The Practical Workshop: A Woodworker's Guide to Workbenches, Layout & Tools

by Christopher Schwarz, Popular Woodworking

Everything in its place.... Whether woodworking is your hobby or your profession, you'll get more enjoyment and satisfaction from the craft when you have a practical and functional workspace.The Practical Workshop is your guide to setting up a sensible shop with an efficient workflow and everything you need to make the best use of your time. From workbenches to shop furniture to storage solutions, this book covers the essentials. You'll learn strategies for machine and fixture placement. You'll discover ways to streamline your operations and get plans for all the shop furniture you need to outfit your space.   • Get started with guidelines for putting together a basic toolkit and some quick sawhorses.   • Focus your shop around a central workbench--you'll find complete plans for two benches, a gallery of bench designs and ideas for personalizing your workbench for your specific needs.   • Get helpful advice for placing machinery and instructions for building shop furniture and fixtures.Woodworking can be a respite from the bustle of daily life, especially if your shop is well-organized and your tools are where they're supposed to be. This book can help you set up a great workspace, avoid clutter and get the most out of your woodworking.

Genres: Woodwork

574 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 7, 2017

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reprints from Popular Woodworking, several that that I've already read. There are 2 or 3 really good articles which can also be purchased separately online. I recommend the knockdown English bench for starters. In addition to the magazine, some of these appeared in other books as well. A decent book if you have little on this topic, but there are better ones.

[RetroHound · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not much on layout, even though that's in the title. One chapter on placing machinery but the pictures were not very helpful. Several pictures were just of a machine, not many that give a good idea of a layout. Mostly, this book is plans for workbenches, tool chests, tool cabinets, jigs, etc. Some good ideas. Sections include Getting Started, Workbenches, Shop Setup, and Storage. Shop Setup is things like how to build a router table, miter saw stand, etc.

[Gina Drayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well thought out projects

Informative and insightful. Now I have more on my to do list. Thanks Christopher. The kind of projects I had intended but had yet to pencil out for myself.

[Dan Carey]

Mostly oriented towards the power tool shop. I was hoping for wood storage ideas, and the book had only 1.

[Christopher Hachet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful for the woodworker. Worth buying and keeping.