Five Ways to Create a DIY Workshop
How do you take that corner of the garage, or shed, and turn it into an upgraded DIY workshop? Usually it begins with some sort of work surface, maybe a toolbox, and some small handheld tools. But you’ll need this guide to bring your vision to life.
Here are some of the top tips that will transform your space into a workstation at a professional level.
Durable Flooring
Where better to start than the ground up? The floor of any workshop is vital for keeping the area clean and safe.
A durable epoxy floor coating can provide a strong surface that prevents damage or stains.
Beyond keeping the house clean, floor coatings also allow for greater grip in case of wet or snowy shoes, and supplies better grip for boots or tool stands.
Another factor to consider when choosing your floor is the impact on joints. For the older person looking to spend a lot of time in the workshop, a softer rubber flooring or mat may be ideal as it reduces stress on joints.
Whatever the price range or purpose, an easy to clean and resistant floor is a great starting point for upgrading a DIY space.
Workbench
The most important part of any workshop is the work surface. While most DIY spaces will already have a surface of some kind, the true mark of a high-standard workshop is a fitting workbench.
To achieve that expert-level environment, it is important to take note of what its future use will be:
- Is it for mechanics or woodwork?
- Will there need to be a vice attached?
- What is the weight load that it will need to take?
Heavy Power Tools
When looking to achieve that expert workshop environment, it may become necessary to start looking into more permanent heavy tools. Replace handsaws and drills with a bench drill or router table.
These fixed power tools can be a tempting impulse buy. however, they require a lot of forethought. However, you should consider the space needed and the stable surface or flooring beforehand. Check out this guide on the best router table for ideas.
DIY Workshop : Pegboards
All those small tools that have been collecting in draws or toolboxes begin to look messy after a while. The disarray calls out for the professional looking pegboard to arrange them against the wall above the workbench.
Pegboards are a sleek way of mounting any variety of handheld tools for easy access. Beyond the functional benefit, they can be customized to the user’s desires. Painted, divided, and styled through any number of hooks and shelves, the pegboard will add a personal and professional touch to any space.
Dust Extraction System
Keeping on top of the dust and shavings that come from crafting can be a nightmare, and it is why the best workshops have an effective extraction system prepared for it. Like all tips on this list, there are a lot options, and a few essentials divide the layman from the expert.
Some form of permanent vacuum extractor permanently placed somewhere in the workspace is a must. Beyond this, power tool extractors and air filters both filter out fine dust from power tools. Each of these should be weighed against the intended use for the space going forward.
Happy Working at your DIY Workshop
Ultimately, the only standard to judge a workspace is how well it conforms to your approach. All upgrades should fit around how you work with the final goal of making whatever DIY project you embark on enjoyable and easy. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box!
