Finally! A Trim Guys Shop Tour: The Truth About Small Shops... 

Your humility, coupled with your amazing work ethic is truly a blessing to those lost souls trying to find their way.

I need to learn to let go. Really. I have a problem! :) But when I use that odd cut off and it's a perfect use....it motivates me to keep collecting again. LOL.

Always nice to see someone who has a few sets of the best saw horses hanging on the wall

Love this shop tour. Especially how he really gets into the details of what tools he uses , which ones he doesn't, smart buys, not so smart buys. Awsome perspective

Retired firefighter here, I hope you can see this. You need a detached shed, desperately. Get those gas powered tools and fuel supplies outside of your home as fast as possible! Love your shop and your videos and the work you’re doing for the community! Be blessed brother! Ps, get those gas cans outside!!

Spencer....what you are sharing is invaluable .... some day when you're in the twilight of your career, you will run into a kid that thanks you for changing their life... this alone will pay for all the dusty tools that you don't use! thanks man

Another great video Spencer, the only thing you need are anti-fatigue mats on the floor where you spend a lot of time. You are a young guy but trust me that you will thank yourself in the future if you put those in now. 👍👍👍

All go and no show. Perfect for maximizing $$$ in the pocket. Always impressed by your work .

I like the bed set-up, obviously you spend a lot of time in thr workshop - great video, I really like you work methods, good job

You use all first class equipment in your shop and on the job. I would classify your garage as large for a garage and large for a shop. Enjoy your content. Looking forward to seeing your "real shop".

I think you have done a great job with your work space. The struggle for work space is real and now with a employee the need for a commercial space is for sure a needed part of your expansion.

Its the perfect shop. I recently bought another shop for my business, and while its nice, its another huge maintenance burden. My home shop/garage is still nice to work in because everything is close at hand.

Such a great and informative video! Was definitely surprised to hear you weren't getting much use from the router table. Thanks, Spencer!

Thank you for sharing your shop with us Spencer!

Very nice shop. It’s interesting how different machines become important to some and not others. Seems not too many shops have a spindle shaper anymore. I guess good router tables have taken over. Similar to compound miter saws replacing radial arm saws. I’m a wood worker from years gone by and those 2 machines along with a good table saw were key. I guess there aren’t too many small shops making raised panel doors so a spindle shaper isn’t needed. I also had this huge overhead sliding table sander. Man that was a trip. Nowadays the equipment is so neat and more affordable . Great video young man!

Great advice!! Thanks so much for sharing!

Just awesome, you remind me of my earlier days starting up. Retired now and continue to share my knowledge

Small shop. You are so cute! I have a two car garage that I have less then 1/2 of and only one usable wall. I've seen guys work in sheds. I feel lucky.

Thanks!

Great information and tour !!! The tour is a nice way to show the value of each piece of equipment !!!

Thank you for all of your tips and consideration for others by sharing your experiences and woodworking skills. I have checked out a couple of your videos and am impressed with your careful presentations. You have a nice pace, well spoken, and easy to understand. This video has been very helpful to me and others because as you pointed out many of us really just buy things first and then learn later about what is actually needed rather than wanted in many cases. Keep up the great work!

Looks like a smart layout. I have been in your stage of life, built a large attached garage/shop then moved out into larger commercial space, now back into garage shop...you are wise beyond most.

Really helpful and informative. I really appreciate your honesty and transparency in every aspect for your shop tour. Thank you very very much. Cheers from Wisconsin.

HMFIC ,you got this! Please keep helping us along.

Thanks, a lot of wonderful ideas!

Thanks for sharing. Always enjoy all your videos.

Thanks for the tour Spencer.

Another great video Spencer. Keep up the awesome work!

Hi Spencer.I was waiting for a shop tour for years🤣 but thanks for it .Kinde of open my eys more how to set up shop and purches tool. Great video as always

Thats amazing! Always wanted to see that clamp rack and yes it is glorious! Thanks for sharing. Its so crazy to think one guy can make so much work out of a garage shop. I watch all your videos and youre truly a great carpenter

nice shop. i like when people talk about their thinking behind things, what is working well & what is not, and what they find works for the type of work they do. i think your shop is huge! having only been in really small shops, i see so much inefficient use of space that could easily fit even the stuff you have in your attic area down there. maybe check out some shop tours for folks that have really small shops. like no more than small two car garage size. ideally one car garage tours. you could easily adjust your layout, raise up your dust collection so it isn't so low and blocking useable wall space, etc. but you also seem to have the ability to go up in size. so probably doesn't matter. and what is working for now you do well in. i can't wait to see what it looks like when you upsize. thanks for sharing. best!

