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35K views 297 replies 36 participants last post by  builtinbkyn 
#1 ·
Relocating To Pittsburgh and My Plans for a New Shop

Well my closing is set for a few days from now and I'm excited and a bit anxious. So it was time to sit down and do some preliminary planning for my in home shop. This exercise has helped settled the anxiousness and given me something to work on while I sort out everything else lol

The house has an attached three car garage. Connected to the garage is an existing work space used by the current owner. The plan is to segregate one of the garage bays from the other two and incorporate it into the existing work space. Fortunately the architect who designed and built the home for himself, planned things well for this to work. The garage has two gas fired space heaters. One of the heaters is within the bay that will be separated from the others. Additionally, I've been in contact with the architect who designed the home. He has been very accommodating and helpful in some issues that arose during pre-sale inspection. He emailed to me the original drawing set. It shows there's a separate mechanical system servicing the garage and work shop. This includes heating and air conditioning. So I believe all my mechanical needs are covered.

The planning was obvious; place all of the dust creating machines, which also require the greatest amount of area, in the large garage bay. This segregates them from other, less invasive work and further separates them from a finishing space. Here's the sketch I put together. I'm sure this could change, but it was a fun start.

Rectangle Font Parallel Floor plan Plan


One thing I know I will miss are the large windows I presently enjoy in my current shop in Williamsburg. One way I plan on addressing that is to install an insulated overhead door with translucent panels. However the existing shop space is in grade and will not have the benefit of natural light without some major intervention :)
 

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#27 ·
Relocating To Pittsburgh and My Plans for a New Shop

Well my closing is set for a few days from now and I'm excited and a bit anxious. So it was time to sit down and do some preliminary planning for my in home shop. This exercise has helped settled the anxiousness and given me something to work on while I sort out everything else lol

The house has an attached three car garage. Connected to the garage is an existing work space used by the current owner. The plan is to segregate one of the garage bays from the other two and incorporate it into the existing work space. Fortunately the architect who designed and built the home for himself, planned things well for this to work. The garage has two gas fired space heaters. One of the heaters is within the bay that will be separated from the others. Additionally, I've been in contact with the architect who designed the home. He has been very accommodating and helpful in some issues that arose during pre-sale inspection. He emailed to me the original drawing set. It shows there's a separate mechanical system servicing the garage and work shop. This includes heating and air conditioning. So I believe all my mechanical needs are covered.

The planning was obvious; place all of the dust creating machines, which also require the greatest amount of area, in the large garage bay. This segregates them from other, less invasive work and further separates them from a finishing space. Here's the sketch I put together. I'm sure this could change, but it was a fun start.

Rectangle Font Parallel Floor plan Plan


One thing I know I will miss are the large windows I presently enjoy in my current shop in Williamsburg. One way I plan on addressing that is to install an insulated overhead door with translucent panels. However the existing shop space is in grade and will not have the benefit of natural light without some major intervention :)
Never a fun time to move and setup shop is likely the best part .
As to how to set up the shop time will tell but for daylight maybe a skylight or two .
Good luck to you and all the best .

Klaus
 

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#28 ·
Relocating To Pittsburgh and My Plans for a New Shop

Well my closing is set for a few days from now and I'm excited and a bit anxious. So it was time to sit down and do some preliminary planning for my in home shop. This exercise has helped settled the anxiousness and given me something to work on while I sort out everything else lol

The house has an attached three car garage. Connected to the garage is an existing work space used by the current owner. The plan is to segregate one of the garage bays from the other two and incorporate it into the existing work space. Fortunately the architect who designed and built the home for himself, planned things well for this to work. The garage has two gas fired space heaters. One of the heaters is within the bay that will be separated from the others. Additionally, I've been in contact with the architect who designed the home. He has been very accommodating and helpful in some issues that arose during pre-sale inspection. He emailed to me the original drawing set. It shows there's a separate mechanical system servicing the garage and work shop. This includes heating and air conditioning. So I believe all my mechanical needs are covered.

The planning was obvious; place all of the dust creating machines, which also require the greatest amount of area, in the large garage bay. This segregates them from other, less invasive work and further separates them from a finishing space. Here's the sketch I put together. I'm sure this could change, but it was a fun start.

Rectangle Font Parallel Floor plan Plan


One thing I know I will miss are the large windows I presently enjoy in my current shop in Williamsburg. One way I plan on addressing that is to install an insulated overhead door with translucent panels. However the existing shop space is in grade and will not have the benefit of natural light without some major intervention :)
Never a fun time to move and setup shop is likely the best part .
As to how to set up the shop time will tell but for daylight maybe a skylight or two .
Good luck to you and all the best .

Klaus

- kiefer
Thanks Klaus. This move took a lot of soul searching. I don't like change, but I decided it was now or maybe never :)

Oh, a skylight or two would be very welcome, but it would make walking around upstairs a bit difficult ;)
 

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#29 ·
Relocating To Pittsburgh and My Plans for a New Shop

Well my closing is set for a few days from now and I'm excited and a bit anxious. So it was time to sit down and do some preliminary planning for my in home shop. This exercise has helped settled the anxiousness and given me something to work on while I sort out everything else lol

The house has an attached three car garage. Connected to the garage is an existing work space used by the current owner. The plan is to segregate one of the garage bays from the other two and incorporate it into the existing work space. Fortunately the architect who designed and built the home for himself, planned things well for this to work. The garage has two gas fired space heaters. One of the heaters is within the bay that will be separated from the others. Additionally, I've been in contact with the architect who designed the home. He has been very accommodating and helpful in some issues that arose during pre-sale inspection. He emailed to me the original drawing set. It shows there's a separate mechanical system servicing the garage and work shop. This includes heating and air conditioning. So I believe all my mechanical needs are covered.

The planning was obvious; place all of the dust creating machines, which also require the greatest amount of area, in the large garage bay. This segregates them from other, less invasive work and further separates them from a finishing space. Here's the sketch I put together. I'm sure this could change, but it was a fun start.

Rectangle Font Parallel Floor plan Plan


One thing I know I will miss are the large windows I presently enjoy in my current shop in Williamsburg. One way I plan on addressing that is to install an insulated overhead door with translucent panels. However the existing shop space is in grade and will not have the benefit of natural light without some major intervention :)
I think I've found the lighting I'll use in the shop. These are flat panel LED fixtures that can be recessed or even surface mounted, depending upon which variation is chosen. They won't collect dust and will be out of the way. They're also inexpensive enough to not spare on the number of them. They're rated for 50,000 hours. Sealed units will stay cleaner and no bulb changes.

2x4 flat panel LED
 

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#30 ·
Relocating To Pittsburgh and My Plans for a New Shop

Well my closing is set for a few days from now and I'm excited and a bit anxious. So it was time to sit down and do some preliminary planning for my in home shop. This exercise has helped settled the anxiousness and given me something to work on while I sort out everything else lol

The house has an attached three car garage. Connected to the garage is an existing work space used by the current owner. The plan is to segregate one of the garage bays from the other two and incorporate it into the existing work space. Fortunately the architect who designed and built the home for himself, planned things well for this to work. The garage has two gas fired space heaters. One of the heaters is within the bay that will be separated from the others. Additionally, I've been in contact with the architect who designed the home. He has been very accommodating and helpful in some issues that arose during pre-sale inspection. He emailed to me the original drawing set. It shows there's a separate mechanical system servicing the garage and work shop. This includes heating and air conditioning. So I believe all my mechanical needs are covered.

The planning was obvious; place all of the dust creating machines, which also require the greatest amount of area, in the large garage bay. This segregates them from other, less invasive work and further separates them from a finishing space. Here's the sketch I put together. I'm sure this could change, but it was a fun start.

Rectangle Font Parallel Floor plan Plan


One thing I know I will miss are the large windows I presently enjoy in my current shop in Williamsburg. One way I plan on addressing that is to install an insulated overhead door with translucent panels. However the existing shop space is in grade and will not have the benefit of natural light without some major intervention :)
Couple of more thoughts Bill:

  • I don't see an air compressor location. You going to have one?
  • Is there room to run long boards through the planer/jointer with the proximity to the bandsaw?
  • Is there enough space on the wall where the lumber rack is to swap the lumber rack and the handtool cabinet/storage workspace? That might make access to the lumber easier.
 

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#31 ·
Relocating To Pittsburgh and My Plans for a New Shop

Well my closing is set for a few days from now and I'm excited and a bit anxious. So it was time to sit down and do some preliminary planning for my in home shop. This exercise has helped settled the anxiousness and given me something to work on while I sort out everything else lol

The house has an attached three car garage. Connected to the garage is an existing work space used by the current owner. The plan is to segregate one of the garage bays from the other two and incorporate it into the existing work space. Fortunately the architect who designed and built the home for himself, planned things well for this to work. The garage has two gas fired space heaters. One of the heaters is within the bay that will be separated from the others. Additionally, I've been in contact with the architect who designed the home. He has been very accommodating and helpful in some issues that arose during pre-sale inspection. He emailed to me the original drawing set. It shows there's a separate mechanical system servicing the garage and work shop. This includes heating and air conditioning. So I believe all my mechanical needs are covered.

