"America's Best Home Workshops"

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Larry,
Thanks for the welcome. After reading some of the emails about what some of the guys think of anyone who has a larger than normal playhouse, I kind of wondered if I was in the right place. However, making our woodshops more efficient has always been a priority of mine, and when I found this group about shop design it sounded right up my alley.

Building my shop cabinets was the easiest thing in the world for me. My designs are super easy to build for anyone. As a matter of fact I built quite a few before I ever had my first tablesaw!

Jeannie has been mailing out copies of the book daily, even while we are camping in North Carolina, (Hendersonville) so she is filling cc orders.

I would dare to post a photo or two if I can ever figure out how to add one to the replies... Care to enlighten me on the procedure. I have always been kind of web phobic.
Tom

I promise that this is not because one of the owners of those shops posted, but I was reviewing the magazine again the other night and suddenly most of the shops seemed more reasonable. As usual I can’t find my copy of the magazine to check out which shop is Toms. I want to check it out.

Also, could someone post a link to Toms site and book? I am sure he did not do it to be self promoting and we all appreciate that, however I am sure most would like to take a look at the site and book.

When I was reviewing the magazine again the other night I noticed there was not a huge difference in most of the shops as far as size. Of course there was a couple exceptions. But when I looked at the plans I created for my future shop expansion it put me right there in the middle of the pack. One thing I noted was the dedicated finishing room seems popular and for good reason IMHO. My shop expansion was actually my wifes idea. I knew there was something behind her motivation. Eventually, as she is going on about the full bath I should put in the shop I figured out what the outside access door to the bath was for . . . . dressing room / bathroom for the in ground pool she is putting in this up coming spring! Ohhhh the motivation becomes so clear. LOL!
more reasonible.

[docrowan]

As usual I can’t find my copy of the magazine to check out which shop is Toms. I want to check it out.

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Jeffrey,

I, too, don't have my copy in front of me, but I believe Tom is the one who builds telescopes.

Tom,

If I'm wrong, please correct me and welcome to the forum. I'm a newbie here as well, but this is a great bunch of people. It's the only forum I'm a member of and I was rather shocked to hear other forums have people that "flame" each other and engage in otherwise less than civil discussions.

By the way, I believe most of the guys (and gals!) here would love to have a shop as large as yours, but are constrained for many reasons. I've got a 12X20, which was the largest I could afford at the time. My ideal would probably be a 16X24. I couldn't go larger if I wanted to due to the size of my lot. But that's about as large a shop as I could justify anyway since it's only a hobby to me. I could probably justify more if I were generating income through my shop. Again, a dream that many here probably share. Anyway, welcome!

[JR]

...Eventually, as she is going on about the full bath I should put in the shop I figured out what the outside access door to the bath was for . . . . dressing room / bathroom for the in ground pool she is putting in this up coming spring! Ohhhh the motivation becomes so clear. LOL!

That, my friend, is an outstanding deal!

[radhak]

Also, could someone post a link to Toms site and book?

I found this on the 'net : http://www.shop-cabinets.com/

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Tom,

Found my copy of the magzine. Wife had strategically placed it in the laundry basket with my clean clothes. Tricky girl.

I am glad to see that you admit to your drawer fetish!

I love that big open space in the middle of your shop. Given some of your other hobbies I guess it neccessitates that space, but it would be great to have that much room for cabinet lay out etc.

[Tom Clark]

Tom,

I am glad to see that you admit to your drawer fetish!

I love that big open space in the middle of your shop. Given some of your other hobbies I guess it neccessitates that space, but it would be great to have that much room for cabinet lay out etc.

Jeffrey,
I got hooked on drawers years ago when I started having back problems and got tired of getting down on my knees to scrounge around in the back of cabinets to try to find something. However, it is not as bad as the article makes it sound. The shop only has about a hundred of the drawers mentioned. The rest of them are in the home offices I built the furniture for, or in our home theatre wall unit.

