Ted,

Thanks for your post. Yes, I didn't want this thread to be a place for guys to brag about their workshops but a thread where workshop ideas could be shared. As I mentioned at the beginning, I am in the process of designing my next house and I wanted to include a nice R/C workshop right from the beginning, instead of building the house first and then trying to make a spare bedroom or garage half work. Thanks for the drawing and the great discussion about what you did and why!

Your point about the legless workbenches to make cleanup easier is well worth considering. About two years ago, R/C Report magazine (RIP) carried a story by cabinet builder Tom Clark who adamently opposed open shelving in a workshop becuse of its propensity to collect dust and the difficulty of keeping open shelving clean. While Tom likes to enclose the undersides of his workbenches with cabinets (to provide storage space that won't attract dust and dirt) your legless workbench idea is a good compromise that makes cleanup easier but doesn't require building cabinets. By the way, Tom puts out an EXCELLENT book on workshop ideas that I highly recommend. While his book doesn't contain workshop floorplans (which is what I wanted this thread to be) it does contain a lot of neat ideas!

I also noted in your pictures that you had installed an airconditioner in your shop. While it would be impossible for us to work in an unairconditioned shop in the summertime around here (I did note your League City location), an airconditioner is more than just a comfort item. A shop airconditioner separate from the main house air conditioner also serves to keep balsa dust and dope fumes out of the house, which goes a long way towards keeping the peace in the family!

Harvey