Design a workshop

Design a workshop
How I designed my new workshop.
 
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Step 1Make a model

Make a model
I have been a fan of this site for a while and never contributed before but today browsing one of the projects here I was struck by the crudeness of one craftperson's workshop, so I am posting this to maybe inspire some others to get their stuff together.

When I had to move all of my stuff out of my old place to my new place I became somewhat concerned as to where I should put everything. I really did not want to have to move things around too many times. Most of my stuff is heavy, some weighs upwards of a half a ton. So I knew what I had, and I knew where it all had to fit, so I made a model of it all.

The first time I was exposed to this idea in a book I laughed at the fellow doing it. When it came my turn to setup a new shop it didn't seem so funny after all. It is way easier to move little cardboard models around than full sized objects! Oh, and for all you graph paper cutout types out there it is far too easy to lie in 2D. I have gone the graph paper/cutout route before. That has never struck me as being very silly, just not as effective.

I used the architectural scale 1/4 inch to the foot as my scale. Heck, after a while it was sort of fun to make scale models of all of my junk. In the process I even remade a few of the models nicer than I had initially. The models are made out of scrap cardboard, and toothpicks, hotglued together, then painted with craft paint. Nothing too fancy there. But everything is to scale.

See the little scale me in the model? It was a handy visual aid for me to see height relationships, or how I'd fit in the environment. OK maybe the minime was going a bit too far? All I wanted was sharks with laser beams, whoah wait a minute. That is another story.
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58 comments
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Jun 25, 2011. 2:34 AMKnuxz says:
You, my good sir have done a great job. When I EVENTUALLY move and have a bigger bedroom, I shall design it this way. You see, I am a high schooler, and my bedroom is my mancave, and my workshop. It's approximately eight feet by nine feet. My desk, and bed taking up most the room. Well, enough about me, I am about to read your instructable, and due to pure boredom will critique (in the most respectful way possible) your work here.
Page One: Good first page. And congrats on this being your first contribution. It's contributy. :D
I'll just shut up here. Great instructable. :D It was perfect. Like the perfect skirt, long enough to cover everything, but short enough to make things interesting. Keep on making!
-Al, a bored student over summer
Jun 28, 2011. 7:09 PMpfred2 says:
Plan the work then work the plan.
Jun 29, 2011. 12:35 PMKnuxz says:
Well, ironically the day after I made my post, I found out that we are going to be converting a ten foot, by ten foot section of the garage at my Dad's house into my bedroom, building a complete wall and all. Once I have the time to make a model, I shall post pictures of my finished plan.
Jun 29, 2011. 3:19 PMpfred2 says:
Well just don't put too narrow a door in that wall you're building. You never know what you might want to get through it. Make a case for an exterior entry door, (they seal better, they're better insulated etc.) they're wider than interior doors.

Good luck and remember sometimes it is more important what you don't do than what you do.
Jun 29, 2011. 6:24 PMKnuxz says:
Well we actually are using an exterior door. We're replacing the door in the kitchen, not a sliding glass door, just a regular door. (Cause when I'm not there the cats tend to take my bed, and it has a cat door) >.>
Jan 11, 2011. 2:10 PMvincent7520 says:
I love the model !!!…
Maybe I'll stick to that !…

Wish I was 10 again !!

:D
Feb 21, 2007. 9:16 AMDoc Holliday says:
This idea works really well for other structures too. In my case, not just the workshop, but a greenhouse and a model railroad room. The latter was critical in determining areas used up by switches and curves while allowing access to everything. Building a model of a model in 3-D is fun, and you can cart it around to get other people's ideas; which is REALLY hard to do with the "real thing"
Sep 22, 2010. 3:27 PMrrrmanion says:
did you just say you build models of models? do they models in them, like some bizarre infinite model loop?
Dec 18, 2010. 8:54 AMpfred2 says:
And that is why I posted this Instructable to begin with. It may sound bizarre but it is the right thing to do. As apparently so few are aware.
Mar 16, 2009. 1:47 AMWarlrosity says:
I make little rooms for easter chickens and I have mini lights
Sep 22, 2010. 4:27 PMDoc Holliday says:
You're great for recognizing and sharing the value of physical models.

It should be noted that knowledge models are good for capturing complex ideas.

