How to Set Up a New Workshop

[@tested]

With thanks to Tested members Burke Healey, Mordim, @Ziz62266 and Mostly Mobile Photography for their questions and support. Join this channel to support Tested and get access to perks, like asking Adam questions: kzbin.info/door/iDJtJKMICpb9B1qf7qjEOAjoin

[@texx07]

matts offroad recovery is lookin fer fellow youtubers to join in his off road games.hes lookin fer youtubers that arent off roaders...you should go

[@DonariaRegia]

Form follows function. How a shop is set up basically tells a story about how someone views their approach to what they do and how they plan operations. A shop with good flow is something to behold.

[@RedTape_Media]

If this is a new shop layout, I hope there is a time-lapse video coming! I tear my shop apart and reorganize at least twice a year to help with flow and space, love seeing transformations and the feeling of a new and better layout.

[@Coconut7403]

I think it is just a different part of the cave

[@JeppePaaBjerget]

@@Coconut7403 Looks like the display cabinets have been removed.

[@hrothgar014]

Seems like he’s cleaned out the front part toward the door and removed the displays and such. More work area.

[@gijosh93]

I think the pool table use to be here

[@MatthewBuntyn]

In the "How to Organize a Chaotic Space" clip, he said that he would be recording a reorganization effort

[@MatthewMe]

Thoughts from setting up my shop that others may find helpful: 1) Install solutions for getting power to the center of the space without running cords on the ground. This usually means ceiling drops or something under the floor if it's an option. 2) Consider ventilation from the beginning. Put paint/poly stations near the windows where fans can pull fumes out easily. 3) Plan areas in terms of workflow, prioritizing movement. Do a small project and figure out how much you're walking and going "back and forth'", and arrange to limit that as much as possible. 4) Design in a way that makes quick cleanup as easy as possible, otherwise it turns to drudgery and you'll find you leave things a mess too often. 5) Ensure that where you spend the most time is ergonomic - no hunching, everything at the right height, lighting is solid, etc. It should be a joy to be in that spot for longer periods of time, not something that makes your body pay later. Just my suggestions, and there are many differing philosophies. YMMV.

[@AusKipper1]

Also consider comfort a little, I spent a lot more time in my workshop with two simple modifications, a decent Bluetooth speaker to play music and a heater to take the chill off the main work area. (I am working to improve things so I can keep the whole workshop at a comfortable temp but I cannot at the moment as I need ventilation for things that release fumes, so I need a separate area for paints and volatile liquids first, but once they are all in a separate building...) Also to your point #3, it may be worth purchasing duplicates of some cheaper tools to minimize walking around, for example I have a set of commonly used screwdrivers at my main workbench and I have a second more comprehensive set at my "electronics" area. Even though they are only 10 meters apart its not worth running back and forwards 10 times a day for the sake of a $3 phillips head driver. I also have certain tool duplicates like allen keys and wrenches attached to specific stationary tools that use that size just so I dont have to try and remember what size it was for example to take the blade off the metal saw because a dedicated allen key is stuck to the guard with a magnet.

[@DeathReviews]

What he said about the tongs - tool spread is real. For example, it's not enough to have just 'a pair of scissors' in the house. Scissors are such a versatile and useful tool, it's necessary to have a pair of scissors for every ROOM in the house. If you just have one pair, then invariably it will drift from room to room and you'll never be sure which room it's actually in. Better to have several pairs in several rooms so you don't have to go hunting for that one pair, carry it to a different room, then forget where you put it.

[@corey_nz]

@@AusKipper1 this (South Island, NZ) winter I installed a cheap bathroom radiant heater above my workbench. While I've wanted to heat my whole workshop, it's draughty and uninsulated so basically a waste of time. The spot at my workbench where my upper body is now warm has made so much difference and doesn't use a ton of energy unlike heating the whole shop - the low setting is enough usually at 600 watts

[@AusKipper1]

@@DeathReviews Agree completely with the scissors, I dont know about every room but I have them scattered all over, and one of the pairs in the kitchen are on a retractable lanyard fixed to the rail I hang the pots and pans on so they cannot go walkabout. (I thought buying about 6 pairs of scissors and having them all in a container in the kitchen would mean I would always have a pair of scissors, turns out it didn't, so then I got 3 more pairs for 9, and still sometimes the scissors container was empty, hence the desperate measures with the lanyard. But I have a reasonably messy wife and 3 kids so if your on your own you might not have that issue). As I type this now I glance across the room to the scissors container and only 2 of 9 pairs are there...

