The Shop Tour I’ve Been Avoiding For Years… Here is Why

[@michaeldanko1438]

Dont be so hard on yourself. Alot of us dream to have a shop like yours let alone a successful business like yours. Your business is the reason why it looks like someone works there everyday. Theres always room for improvement. Thank you for showing your vulnerable side, your an inspiration and entertaining person to watch. It's important to recognize and appreciate the hard work and success you have have achieved. Well done!

[@jodilea144]

Indeed! That’s what I call a blessed mess! 😊

[@felicadawn62]

I understand what you are saying, but I also think you are being a little hard on yourself. You didn't originally build and design your space for what you are doing now. And, you make the rest of us (that have more than one corner of shame) feel so much better. So, from this old girl still trying to figure things out I say thank you!

[@annafrohling4689]

Just built a new shop. The first thing I moved in was the mess.

[@spsully2582]

I snorted..... I never snort.

[@LYTOMIZE_Woodshop]

Thanks for the tour - it makes me feel like I've been there! 😉 I'd say don't be so hard on yourself and be so ashamed... but even though I know I'm still in the setup process in my shop I'd feel the same way if you or anyone else came by to see mine! Keep up the great work - I can't wait to see the next part!

[@tom.coomes]

No shame brother! You are doing an excellent job. Your work space will continue to evolve as you grow your business. You are an inspiration to makers all over! Keep doing what you do!!

[@kenluning909]

WOW. Your shame is more organized than my two car garage shop. I would like to have a 20x30 dedicated space one day. Keep up the great work.

[@Vintauri]

An organized shop is great to work in, but a pristine shop makes me wonder if it ever gets used. Looking forward to the changes and hopefully I’ll take this as a cue to get mine in better shop as well!

[@TomsBackyardWorkshop]

I just finished my 24 x 35. It took 3 months from the time the building was built just to insulate, wire, and epoxy coat the floor. I've started thinking about organization but I still haven't figured out my work flow.

[@shaynesabala]

Love your sincerity. I think we start working and out new things where they will fit until they don’t fit anymore. I know I do. Thanks for the video, I really enjoy your content.

[@AGlimpseInside]

Thank you very much. I appreciate this.

[@jongandelot4299]

I like the way you buried the red marking tools and got them off your wall!! Just bought your orbital sanding station. Didn’t get the discount you offered, but glad to support you and your family. Keep up the good work.

[@jodilea144]

Chris, I think we can all relate! My shop is a spare long room in our home, and though it allows me to have my tools/shop on one end and my studio space at the other, it’s not big enough. I find myself having to shuffle things around to access my router table or table saw and I have to stack lumber wherever I can fit it in…for now. I’m getting there, slowly but surely. I was so excited for you figuring out that your planer and belt sander fit under your work table! It’s like that cubby was made for them! I look forward to seeing the changes you make. Being organized makes such a huge difference in my workflow, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. 🙂

[@AGlimpseInside]

Thank you so much, Jodi. I appreciate you taking the time and hope you have a great week.

[@jodilea144]

@@AGlimpseInside of course! Thank you - you too, hon. 🙂

[@joeleonetti8976]

Thanks for sharing. I find if I do just 15 min at end of day wood working, I can keep things tidy. Often, what happens is once you get started, you will find momentum to go past 15 min as you did at the end of this video in moving those items under the bench. In terms of productive flow, I can't be of much help. I have limited space and fitting stuff dictates workflow more so than efficent movment. Then again, as a hobby woodworker that is fine.

[@flyingwoodshop1545]

Thanks for sharing! Ideas… processing… (imagine that spinning circle in the middle of my brain). I’m sure I’ll steal something from this (maybe the slide out bench on rollers-super cool!)

[@joeysublett4497]

Even when you're not building a project, your honest down-to-earth videos are still inspirational and motivating!! Thank you!!

[@AGlimpseInside]

Thank you very much. J definitely needed to hear this.

