Small Workshops

[Too_Many_Tools]

I would be interested in hearing and seeing examples of very small
workshops (closets/small apartments/small bedrooms) and how people have
adapted a workshop to a very small space. Pictures or links to pictures
would be great. I would think the challenges of lighting, ventilation,
power and space would create some interesting solutions. Any articles
that discuss this subject would also be welcome.

Thanks for any contributions you might offer.

TMT

 

[CLFE]

I would be interested in hearing and seeing examples of very small
workshops (closets/small apartments/small bedrooms) and how people have
adapted a workshop to a very small space. Pictures or links to pictures
would be great. I would think the challenges of lighting, ventilation,
power and space would create some interesting solutions. Any articles
that discuss this subject would also be welcome.

Thanks for any contributions you might offer.

TMT

WOW, too bad I didn't see this about 20 years ago. Three experiences - I had
a back room in our basement - the house being 4 rooms - small at that. The
room I got was like 5'4" high, which I had to duck to walk into as there was
a step up into it - were it flat with the rest of the basement - I'd have
had no trouble. It was about 6' deep from door to back wall and 5' wide. I
had two very small tables in it, a chair and used the small nooks and
crannies for storage. The one table being my bench. I was crowded - but I
can say - all was in easy reach..... I even had a stereo there for music,
bright lights for total illumination, and a few other nice additions. In
another home I lived in, I had a small closet for my workbench "and" Ham
shack, we were in an apartment building, no basement and the new bride
didn't want to see the stuff. Crowded as much as if not more than my room as
mentioned above, but hey - it worked for the time. There is something to be
said about those close quarters - one thing as I mentioned, all in easy
reach. I have a lot more room now, but I DO sort of miss those days! It just
goes to show, you adapt when you have to. The more room you get - the more
junk you tend to rack up.... As to lighting, I addressed mine as mentioned.
Ventilation, it could get stuffy, if soldering a lot - if working on tube
equipment, it could get warm. And, if ya ate something good for dinner, you
could stink yourself out too! Power - you tend to utilize all sockets and
pipe some in from outter rooms if need be. It isn't the end of the world
having to deal with such an issue. As they say, ya gotta do - what ya gotta
do...... I've even had my work areas when staying in a 26' camper -
utilizing - again, any available space. Actually - it can be neat! Its all
in how you lay it out and approach it in your mind. One thing - DO NOT block
yourself in - in case of fire or shock hazard. Take any appropriate
precautions against fire and so on.

CLFE

 

[n cook]

I would be interested in hearing and seeing examples of very small
workshops (closets/small apartments/small bedrooms) and how people have
adapted a workshop to a very small space. Pictures or links to pictures
would be great. I would think the challenges of lighting, ventilation,
power and space would create some interesting solutions. Any articles
that discuss this subject would also be welcome.

Thanks for any contributions you might offer.

TMT

Hint for increasing storage space where there is little wall space
available.
For doubling the storage capacity of an existing
wall of steel cased,plastic drawered component
storage cabinets.
Obtain some extruded aluminium channel sliding
door gear used in domestic clothes cupboards etc.
Fix the runners to the top of the cabinet/cabinets.Fix channel to
ceiling/stout shelf in
front of and above(to avoid fouling top layer of drawers) the existing wall
mounted cabinets.
Fix a couple of PTFE slabs to base/rear to run against a sheet of wood or
metal fixed under
the existing units. Cabinets can be doubled up,pop-rivetted together
vertically with bridging
plates across the joins. Even trebled up if heavy components are placed in
the wall mounted units. For every
3 existing units maximum of 2 sliding ones for access,for 4 fixed then 3
sliding etc.
Theoretically 2 layers of sliding and 1 layer fixed cabinets would be
possible.

Other than the obvious comment - more mains outlets,
anyone any ideas for avoiding the rat's nest of knotted mains leads to
numerous test gear hanging around for perhaps once or twice a month use, so
not on a shelf
for once a year use. ?

 

[[email protected]]

I would be interested in hearing and seeing examples of very small
workshops (closets/small apartments/small bedrooms) and how people have
adapted a workshop to a very small space. Pictures or links to pictures
would be great. I would think the challenges of lighting, ventilation,
power and space would create some interesting solutions. Any articles
that discuss this subject would also be welcome.

Thanks for any contributions you might offer.

TMT

Guilty m'lud. However I dont see what the challenges are exactly.
Lighting is the same as anywhere else, except you'll only have 2 lights
on at most. Ventilation, I assume it has a door and window. If not, it
still has a door... one hopes!

Power is simple enough, just flex and multiple sockets, route the flex
wherever it can go. Modern 4/6/8 way sockets have made this very quick
to implement. Wiring them in pairs makes them usful, 4 outlets isnt
much use. Shortening leads can avoid a whole lotta wiring mess. 2x IEC
leads in one plug tidies things up too. Many British plugs will grip 2
flexes happily, though not all.

Space... it all follows simply from one basic concept: storage
effciency. Storage efficiency is the volume of goods divided by the
volume of space its stored in. If you have say a 2'x4' table, and have
1 foot depth of kit on it, and another 1' underneath, your efficiency
is 2'/8', 25%. (8' is the floor to ceiling height). Always store from
floor to ceiling, any unused space is not good. Using standardised box
sizes makes for better packing than odd sizes.

Theres nothing difficult about working in small workshops, as long as
you dont care about neatness, order, and dont mind working with goods
stored overhead, wires running up table legs, narrow access passages
and so on. Forget about swivel chairs.

Dont forget to make the storage boxes as frogs legs, heads, arteries,
etc. It keeps visitors at bay.


NT

 

[[email protected]]

I would be interested in hearing and seeing examples of very small
workshops (closets/small apartments/small bedrooms) and how people have
adapted a workshop to a very small space. Pictures or links to pictures
would be great. I would think the challenges of lighting, ventilation,
power and space would create some interesting solutions. Any articles
that discuss this subject would also be welcome.

Thanks for any contributions you might offer.

TMT

one last point: you wont see pics of small workshops. Its not possible
to capture the whole shop, or even much of it, from one camera
position. And to see anything you'd need a very wide angle lens, which
most people dont have.

NT

 

[Jim Thompson]

one last point: you wont see pics of small workshops. Its not possible
to capture the whole shop, or even much of it, from one camera
position. And to see anything you'd need a very wide angle lens, which
most people dont have.

NT

Can't get a picture because it was in my previous house...

Six foot wide closet with folding doors.

Bought a pre-made Formica kitchen counter at Home Depot, notched it to
fit and dropped it in as my bench.

Multiple outlet strip across the back. Parts cabinets above.
Fluorescent fixture above, plus a small goose-neck for close-up
illumination.

Close the doors and you weren't aware it was there... wife loved it
;-)

Now-a-days I solder maybe twice a year... haul out scope, signal
generator and DVM, and just do it on my office desk.

...Jim Thompson

 

[Seafarer]

I would be interested in hearing and seeing examples of very small
workshops (closets/small apartments/small bedrooms) and how people have
adapted a workshop to a very small space. Pictures or links to pictures
would be great. I would think the challenges of lighting, ventilation,
power and space would create some interesting solutions. Any articles
that discuss this subject would also be welcome.

Thanks for any contributions you might offer.

TMT

Best thing I ever did was to use kitchen tops for the workbench.As
they have a sloping edge,I placed two together with the slope abutting
in the middle to form a V shape.
this has caught more dropped screws etc also a good place to lay
screwdrivers etc to stop them rolling off the bench.A good safety
idea,well at least for me.regards

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

haul out scope, signal
generator and DVM, and just do it on my office desk.

Pervert!

--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida