Building out my Garage Workshop

[@lwsrider]

I love how you designed that board, by using those pieces of wood to hold your tools. Not only did you make it functional, you made it an abstract work of art! And as you said, it is modular! GREAT WORK!

[@elenamakes]

Thanks!

[@elpresidente8730]

At last a KZbin woodworker who lives in my universe. I shall watch your progress with interest young Skywalker.

[@elenamakes]

haha thanks and may the Force be with you

[@Dubstar86]

Great work! Looks awesome! Love the vibes of your videos. As a new woodworker, It’s nice to see a KZbinr who matches more closely with my reality. Using modest tools in a modest space to do what you love in your free time. I dig it. Look forward to seeing what you do next!

[@elenamakes]

That's great to hear and thank you 😊

[@mydearriley]

I was just thinking that I'm limited by the tools that I don't have and she does!

[@MichaelBuilds]

The new shop is turning out great! I really liked the magnetic curtain divider idea. That gave me a great idea for a temporary spray booth!

[@elenamakes]

Oh nice! I could see that working well.

[@MillCreekWoodworking]

That looks like a very functional space. I remember starting my woodworking out of an old shed with a leaky roof and uneven floor almost 18 years ago and the first move to a bigger shop was a game changer. It allowed me to be more inspired because I could take on bigger projects and let my creativity loose and also gave me more of an appreciation for my space and I kept it cleaner and better organized as a result. I look forward to seeing where your woodworking journey takes you.

[@LaverneLovatt]

You are are so frugal. That is a high compliment. Your videos are so great for those just starting out. Keep it up

[@elenamakes]

Thanks! It's easy to over-spend in this hobby so trying to save where I can

[@ChristophHintze-l9y]

As for a table saw; I really like my Kobalt job site saw. It is a 15 amp 10" saw with the added advantage of being foldable with wheels making it very easy to get out of the way.

[@pekita_inc]

me aparecio en mi feed y tuve que verlo saludos

[@iananderson4159]

Well done !! its nice to see lady doing woodwork , that Table saw will be a game changer for you . I look forward to see how you progress :) I only have 48 years being a carpenter

[@Ekrindul]

It looks like the workbench is racking quite a bit. Maybe swap the casters you have for a side mounted type that can be retracted to allow the bench legs to sit on the floor directly. Then add a layer or even two layers of plywood to the top to bring the height back and also to add some weight and stability to the top.

[@HobbyWoodWorksOfGa]

I think it is awesome how you set it up. Along with your enthusiasm , and creativity. Keep it up.

[@elenamakes]

Appreciate it!

[@ChrisHornberger]

Nicely done. I also love that you haven't just plowed ahead with sinking too much money (or too much shilling) into green and black tools or insisting that the best and most important tool everyone has is a $5000 SawStop. I think this is the second or third of your videos I've watched. Just found your channel recently. Gonna watch with interest. I just moved into a dedicated industrial space for my part-time-going-full-time furniture making biz, and it's 100% of the time refreshing and exciting watching someone set up and acclimating to a new space. I've been in mine for ~4 months, and I still move some things around at least once a week.

[@elenamakes]

Thanks, yeah this being a hobby I’m trying to be thoughtful on my spending. Good luck with your furniture making biz! 🪑

[@colemine7008]

I love to see how with each iteration of your shop it gets just a tad better. I loved seeing you have fun creating all the additions to the cleat wall. I love the your low key approach to your videos too. I hope you continue this is the kind of videos that are treasured.

[@elenamakes]

Thank you! Glad you're liking the style of these little videos

[@nore8141]

Now you need to buy more tools to fill up all that space looking forward to that

[@philraymond2543]

Great job! Amazing what you accomplished in one day! Can't wait to see more.

[@AyeyuparmoeThuka]

She's doing great.👍❤️

[@ScottJ5860]

This had to have been the first video I've seen of a French Cleat system build without a table saw or miter saw. I'm beyond impressed.

