Designing/Purchasing Modular Carts for Cabinetry?
Our shop is currently looking to upgrade much of its outdated infrastructure, such as tools, airlines, and many other things. One of the places we want to improve are the carts and workstations our employees use. Right now, we have many different carts of different heights, sizes, and no real work surfaces. All of our tools end up in a pile, and our cords and air hoses get tangled up easily.
We’re wanting to build or order something similar to mechanics’ carts, but without the air compressors and generators. We’re considering hanging air hoses and extension cords from the ceiling, so people don’t cross them over as they move from area to area.
Has anybody had any success with custom carts or shop setups? We primarily make cabinets, but we also want to be able to work on special projects as well, so it requires a wide variety of tools.
Replies
The short answer to your questions is that everyone has a "custom" shop set up in that every single woodworkers shop is different and is organized to their needs.
Almost all of my tool are on or in mobile carts. Each one is designed for my specific needs and tools. The design process is not difficult in itself, but it does take time and thought. The biggest part of this project is that you are not designing workstations or carts, you are designing an entire system where things all need to work together. System design takes time, it tends to be iterative, and you have to pay attention to details.
Investing in a good system design for your shop tends to have a good ROI in the long term. If you don't have the skill set to do this, I would recommend hiring a consultant who can help you figure out what each workstation needs, how it should be organized and how everything fits together in your shop.
Good luck
Jake
Two things I would absolutely do.Put as many outlets for compressed air as you can afford.I used pex but some use a special pipe.Pex is cheap p.Then I used short coil hoses everywhere
Next,install as many retractable electric overhead extension cords.No more tangled wires
It is in the nature of woodworkers to be disorganised. The majority prefer order but end up with chaos - it requires considerable effort to be tidy.
You may find that the problem will persist despite reorganisation if there is no specific desire to make it different.
A place for everything and everything in it's place is the ideal - making it happen may need a bit of workplace psychology as well as making things easier.
My totally amateur not your level shop was made way neater by a retractable compressor hose. I'm therefore going to second @paulsshop's perspective as it's totally what I would do if I needed air in more locations.
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