Official Luthiers Forum!

I hope it's alright asking here...

I've been constructing a building and it will have a 12'x 12' room inside
for building guitars. It will be specifically for "dirty" work. ( table saw-bandsaw-jointer-
the Grizzly radius sander- router table-spindle sander-scroll saw)

Other work- setting up etc. I plan on work areas around the outside of "dirty" room.
A finish area is something I'm holding off on. Focus is on building right now.

I thought it wise to ask for ideas and suggestions for anything inside the walls
and anything inside the room or work station(s) outside that you may have built
or arranged that is worth mentioning.

I've been building on my back patio so any and all suggestions are appreciated.
I'd enjoy seeing photos too.

As I often say,
"it will build itself".
I have a tablesaw, a drillpress, and various hand tools,
and would like a wide belt sander.
I am using less big tools, and sub those processes out.
I like a smaller workspace.
I got rid of my 14" bandsaw a while back,
cuz I used it so seldom.

I read a story a long time ago about someone who built a school, and didn't put any sidewalks in until after the first year, and then put them where the students had made a path.

I kinda take the same approach to figuring out where to put stuff in my shop. I still have a long ways to go before I'm not tripping over myself, but it's getting better slowly.

As far as your room, it sounds pretty small to set up all of those tools in, and still be able to move around comfortably with stuff in your hands.

The obvious things to consider are lighting, dust control (never enough of either of these), flooring, and power.

_________________
Jim Hansen

I have all my power equipment set up in an area 11' X 17'. It's actually part of an L shaped space. The other leg of the L is where you enter my shop, I have set up bench there which I can separate by curtain when necessary for dust reasons, or most times I just cover the set up bench and any work on it with an old sheet. I also have an 11" X 10' room adjacent to the saw area ( the door by the drill press) for assembly and finishing. Then of course there are also two store rooms to house lumber, jigs etc., total square footage is around 800.

_________________
Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Alan I don't believe I'll be downsizing or outsourcing but
I can appreciate your position.

Jim I can relate to your story. I didn't have a clue what
or how things would work when I started buying tools and
stacking them on the patio. Many things found their place
just by the building processes.
Many of the tools are not used much. Having them mobile
has been a benefit-a feature I plan on keeping.
The building is 24' x 30' - the 12' x 12' is a room size that is
comparable to the area that I use on the patio. By isolating
them and two big doors open to outside will help keep the
rest of the building clean.

Brian thanks for the photos. Sounds like a great set-up with
the different areas.

While looking through a tools mag last night I noticed two things
that weren't of concern on the patio- a vacuum/dust collection
system and air-lines - for installing in the walls. I like the idea of
getting them out of the way and having multiple connection locations.
The compressed air is of more concern to me.

Well back at it. Thanks guys.

I can relate to what you are planning. I build on my front porch, and do setup inside in a small 8'X10' room where i have a carpeted work bench just for things like that.
I have an 8'X10' shed that i plan to erect this coming spring. It will be where I will house large power tools like a drill press, tablesaw, and sanding station. I've thought about this alot.
FWIW, here's what i plan to do.
The tablesaw and sanding station will be set up on tables with locking casters. They will be stored against the wall unless in use. When they are being used, I'll pull them out into the middle of the room, do what needs doin', and move them back against the wall. The drill press will have it's own floor stand. I don't see any way to add casters to that, so I'll pick either a corner, or the middle of one wall, and locate that there.. I also plan to build a small, heavy, 2'X3' workbench for doing heavy tasks like using a plane, etc.. This will also be on casters.
Not an ideal situation, and still not a lot of room to work in, but it will get the job done, and get me off of the front porch. Any actual building will be done either on the 2'X3' bench, or directly outside of the shed, using my trusty Workmate.
As to finishing, that's working fine doing it outdoors and then bringing it into the shed to cure. I'll keep that the way it is.
Good luck, and I hope you get things the way you need them to be.

_________________
Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

Thank you Mike and hope all goes well for your plans too.