As far as open space, alll shops need an assembly/building area. However, mine keeps growing smaller as I keep filling it up with new cabinets and work tables.

[LarryG]

Tom, forum member Ray Girling put together a nice image-posting tutorial on his own web site.

Don't take the comments of some of the guys here the wrong way. If there's such a thing as an "average" member of this forum, it would be an ordinary working stiff (or stiffette) who still has kids at home, does woodworking purely as a hobby, and has a shop located in either a garage or basement and which has to coexist with the family car, lawn mower, and washer/dryer combo. The various comments come not from envy or disdain -- or something even worse -- but merely from frustration. The special issue IS entitled "America's Best Home Workshops," but I think most of us would simply prefer to see some shops closer in size to our own. But we're happy for you and what you have; seeing shops like yours gives us something to aspire to, someday.

And in the interests of full disclosure, I guess I should mention that the floor plan I've been working on for my own "final" shop keeps wanting to bloat to well north of 1000 sq ft, exactly as Jeffrey mentions.

As regards your shop, and what's in it ... the two things that caught my eye were the cabinet under the extension wing of your table saw, and your "sawhorse table." I really like the idea of having a space atop the under-wing cabinet to put miter gauges and the like, without having to open a door or drawer. And the sawhorse/table reminded me of my own pair of old horses, built nearly 30 years ago, now nicked up horribly, and starting to get a little rickety ... but so far I've not been moved to throw 'em out.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

And in the interests of full disclosure, I guess I should mention that the floor plan I've been working on for my own "final" shop keeps wanting to bloat to well north of 1000 sq ft, exactly as Jeffrey mentions.

the two things that caught my eye were the cabinet under the extension wing of your table saw, and your "sawhorse table." I really like the idea of having a space atop the under-wing cabinet to put miter gauges and the like, without having to open a door or drawer.

Larry,
The 1000 sq feet is really hard to hold a line on if you start throwing in a dedicated finishing room, office and/or bathroom.

Tom,
The cabinet under the extension wing caught my eye as well as I am contemplating what to do with that area. Mind posting some photos of your cabinet? Maybe in your other thread?

Thanks
Jeff

[Tom Clark]

Larry,
The 1000 sq feet is really hard to hold a line on if you start throwing in a dedicated finishing room, office and/or bathroom.

Tom,
The cabinet under the extension wing caught my eye as well as I am contemplating what to do with that area. Mind posting some photos of your cabinet? Maybe in your other thread?

Thanks
Jeff

Larry,

When the time comes, get some prices on a 1000 sq ft building and then a 2000 sq ft building. You will be in for a shock! It is suprising how little cost goes up when going up in size.

Jeff,

Until I get my laptop replaced, I don't have any more photos with me. (I'm a long way from home for awhile yet. There is the one photo on my web site shop-cabinets.com, and the photos in the article in America's Best Home Workshops.

[GaryA]

Tom, forum member Ray Girling put together a nice image-posting tutorial on his own web site.

Don't take the comments of some of the guys here the wrong way. If there's such a thing as an "average" member of this forum, it would be an ordinary working stiff (or stiffette) who still has kids at home, does woodworking purely as a hobby, and has a shop located in either a garage or basement and which has to coexist with the family car, lawn mower, and washer/dryer combo. The various comments come not from envy or disdain -- or something even worse -- but merely from frustration. The special issue IS entitled "America's Best Home Workshops," but I think most of us would simply prefer to see some shops closer in size to our own. But we're happy for you and what you have; seeing shops like yours gives us something to aspire to, someday.

And in the interests of full disclosure, I guess I should mention that the floor plan I've been working on for my own "final" shop keeps wanting to bloat to well north of 1000 sq ft, exactly as Jeffrey mentions.

As regards your shop, and what's in it ... the two things that caught my eye were the cabinet under the extension wing of your table saw, and your "sawhorse table." I really like the idea of having a space atop the under-wing cabinet to put miter gauges and the like, without having to open a door or drawer. And the sawhorse/table reminded me of my own pair of old horses, built nearly 30 years ago, now nicked up horribly, and starting to get a little rickety ... but so far I've not been moved to throw 'em out.