[@greasemonkey060]

Post divorce, it was bittersweet as I literally listed my rural house and current shop space for sale yesterday. Having found a larger shop in town with a fenced lot, closer to work, and the kid’s Mom. Seeing this video posted on New Year’s Eve I can’t help but feel like I’m on the right track for 2024. Thanks Adam and crew for all the inspiring motivation you create ❤

[@s.l.dixononline]

Good luck mate!

[@gedr7664]

keep on trucking buddy, youve got this

[@stuff_makes_happy]

Sounds like things are heading where they should, which can always feel like an end as well as a beginning, good luck friend : )

[@richardgreen3068]

Horizontal Surface Syndrome isn't a problem for me, as much as it is for my spouse! She spills over into my space, which can be maddening! Got to love her, though.

[@Zeldur]

It's rough right now and can be for months and years. You can make it through it ^^. Good luck in your new shop and the next chapter of your life ^^

[@kruckenberg01]

A kitchen tour would be awesome! We love kitchen and workshop organization.

[@JerryB507]

I cannot remember if it was here on Tested or another channel, but Adam did do an Omelette making tutorial in his home kitchen.

[@dirtyketchup]

I was just thinking about that episode, and I remember his stove/rangehood area had a lot of blue in it! . I think it was on tested channel.@@JerryB507

[@DavidLindes]

@@JerryB507 indeed. And that was cool. Less than a full tour, though... here's hoping that can be made to happen without it feeling too invasive to either of them. :)

[@Dsschuh]

The best part of this video was seeing a different workbench in a different area of your workshop! A space where there were bare walls and new things to see :-)

[@clearstream67]

Like the new angle. Definitely seeing some changes to the Cave.

[@christophergrace1085]

I truly appreciate hearing you say this at 7:21 . This is something I'm trying to be better about myself. For the majority of my adult life, I've dealt with the stigma of people who feel like if you don't do something now, then you must be lazy. I do things my way, but then beet myself up when I take 1 week, or 2 months, or hell multiple years to do something that would have taken maybe a few hours at worse. I truly love that there is someone with a platform like yours who is willing to state this and make it more normal. I've been better about it the last year and continue to do it my way and ignore other's standards. There are days I wish I had more control over the way my brain works, and others when I'm glad I don't!

[@chriscmoor]

Having set up a number of shops, both professional and hobby, over the years, I have learned that shop layout always begins with the same two or three questions. What will I be making and what size(s) will those things be? How will they need to be moved through the shop during the process of making them? What size(s) will the raw materials be, how will they get to the shop, into the shop, and through the shop? Because it is the things you make that drives the workflow, you should always think about them first and let the locations of the the various tools, benches, implements, and infrastructure adapt to the intake, processing, and output of the projects. And here's one hard learned Pro Tip: Having an organized raw materials storage very near the door where they come into the shop cannot be overvalued. Putting away raw materials, whether it is lumber, sheet goods, roll goods, metals or anything else is the least fun thing you can ever do in a shop. Store them right where they come in and you'll be more likely to keep them organized (more or less) and you won't fall into the trap of just letting them clutter on the floor around the door. That doesn't mean that your scrap bins of cutoffs and small bits shouldn't be closer to the machinery or benches, but that large (or even semi large) raw materials should have a place to go so that you basically only have to touch them once during unloading.

[@spdcrzy]

Isn't this basically how large logistics operations work? Loading bays are outside of warehouses/staging areas which themselves are outside of the main factory. It makes sense to me that this principle would still apply even on a small, single-person operational level.

[@jcschovajsa307]

I call it FLAT SPOT SYNDROM . Crap is going to get piled on it!!! I' totally amazed at how you keep your benchs clean. Doesn't happen in my shop except when I stop and clean it off for about two minutes and then back the way it was.. Thanks for all you show and do in your cave.

[@theHardChargerVids]

I love my wife…& it’s really cool to hear Adam tell stories of him and his wife….my wife is my best friend and we cook together. We sing…we talk…we dance…the kitchen is the perfect moment…the kitchen is truly the heart of the family….

[@carolsteinel2682]

Thank you so much for affirming how slow and organic the organization process can be sometimes. I give myself a lot of crap about that, but rushing it only makes things worse.

