipe uses up some of the suction.
All on point! I’ve had a small but productive home shop for 40 years. It took time but I came away with the same lessons. I hope people take this to heart
Hey I don't have anything useful to say. Just want to add a comment so the algorithm gives you some love!
It might have worked a charm, haven't seen this channel recommended before.
@@marchingknight11 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Same. First recommendation I’ve had for this channel.
You know what they say, if you don't have something useful to say, comment for the algorithm anyways
I think your shop is fabulous and your videos are excellent. Thank you.
I can't understate how right you are about shop lighting. I have mine set up so all I have to do is walk in and say "Hey Google, shop on" and it turns into the surface of the sun, my exhaust fan comes on, my compressor starts up, and my stereo comes on. The day I realized I could do this literally changed my entire shop experience and I can't imagine going back.
Also: there are ebay sellers who offer boxes of casters and high-end drawer slides in bulk for 1/10th the price of buying them retail. Get a 50lb box or two of casters and you're practically guaranteed six matching sets or more, and many of them are close enough that you can get away with a mismatch.
Also also: air filtration for the guys who "always wear their respirator" is absolutely critical because I *know* none of them wear it the entire time they're in the shop. There are particulates in the air for absolute ages after making cuts and you're just hurting yourself in the long run over an expense that's less than a couple nice meals out.
Exactly!
I only started this hobby a year ago. My shop is actually smaller than yours and I agree with every point you made. I added air filtration to my shop because of this video. I love that it lets me know when the air is not safe to breathe. Great tip. You probably saved me from some health problems.
That's awesome man... Yeah, we can't have our hobbies taking years off our lives 😃
I have been a woodworker (Hobby) since about 1965. I have all the things you mentioned. Lighting, wheels, dust collection, etc. Great, job laying it out for everyone. Thank you.
Really good! Just wanted to add one more thing about lighting. I got a couple of gallons of ULTRA PURE WHITE, high gloss paint at HD and hosed down my shop with an airless sprayer. What a difference! Bring the lighting up to where you almost need sunglasses and you can do much better work. With a lot of light your eyes have sharper focus and greater depth of field.
Your talk on lights is so true and will become more so as you get older, use plenty of led lights so you get no shadows and you'll be fine, people who's shops get cold in the winter be sure to get led's not florescent because they work fine in low temperatures while you get your wood stove fire up.
Keep at it
What you are doing is much closer to the masses than most channels. Your shop and mine are very similar.
Good luck
Thank you very much!
Your spot on about the lighting, lol. I used 2 garage single bulb incandescent fixtures until 5 years ago, then discovered real lighting. Holy cow, what a difference! It's like daylight.
I vote best beard on RUclips. Thanks for the don'ts, makes total sense!
Just came across your “Five Don’ts” video. I have a 20 x 20 shop and EVERYTHING is on wheels!
Also, I’m 4 for 4 on the remainder.👍👍👍
This is very helpful. As someone with a single car garage, I really don't have much space so seeing your set up and learning what made the biggest impact is very helpful. Most RUclipsrs show massive workshops and their set ups are completely unattainable or useful for me to even look at.
Thanks! I would love to show you a massive workshop... but... we gotta work with what we got 😂
I spent a lot of WOT hours designing my small shop and every bit of it changed when the actual shop came together, lol. I did both the computer generated layout and the tiny cardboard cutouts. WOT is right. Great video
😂🤣 sorry to hear that
The Barina lights are great! I have been using the 4000K lights in my garage/shop for years. They make my garage the most well lit room in my house. The ease of use and installation is priceless.
Amen! 😃
Really enjoyable. Love the low-key humor.
The first two minutes are savage. "a larger show that will never come". Yea, I'm following you now. SUBSCRIBED. Thanks for a good video.
Glad you liked it! 😄
I can't tell you how refreshing it is to see a no-nonsense content creator that's more concerned with quality information, good editing and aesthetics and less concerned with their 'persona'. You're not trying to be some bombastic internet personality with a plastic smile presenting illusions of grandeur. You're just an average dude making content cause you like it!
Subscribed. Liked. Shared. Keep em coming!
Thanks a lot!
My favorite line is "Those people what I like to call, Wrong!"
One of the more useful and straight to the point videos I have seen in a long time.
Thank you!
Great advice. You are what I like to call........right. Love the packing tape lighting too. One more thing. If you like to use a router table, replace one of the tablesaw wings with same. Makes great use of dead space, plus you've got the entire surface of the saw top to route longer pieces.
yeah, i thought about that but decided against it because i'd have to move my saw every time i would want to use the router table since my saw has to be up against the wall in my shop.
