Continuing our woodworking adventures into Alabama, we arrive at the home of Woodcraft Magazine senior editor, Joe Hurst-Wajszczuk to cover his 20′ x 22′ interior garage space morphing into an extreme workshop makeover. The 2011 October/ November Issue #43 of Woodcraft Magazine features a special topic on this floor to ceiling, wall to wall transformation with detailed projects, providing instruction on turning any garage, basement or outside structure into a viable workshop. Joe is tasked with converting his 20′ x 20′ two-car attached garage into an organized, fully functioning, safe workshop. The “BEFORE” photo below will give you an idea of what Joe started with. If the clutter and disorganization looks similar to your work area, then perhaps this information may help you build a workshop makeover too.
From this blog and inside issue #43 of the Woodcraft Magazine, you can start a plan to build that dream shop you’ve been putting off with these projects and shop-building strategies to spark your own ideas. In this case, at the end of the day, Joe’s workshop can still be used as a garage to park the car, make home repairs, place maintenance and recreational items, and still have enough room for storage by creating a compact, mobile, completely efficient shop.
Joe’s legitimate workshop started with an organized approach, creating a timeline and floor plan which included wiring & lighting, work schedule with a budget, cleaning out the current space, hiring licensed contractors while prepping, patching & painting walls for storage, and building the modular mobile shop projects.
The June/July Issue #29 references the Dream Shop Planner Guide, Item #150103D , which can be downloaded from www.Woodcraft.com. This can help you create a practical, efficient floor plan. In issue #43, you will find Figure 1 below, with a 3D floor plan referencing the projects that were built and the page numbers in the magazine from which you may build your own. Figure 2 shows the lighting plan and dedicated circuits you will need for some machines. Figure 3 provides a look at the garage shop wiring, where the electrician cut through the drywall to run wiring and install duplex receptacles.
Additional efficient projects are featured, with the compact modular flair using Stackable Stools, 8″ and 12″ Torsion-Box Countertops, and an adjustable height Base Cabinet with adjustable storage sections.
A Bosch Miter Saw Station-Combination Lumber Rack is just the ticket for the back or side of the shop. It has casters for mobility, and features 2 sides for 2 different uses.
The first side has adjustable vertical and horizontal shelving, sliding drawers, a handy storage spot for his vacuum, and a working miter saw area with plenty of length to the left and right for board support or countertop workspace.
Rolling around to the opposite side, we find a lumber storage shelving area.
Additional wall shelving was added for longer boards, and note the type of lighting which really brightens up the entire garage.
Joe also added a great feature for less aches and pains from standing on concrete, by choosing to install a modular flooring system that is comfortable, resilient, and will provide proper compression for moving tables and machinery while enjoying many hours of woodworking. Different types of flooring were comparatively tested and documented in this magazine issue for ease of installation, comfort, compression, and cleanup/spills before Joe decided on the light gray coin interlocking #540LG45 Flexi-Tile, Woodcraft Item #414824.
Well Joe, now that you have the Superbowl of garage woodshops, now whaddya going to do?
Let’s get over to Woodcraft and add some more equipment and tools!
How about a new Jet Vortex Dust Collection System, Woodcraft Item #849652.
Or for some additional work space, add the portable Vika TwoFold Workbench and Scaffold, Woodcraft Item #149184!
From our visit to Alabama, here is our Extreme Garage Shop Makeover Video, part 1:
