Hey guys, I am Sarah. Every week I comb through hundreds of DIY videos preparing projects for our weekly Maker show, Maker Break. Along the way, I find some good projects… and some GREAT ones, And right now, I’m going to share them with you! This is Sarah’s Top 5 DIY Shop Tours! So before we get to our first one do be a favor and hit the like button, and subscribe! Alright, let’s get to it!
#5 is Jackman Works!
I am always impressed with makers that can create big projects with very limited space. Paul has sorta mastered this. He is working in a small 320sq ft garage but you would never know that with the quality of video production and woodworking pieces that he builds. I can speak from first hand experience that moving around a camera while you are working takes time, space, and way more energy than any maker is given credit for. The fact that Paul does all of that while woodworking and entertaining within a limited space, is pretty cool. I was really impressed with how organized he planned out his entire shop in sketchup before he executed everything. The vertical tool storage slides I think are my favorite. Awesome Shop Paul, and awesome tour video!
#4 is DIY Huntress
Sam is one of my absolute favorite makers and watching her work in this tiny little space has really been an inspiration for me to turn the limited space I have in the garage into a functional little shop nook. Sam and her dad built a 12×12 shed and utilized every square foot of space for organization, storage, and the most functional way to use the tools she has. A lot of her tools are on castors, or mobile carts. That makes it easy to move things around when she needs them but can tuck them out of the way when she doesn’t. I love that she stores her wood in the rafters, and though I am sure many of you are having a heart attack watching her climb up to get the boards down, I can totally relate. Us humans that are vertically challenged often climb up on things to get the job done and we are always careful. The only aspect of her shed shop that I don’t like are the beg boards. For some reason peg boards and I have always been enemies and I have not quite figured out how to call a truce. But they work well for her and her space. Thanks for the inspiration Sam!
#3 is Bourbon Moth Woodworking
So something that I love about watching these shop tour videos and seeing how each space is set up in a unique way that is catered to the maker. You can watch 20 shop tour videos and no two shops will be set up the same way. Jason’s shop has set some special sort of jealous bug in my soul to build out my own little shop, and something that I would LOVE to duplicate from Jason’s space is the sliding clamp storage wall, that hides the vertical lumber storage behind it. I really like the hand tool wall even if it is made out of peg boards. The aesthetics are really pretty and I like that they are on display. It sorta looks like art. Finally something I have noticed to be a constant theme in these videos is that you need to make things MOBILE. It makes your shop that much more versatile and just easier to make layout changes down the road if that’s what you need. Thanks for sharing Jason!
#2 is Crafted Workshop
Johnny has been in his newer shop just over a year now and though this video is from last summer it is worth every moment of your time. He has done a few shop tours, and watching his workspace grow and change over the years has been a lot of fun. Right off the bat something I am incredibly envious of is his dust collection system. Dust management is so important and worth your time and energy to install properly to protect your lungs, this is something we have great plans for once we get our shop moved into the bigger studio space. I cannot wait! Another aspect of Johnny’s shop that made me really happy is that he used French cleats to mount tool organization stations all over his shop. I love this alternative to using peg boards all day long. I love the upgrades and the new space Johny!
#1 is April Wilkerson
Back at the beginning of this year April finally showed off her giant shop and I loved all of it! She showed off every little nook and cranny of how she set up the space, with french cleats, mobile carts, peg boards, overhead storage, blade and accessory storage, and why she chose the layout she chose for her shop. I love that even though she has a much larger shop now she still uses the smaller mobile tool carts that she built when she had a smaller space. I mean, if it works for you why change it right? Half of her shop is set up as her woodworking shop and the other half is more of her production shop for products she makes to sell. I love that she utilized the wall between her two rooms and made this little fastener storage wall with clear containers. I am really excited to see what she moves to her new commercial space and how this space on her property changes over time. Thanks for giving us a tour April!
That’s it! I hope you liked my list, but if you find a version of this project you think should have made the list add it to the comments below! And if you liked this video the rest of my Top 5’s are in this playlist right here! Alright, do me a favor and like this video and if you are not already subscribed to Belts and Boxes please do that now, and hit the bell so you don’t miss any of our shows that come out during the week! You can catch me every Friday at 5pm for the Power Tool Week In Review with Rob, and every Saturday at 6pm for the next episode of Maker Break! See you then!