The planning was obvious; place all of the dust creating machines, which also require the greatest amount of area, in the large garage bay. This segregates them from other, less invasive work and further separates them from a finishing space. Here's the sketch I put together. I'm sure this could change, but it was a fun start.

Rectangle Font Parallel Floor plan Plan


One thing I know I will miss are the large windows I presently enjoy in my current shop in Williamsburg. One way I plan on addressing that is to install an insulated overhead door with translucent panels. However the existing shop space is in grade and will not have the benefit of natural light without some major intervention :)
Kenny, relocating the lumber to the other wall my be an option, but we'll see how it goes. I have a California Air Tools 5.5g compressor presently. I may upgrade that to something larger so I can run a sprayer. I'd probably locate that in the other garage and run the line thru the walls to various locations around the shop. That way it could serve other needs as well as shop needs and I won't have to listen to it ;) The planer/jointer I plan on getting is a Hammer A31. It has a mobility kit. So if I need to run something extra long, it could be done by pulling it away from the wall or alternatively by pulling the bandsaw away from the wall. That also will be a Hammer with a mobility kit. But from the looks of it, there will be ample room for running boards of at least 6 feet in length without issue. I oriented the miter saw and the jointer on the long walls just for the length considerations of lumber I might have reason to mill. In the end, lumber storage may take place in the adjacent garage space, freeing up that area of the shop.
 

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#32 ·
Relocating To Pittsburgh and My Plans for a New Shop

Well my closing is set for a few days from now and I'm excited and a bit anxious. So it was time to sit down and do some preliminary planning for my in home shop. This exercise has helped settled the anxiousness and given me something to work on while I sort out everything else lol

The house has an attached three car garage. Connected to the garage is an existing work space used by the current owner. The plan is to segregate one of the garage bays from the other two and incorporate it into the existing work space. Fortunately the architect who designed and built the home for himself, planned things well for this to work. The garage has two gas fired space heaters. One of the heaters is within the bay that will be separated from the others. Additionally, I've been in contact with the architect who designed the home. He has been very accommodating and helpful in some issues that arose during pre-sale inspection. He emailed to me the original drawing set. It shows there's a separate mechanical system servicing the garage and work shop. This includes heating and air conditioning. So I believe all my mechanical needs are covered.

The planning was obvious; place all of the dust creating machines, which also require the greatest amount of area, in the large garage bay. This segregates them from other, less invasive work and further separates them from a finishing space. Here's the sketch I put together. I'm sure this could change, but it was a fun start.

Rectangle Font Parallel Floor plan Plan


One thing I know I will miss are the large windows I presently enjoy in my current shop in Williamsburg. One way I plan on addressing that is to install an insulated overhead door with translucent panels. However the existing shop space is in grade and will not have the benefit of natural light without some major intervention :)
I made a few changes to the layout. I've decided to not dedicate so much shop real estate to a miter saw. Of all the power equipment I have in my shop I probably use it the least. So I'll find an alternative to storing it for use when needed, that isn't inconvenient. Meanwhile I'll use the miter saw station I built, for smaller machines. I have three small sanding machines of different varieties that do get more use than the miter saw. So they'll go on the miter saw station. Right now I have them stored on a shelf under the bench and pull them out when I need them. This will be a much better situation.

I also chose to locate dust collection in the next garage bay over. This way I won't have to listen to it. I also have all the 220 equipment located along the same new partition, including the DC and the bandsaw which are both 220. And for now, lumber storage will remain where I show it. I'd like to keep it inside the shop area vs one of the other garage bays so there's no issues with acclimation.

I also discovered there's a double basin utility sink in the corner of the garage along with a washing machine. They will have to be relocated to the other side of the wall and into the new finishing room. I'll take before, during and after pics to show progress.

Rectangle Schematic Slope Parallel Font
 

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#33 ·
Relocating To Pittsburgh and My Plans for a New Shop

Well my closing is set for a few days from now and I'm excited and a bit anxious. So it was time to sit down and do some preliminary planning for my in home shop. This exercise has helped settled the anxiousness and given me something to work on while I sort out everything else lol

The house has an attached three car garage. Connected to the garage is an existing work space used by the current owner. The plan is to segregate one of the garage bays from the other two and incorporate it into the existing work space. Fortunately the architect who designed and built the home for himself, planned things well for this to work. The garage has two gas fired space heaters. One of the heaters is within the bay that will be separated from the others. Additionally, I've been in contact with the architect who designed the home. He has been very accommodating and helpful in some issues that arose during pre-sale inspection. He emailed to me the original drawing set. It shows there's a separate mechanical system servicing the garage and work shop. This includes heating and air conditioning. So I believe all my mechanical needs are covered.

The planning was obvious; place all of the dust creating machines, which also require the greatest amount of area, in the large garage bay. This segregates them from other, less invasive work and further separates them from a finishing space. Here's the sketch I put together. I'm sure this could change, but it was a fun start.

Rectangle Font Parallel Floor plan Plan


One thing I know I will miss are the large windows I presently enjoy in my current shop in Williamsburg. One way I plan on addressing that is to install an insulated overhead door with translucent panels. However the existing shop space is in grade and will not have the benefit of natural light without some major intervention :)
Makes good sense to me Bill. I'm the same way with my miter saw. I put it on a flip top cart with my planer on the opposite side. Planer stays on top almost always. On the other hand, I use my sanders a lot. Good call and it will be awesome to have DC in the other bay. What the heck are you going to use the washing machine for though?
 

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#34 ·
Relocating To Pittsburgh and My Plans for a New Shop

Well my closing is set for a few days from now and I'm excited and a bit anxious. So it was time to sit down and do some preliminary planning for my in home shop. This exercise has helped settled the anxiousness and given me something to work on while I sort out everything else lol

The house has an attached three car garage. Connected to the garage is an existing work space used by the current owner. The plan is to segregate one of the garage bays from the other two and incorporate it into the existing work space. Fortunately the architect who designed and built the home for himself, planned things well for this to work. The garage has two gas fired space heaters. One of the heaters is within the bay that will be separated from the others. Additionally, I've been in contact with the architect who designed the home. He has been very accommodating and helpful in some issues that arose during pre-sale inspection. He emailed to me the original drawing set. It shows there's a separate mechanical system servicing the garage and work shop. This includes heating and air conditioning. So I believe all my mechanical needs are covered.

The planning was obvious; place all of the dust creating machines, which also require the greatest amount of area, in the large garage bay. This segregates them from other, less invasive work and further separates them from a finishing space. Here's the sketch I put together. I'm sure this could change, but it was a fun start.

Rectangle Font Parallel Floor plan Plan


One thing I know I will miss are the large windows I presently enjoy in my current shop in Williamsburg. One way I plan on addressing that is to install an insulated overhead door with translucent panels. However the existing shop space is in grade and will not have the benefit of natural light without some major intervention :)
Makes good sense to me Bill. I m the same way with my miter saw. I put it on a flip top cart with my planer on the opposite side. Planer stays on top almost always. On the other hand, I use my sanders a lot. Good call and it will be awesome to have DC in the other bay. What the heck are you going to use the washing machine for though?

- HokieKen
Yeah the miter station tends to accumulate stuff to be put away at a later date. The station is three pieces. I'll figure out a way to make the saw easily accessible when needed. Those cabinet surfaces, with the extensions and the drawers take up a lot of useful landscape. No other work can really take place there other than cutting down stock. Removing the upper part with the drawers will provide another nice surface for other tasks.

The washing machine is already there, but on the other side of that wall from where I have it in the plan. Guess it was used to clean rags and towels used on cars and other things. I'll have the same need. Better putting them in a dedicated washer than using the one that cleans clothes.
 

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#35 ·
Relocating To Pittsburgh and My Plans for a New Shop

Well my closing is set for a few days from now and I'm excited and a bit anxious. So it was time to sit down and do some preliminary planning for my in home shop. This exercise has helped settled the anxiousness and given me something to work on while I sort out everything else lol

The house has an attached three car garage. Connected to the garage is an existing work space used by the current owner. The plan is to segregate one of the garage bays from the other two and incorporate it into the existing work space. Fortunately the architect who designed and built the home for himself, planned things well for this to work. The garage has two gas fired space heaters. One of the heaters is within the bay that will be separated from the others. Additionally, I've been in contact with the architect who designed the home. He has been very accommodating and helpful in some issues that arose during pre-sale inspection. He emailed to me the original drawing set. It shows there's a separate mechanical system servicing the garage and work shop. This includes heating and air conditioning. So I believe all my mechanical needs are covered.