[@mehranzarrinehteram7228]

I find many times when I want to reorganize at my work or home talking out loud or having a second pair of eyes is very helpful. Just like when you were making this video and talking to us you found a solution for one of your areas. I have a colleague that I ask all the time to help me and regardless of the task he always asked me "What story are you trying to tell to your customers or colleague". If you know the storyline you can add or subtract from it. I don't know if that is helpful. See you in the next video.

[@ShopNation]

Dude! How am I just now seeing this video!? Send a brother a text! (ha) Chris, this video is great for a lot of reasons but your authenticity was what stood out to me. Your out there hustling and sometimes the shop gets away from us (I'm just as guilty). The space looks great, and that repurposing of that lower pull out (which is freaking cool, by the way) was awesome! Don't beat yourself up about your shop - just remember how pumped you would be if you saw where you're at now 3 years ago. Keep grinding my man

[@MCsCreations]

You know, Chris... I would love if my shop was that "messy". Mine is a disaster right now! 😬 Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@andrewpinson1268]

As a professional procrastinator and someone who has never started just one job in my shop - happy with 5-6 going - clutter gives me a useful feeling. When the drive hits me I can OCD with the best organizer and get things half way perfect. Never - ever - be shy about giving a shop tour. I promise you could give us one a month and I for one will watch every one of them. Another mans ideas and yes clutter inspires me to make things.

[@markemerson5324]

Keep it up! You are doing great and are an inspiration.

[@donwallace7354]

Thanks for being real, as you always are!

[@scruffysanta8442]

Don't beat yourself up. Your situation is due to being busy which is a good thing. We all have a corner of shame, it is a "gotsta" if you have a wood shop. My small (12x14) Hobby shop would be way more cluttered if it wasn't for your products, so I thank you! Looking forward to this journey.

[@greatgrandpaswoodworking]

You are doing great. My "Shop" is one third of our back patio going from our back door to the back part of our garage. This area is 8'x28.5'. The only wall is the house and the rest is open the the elements. For me this works very well. I don't know what I would do with all your room. I do like your videos.

[@4321Woodworking]

First off nothing to be ashamed of at all. Your a great father, husband, maker, inventor and content creator!! My shop is a disaster and has been for a long time now, I keep saying I'm going to fix it but I just maybe pick it up a little but never get to my actual shop organization projects. I entered the maker of the month shop greatness and you'll recognize my project very well. He hasn't released his video yet so I have no idea if my video will make the cut but if it does not I'll have to send you my submission. I know your a busy man but some of your products were used in my submission. I have a full video coming once I get a chance to edit it.

[@paulallen5267]

Thanks for the tour. We all struggle with organization and production. Look forward to new videos on your plans.

[@billthompson8936]

I think it's great that you show real life. I have a small shop and have my areas of temporary material storage, my area of lost tools, and where jobs get shifted for higher priority operations at this time. A shop is never to big but the price keeps us all limited to the size of our shop. I think that you're doing an amazing job of keeping it organized!

[@davidobrien6222]

You are your best Motivator. Just seeing your excitement on discovering something you already have that can be used more efficiently and give you a bit more room proves it. Keep up the EXCELLENT work.

[@AGlimpseInside]

Thank you so much David I really appreciate it

[@warpedfusion]

Thank you for the shop tour. I am also in need of a lot more organization in my shop but I do feel that some people end up worrying more about organizing than actually getting projects done. You are doign a lot of things. Don't let perfection be the enemy of progress! Also, the music you chose for this video makes it sound like you are touring the shop of someone you love who died. 😂

[@TheJONISHERE]

Your whole vibe, a chiller! I like the shit outta you and the channel dude!! Rock on!!

[@AGlimpseInside]

Thank you so much man I really appreciate it

[@ECIA78]

Chris you must be really proud for your honesty your kindness and your magnificent power to be candid beyond any possible way and more importantly only because you felt it was the right thing to do. Those are the real values and the real lessons and inspiration a person can share with others. I feel privileged to and thankful for being one of those. The shope is more than fine and the business is doing great and within a few months it will be spectacular!!!!

[@richardjones8236]

These practical applications and real time solutions are the types of content I like the most. Kudos!

[@robertkerby2581]

Great video! Well done, Chris!