If I can't get something on to one piece of paper, I've not done due diligence.
Oct 13, 2010. 7:00 PMpfred2 says:
I just put up a kooky video about this model on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHuO08rYiAE

Go check it out!
May 7, 2010. 6:39 AMsteliart says:
This is a great effort you put in  here, my hat off.
It looks like it worked for you very well, but I find it much easier to work on a 3D CAD software to design a project like this.
Accurate in dimension down to the mm, detailed a much as you like to do it, and allot faster if you want changes like e dust collector network system.
Personally I prefer it this way.
Great job 
Sep 27, 2010. 8:16 PMpfred2 says:
I made my model in some spare time I had over the course of two days. Though I messed around with it for about two weeks. It worked for me a lot better than not doing it. Everything fit where planned on the model so accuracy wasn't an issue. I can imagine too much detail leading to losing clarity. I don't see gluing on that dust collector taking me more than a moment. I don't find 3D CAD particularly easy to work with, and even professionals use physical 3D models for their well substance I suppose. 3D computer models are still sadly represented in 2D even today.
Jan 9, 2007. 6:56 PMwoodknot says:
Great instructable. Nice job of preplanning space. I wish we had. Our access door in in the lea because of high winds, but that means a 90 degree turn. Never thought about how to get the big stock in and had to add a large swing window. Our second shop arrangement follows the work flow. We made a house full of cabinets carcases (for the in-laws) in a 20'x20' area.
Sep 22, 2010. 4:37 PMDoc Holliday says:
OK, last post for a while.

WHY would you create any facility other than to be USED?

"Used" implies process or workflow or whatever people are DOing there.

So, before you build a 3D model, build a 2D process model. Then attach all the attributes to each step and flow to validate your model.

Hint: work backwards from your goal to where you are to make sure your model is complete..

Feb 11, 2007. 5:19 PMCreativeChick8 says:
kinda cool, but there are some free softwares out there that let u design floorplans virtually... maybe they're better
Sep 22, 2010. 4:31 PMDoc Holliday says:
There is software out there to carve or cast 3D objects.

I don't think most of these products are ready for prime time, but I'm betting we'll have good quality at a good price in less than five years.
May 7, 2010. 6:44 AMsteliart says:
 I have tried to upload some images to show you what I mean, but they won't upload, neither with IE8 or Firefox or Chrome (win XP) they all give problems.
Sorry
May 9, 2010. 3:42 AMsteliart says:
 
workshop 1.jpg
Dec 18, 2010. 8:55 AMpfred2 says:
That is very nice. I can never do stuff like that on a computer. What did you make that in?
Dec 18, 2010. 9:17 AMsteliart says:
with Google SketchUp, try it out and have fun.
Dec 18, 2010. 5:49 PMpfred2 says:
Last I looked they do not support my Operating System.
Jul 23, 2009. 9:40 AMxZCodmaNZx says:
good idia
Jan 22, 2007. 3:43 PMnickjohnson says:
I can't believe the detail you put into this! wow!
Apr 12, 2008. 4:20 PMDoc Holliday says:
It's not "detail" when you can organize principles; and reuse them. Think about that. pfred recognizes model failures, and discovers principles.
Mar 26, 2008. 9:39 PMshooby says:
I'm studying architecture, and definitely didn't laugh when I saw your models, actually I was impressed. As you discovered, making models is a very time efficient way to design something (anything), whether the model is life-size or 1/4" scale.
Oct 10, 2007. 2:23 PMdentsinger says:
Awesome job on the mock-up!
Apr 30, 2007. 11:11 PMtrue_geek says:
I have to be honest when I started this I was laughing syaing w"wow this guy built a model of workshop", but probably like many others here I started reading and said to my self "self, this is what you need to do to figure out where to put the rest of the things remaining in the house". You see My wife and I bought a new house about 2 years ago and well we have never found a place for everyhthing yet. You see she is very petite so most of the moving of furniture must be done by me, many times over. Now I can make a model of our house and have her place the stuff where he wants it and save my back and probably alot of time also. I am glad you posted this!
Mar 30, 2007. 6:44 PMstrowbali says:
reminds me of science of sleep...
Mar 5, 2007. 5:45 PMSugarTeen52 says:
Wow, that little model is sooooo cute. I want to know how to make that!!
Mar 5, 2007. 7:22 AMididntdoit52 says:
This reminds me of those CSI episodes. and ya that would be fun to set on fire :)
Dec 23, 2006. 2:17 AMChris Bilton says:
Sheds, otherwise known as workshops, are big (as in popular) here in Britain. A place where you can dissapear, create anthing with the tools and materials at hand. And olso drink beer and talk about women. Ho yes and make stuff...usualy a mess, in my case. Happy Christmas to all insrtuctables
Dec 26, 2006. 10:22 PMgdawg says:
At first, I thought this was silly. But upon further reading I do see how it can be really effective and admire the detail in the models. Typically, how long did the little models take to create?
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Author:pfred1
I am a construction worker and I like to make things.