This is the second part of a new article where I’ll show you how I applied the lessons I learned throughout the years of practice to turn this ground floor into a workshop that’s suited to my needs. I’ve also made some new projects, whose plans I’ll share for free. Here you will find the first part of this article.
To the left of the lathe I placed the column drill. For now, I’m using my old Drill Press Stand, but this is another one of the tools I want to build.
Above the drill, I fastened to the wall the old drill bit rack that I had in my old workshop, and the three drill bit sets I use most often. It’s one of those simple yet very effective ideas. With this system, accessing the bit you need is very quick and convenient. I’ve drilled some holes in the boxes so that I can hang them up and remove them from the wall easily so I can take the drill bit set somewhere else.
Further left on this wall I placed the workshop cabinets with small parts storage organizer. Inside the cabinets, I have my most used fasteners, which I thought would be indispensable to have near my main workbench.
On top of the cabinets I placed the Rotary Tool Multipurpose Workstation. This is also a tool I use quite a lot in projects that require precision. It has three functions—a mini column drill, a router table and a lathe.
To the right, I’m planning to place a Mobile Miter Saw Stand. It will probably be my next project, but for now I don’t even have the miter saw. This 3D model is only an example I downloaded for this video.
Here’s my Multi-Function Workbench. It’s a real workhorse that I use for all my projects. Don’t forget I have several videos dedicated to this workbench on my Youtube channel.
Another improvement I had in mind and that I have been able to apply in the new workshop is installing floor sockets under some workbenches and tools. This allows me to use power strips which I’ve installed on this bench, avoiding the inconvenience of having annoying cables all over the floor.
Opposite it I placed my two Modular Workbenches where I store the handtools I use most frequently. Logically, on the wall, I’ve installed sockets and two switches to turn on a small dust collector and the LED light box with my logo, which I made a few weeks ago. On the bench you can see some of the router jigs I’ve made over the years.
To the left, on the wall, I put up the Jig Saw Holder Station with a Spray Can Shaker. Another tool that gets a lot of use, both to keep the jig saw and all its accessories on hand and to shake varnish spray cans..
Above the Modular Workbench I’m planning to install a French cleat to place all kinds of hand tools. For now, I’ve made use of the pine shelves I had in my old workshop.
To the left of the two Modular Workbenches I fastened to the wall some clamp racks. It’s a very simple design I made using birch plywood.
To the left of the clamps I’ve put up a shelving unit with a sandpaper roll rack and all kinds of spray cans. Having organized sandpaper rolls on hand was another pending subject in my old workshop. On this website you can download the plans for this rack for free.
This area will be the operations center of my new workshop. In this location, which comprises the Multi-Function Workbench, the Modular Workbench and the walls around them is where I’ll spend most of my time at work.
I think I have enough space to move around the bench, even to work with larger workpieces. That’s why this is the area where I decided to place the vacuum cleaner as well as two air couplings—one to the right of the Modular Workbench and another higher up, by the clamps.
In this coupling I plugged in a 15-meter air hose reel. I covered the hose with a wooden strip with black lacquer to avoid damaging it, and I left around 4 meters of the hose unrolled, which I can secure with some stops.
This is very convenient because with this hose I can do the most usual jobs on my workbench, and if I need more, I only have to pull. I think I’m going to come up with a system to hang this hose from the ceiling, above my workbench.
Now let’s take a look at the area of my workshop that has the stationery machines. I’ll start with the compressor. Here we can see a piece of a pipe which I used for the installation of compressed air.
I’ve noticed that, since this pipe is several meters long and is beneath the floor, it condensates quite a lot of water. I should place some air filters at least so I can use a spray gun.
A few days ago I was varnishing some of the doors in the workshop and in the end I had to use the compressor with a shorter hose, avoiding this installation, to avoid the annoying water problem while we’re varnishing.
Next to the compressor I placed the dust collector. I still haven’t installed the ductwork.
I’m also considering making a small compartment for the vacuum cleaner and the compressor to lower the decibels a little.
To the right of the compressor I have my old spray booth, something which I would also like to make again.
This is the Folding Woodworking Workstation (third photo). I have it here for when I need to use the dado blade. Behind it is the jointer-planer combo. Next to it I placed my DIY Band Saw. I arranged these tools like this so that I can cut longer workpieces with the band saw without having to move other tools.
Finally, I also placed here my spindle sander. I still need new DIY tools which I’d like to put in this area, such as an edge sander.
The rest of this space will be used to store boards and other materials. After putting up the cladding on these walls, I’d like to build some shelves that can bear a lot of weight.
Last but not least, I’d like to show you my new office; even though there’s nothing special about it. I made a desk with leftover bits of boards I had in my workshop. I still need to make its drawers and some new shelves.
Something I also missed in my old workshop was raising the speakers a little. Now they’re almost at ear height and sound much better.
I also made a shelf under which I can put the keyboard so that I have more room on the desktop for drawing.
Another noteworthy thing is that I installed a switch to activate a contactor and turn on at the same time both speakers and the soundcard. If you’re familiar with home studios, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
I hope you liked this little tour of my new workshop. If you have any ideas on how to improve it, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments below. Also, remember you’ll find a lot more information and the plans for all the DIY tools you’ve seen in this article by clicking on the links of their names. See you soon!