[@Matt_Ford]

However much light you think you need... Triple it. You can never have to much light. I put plugs on my workbench every 2 feet, so there is always at least 2-3 plugs you can reach any time

[@Bigrignohio]

And don't skimp on panelboard space. Leave at least half empty for future circuits. If you need to, put a second panel in! Or a larger one. They are available up to 84 circuit now.

[@Outland9000]

Lighting, power, space... Those are my top three.

[@chriscmoor]

And make sure that the general shop lighting (as opposed to task lighting) is on at least two separate circuits. There is very little more terrifying than to suddenly be in pitch black darkness with one or more flesh shredding spinny bits still running. If a breaker trips, you will have at least half your lighting still operational.

[@Bigrignohio]

@@chriscmoor Honestly? Put a battery-backed light or two where they will do the most good. Lots of momentum in some shop equipment so even if you have a total power loss you can still seriously injure yourself. If you must use 2 circuits, use two off of different legs of the electric service. That way if the utility loses a leg you will still have something.

[@Bargle5]

Well put. I had the good luck to get a bunch of discarded 4' 4 bulb low draw fluorescent light fixtures for free. I installed 10 of them in my shop. I no longer have any dark areas and the lights don't dim when I start up the table saw like it did with my old hodge podge of fixture types.

[@bigc9464]

The question about the shop is answered amazingly well. I learned everything i know from an old timer that was set in whatever ways he had in mind and wouldn't budge unless the 2 hour job exceeded 1 week. Same applied to the shop organizing. So for about 5-6 years id be at the work bench and have to walk into the engine/transmission building room for taps, dies, drill bits and to use the mill table. The mill table that was perfectly fine for 40yrs in non air conditioned buildings. As for the sewing machine, im sure youve got a plastic tote you lost or broke the lid to. Its square, can be had clear, and will have a lipped horizontal surface so when you roll it around small bits dont fall off

[@thirsty_ear_7507]

As an industrial designer and home chef / baker. I would love to see your kitchen layout and philosophy. Even if you have to build a foam board model and bring the kitchen tools into the cave. I love seeing crossover from kitchen/shop techniques. P.S. totally agree about the tongs. I bought some when my wife and I got into Korean cooking and now use them all the time.

[@MattTester]

Interesting, so I guess this area was the old display space. Looking forward to finding out more about the change. I wonder if it feels as homely to Adam.

[@EmileTheart]

As a maker this video made me smile. So much truth and wisdom. Hope you all have a super creative 2024.

[@jentheghost3364]

Just went through a week's worth of "spring cleaning the past decade" of my life while on vacation;going through old items,my dedicated drawers,and generally a mass re-organization of things that I have,paperwork and stuff,junk to get rid of which doesn't serve me. My "general craftsy things" drawer now holds more substantial things like bundles of coils that the pupper ripped out of the couch which I saved,and other metal-working-esque items to fill the void of what used to be random blocks of wood and "I may as well home my glue gun here" kind of drawer. I have a very small indoor space that holds my painting,sewing,drawing,maybe metal-working and glue-ups projects. I've cleaned and organized the hell of a garage that I might have let get away from me the past year during the whole flooring project that I did and have yet to finish... Sometimes it's good to just take a fresh inventory while cleaning to figure out about,outside of the space too,to find better systems to help you. This has been a pretty uneventful process with regards to creating something but I think that building a space to enhance your creativity is a creative endeavor on its own. I love having my sewing room inside of a semi-walk-in closet,and having my general library surrounding the room and then have a corner desk for my drawing space. Sewing space can easily become a comfortable paint or drawing space if I need to spread the work out more. I also have a pin that I throw articles of clothing into for when I have a spike of energy to mend things at all. At the end of vacation,but this year for me is all about freely running with whatever creative venture I choose to,at any given point in time,and that is what a successful creative space means for me. I know where everything is/should go,and since I went and cleaned everything up officially,I choose to not keep it that way for when I am actively working through things. They can lay where I leave them now and I have a better idea of what has been started,and what my progress looks like,hereon out! Is my TED Talk that I care about and wanted to share. Everyone's process is different,but sometimes,I think the word is "percolating" is a very important part of at least MY process. Rome wasn't built in a day,afterall!

[@magicmushroom69]

Biggest regret with my workshop is not painting or making the floor nicer before everything went in. Now its an impossible task due to everything that's in there. The only time really was right at the start. I also kept things like power and air just run all over the place as the layout does evolve over time.

