12 Tips to Get Your Shop Organized for Fall Projects

Most of you are likely diligent about performing shop maintenance. But if you haven’t tidied up your shop lately, we recommend it! The tips below will help you get organized and smoothly move forward with woodworking projects this fall season.

(1) Perform a thorough cleaning of your dust collection system and shop vacuum filters.

(2) Check all lighting and make sure overhead lighting fixtures are dust-free.

(3) Make sure heaters and furnaces are clean and exhaust fans are working properly.

(4) Check all electrical outlets and switches to make sure they are dust-free.

(5) Check all machinery power cords to make sure they are safe.

(6) Organize hand tools, boring bits, drill bits, saws, and files.

(7) Check all miter and rip fences to make sure all adjustment calibrations are correct.

(8) Perform test cuts to make sure power saw blades are capable of making cleaning cuts without burning or other problems.

(9) Check planer blades and jointer blades for signs of wear or damage and perform necessary maintenance.

(10) Check condition of band saw blades and blade tension. If necessary, replace worn blade guides.

(11) Make sure you have an adequate supply of lumber required for pending projects. And of course consumables, such as sandpaper, wood stains, finishes, and wood glues.

(12) Do you have enough wood clamps? Make sure your wood clamp assortment is adequate and that all clamping is in good order.

We hope these tips will help you get organized and perform at your best! Do you have any tips to share? Post them below!