SeenMCrash

Hello all,

It's time for me to clear out my old basement, and build me a proper work shop! Now, I have a room which measures 11'x18'. I have some ideas for what I might find useful:
[ul][*] Wrap-around desk (see picture)[*] Several small drawers under desk[*] Inlaid marble tablet for gluing[*] An abundance of power outlets[*] Charging station in other rooms[*] Plane rack and a few storage shelves
[/ul]

Surely there are more and better things I cannot think of. What do you have in your workshop which sets it apart from others? Pictures are great. Thanks, Andrew

Notes:
Main bench is where plans will be built over.
Drawers are not stacked; only the one in the upper right corner extends down to the floor.

David Cutler

Looks great. I'm jealous!

One small point. Is there enough room to place a table in the middle of the room so that it's possible to approach the work from all angles if necessary at some stage in the building?

-David C.

SeenMCrash

I was reading about that as well; I know a lot of people use that. But the truth is, I'm not sure how advantageous that would be for me. I'm pretty tall and still young, so I don't yet have problems bending and twisting over plans. I think I value cleanliness and free space more. Make sense? Keep em coming! -Andrew

Flyboy Dave

My Feedback: (21)

Here's something you might think about. It's a rack made out of 2X2's and
dowel rods. I would have made it bigger, if I had more room. You can
fill it with old airplane boxes, and put all your balsa, covering materials, plans,
control rods, plus a bunch of kits, and a bunch of misc. stuff in the boxes.

I used to have boxes full of stuff all over the place. I still have to dig a little bit
to find some stuff....but at least it's all in one corner.

FBD.

SDR-Hammer

I have to agree with David C. a table that you can walk around is very useful. Not for the fact that you can have easy access from all sides but rather being able to set up a fully assembled model and walk around it for various reasons.

In your plans I see no indication of power tools. I had a workshop many moons ago where I used a few bench top tools such as drill press and band saw. I built most of the bench to a comfortable working height that suited me. Then I built a section of the workbench at a lower level to accommodate these tools so their worktables would be at a good working height as well.

Lee Belew

My Feedback: (2)

Hope this helps.
The photo show everything.

Good flying

Lee

SeenMCrash

FBD- Excellant idea for the rack. I too have far too many boxes with stuff in them. I'm also thinking about a 3.5' wide, 18" deep drawer for sheets of balsa and rolls of monokote.

SDR- The only power tools I have are a B&D cordless drill and a Dremel. But when I get some, I could just put them on some extra bench area....

I'm changing my mind about what I said with the island.I'm liking it more and more. I'm going to plug some of these ideas into AutoCAD and I'll screenshot what I come up with. Thanks! -Andrew

SeenMCrash

Here's the updated model, with 2 trash can holes and an island building desk. Clearance for walking is 3' and 2.5'. I set up some chairs in my house and this seemed ok. The marble is left over from another project and would be used to glue on and cut on because it's so flat and smooth.

76.ta

My Feedback: (39)

I have the island (3' 6" x 8') and a cart 2' x 4' on wheels that I can keep all my tools on so my work island stays free of tools, cleaner and less stuff to hit the plane on or with. I can roll it around so I can get to it quick from any side of the island.
Roy
www.hppilots.com

BasinBum

My Feedback: (2)

A table in the center is much better, your first design wouldn't allow you to fully assemble a plane. It should be about 36" tall so you don't hurt your back. It will also leave you more wall space which is valuable for storage. Long shelves made of 1" pine and covered with Luan and carpet remnants have proved extremely useful in my shop. I have a power strip attached and can charge planes where they are stored. A narrower bench along the wall for smaller projects and power tools works well for me also.

Do a search as there is a large thread of workshop photos.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

I also agree that having a 360 degree table is a godsend. You'll never regret it. However, since you also don't need it ALL the time, and you like "Neat and Clean", how about an island on wheels? It can be as wide as your counter, and kept against the wall when not in use. When you need the advantage of a 360 table, just pull it out into the middle of the room.

Now THAT'S Slick!

BasinBum

My Feedback: (2)

Four feet tall, flat head, no teeth and big ears........workshop? Oh, I thought you said perfect women.

vicman

My Feedback: (10)

HAW! Bum, I was thinking the same thing![sm=lol.gif]
Here is my shop and building buddy.

vicman

My Feedback: (10)

The planes are over here. Note I had to add a bench for mini me.

SeenMCrash

OK Guys, Thanks for all the input. I need to submit it to the builder, so if there is anything you still can think of or don't like, I'd love to hear.

MinnFlyer: Thanks for the idea about the rolling table, but do you think it would be too unstable? Is this the setup you're currently using? You said I won't be using it all the time, but I think that'll be the main part of the workshop. I envision that taking the place of my current workbench.

The marble will be used as an extremely flat surface for covering and gluing. Thanks! -Andrew

Robby

My Feedback: (18)

I use the center 'island' type of table.. it is on wheels so if not required
just roll it along side of main table and opens up floor area a lot.. This is
the table that I keep sanding materials and clamps in plus the electric
tools often used.. I made four drawers into it and the bottom has two
plastic shelves that is used for common building materials and some paints..
I also keep two ready avail chairs on wheels and have two more for in
case.. Be surprized how often plane parts are worked on, on the chairs..

Robby

Rocketman612

My Feedback: (85)

Been awhile. Have you finished your Workshop? Post some photo's of the place. Building mine and looking for Ideas.

Pete

Prop Nut

My Feedback: (3)

Submit it to your builder?!!! I own a small cabinet shop, you want custom cabinets for your airplane shop, drop me a line!!! I have always dreamed of doing a custom airplane shop for myself, but the shop I do have seems to collect old second hand cabinets that I remove from customers homes. I realize that you have already built your shop by now but I have to chime in on the island issue, nothing better.

SeenMCrash

It has been a while. As a matter of fact, it was built, almost exactly as planned. Came out awesome. There is a thread somewhere on RCU, I'll dig it up...

Here it is!

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_2685783/anchors_2687701/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm]Post[/link]

I'll post newer shots tomorrow or Wednesday; these are a bit outdated (1 year old!)

-Andrew

Rocketman612

My Feedback: (85)

Andrew,

Nice, Very nice shop.

Thanks for posting.

Pete

sdcranford

My Feedback: (4)

Someday I will have a nice workshop. I am using a bedroom in my 3 bd room house. It is shared with the computer
and a finished room in the house. My wife and I just purchased this house so it will be 4-6 yrs before I can sell and
buy a house with a nice workshop area in the basement or with some land to put a workshop on.

Ohh well, I will live with what i have now. I have a dream workshop sketch I keep around my current workbench.
Someday it will happen!

Andrew, I will add the scroll saw and trash ideas to my current sketch, those are brilliant ideas!! VERY nice workshop
as well. Good job

Prop Nut

My Feedback: (3)

Do you have room for a shed in the yard? I have seen several people build very nice shops out of sheds, as long as you dont expect to store planes there also.