Workplace ideas

[RonC]

Hi all,

I’m busy setting up a small workplace at home where I can build and restore guitars and basses.

I just purchased a woodworking workbench and I’m looking for ideas to store my tools (most of them I have to buy yet) and parts. 
I would like to see your workspaces to give me ideas for mine!

Cheers

Ron

Edited Sunday at 12:04 by RonC

[Si600]

You really don't want to see my workspace 😜 I did do a build thread on here about a bench if you want the whole gory story. When I get chance (Toddler 😏🙄😳🥰) I'll link them for you. 

[kodiakblair]

For years I just had a board on a hop-up and tools in a stacking crate. I'd set them up in the kitchen then pack away at the side of the fridge when done 🙂

 

 

For spraying some tomato plant grow tent was used.

 

 

 

[JPJ]

Sorry, no photos but a good friend of mine used old solid wood chests of drawers and cupboards he got from a local charity shop for under bench storage. They worked out about a third of the cost of building his own and were a robust solution. I’ll be doing the same when I build my new workshop (shed) next spring.

[RonC]

On 26/10/2025 at 12:03, Si600 said:

You really don't want to see my workspace 😜 I did do a build thread on here about a bench if you want the whole gory story. When I get chance (Toddler 😏🙄😳🥰) I'll link them for you. 

Haha!, I look forward to the link!! 🤘

[RonC]

On 26/10/2025 at 17:49, kodiakblair said:

For years I just had a board on a hop-up and tools in a stacking crate. I'd set them up in the kitchen then pack away at the side of the fridge when done 🙂

 

 

For spraying some tomato plant grow tent was used.

 

 

 

I did my repairs in the kitchen at first too! My wife wasn’t so happy with that, so in the end she offered me her workspace! (She moved het stuff to the attic)😀

Now I can leave my stuff which makes working on a guitar much more efficient!

 

Your spray cabinet is a good idea!!

 

[RonC]

On 26/10/2025 at 18:32, JPJ said:

Sorry, no photos but a good friend of mine used old solid wood chests of drawers and cupboards he got from a local charity shop for under bench storage. They worked out about a third of the cost of building his own and were a robust solution. I’ll be doing the same when I build my new workshop (shed) next spring.

Good idea, I want to keeping as low budget as possible too.

[Si600]

22 minutes ago, RonC said:

Haha!, I look forward to the link!! 🤘

You can't say you haven't been warned 😁

 

Actually that's not where I am now, I thought I'd documented that as well, but I don't seem to have done. If I find I have I'll link that as well

 

 

 

[LeftyJ]

On 26/10/2025 at 17:49, kodiakblair said:

For spraying some tomato plant grow tent was used.

 

 

 

That's brilliant! The tent, but also the drain pipes! Love it 

[kodiakblair]

@RonC

 

How involved do you intend to go? Will you be buying logs from sawmills or work with planed and squared boards ? Are you buying pre-cut bodies/necks or shaping your own ? Do you have production plans or one-of designs ? Will you mostly be concentrating on restoration work ?

 

Each brings their own tool needs and many are just time/labour saving devices. I'd advise against YT videos, most of what we see there is just window dressing or stuff bought at markets to give out a "look at all my wood planes, see how serious I am" vibe.

 

Good friend of mine does the whole package.

 

This how Mark has his workplace set out.

 

 

Notice how little space is taken by his hand tools at the workbench area.

 

[kodiakblair]

@LeftyJ

 

Thanks.

 

I took the tent idea a bit far with MK 2 🤣 

 

I was in rented digs, thinking was to contain any dust within the spare room. 

[BassApprentice]

My dad uses these for all his various guitar leads/gubbins. Could be a good way to keep the most used tools to hand?

 

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/skadis-pegboard-white-10321618/

 

[RonC]

On 28/10/2025 at 09:45, kodiakblair said:

@RonC

 

How involved do you intend to go? Will you be buying logs from sawmills or work with planed and squared boards ? Are you buying pre-cut bodies/necks or shaping your own ? Do you have production plans or one-of designs ? Will you mostly be concentrating on restoration work ?

 

Each brings their own tool needs and many are just time/labour saving devices. I'd advise against YT videos, most of what we see there is just window dressing or stuff bought at markets to give out a "look at all my wood planes, see how serious I am" vibe.

 

Good friend of mine does the whole package.

 

This how Mark has his workplace set out.

 

 

 

Notice how little space is taken by his hand tools at the workbench area.

 

 

 

 

Thanks a lot for the pictures, that looks really great!!

I will work with planed and squared boards, same with the necks. I shape and plane everything by hand.

I have an extra room in my house which i will setup for the "cleaner" work and will do the noisy and dusty work in my  garage. A have a bandsaw in my garage and will buy a small band sander which i'll use in my garage. I'll also set up a grinding machine in my garage to sharpen my plane and chisels. Milling will be done in the garage as well.

So in my workspace I will do all the handwork and electronics and i will place a small pillar drill. 

I have clean desk to do all electronics and setup work and a workbench for all the woodwork. I thinking of placing a board to hang my tools above both. And the rest of my tools i a cupboard.

Then a couple of chest with small drawers above or underneath this desk to store small items and electronic parts...  

I'll probably will do my own designs and just build a couple of basses a year besides my regular job, as a hobby.  

 

[kodiakblair]

2 hours ago, RonC said:

I thinking of placing a board to hang my tools above both.

Magnetic strips are good.

 

Think I was £18 for 4 interlocking lengths of 600mm.

 

That would be far more than you'd need. Only reason I bought so much is my 45 years working as a carpenter has saw my collection of chisels, drivers, punches etc grow 4-fold 😆 Workshop is jam packed with back-ups, older replaced, partial sets and tools used once. Barely put a dent in the tool pile,  my jobbing kit fills 4 tool bags in the back of the car 😆

[Si600]

Do you not end up with magnetic screwdrivers this way?  It may not be a problem in a woodshop but my dad hates them because they get covered in swarf or filings.

[BigRedX]

Most of my screwdrivers are magnetic by default. It helps to pick up the screws.