Size of your workshop

If your workshop/garage is small like mine you will have to use the space wisely.

I have built a workbench, 60” wide X 28 “deep X 38”high, which can be rolled out from the wall, into the area I am working, it is the same height as my table saw (also on wheels) and also serves as a landing table. I still have trouble ripping a sheet of plywood.
My bench saw can be moved here and there with ease.

On the back of the bench I have a leaf which can be lifted up to make the top another 16”wider.
The workbench has four drawers with the sides only 2” high with heavy-duty drawer glides.

I put my chop saw on one side (top shelf), grinder on the other side of the center divider.
My other tools (the lighter ones) go in the bottom drawers.
I did not put doors on the front.
I installed receptacles on both sides of the bench on a heavy cord to plug into the wall outlets.

when I am finished working for the day I do put things away to put the car in.

more on lights and plugins

Many work shops, using basement rooms, or part of the family garage, don't have the light needed for doing a lot of projects.
If you are positioning a workbench in your shop, hold a broom handle vertically, then check for shadows.
Move your workbench around to find the place with the least amount of shadows.

If you have strong shadows on one or more sides, buying more lights may save a lot of eye strain.
Flouresent lights are cheaper to operate than ordinary light bulbs.

As you get older, there never seems to be enough light.

Consider painting the room a light color to reflect the light better.

great article on a chopsaw

this chopsaw article
Since the chop saw came onto the market, they transformed the way we cut interior trim, but they'd also become indispensable for exterior finish work as well as for siding and decking.

plugs and lights for the workshop

If you are setting up or remodeling your workshop, plan to install at least one outlet every four feet around the perimeter, this should ensure that you are beside a stud if they are on 16 or 24 inch centers.

You can never have enough recepticals in the work shop.

It is also a good idea to install extra outlets in the ceiling, over the area which your power tools will be used the most.

The outlets are great for adding lights without having cords laying around the floor or across your workbench.

your workshop

When setting up workbenches, the height should be set at about hip-pocket level.

But, also, consider the height of your table saw. If the bench and the saw are the same height, you can use the bench for extra support when sawing oversized materials.

If you are setting up a new workshop in an empty space you will be able to design it to accommodate the equipment you allready have. You should be able to have a very effiecent work space.

If you are moving into a ready made area with workbenches and shelving. Look at your tools and equipment, how are they going to fit?

Measure the space , wall to wall, corner to corner, (this will give you an idea if the room is square, for later changes) mark the existing plugs,lights, and the wiring lay out if you can. measure all of the shop equipment you have, height,width, ect.
You will need all these measurments, to best utilize your work space, even if you have a large shop it will get filled up too fast.
There are some real good ideas for storing the tools you are not using.

replacement for the radial arm saw

As I noted before, the old saw was relegated to a few jobs, now it has been retired to make room for a newer more versitile, chop saw model.

Room is the keyword here, as the new one takes up about, one third of the room.

Now it is stored on a slide out drawer, under my work bench.
Works like a charm.

When the repacement saw is folded down it only is 12" high, with the extentions off, it is only 18" wide.

the rest of the story on the Radial Arm Saw

One of the most important items which come with each power tool you buy, are the safety warnings and the directions.
When buying used tools, the directions and safety warnings may have been discarded.

Take the time to read and understand the directions, you will be able to get a lot more out of your power tool and be able to operate it safely.

back to the old radial arm saw, it still works fine, but, it has been put aside and been replaced by a smaller, more versitile chop saw which has most of the same features, and can be stored in a much smaller area in my space challenged workshop.

The retired saw was to awkward to move around and with the arm sticking out, just took up to much room. if you swung the arm out of the way, you would have to set it all back up when you put it back in place.

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