Need input on making a shop in the basement

[handibunny]

Well, it looks as though our move will go through, to a house with a 2 car garage and a large unfinished basement. Our dilemma is that we've been working out of the perimeter of a one-car garage, making sure that the car would still fit in it. I'm sure I posted pictures when we did it, about 2 years ago, to get away from the dreadful, toxic community woodshop.

We have a scrollsaw (natch), spindle sander, belt sander, drill press, SandFlee and band saw. We need a table saw (are eyeing the contractor sized sawstop) and a drum sander (Jet, probably). Might add a planer and/or jointer at some point.

Given our ages (66 and 67) we don't want to go overboard with setting up a shop, but still need something nice. You all know what I do, and Joe builds really nice furniture. We're thinking of using one bay of the garage, because it's bright and good for photography, and also setting up a fan for ventilation for finishing (there are 2 windows). But the basement is large, dry, and completely unfinished, and would give better climate control. So, we're thinking of putting the table saw, drum sander, and other heavy equipment down there, and hooking each tool up to a dust collection system.

We don't know if anything has to be enclosed. The walls are poured concrete, so making an enclosed shop would be a lot of work. Can we get away with just having the tools down there, hooked up to the dust collection? Do we need to partition the tools off? The oil burner and other mechanicals are down there, but it's a big basement and the tools could be placed at the other end. We'd need to hang lights, of course, and have an electrician tap into the box (for the garage as well) to get power over to the tools. The garage would need a heater (wall mounted) but the basement might be OK as is.

We'll probably get the garage shop up and running as soon as I get the walls finished (they are taped now, but unfinished) and painted, and the electrician in. Then over the winter, we can work on the downstairs. There are Bilco doors out of the basement.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions from those of you who have dealt with similar situations. We plan to close on the house in about a month or so, so this is a good time to start planning.

Thanks!

[HAMMER]

I don't have a basement but one thing that helped me out in finding and placing tools in the area I had to work with was to measure and draw a scale floor plan and then measure and make scale cut outs of the tools (all from a plan view). That way I could move them around and see how things work together and if there was space.


Not an answer to your question but just a thought.....

[Wood Dog]

Sweeeeet..........so happy you found a place of your own. Good luck with the move, and don't forget, lift with your leg muscles, at our age small cracks are easy to get.
This software may be of help to you, if you can open it on your computer.
Grizzly.com -- Workshop Planner

Rolf has his shop in the basement, I'm sure he will pop in with information for you as far as the furnace goes. I seem to recall someone posting about sawdust and the furnace filter issues, but don't recall the details.

You did not mention if the garage was attached to the house, as you have now.
Traveling to an outside garage especially in the winter can have its drawbacks.
Nothing like getting a quick cup of coffee or bathroom breaks near by when the shop is attached to the house or in the basement.

Please do keep us updated, its so exciting when someone gets their new shop together. Just remember what Carter would say......have phun!

[wedo]

Carole, I'm on my second basement shop. I've enclosed my work area from the rest only because of tracking sawdust all over. There is no need if you're not using the rest of the basement. Also no need to be worried about having the heating units in the same area, particularly if you're using dust collection. It hard to build up enough fine dust to cause a fire issue, so just go for it! Get lots of electrical outlets and lighting and you'll be fine.
Bill

[jim_mex]

Hi Carole - first congratulations on the move. Both Joe and yourself must be very happy about being able to set up a real shop.

On the subject of the basement I certainly would follow Hammer's idea of drawing a plan and some templates sized to your main workstations to then move around and help plan the area.

My main concern with using a basement would be to make sure that the access to and from it is suitable for the type of items you are likely to be making. I'm thinking here that Joe in particular might be wanting to produce some largish items of furniture , or use the area for restoring the same. Don't make the silly mistake that I've seen made when you make a large piece of furniture and then find you can't move it out of your shop!!! Similarly check the access is good enough to get all of your work stations and maybe large sheets of plywood or laminate into it.

The next main area of concern is lighting. Its my opinion and I think also that of a great number of woodworkers is that nothing beats having a large area of natural lighting, particularly when sanding or finishing projects and that bay window of the garage sounds ideal for this. Good lighting can be setup in a basement but make sure you include not only plenty of ambient non directional lighting for general illumination but also some angled downlights to help highlight surfaces when you are finishing projects.

The only other common sense advice that comes to mind with basements is to make sure you have a sound, level and easily cleanable floor and some rubber stress relieving mats´ to work off. Oh yes, and invest in some good quality noise suppressing ear defenders because basements can get pretty noisy once those machines kick in.

Keep us informed regarding which direction you decide to go and how you
make out.

Have fun!

[oily]

Hey Carol, To much pre-thinking always gets me in trouble. Set everything any way that looks good and start working. The better ways of doing things will start to show up instantly. Don't lock anything in stone because today's perfect is tomorrows pain. Wheels, casters and multi purpose tables and stands are a wonderful things. Just me talkin' Have a good one my friend Rob.

[markdavd]

One thing struck me - if you or Joe will be cutting a lot of plywood or large pieces of wood on the table saw, it probably needs to be in the garage, with more of the smaller tools in the basement.

I can't see wanting to carry large pieces of wood downstairs to be cut, then back to the garage for finishing.

[JackM]

The good news is that you and Joe will have more room; bad news is shoveling snow and cutting grass LOL. I've seen what look to be pretty good books on workshop creating at Barnes & Noble. Worth a looksee?
Wishing you guys the best fo luck at your new abode.
Jack

[Rolf]

Some Great advice already, My entire shop is in the basement. I like Rob have my tools on wheels and the shop has been re-arranged many times. The dust collection system is a must.
I do have a clear plastic shower curtain between the main part of the basement and my primary workshop. I have a heater in the basement because it can, and does get down into the high 50's in the winter.
Lots of light and soft matts where I stand a lot.

All the empty space is not empty it has the washer dryer shelves etc.

[JimSawyer]

Rolf.......When can I move in..????
I make a mean steak...

Wow, you sleep, every night, above WONDERLAND......

Carole, just be sure your not getting too much dust in the air down there. Sawdust can be explosive...
....Just sayin'.

It looks like you're getting more real estate for tools...nice....!!!
Don't forget the pictures....