Hardware FixRecommendedDevice not working? Your driver may be the problemCheck updates for common hardware issues.Fix DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan Now×
Skip to content
Bettesworth Construction
construction

Architect Frank Howarth’s Modern Woodworking Shop

Architect Frank Howarth’s shop combines a sunken former-pool site, vintage machinery, in-floor dust ducts, echo-reducing ceiling panels, and flexible plywood walls.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 2 min read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Architect Frank Howarth’s 1,247-square-foot woodworking shop pairs a mid-century modern exterior with practical details shaped by its site, equipment, and video work. Built in the former excavation of an indoor pool, it sits low in the yard while making room for tall machinery, in-floor dust ducts, flexible wall storage, and sound-deadening ceiling panels.

How the former pool site shaped the shop

The shop occupies the hole left in the yard by a deteriorating indoor pool. That existing excavation lowers the building relative to the surrounding yard: the floor is three feet below grade, while the tallest interior walls reach 16 feet. The sloped roof gives the building a mid-20th-century modern profile that Howarth likens to a toolbox with its lid partly open. WOOD Magazine reports the shop’s area as 1,247 square feet; the feature page does not establish when that figure was first published. WOOD Magazine’s feature

Access proved harder than making room

The sunken site helped keep the shop’s overall height down, but it complicated moving heavy machinery inside. Howarth rented a skid-steer loader and later said, “When I moved in equipment, I rented a skid-steer loader, but a forklift would have been better.” The feature describes the access challenge but does not provide construction plans or a general equipment-moving method.

Old machinery in a modern-looking building

Inside, the contemporary exterior contrasts with older woodworking machinery, including a 36-inch bandsaw dating to around 1948. The example captures the shop’s mix of eras: the building’s appearance is modern, while its working equipment includes a substantial vintage machine.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Sale
SakerNeo 25-Piece Wood Carving Kit Whittling Kit with Leather Storage Bag
  • 18+ Only - Age Verification Required 25-PREMIUM WOOD CARVING TOOLS FOR EVERY PROJECT:This comprehensive wood carving kit includes 3 chisels, 8 whittling knives, 5 detail knives, 1 scriber, 1 hammer, 1 marking knife, 1 large sharpening stone, polishing paste, a leather strop, and safety gloves. Perfect for wood carving, spoon carving, stone carving, and detailed craftwork, it meets all your artistic needs whether you're a beginner or a professional.
  • DURABLE LEATHER STORAGE ROLL WITH PORTABILITY:Comes with a high-quality leather tool roll bag featuring double-layer storage, a handheld strap, and a shoulder strap. It keeps all Wood Whittling Kit organized, protected, and easy to carry—ideal for woodworking on the go or storing safely at home.
  • SHARP & DURABLE BLADES FOR SMOOTH CARVING:Each wood carving knife and chisel is made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel reinforced with Mo.V alloy. Pre-sharpened and assembled with air-pressure technology, they resist deformation, stay sharp longer, and ensure clean cuts in wood carving blocks and other soft materials.
  • COMFORTABLE & SAFE TO USE: The Wood Carving Knife equiped with ergonomic walnut handles are varnished for a non-slip grip that reduces hand fatigue. The upgraded leather strop includes a handle and table mount hole for secure sharpening. Safety gloves are also included—making this Whittling Kit safe and user-friendly for beginners.
  • PERFECT GIFT FOR CRAFT ENTHUSIASTS :An excellent Wood Whittling Kit for men, women, and craft lovers. Great for holidays like Christmas, birthdays, or Thanksgiving. It encourages creativity and makes for a meaningful hobby—whether for whittling, carving stencils, or DIY woodworking projects.

Dust ducts built into the floor

In-floor dust ducts are one of the shop’s modern features. The magazine feature does not identify the dust collector, duct dimensions, layout, or installation details, so the example shows an approach rather than a specified system that can be replicated from the article alone.

Ceiling panels reduce recording echoes

Because Howarth records video in the shop, he made suspended sound-deadening panels to reduce echoes. He stretched burlap over wood frames, placed batt insulation behind the burlap, and hung the panels from the ceiling. He described the fabric work this way: “I stretched burlap over wood frames, much the same way one makes a canvas for painting.” The feature says the panels reduce echoes; it does not report measured acoustic performance. Howarth calls the result “a quiet shop!”

