I’m in the position that i might get to set up my first workshop away from home.
Don’t want to burn through this opportunity, so i’ve put in too much time considering principles of function of a workshop space. To maybe get it right first go.
But i don’t want to rely on only my mind. So i’d like to show you the plan, and we can use this hypothetical as a talking point for general principles (on layout; equipment inclusion; etc.). At least for this one type of workshop. And i can hear from that whether any of my assumptions are faulty.
It’s SMALL. It’s GENERAList (though with proclivity to metalwork) - for the intention of being able to do most jobs that might come in - repairs; small run production.
Here’s a spin around the space for some perspective. With the primary equipment that i own and think this shop’s purposes will require, in positions that will make sense the more i explain.
There’s a big open patch in front of the door to function as the primary build space by day, and place for the shop truck to lock up by ‘night’. Double duty achieves both, and establishes teh first fundamental for this workshop. - It’s purpose as a build location with a decent, non-specific, open space, for whatever the task at hand. Everything else is to support this primary purpose. And (only) one task at a time at that.
Immobile machinery (mill; press; etc.) is on the perimeter. And more mobile equipment (air compressor; band saw; welding cart) fit in wherever possible, but also on the outskirts. So equipment that can be pulled out into that primary build space to perform a task.
On the other side are work stations. Horizontal ‘table’ space, but more than that. Those work stations are also tool boxes / racks / holders. So working in the main floor build space has those tools nearly as close at hand as when i’m working at the station / table itself. Maybe this is wrenches; hammers; drivers; clamps; squares; measuring tools; one tub of most commonly used fasteners but not all fasteners; etc. One of the stations is a (homemade) fabrication table One is more of maybe a repair station. There are these two so that all work does not stop as soon as one table has something on it. And there are not more than two to keep the main open build space.
The partitioned little rooms create a ‘mezanine’ and i’ll extend that accross the whole width. Underneath that extension, an area for office functions. Paperwork storage, meetings, 3D modeling, etc…
The partitioned rooms are a wet-room, and store for all manner of consumables. So a space for that all important function of cleaning. As well as others like dilutions. As well as toilet. Also a bit of a staging area, say for loading a cart with the consumables pulled from the store room for a job. That store room for consumables particularly is just plenty of racking For … solvents; abrasives; PPE; coatings; moulding materials; adhesives; card stock; jerry cans; cordage; chemicals; balloons; spray cans; …
All this consumable stuff is out of the way of the primary build area. And is also safe from dust / sparks / visitors. But when you need … plaster of paris … you know you’ve got some.
Things that aren’t accessed much, but need to be held-on-to, go up on the mezanine. Both equipment (a welding parts spinner; little propane forge; pipe roller), and full materials pieces.
Bigger boxes up there work like pods, or crates, of all things involved in production types that are very rare, but need to be at least accessible in a ‘do-anything’ shop (sewing; leather work; ) and also for recurring projects (like christmas products) so they’re out the way for the rest of the time.
This is not a materials storage locker for commercially available materials. However, there needs to be a place for materials brought in for a job. A place for steel section full lengths; wood boards; etc. And that’s on the mezanine, so that building tasks can happen unhindered on ground level.
Rather than staircase to the upper level, a lift takes up less footprint, and can be in elevated position normally (above head height and out of the way).
Tall carts that house all tooling for a type of task each, tuck away from the frontal build area. Into wherever there’s a natural opening. They could be tooling set specific, or project specific. Maybe all specialist hole boring cutters; all rigging equipment in one; all finish applicators in one. Or, a cart with all parts; fasteners; tools, to assemble that project type; etc - per product type. One way or another, tooling that’s workshop bound.
Re-staging the workshop’s main space is then largely about wheeling in or out the appropriate carts for the project. The tall carts can take up awkward space temporarily. Like space at the sides of a lathe, to be moved if an extra long workpiece needs to be turned.
So when you know you need -two slings and a ratchet strap- you go to one place for them. Or, wheel the cart to where it’s needed at the time. For example, one cart might be a set of Fireball fixturing accessories, to wheel to the fixture table when fabrication is what’s going on, but away again when the table is functioning as a packaging station. Again, keeping the general build-space clearer, and open for multiple functions.
So far we haven’t accounted for what i call “tools” to differentiate them from (floor standing) machines. Circ saws; (mag) drills; sanders; grinders; etc. And these have an unusual storage setup in the planned shop. I call them “process carts / boxes”. Maroon and blue in the vid above. Everything involved with that process in one movable box that CAN go off-site. If you’re going to be sanding, and you’ve got the sanding box, you can do anything sanding related that you might need to. All abrasive belts for the sander, particulate mask, power cord adapters, adjustment tool specific to the machine. Same for any other processes, like grinding; carving; wood router; thatching; electrics; etc. Now this is for a good reason. It enables this workshop to also be a tool chest for off-site work. It means that for any given away-job, i grab the process set boxes for the processes i know i’m going to be doing. Creating certainty that i’ve got all for that process, without vehicle packing hell, like hunting and carrying back and forth 2 little accessory bits at a time. I’ll take some process boxes to every job (the PPE, or Measuring sets), some to only few particular jobs (thatching). So packing is quick. Job change is quick and easy. Without having to carry every possible tool and accessory everywhere you go.
In-workshop use of the tools in the process boxes will mean getting out the process box every time i want to do that type of task. But that’s the sacrifice for the wide range of possibilities all in one shop, and this system will keep things cycling and being put away.
There’s another type of item that workshops like to contain that we haven’t dealt with yet. Parts; junk; use-it-one-day; spares; collections; etc… And there’s a strong need to keep this junk out of the working way. So that means providing it a place to be. Even more out of the way than the consumables room. And the solution for that is to use the building’s high ceiling and install storage (shelves / racking) above the build space and against the perimeter.
This means that i can keep my collection of fans stripped from dead equipment, without having that bag / box trip me up when i’m doing what the workshop is primarily for - building things. And when i need a scrap fan for a shop-made machine i’m cobbling together, i don’t have to wait for shipping; travel; or pay exorbatently. Without living in a junk pile.
That’s a lot to jam into one small shop. But i think it’s a workable arrangement, because the functions, requirements, and characteristics, of each aspect have been baked into the plan. And hopefully all within scope of what one man can manage upkeep on. While also being a space that others could potentially work in (process sets; separated areas such as work stations and office and wet room).
There are inclusions i haven’t shown. Like wall-mounted tooling (hand plane cabinet; clamps rack; tape roll dispenser; dust collection; fire protection). But if there’s a big function of a workshop i’ve not designed in, i’d like to hear about it please.