Garage to Workshop Conversion - First Steps
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What should I do first to convert a garage into my woodworking dream space?
So you've finally got the 'ok' from your wife to turn the garage into a workshop. Great, first battle won! Now to the next challenge, getting things organized.
Because of the small space that you will have in either a one or two car garage, you will want to make the most what you have. So the first step is to actually measure the dimensions of the garage. This is to help you layout your tools and workspace in the most efficient way for your use.
If you do not do a layout before starting to fill up your garage space with tools, you will definately loose alot of time in the future moving stuff around. Eventually, you will spend more time uncluttering your space and looking for tools than actually working.
So, very important, do a layout plan before you start filling your garage up with tools! Here are some ideas to get you started on laying out your tools in the garage.
Secondly, start to think about the heating in the garage. If you have a dettached garage this is probably more of a problem. Once again, before you start filling up your garage with goodies, you might want to put insulation up first.
If you have an attached garage, you might not need insulation for warmth, but you might want to consider a sound barrier insulation to keep the noise from your machines from polluting the rest of the household or your neighbors.
Thirdly, again a concern if you have a dettached garage, you will have to take a look at the electrical system. It is possible that you may not have enough 'juice' to run some of those machines out in the garage.
Fourth, efficient storage will be the key to keeping clutter down. Again, if you want to be doing 'fun work' in the woodshop, instead of shuffling and looking for tools, you will have to think about how to arrange the cabinets in such a way to accomodate your tool collection.
Lastly, you must think about dust control. In a small space like a garage, the dust from even a tablesaw, let alone a planer, will become a dangerous hazard. Opening up the garage door will help, but will not be sufficient to keep the sawdust out of your lungs. Think about how you will collect the dust from each machine. besides your lungs, the last thing you need is your wife shouting at your for tracking dust into the house everytime you come out of your workshop.
These are the first steps to think about when turning your garage into a woodworking shop. Of course the devil in is the details, and you will find alot more information in the other articles on this site.