[@vanceharmon3481]

That's pretty cool.. I have had around ten different shops in my life. From a four by eight to a twenty by a hundred. Currently in the 20+100. The bigger the shop the more tools you acquire. And you always have to keep organized in order to have enough space, and to remember where the hell every thing is

[@andrewpinson1268]

A neat, clean well organized work shop is satisfying and helps with that little dose of admiration when you open the shop doors and want to do some work. And only you knows how much work it took.

[@devonsmith429]

I have limited space as well and found that a radial arm saw makes better use of space than a table saw. You'd want to get an older used one, but if you're patient you can get a nice one that still works great.

[@thureinphyo9768]

That is so neat and tidy. I don’t think I can come up with this kind of plan. Couldn’t have done any better. Great job Tom Cruise!

[@Boosterisanicecat]

You have a very calming presence. I appreciate that a lot. Lots of other woodworking channels often (albeit admittedly jokingly) double down on the *manliness* of the hobby with buttrock riffs and a weird "grindset". You're just chilling and doing your thang. Good times.

[@elenamakes]

Much appreciated 🤙🏻

[@Anggea]

I love the way you’ve built some of the storage for the weird shaped tools - it gave me the idea to see if I can adapt it to peg board hangers since I inherited my grandfather wall tool chest from my dad and the inside is all pegboard! I too did tarps in my single car garage shop, but I did it to stop the dust from getting on storage and over my wall attached workbench/storage on the other wall, I used clear shower curtains so I could still watch the free, ancient monitor turned streaming TV while kicking up all the sawdust since I don’t have dust collection set up either. Just installed flexible ceiling curtain tracks I got on ikea for both sides so I can have them out of the way when I need things completely open. Plus, it hides my lumber storage which all my nosy neighbours accused me of being hoarder for.

[@michaelhancock5606]

Nicely done. New space and new beginning, always fun and a challenge. You are off to a great start. You are correct that a shop is never done. I seem to always be rearranging my space for the project at hand. Great video. Best of luck moving forward. Not sure where you live but stay warm. Look forward to more videos and the evolution of your shop.

[@elenamakes]

Thank you! Luckily I live in an area where a good jacket and a little space heater will keep me toasty enough

[@p8prslar]

I'm definitely liking the wall storage you built.

[@joeguarnaccio5227]

First time watching, love the shop progress. I’ve been a woodworker most my life, all the shops I’ve worked in we cover our plywood bench’s (expensive!) in hardboard. 2 reasons it protects from damage and from glue drips, also a 1/4 inch sheet is inexpensive. Hope this helps, keep up the great work can’t wait to see the new table saw👍

[@elenamakes]

Thanks :)

[@NickGranville]

Looks great. Enjoy

[@facufrascali1087]

You did great, bravo! All you need is the table saw and the miter saw to complete the whole package.

[@worlock10101]

Great job so far! If you're going to get a table saw, I'd suggest making a roller cart stand for it, but make the height *exactly* the height of your small bench you just made and use it as an outfeed table. You will NOT regret it. Especially if you buy the more affordable work site table saws, which are smaller and less expensive than the massive siblings that run 2+K.

[@elenamakes]

I’ve seen others do this and I’ll likely do something similar :)

[@John_vDongen]

What a great video! - Lucky you! This space should be plenty big enough for now, A lot more space to move around as well.... Given that! My shed is a measly 20 Sq ft. 6x4 so, room is very tight for me. So! living in a tiny bunglow, I've converted my loft space, making sure I don't fall down the ladder. The floor space up there is arount 98 Sq Ft. So it's got big potential and enough for what I need right at the minute....

[@orbitalair2103]

You are brave. Painting light colors in a black shirt and new black boots !!

[@KG4FJF]

The video was well done. I have a tip for you when you are building with screws, in order to get a tight connection. Once you have everything in position try backing out the screws and reseat them, that will tighten the connection between the two pieces of wood. I first noticed it in the video when you were building the workbench. Give it a try I'm sure it will help and it becomes second nature once you are used to it. You have a great start to the shop, You are correct the shop will be continually changing. Happy Woodworking.

[@elenamakes]

Much appreciated :)

[@benjaminreinhardt259]

I remember those days. My early shop space was a 10x30 storage unit across town. Twenty years later, I now have a 30x40 building in the yard. Keep doing what you enjoy and it will come with time. For music with hearing protection, I use my AirPods with muffs over them.

