Match the shop to the work
| Work | Set up first | Can wait | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand-tool work in a small room | Bench and vise, light, wall storage | Stationary machines, a collector | Hand work needs holding and light more than floor or power |
| Boxes and small parts | Bench, light, a vacuum at the tools, small-parts storage | Large machines | Small stock and dust from hand-held tools |
| Cabinets and shelves from sheet goods | Supports and a way to break down sheets, assembly space | A jointer and planer | Sheet goods arrive flat; full sheets need room to cut |
| Furniture from rough lumber | Room for long stock, power for machines, a dust collector | Specialist tools | Milling makes chips in volume and needs supply the manuals set |
| A shared garage | Mobile bases, fold-down surfaces, closed storage | Fixed machines | Floor must be cleared for other use |
Planning guidance built from what the makers' manuals ask of a shop. Not a ranking.
The systems, in a working order
- Workholding. A solid bench and a way to hold work on it come first in almost every shop; see the workbench guide, choosing a workbench, vises and clamps.
- Light. Grizzly asks for light adequate for safe operation, without shadows, glare or strobe effects; general light plus light at the bench and machines.
- Power. Each machine's supply decides where it can go, so plan outlets before placing machines, with a qualified electrician.
- Dust. OSHA prefers capture where dust is made. A vacuum or extractor at hand-held tools comes early; a collector when machines make chips in volume. See choosing a dust collector and choosing a shop vacuum.
- Storage. Enough to keep the floor clear and heavy items low; see choosing tool storage.
- Support. Sawhorses, roller stands and outfeed support for long and wide work; see sawhorses and roller stands.
What machines ask of a shop
| Machine | Supply as stated | What it means for planning |
|---|---|---|
| DEWALT DW735 planer | 120 V, 15 A; a separate circuit | An outlet on its own circuit; outfeed room; a collector, not a vacuum |
| Grizzly G0817 band saw | 2 HP; 110 V (19 A, 20 A circuit) or 220 V | The supply chosen decides the outlet |
| Powermatic PM1500 band saw | 230 V single-phase; 20 A circuit | A 230 V outlet |
| Grizzly G0633 jointer/planer | 220 V; 30 A circuit | A 220 V outlet; room for both modes |
| Grizzly G0860 cyclone | 110 V, 15 A; 20 A circuit | An outlet near the machines it serves |
| Bosch VAC090 extractor | 120 V, 9.5 A; tool outlet, 15 A total with the tool | The tool's amps count against the circuit |
| Felder HAMMER C3 31 combination machine | 230 V, 60 Hz; one 4.0 HP motor | One footprint, one supply, one operation at a time |
Figures as each manual or maker's page states them, for that machine only. Plan any new circuit with a qualified electrician under local rules. Not a ranking.
What each choice cannot do
- A shop vacuum serves hand tools and small ports, but DEWALT asks for a collector on its planer.
- A combination machine saves floor but does one operation at a time; see combination machines.
- Mobile bases share floor but add setup time every session.
- Extension cords are not a substitute for outlets: Grizzly does not recommend them for its machines.
- A list of essential tools does not set up a shop; the first tools are in woodworking tools for beginners and the hand tools guide, and each machine in its own guide, such as the table saw guide and the jointer planer guide.
Before buying for the shop
- The work the shop is for, and its longest stock
- Floor and wall space measured, with doors and outlets
- Bench and workholding in place
- Each machine's supply checked against the outlets you have or can add
- Dust capture planned for every tool that makes dust
- Storage that keeps the floor clear
How a shop fits together is in the workshop setup guide; the order to set one up is in setting up a beginner shop.
Sources
Specification-based: machine supply and space figures are each maker's for its own machine, as stated, and are shown to illustrate what a machine asks of a shop, not to compare machines. The order of priorities is planning advice, not a rule. Electrical work is for a qualified electrician under local rules. Individual tools are chosen in their own guides. Nothing was tested and none is ranked.
- 1.
Operating Instructions and Parts Manual, 15-inch Woodworking Band Saw, Models PM1500 and PM1500T (M-1791500, edition 10). Powermatic, 2023.
Used for: A 15 in band saw on 230 V single-phase with a 20 A circuit.
- 2.
Model G0817 14" Resaw Bandsaw with Foot Brake owner's manual (for models manufactured since 05/25). Grizzly Industrial, 2025.
Used for: A 14 in band saw at 2 HP on 110 V (19 A, a 20 A circuit) or 220 V; site considerations for floor load, space, power placement and lighting.
- 3.
Model G0633/G0634 Jointer/Planer Combination Machine owner's manual (revised February 2018). Grizzly Industrial, 2018.
Used for: A jointer/planer on 220 V and a 30 A circuit, with clearances that differ between jointing and planing, and no extension cord recommended.
- 4.
Used for: A 13 in planer on 120 V, 15 A, with a separate circuit, outfeed clearance, and a dust collector rather than a shop vacuum.
- 5.
Model G0860/G0861/G0862 Cyclone Dust Collectors owner's manual (for models manufactured since 02/21). Grizzly Industrial.
Used for: A 1.5 HP cyclone collector on 110 V, 15 A, with a 20 A circuit.
- 6.
VAC090S / VAC090A / VAC140S / VAC140A Dust Extractors, Operating/Safety Instructions. Robert Bosch Tool Corporation.
Used for: A dust extractor on 120 V, 9.5 A, with a tool outlet and a 15 A total for extractor and tool.
- 7.
Combination Machine C3 31 (HAMMER), product and technical data page. Felder Group.
Used for: A five-function combination machine on 230 V, 60 Hz, planing, sawing, moulding and mortising on 1.5 m².
- 8.
Wood Dust: Possible Solutions. U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Used for: Capture where dust is produced as the preferred control.
About this buying guide
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