LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner
35K views 178 replies 52 participants last post by  Roz 
#1 ·
First Things First

All my adult life I have wanted a dedicated workshop, and finally it is about to come true! Tomorrow the owner of a tree service company will come by to plan for the four trees that have to be removed in order to place the foundation of my new shop. Don't worry about those four trees…....soon they will become projects and turnings! I don't know much about trees, but one is a pine about 8 stories high, one is a dead walnut, and the two others are some species unknown to me. In one week, the trees will be gone and the General Contractor will begin. My shop will be 22 feet long and about 36 wide. Under the concrete slab will be my 6" dust pipe which will come up here and there to service the machines which are currently in the garage and what will soon be my library. Thats right, I have a lathe, drill press, a brand new Bosch SCM saw, some new Bessey clamps, etc. in the house right now…there's just not enough room in the garage. In the foyer by the front door, I have a brand new Clear Vue cyclone in three boxes, a new Osborne mitre guage for my Unisaw, a Kreg pocket hole kit, etc.

You would think that I just moved in here…...but everything depends on getting the workshop up and running. I want to place an engineered wood floor in what will become the library, but I can't do that until I get the machines out of there, not to mention the rest of the existing carpet which I have been taking up piece by piece. I am missing end tables here and there, a bed headboard, some tables, etc. All depends on that workshop.

The contractor is going to put up the building and roof. His sub-contracted electrician will install some 240v and 110v circuits. The rest will be up to me and my dear friend Mike. I have made a floor plan and think I know where everything will be placed. I have hundreds of plans in my computer to choose from for all the tables, benches, cabinets, etc. which will be created and live in that shop.

I'll take some pictures as all goes along so that I can remember how it was before I finally got my shop!
 
See less See more
#57 ·
ProjectCalc Plus

This may be old news to most of you, but I purchased a woodworking calculator that is amazing, at least to me. I am one of those mathmatically challenged woodworkers, and this calculator does everything but build the project. I calculates board feet, meters from feet & inches, how much paint to buy, how many rolls of wallpaper you need, how many boards and posts you need for a fence, etc., etc. Now I will have no more excuses for that cut that is too short! I have used it already to calculate how much insulation I need for my shop…..I wonder if I can teach it to cook supper?
 
#63 ·
He says I can start moving in.....

The Gen'l Contractor says that I can start moving in, even tho we have not had the final inspection. He had to have the plans redrawn because I moved the doors and windows. Then he has to have the plans stamped by the city before he can call for the "dry-in" and the final inspection. The target date is Wednesday but he is concerned that the holiday week will cause delays. So, I can start moving in, I just can't place any insulation or wallboard yet. But, I can start moving machinery into the shop which will give me an uplift….....I've been getting tired and frustrated because of the waiting. Mike and I can not start hanging the cyclone until this weekend but I can get it out of my living room at least! The trailer is loaded with all sorts of pvc couplings that I have been waiting to see if I need any of them to hook up the system to the machines before returning them to the store. With the trailer empty, I can get some OSB and insulation in and ready to hang. The electrician still has to hook up the outlets in the boxes, so I still have no electricity except for the extension cord I have running from the garage. Today the soffit man came and put the soffits up all around and it looks fine. I've come up with a home-made version of a panel saw which I can build on the end of the "cabinet" where I will store the plywood. It will take up very little room and be very convenient to just pull a sheet from the cabinet and insert it into the panel saw for rough cutting. Oh, I have so many plans and items to build before I can even start working on furniture projects…..I still need a headboard….....but it will be wonderful to finally be in the shop. Would everyone please cross your fingers that we can get final approval Wednesday? Thanks !
 
#71 ·
AND THERE WAS LIGHT

Well, I have three flood lights (but no bulbs yet) and one two-tube flourescent. Finally I have electricity! I have found that if I start working out there at about 10 in the morning, by 2 in the afternoon, I have to take a break to rest my back. Then after supper, I'm ready to get back to work. So far I have made a "scooter" to help me get all the heavy stuff out there. I'm going to tackle the drill press and maybe the lathe tonight.
How glorious it will be to see them actually in my brand new shop. I have the cyclone out there (in pieces) and Mike and I are going to put it up this weekend. The motor came without a cord, so I will have to purchase one. The electrician and I wanted to take a gander at the plug for this 230V monster, but alas, for a thousand bucks you get all but the plug!