[@jeromethiel4323]

Agreed. Painting a concrete floor with polyurethane paint will make keeping the work place clean so much easier.

[@AusKipper1]

Same as insulation, I am at a point where I would like to add a little insulation to the walls but it would involve probably 3 or 4 days of just moving stuff around before I can start, 2 days to do the work, then 3 or 4 days putting everything back. Of course it would give me an opportunity to clean and organize everything better as well so I still plan to do it. I did paint my floor to late too but instead of moving everything i just painted the floor that I could get to, so now when I move a bench or rack of shelves or something there is a nice unpainted square there I have to touch up but oh well.

[@vbikcl]

Agreed. That goes for floor leveling as well. Concrete floors can be really wonky and it can cause some real annoyances with mobile tooling and work stations. My workshop is in my basement, and the floor is all over the place. My table saw and outfeed table are mobile but there is one and only one place where they are level and aligned properly. If I move them a smidge, I have to completely redo the leveling and alignment. This is also problematic for my torsion box workbench. It is also mobile, but only supported properly in one place. If I move it out of the way to make room to run large sheets through the table saw, it wobbles and teeters, and if left to sit there too long, it isn't supported well enough to maintain its flatness tolerance. A fully leveled floor would add a lot of flexibility to my workshop arrangement. So in addition to making the floor nicer, if you can afford it, I would highly recommend bringing in a company to determine if it makes sense to level the floor, and if it is, do the leveling.

[@groermaik]

So true. I've remodeled my shop many, many times. I've even gone so far as to blow a wall out another eight feet just to get my toys in there.

[@FinallyAlmino]

This is unbelievable timing. I've just finished refurbishment of my basement workshop, I have boxes and boxes of tools, materials, machines, and bits and bobs, and an innate tendency to procrastinate, but I literally just finished cleaning my new space and is about to populate it, went to KZbin without typing into the search bar this video sits on top in my feed. Uploaded 10 hours ago so this can't be the algorithm, this is next realm up destiny haha

[@davidgoldberg2001]

Yes, power (and compressed air) everywhere. Retractable power and air reels from the ceiling in the center of your workspace are very handy and help to reduce the chance tripping over cords and hoses. The best solution to keeping wood dust out of other tools and off surfaces is to collect it at the source(s). Connected shop vacs are good, a true low flow/high volume dust collector is better. Wheels or not - when I first set up my shop I put a lot of things on wheels, and ended up almost never moving them. I moved my big contactors table saw once in 25+ years, so when it came time to replace it with a Sawstop I passed on the wheelset. If you do go with putting castors on things, for power tools and workbenches go with a flip up style that lets the legs of the tool/bench rest directly on the ground. “Locking” casters will always jiggle, which can be annoying or dangerous.

[@RayFromTheHayclan]

I have a 12 by 20 foot wood shop. for wood turning. After a few months of turning at my lathe, I decided that I had to do something better with the organization. I built out from the lathe, and the flow in the shop is now amazing. It is such a joyful place to work. your advice is spot on.

[@jodirauth8847]

I'm blown away at you changing locations. Wow, I'm really blown away

[@alphamegaman8847]

At 5:24 to 5:34 The Maker's Credo!😁 Which is why (from experience) you clean as you go (at least a bit every day) to help maintain ones Sanity, and Enthusiam for Finishing the current project, and beginning the Next!👍 Adam, I hope you Enjoy relishing the feeling of Satisfaction that comes with the Accomplishment of a long Pondered Goal!🥰 Good Job!👍👍 Happy New Year!🎉🧨 Mike in San Diego.🌞🎸🚀🖖

[@JohnCripps]

your 'new' layout blew my f'ing mind!! also your answers always so good!!!

[@floatinglotuswomenswellness]

I've recently moved and my sewing space has been reduced by about 2/3s. This is good info for my recalibration. And yes, I have about 15± sewing scissors from tiny fine embroidery to leather shears, so your tongs make perfect sense to me!

[@dirtyketchup]

OH MY GOSH.YES YES YES! Please do an episode on kitchen efficiency and layout! As far as "revealing" too many personal details, I'm not entirely sure how to interpret your meaning, but I do know you already did that omelette episode which did introduce us to a lot of your kitchen, so I'm sure a similar episode could be done without being too imposing on your privacy. But I for one would LOVE that content!