Hi Spencer thanks for tour . im not carpenter but I did fix my stairs thanks for your tips help a lot. You have a cool tools my are only a saw, miter saw and a drill God bless you and you family.

It’s been pretty cool watching you and your business grow over the years! You still remain my favorite RU-vidr…easy to watch and listen to, always learn something new and your content production keeps getting better year over year!!

Fabulous shop. Thanks for sharing your shop.

Hey, great shop. I've heard you say in your video that have a small space. Most woodworkers work in a two car garage space, I did for many years. You are fortunate and you are right about having basic machines and hand tools to make fine furniture. Again great shop.

I absolutely love, love, love your sander/swing arm dust collector hose setup... I'm building out my new shop right now and stealing that idea... I am so tired of tripping over hoses.. :)

great video, cool shop. I have a tack mat next to my door I stand on before i go in the house. It keeps quite a bit of dust from being tracked in

Ive actually never seen a car in a garage in my entire 55 years on this earth.

Your shop is nice and well equipped. As you were pointing out the machines that don't be used, Now that is for your circumstance and for your line of business not others we use ours almost daily.

Please consider getting rid of the gas bottles and spending about $3000 for a. mini split. Not only will it keep your shop ready to go in at all times, but should you have a disaster as a result of the current heating, your insurance company may try to balk at the claim unless they were aware of the current set up. I had to remove my wood stove (after being honest and asking the question - but didn't want to find out the hard way it was an issue) but then convenience of a 100% temperature controlled shop sure has been nice. I can go there any time, day or night and it's comfortable. And the mini is super efficient. Love your work ethic and down to earth attitude! Thanks for the videos!

With the wall with the three doors, build a dwarf wall or full height wall (without fouling the OH Door) 4' out with access from shop to the created passageway from both ends. This gives you usable wall space. Ditto the narrower OH Door, though this could be minimally offset.

Thank u Spencer ! I operate in my garage/ shop & see more and more guys doing it! Instead of buying a shop or actually renting a shop I purchased a 2 nd veh ( a van) to haul tools . Then put a lumber rack on my truck to haul some materials. Do finish carpentry/contractor solo also. Do a boat load of cabinets and built ins ! Some doors! Very lean shop ! I run a 3 hp cabinet saw and my miter saw ! Hv small planer & jointer Also ! One huge work horse for me is the Track Saw ! ( I hv two Makita’s) and break all my sheet goods down to 4 or 6’ no more it’s too big for my shop! I hv an Infinity Router Table and it makes all my doors or whatever ( lots of rabbits). Great video but I see a track saw huge for a smaller shop!

Been waiting years for this

Nice use of space!!!!

Been growing nicely brother

*Welcome back*

High ceiling helps alot

Awesome!

Awesome golf setup! Seems like you have a lot of overhead space.

Love that you've given us the tour. Also essential and overlooked shop space is having a high ceiling. I've guessed yours is about 14' which allows you to get dust collection up out The way , also other things that would just take floor space. It also takes away that closed in filling. I look forward to seeing your development of your new shop.

"Small" is a relative term. I wish I had a shop that "small". 😁

Brilliant thanks

I learned to build cabinets when I was 21 year old, from a friend. HIs best advise, was don't have any overhead as a cabinetmaker. Own it all.

I like the clamp cart, even though my shop is 4000 sf I don't have the wall space because of the machines.

That was a very good shop tour Spencer, and you do a good job of explaining the different tools that you've bought over the years. Thank you!

Amazing

Sawstop saved my tail when, in a hurry, I pushed a narrow piece through the fence - using a metal push stick - what was I thinking and was tired and careless. The pushstick hit the blade. Lost the sawblade and the clutch - which was so much better than the pushstick flying into my forehead.

Nice shop u have congrats 👏🎉

You gotta have the clamps. Great video thanks

Here's a suggestion... I added a 24" deep shelf above the garage door track. I attached it to the wall on one side and used the same slotted steel used to hang the garage doors on the front.

Seems to be one of the few RU-vid shops used for making products that have value beyond the view, (eyeball), counter!

