Woodworking is a lucrative hobby or career. Instead of renting a workspace, create a workshop at home! Follow these tips for setting up an at-home woodworking shop and start your operation soon.
Create a Suitable Space for Work
Empty space is the biggest luxury for woodworkers. Whether it’s a garage or basement, you have room to arrange everything from scratch. However, it’s possible to rearrange shared spaces to accommodate your needs.
Separate both basements and garages into two areas. Keep tools and equipment on one side and excess items on the other side. You don’t want extra things to cross over and clutter the area.
Get a Quality Woodworking Worktop
Woodworking worktops, also known as bench dogs, are surfaces to hold workpieces in place. They have holes and clamps to secure wood, helping you cut and shape pieces. There are different types of woodworking bench dogs, like a standard collared or close-fit bench dog.
Own the Must-Have Woodworking Tools
There are five classes of woodworking tools. They include tools you cut, assemble, finish, measure, and hold. The tool group covers basic and complex projects.
Many woodworkers feel overwhelmed with the number of products on the market. It’s easy to rack up thousands of dollars’ worth of expensive tools for the shop. Don’t blow your budget with too many extra things. Here are the essentials:
- Hammer
- Mallet
- Sanders
- Workbench
- Tape measure
- Handsaw
- Sawhorses
- Power saw
- Drill
- Square
- Files
- Screw gun
Consider Changing Your Floors
When setting up an at-home woodworking shop, consider changing your floors. Basements and garages likely have concrete floors, which are good. You can enhance surfaces with a coat of floor paint. Painted floors are easier to sweep, and spills won’t soak into the floor.
Furthermore, woodworking requires a lot of time on your feet. That said, your legs, back, and feet will tire after a long day. Place cushioned mats where you stand and work. They alleviate discomfort from standing for long periods. Cushioned mats also support balance and stability.
Install LED Overhead Lights
Lighting is essential in any work environment, especially woodworking shops. Install LED overhead lighting for the best illumination.
The bulbs don’t flicker or radiate heat like fluorescent lights. Furthermore, LEDs offer full-coverage brightness, which is ideal for workshops.
Along with overhead lights, consider additional fixtures at workstations to illuminate equipment, tools, and workpieces.
Don’t Forget About Ventilation
Shop air gets stale, and you don’t want to inhale fumes from products. Most garages have at least one window for ventilation, and they also have raised doors that help. If you want to upgrade the ventilation, a floor fan can quickly exhaust fumes and dust from an at-home shop.
