"Rich Stern" wrote in message
...
I just finished a project and was cleaning up the shop, moving stuff
around to
get at all the sawdust, putting tools back, etc. I was musing about
changes
I've made to my workshop over the years, thinking about the successes and
the
failures. Here's what I came up with for my best three:

1) Compressed air from an overhead, retractable reel. How the heck did I
get
through the early years without this? I leave my portable compressor
hooked up
via quick disconnect to a feed line for the overhead reel. I can
disconnect
and roll out quickly if I need the compressor in the yard, garage, or at a
neighbor's. The reel also has a quick disconnect, stuffed with a blowgun
when
not using any other air tools. This setup is great for woodworking, but
the
air gets used for all kinds of other tasks, too.

2) Stopped overcrowding the shop with machines. For years, my
semi-portable
power tools were set up and ready to work. Visions of moving from station
to
station with effortless efficiency. I thought it made projects go faster.
The
opposite is true. As I run low on space, the shop gets messy and projects
begin to crawl. Now I take out the miter saw, belt/disk sander, scroll
saw,
etc. only when needed. The rest of the time, I enjoy the free space
around the
bigger machines. The shop stays much cleaner.

3) Rolling tool chest. You know, the mechanic's type. Just a low end,
stacking unit from Lowes. Measuring tools, wrenches, sockets,
screwdrivers,
drill bits, etc, stay organized and dust free, and I can wheel the thing
around
if needed. My pegboarding of all this stuff never stayed organized.
Somehow,
I manage to keep it neat in the rolling cabinet.

What are your best three easy imrpovements?


1) Put the less used machinery on wheels - made room for more machines!

2) Cleaned it right to the corners! (4 yrs late)

3) Moved clamps/finishing/sanding supplies and equipment directly adjacent
to the assembly area, rather than the "efficient use of space" place that
they previously occupied.

4 Moved most of my remodeling equipment/tools to a shed... who needs two
portable tablesaws (in addition to the 3 hp cabinet saw) in their shop
anyway???