Shop setup
Layout, lighting, storage, dust collection and workflow, so your space works with you and not against you.
Free · Weekly · 5–7 min read
The Shop Greatness Newsletter
Step-by-step systems to transform your shop, from a maker obsessed with flow, safety and repeatable processes. Better layout, less dust, smarter tools, one small upgrade at a time.
No spam, no fluff. Unsubscribe anytime.
- Readers
- 50,000+
- Cadence
- Weekly
- Sharing since
- 2025
What lands in your inbox
Deep dives on the shop topics that matter
Every issue is a framework, a plan, or a way to think about the shop setup that works best for you. Here's what we dig into.
Tips & tricks
Getting started, shop safety, jigs and drafting your own plans. Things you can put to use this weekend.
Tool reviews
Honest takes on what's worth the money, and whether Festool really lives up to all that hype.
3D printing
Filaments, models, shop-made printed parts and how to sell what you make at scale.
From the founder
Hey, I'm Travis
I'm the owner of Shop Nation, and I've been sharing my own shop journey online since 2017. Along the way I've helped millions of folks improve their shop in pursuit of what I call Shop Greatness:
Streamlining your shop and workflow, one incremental step at a time.
That's what this newsletter is about. Here's why makers stick around:
- Actionable, never fluffy. Each issue ends with something you can actually do in your shop.
- A real person on the other end. Reply with your shop question. I read every one and often answer them in future issues.
- First look at launches. Subscribers hear about new products and promotions before anyone else.
The archive
Start here
New to the newsletter? These are the issues worth reading first. A new one lands every week, and every past issue is saved in the full archive.
Issue #1
The First Shop Blueprint
Where Shop Greatness starts: how to map your space, plan for flow and avoid the layout mistakes that cost you hours every week.
Read the issue
Straight from the inbox
What readers are saying
"I just read your article about buying plywood. Very informative, I enjoyed it!"
Ken S.
On: How to Buy Plywood
"I unsubscribe from most product emails, but I like what you put out and enjoy reading yours, so I'll keep you around for a while."
Jere F.
On: The Case for 3D Printing
"Thank you for all that you do. I like and read the insight."
Tony M.
On: The Scrap Pile Is Winning
FAQ
Common questions
Who is this for?
Woodworkers, makers, DIYers and CNC/3D-print folks working in anything from a spare corner to a full build-out. Newbies welcome, and pros still pick up efficiencies.
What do I get each week?
A deep dive into one shop topic: setup, tips and tricks, tool reviews or 3D printing. Super actionable, no fluff.
How long does it take to read?
About 5–7 minutes. Skimmable, bookmarkable, get-back-to-workable.
Is this a how-to-build email?
Not primarily. It's a mental framework for better decisions: what to do, why it works and how to adapt it to your space. I link deeper how-tos when they help.
Can I reply with my specific shop question?
Please do. I read every reply and often fold reader questions into future issues.
Can I read past issues before I subscribe?
Absolutely. Every issue lives in the newsletter archive, free to read anytime.
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Your shop should be awesome
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