Well those 30 sheets will become several hundred sheets, plus the drafts of regular dry lumber. My son has a 4000 sq ft shop and its not large enough. You will ultimately be doing your own finishing which means room for a paint booth. You do have some nice equipment, dont be selling any, especially the sanding equipment. He has a Oniada dust collection system also, and it dumps into a regular trash can. But he also has a pump on that which runs while the dust collector is running. And it pumps directly into a large enclosed dump trailer. You will also be buying an edge bander, because the euro style cabinets are easier and more profitable. But you can also put things like that on its own small dust collector. If you trim houses, you will ultimately be making the trim, which is very profitable. But it will mean a large shaper, maybe even two of them, so again dont sell the nice one you have. You will also be using much more air, especially for sanding. You (will ) also be upgrading your saw. Probably to a sliding table saw for cutting plywood, or a large rack saw, or even both. You will also ultimately find other ways to get a straight edge on your lumber than by using the jointer. Keep this video for future reference, because with the larger shop your opinions will change, and those will change as well. The drill press will be used more as you build more cabinets for drilling the hinges. Again, dont sell anything, you will ultimately be sorry you did.

I’m building a new one in SC. I’ll be done someday but I live in MA. 2 weeks in the south then come north for 4-5 weeks. I’ll get it done someday 😂

Would love to hear how your business developed, started my business 4 years ago have learned a lot from you. Would be super helpful to hear how you transitioned into where you are at now

That dust collector will work fine in a bigger shop you just need a bigger bin 5 hp is plenty big enough for most shops. Only reason to go bigger is if you have more then one person using big tools or you can have a separate collector for just your planer and jointer.

Great shop

Nice hotdog cutter

The wall of shame? 😂 JK. I think everyone goes thru this very thing… thinking they could use something then talk themselves into needing it only to discover they didn’t. As a tool junkie I still fall for it occasionally. So now I make it a process. I make myself take at least a month to think about it and in most cases I find I don’t need it. A 100’ X 80’ shop… a spray booth, compressor room and a workflow tuned to my preference with a modular set up is my goal. Thanks for sharing Spencer! 👊👊

Thanks for sharing Spencer. Something that I have come to realize is that we always seem to fill a space up no matter how big it is. More space is always a luxury and usually causes us to stop thinking lean and efficient. I find Paul Akers lean philosophy and Ron Paulk's Smart Station a way to stay small and efficient. Thanks again.

I commend you for your intentionality in shop tools and placement within your space. Some guys are wired to tackle high end tasks solo and others produce better results as part of a team. I am always impressed with your skill for tackling ceiling beams, crown, and other overhead tasks solo. The same mindset is displayed in your shop. My shop looks messy by comparison and I am challenged to do better because you took the time to share your mindset.

Very, very smart decisions on your part Spencer. They truly have worked for you. Most of your non-used tools could become very productive in your future years as the human body seems to slow down in our later years. Food for thought.

Nice tour. appreciate your honesty on tool purchases. Better hope the better half doesn't watch your video. 😃

Your dust collector will work in a larger shop. You can get it set up with 2 =55 gallon barrels. I have the same one and have three times the tools hooked up to it, I set it up outside

Great video! Would love to get out and play a golf round with you - let me know if you're ever up in the Toronto area!

Nothing like having my shop/ attached garage and be working basically from home. Tax wise it’s a no brainer. Not having to rent or have another mortgage keeps things safe for me during the lean times too. Don’t forget, construction is cyclical. We’ve been strong for a long time. But when the bottom falls out, were the first affected

Great job! I enjoyed watching the whole video. I do have a question. But before I ask it-and let me apologize up front for the length of my question-just know that I am retired and new to carpentry and woodworking. I just started building a shop in my garage primarily to fix and renovate my house. Obviously you're familiar with Ron Paulk, or at least his old bench design, and over the last two to three years he's been getting even leaner with his setup and maintains that he can do everything he needs to do without all the large machines. So for example, instead of using his two Powermatic cabinet saws from the past, he's now using two small router tables that sit on his bench, a track saw, TSO parallel guides/edge guide and a small Sawstop compact table saw (the CTS). He still has a miter saw and I've even seen his Dewalt thickness planer on this trailer. Obviously he has many more tools, but he doesn't have anything I'd consider large, and he could literally fit everything he has in your garage twice over. Now I am NOT saying his system is superior (I don't know enough about what you guys do). But I do know he and his wife Chris have built over 200 custom homes on an Island in the Pacific Northwest. He's renovated many more and has done other countless projects. In fact, he considers himself primarily a finish carpenter. Before retiring and starting his Florida fixer, he was building tons of built ins as well, so I imagine like he's doing virtually everything you're doing, but he is going in the other direction becoming even more of a minimalist than he was a few years ago. My question is this: what is he giving up that you are gaining by, not only working in a much larger space, but by doing without any large tools? The efficiency claims he makes suggests he's saving more time for his family than most as he and his wife have chosen a lifestyle where they want to travel a lot and surf, bike, hike, engage in photography, etc. In other words, what do you think are the significant gains you're making by going big or bigger rather than his supposed small and efficient approach? He also doesn't just have to work at his clients' homes. Everything he does can be done in his little garage as well, but he obviously chooses to be mobile so he can spend more time at his clients rather than commuting between their homes and a separate workshop (at least until he retired. Now he and Chris are fixing and I presume flipping homes, so he's primarily working out of his small garage which is probably similar to mine (20' x 20').