There's still some trouble with the final inspection. It appears that the city powers do not have a code for the sliding door which I have. Soooooo, we will have to remove the door and install an overhead garage type door to get the final inspection approval. However, I do not promise not to sneek my original door back on as soon as the inspector is gone! Anyway, that door and the trim are all that remains (and the inspection). I can't put up any insulation or cover the walls until the inspection, but there is plenty to do just to move all the machinery into the shop. I'm taking it slowly, because I don't want to strain or sprain any muscles, and that's alright with me….......now that I'm finally in my shop! I'll take some pics after I get kinda set up. It will be a while before I get all the furniture built.
 
#84 ·
Dec 3 is THE day

Hopefully all the building etc. will be over today as the inspectors are coming to do the final inspection. I have a "temp" metal garage door where my sliding door should be to pass the inspection. Nothing much has changed as I haven't been able to do anything that involves covering the interior walls until the final inspection, so I have been contenting myself with moving machinery in and building an assembly table. I set up my new Bosch SCMS and it is wonderful! It is a joy to use. Mike and I have struggled with the cyclone and next Saturday we should complete the hanging of the darn thing. It has been a struggle because where I want to hang it, the rafters are too close to the side of the building and there isn't enough room. The trim is still not applied outside, and lays painted on my shop floor. I can't wait until all the activity is over and I can peacefully content myself in the shop without interruption and restriction. So, that's it for now…same ole, same ole.

The latest issue of Woodsmith has a wonderful Queen Anne Low Boy which is definately on my to do list. I want to make my own cabriole legs which will be fun. As a reminder, Woodsmith Magazine is offering a new Woodsmith T.V. program to be offered up soon on your local PBS station. If the program is anything like the magazine, it will be high quality and interesting. If you're inclined, email your local station and request the program to be carried. More info is available on Woodsmith's website.

Cross your fingers that I will get the O.K. today from the inspectors, please!
 
#96 ·
Something Happened Today

Something happened, but I don't know what! I missed the construction guy who was waiting for the inspector. But, the good news is that there is some trim up around the windows and doors that was not there this morning….I think that bodes good news…....at least I hope so. I emailed the General Contractor to find out the status. There is still some painted trim on the floor of the shop, so there is more work to be done. I do know that today's inspector had to come before we could request the final on the electrical…so that still needs to happen. Anyway, that's the news as I know it. Thanks all for the crossed toes, fingers and eyes!
 
#104 ·
Building Inspectors Must Be Unhappy People!

I haven't updated the progress on the workshop because I didn't want to share my pain, but as there is finally some small light at the end of the tunnel, I can finally tell what has been going on.

The inspection process has been the most frustrating aspect of the entire project. Each inspector arrives and finds one thing they don't like and then leaves with instructions to fix it. So, the electrician comes all 26 miles from town and puts in GFI outlets for each circuit. Then two days later the inspector comes again and this time he decides some other little thing needs to be changed and the electrician has to come back out. This has happened with the carpenters also. Because the city does not have a code for the 8' sliding door, we have had to have a garage door company come out and install a "temporary" steel door. Then the inspector comes out and O.K.'s that but decides that because the ceiling is not being finished by the contractor (gypsum installed), he now wants "perlins" placed above the rafters. These are just 2X4's lined up the length of the building every four feet. So, the carpenter goes out and buys some more lumber and is scheduled to place the perlins today. Another inspector shot was that they wanted "hurricane" covers for both of the windows, so now I have ugly bolts sticking out from the trim and two pieces of 1/2" ply to cover the windows with. This is just a game for the inspectors to make $30.00 each time they come out, but it is costing the contractors a lot of money and time, and is extremely frustrating to me. The Gen'l. Contractor hopes that the inspections today will be the end of it. We finally got the electrical final inspection O.K.'ed and now only need the building inspector to sign off, which we are hoping for this afternoon. Then, the garage man has to come back out and remove the steel garage door, and the builders have to remove the ugly bolts for the "hurricane shutters", fill them and repaint and it will be all over. Hopefully by tomorrow I will have the shop to myself. I do not fault the builders at all, as everyone who has looked at the work, or commented on the pics that I have posted, feels that the construction is exemplary. It is just an inspection thing. We could not get a final sign off on the plans with the building department last Thursday because the "computer is down" while they switch over to a new system. If there was a way to delay the final O.K. the city found it. Maybe this week I will finally have the temporary toilet that is at my driveway entrance removed. Once that darn thing is gone, I will know that it is finally over. I have managed to build a worktable and get some of the machinery in, but can't do any wall insulation, wall covering, attic flooring, etc. until all inspections are done. I will celebrate big when it is all over, and all the interruptions are over with.
 
#107 ·
This is whats great about where i'm at in Alabama. We don't yet have enough govt bureacrats to make building a dog house an intolerable ordeal. I'm sure its coming though.

Glad you're near the end!
 
