Pianotech

Hello, the permit was just approved for my new studio/workshop. The 26x40 building should be up by the end of next month. On the first floor, a 17x26 studio for teaching and possibly placing a couple finished pianos. The back will be a 23x26 workshop for repairs, refurbishing and rebuilding. The second floor is just under 600 square feet of "flexible" space and storage. It's about the largest building that I can put on my property, although it very much qualifies as a "small shop." 

For those of you who have small shops, what are some of the features you've used to make your space efficient and work well for you? What would you avoid? Any advice or wisdom would be appreciated- I want to make this space work well.

Thank you! 

Would be a little small if you plan to do much refinishing. The guidelines in  "Pianos Inside Out" are helpful. Workbenches against wall.  Machines on mobile bases.

Ventilation important and good natural light.

I have a ShopVac Hangup it hangs on a central pillar (shop size is about the same as yours) and has a 16 foot hose. I routed the hose through a simple dust collection set up. It's quick and easy to get the hose everywhere and the vac isn't under foot. Of course, it dismounts if need be.

Also Tobias Hamilton has a podcast and he gives a shop tour of their new shop. It's kind of a dream shop in terms of workstations.

Good that you have storage, shops can shrink on you if you have to use them for storage too.

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Steven Rosenthal RPT
Honolulu HI
(808) 521-7129
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Fine Woodworking has some good guides for setting up a small shop. Scott Cole had one a few journals back.