The planning was obvious; place all of the dust creating machines, which also require the greatest amount of area, in the large garage bay. This segregates them from other, less invasive work and further separates them from a finishing space. Here's the sketch I put together. I'm sure this could change, but it was a fun start.

Rectangle Font Parallel Floor plan Plan


One thing I know I will miss are the large windows I presently enjoy in my current shop in Williamsburg. One way I plan on addressing that is to install an insulated overhead door with translucent panels. However the existing shop space is in grade and will not have the benefit of natural light without some major intervention :)
That makes sense to use it for shop stuff. Duh ;-)
 

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#36 ·
Relocating To Pittsburgh and My Plans for a New Shop

Well my closing is set for a few days from now and I'm excited and a bit anxious. So it was time to sit down and do some preliminary planning for my in home shop. This exercise has helped settled the anxiousness and given me something to work on while I sort out everything else lol

The house has an attached three car garage. Connected to the garage is an existing work space used by the current owner. The plan is to segregate one of the garage bays from the other two and incorporate it into the existing work space. Fortunately the architect who designed and built the home for himself, planned things well for this to work. The garage has two gas fired space heaters. One of the heaters is within the bay that will be separated from the others. Additionally, I've been in contact with the architect who designed the home. He has been very accommodating and helpful in some issues that arose during pre-sale inspection. He emailed to me the original drawing set. It shows there's a separate mechanical system servicing the garage and work shop. This includes heating and air conditioning. So I believe all my mechanical needs are covered.

The planning was obvious; place all of the dust creating machines, which also require the greatest amount of area, in the large garage bay. This segregates them from other, less invasive work and further separates them from a finishing space. Here's the sketch I put together. I'm sure this could change, but it was a fun start.

Rectangle Font Parallel Floor plan Plan


One thing I know I will miss are the large windows I presently enjoy in my current shop in Williamsburg. One way I plan on addressing that is to install an insulated overhead door with translucent panels. However the existing shop space is in grade and will not have the benefit of natural light without some major intervention :)
WOW that's a great space !!! wishing you all the best buddy
I know its been a while but im here now, so if you need anything that I could help with let me know :)
 

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#37 ·
And So It Begins

The first step in getting to the promised land was to clean out the existing shop. Man I can't believe how some people abuse their stuff and their working space. There was years of accumulated junk behind those nice white cabinet doors pictured below. It seems that whom ever it was that used that shop space left everything where it was when they finished. There were dozens of empty containers of weed killer, dried out paint brushes, the packaging for stuff just left where it was removed. Nails, screws and alls sorts of stuff spilling out of boxes. It goes on and on with the junk I found just laying on the shelves. I should have taken a picture of it, but forgot. It was actually depressing to see lol

Then it came time to remove the cabinets that were built for the apocalypse. The cabinets were screwed together with screws every six inches or so. I mean it was way overkill, but certainly sturdy. I had to run out for a cordless reciprocating saw and circular saw. The impact driver, pry bar and lump hammer just weren't getting the job done.

These are before during and almost after pics lol Took a day and a a half to get this far. Well I did have quite a few interruptions for cable installation, security contractor surveying the house for install, the insurance company sent someone for an inspection, flooring guys to give me a quote of removing w to w carpeting and installing oak flooring (I'd do this myself, but there's just too much other stuff to do) and I'm sure I'm forgetting someone or something that interrupted my progress in the shop.

Dog Building Wood Flooring Floor


Building Cabinetry Interior design Countertop Floor


Table Floor Flooring Wood Ceiling


Wood Flooring Floor Hardwood Machine


Property Wood Architecture Interior design Floor


Property Shelf Wood Shelving Stairs


Wood Flooring Floor Fixture Ceiling


Property Wood Interior design Flooring Floor


Wood Flooring Floor Hardwood Lumber


Man I'm still dumbfounded by the way people can keep their stuff. How could they find anything? Well it looked nice when the doors were closed lol

Electrician is coming Friday morning to go over what I'll need in the shop for power. The house has a 400amp service lol I think I'll have plenty of power for anything I can throw at it. Next phase is to rough out the partition to segregate the last garage bay from the other two.

Oh unfortunately the ceiling height I'm working with is 84". This will limit the type of dust collection system I can use. Oneida may have to get crossed off of the list if I can't figure out a work-around. I may have to go with a Laguna system which is 81" tall.
 

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#38 ·
And So It Begins

The first step in getting to the promised land was to clean out the existing shop. Man I can't believe how some people abuse their stuff and their working space. There was years of accumulated junk behind those nice white cabinet doors pictured below. It seems that whom ever it was that used that shop space left everything where it was when they finished. There were dozens of empty containers of weed killer, dried out paint brushes, the packaging for stuff just left where it was removed. Nails, screws and alls sorts of stuff spilling out of boxes. It goes on and on with the junk I found just laying on the shelves. I should have taken a picture of it, but forgot. It was actually depressing to see lol

Then it came time to remove the cabinets that were built for the apocalypse. The cabinets were screwed together with screws every six inches or so. I mean it was way overkill, but certainly sturdy. I had to run out for a cordless reciprocating saw and circular saw. The impact driver, pry bar and lump hammer just weren't getting the job done.

These are before during and almost after pics lol Took a day and a a half to get this far. Well I did have quite a few interruptions for cable installation, security contractor surveying the house for install, the insurance company sent someone for an inspection, flooring guys to give me a quote of removing w to w carpeting and installing oak flooring (I'd do this myself, but there's just too much other stuff to do) and I'm sure I'm forgetting someone or something that interrupted my progress in the shop.

Dog Building Wood Flooring Floor


Building Cabinetry Interior design Countertop Floor


Table Floor Flooring Wood Ceiling


Wood Flooring Floor Hardwood Machine


Property Wood Architecture Interior design Floor


Property Shelf Wood Shelving Stairs


Wood Flooring Floor Fixture Ceiling


Property Wood Interior design Flooring Floor


Wood Flooring Floor Hardwood Lumber


Man I'm still dumbfounded by the way people can keep their stuff. How could they find anything? Well it looked nice when the doors were closed lol

Electrician is coming Friday morning to go over what I'll need in the shop for power. The house has a 400amp service lol I think I'll have plenty of power for anything I can throw at it. Next phase is to rough out the partition to segregate the last garage bay from the other two.

Oh unfortunately the ceiling height I'm working with is 84". This will limit the type of dust collection system I can use. Oneida may have to get crossed off of the list if I can't figure out a work-around. I may have to go with a Laguna system which is 81" tall.
Imfeel like I'm late to the party. Did you just buy a new house?
 

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#57 ·
Time for an Update

I've been so busy here I almost forgot I started this blog on the new shop. I'm really happy about my decision to use the "game room" as my new shop rather than the garage area I initially thought would be the place for it. There are so many more advantages to this than I thought there would be when I made the change.

To begin with, there's a bathroom off to the left of the space, whereas if the shop was in the garage area, I would have to head across the two other garage stalls and then down the hall and upstairs to the bathroom in the master bedroom. Not only would that have been inconvenient, I would be bringing the dust and mess clinging to me into the house. There's also a small kitchenette which will allow me to have a coffee maker, running water and a small fridge. Aside from having more square feet of shop area than the combined garage stall and existing shop room of the original intended location, this space has a few smaller spaces adjacent to it that have higher ceilings than the garage which enabled me to order the Oneida dust collection system I wanted. The main electric service (400amps) is also right there in the mechanical room. So wiring everything thru the drop ceiling will be a simple task. However the best part is some natural light coming from two windows in this space and climate control for both heating and cooling. All in all, this was the perfect choice as far as I'm concerned.

Today I finished up the installation of the laminate flooring I picked up to replace the wall to wall carpeting. It was really cheap at .79sq.ft., but should be fine for the foreseeable future. I know it will get some dings here and there, but it will also be easy to keep swept and clean. Funny thing I discovered when I removed the carpeting is a floor drain that was covered. This location is noted as "work shop" on the original plans for the house, so this ended up not being a surprise other than someone thought it was wise to cover with padding and carpeting.

It just needs some shoe molding and electric drops for my equipment and I'll be ready to rock when I finally get my equipment here.



Wood Hall Flooring Floor Building


Tomorrow I will be erecting a wall with a door at the far end to serve as an airlock of sorts to keep dust from entering the rest of the house.
 

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#58 ·
Time for an Update

I've been so busy here I almost forgot I started this blog on the new shop. I'm really happy about my decision to use the "game room" as my new shop rather than the garage area I initially thought would be the place for it. There are so many more advantages to this than I thought there would be when I made the change.