You could truly up sell additional custom features in your trim packages with that incra- jig router fence system. I have one and they are capable of truly astonishing things that take only a bit of time of time because of the instant repeatability of it. The time of research is definitely worth it. Thanks again Spencer.

A small place like this ???? Good job

built in videos please! love your videos

0:52 where my family is usually……doing stuff. 😂

Great tour with good explanations based on your needs. And a refreshing difference from too many utube makers, you don't add loud annoying music nor have you added the visual distraction of disfiguring yourself with tattoos. I picked up a few ideas that I can use in my shop which I am presently rehabbing. Thumbs up!

Bout the size of my shop, it suits me well but I no longer do wood working full time, unlike you..your new shop is what 6 times larger lol..still your set up nicely in this one...bet the wife is happy to park there..

You need to get carbon method to put on that jointer.... just saying :)

Ok..let's have a golf video Spencer! Nice shop though. Jealous

No shame in having a garage shop. For a lot of small businesses, I feel like that is the way to go, helps reduce your overhead significantly, so you can make more money.

You should just setup a second miter saw have one on each end of your bench to get your 16ft

Only one thing to say. Every tool should do three things. Pay for it self, save time and most importantly give employees more freedom. Just ask yourself where do I not feel free or what appears hard. Now find the tool that gives you freedom and saves you time. Every tool that I have has paid for it's self. Most on one job. Do I need three impacts and a drill, no, and I have saved time and paid for them in not having to change bits. And the most important part I don't have to look for bits ever. They are always in the drill ready to go or put away in the case. Freedom from having to go to the store to get a case of bits because I misplaced all the ones that I need. Priceless, and saved one hour of my life, if I'm lucky.

Your a role model for many of us. Keep up the good work.

I am always mildly surprised when I see permanent miter saw stations. Given how fast it is to move a dewalt saw stand (just pick the entire thing up and start walking), I have always assumed it would make the most sense just to have space in your shop for your miter saw, and then if you needed to run long material, or free up some space for another purpose, you could just move it. Obviously, cost would be a concern, but given you already own at least 2 saw stands that I have seen, I am a bit surprised you went with a permanent miter saw bench, rather than just putting a stand up against the wall so you can move it if you ever need to for long material.

Spencer great video, what is gonna be the size of your new shop?

I've worked out of a detached 1,000 sq ft shop on my property over 20 years. sharing the real estate expense with my home has kept my overhead low, which also keeps me versatile . In other words, I dont HAVE to keep the shop busy if things just aren't going in that direction work wise . I'm also coincidentally zoned for it, which is nice

We did the reverse, got rid of the large work shop and moved into the garage

Great video Spencer, as always. Thorough and informative. I HAVE to ask now, though: how do you make your cabinet doors if you don't use your router table and/or shaper in your regular work flow? Very curious.

What is there besides family, work and golf? 😀

I like your shop, but with that heater I wouldn't be able to breath. Those propane fumes and water vapor really bug me, I have to stay in the cold rooms on winter jobsites because the air quality those torpedo's kick out. The electrical place I work for was out of the guys house outside of town when I started, now it's in a large commercial building in town. I don't think he meant for it to become so large, but it happened. Lots of employees and equip nowadays. Use to be a few guys and some used utility trucks:)

Spencer I don’t think no matter what kind of shop you have there are many people who don’t even compete with you.

From experience, just because you dont use it does not mean your kids will not. Those quality tools are passed down.

Have the long shop hours been an issue with neighbors?

Do you use a track saw in your work flow? It would be easier to break down sheet goods using that vs. a table saw.

🧐 fire extinguisher hiding in the materials cart! Put that thing up near the door where its visible cause i see doggy door, worried for your safety. Also do you live in an HOA or near others? Guessing no noise complaints? Thats my problem, no other houses around here with bigger garage's though