The Two-Wall Workshop

Transform a garage or basement with this smorgasbord of ideas and projects.

Welcome to Woodcraft Magazine’s third workshop-themed issue. Like the previous ones, we packed our featured “Two-Wall Workshop” issue with a multitude of adaptable ideas, projects, and products to help you improve the shop space you already have or create a whole new shop from scratch. You’ll find that many of the ideas will save you time, money, or, in some cases, space. They’ll also help you get organized and get your shop up and running in short order,

The concept behind the two-wall workshop is that every woodworker has–if not a whole room–at least two walls in a garage, basement, or other area that he or she can claim as shop space. As shown on pages 20 and 21, we’ve dedicated a 25'-long wall at the back of a garage for shop storage and to provide valuable counter space. Prominent here are the ready-to-assemble Cabinotch cabinets that you literally build in minutes, and the heavy-duty Duraboard polypropylene pegboard system, complete with hooks, specialized hangers, and bins.

The adjoining second wall serves as the place to store lumber and park mobilized machines when not in use. It's here, for instance, where you can store your tablesaw, mobile dust-collector, and bandsaw.

Providing a sure grip underfoot, even when coated with fine sawdust, is the nonslip  epoxy floor paint (on concrete) by Rust-Oleum. Decorative color chips in blue, black, and white add interest and texture to the surface, while  a special sealer offers long-term protection.

Assuming that most of the woodworking will take place in the back half of the garage, we ramped up both the electrical and lighting output in that area, as shown in Figure 1. To do this, we had a certified electrician install a 100-amp subpanel, three 220V single receptacles, five 110V duplex receptacles, and five 2-bulb fluorescent ceiling fixtures that mimic natural daylight. These improvements are on top of the existing 110V wall outlets and two fluorescent ceiling fixtures.

To further improve the space, our senior editors and two talented freelancers designed and constructed four all-star shop projects to fill a variety of common needs. They include a mobile mitersaw stand, compact workbench, planer cart, and power tool tower.

Finally, for further assistance, check out the “Dream Shop Planner” (digital and paper versions available for purchase) and “Shop Setup Products”.  

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