Your sense of humor is great! Just watched both of your vid drops.
I finally got my "dream shop" and I still have the same problems that I had with my garage shop. I went from a 350 s/f space to a 1500 s/f space. I'm still having issues of where to put things to make effective use of the space. I've been in my new shop for just over a year and I'm about to make huge changes to the layout. I think it's just what woodworkers do.
Congratulations on the bigger shop. I’m working in one half of a two car garage and extremely jealous of your floor space.
Yeah, i often think that if i had more space, i would just fill it up with more stuff, and probably be left with some of the same challenges i have now 😀
@@peteg4526 Don't be too jealous. I pay for it. I found a great space in a small town that we were about to move to. The rent is $450 per month, but I still have to get electric, gas, etc. So I have to try to get out there and make around $750 per month to cover expenses. And with my 9-5 of owning a painting company that's sometimes hard to do.
I am glad someone finally has said "you don't need to do this..". I get tired of the posts that say you must do this, or you will be screwed. One thing on the wheels on tools, don't scrimp on the wheels. In a small shop you need to be able to have all four wheels swivel and be lockable.
Yeah, having all 4 wheels swivel is super helpful 😃
yes, if you cheap out on wheels in a small mobile shop things go downhill
Totally. There’s all kinds out there these days, smooth, quiet, better, etc.
@@chuckgrumble5440 Even if the floor is level?
Jon over at Lincoln Street Woodworks has the same approach about explaining what one doesn't need. He started in an apartment and grew to a one-car garage, so he has a similar experience at Dan.
Yes! Lights Lights Lights. So important!
These are all great points, as I moved from a very small one car garage to a larger 2 ½ garage with so much space, I quickly became disorganized with it. This information definitely gives ideas to help maximize all the space I have.
I hear you. Too much space can be just as difficult to manage as too little 😄.
You sir, knocked it out of the park! Spot on advice... I need to pay attention to air filtration -- didn't realize it until I was out of the shop (aka two car garage) for 2 weeks with covid. I was absolutely stunned by the film of fine dust on everything! And I clean up at the end of every shop session (thanks to my 7th grade woodshop teacher Mr. Tozer, and thank you Mr. Tozer even tho' I did get a fair number of swats--yes it was in the 70's) I have a dust collector that I use on every single cut... air filtration is a real thing! Oh, and subscribed!
😀 yeah, the effectiveness of the air filter shocked me at first too... in a good way
I just started teaching shop after 22 years in science - your tips are invaluable as I start moving things around. Thanks!
Nice, what prompted the change from science to shop?
Really enjoy your concise but still witty commentary - and great tips for a small shop set-up. (Thanks for not overdoing it with tons of silly movie quotes or dad jokes.) I enjoy the "real talk" so much more. So glad you showed up in my feed. New subscriber, here!
Thanks a lot!
Wow! What a refreshing change from the over the top planning and designing mindset. Down to earth and practical advice.
So glad the algo found this channel, I feel like you are my spirit animal with respect to how you view your shop and time in it.
😂
Big fan of the miter station storage combo. I built a miter station/rolling storage that held EVERY tool I own, including a planer, jointer, and table saw. I used Ana White’s miter station plans if anyone is interested, and used one rolling cart for my table saw, and the other as an outfeed table. Fit ever tool I own into about 4’ x 12’ along one wall of my garage!
Love the video, by the way!
Fantastic vid! As a small shop owner and hand tool only woodworker, my use of space is different than yours but I can really appreciate getting work done in a small space!
Great information. Enjoy the hobby. After 70 plus years working in all size shops, your advise is correct. Good job.
@@RobertPigg-v5v Thank you 👍🏾😃
I already know how to use SketchUp, so I disagreed with the start of the video. But I kept watching, and your logic behind it is perfect. Now I agree, learning it or cutting paper is probably a WOT. Then everything else... perfect. Really relatable info, and really solid info for the small/garage shop folks. Great video, thank you!
Thanks a lot! I'm glad you didn't click off at the beginning 😀
Re. lighting. I got lucky a few years ago. A local business was switching over to LED lighting from low draw fluorescents. The old fixtures were sitting in a dumpster outside. Took 2 trips, but I got all the good ones. I now have 10 of the units in my garage shop. I now have really good lighting that draws less power than the random mixture of the older style units I had before. Now the lights don't dim when I first turn on my tablesaw. And I'll be building a mobile base for my bandsaw next year. My tablesaw is already on wheels and it's very helpful to be able to move the saw for more side clearance or longer outfeed as needed.