To begin with, there's a bathroom off to the left of the space, whereas if the shop was in the garage area, I would have to head across the two other garage stalls and then down the hall and upstairs to the bathroom in the master bedroom. Not only would that have been inconvenient, I would be bringing the dust and mess clinging to me into the house. There's also a small kitchenette which will allow me to have a coffee maker, running water and a small fridge. Aside from having more square feet of shop area than the combined garage stall and existing shop room of the original intended location, this space has a few smaller spaces adjacent to it that have higher ceilings than the garage which enabled me to order the Oneida dust collection system I wanted. The main electric service (400amps) is also right there in the mechanical room. So wiring everything thru the drop ceiling will be a simple task. However the best part is some natural light coming from two windows in this space and climate control for both heating and cooling. All in all, this was the perfect choice as far as I'm concerned.

Today I finished up the installation of the laminate flooring I picked up to replace the wall to wall carpeting. It was really cheap at .79sq.ft., but should be fine for the foreseeable future. I know it will get some dings here and there, but it will also be easy to keep swept and clean. Funny thing I discovered when I removed the carpeting is a floor drain that was covered. This location is noted as "work shop" on the original plans for the house, so this ended up not being a surprise other than someone thought it was wise to cover with padding and carpeting.

It just needs some shoe molding and electric drops for my equipment and I'll be ready to rock when I finally get my equipment here.

Wood Building Flooring Floor Hardwood


Wood Hall Flooring Floor Building


Tomorrow I will be erecting a wall with a door at the far end to serve as an airlock of sorts to keep dust from entering the rest of the house.
Oh Wow! I am so jealous!!! This is going to be great!
 

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#76 ·
Almost moving day!

Been here for a few days breaking down everything and packing up. Sad, but it's also nice to be looking forward to having the shop in my house.

Man, from an empty space, it was sure filled with a lot of stuff in short order. :O I just need a few more hours here to finish breaking down the Unisaw and the mitersaw station. The rest is up to the movers. Hope they have some back support :)

Wood Flooring Floor Rectangle Wood stain


Property Interior design Wood Hardwood Machine


Table Wood Floor Gas Workbench


Willie is taking it easy today. Resting up for the big move lol

Dog Carnivore Dog breed Wood Floor
 

Attachments

#77 ·
Almost moving day!

Been here for a few days breaking down everything and packing up. Sad, but it's also nice to be looking forward to having the shop in my house.

Man, from an empty space, it was sure filled with a lot of stuff in short order. :O I just need a few more hours here to finish breaking down the Unisaw and the mitersaw station. The rest is up to the movers. Hope they have some back support :)

Wood Flooring Floor Rectangle Wood stain


Property Interior design Wood Hardwood Machine


Table Wood Floor Gas Workbench


Willie is taking it easy today. Resting up for the big move lol

Dog Carnivore Dog breed Wood Floor
Willie has the right idea, I think.
 

Attachments

#89 ·
Finalizing the Shop Layout

After considering removing the existing kitchenette, I think this layout works and allows me to keep it, at least for the time being. Now I just have to work out the details for the ducting. As it stands, I think I can get by with 4 ports. The band saw and planer/jointer can share one. The table saw and router table can share one as can the drill press and lathe. Those combinations were chosen because there is little chance I'll be using those parings during fabrication. I will more than likely have a need to run the TS and the planer during an operation, but having things set up in this way, I will not have to remove/replace the flexible connections to each machine to continue an operation. The small bench top machines (belt/disk sander, Ridgid combo sander and spindle sander) that will go on the cabinet at the lefthand side of the shop will be serviced by a shopvac system, which I'll need to work on when everything is in place, unless I can come up with a way to use the central system for this.

This may get some refinement, but I think all in all, this is a good working plan. Oh the dust collector is an Oneida 3HP Dust Gorilla Pro with Smart Boost. The room it's located in has an existing exhaust fan to the exterior.

Map Rectangle Schematic Slope Font
 

Attachments

#90 ·
Finalizing the Shop Layout

After considering removing the existing kitchenette, I think this layout works and allows me to keep it, at least for the time being. Now I just have to work out the details for the ducting. As it stands, I think I can get by with 4 ports. The band saw and planer/jointer can share one. The table saw and router table can share one as can the drill press and lathe. Those combinations were chosen because there is little chance I'll be using those parings during fabrication. I will more than likely have a need to run the TS and the planer during an operation, but having things set up in this way, I will not have to remove/replace the flexible connections to each machine to continue an operation. The small bench top machines (belt/disk sander, Ridgid combo sander and spindle sander) that will go on the cabinet at the lefthand side of the shop will be serviced by a shopvac system, which I'll need to work on when everything is in place, unless I can come up with a way to use the central system for this.

This may get some refinement, but I think all in all, this is a good working plan. Oh the dust collector is an Oneida 3HP Dust Gorilla Pro with Smart Boost. The room it's located in has an existing exhaust fan to the exterior.

Map Rectangle Schematic Slope Font
Bill, the layout looks very good. Did you have Oneida design it or is this another of your many talents? I do have a suggestion, however, I recall from some source that the cyclone benefits from having at least a 5' straight run before entering the cyclone. This reduces/eliminates any turbulence in the air flow which increases the efficiency of the system. It looks like you have the space to do this easily. HTH
 

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#95 ·
Shop Setup Underway

The last few weeks have been hectic and frankly, not a lot of fun. Packing and everything else associated with moving is pretty uninteresting and tiring. Not having a place to escape to such as my shop, doesn't help. However over the last few days I've been slowly getting things re-assembled in the new shop. I spend a few hours in the house unpacking domestic stuff such as kitchenware and other household items and a few hours in the shop readying it for action. That has helped relieve that desire to actually be working on some sort of project for the fun it provides.

This is the state of the new shop digs as of late yesterday afternoon :)

Table Furniture Dog Wood Flooring


Building Wood Interior design Floor Flooring


Right now there are quite a few things demanding my attention, but getting the shop functional is without a doubt, a priority for my sanity :)

PS None of my machines will work unless I get a 220 sub-panel installed soon. Ah just one more item on the list lol
 

Attachments

#96 ·
Shop Setup Underway

The last few weeks have been hectic and frankly, not a lot of fun. Packing and everything else associated with moving is pretty uninteresting and tiring. Not having a place to escape to such as my shop, doesn't help. However over the last few days I've been slowly getting things re-assembled in the new shop. I spend a few hours in the house unpacking domestic stuff such as kitchenware and other household items and a few hours in the shop readying it for action. That has helped relieve that desire to actually be working on some sort of project for the fun it provides.

This is the state of the new shop digs as of late yesterday afternoon :)

Table Furniture Dog Wood Flooring


Building Wood Interior design Floor Flooring


Right now there are quite a few things demanding my attention, but getting the shop functional is without a doubt, a priority for my sanity :)

PS None of my machines will work unless I get a 220 sub-panel installed soon. Ah just one more item on the list lol
Man, what an awesome space bud. Now that you've got some tools in there for scale and layout, it's even more impressive. If I were you, I'd just live in there and rent the rest of the house out. ;-P
 

Attachments

#115 ·
Getting Electrified

OK now that all of the holiday stuff is out of the way, I have the time to get power distribution for my machines installed. This morning I removed an outdated telephone system that I'm still scratching my head about. I'll post a pic of it later, but it looks like it would be suitable for handling a decent size hotel or office building. Every system in this house is commercial grade, from the 400amp service via a Siemans distribution panel to the existing Sylvania sub panels.

I have the new panel mounted and the drops located. The furring on the walls run horizontally so I'll need to pick up some raceway to run the drops down on the outside of the walls, which is fine as it doesn't need to look pretty. I also need to pick up the devices for each power point and the service wire to tie in the new sub panel. Hopefully I'll be up and running over the next day or so.

Here's the existing main distribution panel. It services four sub panels - one of which I'll have to tie into for the shop sub panel.

Fixture Gas Machine Technology Control panel


And what I've accomplished so far.

Electricity Electrical wiring Cable Gas Networking cables


Gas Wood Flooring Machine Ceiling


Property Building Wood Flooring Hardwood


The third outlet is located in the other room where the DC is going to be located.
 

Attachments

#116 ·
Getting Electrified

OK now that all of the holiday stuff is out of the way, I have the time to get power distribution for my machines installed. This morning I removed an outdated telephone system that I'm still scratching my head about. I'll post a pic of it later, but it looks like it would be suitable for handling a decent size hotel or office building. Every system in this house is commercial grade, from the 400amp service via a Siemans distribution panel to the existing Sylvania sub panels.

I have the new panel mounted and the drops located. The furring on the walls run horizontally so I'll need to pick up some raceway to run the drops down on the outside of the walls, which is fine as it doesn't need to look pretty. I also need to pick up the devices for each power point and the service wire to tie in the new sub panel. Hopefully I'll be up and running over the next day or so.

