Shop Space

How do you work it? Garage bay… Shed… basement… barn… ? What do you have, how have you made it work? (since I’m trying to set up my own little shop, in a small space, I’m thinking some ideas from those that have been there might help)

What is your intent? Are you just looking for some place to shape a few a month, or to go all out? In my case that has always dictated where I would work (at home or rent a place). My favorite set up was a two car garage, where I took half for a shaping bay, and I had a shed out back 8’ x 12’ to glass in (the longest board I could glass in there was 9’8"). I would sand in the back yard. I was on the outskirts of town so noise and smell was not a problem. The best thing I got from the JC video on glassing was the sand idea on the floor, I had done the cardboard or visqueen or carpet deal. Nothing is as good as sand, just let the resin kick and then pick it up right off the floor. Since I moved to a one car garage town home, I have converted the garage to a shaping area and outsource my glassing and sanding. I keep it very low key (neighbors are cool with it, but I don’t push it). It cost me a little more to do a board, but I love my new location. Three blocks from the ocean, life is good.

Just to shape a few and I’ll also be using the space for some furniture building. I’m not trying to make a living out of it, but if there are good ideas of how to set things up and utilize a small space well, I’d be interested in hearing how people have done it. Sounds like your current set-up is tight. Did you sound-proof the Garage?>>> What is your intent? Are you just looking for some place to shape a few a > month, or to go all out?>>> In my case that has always dictated where I would work (at home or rent a > place). My favorite set up was a two car garage, where I took half for a > shaping bay, and I had a shed out back 8’ x 12’ to glass in (the longest > board I could glass in there was 9’8"). I would sand in the back > yard. I was on the outskirts of town so noise and smell was not a problem. > The best thing I got from the JC video on glassing was the sand idea on > the floor, I had done the cardboard or visqueen or carpet deal. Nothing is > as good as sand, just let the resin kick and then pick it up right off the > floor.>>> Since I moved to a one car garage town home, I have converted the garage > to a shaping area and outsource my glassing and sanding. I keep it very > low key (neighbors are cool with it, but I don’t push it). It cost me a > little more to do a board, but I love my new location. Three blocks from > the ocean, life is good.

No I didn’t, after the move money was pretty tight. But like I said I keep it low key and fortunately my neighbors are out of town quite a bit. I don’t run my planer after 6 pm, which is not really that big of a deal, I use it to get the rocker, foil, thicknes I am looking for, and then I do the rest with hand tools. I have never enjoyed using tools like power sanders to speed things up. The whole process is more like therapy for me vs. a production thing. I use to live next door to a guy who did furniture and I could see how you could be concerned with sound proofing your work space. You must have lots of power tools. The way I look at it, as long as you are not running your stuff all hours of the night and you show a little consideration for those around you, there is nothing to worry about. The only thing I really miss from my last set up to this one is my vaccum set up. It is just too loud to run a planer and the vac all at the same time, but a vac sure does cut down on some of the mess.

I’m looking into the ‘egg crate’ type of insulation for the shed. Power tools are certainly used alot (though I don’t have too many yet, they are slowly building up…) and I’m only able to be out there at night so I’m wondering how loud it is to the neighbors…my wife says it’s not loud…I need to test it and talk to the guy next door. I don’t want to make trouble for myself by annoying my neighbors late at night. But almost nothing is as loud as a planer and a vac running at the same time. I just got a 5 gal shop vac with the 18 foot hose - that should help me keep from burying the tools in dust and foam. Everything has to be moveable and storeable since its a shop and a shed for garden tools, bikes, etc as well.>>> No I didn’t, after the move money was pretty tight. But like I said I keep > it low key and fortunately my neighbors are out of town quite a bit. I > don’t run my planer after 6 pm, which is not really that big of a deal, I > use it to get the rocker, foil, thicknes I am looking for, and then I do > the rest with hand tools. I have never enjoyed using tools like power > sanders to speed things up. The whole process is more like therapy for me > vs. a production thing.>>> I use to live next door to a guy who did furniture and I could see how you > could be concerned with sound proofing your work space. You must have lots > of power tools. The way I look at it, as long as you are not running your > stuff all hours of the night and you show a little consideration for those > around you, there is nothing to worry about.>>> The only thing I really miss from my last set up to this one is my vaccum > set up. It is just too loud to run a planer and the vac all at the same > time, but a vac sure does cut down on some of the mess.

How do you work it? Garage bay… Shed… basement… barn… ? What do > you have, how have you made it work?>>> Check out my shop in the board folder under,“other”.It’s titled,“Tool Time”.Also there’s a good shot of my vac. ret. system.Herb.

