8: Allow flexibility
One of the great advantages to your MARK V is that it’s built to be accessible from all sides (within safety considerations for particular modes of operation, of course). Be sure you don’t throw this advantage away by tucking your MARK V away permanently against a shop wall.

Add Retractable casters to your MARK V and stand-mounted Shopsmith Special Purpose Tools so that you can change your mind about which tool should be located centrally for a particular project. Use a fold-down workbench to save space. Be sure all shelving is adjustable for future needs.

Remember that while you may enjoy furniture-making the most, you’ll probably have to use your shop for handyman repairs around the house, too. So, keep your shop flexible enough for the projects you must do…as well as those you really like to do !

9: Design it easy to enter – easy to exit
All doors to your shop should be at least 36” wide…and once inside, you shouldn’t have to spend
a lot of time re-arranging tools and supplies to begin or continue a project. And when it comes time to
leave, you should be able to exit quickly, without being forced to spend precious minutes “shutting the shop down”.
In terms of cleanup, your shop should be as cleanable as a modern kitchen.
Get a Dust collector and USE IT whenever possible to capture most of the shop dust before it ever becomes a problem. Add a good shop vacuum and use it to back up your dust-collection system.

10: Plan it safe – make it safe – KEEP it safe!
Have a qualified, licensed electrician thoroughly check your shop wiring. Consider wiring a power
shut-off for each shop circuit.
Allow for ventilation of dust and vapors. Don’t use stationary tools as catchalls for smaller tools. Don’t leave portable electric tools plugged in while you’re away. Don’t allow the floor to get covered with criss-crossed extension cords, piles of sawdust or debris. A clean shop is a safe shop.
Equip your shop with a proper fire extinguisher and a small first aid kit (including tweezers & eye wash). Always lock the shop door when you leave. The shop should be safe enough for children to enjoy…but only when you’re there with them.
Got a wet basement? Consider how moisture-laden air might affect the swelling of the wood you use…or worse yet, how it might rust your tools. You should use a block of camphor or a silica gel canister to protect the tools in your toolbox…and a dehumidifier to control the humidity in your shop space.
It’s also a good idea to coat the exposed worktables and other surfaces of all ferrous metal stationary tool surfaces with paste wax to protect them from rust.
NEVER stand on a wet concrete basement or garage floor when working with power tools ! Waterproof all of your basement walls with special formula paints and consider the value of adding drain tiles and/or a sump pump.
And finally, the most basic rule is…Never let anyone prevent you from building your workshop in a way that fits you and your working style…or tell you that you don’t have enough space for a workshop.
As with kitchens, there is no truly perfect workshop, no
matter how large. Furthermore, there is no shop (or kitchen)
too small to keep a creative person from accomplishing
what he (or she) wants to do. Remember that the best
problem-solver is your shop is you – not the tools you
have or the way you organize them. Good shop
organization and reliable, top-quality tools are great
helps, but in the end, you are the center of your shop.
Design one with that in mind.

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