New 24x40 shop

[Pat Barber]

I would point out that "vertical" drops better be used on a DC that is capable of lifting up heavy shaving,etc.

I have a 3HP DC with 3800 CFM. My ceiling is 12'8" in height and I doubt my DC could ever lift the shaving coming from my

15" planer or my 8" jointer. Fine dust, maybe... heavy shaving I don't think so.

I have seen this vertical arrangement in several photos but I really question how well a DC handle that situation.

My situation is a "cluster" method and I'm not happy with it but it does make it easier to collect the dust.

I'm looking at another version some day...

I tried the "all" machines on the wall method and that does work, but you walk yourself silly.

I'm still "looking" for the best method.....

Chris Friesen wrote:

[Fred the Red Shirt]

The key to minimizing that is to keep the planer by the jointer, the table saw by the chop saw and so on. That way you will mostly be walking from one station to the next one when milling stock.

A rolling table about the same height as the jointer and planer bed helps a lot too.

[Jerome Meekings]

That was issue no. 181 and there is(was) a video on the web site as well.

The shop is the same size as the OPs.

Also FWIW there was a workbench that inspired my current one.

[woodstuff]

I would put a large trunk down the center of the shop and branch off where needed. Buy a 5hp or larger Oneida that will pull well, little ones don't, I know. (I can clean a 20" planer from 30 feet away and a TimeSaver sander from 40 ft. Also place your dust collector in an outside closet or such to keep the noise down. (most of the noise of the machines is from the exhaust.)

I would suggest doing a deluxe electric job at the outset.

Make sure that you have it well insulated and you will be glad later.

If you can get 3-phase electric, do so now. If you can't, get a rotary phase converter from American Rotary. You just can't buy a lot of machines in single phase. My 40 hp converter costs 37cents/hr to run.

Make sure that you have doors on both ends (north and south if possible) and you will get good free air conditioning. (I'm located west of Fort Worth).

Wish you well, have fun.

woodstuff