[@Wallflowa]

Nice shop! I know you'll have it organized in no time. Don't worry too much about your "corner of shame", I have 4 of them

[@stevensullivan242]

Love this! And hilarious, I figured I was the only person in existence who did a Leo Getz "okay! okay! okay!" impersonation when I get excited!

[@BobBob-eh5sb]

Like some others said, you’re not alone. Every time I walk into my shop I think about needing to do cleaning and organizing. But, after the current project and maybe one or two more to get some of the wood laying around out of the way. I do get some moments like you had with the storage under the rolling work bench, which I really like that idea of the rollout cart. They usually happen when I’m moving stuff to get to some other stuff or tool, the light bulb flickers and I get an idea where to put the stuff where it won’t be in the way anymore. That is until I need something behind where I just put it. Contemplating reorganizing is a good thing when you need a moment to think about the project you’re working on at the time. I step back from it and look around thinking about what to do with the mess and a lot of times figure out a solution for a bit of it, and it taking my mind of the project for a bit, I usually figure it out too. Of course they are the times I just call it a day. And the last thing, like others also said, a spic and span shop is just for Utube videos. 😅 Hang in there.

[@matthyland1218]

If this is the embarrassing version you would not be allowed in my shop... can't wait wait see the improvements. You're already ahead of the curve

[@AngieWilliamsDesigns]

I love the workbench with the pull out base. That was awesome. Thanks for sharing your shop "as is". I have been super blessed to have a large shop. I started in a corner of a undersized old one car garage. And now I have a 32x35. Not all of that is just open space. I have a set of stairs that go to the second floor and there's a portion that is the "walk through" to a room we use for our freezer and spare fridge. So I have lots of people coming in and out. I've majorly underutilized the space. I recently did a clean up but it definitely needs more. I have a Glowforge and an xCarve that I use. As well as a space that I put up a 10x10(ish) spray booth for spraying furniture and as a finishing room. I also have three posts down the center of the shop that structural. So some layouts are not possible. It's such a great space and I'm super blessed... I really need to get organized and more efficient.

[@carboranadum]

Following along! Can't wait to see what you figure out. A couple of questions...you have a mini split and a window unit? Why? What size is your mini split?

[@jimrosson6702]

Great video makes me realize that I need to get out into my shop and get it organized and move functional .can’t wait to see the changes good luck

[@CrossCutCreations]

Man, Chris. I feel this shop tour in my soul. I need to organize my shop in the worst way, but I keep needing to get other stuff done first. I keep putting off cleaning and organizing, but the brutal truth is, I need to do it to feel better and be more productive in the shop. Thank you for this video.

[@lesthiele4921]

Hi Chris, as others have said, don't be so hard on yourse, you are a true inspiration to all of us who try a bit a woodworking from time to time, so thanks for all your time, best regards to you and your family from Australia 👍👍👍👍👍

[@raydriver7300]

You really have to stop beating yourself up, Chris. There’s nothing wrong with your shop. Sawdust in Travis’s shop doesn’t so much get produced - it’s frightened to settle! Keep up the good work 🌞

[@TheTinkirWorkshop]

Love the honesty bro. Inspired to get my shop together as well. Plenty of corners of shame! I’m in a 20x25 and I feel like I have no space, but it’s probably just my inefficiencies in layout.

[@chickencoupeking1010]

that’s a clean shop man, don’t be too hard on yourself🙏🏽

[@johnjensen5540]

Your shop on its its worst day is better than most. Including mine lol, keep the videos coming!

[@SolveFixBuild]

Brother you have nothing to worry about - but go ahead and make yourself happy by taking some time to work through your organization. My shop is a mess and after every project I clean up and do a bit of reorganization and then it gets dirty during the next project. I’ve worked in commercial laboratories most of my career and we used to have clients complain if a workbench had parts and tools on it. Finally our lab manager snapped back at a client: “this is a working lab. This is what work looks like.”

