gene's Workshop

Here is a slid show for your enjoyment.
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My shop is located at my home. Has anyone heard the phrase ? ( I’m tool broke!) This 1000 square foot +or- building was originally built by my father. It is in 4 segments and my shop consists of 3 of the segments. The 4th segment is used for mainly household storage, (LOL) I also use it to store lumber and materials at different times.

I am retired now, but made a living out of this building for a good portion of my life, as did my father before me. He repaired and refinished antiques. He was very, very good at it. I learned a lot from him. After he passed away, a few years passed and I had so much invested in the shop that I purchased the property from my mother and sister. I then built them a new home.

You enter the shop Thur either an entrance door or a standard 8’ garage door. My wife gave me a new door and opener for Christmas 4 years ago. (think she got sick of looking at the old door, (LOL) The front section is about 15’ X 32’ where all the major tools are on mobile bases to allow me to work on our vehicles. The front of the shop has a new restroom (as you can see, the door is a work in progress) and a laundry sink right outside the door opening. I have a polyethylene 10’X12’ roll down paint booth (shop made) in the middle of the front section also.

The building has a 200 amp electrical panel with all wiring in conduit and high output lighting. plus, individual work station lighting. In the winter, it is heated with a forced hot air oil furnace that I installed about 5 years ago, (new). I can’t afford the oil so I pick and choose when I use it. In the summer, the back portion of the shop has a Thur the wall window unit air conditioner, and a 32” exhaust fan with explosion proof motor. The front section has a ceiling fan and a home made squirrel cage blower in the ceiling above the garage door. (moves a lot of air)

Off of the front section, there is a 10’X12’ room used for extra storage. I have just remodeled this with new wiring, insulation, drywall and electric baseboard heat. This is the reason that it has taken me so long to get the shop photos out.

The back portion is about 22’ X 24’ with an 8’ wide entrance opening. (originally a roll up door) As you can see, I try to utilize storage in the ceiling whenever I can.
The blue and white metal casework cabinets containing 50 door and drawer openings, where removed from a cosmetics lab at the local Elizabeth Arden plant that I was remodeling. They cost me about $100 just for the U-Haul truck to haul them in and paying the help. I was going to get more the next day until the workers in the plant found out and claimed the rest.(LOL)

I will try to list tools, and equipment in the sections as you go in from the main door.

: Starting on the left wall is a 6HP,60 Gal air compressor that is hard piped Thur out the building with drops at all work stations, next is the laundry sink, the toilet, next is the craftsman sanding station, all the different hand tools, air tools etc. for automotive work. A 14’ Ridgid BS and a Delta contractors saw. (both on mobile bases)

: Starting on the right side is a MiG welder, a battery charger, my combination router and lathe station, a parts cleaner, a dremel work station, a delta 6” jointer on a mobile base. then the storage room that houses the mobile sheet goods rack, and the delta 12” plane and delta 12”chop saw combo that rolls straight out into the main room for set-up. Next in the front portion comes the furnace, and finally the Jet dust collection system that is piped Thur out the shop.

: Entering the back portion, on the right wall is the craftsman radial arm saw station with 8’ of in-feed and 8’ of out-feed table.

The back wall has, going from right to left. The exhaust fan, next is an 8’ cabinet with small parts storage and a grinding and sharpening station. A Drill Doctor is located here as well. Above that is tool storage. Next comes the Craftsman floor mount drill press. Last is a 4’ cabinet with the 2 drawers used for drill bit storage.

The left wall is for general parts storage. Plumbing, Electrical, paints, finishes, etc. And, in the middle of this room is the main work bench. I converted an old school desk for this purpose.

I hope you enjoyed this visit to my shop! Come again soon!

God bless

-- Gene, a Christian in Virginia