[@elenamakes]

That used to be my go to hearing protective setup too but I'm fully converted to the Shokz. Sound quality is slightly inferior but I like using the ear plugs over the bulky muffs especially when I have a respirator on as well.

[@benjaminreinhardt259]

I hear ya (see what I did there?). I prefer the muffs because I can put them on and off as needed, rather than wearing them for the duration of the task. Of course, that assumes the noise making part of an evolution is only 10% or so of the time.@@elenamakes

[@jbaxter5256]

Thanks for sharing your garage shop build! You created a useful, effective space which is a great example for anyone working in a one car garage space where a wide variety of tasks will be performed. Your design is clean, practical, and provides useful storage and workspace capabilities. It is much appreciated.

[@elenamakes]

Happy to share! Thanks for the kind words.

[@nelsontriana5397]

I love the way you splain as you duing your project you will be a professional the way you going

[@wals6383]

I really like the look of your French cleat and you have convinced me to build one for my shed, as you've only used the tools which I already have to make it. The only other thing I think I would have done differently is to leave those over head LED lights constantly on and to run the power chords to a 4 in 1 power board and connect that to a power point switch you have near you. That way you are not constantly reaching up and they can all be switched on/off with the one power point switch.

[@elenamakes]

Nice, hope your French cleat build goes smoothly! And that's not a bad idea

[@charlessanderson2635]

I built a couple of the same benches and have found them really useful especially for chopping up sheet goods.

[@MASI_forging]

Hope all well 💖💖

[@elenamakes]

it is now that the shop is done

[@orbitalair2103]

Nice workspace ! I have to organize my garage yet again, get rid of things I dont use, and replace a useless pegboard with some french cleat rails myself. and yes the workspace constantly evolves. I added 4 of those 5000lu leds lights to my garage several years ago, I swapped out the overhead bulb receptacles for sockets and simply plugged them into there, so they work off the wall switch. Super bright work area now. I have cheap power tools, but am now learning handtools which I love, no electricity, and low to no noise. If I had your space I would build me Rex Kruegers Minimum Timber bench. But I will tell you, in my currently no space garage, the Low Roman Bench is 100% useful and handy to use. and easy to store. Look forward to more projects.

[@jdkerk]

Great start on your workshop! I've been working out of my small 1 car garage for about 6 years now and I've built some pretty amazing furniture. Here are some space saving ideas I've learned - build a flip top cabinet that can house 2 different bigger tools. Mine has my miter saw on one side and my planer on the other. When flipped to the miter saw I have wings that fold up on the sides of the cabinet to support the boards as I cut. Another idea is to build out drawers under all of your table tops. I think drawer making is one of the first skills a woodworker needs to master. I have my band saw and drill press on one table with drawers underneath. These hold an incredible amount of storage space and also keeps the dust out. I can adjust the drill press table to align with the band saw table to support longer boards as I run them through the band saw. Its also near the garage door so I can open the door when I need more space to guide a long board into the bandsaw. I have my router table in the extension of my contractor table saw with a trash can placed under it. It is amazing how much saw dust it catches! You are going to want a light above your workbench. Its so much more enjoyable to work when your area is well lighted. I just recently added drawers to my workbench too. I also added flip down casters. When the casters are up the workbench is really sturdy and doesn't move when I exert pressure on it. With stationary casters the table will still move when pressure is applied. Then when I flip the casters down I can move the bench with ease even though it is 3' x 5' and really heavy. I added a dowel to the side of the workbench to keep several small clamps that I use a lot when working at the bench. I also use magnetic strips in various places around my shop for small tools that need to live near the areas where they are needed most. Some kind of dust collection is a must! the sawdust builds up amazingly fast! Keep up the good work! I learned everything I know about woodworking through KZbin. It is an amazing teaching tool!

[@elenamakes]

Thanks for taking the time to write out that all out, some solid gems of advice in there that I'll definitely take to heart :)

[@rafaelluizeu]

Excited to see the stuff you’ll come up in this shop. Great to see the improvement in size 😊

[@gusbracewell3856]

Move your bar clamps to in between your wall studs to get more room on your French fleet wall

[@norm5785]

Elena, nice start tomyour new shop. Thank you for sharing. Everyone stay safe, warm, happy and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia

[@elenamakes]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it

[@vollyman1962]

I'm in Mechanicsville! Hi neighbor!

