Tools, Toys, and Two Cars
D
aniel Webb developed his love of woodworking spending time with his grandfather, a master craftsman. But he had to wait decades before having the space to pursue his own dream workshop.
When Daniel and his family, with three young children, moved into their new home, he saw his opportunity to build out his shop in the attached two-car garage. A third car-size work bay provides room for bicycles, toys, and lawn-care equipment, but has also become part of Daniel's woodworking haven.
First, Daniel maximized the walls for storage. Pegboard above his workbench keeps hand tools readily available, and two racks above an adjacent bench separate lumber from turning blanks. A pair of space-saving drop-front finishing and assembly cabinets provide additional workspace when needed.
Because Daniel prefers working on smaller projects, benchtop power tools, such as his tablesaw, planer, bandsaw, and lathe, serve his needs just fine. A compact mitersaw saves bench space.
To aid in gluing and clamping projects, Daniel relies on a freestanding assembly table, with T-track for adding clamps and fixtures. Drawers below and clamp racks on the ends of the cabinet provide storage, as does a cabinet under his main workbench.
Daniel mounted his dust-collector's motor and blower on the wall near the ceiling inside a plywood surround that helps reduce noise. The system draws dust through a cyclone separator on a steel drum. He ran the dust-collection ductwork along the back wall of the garage. He says it fulfills the goal of keeping the dust off his wife's car.
Daniel has been able to use his passion and efficient space to start a side business, Webb Wood Designs, making craft items. To help sell his projects, he created a tabletop-sized photo booth illuminated by a pair of 4' strip lights, as shown in the photo below. He changes the angle of the lighting by adjusting the length of the chains.
Daniel says spending time in the workshop provides a spiritual retreat that gives him time for quiet and reflection. When it comes to spending money on tools and supplies, he smiles and says, "I have a wonderfully supportive spouse who encourages me in my hobby."