If you are building (or thinking about building) a woodworking shop, there's a virtual woodworking club that is dedicated to this subject. This non-profit, free, virtual club serves as a forum to discuss all issues encountered in building and/or updating a home woodworking shop. You can watch the progress of "Shop III" as it went from the framing stage to where it is today, and to a fully functional woodworking shop by this spring Summer.

I've researched the initial topics thoroughly, and I base shop-building decisions on this research and on the contributions of over 350 members (the club was founded in January 2001). Past topics included studwalls, vapor barriers, electrical wiring, floor finish, lighting, dust collection, mobile bases, and of course, shop layout. Current topics address shop layout, work area layout (currently the cutoff area), dust collection and clamp racks. Future topics will include, tool and material storage, space management, and finish area.

Photos of Shop III have been (and will continue to be) posted as it is being built. Members are encouraged to either follow the progress of the shop and make contributions or inquiries about each step… OR… open new shop building and design topics. Members are also encouraged to post photos of their shops, and discuss issues that they encountered and how they were resolved. I will post new topics for discussion before each step so that I can utilize member feedback.

Even if you have already built your shop, you can benefit from topics on upgrading, rearranging, and adding new features to your shop. You can also share your ideas with those of us who have to do it all over again.

Visit and join "Woodworking Shops in Progress" at:
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/woodworkingshopsinprogress

Check out the member shops in the Photos section!