[@PeeVee1979]

Like you said, the workshop is never done but that is a great start! I honestly don't know what is more fun than doing little upgrades in my little shop whenever I get ideas or money. I built my shop in our old piggery, it's small, low, the floor is in awful condition and during winter I rarely use it because Finnish winters are cold and I don't wanna spend electricity to heat the space. But in spring when it starts warming up my head is full of new ideas of shop upgrades and projects. One thing I've noticed is that you're very creative so I can't wait to see what you come up with next!

[@elenamakes]

That'll definitely be my strategy, little upgrades here and there as needed. Thanks, glad you're enjoying the projects!

[@HoneyHollowHomestead]

It sure beats my 8x10 garden shed! But, beggars can't be choosers. 😜 Still working on getting mine organized. But like you say, it's a work in progress.

[@orbitalair2103]

Use what you have I say. Ever look at Low Roman workbenches. Rex Krueger and the Unplugged Woodworking have great videos on them. Super handy and useful. I work out of a 1car garage also, but I have tons of stuff in it, so limited room to work. the low bench is portable and easy to store.

[@elenamakes]

We all start somewhere :)

[@robertkerby2581]

You did an amazing job of organizing your garage! I especially love the French Cleat wall, which I think that I will try in my garage! Well done!

[@elenamakes]

Thank you 🙏🏻

[@chrisp.76]

Great start on your new shop. Greetings from Massachusetts!

[@elenamakes]

Hello there and thanks!

[@tro8191]

Perfectly made it your own, great job!! If interested in adding more shelves there’s a great video by Ana White on garage shelves from 2x4’s. 😊

[@AsTheWheelsTurn]

table saw is a must have in a woodshed. hard to imagine you have gotten by without one all this time. even a small one will make a huge difference , also not seeing a miter saw....I cant even imagine working without a miter saw.

[@thomashverring9484]

There it was! Congrats on your new workshop :^)

[@muhammadirfanmalik9712]

Great video, its really an inspiration for me to see that one can built up woodworking workshop with limited tools at hand. This is what I really like about your videos that you aren’t using any fancy tools at least for now 😊

[@elenamakes]

Appreciate it 😊 haha yeah we’ll see how long until I break down and buy a fancy tool or two.

[@ssskids123]

Loved both the build and the presentation! The shop is coming together and I think it’s going to turn into a fantastic maker space. Thank you for sharing! One thought that may help save a lot of time if you do another French cleat wall. Put to first cleat on, making sure it’s level. Then get a spacer board whose height is the space between cleats. Put the spacer board against the first cleat (I used a little masking tape to secure it to the cleat above), press the next cleat against it and nail the new cleat on. Rinse..repeat… I discovered this after doing my first section. The next three sections were done in the same time as the first and (for me) more accurately.

[@search_eternal]

Looks very nice, great job. One thing I'd do is, insulate the other wall and drywall it or 1/4" plywood.

[@eightapeach2861]

You remind me of my daughter. She too is a builder and a get-it-done girl like you who’s not afraid of hard work or dirt. Love your videos

[@elenamakes]

That’s awesome. My dad is a big reason why I build stuff as he is always very encouraging and supportive.

[@WoodcraftBySuman]

clean shop is an efficient shop. Nicely done

[@elenamakes]

Much appreciated!

[@Wythaneye]

There's a lot to like about this design. Your adaptation of the french cleat system, and your desire to re-use scrap wood really tops the list.

[@elenamakes]

Thank you 😊

[@citruscedar]

That step coming in clutch with the skill saw

[@gdubz422]

I use a long 30ft cen-tec quick connect hose from amazon on my shop vac to help with the dust and a dust separator to a 5 gallon bucket.

[@liuyang4485]

Really like your video! Resourceful and not emphasis on tools (like almost everyone else on youtube) Among all the small garage beginner workshop content, yours are my favorite!

