Jeff Heath's Workshop

Wow … that is one heck of a jointer! Thanks for posting.

-- Gerry -- "I don't plan to ever really grow up ... I'm just going to learn how to act in public!"

A singular, dedicated shop, a thirty-seven acre view with wildlife friends, a Bobcat, one helluva jointer, and an address of Crystal Lake in the middle of America…someone’s definitely living the good life!

Welcome, and the best to you and yours Jeff,
Peter

Jeff, this is a really nich shop that you have. I have alsways wanted to have a stand alone shop. This makes it much easier to run power tools and apply finishes without bothering other family members. I love the high ceilings that you have in there. I have 92” to the joists and at times it is a challenge to move sheet goods and tall cabinetry around in there while dodging the lights. This height also lets you store lumber and sheet goods vertically which I think creates easier access to a particular board or sheet good at the back of the stack. You also have plenty of room to operate in there as well and can easily manuever between tool stations.

You have a nice set of tools to play with too. That is indeed a serious jointer that you have and, as a fan of Powermatic equipment, the table saw that you have is one top notch tool. I would enjoy working in there.

Thanks for the pictures. I enjoyed touring your shop.

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

Wow…

Not sure if I like the land, or the shop better… What a nice setup!

-- Manufacturer of fine quality sawdust since 1984. Comments and advice on my shop welcome. Check it out at http://lumberjocks.com/dbhost/workshop. Gladly accepting shop build donations!

I’ll be redundant…....wow, what a jointer. You’ve got a great shop in progress and from the looks of the snow you will be needing to add some heat real soon.

Best to ya and keep us posted.

-- "Heaven is North of the Bridge"

Thats a very nice shop in a very nice area.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Hey Jeff,
That is one sweet workshop lay-out with some real nice toys to play with…good job.

Jeff,

What a great shop space! You have some great tools as well.

John

-- John -- Racine, WI -- Woodworking..."It's not just a Hobby, it's an Adventure"

Nice shop Jeff. Is the jointer a Porter?

-- My job is to give my kids things to discuss with their therapist....medic20447@gmail.com

The jointer is a 12” HD from Northfield. It was made in 1957. Northfield still produces this jointer today with no changes. 4 knife balanced cutterhead. The motor is a 3 hp direct motor drive 3 phase motor. I can edge joint 8/4 hardwood and remove 1/2” in one pass. It’s the most awesome machine I have ever owned, and I am presently looking for a 16” version of the same machine to restore, just like this one. Most of my lumber is milled wider than 12”, so I would really like the wider version.

-- Jeff in Crystal Lake

Everything… and snow… wow

-- Drink twice... and don't bother to cut... @ larrysworkshop.wordpress.com For lovers of all things timber...

great shop – lots of space – great tools

-- -erik & christy-

How are you running the jointer? VFD or RPC? If RPC how big and did you make or buy it? I am using a VFD on my unisaw and I love it. Once you go 3ph you will never go back

-- My job is to give my kids things to discuss with their therapist....medic20447@gmail.com

I operate it with a rotary phase converter from American Rotary. I bought it online for about $600 as a kit, and it required minimal wiring, which I am comfortable doing, as I wired my home and my shop. It’s a 7.5 hp unit that will start most 3 phase machinery up to about 5 hp. It ran a 5 hp 36” Tannewitz bandsaw that I used to own, too, but I sold the bandsaw.

I used to run it with a homemade converter, but the slave motor for the 3rd leg smoked when my son turned it on without switching on the converter. Oooops! It was time for a new one after that incident.

I agree with you regarding old American iron. It’s the best.

-- Jeff in Crystal Lake

very nice shop Jeff. How are you heating the space?