Here's the existing main distribution panel. It services four sub panels - one of which I'll have to tie into for the shop sub panel.

Fixture Gas Machine Technology Control panel


And what I've accomplished so far.

Electricity Electrical wiring Cable Gas Networking cables


Gas Wood Flooring Machine Ceiling


Property Building Wood Flooring Hardwood


The third outlet is located in the other room where the DC is going to be located.
Looking nice. That drop ceiling makes things nice even though I like high ceilings I could see that would have benefits.
 

Attachments

#125 ·
New Outfeed Table for the Unisaw - Well Sort Of

I was going to build a new table from scratch, but then figured I could just put a new skin on the existing one and have it match the Delta extension. So yesterday and today I went about doing just that to the outfeed table I made two plus years ago. It was getting tired looking and since this is a spiffy new shop, I figured the Unisaw should look spiffy too.

Yesterday I picked up everything, well almost everything I thought I would need. Unfortunately things don't always work out as planned, including going to Fastenal to get 3/8Ă—24 flat head screws and them telling you they would have to order them. If that wasn't enough of a bummer, getting to the Fastenal was a crazy trip. Up, down and all around Pittsburgh, which ended up burning quite a lot of the day. The up and down and all around is sort of what I like about this area, including the old industrial and railroad buildings that dot the landscape. Passing through some places makes one feel as if they entered a portal to the 1930s. Very cool.

Today I went about making this happen. Here's the "almost new" outfeed table looking spiffy - for the time being - and some of the process.

Wood Interior design Flooring Floor Hardwood


Wood Rectangle Table Automotive exterior Floor


Wood Flooring Floor Wood stain Rectangle


Rectangle Flooring Wood Automotive design Floor


Automotive design Wood Gadget Rectangle Kitchen appliance


Wood Gas Engineering Table Flooring


Wood Gas Engineering Machine Automotive exterior


Table Wood Rectangle Floor Desk


Table Furniture Wood Wheel Table tennis racket


Yesterday I received plans from Oneida for the ducts I'll need for the new collector. It doesn't appear I'll be able to run them above the drop ceiling as there's just too much up there already. So no one over 6'-4" is allowed in the shop lol
 

Attachments

#126 ·
New Outfeed Table for the Unisaw - Well Sort Of

I was going to build a new table from scratch, but then figured I could just put a new skin on the existing one and have it match the Delta extension. So yesterday and today I went about doing just that to the outfeed table I made two plus years ago. It was getting tired looking and since this is a spiffy new shop, I figured the Unisaw should look spiffy too.

Yesterday I picked up everything, well almost everything I thought I would need. Unfortunately things don't always work out as planned, including going to Fastenal to get 3/8Ă—24 flat head screws and them telling you they would have to order them. If that wasn't enough of a bummer, getting to the Fastenal was a crazy trip. Up, down and all around Pittsburgh, which ended up burning quite a lot of the day. The up and down and all around is sort of what I like about this area, including the old industrial and railroad buildings that dot the landscape. Passing through some places makes one feel as if they entered a portal to the 1930s. Very cool.

Today I went about making this happen. Here's the "almost new" outfeed table looking spiffy - for the time being - and some of the process.

Wood Interior design Flooring Floor Hardwood


Wood Rectangle Table Automotive exterior Floor


Wood Flooring Floor Wood stain Rectangle


Rectangle Flooring Wood Automotive design Floor


Automotive design Wood Gadget Rectangle Kitchen appliance


Wood Gas Engineering Table Flooring


Wood Gas Engineering Machine Automotive exterior


Table Wood Rectangle Floor Desk


Table Furniture Wood Wheel Table tennis racket


Yesterday I received plans from Oneida for the ducts I'll need for the new collector. It doesn't appear I'll be able to run them above the drop ceiling as there's just too much up there already. So no one over 6'-4" is allowed in the shop lol
Great job, congrats
 

Attachments

#140 ·
Needed A Fix

Yesterday I decided to forego doing some other things around the house that still need attention - oh and continuing to unpack boxes :( - and chose to get a small shop fix. It's been a while and I really needed to be in the shop making something, anything, to get away from the drudgery of the after-move.

So I decided to take on a small project that cured an ill that's been bugging me since my old shop back in Brooklyn - having a dedicated storage solution for abrasives. The reclaimed green cabinet pictured below, was my prior storage for abrasives and pretty much everything else that didn't have it's own home. It started to become a mess of a situation. Happily, I had some plywood and MDF on hand and left over from another project I made a few weeks back - some window seat cushions for my bathroom/closet/dressing room. Yeah that's the "man's" dressing room here in the new digs. There's one for the lady of the house too. That remains empty lol

Well this is the little cabinet/holder I came up with - sort of a combination of other's solutions to this. Oh I started with an idea, but no plan. Man it's way better to have a plan. I didn't start out with the idea of having the shelves slide, so routing the slots after the fact and in each individual component really sucked lol No matter how accurately you have your equipment dialed in, getting those little dados to align perfectly is a bear. Should have made all of the dados and just cut the board up after the fact. Ah but no plan and well, I paid the price in frustration. :O

Shelf Wood Shelving Wood stain Floor


Wood Building Door Art Gas


Here's the seat cushions I made using some pleather purchased off of Amazon. They're much easier on the butt than the bare Brazilian cherry lol

Property Window Building Wood Fixture


Next up is a storage solution for all of the pin nailers and staplers I have, some of which are just sitting on that cabinet behind the bench. :)

Oh today I'll be receiving the ducts for my DC from Oneida. Guess that will be a few day job getting them installed. I'll have to assemble the DC first though ;)
 

Attachments

#141 ·
Needed A Fix

Yesterday I decided to forego doing some other things around the house that still need attention - oh and continuing to unpack boxes :( - and chose to get a small shop fix. It's been a while and I really needed to be in the shop making something, anything, to get away from the drudgery of the after-move.

So I decided to take on a small project that cured an ill that's been bugging me since my old shop back in Brooklyn - having a dedicated storage solution for abrasives. The reclaimed green cabinet pictured below, was my prior storage for abrasives and pretty much everything else that didn't have it's own home. It started to become a mess of a situation. Happily, I had some plywood and MDF on hand and left over from another project I made a few weeks back - some window seat cushions for my bathroom/closet/dressing room. Yeah that's the "man's" dressing room here in the new digs. There's one for the lady of the house too. That remains empty lol

Well this is the little cabinet/holder I came up with - sort of a combination of other's solutions to this. Oh I started with an idea, but no plan. Man it's way better to have a plan. I didn't start out with the idea of having the shelves slide, so routing the slots after the fact and in each individual component really sucked lol No matter how accurately you have your equipment dialed in, getting those little dados to align perfectly is a bear. Should have made all of the dados and just cut the board up after the fact. Ah but no plan and well, I paid the price in frustration. :O

Shelf Wood Shelving Wood stain Floor


Wood Building Door Art Gas


Here's the seat cushions I made using some pleather purchased off of Amazon. They're much easier on the butt than the bare Brazilian cherry lol

Property Window Building Wood Fixture


Next up is a storage solution for all of the pin nailers and staplers I have, some of which are just sitting on that cabinet behind the bench. :)

Oh today I'll be receiving the ducts for my DC from Oneida. Guess that will be a few day job getting them installed. I'll have to assemble the DC first though ;)
Bill, way too much energy! I'm tired just reading the post. My packing is proceeding slowly, our house has its first showing Friday so guess i'd better get going.

Everything looks first class, great progress.
 

Attachments

#153 ·
Fun Addressing Another Little Annoyance

Most of the brad nailers, staplers and pin nailers I have didn't come with their own case - the majority of the Porter Cable - and they've been floating around the shop with no real home. So today I started a little project to get another woodworking fix lol

Cut some dovetails to make a frame and mounted the guns to give them a handy home. I may or may not make a door to enclose and protect them from dust/chip accumulation coming off of the lathe, but this is certainly a better situation than what I was dealing with.

Automotive design Wood Flooring Engineering Building


Hood Wood Automotive design Rectangle Floor


Wood Gas Carbon Flooring Automotive exterior


Wood Rectangle Flooring Floor Line


Kitchen utensil Cutlery Tableware Wood Spoon


Laptop Personal computer Computer Wood Tableware


I have a matching Airy brad nailer to the stapler (the orange one) which is evidently still back in NYC in storage - hence the vacant space - which will find it's home once I get the chance to retrieve it. I'm pretty happy with this solution which was inspired by a recently posted project by another LJ.
 