[@mickleman52]

Not about shops, but whenever I move/am dealing with large pieces of furniture I like to make a scale set of paper cut outs with a matching scale floor plan (noting door openings, windows, outlets etc.). It's amazing how seamless things can go when you realize during planning that where you want to put your desk has no access to power or that sofa you were looking at "fits" but also covers up the only cable outlet which you need for internet.

[@stuff_makes_happy]

I've done this with every house I've ever moved in to, such a great way to see how everything fits together

[@m.maclellan7147]

I know Adam talked about this, but he made scale models instead! 😊

[@jn9850]

It is amazing what you cam figure out with some bits of paper! Cheap graph paper to get *scale* sizing and that is how I've arranged my work spaces & living spaces for years.

[@KNRBClan]

I have 110 and 220 outlets every 4ft around the shop and a 3 phase every 8ft, also don't forget some outlets in the ceiling for various drop cord reels and fan/filter additions.

[@JoeAsa]

Dirty functions on one side of the shop, clean on the other. I have welding/grinding near one garage door (easy to weld a trailer etc.), then along the wall are grinder, sander and drill presses. CNC mill on the back wall (these chips are smaller and fly further - so are closer to the dirty side), and manual lathe next to it (large chips that don't fly as far. Then along the third wall a couple of small kilns and semi-clean bench space (clay and glass work). Then a clean assembly bench next to the other garage door. Assembly and engine work get done there far from the dirty side. Everything not on a wall is on wheels and is completely fluid as projects come and go. Wood work gets done outside under a metal carport. I try to keep most sawdust outside. I hope this helps. It works very well for me.

[@BenCarpenterWrites]

Great topic! Put everything on wheels because your shop will evolve over time. Any shelving or storage mount on the wall off the floor which makes cleaning soooo much easier.

[@1pcfred]

Your shop won't evolve if you get it right initially. Why would I want to push stuff around? Wheels are for hitting the highway.

[@julienlesaux]

As a professional cook, and amateur maker who has followed every advice of yours in my shop, pleeeeeaaaaase show us your kitchen system. As a mildly decent baker, I can confirm that baking implements take 9/10 of every space you allow them to exist in. Cooking something good may take as little as a bit of willingness. Baking needs technique, precision, patience and resilience.

[@pendorbound6839]

"Sometimes you just have to get enraged by a bad shelf for years until you tackle it and fix it." Truth!

[@OldMadScientist]

For a woodworking shop, there are a few things to consider .... 1. A raised floor to hide (and get out of the way) power cables and a dust collection system ductwork. 2. An overhead hoist for lifting heavy objects. 3. Put all workbenches on heavy-duty casters so the bench can be moved if needed. 4. A large single-car type of garage door allows easy movement wood into the shop and finished project out. 5. Ventilation for staining/painting projects.

[@toddvidclack]

Tip for keeping tools clean (Sawdust): Pick up inexpensive Barbecue covers. Also works for protecting sound gear at wet outdoor gigs.

[@foncostudios]

Adam knows this is one of my favorite subjects. Of course I am going to chime in. LOL! In fact I am setting up a new shop space right now. I like to decide where the table saw goes first. It requires the most space for feeding material, so it’s most difficult to place. After the table saw, I decide where each tool should go to get the best access. I also like to create a space for each common task, like spots for mold making, paint, welding, electrical and fabrication. I spends a lot of time in Rhino on plan view drawings to help visualize the space. Also air, lights and outlets everywhere, including from the ceiling. I am really digging my new quiet compressors from Harbor Freight.

[@patchvonbraun]

When my little not-for-profit had a combined shiop/electronics space, what I discovered was that organizational doctrine is remarkably personal. Despite our best efforts, there was always one person who didn't "get" how the place was organized. What seems obvious to one person is not necessarily so to others. A shared shop is a different beast to a personal one...

[@stevebjee]

You are so correct about any flat/horizontal surfaces getting filled. I have to go vertical for some of my workbenches to get some of the flat surface available.

[@rshawiii]

Love that sailrite, I tell people that I'm the one I'm the one with the sewing machine. Love your advice about being amorphous in setup and evolution. Will be required as my two 40ft shipping containers evolve into a productive and creative space.

[@mitchellwhitfield4704]

Man the timing is perfect! I’ve JUST built a garage for my motorcycle and workshop combo and was stumped with how to lay it out! Thanks Adam!

