Ideal workshop size?

[WV]

Well, my wife has been really patient with parts of hammock and tarp projects spreading throughout the house, but the other day she said, "Honey, why don't you go ahead and build that workshop you've wanted?" I'm so lucky.

So, as usual, I've been trying to distinguish between what I need and what I wish I needed. One big question is how big should the main work surface be? Can I get by with 4' x 8'? Do I dare hope for 6' x 12'? Then, how big a structure do I need to hold it? What's the best way to manage fabric storage?

What works for you?

[sclittlefield]

You can get by with a 4x8 work surface. Ideally, you want a work surface the full size of your project- so for tarps, a 5-6x12-14 would be perfect (large enough for one full tarp panel). That's a lot of space.

If it helps, I've been working off a 4x8 space for Backwoods Daydreamer Gear, thus far. When I set up the new gear shop, I intend to have a 6x14 surface. It's really nice to have your full pattern drawn right there on the table - position your fabric over it and trace (only works for lightweight fabrics that you can see your line through).

Either way, full size is wonderful! But 4x8 will do ya very well.

[mbiraman]

Well i don't know about big sewing projects but i do know that what ever size you build you'll use it . I'm a woodworker so my needs are diffferent. Mine is 24x36 and its barely enough. Visit someone who is a quilt maker and ask them or ask Brandon or ZQ what their dream size would be and try that. Good luck

[Just Jeff]

For fabric storage, I usually buy the whole bolt so I have all of mine stuck vertically in a wardrobe moving box. I open the box and pull out the bolt I want. It saves some space since it's all standing vertically. On top of that box is another with odds and ends that no longer fit onto a bolt.

For the work surface, I just use our old dining room table. It's probably 4x8. It's plenty of space for the actual work...but I have to measure/mark/cut on the floor. That works ok for me b/c it's a tile floor so I can keep the fabric straight by lining it up with the grout, but if you have the room you might not want to crawl around on the floor. Personally, I don't think I'd build a bigger table right now even if I had more space...just not worth the investment for the amount of gear I make.

But I also have a work area in the garage for non-sewing projects like stoves and tinkering with that thing that gets me to work and over Jeep trails. (And sometimes buried in the snow.)

Looking forward to seeing pics of what you come up with!

[sclittlefield]

Note on Fabric Storage: Keep it out of the sun.

Also - for your cut table, build it to a height where it's comfortable to be standing and cut on the surface w/o having to hunch over at all. This will be a real back saver in the long run - even for short projects.

[hippofeet]

WV, you are super lucky. I just talked my GF into letting me have some basement space. I'm gonna go with the machine set into a folding leg table. Think church dinner table. I know from my career that longer is usually more important than width (stop thinkin dirty, pervs), my arms aren't 5 feet long, unless you can walk all around it. Then, you are rockin.

[trigger hurt]

If it was me, I'd have lots of floorspace in the middle of the shop and build the work table to go from large to "normal".

[slowhike]

I wish you weren't so far away. I built a work table w/ hammocks as well as for multi-use, but have decided it's to big for my little shop.
It's 4 x 12', w/ a replaceable, 1/4" hardboard top.
It's on heavy duty casters (two locking) & has a built in storage space on one side for a 12' strait edge.
I would sell it for $200. That's less than I have in the materials.

[hangnout]

Put this on top of your work table and you will have a full size cutting table

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg...N=0&sst=subset

I built a table with this on top and it has worked out great as a cutting and sewing table.

Would work great on a dining room table to protect the table and have a large cutting area

[gargoyle]

WV, how 'bout a folding leaf on one or two sides? That way your table not always a overwhelming behemoth. 6x8 folded, 6x12 with the leafs up.