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By Scott Gibson
Pages: 49-56
From the December 2006 issue #159
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In a much earlier era, cabinetmakers didn’t spend much time worrying about where to put machines in their shops. They didn’t have much to work with. A small shop might have had a communal lathe turned by an apprentice, but artisans worked mostly at their benches with hand tools. Period drawings of these old shops make it clear just how far we’ve come.
Anyone setting up shop these days can choose from a tremendous variety of stationary and portable power tools. Manufacturers from Pacific Rim countries, from the United States and from Europe, all competing in a world market, have helped to keep tool prices stable. New designs are safer and more innovative. It’s good news for someone just getting interested in the craft.
Finding the right spot to set up shop, covered in Chapter 1 of this series (issue #156), has a way of helping us decide which tools are most important. Small spaces dictate a very careful selection of essential tools. A larger space invites more freedom. But either way, figuring out exactly where to put those tools is an essential next step.
From the December 2006 issue #159
Buy this issue now
Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.