Herb, Looks like a working space - I need to be as organized. I have the small wall-mounted shopvac, 5 gal. I think I’ll look for a bigger container. If I can find a tall tube of a similar circumference - to collect more waste - it can stand tall against the wall and the hose will start higher - which is fine. I havn’t used the vac when working with foam yet, do you need to clean the filter on these vacs each time you shape? another question - What are your racks coated with/made-of - it looks like plastic or foam over wood…? are yours set in concrete in the buckets? Thanks, Eric

How do you work it? Garage bay… Shed… basement… barn… ? What do > you have, how have you made it work?>>> (since I’m trying to set up my own little shop, in a small space, I’m > thinking some ideas from those that have been there might help) I operate out of a (very crowded) unit in an industrial area (spell that: loud noise, dust, etc. and the complete freedom to work any hours of the day or night) , 15 x 30 downstairs with a 12 x 15 loft.

Herb, Looks like a working space - I need to be as organized. I have the > small wall-mounted shopvac, 5 gal. I think I’ll look for a bigger > container. If I can find a tall tube of a similar circumference - to > collect more waste - it can stand tall against the wall and the hose will > start higher - which is fine. I havn’t used the vac when working with foam > yet, do you need to clean the filter on these vacs each time you shape?>>> another question - What are your racks coated with/made-of - it looks like > plastic or foam over wood…? are yours set in concrete in the buckets? > Thanks, Eric Eric,No you don’t need to clean the filter every time,but you might want to use combat nylon over the foam filter,rather than the paper one supplied.The nylon does a good job at filtering the foam dust and also allows more air flow,so you get more suction/power,also there’s less heat-up on your dry vac. motor.Nothing replaces a good cleaning /maintenance schedule.>>>The racks are covered with large plastic bags to keep foreign matter off my racks(wax,oil,dirt,resin,etc.)when i’m not shaping or sanding new production boards.The bags are good when doing ding repair or setting up boards for a surf trip.UNDER THE PLASTIC IS: wood 4x4" posts,etc., covered with 1" soft foam(cushion foam)plus I use old white socks over the arms of the racks(that I can replace quickly,and easily).The buckets are 15gal. industrial plant buckets(get them at the nursery) filled 40% with concrete,they weigh about 125lbs.each.Herb.

How do you work it? Garage bay… Shed… basement… barn… ? What do > you have, how have you made it work?>>> (since I’m trying to set up my own little shop, in a small space, I’m > thinking some ideas from those that have been there might help) Shape in my bsement and glass outside, I hope to get a screened in dinner tent in the spring to cut down on the bugs landing in the resin.

Thanks Herb. I’ll find some nylon (combat? we do have an army/navy surplus store nearby…) and try that with the foam filter - the vac motor did heat up with the paper filter with just about 15 minutes use on sawdust the other day - and I did have to clean the paper filter after that - it was clogged in all the crevices. I wondered about the design of the paper filter since it was hard to clean and seemed created to fill up with all the dust that was drawn in. The foam seemed a better idea, and with the nylon it makes more sense to me. What a great idea re: the sock/bag treatment for the racks. Thanks again, Eric ya gotta love this place.>>> Eric,No you don’t need to clean the filter every time,but you might want > to use combat nylon over the foam filter,rather than the paper one > supplied.The nylon does a good job at filtering the foam dust and also > allows more air flow,so you get more suction/power,also there’s less > heat-up on your dry vac. motor.Nothing replaces a good cleaning > /maintenance schedule.

Shape in my bsement and glass outside, I hope to get a screened in dinner > tent in the spring to cut down on the bugs landing in the resin. i glass inside a little room in a barn / warehouse and as soon as i have the lamination done up nicely these little brown moths come and land in it and flop around leaving this dust or something all over it. also lots of lady bugs come around but they seem to prefer a fresh hot coat rather than a lamination. they must be pretty strong because they go sloggin’ right through it without slowing down but they can’t fly very well afterward. ah…the joys of a home built board. i guess that is what makes it your own. even still i’ll never buy a board again as long as i can hold a planer and some sand paper. cheers, trev

Sorry,THE PIC IN THE “OTHER” SECTION DIDNOT SHOW THE PLASTIC BAGS OVER THE RACKS(large trash bags will work)Herb.

I tried finding space all over due to small garage etc at home. Ended up making a deal with a surf buddy, I’ll make you a longboard, if I can invade your garage for six months…what a deal…no more foam dust all over MY house, My neighbors are stoked, and my buddy is getting turned on to it as well. I already had all the lights and racks I needed, I just seperated his shop/garage into to rooms with 3 mil construction plastic to keep dust out of the back (my glassing room) so far the arragnement has made everyone happy!