shop rehab redux
I've been "re-organizing" the shop more or less continuously ever since I undertook the first major rehab in 2008. Every time my focus shifts to a new project/medium/organization style I feel a need to re-arrange the space to accommodate the changes. And this is on top of the seasonal expansion and contraction of the shop. During the spring and summer my shop expands into the unconditioned adjacent garage space and then has to contract back into a 12x12 room. in the fall and winter. Oh, and I spent the last 5 years undertaking large home remodel projects and the shop became storage for tools and materials, completely upending another in-progress reorganization attempt.
Suffice to say, it's been a disaster for years.
In March I decided I would once and for all tackle the mess and build out proper storage and delineate clear work zones. Now it's December July and it's still ongoing, sidelined by other projects, budget constraints, indecisiveness - all the usual bullshit.
So I'm going to document the progress. Force myself to "front burner" the re-org work and carve out time and money to make that work happen. Organize my thoughts. Make plans. These are things I used to do regularly and with some competence. It's time to re-learn how to manage a project.
Updates
issues
storage
The shop is currently doing double duty as storage space and work space. Obviously when working on projects certain materials need to be on hand, and there are some things that need to be stored in a climate controlled location.
I need to determine what materials need/should be stored in the shop, and what can be stored in the garage.
Part of this determination will also involve determining what kind of work I will be doing in the shop. Originally it was a wood working shop (primarily wood turning), but now it's multi-focused. I have a laser cutter/engraver and an electronics workbench in addition to my lathe and other wood working tools. It's honestly too much for the space to accommodate. If I was being honest with my time and space budgets I would abandon some hobbies.
project backlog
Since the shop has been in a constant state of flux for years, I've been unable to stay focused on one project long enough to finish it. I have multiple tape decks and stereo receivers in various states of disassembly, furniture and refinishing projects stacked up, wood bowls half-turned, etc... I need to complete some projects or get them in to other hands to free up space. Some of my projects got back a decade or more.
work zone organization
This is related to storage but goes deeper. I need to have clearly defined zones for specific activities and related materials. This will greatly improve workflow and tidiness. Right now my benches are pulling triple duty - junk storage, work surfaces, and seasonal storage (like overwintering plants).
lighting
I have two 4 foot fluorescent fixtures for general lighting, but I need task specific focused lighting for my work areas. I'm even considering replacing the overhead fluorescent fixtures with track lighting arranged around the perimeter of the shop. Anyway, whatever format the light takes, I need more of it and specifically above my work zones.
worklog
Chronological updates, newest entries at the top. Work is in progress. Check back for updates. Adding a backlog of content that should have been added incrementally over the last year.
October - December 2025:
Spring 2025 state of the shop
The starting point. At this point I have removed a fair amount of "stuff" from the shop, put it into storage totes and stowed the totes into the garage to free up some elbow room. Below is a panorama of the shop space as of spring 2025.
The main bench. It's a 3/4" think piece of laminate counter top glued to a 3/4" think sheet of plywood mounted on a sturdy frame. I had a stack of pine carsiding taking up space on a scrap pile so I installed it on the wall over the bench for a decorative touch.
Next to the main bench is a wall mounted clamp rack and a rolling tool cart. The tool cart holds drills, dremels, small clamps, pliers, tap measures, files, etc.
Opposite the main bench is a large workbench holding my drill press drills, random clutter, additional clutter, other clutter, and some clutter. Above are shelves for storing turning blanks.