Rank #2
HURRICANE 4 Piece Wood Chisel Set for Woodworking. CR-V Steel Beveled Edge Blades with Safety Caps. Durable PVC High Impact Handle, for Precision Carving & DIY Projects (1/4", 1/2", 3/4", 1")
  • Premium Blades: Drop forged CR-V steel with heat-treated edges ensures sharp precision and long-lasting durability, can be used to make finish or paring cuts on wood surfaces, as well as cut mortises
  • Beveled Edge for Versatility: 25° Bevel edge for woodworking multi-purpose use, ideal for soft wood, hard wood, and laminated wood products
  • Ergonomic PVC Handle: HURRICANE wood chisel set with Lightweight yet durable regular size impact PVC Handle, feels natural in your hand for everyday fixes, yet tough enough for mallet strikes—great for door locks or DIY use
  • Safety & Portability: This four sizes (1/4"; 1/2"; 3/4"; and 1") chisel set with blade guards protects edges during storage
  • Widely Function: this HURRICANE wood chisel set empowers beginners to tackle DIY projects while meeting the demands of hobbyists & Home use
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Plywood walls make storage easy to rearrange

Plywood covers the shop walls, giving Howarth a straightforward surface for fastening cleats, cabinets, shop-made pegs, and other fixtures. That makes the walls adaptable as storage needs change, without the feature specifying a particular cleat system or wall construction behind the plywood.

Best Value
Sale
Nicpro Mechanical Carpenter Pencils for Construction (Black, Red) With Case
  • Valued Carpenter Pencil Set: You will get 2 pcs solid carpenter pencils with 26 piece 2.8 mm refills, 1 replaceable sharpener, 1 plastic storage box.The complete carpenter pencils combination allows you to finish your work faster and more easily
  • Deep Hole Marker Pencil: The deep-hole construction pencils adopts 45mm elongated tip design, which is more convenient to mark in the small hole or in other tight areas that other carpenter markers cannot reach
  • Carpenter Pencils with Sharpener: The sharpener is screwed into the top of the work pencil, which won't get lost either. Built-in pencil sharpener that keep the lead with pointed and smooth to Improves line of sight in fine work
  • Stronger Solid Lead: This work pencil is matched with a 2.8 mm thick lead , which is much thicker and stronger during the drawing process of construction work, it will not break or damage easily
  • Marks on Various Surfaces: 3 colors solid construction pencil can marks on various surfaces,such as metal, plastic, wood, paper etc. Ideals for woodworkers, contractors, craftsmen, builders, merchants and masons
Rank #4
RUITOOL Japanese Hand Saw 6 Inch Double Edge Ryoba Pull Saw for Flush Cuts
  • An Idea Gift for Woodworker, Carpenter and Craft Man
  • Optimal Blade Size: Through numerous manual tests, We found that the 6" Japanese saw blade is the ideal size for precise cutting, enabling easy flush and finish cuts.
  • Durable and Flexible Saw Blade: The hand saw blade is made of SK5 high-carbon steel. The Japanese pull saw teeth are processed by a high-frequency hardening machine imported from Japan, and the hardness can reach HRC60-63 degrees.
  • Double Edged: One side of Japanese hand saw is 17 TPI for cutting hardwood, and the other side is 14 TPI for cutting softwood. Also can seen as Rip cut and Cross cut.
  • Hardened 3-Edge Teeth: The hand saw has three-sided grinding gear design, sharp edge, faster chip removal, and smoother cutting.
Rank #3
JORGENSEN No.101 Mini Wood Planer - Mini Hand Planer for Woodworking
  • Professional Level Blade: The blade is made of professional level O1 tool steel, improving cutting efficiency while minimizing blade wear, finely sharpened for efficient wood planing and ideal for detail woodworking. Besides, the blade can be repeatedly utilized, sharpened and adjusted for a long service life
  • Advanced Materials: The body is made of ductile iron to withstand heavy-duty use and is drop-tested for rugged durability. The lever cap is made of zinc alloy and other parts are stainless steel, all of which are high-quality materials, providing excellent using experience
  • Adjustable Design: The cutting depth of this mini wood planer is adjustable, just turn the knob, you can easily adjust the length of the blade and fix it easily, then effortlessly plane different depths of wood, the small hand planer can meet various needs
  • Multiple Use: JORGENSEN mini block plane is small and portable, perfect for trimming, polishing, deburring, cutting and other woodworking surface processing tasks, also suitable for DIY and crafts making. The small hand plane can help you improve the shape and size of wood, which is an indispensable choice for wood projects
  • Easy to Use: Professionally and meticulously polished flat bottom provides smooth operation. Coming with an instruction manual, the small wood plane is easy to operate, friendly for professionals and woodworking beginners. Please pay attention to the sharp blade when operating

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More from the Site Office

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.