Are you looking to take your woodworking aspirations to the next level and set up a dedicated space for your workshop? If you are, you should evaluate your specific needs to determine what would be best for you and research how to take care of your shop once it's operational.

Where Should You Set up Your Workshop

Ideally, your workshop should be situated in a location where you have a great deal of space to work with, as well as in an area where tons of dust and noise won't be a problem. Since woodworking will inevitably produce plenty of debris and sawdust, you should also consider setting up your workshop in an environment with adequate light and ventilation.

The following locations could suit your needs when evaluating where to set up your workshop:
  • Attic: With an attic, the key factors are accessibility and height. If it's barely tall enough for you to stand or you'd have a difficult time moving heavy materials up and down steep stairs, another location may be more appropriate.
  • Backyard: As long as the weather supports it and neighbors aren't complaining about your tools being too loud, the freedom of working outside provides you with ample space. In the event of bad weather or the need to store materials, you should have a readily available, separate indoor area where you can temporarily relocate your workshop.
  • Basement: Secluded from the rest of your house, a basement should hopefully minimize any noise complaints, but the humidity could prove problematic. If you decide to set up shop in your basement, a dehumidifier and good ventilation may be necessary.
  • Garage: Also relatively isolated from the rest of your house, many garages offer sufficient room while doors allow you to easily bring in new machinery or materials. The main concern would be if you are still leaving yourself enough space to park.
  • Shed: A freestanding structure specifically intended to serve as your workshop presents you with plenty of creative control. Depending on where your shed is located, you may still run the risk of complaints from neighbors, but you can cater the space exactly to your needs.

Building Your Workshop

It's recommended that the size of your woodworking workshop be a minimum of 75 square feet , with 125 square feet being closer to the accepted standard. The advised size of your shop primarily depends on the number of stationary power tools and amount of storage space you'd like to have.

Proper lighting is vital to ensure safety in your workshop, as power tools or slippery sawdust could result in injury if you can't adequately see. If possible, try to utilize natural lighting.

In addition to sufficient lighting, your workshop should have acceptable electrical service for any machines you plan to use. Should you choose to run your own electrical wiring, consider elevating outlets so you can plug in small tools easier.

Ventilation is also essential for your workshop, and can sometimes be satisfied with a common household fan. Given the amount of airborne dust you'll generate, you should also consider the installation of dust collection systems to create a healthier environment for your woodworking. Beyond matters of health, dust collection is also important for reducing the risk of fire hazards while supplying you with a cleaner space to work in.

Maintaining Your Workshop

Once you've got things up and running, you should develop a maintenance strategy. If you're like many woodworkers, then you've likely invested a lot of resources into your workshop, so you should do what you can to make sure your tools continue to operate well .

Most of your tools are designed to cut wood, so their edges should be kept as sharp as possible. With accuracy being essential for successful woodworking endeavors, you should also keep the tools you have in proper alignment.

Since friction can likewise hinder the quality of your woodworking, tools should be kept clean and free of resin. Sufficient lubrication keeps machines running smoothly.

If you decide to set up your workshop in a garage, your main point of entry for larger components or tools will likely be the door, so it's important to exercise precaution and perform preventive maintenance checks every month or two . By doing so, you can keep your workshop accessible, safeguard against hardware failure and stay safe.

Beyond the proper maintenance of your equipment and tools, your workshop should be kept tidy to encourage productivity. Consider adding a nonslip carpet or mat beside your workbenches or power tools for soft footing.

If you have small metal parts covering your dusty shop floor, sweep them up with a magnetic broom. After you've collected the loose hardware, you can add them back to your toolkit or recycle them as you see fit.

Clutter can lead to frustration, so periodically look through your tools and decide what you should keep or get rid off. Apply the 80/20 rule to your workshop , where the 20 percent of tools you use 80 percent of the time are within arm's reach from your workbench. With better organization, you can maximize your creativity in the workshop, making your time spent there more rewarding.

Pursue Your Woodworking Dreams

With the right amount of preparation, initiative, and maintenance, you can build a workshop specifically catered to your woodworking dreams. Make your future projects more productive with an awesome shop that keeps you focused and motivated to pursue excellence and a sense of pride in your work.

Scott Huntington is a writer from central Pennsylvania. He enjoys working on his home and garden with his wife and 2 kids. Follow him on Twitter  @SMHuntington