[@jodilea144]

I remember 30 something years ago, when I first married and had a home of my own to care for. I was ashamed of having anyone over if the house wasn’t in tip-too shape. My Mamaw told me back then that a home is supposed to look lived in, a kitchen is a work space, and kids (and husbands) are messy creatures. I still take pride in keeping a clean and well organized home, but I have to sometimes remind myself of that advise when I walk in my shop or my studio and notice how bad I’ve allowed them to get! 🙂

[@timberrecycling]

appreciate the honesty! videos like this are sometimes the most instructional because social media has a tendency to warp expectations. content creators so often only show the best takes and skip over their mistakes which can be misleading. my corner of shame is a bin of tools i thought i'd use but didn't, now covered in a bunch of sawdust from my miter saw, and a bunch of projects that i'm sure i'll finish one day, eventually.......

[@bigburlymikesmswoodworking]

Storing the planer and drum sander under the work table is a great idea. I have something similar in my shop with my planer and oscillating belt sander under my workbench/assembly table. They are both behind doors, pull out on sets of heavy-duty locking drawer slides and flip over like a normal flip-top tool cart. Saves a ton of floor space on tools I don't use all the time 👍

[@michaelmcdermott2178]

Why 'embarrassing?' Yes, I now work in a carpeted shop and vacuum frequently but I'm 70 and have a bad back and need the cushion. But go back even two shops ago and I was a hot mess as to organization. You're doing well IF: 1)it works for you; and 2) you're able to support that wonderful family. Keep on keeping on.

[@colinedwardbedford]

30x20,pfft I remember watching the videos of you building this space and you expanded beyond what you were originally doing and fairplay you've done well,give yourself a break ,your shop is in much better shape than you give it credit for.good luck with your improvements 👍👍👍👍

[@bryanknitter8858]

Your shop is 10x cleaner than my disaster zone of a shop 😂. Someday I wish to have it to the place yours is at 😂

[@kropjesla01]

Love this video, thank you for this. It reminds me that we are all just humans trying to do the best we can.

[@drewiliffe4855]

We have a couple of scissor lifts at work, probably the best piece of lifting equipment we have. It saves your back and increases productivity (what was a 2 person lift is now a 1 person lift). As for your shop layout there is always a better way. It just takes time to figure out what works for you. You got this!

[@garymiller5937]

Good luck on your shop reorganization. Seems like you're already off on the right foot. I look forward to seeing the completed project 😊. Thanks 👍 for sharing.

[@ahillbillywithasaw]

I could only dream about a shop as big as yours...lol My little two car garage does a good job of it though...

[@jamespayton2612]

One of the best shop tours I’ve ever seen

[@thecarl168]

i got an electronic shop 10’ X 22’ and i also have not just one but two shame corner , so i understand what you are going 😊

[@mattmayes599]

Thanks for showing us the everyday shop "shop tour"... We all can use more organization in the shop 👊🏻👍🏻

[@richtapper476]

Chris, It's always great to watch your videos. I love that idea of putting the cnc under the outfeed table, did you ever run that cnc under there? Do you have the plans for that outfeed? I like to buy the plans from the guys that came up with to help support them. Keep up the great work Brother!

[@gigaphonicon]

That leo getz was great i love lethal weapon. Honestly even in this first part video your shop is pretty well organized compared to most I've ever been in. Great video can't wait for the follow up to see the changes.

[@AGlimpseInside]

Heck yeah I’m so glad a few people got that. Thanks again man I appreciate the comment.

[@RYwoodview]

I think you're right to take time out to get better organized. Your workflow will become more efficient, saving you multiples of the time you spend doing this. I have been doing this since I began with my 16'x26' basement hobby shop 30 years ago. Plus, when you've been able to put the tool, hardware and material right back where they belong (or on to the next process), there won't be pick up to do later. Your dust collection is good already, so all you'll need to do at the end of a day is vacuum and the next morning you'll walk into an inspiring, sharp-looking shop which will start your day happy & motivated!

[@yellowhammerwoodcrafts]

We thought your shop looked great! Compared to mine it was very organized 😂 Thank you so much for the CNC. Glad that worked out so well.

