Basement Workshop

BASEMENT WORKSHOPDesign and Implementation

For eight years, my workshop dream kept the stress of my job at tolerable levels.

Reading on the internet to get ideas, deciding which tools were the best value and to simply day dream about a future shop.

Spread sheets, drawing, plans, detailed documentation of ideas; all sustained the years when I could only plan for a future shop.

Stage One Dreaming

The Major Considerations

• Environment – Heating and Air Conditioning– Management of Noise– Light Artificial and Natural– Dust Control– Electrical Power – Cleanup facility – Fire Alarms and Fire Extinguishers

Heating and Air Conditioning

Perhaps the best reason to place a workshop in the basement is how easy it is to keep the temperatures constant winter and summer.

If you have a forced air furnace; it is best to eliminate return air registers within the shop to isolate dust from entering the furnace ducts.

Management of Noise

One of the primary problems comes from the harmonic vibrations that are set up in sheetrock when big machinery runs inside the workshop. You have to dampen the opportunity of those vibrations to influence the floor joists; thus, keeping the vibrations within the shop itself.

Sill foam cut into strips and stapled to the joists and studs before sheetrock is installed; isolates harmonic vibration

Plywood scrap panels placed behind the sheetrock allows for the hanging of

cabinets and pictures in a solid medium

Placing machines that produce a lot of noise in enclosures or if possible away from the shop

Cyclone dust collector

Dust Collector in enclosed Insulated room

An Air Compressor is an ideal device to move to a more remote location and a solenoid can be used to remotely control it. Here the compressor

is in the garage and the air distributed throughout the workshop

Color temperature of lighting makes a BIG difference, and is measured in Kelvins (K)

Daylight Fluorescent Lamp or bulbs usually run 4100 Kelvin.

Temperature Source 1700 K Match flame 1850 K Candle flame 2800–3300 K Incandescent light bulb 3350 K Studio "CP" light 3400 K Studio lamps, photofloods, etc. 4100 K Moonlight, xenon arc lamp 5000 K Horizon daylight 5500–6000 K Typical daylight, electronic flash 6500 K Daylight, overcast 9300 K CRT screen

LIGHT

It is possible with enough lighting to make the workshop shadow free.

This requires some serious planning and careful installation.

More is always better when it comes to light

Light and Shadow

Plywood frames inserted between joists provide a solid base for attaching

light fixtures

Frame

DUST Control

Cyclone Dust Collector is the best solution for managing dust within your shop.

Buy the biggest dust collector you can afford

Use shop Vac by attaching the vacuum to small power tools like sanders and routers to get maximum dust pickup.

An overhead dust pickup keeps the air in the shop much cleaner when using big machines

Overhead Dust Filter

Shop Vac and Radom Sander Swimming poolHose, PVCConnector, andA standard Reducer attaches Hose to shop vac

Shop VAC Built into Router Table

Looking down from top of Router Table, at Shop VAC and Router Compartment.

Router Compartment as seenFrom the front of the cabinet

Bit Drawers

Controlling Dust Collector

Remote control Clicker in shop apronControls the dust collector

A dust hood on my oldSears radial arm saw helps To control sawdust

The lever on top makesIt easier to open the blast Gate for the radial arm saw

Infrared remote control

Electric Power for Shop

49 Florissant Light Bulbs 9 Can LightsFour Light Circuits34 20-amp 110 V Outlets35 220 volt outlets Remote control for air

compressor

Shop is wired for sound, CAT 5 Telecommunications, and Coax Cable

Separate ElectricalPanel just for the shop

Cleanup

A large deep stainless steel sink in the shop bathroomprovides easy Cleanup for brushes, tools, and hands

Fire Safety Fire Alarms cross

connectedHeat sensors or smoke

detectors

Fire Extinguishers Placed in multiple

locations in the shop

Access

• Basement Shops usually have a major drawback - the ability to move large machines in and out of the space easily and safely.

• Moving equipment around by yourself is usually difficult.

• The access path is a major consideration.– Stairs should be reinforced– An alternate method for heavy items is preferred

The Alternate Path

A 4 x 5 foot access shaftFrom the garage floor To the basement, with a Three ton chain hoist overThe top allows machines To be lowered from garageThe basement.

The Next Major Consideration is the Selection of Tools, Benches and

Cabinets

The stationary Tools Table Saw, jointer, thickness planner,drill press, band saw, shaper, router

table,sander

The Cabinets, Storage and Workbenches

Work Organizers and Jigs

The Table Saw is the Most Important Power Tool in My Shop

Table Saw Extension Table

Stationary Power Tools

Additional Features

Supply Cabinets

Eleven feet of supply cabinets fourFeet high and fifteen inches deep hold Screws, bolts, and hardware supplies

Extra Tool Storage

Storage Cabinets

Every shop ends up with A fine selection of junk.Objects that cannot be Thrown away and must be Stored. This was my solutionThese were completely made From scraps that I had on hand.The doors are “entry styled” Raised Pecan panels.The plywood cabinets and shelvesAre all scrap wood.

Work Bench

The work bench was purchased in Germany. The tool cabinets made in The shop last year. Saws and squares are stored behind the tool cabinets.

Work Bench in Use

Sharpening Bench

The sharpening systems include three granite lapping blocks which Are a bit larger than a full sheet of sandpaper. Normally I use 1,0006,000 and 9000 grit paper for the scary sharp system. There is a bench Grinder, buffer, and drill doctor; plus diamond honing stones.

Sharpening Bench Features

Sandpaper storage for sheets and Disks with tear off rules on top of Storage drawer

Drawers on slides hold a varietyOf small power tools

Hand Tool Storage

The fold out tool cabinets stretch for 11 feet when fully extended

The Inside Compartment

Standard Hand Tools

Charging Station

Wood Storage Behind Table Saw

Table saw and wood storage are located in such a manner to provide plenty of roomFor cutting large pieces. The wood is stored behind the table saw for easy movement.Cutoffs are in a cutoff cart; while throw away waste is under table saw table.

Clamp Cart

Mobile clamp cart goes to where you are doing the work and rolls out of the wayWhen not in use. Cart has glue and all gluing accessories.

Finishing Room

Air tight room with filtered incoming air Painting bench with Lazy Susan top to turn

work while spraying

Finish Room Venting

Finish room has filtered incoming air, outside venting, double sheetrock, double filtered Compressed air, and enclosed lighting.

Box Joint Table Saw Sled

Table Saw Sleds / Jigs

Picture frame jig

Table Saw Sled

Quick 45 degree corner cutter

Thin Strip Cutter

Shaper Rail Cutting Jig

Wedge to secure rail to back of sled

ObjectiveHold Rail Down flat to sled and tight to back of sled

Router Jigs

Router Table Fence

Dado Jig for Hand held Plunge Router

Miter Sled on router Table

At the end of the day

Enclosed Bookcase for woodworking books and magazines

Glass display case for antique tools An assembly work bench

Future Plans