Attachments

#154 ·
Fun Addressing Another Little Annoyance

Most of the brad nailers, staplers and pin nailers I have didn't come with their own case - the majority of the Porter Cable - and they've been floating around the shop with no real home. So today I started a little project to get another woodworking fix lol

Cut some dovetails to make a frame and mounted the guns to give them a handy home. I may or may not make a door to enclose and protect them from dust/chip accumulation coming off of the lathe, but this is certainly a better situation than what I was dealing with.

Automotive design Wood Flooring Engineering Building


Hood Wood Automotive design Rectangle Floor


Wood Gas Carbon Flooring Automotive exterior


Wood Rectangle Flooring Floor Line


Kitchen utensil Cutlery Tableware Wood Spoon


Laptop Personal computer Computer Wood Tableware


I have a matching Airy brad nailer to the stapler (the orange one) which is evidently still back in NYC in storage - hence the vacant space - which will find it's home once I get the chance to retrieve it. I'm pretty happy with this solution which was inspired by a recently posted project by another LJ.
Nice, Bill! Now your nailers have a nice home.
 

Attachments

#177 ·
WARNING: The STUNT in this blog .....

was performed by a professional. So for your safety and the protection of those around you, do not attempt the stunt you're about to see!

The disclaimer from Jacka$$ The Movie lol I should have read that first and understood it before attempting to do this on my own today lol

So I've recently started to do some small projects in the shop and dragging the old HF collector with my homemade separator around from machine to machine. It's ok and the collection is reasonable, but that's not what this new shop endeavor is about.

I received a 3HP Gorilla Pro quite a few weeks ago - actually months ago - and it's been on a pallet in the garage awaiting my attention. So I decided today was the day it was going to get assembled. I have to say, for the most part, the assembly was pretty straight forward. The manual is fairly detailed and there really isn't anything mysterious about how this works and what goes where. The only issue there was a little confusion about is the location of the gasket material that needs to be applied to the top of the drum housing. Seems they need to correct the graphic in their manual. It shows the gasket on the inside of the ring of bolts, but if installed that way, the gasket wouldn't create a seal due to the fact the opening on the fan housing is wider than where they show the gasket to be located. Ah all well and good. Just peeled it off when I saw the error and relocated it to where it performs the intended function.

The collector needs to be located in a room adjacent to the shop. There's two reasons for this. 1.the ceiling height in the shop is too low for this behemoth of a collector and 2. it will be silenced quite a bit by the door between it and me :) I'll have to chisel thru the block wall separating the two spaces for the 7" main that comes off of the collector, but that's small potatoes. There's already a few penetrations for ductwork supplying the kitchen above.

I started out by assembling the frame and cyclone out in the shop area, but that was about all I could do there as the assembly needed to be able to pass under the header of the door into the small room.

Cabinetry Drawer Chest of drawers Wood Flooring


There are some spring bolts that need to be installed on the fan housing, which is 1/4" ABS. A large screwdriver and hammer help get them into place.

Wood Cabinetry Wood stain Hardwood Gas


Hand tool Wood Tool Metalworking hand tool Hardwood


Wood Automotive tire Hardwood Auto part Thumb


After dragging it into it's final resting place and thankfully not mine lol, I bolted the remaining pieces to the the assembled cyclone.

Wood Gas Flooring Machine Chair


Gas Art Machine Flooring Chair


Then it was time for the big moment. The money shot. The stunt that made me happy I ate my Wheaties when I was a kid. Hoisting that big bada$$ Baldor motor mounted to a steel plate and also holding the magnetic switch controller, up onto the fan housing lol I picked it up a few times to get a feel for the weight. "Hmmmm? This is going to be interesting. Bill you're 57 and haven't been to the gym in a while. Sure you want to do this?" Ah what the heck. I just drew on some muscle memory of lifting 100lb plus concrete forms up onto the truck for the guy I worked for, oh, some 39 years ago and lifted it over my head and onto the fan housing lol

Gas Wood Flooring Machine Fender


Gas Cylinder Composite material Engineering Boiler


Automotive tire Cylinder Gas Motor vehicle Fender


For the most part, this is a wrap. All that remains is for me to attach the waste drum and mount the switch somewhere on the frame or wall. I'm happy to have gotten this done with no mishaps. I think it's time to celebrate with a beer and to check myself for a hernia lol

Gas Cylinder Wood Metal Engineering


I want to thank the members of the LJ community for providing the impetus to do better woodworking. I also want to thank my trusty companion Willie, without whom I could not have reached this momentous achievement ;)

Dog Wood Carnivore Wood stain Hardwood


See you all in the next installment of Workshop Wonders ;)
 

Attachments

#178 ·
WARNING: The STUNT in this blog .....

was performed by a professional. So for your safety and the protection of those around you, do not attempt the stunt you're about to see!

The disclaimer from Jacka$$ The Movie lol I should have read that first and understood it before attempting to do this on my own today lol

So I've recently started to do some small projects in the shop and dragging the old HF collector with my homemade separator around from machine to machine. It's ok and the collection is reasonable, but that's not what this new shop endeavor is about.

I received a 3HP Gorilla Pro quite a few weeks ago - actually months ago - and it's been on a pallet in the garage awaiting my attention. So I decided today was the day it was going to get assembled. I have to say, for the most part, the assembly was pretty straight forward. The manual is fairly detailed and there really isn't anything mysterious about how this works and what goes where. The only issue there was a little confusion about is the location of the gasket material that needs to be applied to the top of the drum housing. Seems they need to correct the graphic in their manual. It shows the gasket on the inside of the ring of bolts, but if installed that way, the gasket wouldn't create a seal due to the fact the opening on the fan housing is wider than where they show the gasket to be located. Ah all well and good. Just peeled it off when I saw the error and relocated it to where it performs the intended function.

The collector needs to be located in a room adjacent to the shop. There's two reasons for this. 1.the ceiling height in the shop is too low for this behemoth of a collector and 2. it will be silenced quite a bit by the door between it and me :) I'll have to chisel thru the block wall separating the two spaces for the 7" main that comes off of the collector, but that's small potatoes. There's already a few penetrations for ductwork supplying the kitchen above.

I started out by assembling the frame and cyclone out in the shop area, but that was about all I could do there as the assembly needed to be able to pass under the header of the door into the small room.

Cabinetry Drawer Chest of drawers Wood Flooring


There are some spring bolts that need to be installed on the fan housing, which is 1/4" ABS. A large screwdriver and hammer help get them into place.

Wood Cabinetry Wood stain Hardwood Gas


Hand tool Wood Tool Metalworking hand tool Hardwood


Wood Automotive tire Hardwood Auto part Thumb


After dragging it into it's final resting place and thankfully not mine lol, I bolted the remaining pieces to the the assembled cyclone.

Wood Gas Flooring Machine Chair


Gas Art Machine Flooring Chair


Then it was time for the big moment. The money shot. The stunt that made me happy I ate my Wheaties when I was a kid. Hoisting that big bada$$ Baldor motor mounted to a steel plate and also holding the magnetic switch controller, up onto the fan housing lol I picked it up a few times to get a feel for the weight. "Hmmmm? This is going to be interesting. Bill you're 57 and haven't been to the gym in a while. Sure you want to do this?" Ah what the heck. I just drew on some muscle memory of lifting 100lb plus concrete forms up onto the truck for the guy I worked for, oh, some 39 years ago and lifted it over my head and onto the fan housing lol

Gas Wood Flooring Machine Fender


Gas Cylinder Composite material Engineering Boiler


Automotive tire Cylinder Gas Motor vehicle Fender


For the most part, this is a wrap. All that remains is for me to attach the waste drum and mount the switch somewhere on the frame or wall. I'm happy to have gotten this done with no mishaps. I think it's time to celebrate with a beer and to check myself for a hernia lol

Gas Cylinder Wood Metal Engineering


I want to thank the members of the LJ community for providing the impetus to do better woodworking. I also want to thank my trusty companion Willie, without whom I could not have reached this momentous achievement ;)

Dog Wood Carnivore Wood stain Hardwood


See you all in the next installment of Workshop Wonders ;)
Oh you know how there's always that one part remaining that you have no idea where it goes? Well this is one I know where it's supposed to go, but there's no way it's being installed. The ceiling height is 97", but this shroud needs quite a bit more clearance lol Maybe I'll wear it as a hat :)

Font Gas Cylinder Drink Audio equipment
 

Attachments

#196 ·
Making Choices

Today I had some carpet being installed, so there wasn't much time for the shop. However I did want to get into something that I needed to address in anticipation of a project I have planned. Months ago I picked up two kiln dried, 10' long book-matched slabs of honey locust with the intention of making a live edge dining table. Until they arrived in my driveway, I had never touched the wood much less worked with it. I did know it's one heavy, rock hard wood.

