All of us start off in life with the simplest of workshops, especially when we move away from parents to our first own homes, and need to make a quick adjustment.
If we are lucky enough we have a garage to store our tools. Otherwise we have to keep the few tools we have in bedroom cupboards, use the kitchen table as a workbench, and generally risk criticism from you-know-who. If you have passed this point in time and are ready to upgrade, here are a few tips to get you salivating.
I agree with you that it sounds like Taking Coals to Newcastle to Find a Carpenter to help you set things up. On the other hand, if you are busy and lack the heavy tools you need to do the job, this could just make a great deal of sense. Mr-Skill makes it really easy to get a couple of Carpentry Quotes, and you don’t have to accept any if they turn out over budget.
You need to have a proper plan before you start. By this I mean of scheme of things where you have sufficient working and storage space that’s properly separated for safety. If you are planning to afford a lathe next Spring, by all means plan it in. Who knows, you may influence somebody’s Christmas Gift list.
This time you really should do something about decent extraction. Modern power tools create a deal of dust and most of this is bad for us because of the chemicals present. I know a Carpenter in London who
specializes in creating home workshops for the rich and famous. He refuses any job, no matter how grand it may seem to be, if extraction is not part of the basic plan.
Lighting and electricity are an essential part of any workshop, and here there should be no skimping for safety’s sake. You need comprehensive lighting without shadows, and a ring of counter-top-height plug sockets all the way around the room. Do remember to ask Mr-Skill to send an Electrician around to do this bit for you. Some power tools are still are not properly earthed back to ground.
Keeping the floor clean is another thing to think about. A screed over an under-floor heating grid is the best dream that I could think of, and if you bolt everything to the walls there’s even a chance that the floor could get swept from time to time. Besides, how else will you ever find the springs and screws that mysteriously go to ground?
