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Hi Robert,Where you are showing the high shelving over by the mill/drill, if it is high enough you may want to consider putting a smaller workbench underneath it, if only to store various items you will use with the mill...like rotart table, clamps, collets, drill chuck, etc. Just a thought.Bill
A few observations:1, Milling Machines: It is normal practise is to mount these in the corner at an angle to minimise the amount of wall space lost and to make maximum use of the corner. 2, Where do you intend on putting your bench vise? Natural light is wanted for an assembly bench but not necessary for a "grunt" bench. 3, Where are your power outlets?4, Where were you thinking of keeping your work in progress? Temporary benches using a pair of the dirt cheap DIY workmates with a piece of timber on the top could be put up when needed and then put away when not. 5, You seem to have spread out to use all the available space rather than planned to make maximum use of a smaller area, leaving space for future expansion or temporary benches. Jo
If you have the space put the mill on a flat wall not in the corner as it will allow you to work on longer items if needed so maybe swap the drill and mill over, its easier to move the drill if needed for a one off or just drill with the mill. Only put them in a corner if you are tight on spaceDefinitely need more bench space, one as a working bench with your vice and another to sit at for marking out, assemble and fine work. Hanging for saws & files behind working bench, shallow shelves and small parts storage near other bench.Plenty of draws and storage under the benches, I don't like a lot out on shelves as it collects cast iron dust and is black whenever you go to use it.J
I agree with both Jo and Bill. If you move the mill to the right and in the corner you could move the lathe around to that wall. That would free up that space for a bench with a vise and even another machine. As Jo stated, a grunt bench is going to have things going on that don't agree with glass, i.e. Sparks from a disc grinder, flying miss struck punches or chisels, or parts thrown in a moment if disgust (ask me how I know). I think these moves would allow you to add in some small benches to hold tooling as Bill suggested. That's my $.02US anyhoo.
Hi Robert - I agree with Jason here maximum access each side of the mill but if you swap the mill with the drill positions move that grinder as far away as possible - the 'fall out' from grinding will soon permeate your slideways . Bench wise - personally I favour an 'island' bench or at least one that you can access from both sides - mine (6ft x 2ft 6") runs out into the centre of the workshop from the bench the lathe sits on. Being able to switch sides of a project - especially a boat - is an absolute boon especially if something's too long or too heavy. You can't have 'too much' bench space Take your time and get it right though it will never be finite - I'm still finding ways of 'improving' things after some thirty years in this one - mainly to create 'more space'
I too think that the mill parallel with the wall is preferred because you can use the space on either side of the machine for storage cabinets for mill tooling etc., and the tops as staging space for your project, measuring tools, drills, center drills, parallels, indicators, clamps, wedges, drill chucks, collets, plans, etc. If the mill goes in the corner at an angle, the space behind it can become a catch all for swarf, junk, and just is wasted.Mosey
Some thoughts from my own shop design (mis)adventures...Rolling tool cabinets provide the most design flexibility. (Try as you may, you will never perfect the shop design on the first try.) Building fixed storage and drawers is tedious and uses up play time ( (unless you like playing with brown stuff). The smaller rolling cabinets can be rolled under benches to provide instant drawers.Shop windows are wonderful but I wouldn't want one over my workbench. Use that space for tools. Windows allow thieves to inspect the goods before breaking in. Provide for some form of curtains or shutters. Also, there are rare times (e.g. heat treating) when you want the shop dark.I agree with Ramon on an island workbench (wish I had space for one). In my dream design there would be a 'slot' running down the middle of the bench beneath which was a box. Tools could be stored in this slot-box while in use on the bench. A 'slot cover' would close the slot when the full width of the bench was needed. (It's a variant of a classic European woodworking bench design.)Stand-while-working beefy workbenches are great but one needs must have a desk-height bench at which one can sit to do fine work, layout, etc..Spend a lot of time deciding what the correct workbench height is for YOU. We're not getting younger and, ultimately, your body will thank you. Allow for the fact that you may, at some point, want to sit on a stool while working.