Well late this afternoon, I decided to cut a few inches off of a slab and see what I could make of it. My intent was to see how it works and eventually how it takes finishes of various types. After taking my slice, I pinned the section between dogs on my bench and went at it with a 5 1/2 jack plane and a low angle jack plane. I can see I'll need to get my sharpening station up and running soon, if I'm to start this project. Man it's rough on sharp edges. I didn't do much more that plane one face and remove the saw marks on the end grain.

What I learned from this, other than how hard the honey locust is, is how lightweight my bench is. I moved the bench a good deal during this experiment. The other thing I learned since pulling the slabs out to inspect them and choose where it was I was going to take my slice, is that one of the slabs is cupped and bowed more than I thought whereas the matching slab isn't cupped and is mostly flat along the lenght. The slab that's cupped and bowed is not the slab with the large crack. I guess the stress in that slab was relieved by cracking and the other had to just move. They're slightly over 2" thick. I don't want to be thinner than 1 3/4" for the dining table top, so this is where I thought about another use for the wood.

The bench I made back in 2015 was not intended to be my forever bench. I always anticipated I would make that once I had my shop located in my home. Now I'm figuring I need to make a choice. I can plane the slabs to see of I end up with the top thickness I want or I can make a really heavy, dense bench top from some of what I have - about 40bf - and probably the chops for what ever vises I choose to go with and also a cocktail table I need for the TV room. Making either of those first will get me back into woodworking mode as I've been away from woodworking since packing up my Brooklyn shop in September.

After writing this out, I think I know what I'm going to do lol I can get two birds with two chunks of wood. Then I'll have a really solid bench to work on my dining table and a place to put my feet up while watching TV. Ah I'm still up in the air on this, but a new bench would be nice :)

Wood Table Flooring Tool Floor


Table Wood Flooring Floor Hardwood


Table Wood Flooring Wood stain Floor


Oh I also finished the handle on my Knew Concepts coping saw. This feels so much better in the hand than the spindly handle that was on it.

Wood Bicycle part Wood stain Hardwood Font
 

Attachments

#197 ·
Making Choices

Today I had some carpet being installed, so there wasn't much time for the shop. However I did want to get into something that I needed to address in anticipation of a project I have planned. Months ago I picked up two kiln dried, 10' long book-matched slabs of honey locust with the intention of making a live edge dining table. Until they arrived in my driveway, I had never touched the wood much less worked with it. I did know it's one heavy, rock hard wood.

Well late this afternoon, I decided to cut a few inches off of a slab and see what I could make of it. My intent was to see how it works and eventually how it takes finishes of various types. After taking my slice, I pinned the section between dogs on my bench and went at it with a 5 1/2 jack plane and a low angle jack plane. I can see I'll need to get my sharpening station up and running soon, if I'm to start this project. Man it's rough on sharp edges. I didn't do much more that plane one face and remove the saw marks on the end grain.

What I learned from this, other than how hard the honey locust is, is how lightweight my bench is. I moved the bench a good deal during this experiment. The other thing I learned since pulling the slabs out to inspect them and choose where it was I was going to take my slice, is that one of the slabs is cupped and bowed more than I thought whereas the matching slab isn't cupped and is mostly flat along the lenght. The slab that's cupped and bowed is not the slab with the large crack. I guess the stress in that slab was relieved by cracking and the other had to just move. They're slightly over 2" thick. I don't want to be thinner than 1 3/4" for the dining table top, so this is where I thought about another use for the wood.

The bench I made back in 2015 was not intended to be my forever bench. I always anticipated I would make that once I had my shop located in my home. Now I'm figuring I need to make a choice. I can plane the slabs to see of I end up with the top thickness I want or I can make a really heavy, dense bench top from some of what I have - about 40bf - and probably the chops for what ever vises I choose to go with and also a cocktail table I need for the TV room. Making either of those first will get me back into woodworking mode as I've been away from woodworking since packing up my Brooklyn shop in September.

After writing this out, I think I know what I'm going to do lol I can get two birds with two chunks of wood. Then I'll have a really solid bench to work on my dining table and a place to put my feet up while watching TV. Ah I'm still up in the air on this, but a new bench would be nice :)

Wood Table Flooring Tool Floor


Table Wood Flooring Floor Hardwood


Table Wood Flooring Wood stain Floor


Oh I also finished the handle on my Knew Concepts coping saw. This feels so much better in the hand than the spindly handle that was on it.

Wood Bicycle part Wood stain Hardwood Font
Bill, if you want to do the table top with the locust you can rip it to narrower boards, joint the edges and glue them back together in the same order. The glue lines will be invisible, especially if you use a thin kerf blade. But if you want the new bench and coffee table, that will also be a great choice. Decisions, decisions! :)
 

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#208 ·
Duck!!!! Duct!!

Moving forward with the dust collection, today I started the installation of the collector ducts. Oh what fun :( OK well parts were fun, like blasting thru the concrete block into the DC room. But two things weren't fun - working overhead and working with 24ga. ducts.

Not sure why I let them talk me into 24ga., but that's what I got and that's what I have to install. I know they're a little quieter and since the ceiling is low, they're sure to be impacted by something. So 24ga. won't dent when the inevitable happens. Speaking of low ceilings, the headroom clearance is 6'-2". I'm not 6'-2", so it's someone else's problem :)

Working with 24ga pipe isn't fun and especially so for one person. The 7" sections are on the heavy side, as ducts go, and manipulating solo while trying to fasten them together, sucks. There's no other word for it. Sorry. But all is good as I was able to get a decent start on this next phase today.

Some pics du jour.

Wood Shelving Facade Shelf Rectangle


OK so here is where I started off with a grinder and a lump hammer as I didn't feel like digging thru boxes for my chipping gun. Not a good move.
Rectangle Road surface Wood Grey Asphalt

Needed the chipper.
Wood Electrical wiring Cable Gas Electricity

Made a nice hole.
Gas Art Concrete Rectangle Plaster


Wood Rectangle Wall Composite material Gas


Then started to run the ducts. Oh yeah, they're snap-lock pipe. Sounds good, but they don't snap or lock without effort when they're 24ga.

Line Gas Tints and shades Ceiling Composite material


Gas Machine Wood Pipeline transport Ceiling


Another thing about 24ga. It's not fun to cut it by hand - especially 7" ducts and especially the folded seams for the snap-lock even when they're not yet closed. So I made a visit to the big orange store and picked up the only electric shears they had. This made short work of cutting the pipe to length.

Wood Tool Gas Flooring Electrical wiring


Moving right along …........
 

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#209 ·
Duck!!!! Duct!!

Moving forward with the dust collection, today I started the installation of the collector ducts. Oh what fun :( OK well parts were fun, like blasting thru the concrete block into the DC room. But two things weren't fun - working overhead and working with 24ga. ducts.

Not sure why I let them talk me into 24ga., but that's what I got and that's what I have to install. I know they're a little quieter and since the ceiling is low, they're sure to be impacted by something. So 24ga. won't dent when the inevitable happens. Speaking of low ceilings, the headroom clearance is 6'-2". I'm not 6'-2", so it's someone else's problem :)

Working with 24ga pipe isn't fun and especially so for one person. The 7" sections are on the heavy side, as ducts go, and manipulating solo while trying to fasten them together, sucks. There's no other word for it. Sorry. But all is good as I was able to get a decent start on this next phase today.

Some pics du jour.



OK so here is where I started off with a grinder and a lump hammer as I didn't feel like digging thru boxes for my chipping gun. Not a good move.

Needed the chipper.

Made a nice hole.




Then started to run the ducts. Oh yeah, they're snap-lock pipe. Sounds good, but they don't snap or lock without effort when they're 24ga.





Another thing about 24ga. It's not fun to cut it by hand - especially 7" ducts and especially the folded seams for the snap-lock even when they're not yet closed. So I made a visit to the big orange store and picked up the only electric shears they had. This made short work of cutting the pipe to length.



Moving right along …........
But I have a good start and now it's a late beer-thirty :)

















Tomorrow is another day :)
 

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#234 ·
Stepping Back and Taking Stock

Sometimes I need to step back from something to re-evaluate and readjust my approach when I feel things aren't moving in the right direction or going as they should. Yesterday, I decided to rethink how I wanted to mount the ducts as the provided strapping really wasn't working for me. The conditions above the ceiling aren't favorable to begin with and the strapping, though it can be used to suspend the pipe, is better for strapping the pipe directly to a surface. Using it as a method to suspend the pipe below the ceiling, was creating some issues - namely not providing lateral support that would allow me to push the male end of one pipe into the female end of the other. With another set of hands, that would work. But doing this solo, well it was a futile effort.

So I headed out to HD and picked up some lengths of 3/8" threaded rod, couplings and mounting plates. This proved to be a much better approach. I used the strapping to make a bracket and then used pop rivets to fix that to the pipe. This made all the difference in the world. The threaded rod provides enough lateral support to resist movement when pushing the pipes together. This will also allow me to land the support where needed. I completed one section of pipe and took the rest of the day off lol This is how I will proceed to complete the remainder of this horrendous project. Thankfully that was also the last long section of 7" pipe. The remainder is reduced to 6" and 5" pipe.

