| Workshop by Eric Olson | posted 485 days ago | 539 reads | 0 times favorited | 7 comments |  |
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My shop. North wall has my stockpile of walnut and cherry boards, cherry slabs, and the stacked and stickered lumber is oak and hickory from trees that came down in my yard during the January ice storm we had. I’ve still got to work on everything that came down on the back 6 acres of my property. The messy pile is the oak and walnut flooring from dining room and kitchen. Simply too nice to go to the landfill. After pulling all the nails, it’ll eventually become a herringbone pattern ceiling on my full-length front porch. The east wall view shows my machine area. This area as my jointer, planer, shaper, 30” bandsaw, radial arm saw, Unisaw, and Shopsmith. Obviously, my primary machine area. My bench is located in the SW area of the shop.
I’ve been in this building for a little over two years now. My original intent was to insulate and install the woodstove I bought for the shop, but that’s turned into a “one of these days” kinda deal. I’ve simply been too busy to be able to shut down Rock Creek Designs for the time required to get it done. Yeah, I know! Too much woodworking!! It’s rough! I hate deadlines, but I like the money!
Edit-the Unisaw is now gone. Sold it to a fellow from Liverpool, England who currently resides in Joplin, MO. As is always the case, one man’s shop is another man’s closet. I was simply running out of room. So, now I’m using the table saw I started out with so many years ago: my Shopsmith. Kinda fun working on it again. Perhaps I’ll upgrade to the MK V 520 table set-up, maybe not. My SS was only made for three years, the Anniversary Gold/Tan version from ‘60-’63, so I’d like to keep it in original condition.
-- Eric Olson Springfield, MO Rock Creek Designs
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7 comments so far
Drew1House
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421 posts in 628 days
posted 485 days ago
Pictures Please…
-- Drew, Pleasant Grove, Utah
WayneC
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5684 posts in 637 days
posted 485 days ago
I really love old machines as well. Looking forward to seeing some photos of yours. Also if you could post any info about what you went through to restore the machines it would be apreciated.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
Eric Olson
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17 posts in 490 days
posted 485 days ago
Wayne;
I haven’t restored any of my machines. All are completely functional. Eventually, I’d like to tear down the big Parks bandsaw and do a ground up resto. The Craftsman machines I bought from a retired NASA engineer, so they were in immaculate condition. The Craftsman scrollsaw was a swap meet find, it needs some work. The radial arm saw was originally owned by the city of Beverly Hills, so it didn’t get used much. The Unisaw was a dumpster rescue. All I had to do to it was add a 220 male connector and a new rip fence and away it went. I have, however, restored (and sold) seven Shopsmith 10ER’s, a Duro 10” cabinet saw, a Craftsman 10” “T. V. Cabinet” tablesaw, and a Delta 10” tilt-top tablesaw made in 1939. I got kind of burnt out on full blown restorations. I was spending too much time and money on the machinery and had to make a concious decision to focus on my furnituremaking. The restos were a lot of fun, and rewarding, though. Eventually, as time allows, I’ll get back into it. I’ll get photos posted as soon as I can, as well as a more detailed shop description.
-- Eric Olson Springfield, MO Rock Creek Designs
WayneC
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5684 posts in 637 days
posted 485 days ago
They sound like nice machines. I have one classic machine, a 1940s Delta lathe and would love to have a 12” jointer and large bandsaw. Glad you made your way here.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
TomFran
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2371 posts in 534 days
posted 475 days ago
Welcome Eric,
We’ll all look forward to seeing more of your work and some pictures of your fine woodworking machinery.
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
Scott Bryan
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9949 posts in 362 days
posted 246 days ago
Hi Eric,
You have a nice shop in which to work. That is one serious bandsaw that you have in there. I like the way you cover tools not in use to keep out the sawdust. And you have a nice stash of wood.
By the way I like the sign about cars. That is a nice touch to your shop.
Thanks for the post.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
rikkor
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8632 posts in 414 days
posted 246 days ago
Cool workspace. That is one King-Kong band saw. Good for you for covering tools not in use.
-- Maplewood, MN