[@loukovanda5539]

Thanks for your insight on taking time to organize shop space, I often end up pressuring myself to figure out, and work on shop storage and infrastructure, to the point I feel overwhelmed and lose all motivation. I feel like you and I have similar methods often. Come do a video on organizing my home shop with me Adam! lol

[@DanielGBenesScienceShows]

Perfect timing, because I’m about to embark on organizing, my garage and home studio which has become a huge catchall. Getting rid of things that I’ve spent a lifetime collecting is not going to be easy, but it will score me some serious points with my wife.

[@j3tztbassman123]

5:35 I can totally agree with that fact. My Weber grill has a built in prep table, and it is covered in random things not related to cooking.

[@TNNLZ]

This one is pure gold for me - Thanks! Think I’ll snag one of those savage shirts if they’re available for purchase!

[@NathanSmithSound]

A video on your solution too suppress or lower the noise of your air compressor would be nice, since your set up is very transparent and appreciated.

[@1683clifton]

Sometimes when you have a problem that's difficult to solve, it helps to step back and find out all the places that problem isn't. Happy new year! I learned that from Spock, Episode 29 annihilate!

[@1683clifton]

No wait it was the Adonis episode. My bad.

[@thoughtstream9591]

Wow, I so want to see video on all the changes. Just wow

[@TheWadetube]

Some tools like jointers, chop saws router tables and wood lathes can be placed against a wall with a long lead space past each end for long wood, it is beneficial to have all of your work tables at the same level so each table can be used to support long materials that extend past the tool being used. Drill presses can be on the wall, consider what order you are going to cut and finish a piece and put your tools along a wall in that order. That being said a table saw needs a huge clearance space in the center of the floor, or towards one end if you have the extra space. You will need many tables but try to allow 3 feet between tables and tools so two people can pass each other without bumping. A bandsaw needs about two feet away from a wall. Build box bin shelves and long open shelves with a rail to keep things from vibrating off. Make a table that fits underneath another table for a lower work surface and put it on wheels. A wood planer can be on a small table with wheels so it can be put away. Always plan more shelves than you think you need. Vertical material racks are more space efficient than horizontal for sheet plywood and scrap planks. Long planks can be suspended FROM the ceiling above your head. A dust collector is a plus but a pain to make space for and plumb the piping everywhere. Make a wall board to hang all of your hand tools on, I use two screws, then hang the tool and draw an outline around it and write what it is in sharpi under it so even a child could put tools away to help out and this board will hold your pride and joy so putting tools away will be like counting money. Good luck. If it's a machine shop consider trying to localize your cutting and grinding tools in one area to keep the filings from contaminating other areas and consider hanging clear vinyl curtains to mitigate cross contamination, especially in an area that you will pain in. Those large surplus speaker magnets stuck behind a thin piece of sheet metal can aid in collecting shavings or keeping them from flying across the room, beware of cell phone contact with magnets. Good luck

[@darcyj19]

Oh, power and lighting is SOOO important. When I was fitting out the garage as a workshop at my current place, I had a first task: drywalls. Assemble framework and put up drywalls for the rear 30% of the garage. But when doing this I needed to figure out how and where I would route the power and mount the lights. I have rearranged my horizontal surfaces five times and built elevated platforms for storage but without those first decisions about power and lights I would have been in a much less useful shop.

[@nomadchad8243]

Were building a new shop at work. Out of a large garage and into an actual place of business 80x80. Im excited to have a spot for my own tools and my own table.l!

[@FujitheChef]

Ooo yes, please do a kitchen layout review. Or kitchen equipment video. With all the amazing shop tools you have. I would be curious what you cook with

[@mitchelljams]

I’m reorganizing my kitchen today and this is exactly what I needed to hear 😅

[@germansnowman]

I had to laugh at the comment about not getting around to doing something in the house for eight months - I literally completed a task yesterday that I had been sitting on for eight months. Took a bit longer than five minutes, but still. Nice to know that it happens to people like Adam too :)

[@PaulParkinson]

Is this a new space or just an angle we haven't seen in The Cave before??

[@Gladtobemom]

AND . . . good lighting with a generous assembly area right by your favorite bench.

[@Ohenry92]

The need for 3-phase 240V was a painful surprise when starting up my shop. Great advise!

[@andyc972]

Great advice - start simple, take time and evolve over that time !