Tom - in addition, that tutorial doesnt say anything about how to scale your images down, as the file size is pretty restrictive here. Depending on what photo program you use, you'll have to export the pictures out to a smaller size. I use Google's free "Picasa", then select the photo, hit "Export", then point it to my Desktop, and tell it to set the size to "450", which seems to work well here.

Funny you appeared on the site. As soon as I got the magazine, i was photocopying several "inspiration" ideas that I want to employ in my shop, as I'm currently building and planning cabinets & drawers in my 1 car garage shop. My favorite is the 18 drawer workbench - where did you get the label insert hardware? I really like that look. And in general, where do you get your h/w?

I'm ordering the book....looks great! I'm about 2 hours south of you (Tampa) - let me know if you're ever down this way and want to do some shop consulting My folks are in Dunnellon which I dont believe is too far from you?

Thanks

[Tom Clark]

Funny you appeared on the site. As soon as I got the magazine, i was photocopying several "inspiration" ideas that I want to employ in my shop, as I'm currently building and planning cabinets & drawers in my 1 car garage shop. My favorite is the 18 drawer workbench - where did you get the label insert hardware? I really like that look. And in general, where do you get your h/w?

I'm about 2 hours south of you (Tampa) - let me know if you're ever down this way and want to do some shop consulting My folks are in Dunnellon which I dont believe is too far from you?

Thanks

Gary,
I was always one to buy a box of an item if the price was right. Used to be you could buy hardware direct from Stanly but no more. Sorry! I bought the handles by the hundred and still have plenty left for future projects.

Sorry I can't remember where the lable holders came from. Perhaps it was Woodworkers supply. I bought a box of 100+ very inexpensively, and still are using them up.

I was a member of the Woodcrafters for a couple of years when I lived in Sarasota. Come over for a visit next time you visit your folks. It's always fun to have a good chat with another woodworker. Will be back in FL early Oct.

[GaryA]

Gary,
Come over for a visit next time you visit your folks. It's always fun to have a good chat with another woodworker. Will be back in FL early Oct.

Thanks for the offer Tom. I'll definitely take you up on that once you return!

[Dale In Corona]

I had thumbed through the magazine at the BORG last time I was in and decided to pass on it because at a glance it appeared as if there wouldn't be anything I could glean out of those "giant" shops in there that I could take home to my own. After reading this thread I went ahead and purchased the issue last night, read it cover to cover and I am not too proud to say that my initial impression was wrong. There are indeed allot of great ideas in that magazine.

While I am at it, Tom you have a great looking shop and I can't wait until I can get busy trying to incorporate some of the ideas I have into my own setup.

Dale

[gustoid]

The True value of this issue is the multitude of ideas that are in it that allow you to better organize the space you do have. I bought the 2009 edition recently, and I have used several of the storage solutions and jigs to help alleviate the clutter in my workshop. I think I would like to purchase the 2008 edition so I can gather some more information to help me with my clutter.

[dbhost]

Still the "Grand Prize" winner to me for small shops....

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Two things..

#1. That looks a LOT like a friend of mine from College's first apartment. Except it was a cheapo Craftsman table saw.

#2. What the heck is that guy doing with my drill press?

Back to the original topic of the magazine. I don't recall who commented about them all being these huge high dollar shops. Did you guys all miss the guy in a 10x12 garden shed with a little Craftsman 9" table saw?

Space wise it is far from ideal, but I see a LOT of guys working out of 10x12 sheds. (That seems a popular size limit for HOAs...) and they are doing some FANTASTIC work from those little spaces. If you are one of our members here that is working from such a space, such as Pappy, Pelligrini and a few others, you guys have my awe and respect... I feel cramped in my garage sometimes... Of course I really dig the idea of rolling out to the driveway when you need to...