Workshop evolution

Last first- I moved into this workshop in 2017 and have tried to keep the habit of taking the same picture anytime I make changes. It also forces me to clean it up periodically. I enjoy making furniture for my home and for friends, and whatever catches my attention. Anything that makes me say "I think I could make that". I've been slowly finding deals on tools since 2011. I've spent more than I probably should have, but less than you might think.

Right before moving in, when I should have taken the chance to paint the walls. The previous owner had an old T-bird he worked on, but not much else was here. At least it was already wired up for being a workshop, not a garage for storing things. I was made by the first owner of the house, sometime in the late 70's or early 80's.

Day of the move. Boxes everywhere, appreciative of friends who helped. My church let me borrow a trailer that made all the difference for stuff from my last garage. I build almost everything on wheels, so moving the big items wasn't too bad. Replaced bulbs and the place felt a lot brighter.

Clearing some space in my free time over the crazy first weeks in the house. Trying to figure out where things would go.

The big workbench from my last house had been disassembled in the move, so I started building it upside down. I had picked the back wall for it's location, mostly based on where the outlets were already.

My first try at a working layout. The far left wall is still stacked with junk to go through. The big table was made from a piece left in the garage, it was originally an Army parachutist packing table (it's stamped underneath).

Moved things around a few months later, and found a $25 radial arm saw from the 1960s. I love old cast iron tools.

Based on the outlets and breakers, I swapped things around to try and have my Xcarve CNC and PC on their own breaker. I was worried about running other tools and tripping the power during a cut. I also gained an old Rockwell Unisaw tablesaw.

After about 1.5 years, I decided a big change was needed. I borrowed my neighbor's engine hoist (he has an even bigger garage than me and works on dragsters) and moved my tablesaw and also the workbench.

Officially version 2.0 of the garage. This layout meant that plywood could come in the garage door right to the tablesaw. I had to add some more outlets, but it was worth it. The lack of power on the far wall was what had kept it from happening sooner. I also added a dust collection system (white pipes) now that I felt like things weren't going to move around again.

Really the only change here was upgrading my bandsaw. It remains one of the few large tools I bought brand-new.

In 2020 I added a K40 laser cutter, and made big combo table for my radial arm saw + router.

Back to the final result (for now). I finally moved the last things that had been above the old bench to a place that made them easier to access. And I added some posters, because why not?? I still wish I had painted the walls.