[@michaelprasuhn6590]

I have a strictly wood working shop, and I still put a cover on my table saw when I'm not using it. Somewhere along the way I grabbed a bunch of old plastic temp road signs, that are like corrugated cardboard, but plastic. They are absolutely great for this stuff, and it keeps some trash out of a landfill for awhile.

[@rogercolaris8175]

Thank you for that kitchen q and a at the end. It makes me fell less guilty about getting this frother with a whisk attachment that we sell at the store I work at. :)

[@LykleSchepers]

In regards to power, what I did in my shop was mount two double sockets side by side all around my shop. The right sockets are always powered, and the left are powered via a switch at the door. So walking into the shop in the morning, I can switch on all my most used tools, with one switch.

[@G2bb101]

You said something in this video that I think has been kind of my modus operandi over the last couple of years that I've been building out my own workshop, and that was "to execute the things you might think about doing"

[@alsmith5031]

I want an R2 Unit in my place of work too. That would help massively with everything.

[@gregorymacneil2836]

Next to the orange/red cabinet in the background - there appears to be a set of shelves with tall and thin tool boxes on them - what's in the tool boxes - they look interesting and well thought out. As for dust in the shop - my dilemma is not sawdust in the metal shop but rather metal dust and chips in the wood shop!

[@samburke8595]

I believe those are jars of paint. There is a video on them.

[@TPBurket]

I often build props for a local theater company so everything is on wheels as I often have to adjust to fit the project. My main advice to the first guy is have good lighting everywhere - if the whole shop is well lit then having things on wheels become more functional so you don't end up in a dark corner.

[@simoncrabb]

Everything on wheels is so useful. I tend to just set it up as if it's a temporary shop. Then just see what stays where and let it be flexible and temporary.

[@e.r.32]

Shop layout takes time...and patience. I have spent house making minor adjustments to make the flow more intuitive and almost 2nd nature. Wasting time and disctracting me from my focus is too costley. Even if you think the change it too small to make or will take soo much time, do it reguardless, your mind will be at east (focused) and you will end up with smoother workflow. One tip...try to attach castors on as many thing as possible....keeping things mobil can be a big help.

[@mdn3518]

All so true. Laughed about the raging against a shelf until changing it.

[@braddr1]

Probably the best thing I ever did for my shop space was to upgrade my air compressor to a low dB compressor. WELL worth the cost.

[@romy7408]

honestly some wise words that I needed today!! I will also try to go as easy on myself as Adam's wife goes on him hahah. --> ''I try not to get too ''ugh, I wish I could get to that.'' it's an organic process, and it is a process, and I can only do the thing that my brain can do today right now here.'' is just very true for anything

[@scottkramer1709]

Time to make a model of the home kitchen and explore possibilities on the channel, maybe get a guest chef on to make suggestions or better yet Thing!

[@manythingslefttobuild]

The space looks shockingly different, and bigger than I thought it was. Looking forward to seeing you use the 'new space'.

[@TheRolfano]

We need to see tour kitchen! We are after all part of your life! Great episode.

[@ClayMann]

I don't want to step on Adams toes here but I feel I can add some much needed information as I bought one of those plastic racks you put on the wall to hang your screwdriver, ya know? And all the other tools like....the screw driver bits. Anyway with that experience I can help. First thing a shop needs is a giant dinosaur head hanging from the ceiling. I know money might be tight and getting them cast is such a pain at full scale but start as you mean to go on man! You'll need a ladder too but you can always borrow that from your neighbour. I have a screwdriver currently on loan from my neighbour. Hope this helps.

[@BlakeAStoffel]

I would absolutely love to see a kitchen setup!

[@tylergillmani5567]

A horizontal service being covered with crap is known in the Midwest as a catch all. It is one of those things we all have. The same as the junk drawer.

[@OomPapaMaoMao]

Adam, as a chef and teacher. I would absolutely love to see how you have your kitchen done. If you decide otherwise, no one will blame you. lol

[@unclefrogy743]

having worked as a handyman for some time and doing multiple jobs I developed many crates full of hardware to take what I needed with me to each job and the only way I could manage all of them in my shop when was on cart/dollies I now use them on almost everything makes things very flexible . A corollary to every flat surface being a place to put stuff is this your stuff will always increase to 120% of your space to put it (20% will end up "temporarily" placed somewhere for now)

[@michman2]

When I moved my woodworking shop (1,300 sf) I laid it out in Sketch-up using the scale models in one of the add-ons. I also used this tool to lay out all of my tools in the moving van. A smart move as I assumed one size too small.

