Update on clean and organize the shop part 2

While the shop still has a long way to go before it's fully organized, I wanted to share a quick update on recent progress. These smaller upgrades and adjustments are slowly building toward a cleaner, more functional workspace, and hopefully they'll give you a few ideas for your own setup.

A Creative Fix for the Miter Saw

One big project I just finished is a custom plywood box to fit into the wall opening for my compound miter saw. If you're new to this setup, here's the idea: the saw arm extends into a box on the outside of the barn, which gives me more space inside and lets me position the saw closer to the wall.

The box is made from ¾" birch plywood, mostly scrap I had lying around, and framed out with 1x2 pine. It’s finished with T1-11 siding to match the barn’s exterior. I took some inspiration from Mark at The Wood Whisperer, who uses a similar siding, and I really like the look.

Refreshed Cabinets, New Shelving Plans

The wall cabinets got a simple refresh with a new coat of paint and updated knobs. The doors still need to be made, and I’ve got space for two adjustable shelves in each. I'm holding off on fully integrating the miter saw into the countertop since I'm thinking about replacing it, my current saw is around 20 years old.

A few people asked why I installed the right-hand cabinet on the left side. The answer: scribe lines. Mounting it this way keeps the visible edge clean. I simply reversed the hinges and handles to match.

Hidden Fan, Future Cabinet

You might’ve spotted an old fan tucked in the corner. This barn used to be a welding shop, and the fan was part of the ventilation system. I don’t plan on using it, but instead of removing it completely, I’ll build a face frame and upper cabinet around it. With a pair of doors, it'll double as hidden storage and won’t look so messy.

Organizing the Messy Side

The other side of the shop is still pretty cluttered, but most items now have a designated home, I just need time to sort and store them properly. Once that's done, I'll remove the old shelving and build a vertical plywood storage bin in the corner. The barn’s 8'3" ceilings give me room to store full sheets upright, along with a few smaller bins for half-sheets.

Rediscovering an Old Tool Cabinet

Behind a stack of lumber, I uncovered an old tool cabinet I haven’t opened in years. Inside? Some great hand tools like a marking gauge, sharpening stones, and even a Lie-Nielsen hand plane, a bit rusty, but still a beauty.

The cabinet backing is teak and holly, which looks great against metal and wood tools. I might eventually rebuild the doors with glass to show off the interior.

Thanks for checking in, and I hope you have a great holiday. More shop projects and builds coming soon!