My shop is also around 200 sq ft (half of a 2-car garage), and I've used a lot of your tips (thinking in 3 dimensions, upgrading lighting, etc). This is a great video for those just starting out. Subscribed!
Thank you! 👍🏾
You had me at #1! Subscribed! I also recommend making the tool bases so that the work surfaces are at the same level. Then you can use, say, your table saw to support long stock when using your miter box.
Thanks! And good idea 😃
Love your video, finally some connection to people who just love what they do and are not interested in wasting time. Real valuable tips. I find that I gain skill doing, not planning.
Perfect timing on this video! Thank you. 😀
That was one of the most real beginner videos I have watched over many years. Thank you! I liked and subscribed.
Thanks a lot! 👍🏾
Love the shot with the OTS shirt! Need more AF guys of color repping our skills in carpentry. Refreshing to see. This old 1st Sgt is right with you
Thanks a lot Aaron, I appreciate it!
Completely agree. My shop is 16x16 and I don’t have time waste on layout, I can turn around and be at every tool or station..miter saw is a must for me. Well done.
thank you very much! 🙂
Big fan of a mobile shop! I am moving into a 35’X35’ and still keeping everything on wheels. Subscribed and thank for taking the time to make this video, looking forward to more
Thanks, and congrats on the big space 😀
I knew within the first 5 minutes of the video that I was going to be a subscriber. I'm looking forward to watching more of your content.
Awesome! Thank you!
Me too. I subscribed within 2 minutes.
Very informative and helpful. I also like your use of humor.
Thanks a lot! 🙂
Awesome video Dan. I have most everything on wheels - with you there, I try to get double or triple duty out of all my spaces. love your style and spirit. Keep it coming. Thank you.
Hey wait a minute... that looks a lot like my graph paper! (...as I'm sitting here with graph paper laying out my new shop) Great tips man!
@@EveningWoodworker 😂🤣 That's right, good catch 😂
Thanks for the tips. In a week or three, one will surface in my brain, and I will think "wow that is a great idea ". You are right. The advantage of a small shop is everything is close at hand. No need to over think work flow.
Great little vid, Dan. You’ve nudged me on air quality, thanks.
Glad to hear it! 😊
Agree on all fronts. A lot of these are very true for slightly larger shops as well. Mobile bases keep your shop extremely flexible. Thank you!
Love the tips, thanks for putting it together. The space below the miter saw is perfect for a vacuum for dust collection. The miter saw might just make the biggest mess of any saw in the shop so having dedicated dust collection is absolutely worth it.
Yeah, I've thought about that for mine.
THANK YOU!!! I LOVE my miter station, I use it all the time, and yes it takes up space, but it’s also a big storage area underneath, and having it perfectly level always is perfect. Mine is set up exactly like yours, even the trash can lol.
Great minds think alike 😃
Great practical tips for us regular folks that woodwork :)
I am so happy for your channel popping up! My shop is similar in size. This video provided the most sensible advise I've heard. You nailed it with saying to think in cubic dimensions. Taking a look at my machine... There's a bunch of wasted space.
Thanks... Glad it was helpful!
I'm stoked! Thanks for these tips, all things I can do in the short term to get my shop more functional.
I have some big workbenches that just get cluttered. I can replace the two with one on wheels and that will open up my shop for the miter stand, storage, air filtration and dust vac.
sounds like a great plan! 👍🏾 😃
I’m glad that I came across this video. Casters are where it’s at!
Great video. I too have a very small shop. It is a one car garage which is about 25 x 14 feet in size. I have a lot of tools, full size table saw, 8" jointer, 13"planner, 10" band saw, lathe just to name a few. In my shop most of these tools are on wheels so that I can roll them out to use and then roll them up against the wall when I'm finished. I know that I'm never going to have a bigger space... I'm just happy to have what I have now.
I do have a dust filter and a dust collector similar to what you have. The filter hangs from the ceiling and the collector is on wheels.
As I say... I am just grateful to even have a shop.
You have a nice setup of tools! And yeah I'm with you, I'm happy with what I have now too 😀
JOKE that stands for...? Oh, yes...'joke'. Seriously, I built my mitre stand where I can flip it and the cabinet it's on, is on wheels. You have encouraged me to keep doing things this way. Thanks for the tips.
