[CNCRob]

Right now my cnc machine is in a small utility building on my parents property which isn't very far from my house. I am wanting to get a small workshop built on my own property before too long. This got me to thinking who has small workshops on here. I've seen some pretty nice small workshops on here before, some even in apartments and on balcony's. If you have a small workshop feel free to tell about it and if you like, post some photos. I would love to see how you guys are making use of the small spaces.

[Aksess]

My shop is so small when I use a handsaw I hit my hand on the oposit wall. Actually my shop is about 18x20 and verry crowded

[phantomcow2]

Well I was granted a small dead end of my basement.
thats about 9 x 6.
With a mill in there, a lathe, bunch of electronic boxes to house stepper drivers, 2 benches for tooling, and a computer...its a tight fit. Even though they are small Sieg machines, at least I dont have to move a hell of alot when switching between lathe and mill

[ger21]

I was gonna say my 19 x 25 was too small too. When you're table saw takes up 8ft x 8ft of floor space, it starts getting small fast. Add a workbench, a 40" x 60" router, band saw, drill press, lathe, compressor..... and there's no room to work

[spalm]

12x14. Table saw, chop saw, band saw, CNC, router table, lathe, drill press, belt/disk sander, jointer, planer, bench, compressor, vacuum, tool chest, hand tools, clamps, wood.

One man shop. No girls allowed.

[RotarySMP]

My shop is a single mini lathe (CNC's) on a small bench on my balcony. You could say the shop is infinitely large cause it is outside

http://www.wrathall.com/Interests/machining/My_shed.htm

[sol]

When broke and just out of school my shop was the "extra" bedroom ( a bump in a hallway) in a 10 x 40 mobile home that I lived in. Most everything was done in the yard through the door. Ahh, good riddance to the bad old days.

Things I've found useful:
Make a work bench that is tied to the wall(s) but open underneath for flexible storage.
Choose a counter-top height that fits your body and make every surface this height; that way long materials can be placed anywhere spanning any distance and they will still lay flat and level.
Put all tools and cabinetry on (locking) wheels.
A well placed extra door or window can be opened to allow longer lumber or metal through the wall for cutting/machining.
Headroom! A gambrel roof is a cheap way to gain enough room to flip a stick/ joint/ board from end to end.

How small is small?
It may be worth checking out the prefabbed sheds at Lowes and Home Depot. They are getting quite good at designing these things to use every bit of material efficiently. I am expanding once again and will build my own extra space with better materials, but the dimensions and framing methods of these prefabs are worth considering if cost is an issue, and it always is.

Good luck!

[WayneHill]

Trapped like a shop rat, I am forced into this dark corner of the basement. The wifey will not let me expand beyond these four walls, so I have to make do with what there is.

FYI: It is MUCH cleaner than this old photo.

[CNCRob]

Anyone else have a small workshop?

[ty1295]

I guess mine is large in comparision, but the amount of stuff I have in there takes up the room.

2 car garage.

1 car on a frame
1 extra car frame with spare block, tranny, transfer case (AWD)
fridge
oven
bridgeport clone
12"x36" lathe
250dx tig welder
175 mig welder
Hypertherm plasma cutter and a 4x5' table
Welding table area with vise,
Drill press
55 gallon air compressor
horizontal band saw 11'6" blade
3 phase convertor
1 spare buick engine

And on friday, sat and sunday there are 2 of us in there working

I would expand things but I plan to be moving in about 8 months.

[trilect]

Mine is 12' x 16' and way too small for the toys I have in there. I have to make sure everything is hung up on peg board before the start of every new project or I trip over it.

[CNCRob]

Hey trilect, Do you have any pics of your shop, I have been thinking about 12' x 16' for mine also.

[Colin300]

I have a small shed in my back yard.The shed is about 1.7m x 2m. It has a Hercus 6" lathe, vertical drill and of course the CNC mill I am building.I have used the lathe to make the couplings between the stepper motors and the threaded rod.I always admire the japanese people as they are the masters of using space
regards Colin300

[Weldtutor]

Half of a double garage is what I am using now.

If "she" would only leave her car outside at night my shop size would be doubled! (flame2) Then the amperage could really be cranked up on the welder.

Oh well, it sure beats the 8ft X 10ft garden shed that was my workshop for 8 years.

[Norsksea]

I have a basement shop where I spend all my spare time.
The pictures of my mill and lathe seem out of place here but I'm working on the CNC part.
The CNC mill sits on my workbench opposite the green drawers.
Frank

[posix]

My shop is the smallest around here.

In fact it is so small that it can in its entirety fit within a 17" box. Like, for example, a 17" computer monitor! Sometimes I even keep it there, in my computer monitor, that is.

when I need parts made I simply go to sleep and dream about them

[SORCHEROR]

my shop is in a one car garage packed full of equipment,hass tm1 with tool changer,bridgeport,6x12 surface grinder,10x14 wet grinder,x2 mini mill cnc
edm machine,work bench,large surface plate,i have to put my tools away to sweep the floor or they might get knocked on the floor
amazing what you can fit in these little shops

steve

[j9k]

my new kitchen appliance should be here any day now.... heehehhe!

j9k

[Weldtutor]

Yours is bigger than mine.
My CRT is only 14" & my LCD less than 2"

But wait, smaller is better in this thread, right?

Na Na, Na Na
I WIN (nuts)

How this thread has degraded.

[Ziggster]

My shop is on a Kennedy mechanics tool box base with wheels. Although there is a 6' countertop cabinet next to it along the back wall of my garage with wall cabinets above.

Ziggster