[@jakestewart3504]

A kitchen tour would be amazing! I am designing our new kitchen and often think “how would Adam do this?”

[@tariqphoto]

spitting truths with 'any horizontal surface will soon be covered with crap'

[@peterterry7918]

Hey Adam, don't know if you will see this, but there is a young engineer with a KZbin channel named Xylin Foxlin who is in California. She just found out that she has to move out her shop to a new location and asked on line if anyone knew how to pack up a shop for moving. Someone in the comments mentioned you and I thought that was brilliant. I would really like to see a collaboration between you two and that sounds like a good one. If you don't already know her, I am sure you could figure it out. I have been a fan of yours since Mythbusters and I am now a fan of hers. Cheers and Happy New Year!

[@BassFever4Ever]

I totally enjoy this content! I agree on a shop that is always changing. Mine is currently changing lol. And my kitchen is the same......We have too many cooking spoons, tongs, spatulas, etc. But it's nice to have a variety to choose from. 😁

[@baybrotherspressurewashing]

Thanks for being such an awesome inspiration throughout all these years!

[@ToolsandTime]

Good tips Adam. Exciting thinking about people setting up a shop for the first time and Happy 2024!

[@3ddiy]

Yes! we NEED To see your kitchen!

[@bluesrocker91]

I don't have a workshop, but I have a small recording studio and I've lost count of the times I've torn the whole setup apart and moved everything around because of one niggling workflow or acoustic problem. Nine times out of ten I end up putting it back as it was within a few days. Occasionally I'll hit on something that is a genuine improvement though. A lot of the resources online on the subject are too focused on the ideal setup, which is impossible for most people. In the real world you almost always have to make major compromises for the sake of practicality or just space to move.

[@wobblysauce]

Yesss, little tongs work so well for multiple items.

[@snip3r416]

So this was on the 19th of December so I hope the all time had a good Christmas and hopefully sum time off and looking forward of seeing what’s new to come in 2024 from new stores and new showcase from tech and new products 😊😊😊

[@Nomadboatbuilding]

Three phase power is no longer much of a requirement now that we have affordable VFD controllers that can transition 3 phase machines to 2 phase. I think that's a huge game changer.

[@BrouBrouZebra]

Suggestion for the cover for the sowing machine if I may. Put the top at an angle, say 45 deg, with a 1/2 inch lip at the bottom and binder clips at the top. And prob a magnetic light.

[@thebeattee569]

I would also love to see an inside tour of your kitchen!

[@isaacfortner]

Electrical is the biggest one, since so much other infrastructure depends on it. Put WAY more outlets and circuits than you ever think you could possibly use and it still won’t be enough. I designed our bonus room maker-space to have separate circuits for outlets above and below the countertops, to give lots of amperage capacity. I also designed the furniture like cabinets to be relatively mobile so they could be reorganized, and that’s come in handy for changing up the layout after a year of working out the workflow bugs.

[@russelldold4827]

My father had double socket outlets installed at 3-foot intervals around the walls of his double-garage hobby workshop. In less than a year the ceiling was festooned with extension cables!

[@Starbelt]

What a great and timely question! I just moved into a new art studio with double as much space. I've been struggling to figure out where things need to go and I was wondering what advice you might have for this. At first it was boxes and a desk and I've realized that I just have to live in it and spend time even just sitting there doing nothing in the space to figure it out.

[@patrickhennessy510]

Adam should watch Norm Abram the new Yankee workshop. He did a episode where he built a shop table. Adam would find it useful.

[@ricklodewell6012]

Thanks! I've been curious about what the space looked like and how large it was.

[@Kris_at_WhiteOaksFarm]

Finally got my shop electrified. Got a lot of organizing to do. The wood shop side is centered around the Table saw. I had conduit run under the concrete for the saw, so I wouldn't have to trip over an extension cord. If I'd known where other machinery would stand, I'd have made other runs under the concrete. Shelves are going against the walls, tools on wheels are being crafted. Gotta finish my lady's Christmas present before anything else happens though... Well, and get the Garlic planted before the ground freezes.

[@valeriebrincheck6034]

Yes like Adam, I am allergic to clean flat spaces. They must be covered with any thing possible so that I don’t start sneezing.

[@bouldercreekmotovideos402]

Good video. I would add to put the compressor in another room or building if possible. Mine is in an adjacent storage building with all the grinders, well away from the metalworking machines.