OK, Joe Daddy is wrestling with something. Do I make my shop smaller so I can have a bigger layout, or is the shop more important that more train? Getting more real estate (more room) is not possible. So, my thinking is to expand my layout into my shop and build the layout over the top of my existing work table at about 50 inches or so and use the room for both. I have started a poll to get your opine. Thanks JD My current shop Current Layout Proposed Layout
Joe, When I first saw your post, I imediately thought of my shop with trains in it. Absolutely not! No way! You see, my shop is mostly for woodworking. On a good week, I can produce at least two or more 32 Gallon trash cans full of sawdust. I also store the garden tractor with the snow blower there. My shop is in a dusty inviornment to say the least. Now in your shop, being used for computer work with a minimum of dust making activites, I say go for it. The more room you can have for trains, the better life is. Jerry
Joe Daddy: Is that a radial saw? Wouldn't there be lots of dust, even if it's hooked to a vacuum? In the "plastic versus metal wheels" thread, a couple of us argue that dust may be more influential in the need for frequent cleaning than whether cars roll on plastic or metal wheels.
I was confused like GM. I personally don't have space to have a shop, but I have fond memory of my dad's. A shop isn't a shop unless it has a table saw and maybe a radial arm saw. You couldn't pay me to put trains in his shop. I gotta combine things in my tiny garage, so the Miterbox sits under the train as does the workspace. Based on your pictures though, your shop looks very very clean, so you might be able to get away with it. I might be less ambitious about what I put in there. Maybe a scene just at the doorway. Something that doesn't fit in with the rest like a city or Yard. Then I'd expand over to the bench space as staging rather then as layout. But that's me.
FYI, My shop contains the following major power tools: Makita 12" Compound miter Saw with dust catcher Completely fold up Royobi 12" Table Saw with dust catcher 12" Craftsman Band Saw with Dust Catcher Table Sander with NO dust catcher (going the way of the dodo bird soon) 12" Planer Plate Jointer and Router Table All of the tools are either portable or fold up except for the band saw and I am about to trade it off for a smaller one. I am also looking for a small portable higher quality drill press. I also have an Air Compressor and a very high power shop vacuum. One of the deals I have with my wife is that I have agreed to keep the dust and dirt under control. I think you will find my shop and train room pretty satisfactory, I vacuum the track regularly and am fully aware of the issues with dirt on track and wheels either plastic or metal. The train room and my shop have an industrial grade short carpet and I find that helps control dust. I vacuum several times a day during bench construction and typically clean house once a week just to keep the place presentable. I have a 3 car garage and a patio outside where I once used the saws. I think I made a bigger mess in the house carrying things inside and out than to just use the tools in the train room. Two problem tools though, the Planer makes WAY to much to control, I'll go out side from now on with it, and the Table top belt sander makes on heck of a mess too. I am going to buy the new Delta model with build in dust catcher ports. Joe
Joe ...This may sound nutz...heres my thoughts. ( hey you did ask... LOL) If the squares equal 6 in...perhaps a short 6 1/2 ft wall along the straight track in shop, serving as support for framing of layout, with an enlcosed back side, with a plywod top over the top of the layout for dust protection and also for storage over the top of the layout, if needed. If you then have a sawdust or dust problem you could put a velco curtain over the front. Could even get fancy and have 3 inch rounded corner museum (windows) like, viewing area from the isle side cut out of lauan ply and varnished or painted, may have to hide some rope lights. Anyhow somthing along these lines to accent your shop as its very impressive. I was going to expand my layout, I asked the wife to sit with her back to the facuts in the tub, she of course asked why....Told her there is a planded right of way from the trainroom to expand with a bridge accross the end of the tub, thru the other wall an into the den......sure nice to have hot meals and sleeping inside agin..LOL Is there enought height to move your bench behind the back side, Thinking if there's proper height from the top of the bench to the bottom of the layout to tuck the bench under the layout on the back side an still be able to use the bench? My 2 cents....John
Joe, I have changed my mind. (I do that a lot lately) Unless you either fence out the woodworking tools or fence in the trains, the dust is going to get to you! I have a dust collection system that will suck the watch right off your wrist if you even point to the inlet. I still get dust all over everything in sight. Jerry
As much as I love to see any layout get expanded I have to go with the anti dust camp on this one. Sawdust and layouts is just not a good combination; and I don't want to give to much thought to saw dust and carpet mg:! Even with a new filter on my shop vac it seems to create more dust than it collects. Almost makes me wish my trains were in a clean room like we have at work (for making micro chips).