#126 ·
Ongoing Saga

Well, we're at the "Final Inspection" tomorrow. We've had two inspections since I last had a blog entry and of course, they found two more small things for the carpenters to do.
We did get final approval on the electrical. The city has given us a final on the plans. Now, we just need the final on the carpentry. The GC is very upset, however, I have resolved myself to endless inspections and endless interruptions, so I am no longer anxious about the matter. I guess I have partially given up. I did get my Unisaw into the shop (and out of the garage) and have done the maintenance. The top was a little rusted, but lemon juice and a final application of that ole standby naval jelly worked fine. A final application of Boeshield and I'm set to go. It looks fine in the shop. I intend to make an extension table soon, and also a sharpening station. But if we do actually pass the Final tomorrow, I will head off to the local BORG and get some insulation and an air conditioner so that I can get ready to cover the inside walls. I also want to make a walkway and storage bin floor for the attic. It will be wonderful to not have carpenters, etc. interrupting and to be able to get about making it a real woodshop.

My old Makita drill finally gave out, after 8 years of good service, and I was pleased to see the new DeWalt on my doorstep this evening. I've been working with an old corded drill for the past couple of weeks (the DeWalt was on backorder) and I'm so very tired of looking for that darn key. Drill keys are like pencils, they just have a way of disappearing. I solved both problems, I've gone "keyless" and I bought a whole box of pencils which I have scattered around.

Putting up the cyclone dust collector turned into quite an ordeal. There was not quite enough room in the corner rafters where I wanted to put it, so we had to move out one bay. That darn motor is one heavy dude, but it is up now, and the job looks professional.

Incase anyone is wondering, the drill press is still in the house. I actually may move it to the shop tomorrow. The room will not look quite the same without it !

I bought a Merlin Splitter for the Unisaw and am anxious to install it. I refuse to spend the big bucks it would cost for one of those overhead dust collectors for the blade area, so I want to see if I can come up with a home-made thingy which will work well and not look bad. We'll see. That's down the road a bit, as for now, I'll put up with the blade dust for a while.

Well, that's the news for now. I sure hope we pass the inspection tomorrow. The GC did all the little spackling and painting touch-up today, and removed the pile of garbage, so the place is looking much better. However, we still have the "temporary garage door" to remove.
 
#130 ·
Well, Another Problem (?) is Found !

Surprise! Surprise! The inspector found another problem that he just happened to miss on his previous 5 visits! This time, the step into the building is too high. So the contractor has to come back out and throw some dirt under the entry door. I called the city to complain about this redundant, stupid, wasteful process but of course after sitting on hold for about 20 minutes, the phone was answered by someone's recorder. I did leave a message, but have little faith that it will help. And, I first called the GC office to ask if it would be alright to call the city and was told it was O.K. Now, on a subsequent call to the GC I am told that "we don't want to make the inspector mad" so I should hold off complaining until everything is done. My question is just which year do they think that everything will be done?

I am so upset I could spit nails with more force than a nail gun!
 
#140 ·
WE PASSED FINAL INSPECTION !!

Thanks all for the crossed eyes, toes, and fingers…....we finally did it ! All I have now is the temporary garage door removal, the infamous toilet at the end of my driveway, and maybe some sodding of the damaged lawn.
 
#174 ·
In Case Your Wondering......

I've been hanging insulation and putting up OSB behind where the Cyclone will hang. We haven't put the cone up yet because it would make it difficult to finish the wall behind. So tomorrow we'll finish the cyclone and I'll show pics…Mike and I decided we would brag on our professional job and offer to install anyone's for the price of a plane ticket and a thousand dollars, plus a liberal expense account !! It has been a bear because of the way we hung it, but we are both happy with the results. We did plug it in once for a very short burst and it blew crud all over the shop and in our eyes….but it worked….and that's what we wanted to know.

I hit the edge of my thumb with a hammer and hope I don't loose my nail…..kinda embarrassing for a seasoned woodworker !! Maybe for Christmas I'll get a nail gun, or better yet, maybe someone will finish the walls of the shop for me ~

I was going to put Christmas lights on the construction privy at the end of the driveway, but they removed it the morning I had planned the endeavor…...would have been funny I think. A big wreath and some flashing lights…...maybe it is just my warped sense of humor….probably would have been fined by the Homeowner's Association…...

The construction guys are to appear again tomorrow to finish up all odds and ends and collect the remaining $4,000.00 that I owe. They can't fool me….it's really about getting the money…....I ought to serve egg nog to celebrate the final inspection. They were a great crew and a fine company. I have a defective "picker" so I was very surprised to be pleased with the company I chose. Maybe my defective "picker" only applies to love relationships!! Been nice if it had been the other way around !

That's all for now….maybe some pics soon.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top