Workshop on wheels
Even a small space can be productive if you’re organized and have a way to create a dedicated area to work. This is how one Torontonian converts a 10′ × 12′ garage into a cozy woodworking shop when he wants to build something.
I have been an amateur woodworker for almost 50 years and in that time I’ve always been faced with a small workshop. Since retiring 14 years ago, my workshop has been my garage which measures 10′ × 12′. In that space I have a table saw, mini-bench, benchtop planer, mini-lathe, bandsaw, scroll saw and jointer. Also critical to my shop work is a pair of sawhorses to help form a larger work surface when needed. Plus, I have a cabinet for incidentals, a mechanics chest for hand tools and a limited amount of wood stored on wall racks. The drill press is in a small basement furnace room. The tricky part is that I need to fit three bicycles, a lawnmower and a snowblower into the garage as well.
To pack all of this equipment into such a small space, every machine needed to be on wheels so they can be easily moved. Their plywood machine bases all have shelving to store portable power tools, a grinder, sanders (ROS, belt and tabletop), drills, circular saw and router. I have arranged the more commonly used machines upfront so they can be easily accessed.
Wheels work great when I’m trying to move a machine around the shop, but when I want a machine to remain stationary so I can use it, I simply place a piece of 3/4″ × 3/4″ wood on the floor and butt it up against the wheels. The piece of wood does a great job at keeping everything steady while I work. I’ve ripped 4×8 sheets of plywood on my table saw using this approach and have had no problems at all. It’s a simple and effective way to prevent movement.
Make room, then sawdust
Typically, I move the bikes and lawnmower to the side of the house before I start working. Next, the bench and table saw are pulled out onto the driveway and the others are rolled out as needed. Doing this gives me adequate space to work. For the winter I have a radiator space heater which keeps the garage somewhat warm, but with the garage door closed the work area is limited to 5′ × 8′. This means it’s small projects only during the colder months.
Obviously, the issues faced with such a small space are the constant moving of bicycles, lawnmower and equipment, but the weather also poses a large challenge since I do most of my work outside on the driveway. When it rains I simply do something else. Also, I can only undertake a few smaller projects at a time, as there is very limited ability to store work. Spray finishing must be done in the backyard with a spray tent. This is weather-dependent and can’t be undertaken in the winter. Scheduling of projects for specific seasons becomes a major consideration.
The process of moving machinery out of the shop to use, and then back into the garage when the work is done, doesn’t take long, but it’s a lot easier if the tools, material and workspace are all clean and organized. Keeping things tidy goes a long way to making this approach possible.
Typically, I build accent, console or coffee tables, and shelving units. Once I built a large dining room table, but that scale of work quickly became heavy and cumbersome to handle in my small space, especially for a 74-year-old guy like me. Offcuts are used for wood spoon carving, Christmas ornaments, coasters and other small projects. I try my best not to waste material. Each project is unique, custom designed and, as I say, something you won’t find in a store.
I have built for family, friends, neighbours, tennis clubs, churches, a few local contractors and the odd person who walks by, sees me working in my driveway and wants something built. A few of my projects are in the U.S., Ireland and Germany. All my work is done on a volunteer basis; if I do happen to sell anything, it’s all donated to local charities. Working wood keeps my mind working and gives me a lot of joy, so I do what I can to ensure my time in the shop is enjoyable.
Dan was a design engineer and has always liked making things. Now, his payment is seeing the smile on someone’s face when he makes something for them.