[@peterschmidt9942]

I bring full sheets of material into my workshop all the time. Unfortunately I don't have the space to store them and I really should just break them down when I bring them home. But I don't always get the time then and there. So they tend to get stored along other shelves and such (whether there's room) until I get around to it. That could be up till 12 months as other more urgent things come along to do first, so I end up just working around them LOL. Not ideal, but it is what is.

[@pdxgigi720]

Hey Chris, I'm curious about the center workbench cnc storage. Do you have plans? I've been thinking of a way to show horn a cnc and laser into my two car garage shop

[@tony300c1]

🎉love you personality brother I can wait to see part 2

[@Reign_In_Blood_963]

Chris gave us a true "Glimpse Inside" his workshop.

[@Scoob609]

I wanted to see a mess and was let down. Your workspace makes mine look like it was designed by Marie Kondo and im constantly evolving my workspace. I think just having a constant work flow makes a permanently clean space impossible.

[@benjaminreinhardt259]

'Visual Noise' - not sure if you pioneered that term, or it is a common term. Either way, thanks for putting words to the chaos that is my garage/shop. I just got a half dozen lateral filing cabinets and am in process of moving into them. I cleared out some shelves and put the cabinets in their place. It feels calmer in the shop not having all of the clutter. But, it's still there, just in a drawer. LOL.

[@jamesbrunk9817]

Get to it Bud!

[@GreenlandRobot]

As someone with a single car shop everywhere that isn't the current project is my corner of shame, don't beat yourself up. At the end of the day you can spend your time obsessively cleaning or with your family.

[@Grt234]

Did you get any condensation inside with it being metal,??

[@thesplinteredfinger]

Chris, I think 99% of us makers have the same challenge. I can’t tell you how many times I said that about my shop too. Who has time to organize when you’re busy making?

[@coffeewithalexander]

i have four corners of shame in my garage shop.

[@eriklarsson3188]

Looks like you've outgrown your shed.

[@tccdlinux1471]

Chill dude, i can only speak for myself but you have a lot of company

[@anthonyjeffers3543]

One suggestion, if you can, put the lumber you don't use as often higher if you can.

[@buildingstuffaustralia360]

Love your 'shop of shame'

[@dougs5406]

I have 2 corners of shame 😂. I’ve even cleaned them up and they always revert

[@warrenwerks]

I was expecting it to be so much worse! You’re still way more organized than most of the shops I’ve been to including my own 😂

[@54mgtf22]

Love your work 👍

[@Damon_Barber]

Add some gas struts and casters on the bottom of that roll out and you’ll be able to raise up the drum sander and planer to work with them at height and not have to bend over or squat down.

[@AGlimpseInside]

Good thinking I like it

[@caseydurrans521]

The perfect shop does not exist. It will always be a work in progress. The best thing I have learned was to take 5 or 10 minutes every day and try to make one improvement. Over time you will notice a huge change. But don't focus all of your time trying to make the perfect shop. Spend more time with friends and family, and make the shop work for your needs, don't obsess over perfection. Perfect is the biggest enemy of great.

[@alexandersangster7137]

At least you don’t have burnt out lights lol my shop tour video is Monday

[@wittworks]

❤ very nice

[@kortt]

You don't want your shop to be too clean, then people will think you don't do anything in there lol Cheers brother!

[@AGlimpseInside]

Haha. Oh yeah. Also, Kurt. Thanks for being involved for basically almost the whole life of the channel. I really appreciate it.

[@johnleonard5857]

Is it really a corner of shame if every wood worker has one? I prefer to call it the essential corner. It must be essential if everyone has it. 😂😂😂. Can’t wait to see the end result.

[@mariushegli]

I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms

[@bm4al]

Bruh, you have a shop corner of shame? I have 4 shop corners of shame. I have to pick every single big tool I have and put it on a piece of plywood. All the while trying not to trip on random crap in my garage. Lol. I would love to have you setup. Your doing good brother.

[@nicholasbodnar7361]

Who makes those RED marking tools? 😉😉😜😂😂😂

[@artemmaksimenko4636]

Chris do you still have the Avid cnc?

