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New to woodworking, or trying to turn a corner of the garage into a real shop? This page is the short route through Woodshop Atlas.

1. Measure what you really have

Write down the floor area you can use, ceiling height, door openings, outlets and where a car (or anything else) has to fit. Measure the space in both modes: when you are working and when everything is put away. Our guide to measuring tools and space shows what to record, and the garage workshop planner lets you lay it all out to scale.

2. Decide what you want to build first

The first projects decide the first tools. Furniture, shop storage and small crafts each lead to a different starting kit, so pick two or three projects before buying anything big. Starting from nothing? Beginner woodworking tools covers the first kit, and tools for building shelves is a good first project list.

3. Choose tools that fit the space

Compare footprints and storage sizes, not just features. Portable and benchtop tools on mobile bases are often the practical answer for a shared garage. Portable vs. stationary tools compares both footprints, and what to buy after a circular saw and drill sets out a sensible buying order.

4. Plan zones and storage

Group work by zones (cutting, assembly, finishing, storage), keep the most-used items closest and plan where every tool lives when the shop is packed away. The small woodworking shop layout guide explains the zones, and the 10-minute workshop reset shows how to pack it all away again.

Every guide, by topic

If you’d rather browse, here’s everything published so far, grouped the same way as the menu.

Workshop layouts

• Setting up a woodworking shop in a garage: the order to do things in, from power and dust to layout.
• Small woodworking shop layout: principles, zones and measured examples from 10 x 12 ft up.
• One-car garage woodshop layouts: four measured plans for 12 x 20 ft and similar garages.
• Fitting a woodshop in a garage that still parks the car: where the bench goes and how much room the car leaves.
• Portable vs. stationary tools for a shared garage: storage and working footprints compared.
• The 10-minute workshop reset: getting from work mode back to parking mode.

Storage and workbenches

• Garage workbench guide: size, placement, type and tops in one place.
• How deep should a workbench be?: including how deep it can be beside a parked car.
• Workbench height: how to pick yours, and how to fix a bench that’s off.
• Folding vs. rolling vs. fixed workbenches: which suits a small garage.
• Planer stands and flip-top carts: where to keep a benchtop planer.

Tools

• Beginner woodworking tools: what to buy first if you’re starting from zero.
• What to buy after a circular saw and drill: the next tools, in order.
• Tools for building shelves: a short list by shelf type.
• Track saw vs. table saw: which to buy first for a small shop.

Equipment dimensions

• DeWalt DWE7491RS dimensions: the jobsite table saw folded, set up and on its stand.
• DeWalt DW735 / DW735X dimensions: the planer’s footprint, weight and stand.

Guides and calculators

• How to measure tools and equipment: record storage and working footprints, with a worksheet.
• Garage workshop planner: drag your car, bench and tools onto a to-scale plan.
• Workbench height and depth calculator: bench depth behind a parked car, from your own measurements.
• Board-foot calculator: price solid wood before you buy it.

Where to go next