[@5280Woodworking]

Very cool. So fun to use the new workbench to build shop improvements!

[@michaelralls2498]

I always over build everything so I know it will stand up to whatever I need it to do.

[@dennissmith5837]

Well this is kind of funny. Yesterday I watched you video about moving into the tiny shed/shop and passed the o how a new shop will come to you and any shop you have is better than none. And sure enough you have a new larger shop . . . already. Luck you. Keep up the good work and keep moving forward and learning more. It’s a great place to relax and unwind.

[@elenamakes]

It definitely came quicker than I expected haha. Thanks!

[@MaintenanceMan00]

That French cleat wall is an excellent idea. I’m going to have to use that in my “shop”. Great video!

[@richadent968]

You need a miter saw. Good luck growing your new shop.

[@elenamakes]

I really do

[@mattingly1217]

Heck yeah... im looking for ideas ... glad i found ya...

[@andrewk.3902]

This is the first time I’ve watched one of your videos, I’m hooked. I can wait to see what else you build. 😀

[@elenamakes]

Lots of projects coming 😊

[@cupiwoodstyle]

honestly your work is magnificent, in this video I have the impression that I am seeing it myself because I am at the beginning of my placement of my garage in workshop wood. You are Amazing 👌

[@elenamakes]

Thank you :)

[@marcericdavis]

Look at used craftsman table saws. Best $100 you will spend. Also, I built a room dust filter. Just a box with a filter bag. Makes a big improvement and is a great project.

[@elenamakes]

Thanks for the tips!

[@lastmanstanding9389]

A girl after my own heart. Love your work.

[@JoeMcFarlanesgoogle]

Creating anything from scraps is always gratifying...but French cleat accessories are extra fun. Well done & congrats on the new space

[@elenamakes]

Agreed, so satisfying. Thanks!

[@317-Woodworker]

Look sweet! for cleat spacing, I like using a spacer board. That way, all my OCD is concentrated on the first board, and then a spacer board sets into that cleat and all the rest are perfectly spaced and level.

[@elenamakes]

This is the way to go

[@jakerivera4913]

Can’t wait to see more video of your garage improvements

[@dougpeak7591]

I’ve been working on my shop for a couple of years . I build alittle at a time based on how much time I have . I’m a carpenter by trade and work a lot while weather is nice

[@eazyio]

Super cool! I just used the same guide for my bench. Works great! Shop looks good! Can’t wait to see what’s next!

[@timberwolf3781]

loved the content, and subbed to see what the future holds.... a bit of advice if I may. The problem with storing wood on bare rafters is, that they aren't designed for that weight. Those arent floor joists.... they are rafters, designed to support the roof, not carry weight. They look to be 4 feet apart, and floor joists are 16 inches apart ( to help carry load) That is just my 2 cents. In Canada snow load is a concern.... maybe not where you are! Cant wait to see the new content in your space!!! Cheers from Canada

[@elenamakes]

Appreciate the advice, I’ll keep that in mind :) snow isn’t an issue here but still a valid point

[@davebudd3463]

I too am in the process of building up a new woodworking shop. I like the idea of using French cleats for tool specific hangers as well as for shelving. Due to a wildfire that took the last shop, i have opted to go with a contractor grade table saw this time instead of re buying a cabinet saw. I made sure to get one that had a long enough arbor to accommodate a dado stack. And i have cut 3/4" wide dados with no problem. Just something to keep in mind to future proof yourself. Congrats on your new space! And i appreciate your re- purposing of wood. I do the same with used pallets etc. Good luck on your journey. I'll check back often.

[@elenamakes]

Much appreciated. Sorry to hear about the loss of your shop and I wish you all the best building out your new one!

[@bnj_9996]

Hi there! You might not need a bench vise (yet), there are a lot of workholding options that are cheap and easy. For example Rex Krueger and Shawn Graham (Wortheffort on youtube) have great videos but from a hand tool backgrownd. Planing stops, bench hooks, bench dogs or even shop made vises can be great, just pick what you need and don't waste time or money on something that might be cool but might not be really useful to you and your work

[@elenamakes]

Some good suggestions / alternatives. Thanks!

[@Nicksearra]

Congrats on the new space! Looking forward to more videos..

