Archive of ' Design'
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7 Strange Lessons & Tricks I Learned Installing a Shop Subpanel
Written By Bobby.
In Shop SystemsIn my previous article, Wiring Up Your Shop, I mentioned that I eventually wanted to put in a subpanel, but I didn’t feel like messing that deeply into electrical work.
Well, now I kinda need to. I’ve got a bunch of 240V circuits that I need, and with my ideal shop layout, I just can’t have one breaker.
Previously I had re-wired my Table Saw, Jointer, and Drum Sander with a longer power cord. I ran these along the dust collection flex hose up to the ceiling, and then to a common 240V outlet.
Since I used these tools one at a time, all was fine. But my Drum Sander really belongs on the other side of the shop, so now I need at least two 240V outlets. I don’t want to put two 240V outlets on one circuit, but I don’t have any more room in my Main House Panel.
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Tool Clusters!
Written By Bobby.
In Starting? Go here!,Workshop LayoutThe Most Commonly Neglected Layout Strategy.
Stack of boards. I can’t even get started making this cabinet until I’ve milled all 4 sides of these 30 boards.
Tedious tasks like this can be made less annoying by adjusting your “manufacturing process” to eliminate unnecessary things like walking around, picking up all the boards only to put them down again, and losing track…
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Dust Collection Mastery
Written By Bobby.
In Shop SystemsDust Collection Options
A friend asks you to help him with his shop ideas.
“What kind of dust collection system should I consider?”
“Ahh, I’d put in a central collector, duct it to each machine, and have a remote on/off keychain with me. Put blastgates at each machine to maximize suction on the tool you’re using. Then you can do woodworking without dragging a shop vacuum or small collector around the shop or re-hooking up flex hoses. “
Now, if you’d recommend this to someone you care about, what about you?
There are many ways to do this, but there are better ways… The set-it-and-forget-it method of dust collection you can do yourself!
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Wiring Up Your Shop
Written By Bobby.
In Shop Systems,Workshop LayoutAre you tripping over power cords? Do you worry about what you’ll do when you buy a 240V table saw when you only have 120V outlets? Are you routinely tripping circuit breakers?
As part of your overall woodshop design, assigning each tool to a circuit and positioning outlets to handle your current and future layout is one of the first steps…
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Musical Machines
Written By Bobby.
In Workshop LayoutGo Mobile with All Your Tool Stations to Add Instant Flexibility to Your Shop.
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The 1 Way To Arrange Your Tools
Written By Bobby.
In Workshop LayoutDon’t Copy—Instead Use Basic Principles to Arrive at Your Ideal Shop Layout
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The Value of Temporary Solutions
Written By Bobby.
In Design Process,Starting? Go here!Get your Shop Functional First, Even if it’s Not Perfect. Then Use it to Optimize Your Shop!
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Shop Space Where You Are – Part II
Written By Bobby.
In Design Process,Starting? Go here!,Workshop Layout2-Car and 3-Car Garage Woodshops
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Shop Space Where You Are – Part I
Written By Bobby.
In Design Process,Starting? Go here!,Workshop LayoutBeing creative means you’re able to make a shop anywhere. Plus 1-Car Garage Shops, and even an Apartment Shop!
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Proven Ways to Enhance and Increase Your Shop Time
Written By Bobby.
In Shop Comfort,Shop SystemsGain permanent control over your comfort, freeing you to focus on woodworking.
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Wrap Your Shop for a Lifetime of Comfortable Woodworking
Written By Bobby.
In Shop ComfortA comfortable shop is a productive shop.
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Revolutionize Your Woodworking Enjoyment, Part III
Written By Bobby.
In Design Process,Starting? Go here!,Workshop LayoutForgotten design considerations woodworkers need to know.
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Revolutionize Your Woodworking Enjoyment, Part II
Written By Bobby.
In Design Process,Starting? Go here!,Workshop LayoutStreamline all of your workstations to optimize your shop.
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Discover the Process of Designing Your Ultimate Woodshop
Written By Bobby.
In Design Process,Starting? Go here!Do your thinking first, build it at your leisure in the right order and get a lifetime of results!
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How I went from a cluttered and disorganized shop to a super-productive layout with a convenient dust collection and electrical set-up. 