Awesome! Glad you like the video 😃
If you keep putting out these excellent videos, I see a bigger shop on the cards very soon for you.
i appreciate that! but i won't hold my breath 😂
@danmadewoodworking
That would be nice for you. But that's how good youtube channels get ruined.
In the end, when organizing a shop, my walls are my best friends, along side the floor. There, I installed swinging panels like we've seen at K-Mart to display posters they are selling. Using this approach, I more than double the square footage of my wall space, so I can mount most my layout tools (rulers, templates, tapes, compasses, etc.).
Having all of your tools on mobile bases is one of the best ideas. And having a shop that's fluid will help you improve layout, productivity, and as he pointed out, just a reason to hang out in the shop.
I loved what you have to say about a small shop, it made me rethink how to set mine up. Subscribed!
Nice! 👍🏾😀
I like the videos. Nothing fancy, just sharing experience.
thanks!
Setting up shop in my garage right now. Thanks for the video. I'm a contractor who is starting to do some woodworking on the side. I built an 8' x 30" table. And it has tablesaw, jigsaw table, router lift, drill press, and the miter saw. All on industrial wheels.
My man ... Just came across this vid. I love your line of thinking. As I recently had a long time in coming shop/storage to get my carport back building built I am treating it like a small shop. I want to utilize every square inch not to cramp everything up. Your insight is very helpful. Thanks for sharing. Still waiting for power to building but I am making plans as we speak. Area lights are up and running on temporary power. Wall plugs are in the works.... I immediately thought " I'm putting everything on wheels" . Like I said earlier, I have wanted a dedicated area for my tools for years, now it's happening. I respect your thoughts!
Nice! Congrats on getting that shop space 👍🏾😀
I like and will consider:
- the wheels to make everything mobile. This will help in cleaning up and rearranging.
- LED [white] lights. It's easy to make mistakes in less light/darkness. Plus, why make things hard on the eyes?
- Dust collection and air filter. Dust collection and separation are visible at the instant. However, it's the next day after clean up when the dust settles, the dirty environment is seen. Also, this will make it easier for the dust respirator.
- the third dimensiones. I just cannot affort to waste any space!
Plus, I'll be using one machine as a time therefore I need to make the benchtop space more shareable too!
Thanks for the lovely video!
I definitely need to groom my gray beard a lot like yours!😊
Thanks a lot! 😀
Excellent video. I'm a potter setting up my studio and have had similar revelations. EVERYTHING on casters with one exception, and if I find a new exception then the previous one goes on casters. My equivalent of the 3rd dimension paradigm is a saying, "Everything has to pay rent twice." ...so find a way to create storage under the equipment and over the equipment when not in use.
That’s a good saying! 👍🏾
Just had this channel recommended to me for the first time, and this is a great first video! I actually have a pretty nice, big shop area, but once material for future projects and all the tools went in, there was NO space left. I have maybe 10-15sq feet of actual workspace. I bought a couple of tool stands, then was unhappy with how crappy they are and made some others. At this time, I move my power tools to the edges of the area when not in use, and drag them into the middle area when I need to use them. I only have one self-designed tool stand with casters on it, and I am ridiculously happy with that one tool stand!!! Wonderful tips about small workshops, and that's from a 5-year veteran of struggling with a small workspace.
Thank you very much! 👍🏾😀
Bordering on tiny shop territory! Great use of space!
Thanks! It’s definitely tiny shop adjacent 😀
I just want to give praise to this video. Funny, informative, no drivel; just the reasons and some brief explanation and I love your sense of humor. Please keep injecting that into your vids. A++! From some internet stranger that has no business grading videos.
😂🤣😂 well thanks for the grade stranger
Just came across your channel for the first time, and the subject matter is something that goes straight to the heart of my frustrations. I'm in - subscribed. 👍
Nice! Thanks!
Dude - Your miter station is wow. Amazing. I was thinking of making my own out of wood but after seeing your solution I am going to do what you did.
Glad I found your channel - I also have a 1-car garage I'm working in. ;)
The best advice I would give is this: if you can put your dust collector OUTSIDE, then you don't need the filter bag, and you get back about 30 cubic feet of space. I built a little "shaving shack" on the other side of my wall to protect the impeller motor from rain, and additional bonus - when I empty it and it drops random dust, it's already outside.