[@marcoxl]

Bravo,super....

[@imaginationingrained]

Not only is it nice to see someone as new to KZbin as I am but it’s also refreshing to see another female joining the craft

[@SaraOToole]

Looks like a nice space. Have you considered getting a light socket to electrical outlet adapter so you could plug the lights into that and use the wall switch to turn on your shop lights?

[@elenamakes]

Someone else mentioned this and that is a good idea

[@hailealebe2372]

I like your workshop ... I had learned a lot

[@Rimrock300]

It's good, but sanding plastered walls before painting will look better

[@Jacksparrow4986]

I'm struggling with space and your video made me think of ditching the miter saw I got to reclaim the space. My small bandsaw is also on the might need to go list as I'm rarely ever using it, anything small enough it can cut I could cut by hand as well. If you get a tablesaw yout workflows might improve but there are so many channels with big £$€¥₩ shops so a small channel with a relatable small budget workshop is something I quite like - and I could imagine working well for you as a side hustle.

[@workingmansrestorations7071]

This is second video I have seen lately that mentions the French cleats... looks like a good system

[@garygrimes4241]

Good job 👍🏻 looking forward to seeing your other jobs

[@chadnevels246]

Box fans and furnace filters make good air filtration units. Simple, portable, low noise, low cost, and space saving.

[@geoffreymills9932]

You have the talent to build your own dust collection system, a few videos here on utube have some pretty creative ideas and they're cheap, can't wait to see what you come up with next

[@DrHutOfHandcraft]

Great work (once again) 😄😄

[@elenamakes]

haha hoping this will be the last workshop I setup for awhile

[@cliff5240]

Very nice shop. Always great to see people able to be creative with what they have. I am blessed to now have a large building that I have built into my shop. I started out small with not many tools and have been able to add more tools over the past 5 years. I enjoyed watching your video, it is so great seeing our younger generation interested in woodworking -- I look forward to seeing more of your videos, just subscribed.

[@elenamakes]

Thanks 😊

[@MrTuggins]

With a 1 car garage, you might find more use with a Bora Centipede and a track saw instead of a table saw for breaking down large sheet goods.

[@RedcarWW]

I wish my shop had high ceilings. Mine is only 8' tall. Doesn't give me much to work with for overhead solutions. The plus side is that it's cheaper to heat. You were putting up your lights and noticed you had to climb on something to pull the string. I connected my daisy chained LED light(5) and plugged that into an Amazon Smart Plug. This way I can turn the lights on and off with either the app or my Amazon Echo. If you are not a fan of Amazon Echo, there are plenty of other Smart plugs that allow you to turn the devices on and off by an app. I have Gosund switches in the house. It allows me to turn lights off that my girls leave on.

[@davestasts1173]

You might want to add three more LED shop lights on the other side of the garage. I say that because when your working on your work bench your standing in your own light even though the bench is on wheels and can be moved but it will light your garage more evenly

[@elenamakes]

Not a bad idea

[@samalons]

Brilliant thanks Elena.

[@elenamakes]

Thanks for watching!

[@rwa96]

Using a quick clamp to screw in an eyebolt is genius!

[@elenamakes]

haha thanks it worked surprisingly well

[@DIY.with.DianeD]

Love your progress, and CHEERS to a bigger shop! Only tip I can relay is when building the frames, try utilizing that concrete step for leverage. If you laid the piece down, when pushing up against that you have something strong to be like a clamp on the end for you. If you'd like a visual, I can send you a quick sketch. Keep up the builds!

[@elenamakes]

Yeah for sure that might've been a better way to do it. Thanks :)

[@ToolsandTime]

Cool video, and way to take control and optimize your space!

[@mehmetcirik4954]

Ellerine sağlık güzeller güzeli. :))

[@Lincolnstww]

Nice space and great video!

[@elenamakes]

Appreciate it!

[@wayneblythe5713]

Nice space, make a quick bench hook (3 pieces of wood) for cutting dowel and small parts.

[@elenamakes]

Good tip

[@supadeluxe]

Nice upgrade! The table saw will be an awesome addition.

[@elenamakes]

Thanks!