Optimum Workshop?

[Sledzep01]

There are a few running workshop threads.

What I want to know is what is optimum? For instance,nobody told me to have either a sturdier table or a separate area for hammering...

Anything not in a bucket screwed down along the back of the table is always on the floor...

 

So if you have some room, whats best?

 

Sled

[Jake907]

oh man, you have no idea the can of worms you've opened with that question, lol

by all accounts, it seems that everyone has different needs for a workshop, and different ways of setting up their workspace. 

and some of us don't have a regular workspace at all, I work out of a bag, so I work on my projects at the kitchen table/friends house/leather class/or wherever I feel like. 

Just start with a work bench and add or change your configuration when you need to.

Edited January 6, 2018 by Jake907

[bikermutt07]

Some sort of heavy table or steel desk is a good place to start.

I have plans to add a long wall mounted bench for.my press and cutting longer materials.

As for a pounding\tooling area my old steel teacher desk for 20 bucks works pretty good. However, now that I think about it. My work is always out in front of me. Maybe it should be more under me. (Thinking out loud now) I may have more control if I go with a standing position for cutting and pounding.

And, you can never go wrong with stuff hanging on the wall. Check out a French cleat system on YouTube. They lend themselves to easy reconfiguration once you decide where to improve your layout.

Good luck, I'll probably be tripping over this stuff for at least another year.

[Mhicks]

After spending the last 3 months "working" as a leather worker I've figured out what did and didn't work with my current shop space and here is kind of what I came up with and am in the middle of implementing.

Bigger and taller flat surface,  this is mostly done but it is 8'x8' with the work surface at 44".  I have 4' clear on 3 sides with the other side against the wall an.  When done it will work as an assembly line starting with layout/cutting, assembly/glue/ marking stitch lines, and then to stitching area. Half of the underneath is for leather storage the other half will be storage for templates, hardware and whatever else

I've found my stitching pony's just didn't cut it for bags, I make my totes and backpacks from 1 piece of leather and fighting pieces that are 20"x40" up to 16"x60" killed productivity.  I'm in the middle of design and making a table mounted swing arm stitching clamp with a 12" clamp surface. 

Once I get all the tools moved to the 8'x8' work table I plan to use my existing 2'x7' work bench for splitting, riveting, snaps, and getting a small press set up to get rid of the huge box of bulldog clips.

I have a 14.5'x32' heated/cooled work shop and 14.5'x24' of that is dedicated to leather work

[rodneywt1180b]

Optimum workshop?  I don't think there is such a thing.  I look at mine as a continuous work in progress.  It changes as my needs change. 

Mine is small, 10ftx20ft, and packed with a bunch of woodworking equipment along with a whole bunch of wood and a lot of misc. stuff that has no place in a workshop.  Nowhere else to put the other stuff at the moment.  Maybe someday.  I think even if I had 10 times the space I'd still fill it up.

[Sledzep01]

So guys, what areas should be separated from others?

Since I have room I want to be smart about it. I like what Mhicks is saying above.

I think my first move is a second table to separate any pounding from the rest. stuff gets crazy when I rivet things. I guess my primary table is not sturdy enough.

Plus only 2 people have ever used the guest bed in that room so i guess it goes the way of the Dodo...

Currently I just "make stuff" and give it away as I practice so I have not thought through "flow" as if I was producing several of a product.

I did 7 Key/watch/coin stuff holders (2 tone with a tan and a black leather some with copper, others brass, and some stitched) last night, and 5 mouse pads are glued today awaiting stitching tonight.

So... what goes with what?

Pounding with cutting? stitching with cutting? Dying with???

1 hour ago, Mhicks said:

starting with layout/cutting, assembly/glue/ marking stitch lines, and then to stitching area.

Would most agree with this flow? I love rivets (copper in general) so where does the hammering go?

 

Sled

 

[bikermutt07]

I would think for sure you would want a separate dying\finish station. Have it all by itself. 

A good pattern making\cutting area

And assembly.

So 3 stations could do it? 

Maybe a tooling section?

I'm just guessing.

[Sledzep01]

4 hours ago, bikermutt07 said:

I would think for sure you would want a separate dying\finish station. Have it all by itself. 

A good pattern making\cutting area

And assembly.

So 3 stations could do it? 

Maybe a tooling section?

I'm just guessing.

Is tooling the same as cutting in your opinion? Because I have no plans for actual tooling/carving. My brain says I wish, My hand says HAHAHAHAHA!

 

Sled

[bikermutt07]

7 hours ago, Sledzep01 said:

Is tooling the same as cutting in your opinion? Because I have no plans for actual tooling/carving. My brain says I wish, My hand says HAHAHAHAHA!

 

Sled

I am with you. My hands have bad arthritis or carpel tunnel or something. 5 minutes of that stuff is all I can handle. I dropped the idea of tooling before I ever got out of the practice stage.

But if I was doing it I would treat that as another area. That is where you would have your granite top at.

[garypl]

I have a 4 x 8 foot work table.  One corner covered with cutting mats with a 4 ft straightedge attached to the edge to cut long straight pieces of leather. (Leather slips under the straightedge and is clamped to hold it securely while cutting.)

Another corner setup with airbrush and fan/filter for spraying dye and finishes.

Third corner has granite block covered with brown paper - stamping and tooling is done here along with gluing, edge painting, dyeing small pieces and coloring leather.  Brown paper makes drips easy to clean up, I just replace the paper when it gets nasty.

4th corner has bench vise and arbor press for stamping and setting rivets, grommets etc.   (vise is not normally used for leather, I used to do a lot of woodworking and a vise always comes in handy for holding things.)

4 x 8 ft shelf under the workbench holds plastic storage bins with hardware, threads, tools, dyes, and any other stuff that I don’t use every day.

Sewing machine in another room - keeps it away from dust and dirt.  Also have a large table to layout leather to mark for cutting.  More often than not, I layout large hides on my pool table - it’s the largest flat area available to work on other than the floor, and my back and knees don’t like working on the floor anymore!

Gary