[@AGlimpseInside]

Of course.

[@kevin_delgado]

What happened to the Delta Rockwell disc sander?

[@AGlimpseInside]

It actually took a tumble during the move and the arbor was bent. It never worked great after that so I decided to replace it and the stand is now being used in another area of the house but unfortunately the sander kicked the bucket.

[@kevin_delgado]

@@AGlimpseInside aw man, that makes me sad. I have been trying to find one of those for sale locally for years.

[@AGlimpseInside]

@@kevin_delgado yeah it was a sad day indeed. I’m not really sure how I would’ve fixed it. Maybe take it to a machine shop and have them respin the steel plate to have everything be true again. Either way thanks brother.

[@myhoneyshandmade1077]

Great shop tour. I need to do this for my channel.

[@AGlimpseInside]

Well hook it up Steve. Good to hear from you brother. Hope all is well.

[@myhoneyshandmade1077]

@@AGlimpseInside I will. Things are good. Hope you guys are great as well.

[@timlawrence3906]

I just noticed... your shop is close to your fence/property lines. As I've been going through the process of getting a pad and soon will be building mine, I found out that in Palm Beach County if the peak of my shop roof is over 10 feet (resulting in a maximum wall height of 8'-6") the new shop would have to be 15' set back from property line, instead of 6'. I'm just curious if that played into your shop height and location?

[@AGlimpseInside]

5 feet away from the property line as long as it’s 15 feet are under your height. If it’s over, that has to be 10 feet luckily I have a 15 foot shop.

[@timlawrence3906]

@AGlimpseInside That's awesome. I wanted to go with 10' walls (11.5' peak) when I found out the setback more than doubled for over 10'. And, considering the cost of doing a 12x20 slab here, Jacksonville is a better place to build!

[@scottbionicnerf8727]

Look Brother.. if the place is working good for you, and it appears to be, don't put yourself or your shop down just because it's not what you want it to be yet. I hope to have your problem with space one day because my current has become my lively hood.

[@MrKeith6774]

Hey man at least it looks like you do some thing in your shop. I don’t know how these guys keep their shops like operating rooms. They all look like nothings been done in there for a month.

[@ajbahe]

Dude! This is the reality of anyone with a shop. If it's a corner in the basment or in a garage. I'd take an embarrassment like that any day!!!! haha!

[@birdack81]

Nothing to be ashamed of... 5S is something to get to and get inspired by but it should never be the only thing about any working space. If you spend a lot of time organising then you are not producing...

[@simonr6793]

Chris it's great to see you giving yourself a bit of self criticism but remember the reason why you decided to dig deep and become self employed in the first place. Family!!! The ability to be there for your children when they started and finished their school day and of course not to mention your lovely wife, as you once said, the children are getting older and your mum and your wife's family are all getting older too. Hence why you made the right choice and became self-employed in the first place. As for the workshop and the little shed come delivery hub, brother lets face facts 😮 had you thought that you would become successful this quick then you would have done things a little differently. You'd have possibly made two workshop's not one that way you have the production workshop and the second one as the distribution hub ( Step aside amazon 😢) !!!. Brother at the end of the day you did the correct thing and now it's working out better than you thought it would. Enjoy it and if you need to expand the little shed to meet your needs. Remember one step at a time, one foot infront of the other. Above all be proud of what you have achieved in such a short amount of time. Keep going like this and before you know what is happening your going to be having people working for you on a full-time basis and getting a commercial property to work from 😊. Chris as alway's brother 💯% 👍 🇬🇧.

[@AGlimpseInside]

Always great to hear from you Simon and I appreciate the time you take to communicate your thoughts and insights. It really does mean the world to us. Thank you for always being so involved. I can’t tell you thank you enough.

[@metzessible1271]

At least you only have one corner of shame. I have 4.

[@davidlynch7666]

Bro relax u sound like you’re revealing an addiction lol. It might not be used efficiently, but you have a great setup. I have 0 garage. All my tools are outside underneath the car port.

[@nmancini]

#LeoGets, only a few of us in a certain age range will get that