My first “workshop” was a card table in my apartment’s parking spot. Made a coffee table there. Neighbors complained about the noise. Worth it though – learned more in that cramped space than I have in proper workshops since.
Start Small
A 10×12 space handles most hobby stuff. You don’t need a barn. My current shop is a single-car garage and I’ve built furniture, cabinets, plenty of projects in there.
Ceiling height matters more than people think. Try standing a sheet of plywood upright and you’ll understand.
The Workbench Problem
Everyone overthinks their first workbench. Spend six months designing, never build it. Just make something sturdy. Mine’s a solid-core door on 2×4 legs. Works fine.
Get the height right though – elbow height when standing. Too low and your back will hate you.
Power Situation
My shop has one 20-amp circuit and I make it work. More circuits are better, but don’t let electrical constraints stop you from starting.
LED shop lights changed everything. Cheap, bright, no shadows. I have four fixtures and wish I’d bought them years earlier.
Dust Control
Wear a mask. Seriously. I didn’t for years and regret it.
Start with a shop vac connected to your main tools. Upgrade to a proper dust collector when you can afford it. The shop vac handles most situations surprisingly well.
Don’t Buy Everything at Once
Buy tools as you need them for specific projects. I wasted money on tools I thought I’d need. Some still have the tags on them.
