 |
 |
 |
|
Visit the workshops of hundreds of woodworkers and see their best ideas for improving a shop.
A workshop is always a work in progress as skills grow and new tools are added. Now you can benefit from the ingenuity of fellow woodworkers and see how they've solved common shop problems like storing tools, lumber, and clamps and organizing work areas. No matter the size of your shop or its location, The Workshop Idea Book will show you inventive ways to improve it.
- Shop Layout
- Tool and Lumber Storage
- Workstations
- Dust Collection and Safety
- Machine Accessories
From the Introduction
The workshop is an evolving space. Even when fitted with the best of tools, supplies, and setups, it still requires attention as your needs and skills develop. That's where this book comes in. It's filled with all sorts of clever ideas that will help you improve your shop. Whether you're new to the craft or a lifelong, grizzled veteran, there are solutions here for every type of wood worker and for practically every aspect of woodworking. From shop layout strategies and important safety systems to smart tool and workstation assemblies, handy storage schemes, and innovative benches and work tables, you're sure to find ideas that not only improve your shop but also make your woodworking more rewarding.
I've organized this book into chapters that let you incorporate new ideas in a logical and sequential manner. For example, the first chapter starts with basic shop layout and discusses the pros and cons of different types of shops. If you're just starting out, use this section as a guide for equipping your space with all the essentials to build a solid foundation on which to grow a great shop. On the flip side, if you've been in your shop for a while and are simply looking for some inspiration, you can use the ideas in this section to fill in the gaps or to revamp some of your existing systems to make them even better.
The following chapter presents strategies for keeping the shop clean and for making it a safer working environment. While having a tidy shop nears the top of most woodworkers' wish lists, corralling and containing shop sawdust is a priority for everyone in terms of safeguarding one's health. In addition to these dust-busting schemes, you'll find specific safety precautions and setups that make machine work - and your shop in general - much friendlier and safer.
Workstations are covered next, from work holders, such as sawhorses and clamping gear, to tool supports for the table saw, bandsaw, drill press, and other essential machines. Mobile and multipurpose stations that increase your shop's versatility are included. If you want better work flow, easier stock management, and quality cuts, here's the place to look. There are also ingenious ideas for adding or fine-tuning other important work areas, including better sharpening, sanding, veneering, and finishing arrangements.
Keeping track of everything you've got is only possible if you incorporate intelligent storage schemes into the shop. In this next section, you'll discover ways to stack and store lumber so you can access it without having to pull apart an entire pile. Well-thought-out tool storage is discussed, with dozens of ideas for keeping your prized hand tools and accessories neatly organized and within easy reach. Places for clamps and clamping gear are also offered, allowing you to acquire a decent collection while making it serenely accessible during those frantic glue-ups. There are even novel designs for stashing hardware, so you can stock all the myriad fasteners and furniture hardware that the crafting of wooden things demands. Storing sanding and finishing supplies makes up the final part of this section, letting you stockpile your gear in a logical manner so your work flows as smoothly and reliably as your last coat of finish.
Finally, every shop needs a decent bench. This last section not only provides some solid options in this area but also shows you ways of creating additional work surfaces, with work counters and special-purpose benches that let you tackle a broader range of woodworking. You'll even find worktables that make final assembly easier, so all your careful machine and benchwork comes together in a harmonious and peaceful whole.
So get ready to dig into a shopful of inspiring ideas, gathered from woodworking shops all over the country. Some are original, some are borrowed from centuries-old ideas and incorporated into today's modern woodshop. All have the unique trait of making your shop the best it can be.
About the Author
Andy Rae worked with George Nakashima and Frank Klausz before founding his own woodworking business. A former editor of American Woodworker, Rae is also the author of two books in The Complete Illustrated Guide series: Furniture and Cabinet Construction and Working with Wood. He lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where he makes custom furniture and teachers and writes about woodworking.
Table of Contents
Introduction. Chapter 1: What Makes a Good Shop? Chapter 2: The Clean and Safe Shop. Chapter 3: Clever Workstations. Chapter 4: Storage Solutions. Chapter 5: Benches and Worktables. Workbenches. Assembly Tables. Resources. Credits. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
