Ethan Abramson (@TheBuildWithEthan on Instagram) has run a successful furniture company since '08 and has shared his top tips for running the best shop possible with us. Check them out below:
1. Lighting
Lighting is key for so many reasons, but the most important is also the most obvious, if you can’t see what you are building how can you build it? Even in a shop without windows you can still keep it bright with overhead lights over your working surfaces and spotlights for when you really need to get into detail work.
2. Storage
You might not be able to change the size of your shop but having good storage is the next best thing. Everything in its place gets you working faster and safer. And it just makes you feel a lot better too, who doesn't love a clean shop.
3. Dust Collection
Do it for your eyes, your lungs, and your shop floor safety. You say it’s only going to be 1 cut without dust collection and then it turns into 2, then 59 then you realize you have gone a full week without properly sucking up that dust and your floor feels like an ice rink and your lungs feel like you swallowed a bucket of sand. Do yourself a favor and get proper dust collection on all your machines.
4. Proper Tool Maintenance
Doing big things like waxing your table saw surface all the way down to making sure your extra batteries are charged (and the million things in between) lets you focus on woodworking and not get bogged down during the day trying to figure out why your tools aren't working.
5. Common Sense
It doesn’t matter if you have been building for 45 years or 45 seconds, your tools don’t care about your resume, they can hurt you no matter how many hours you have logged. Always take an extra moment to make sure what you are doing is smart, secure, and safe. You are the most important thing in a shop, don’t forget that and don’t get hurt.
I’ve been a woodworker well over 50 years. As we get older safety and a clean workshop is more important than ever. Recently I was working at the table saw cutting a sheet of plywood and when I finished pushing it through the blade my back went out and I was falling into the blade of my saw, I was able to hit the switch with my leg but I put my hand in front of my face as I fell into the still rotating blade . End result my little finger on my right hand stoped the blade . I wish my old Jet table saw had good bladeguard which was stored on a shelf.
Leave a comment