My second best advice would be that exposed ceiling joists are a goldmine once you realize a standard milk crate fits between them with exactly enough clearance. Make some wide sheet metal brackets that cradle the bottom of the milk crate and you have tons of storage space for stuff you don't use often.
I appreciate your no-nonsense (yet entertaining) approach. I'm working in 1/2 of a 2-car garage and your tips are helpful! You've got a new subscriber
Awesome! Thank you!
This video really hits home for me. I am in a small section of the garage and am always looking for ways to organize things more as I get more tools.
So many youtubers are in these huge 2k+ square foot shops with 100k + dollars in tools.
I am taking some of your ideas and using them in my space. It never dawned on me to put my tools on wheels to easily move them around. That's brilliant.
I am now subscribed.
Thanks!... Glad it was helpful!
It is criminal that you only have 27k subscribers. Thanks for the tips. I am currently building my shop and these tips are helpful.
great, i'm glad it was helpful... good luck with the shop!
I love your humor! Lucky find on RUclips, I’m now subscribed.
Awesome, thanks a lot! 😃
I like you. I suspect MOST of us have shops like yours. Mine certainly is. And MOST of us just cant afford to drop 6 thousand on a professionally installed new lighting system. We’re like you.. Walmart leds and duct tape baby.
dang, the usage of the toolboxes into the mitre station is so smart.
Great tips. I've learned most of these the hard way. Now to make a more efficient stand for my planer. Thank you.
I just stumbled across this video ( and your channel by default), and I have to say thank you. Well presented, and no unnecessary sounds to listen over. A new subscriber right here.
Thanks!
I am in the midst of building my shop in a corner of my garage, 200 ft2 that can grow when the vehicles are moved and stations rolled apart. I like the idea of the miter saw station using the pre-made carts (“Small Shop Tour”) and the focus on light (from the “5 small shop don’ts”). I have added light to my garage/workshop area and realize that it is not enough thanks to your video. For the larger garage project, I found graphical layouts useful because they gave me a starting point, and I made changes as I started the build out (my shop is defined by being under a 10’ by 8’ mezzanine I built in a corner of the garage). I have created an electrical plan that includes new circuits for the shop equipment and other items in the space that require power (designs influenced by the “Wood Whisper” and others) that is the next phase of the instillation. I am also looking at various air filtration methods and built a test Corsi-Rosenthal box filter that has helped my asthmatic daughter sleep better. I will modify this design to fit in the shop space I have. My first project will be to flatten a stack of white oak slabs that are 70” long and up to 26” wide which will create a lot of dust, I have designed my own jig with dust collection ports to feed into a 2hp Harbor Freight dust collector. I am also concerned with noise control - what methods do you use to keep the sound at a manageable level given your tools and dust collector are in the shop without sound baffles or other barriers? Your video is inspirational and consistent with ideas from other videos I have watched. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
Thanks, I actually don't do anything for sound. I just don't work late at night, or early in the morning.
Finally a relatable woodworker! Keep it up
Thank you!
Great tips! Tools on wheels, light, and using all vertical wall space for storage are the main things that I have done to fit everything in half of a 2 car garage. Dust collection is also important.
Great tips, need to get my small shop cleaned up and organized. I agree on the wot and miter station points
Your video popped up , I watched, and I subscribed. Excellent tips and your simple ways of no nonsense woodworking tips, keep them coming.💯 A lot of us are in that small space dilemma.
Thanks a lot! 👍🏾
Finally videos for the small shop guys. Loving your channel. Keep the videos coming
Love this video. So good. Keep up your humor. Don't change. I just built a 196sq ft shop from scratch. I think I am all set but your video helps reinforce ideas.
Thank you! 👍🏾
I just inherited a premade shed, and am making it into a small woodworking shop. This is perfect! Thanks!
Good tips! I work out of a 190sgft shed that I insulated and put pine shiplap on to clean it up. I like your point about mobility, which is key to success in a small shop. Also, the Miter is a winner. I end up using mine for nearly every project. BTW: I have the Festool CSC/Kapex and track saw. I use these to do nearly everything that a big beautiful cabinet saw can do. Blessings!
nice! it looks like we're both making our small shops work! 👍🏾😀
Wheels - great idea and worth the video all by itself. Also a lot to be said for just getting there and doing stuff. Dont overthink.
I'm building a new shop right now and appreciate your advice on air filtration. I hadn't really considered that.
I have the same size drum sander as you. I built a flip-top stand with that on one side, and on the other side my belt/spindle sander AND 12" disc sander. SO handy.