Rhodes Ave. Woodsmith
Handcrafted Wood Furniture and Custom Cabinets
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Rhodes Ave. Woodsmith Handcrafted Wood Furniture and Custom Cabinets
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Shop StoryMy shop is a 24' X 24' X 9.5' detached garage that was built in October 2001. The walls on the east side and part of the north and south walls are insulated and I put up plywood instead of drywall. I know, I know it seems like "overkill", but it's nice being able to put up a clamp hanger, shelves, cabinets anywhere I want. The plans were from The New Yankee Workshop and was featured on their website when it was completed in 6/2002. Most of the power tools I have are Benchtop style. The two floor-standing power tools are the Delta Contractor Tablesaw and the Band Saw which both are on mobile bases. However, the Dust Collector and Air Cleaner were a step up from the recommended "start-up" shop. After completing the shop, an Air Hose Reel was added, which means that I needed to mount the Air Compressor next to it on a shelf. (Screwed it right to the wall.) I share the garage with the vehicles and I've got to be able to bring them back in when I'm done in the shop. It is very important that the tool be movable, and the Air Cleaner helps keeps the cars clean from dust. To light the shop there are 6 48" 2 tube florescent light fixtures overhead, which when 40W tubes are in gives 480 watts. (My wife thinks I could do surgery in there!) I setup the electric circuits starting on the lights, which are on two 15A circuits. Then there's a General Service circuit that runs one outlet and a couple of inside and outside lights. The shop wall is on a 20A circuit that actually works out well with the benchtop tools. There's also one circuit for the Garage Door Opener and Air Filter, one for the roof vent fan, and 220V service for the electric heater. Recent upgrades were made to the power sources to include a dedicated 12ga 20A outlet for the Tablesaw, Band Saw, or Surface Planer and another 12ga 20A circuit for the Dust Collector and the Air Compressor. To cool the shop during the summer there's a roof fan installed that runs 1600cfm. So far, it's OK keeping the temperature comfortable. (The summer doesn't bother me that much.) Heating the space during the winter is a bit of a challenge. I use a 220V Q-Mark 10kW heater. I decided on electric cause combustible gases generate moisture, and I didn't trust a gas unit to be left un-attended. Why? My shop is also my finish room, so I need to keep the shop above 60 degrees while a piece is finishing or during a glue-up. There was also a building code issue where a heat source that uses a standing flame cannot be used in a detached building on the property. (Main Dwelling is OK, but garages are not.) Even though the options were limited, electric heat in the shop makes the most sense when it comes to safe operation as well as worry-free operation while I'm in the shop or not. I have been very impressed with this heater and its performance.
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