8 Steps for Organising your Workspace

Whether you are just starting out in a new workshop or you are organising an existing workshop, follow these steps for a clean, organised workspace. You will be able to find things quicker and get the job done with less frustration. If you do the job properly you will be thanking yourself for years to come.

Step 1 Clean Out

Pull everything out. It’s a big job but if you want to give your workshop a thorough revamp, you need to start with a clean slate. Sort through all of your gear and decide what you are going to keep, donate and throw out. Only keep what you think you will use so you can maximise the space available. Order a skip bin if you have a lot of junk to get rid of so you aren’t storing anything while you wait for your wheelie bin to be emptied.

Step 2 Spruce Up

If the walls and ceiling are metal, wash them down. If you have plaster walls and ceiling, fill any cracks and holes and give it a fresh coat of paint. Either use a roller if it’s a small area or for a quicker job on larger workshops, use an air powered sprayer.

Step 3 Flooring

If your floors are rough and a trip hazard, think about replacing them now. Remember you may not do another big clean out of your workshop for ten years (or ever) so think about your much older self. You don’t want to stop using your workshop when you are in your 70’s or 80’s because it is too hazardous. If your flooring is in good condition, look at getting a rubber mat or old carpet if you need some cushioning for long days in the workshop.

Step 4 Lighting

Decide if you have adequate lighting in the workshop. If not organise for an electrician to install a new light fitting otherwise replace the globe in your current fitting to see if that makes a difference. For safety and ease of working particularly when it’s fine close-up work, you need good lighting in your work area. Use task lighting if natural and overhead lights aren’t adequate.

Step 5 Workbench

Have a look at your workbench and decide if you need to modify your existing one by changing the height or adding a shelf underneath for storage. If you are buying a new workbench, look at the type of projects you will be working on and find one that best matches the tools you will be using most.

Non slip mats are available to keep your project in place while you are working on it.

Step 6 Storage

To maximise your available space and to make it easy to find things when you need them, sort out your storage. Decide what you need easy, regular access to and what you don’t so those items can go at the back or up high.

Get your stock up off the floor with a woodrack storage system. Store tools neatly under the bench or on the wall so they aren’t damaged and can be found easily.

Step 7 Safety First

If you are storing chemicals in your workshop, make sure they are kept away from any heat sources. If you don’t already have one or it’s out of date, buy a new fire extinguisher to keep in case of an emergency.

Step 8 Keep it Clean

After all your hard work getting your workshop to where it is, you want to be able to keep it clean easily. If you are working with wood, chances are your workshop is regularly filled with dust and shavings. If you have had enough of the dust and you want to work in a healthier environment, invest in a dust extractor or air filter.

Choosing your Router Bits

A workshop wall can be covered with one hundred router bits with different profiles, shank sizes and tip types. To the untrained eye one router bit can look the same as the bit next to it. So how do you determine which router bit you need for your job?

Half Inch V Quarter Inch

The ¼ and ½ inch size you see on router bits refers to the shank size which is the cylinder that fits into the router collet. The ½ inch shank has four times the mass of ¼ inch shanks and provides greater stability when in use. The extra mass reduces vibrations and offers a solid cut. However, when you need to route a very thin profile, the ¼ inch is far more practical.

Profiles

There are 10 basic profiles that can be used singularly or in combination to achieve most basic and complex routing projects.

Beading Bit - provides a rounded shape to the edge of the stock with a square shoulder on the top and bottom edges of the roundover.

Chamfer Bit - a 45-degree angled cut on the square edge of a piece of stock.

Cove Bit - applies a concave, rounded profile on the stock.

Dado Straight Cutting Bit - a variety of straight cutting bits can be used to cut a square in the middle of a stock.

Dovetail Bit - this profile has a flat bottom with angled sides which are wider at the base.

Rabbet Bit - a right angle cut, like a dado on the edge of a piece of stock.

Round Nose Bit - similar to the cove bit, except the cut is made in the middle of a piece of stock.

Roundover Bit - creates a rounded profile on the square edge of a piece of stock.

V-Groove Bit - as the name suggests a V shape cut in the centre of the stock.

Ogee Bit - a compound S shaped profile.

Speed of your Router

Some router motors allow you to choose the speed to match the type of wood you are routing. A bit that is running too high an RPM can burn the wood while if it spins too slow it can leave a ragged rough cut. Remember, the general rule is the larger the bit, the slower the router speed.

Timbecon stock some of the highest quality router bit and accessories available.

Mouter Plunge Router Bits - If you have a recess that needs routing out then this is the ideal profile. Designed for maximum stock removal and chip injection, they can clear out any material. If you have multiple hinges to do, pair the bit with a bearing guide for perfect repetition. These bits are available in several different shank sizes and cutting diametres.

CMT Router Bits - CMT Orange Tools are one of the preferred brands. Timbecon carries an extensive range of different router bits designed for different jobs. From Chamfer router bits to cabinet making and small arch door and box joint sets.

Torquata Router Bits - Quality made bits available in the shapes and sizes you need to get the job done. Made especially for Timbecon, Torquata even has Australia’s first triple-bladed bit for heavy duty applications. Torquata is available in jointing bits, mould and trim bits and router bit sets.

Milescraft - If it’s signmaking router bits you’re looking for, the Signpro can make professional horizontal and vertical signs.

Accessories

Router Bit Tidies - keep all of your bits in the one place and not get damaged with a tidy. Available for ½ inch and ¼ inch bits.

Bit Sharpener - a double-sided stainless steel sharpener with coarse 300 grit diamond grade for the edge and fine coarse 600 grit diamond grade for honing the primary edge.

Router Bit Lock Rings, Screws and Washers - high quality long life hardware that can be used on Torquata, CMT, Carbitool and other brands of router bits.