How to design a woodworking space?

[kalivet]

I am president of a new not for profit association (women shed ) in Brisbane, and I’m trying to design a woodworking workshop space (6mx6m) for women in the community to join . I don’t have idea where to start . is here somewhere i can get some designs ideas or tools list ? that can guide me what  i need to set up something good and organised . 

[kalivet]

I will put a pic . thanks

[AlanM52]

Hi @kalivet,

Been waiting for all the good advice to flow-in so I can make suggestions that are not repetitive using a different approach.

I did some reading.

Australian Women's Shed Association

Then the Google maps thing.

So you can if you wish contact local sheds and enquire about assistance setting up your shed.
That's like a jump start so you can skip starting with blank sheet of paper designing your own layout and if OK take photos.

Cheers

[AlanM52]

Feel free to add me to the list.

14" Bandsaw, 7 month build, 95° Bunnings, motor repurposed from Gardenline water tank pump.

8" Bandsaw and capacitor start synchronous motor repurposed from Simpson washing machine.

Wood lathe 12" disc sander with good sanding capacity.

Router lift for entry level router table featuring easy onehanded bit height adjustment.

Planer/thicknesser fence to even out blade wear.

Jigsaw table.

Scroll saw using jigsaw.

 

Vintage woodworking:

I still have the complete Sher Workshop kit my dad and I purchased from McEwans in Melbourne CBD.

Safely stored in the house downstairs in the rumpus room. Also have crates of hand tools.

Every so often in memory of my dad I start a vintage project like the 8" disc sander with Powermaster drill, 8'' sander attachment and mitre gauge.

Cheers

[Noyade]

I gotta say @AlanM52  - you are one ingenious creative man.

I personally wouldn't be brave enough building a 'wooden' band-saw.

How old do you think that Powermaster advertisement is?

I did make some ridiculous things in the early 90's.

This was an induction motor from a pathology tube centrifuge.

Slow to start - then built up to 10,000 rpm.

Binned years ago. 😁

[AlanM52]

Thanks mate for the complement 😊

RE: I personally wouldn't be brave enough building a 'wooden' band-saw.

Here is the 14" Bandsaw build.

RE: I did make some ridiculous things in the early 90's.

I like the chuck and in-line cord switch 👍

RE: How old do you think that Powermaster advertisement is?

Sher Power Tools

Thinking... our McEwans city visit would have been 1962.

During COVID I setup Al's Workshop

These days it's hibernating but I still get enquires.

Cheers

[Noyade]

Sadly I can't say I've heard of Sher - and I didn't know McEwans went that far back.

I do have some British Wolf tools from the early 1950's - still going strong.

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Wolf_Electric_Tools

[Nailbag]

Such incredible ingenuity in all those machines @AlanM52 

I remember the brand Sher well as making very solid woodworking machines and Wolf for their more portable tools. In my early days of power tools I used to call on McEwens for Black & Decker. McEwens were the among the first to be absorbed by either Bunnings or BBC / Hardwarehouse. Then Hardware House sites were absorbed by Bunnings. You can tell these ones as they have 3 giant piles sticking out the front entrance. 

Nailbag

[Nailbag]

Hi @kalivet 

I have been involved in some form or another providing assistance to a few men’s sheds within my time in the power tools industry. And that suggestion from @AlanM52 to go and speak to a few existing sheds is the perfect place to start. 

I would also contact the marketing for and training managers for Ryobi and Ozito and see if you can drum up a few ex demo/sample tools. You could also try a couple of the safety companies for PPE like hearing and eye protection. 

When I used to run training roadshows often the spaces available made setups and operation in a safe manner challenging. Your space isn’t large, so I would avoid filling it with bulky items to start with. A central work bench and a few portable work stations and storage lockers will give you an idea of what space remains. You need to avoid cluttered work spaces. Less can be more and safer.

You need to also consider an area for some basic dust extraction when using tools like sanders and saws. If you have space outside, you could look at getting one or two portable marquees to create working stations. You can get walls for them to for protection against wind. 

Nailbag

[AlanM52]

CC: @kalivet,

Being cautious not to wander off topic...

One of my kids works at Milwaukee which means I can also tap into Ryobi so I should be able to get you some info about how to approach them (Ryobi).

If you read my bio I worked in the education sector which means I worked for a large TAFE College these days referred to as a Institute.

By the very nature of their size TAFE Institutes are very prominate in the local community and like to take advantage of that.

Find a TAFE in you area and prepare to visit them, they are basically public places so march into main reception like you own the place and introduce yourself 🙂

With regard to shop layout I was prepping to come back about that but I see that I am on the same page as @Nailbag.
RE: central work bench and a few portable work stations and storage lockers.

Are very good suggestions including marquee work stations.

That means you can postpone stuff like dust extraction with a shop vac in particular during clean-up sessions, move everything out there on wheels and blow-off then vac the shop.

Finally where do you stand... you are president of a public place?

Cheers