Gotta agree with GM again, I've gone with my dad and looked at table saws that were thousands of dollars and they still got sawdust everywhere. On the other hand, you found a portable 12" table saw? I didn't think anyone made 12" table saws. I thought 10" was it. My dad's Craftsman saw from the 70s is 12". In no way portable. By the way, for those in the market, my dad has looked at fancy saws for at least the past twenty years hoping for less wobble and better duse collection. He found nothing that worked better then his classic Craftsman with a new fence, Forrest blades and stablizers and a homemade dust collector. Saved thousands too. I think what he did was he bought the shield that was for his radial arm saw and mounted it underneath to the motor so the dust collector on it is what catches the dust. I could be wrong though.
Correction, they are 10" YoHo, Thank you for questioning my statement of 12" tools. I reverified and both the table saw and the miter saw are 10". I sold my 12" compound miter saw for the 10" sliding compound which is one very fine precision tool. Honesty and accuracy are important to Joe Daddy! :embarassed: Thaks YoHo
Dust ! ! The dust discussion is interesting, and FWIW, I agree with your points, however let us look at the situation from a different perspective. My shop next to my train room has tree general uses: Layout related train stuff 60% Computer maintenance 30% Household/general repair 10% I am blessed with a 3 car attached garage which currently holds my 57 Pontiac, my wife's 99 Caddy and my 96 Vette, my Tahoe sits outside. Yes, I am a loyal American iron owner and user. In that garage around the walls is a pretty nice shop in itself with grinders, drills, jacks, creepers, about anything you would need to perform light to medium maintenance on something. My wood shop tools in the shop next to my train room which are both in the basement is where I cut lumber and materials for my layout and anything very small for general purposes. If I am going to build a major project, say a book case or the like, it goes to the garage or to the patio because it generally takes more room to do that work. All of my tools, including my table saw, are portable, the hardest to move being my band saw. Now for a case in point, I needed to level an area of sub roadbed so I grabbed my portable 3X24" craftsman belt sander and let her rip. I spent several hours cleaning up after that mess. It has a dust collection nozzle on it for which I have no bag, never, never again. So, while there have been some adventures to having the wood tools inside, the biggest single issue I am concerned about is the lack of space upon which to work. In planning the new expansion, I have taped the area out on the floor, then I actually stacked tool boxes, carts and other stuff in that area to allow me to see how the room will work with the layout over the top of that area. Workspace for non-train related projects is pretty much lost, but I think I am OK with that. Warm regards and a hearty thanks for your thoughts, if we could all be at my house this morning, I'd serve you all hot coffee and cake. Keep your wisdom and thoughts coming. Grace and peace to you all, Joe
My shop and layout room is rather small. To accommodate the power tools, such as drill press, belt sander, band-saw, jigsaw, etc, I mount them on kitchen cabinets. The cabinets are mounted to furniture dollies that have large casters. The top of the cabinets are 3/4 inch plywood. Having all my power tools mounted this way permits keeping them out of the way when not being used. This also permits positioning them for ease of use when I need them. This does work well and keeps my shop area open when the tools are not in use. I just thought this may help others that have a small shop area but has a lot of power tools.
Joe, I can be there in two hours. Mmmm. I love cake. Since you move your tools for the larger projects anyway, I would say go for the bigger layout. Just make sure you can still do your day to day projects with the smaller shop.
Cake and eat it too Eric, I need to invite you, Griff and the other Colorado fellows up to the old house and talk some trains and put some wear on some wheels! I'll set something up real soon! Best holiday season to all, which means to me a Merry Christmas!
My first large layout in 1975 shared space with parts of my woodworking shop. Never again. I dropped woodworking about a decade ago, and now do only small projects and repairs. I did cut everything for the layout out there, and it kept the train room pretty clean during construction.
Negotiations I am negotiating for an territorial expansion. If approved, the shop will vacate the train room entirely. It all hinges upon whether I can keep my desk tidy. Odds are not in my favor, I must find other leverage. :teeth:
