Separate Machine and Assembly Rooms?

[LarryG]

As some of you will remember, I'm currently in the staring-thoughtfully-into-space phase of designing the new shop building I plan to build in a few years time.

What do y'all think about having completely separate rooms for the machines and for assembly? "Assembly" could include the use of hand tools that don't spray sawdust all over the place ... planes, chisels, or anything else used for fitting purposes. Nail guns and cordless drill/drivers would be okay, too.

The main advantage touted by those who have such a setup is that all the noise and dust is kept separate from the area where one does glue-ups and takes the project closer to the finishing stage. Disadvantages would be lots more footsteps (probably) and having to move material back and forth between the two rooms.

Under the right circumstances, the assembly room could double as a finishing room -- a function that I'm sure all will agree is best kept completely separate from the dust-makers.

Anyone have such a setup? And whether you do or not ... comments?

[JR]

Larry,

FWIW, David Marks, my new spiritual leader, has his assembly table and workbench right in among his main power tools. He's got a separate "finishing room".

http://www.diynet.com/diy/ww_shop/article/0,2049,DIY_14445_2278324,00.html

JR

[BizCoach]

My shop is shaped like a dumbell (no wisecracks) two "rooms" with a narrower section connecting them. I've got my power tools and dust collector on one side. My thought was to keep one side for that and the other for assembly. My assembly table is on wheels. If it weren't for that it would be a real pain to move everything back and forth. And sometimes it just makes sense to do one thing in the "other" room.

[vinht]

I favor the idea of a separate room for finishing/sharpening and, if I'm real lucky, a drafting table for drawing up projects. The other room would house power tools and workbench. As much as I enjoy using hand planes and chisels, they still offer plenty of shavings and some saw dust.

Vinh

[don_hart]

I presently have a spray booth/large project finishing area in the attic of the shop and a small-medium project finishing are in a section of the basement. I find that this kind of setup is great. As I have mentioned in other posts when some of my projects move into the finishing stage I will usually start another project and be working on that while I am waiting for the finish to dry. Having a separate area means that I don't have to worry about sawdust getting on my wet finish. Also the finishing areas are alot smaller than the shop overall so when I need to heat them it is much easier and I don't have to heat the whole shop.

[HarmsWay]

I can see the appeal of a separate finishing space for all the reasons people have listed. Not so sure about an assembly/finishing room combo. It seems like you'd still be limited in what you could do in it without having to always be tidying up.

Bob

[monte]

If you can I'd definately go with a dedicated finishing room.

[Pappy]

quote:Originally posted by vinht

I favor the idea of a separate room for finishing/sharpening and, if I'm real lucky, a drafting table for drawing up projects. The other room would house power tools and workbench. As much as I enjoy using hand planes and chisels, they still offer plenty of shavings and some saw dust.

Vinh

A drafting table top is normally unfinished (some like mylar matting). Needs to be in a clean/office type area.

[Hoover]

First off, you have to overcome 4 major hurdles here:
1 Time
2 Money
3 Space
4 Makes too much darn sense
If you can overcome these major hurdles, I say go for it!!!!

[LCHIEN]

assembly are should be with the woodworking tools.

Should have a dedicated finishing area.

[LarryG]

Good comments, everyone.

I perhaps should have mentioned two things in my initial post:

1. No matter what, I will have a separate finishing room, and would like to have a small office as well.

2. I'm leaning heavily toward not having separate machine and assembly rooms, for the reasons myself and others have mentioned (more steps, more material movement, more space, more money). But I wanted to find out what everyone else thought.

My opinion is that separate machine and assembly rooms start making sense in shops with two or more woodworkers, especially if the shop is a commercial venture. But for a one-man hobbyist operation, even one that sells a few pieces here and there, I think it would be a luxury that would be hard to justify.

[Bob Crosley]

Larry,
I agree that separate areas make sense when you're sharing space with another woodworker and would like some piece and quiet while they're ripping 8/4 oak. Separate finishing makes good sense.

Personally, if I were building my dream shop, I'd have a small room only for hand tool work. Nice bench, wall mounted tool cabinets for planes, etc., wood floor (easier on dropped hand tools) No power tools aloud. Be kind of nice to work in an old style environment for your finer hand work.

[LarryG]

quote:Originally posted by Bob Crosley

wood floor (easier on dropped hand tools)

Despite the considerably higher cost, I intend to have a wood floor throughout. Dropped tools can be replaced. My feet and ankles cannot.

(Wood floors also provide a crawl space in which electrical and dust collection ducting can be run and, if necessary, easily rerouted. But the main reason I want a wood floor is because I'm tired of hobbling back to the house after eight or nine hours of standing on a concrete slab.)

[HarmsWay]

Well what ever you end up with it sounds like it will be a great place to work, Larry.

Bob