Looking back I see I unknowingly chose the worst option in terms of duct pipe. I should have either bitten the bullet and went with the much more expensive option of using the quick-connect pipe or used the cheaper 24Ga. pipe that is more easily manipulated, cut to size and pieced together. My other option in hindsight, would have been to hire some pros to do this. I would already be up and running :)













 

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#235 ·
Stepping Back and Taking Stock

Sometimes I need to step back from something to re-evaluate and readjust my approach when I feel things aren't moving in the right direction or going as they should. Yesterday, I decided to rethink how I wanted to mount the ducts as the provided strapping really wasn't working for me. The conditions above the ceiling aren't favorable to begin with and the strapping, though it can be used to suspend the pipe, is better for strapping the pipe directly to a surface. Using it as a method to suspend the pipe below the ceiling, was creating some issues - namely not providing lateral support that would allow me to push the male end of one pipe into the female end of the other. With another set of hands, that would work. But doing this solo, well it was a futile effort.

So I headed out to HD and picked up some lengths of 3/8" threaded rod, couplings and mounting plates. This proved to be a much better approach. I used the strapping to make a bracket and then used pop rivets to fix that to the pipe. This made all the difference in the world. The threaded rod provides enough lateral support to resist movement when pushing the pipes together. This will also allow me to land the support where needed. I completed one section of pipe and took the rest of the day off lol This is how I will proceed to complete the remainder of this horrendous project. Thankfully that was also the last long section of 7" pipe. The remainder is reduced to 6" and 5" pipe.

Looking back I see I unknowingly chose the worst option in terms of duct pipe. I should have either bitten the bullet and went with the much more expensive option of using the quick-connect pipe or used the cheaper 24Ga. pipe that is more easily manipulated, cut to size and pieced together. My other option in hindsight, would have been to hire some pros to do this. I would already be up and running :)

Light Blue Lighting Shade Wood


Fixture Composite material Material property Gas Building material


Automotive tire Automotive design Motor vehicle Bumper Automotive exterior


Cabinetry Furniture Building Wood Lighting


Water Fluid Automotive exterior Hood Motor vehicle


Musical instrument Idiophone Gas Ceiling Tints and shades


Building Table Interior design Flooring Wood
It's looking good, Bill. The work now will pay off in future years enjoyment.
 

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#265 ·
Things Falling into Place

With the DC system mostly complete, I decided to address two issues that have been on my list. First I finished trimming out the small partition I put up to created a vestibule/airlock of sorts to prevent shop dust from heading up to the main living space.

The wall/door have been up for a few months now, but it wasn't trimmed out. So nothing fancy here. Just some common pine I picked up for this and to cut up for shoe molding around the perimeter of the shop, which still needs to be done.

Property Wood Interior design Flooring Floor


Then I addressed an annoyance that's been bothering me - making a home for the miter sled and Kreg pocket hole jig. Both have been getting shuffled around the shop for the past few months.

Building Wood Door Flooring Floor


Wood Shelf Floor Flooring Shelving


Then I solved the issue of what to do with the Shark Guard and hose, when not needed for a cut. Glad I save all the junk I do. I ripped out a bunch of telephone cabling and saved the various pieces of hardware. This cable hanger proved to be perfect. I just used the edge of the belt sander to cove the back of the bracket to conform to the 6" pipe.

Building Wood Pipeline transport Flooring Gas


Interior design Automotive design Wood Engineering Art


Wood Beam Ceiling Engineering Flooring


There was no way I was taping that wall, but maybe one day it will get some paint. lol

But overall, there more progress in the shop :)
 

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#266 ·
Things Falling into Place

With the DC system mostly complete, I decided to address two issues that have been on my list. First I finished trimming out the small partition I put up to created a vestibule/airlock of sorts to prevent shop dust from heading up to the main living space.

The wall/door have been up for a few months now, but it wasn't trimmed out. So nothing fancy here. Just some common pine I picked up for this and to cut up for shoe molding around the perimeter of the shop, which still needs to be done.

Property Wood Interior design Flooring Floor


Then I addressed an annoyance that's been bothering me - making a home for the miter sled and Kreg pocket hole jig. Both have been getting shuffled around the shop for the past few months.

Building Wood Door Flooring Floor


Wood Shelf Floor Flooring Shelving


Then I solved the issue of what to do with the Shark Guard and hose, when not needed for a cut. Glad I save all the junk I do. I ripped out a bunch of telephone cabling and saved the various pieces of hardware. This cable hanger proved to be perfect. I just used the edge of the belt sander to cove the back of the bracket to conform to the 6" pipe.

Building Wood Pipeline transport Flooring Gas


Interior design Automotive design Wood Engineering Art


Wood Beam Ceiling Engineering Flooring


There was no way I was taping that wall, but maybe one day it will get some paint. lol

But overall, there more progress in the shop :)
Getting closer to being able to make frivolous sawdust!
 

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#274 ·
This Is What Was Supposed To Be About

Today I was able to experience my shop as it was intended. I got up early, grabbed a hot cup of coffee and headed down to the shop having no real agenda as most of the big stuff is done. Sure I still have some boxes of tools to go thru and some duct work to finish, but right now, all the hard stuff is done and the shop is open for business :) I actually sat there for a bit and admired what's been accomplished so far and then watched a few woodworking videos while sitting at the bench. Man that coffee tasted much better this morning than it did yesterday.

I sat at the bench and read LJs, all the while thinking about some woodworking I could do in a few hours that would keep my hands busy and allow me to start to use the tools and environment I assembled. I have a live edge dining table I plan to make, but that's a project I'll need a lot of time to complete. With the holiday only a few days away, it wasn't something I was going to start and then have to walk away from.

Then I saw the piece of honeylocust I cut from one of the slabs for the table and thought about some item or object I could use, made from that piece of wood. Oh, a shop pen! Yeah I could just grab any pen laying around, but this would be my pen for my shop and it would have some significance as it would be made from the wood of the first piece of furniture I will make in this shop.

After finishing up the pen, I was still itching to be doing something in the shop. For some reason I felt like I really wanted to cut some dovetails, but for what? Ah! Something to store my pen turning accessories in. They were just stuffed in a drawer and I had to dig them out when I needed them for turning my shop pen. So I grabbed some scraps of pine remaining from trimming the door and made that darn box. Man it felt good. Nothing fancy and certainly not perfect, but definitely fun.

This felt like my first day in the shop and what a great day it was. Yeah it's the little things in life where there's no pressure and no time constraints, that are the happy things :)

Wood Automotive exterior Toy airplane Tool Metal


Writing implement Office supplies Wood Pen Writing instrument accessory


Rectangle Wood Hardwood Font Wood stain
 

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#275 ·
This Is What Was Supposed To Be About

Today I was able to experience my shop as it was intended. I got up early, grabbed a hot cup of coffee and headed down to the shop having no real agenda as most of the big stuff is done. Sure I still have some boxes of tools to go thru and some duct work to finish, but right now, all the hard stuff is done and the shop is open for business :) I actually sat there for a bit and admired what's been accomplished so far and then watched a few woodworking videos while sitting at the bench. Man that coffee tasted much better this morning than it did yesterday.

I sat at the bench and read LJs, all the while thinking about some woodworking I could do in a few hours that would keep my hands busy and allow me to start to use the tools and environment I assembled. I have a live edge dining table I plan to make, but that's a project I'll need a lot of time to complete. With the holiday only a few days away, it wasn't something I was going to start and then have to walk away from.

Then I saw the piece of honeylocust I cut from one of the slabs for the table and thought about some item or object I could use, made from that piece of wood. Oh, a shop pen! Yeah I could just grab any pen laying around, but this would be my pen for my shop and it would have some significance as it would be made from the wood of the first piece of furniture I will make in this shop.

After finishing up the pen, I was still itching to be doing something in the shop. For some reason I felt like I really wanted to cut some dovetails, but for what? Ah! Something to store my pen turning accessories in. They were just stuffed in a drawer and I had to dig them out when I needed them for turning my shop pen. So I grabbed some scraps of pine remaining from trimming the door and made that darn box. Man it felt good. Nothing fancy and certainly not perfect, but definitely fun.

This felt like my first day in the shop and what a great day it was. Yeah it's the little things in life where there's no pressure and no time constraints, that are the happy things :)

Wood Automotive exterior Toy airplane Tool Metal


Writing implement Office supplies Wood Pen Writing instrument accessory


Rectangle Wood Hardwood Font Wood stain
Nicely done, Bill. And you said you wouldn't have time to participate in the box swap. ;-)
 

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