Equipping a Workshop
by David
(Texas)
Hi Sue,
I find your website very helpful. I was wondering if you could give some pointers or recommend a resource for designing, and equipping a stained glass workshop.
In particular, I'm looking for workbench plans, storage ideas, and just general layout designs and considerations.
Thanks!
< b>Answer
Hi David,
There is a great, free publication, called "Stained Glass News", that you can get at most stained glass retail shops. Every issue features "The Reader's Workshop". The readers tell about their workshop, and the article includes a picture so you can see how it's set up. If you could find some back issues, I'm sure you'd find a workshop that would suit you to a T. I have drooled over many of them!
Go to one of the many stained glass forums and ask how people store their glass and supplies. You will get many varied answers. It's always a very interesting topic to throw out to the forum members. Warner Crivellaro's Glass Chat is the forum I use the most, but there are many to choose from. Do a search on Google using "stained glass+forums" to find them. You'll be surprised at how many and how varied they are.
Here's a web site with plans for a work bench that looks pretty functional to me: Workbench Plans.It could be changed to suit your needs, and it looks like it would be easy enough to set a light box in the middle of it.
You will need plenty of light and good ventilation (think about putting in extraction fans). Set it up so you have easy access to the equipment you use the most. Ease in getting to a source of water is something to think about.
Think beyond now...think about what you want to be doing several years from now. Build your workshop so you have space to add equipment and create more storage space.
Does hot glass work intrigue you? Wire the room so you can run a kiln, or put in enough ventilation so you can do torch work. It's easier to plan for it now than to have to start over when you're ready to take that next step.
Your question should bring quite a few comments, so anyone reading this, please feel free to give your advice. Tell us what you like or don't like about your stained glass workshop. Let's help David build the best workshop possible.
Sue
