My shop is small. There are two shop areas each about 12 by 10 feet. One is my “inside” shop that is just off the laundry room. This space is well-lit and has a heater. This is where I do my marquetry and scroll saw work. The other is my “outside” shop which is a fenced off area inside the carport. It’s open air and where I do most of my heavier and dustier work on the table saw, chop saw or sanding. I can use it most of the year, but when the temp is below 60 I can’t do things like glue ups or painting as both require minimum temps.
I have one really bad habit that I need to change, the tendency to have too many projects going at once and leaving bits of these all over the place. Frankly, the shop has become something of a dump and it’s getting useable.
So I’ve created a new design for the shop that hopefully will remove many of the spaces that collect crap and make the over all space more efficient for the way I really work. This starts is a major clean up and demo of a couple of problem fixtures.
Here are some pictures of the work:
The outside shop – so packed I couldn’t find a good place to take a picture.
Overflowing – haven’t been able to get to the clamp rack in weeks.
While I am taking some things out, I am putting in one new piece, an old kitchen cabinet. This is a unit salvaged from our remodel two years ago. Heather had it in her art room for a while, but it didn’t really work for her. I could use the drawers and storage space so it’s on the move from the art room to the shop:
Stack-o-drawers waiting for their home.
First base unit in its new clean corner.
It’s going to take a few weeks, but when done I’ll have a better, cleaner space and less room for projects in process. Hopefully that will force me to finish stuff I start.
If you need me – look for the guy with the broom,
Andrew
Andrew's View of the Week 
Always love your posts Thanks for sharing
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Thanks for reading my stuff. There’s more to come.
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Take it from me, as a confirmed messy worker. If you tidy it up you won’t be able to find anything!!
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There is that danger, but I’m willing to risk it.
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When you’re done with this project can you stop by and organize my art supplies and purse?
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Oh sure, I’ll be right over … 😉
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I’m with you on having too many projects going at once! Good luck with getting organized. 🙂
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I am hoping it will all work out.
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I always say, there’s a difference between cluttered and dirty. Yours is definitely the former. Very hard for us creatives to keep that under control isn’t it? I could make good use of that chest of drawers myself…
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It is more cluttered than dirty, but it is a wood shop so everything has a fine film of dust on it. and there is no way to contain the occasional creative bursts.
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I seriously need to share this with my hubby – his shop area is a disaster. 😉
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It’s worth a try. 😉
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Look forward to seeing the “after” pictures.
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and there might be a few progress pictures.
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I’m guessing we’ll see the after photos also?..:)
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Well, assuming there is an after, yes. That is unless I just give up and decide to take up knitting…
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Well, I bet neither shop is messy. Busy is a better word. I bet you know where everything is.
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It wasn’t as messy before I started to clean…
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Good luck with your shop reorganization. 🙂
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Thanks – I am hoping I’ve got it worked out this time.
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Mmm, cozy.
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very cozy, cramped, one man shop.
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Clever idea you have for preventing multiple projects. Hope it works out for you. 🙂
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horizontal surfaces just collect crap. Eliminate them and you’re half way there. Well that’s the theory.
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A broom and a slight stoop from the sore back I’m sure. Good luck with the cleanup.
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Thanks – and yes the back was sore for awhile after moving that cabinet.
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