I’ve got a small shop…
Personally, if I had unlimited resources, I would still work in a small area… it’s simply less steps. But it seems like lately my small space has been shrinking… Wood finds and gifts, new machinery, and it is after all, the overflow room of my apartment…
Recently, I’ve been of a mind to clean it and re-organize, but it’s a daunting task at this point… a rare, “I don’t even know where to begin” type of thing… “Begin at the beginning!” you’d say, right? But it’s not clear to me where that is anymore and, for once, I don’t have a “Vision” of what I want to reach for…
But yesterday I was sure of a couple of things… I’ve had this old Craftsmen “Scroll Saw” sort of thing that hasn’t been used for years now, and it was only marginally useful to begin with… It’s not easy for me to throw things away, but out the door it went!!
I saved the motor (it works like a charm) and the roll-around that it was on. That was something I threw together 8-9 years ago, from a thick slab of pine my Brother gave me and an old hospital IV stand that someone had thrown away…
I cut the upright of the IV stand with a pipe cutter down to about 2” and drilled a hole through the pine… simple…
It looks like it’s crooked on the wheels, but I determined the center of gravity of the slab by balancing it on a baseball on the floor… and drilled the hole where it balanced… that actually worked pretty well, it’s very stable…
With that “Platform” clear, it was on to step two…
When I got my jointer, I was a very happy Woodworker!! I mounted it the day I got it onto the old bureau I refer to as a “Bench”...
Well, truth be told, it’s the handiest machine in the world… when I need it… but I don’t use it enough to have it be a “Permanent” fixture on the bench…
I’ll bet you can guess where this is going!! That’s right!!
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the Rolling Jointer!! LOL
It fits right into the slot recently vacated by that “Boat Anchor” of a saw…
When I need to use it, I’ll just roll it out, put a scrap of angle iron V-up in front of the wheels (to chock it), hook up the vacuum, and I’ll be good to go!!
And the best part is…
I’ve got my bench back!!! :)
-- Mike in Concord, NH---Unpleasant tasks are simply worthy challenges to improve skills.
13 comments so far
dbhost
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4748 posts in 1401 days
#1 posted 830 days ago
I have that same jointer (except with a Sunhill label on it), and love it. I must say though, there is no way I could use it that close to the floor. Too many back problems to stoop that far!
-- Manufacturer of fine quality sawdust since 1984. Comments and advice on my shop welcome. Check it out at http://lumberjocks.com/dbhost/workshop. Gladly accepting shop build donations!
BritBoxmaker
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4008 posts in 1205 days
#2 posted 830 days ago
I wholeheartedly agree with you, Mike. Having put wheels on my planer its a lot easier to use both it and the space it normally occupies (for other things). Good idea. This shop re-organisation and optimisation idea could catch on.
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging. http://www.theartofboxes.com
ellen35
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2441 posts in 1601 days
#3 posted 830 days ago
Every time I re-organize, I lose a bunch of stuff… I just can’t seem to find it afterwards!
Your shop looks fine… if you can produce those great projects, you are doing something right, Mike!
Ellen
-- Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
steliart
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1286 posts in 857 days
#4 posted 830 days ago
I’ll Agree with you that as long as you have the space to move within the shop small is less steps
-- I am not so rich to buy cheap tools.
Dennisgrosen
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10854 posts in 1284 days
#5 posted 830 days ago
that was a great start Mike
ceep up the thinking and
before you know it you will have the half of the room back
to move around in and work ….LOL
I have just made the same with my pile of movingbox´s
with tools in and now I can see the floor again….LOL
take care
Dennis
lew
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8983 posts in 1924 days
#6 posted 830 days ago
For not having a clear vision, Mike, it sure turned out OK!
Lew
-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!
christopheralan
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1065 posts in 1889 days
#7 posted 830 days ago
Well done Mike! I know that the shop never really finishes changing, growing, or evolving, so what is the next phase? Keep it up man!
-- christopheralan http://www.projectwoodworks.com
littlecope
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2329 posts in 1671 days
#8 posted 829 days ago
Although it looks like I made progress, that’s only one wall of the room!! The other three walls can’t be seen, with all of the stuff that’s piled up…
I’ve got a long way to go… and there’s still a Bandsaw sitting and waiting at my folk’s house, until I find some space for it… Maybe I’ll put it in the Living Room…??? :)
-- Mike in Concord, NH---Unpleasant tasks are simply worthy challenges to improve skills.
stefang
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9467 posts in 1503 days
#9 posted 829 days ago
Well done Mike. You’re off to a good start with 25% of the job finished already. Just keep taking those small steps and you’ll be done before you know it. I like your idea about the bandsaw in the living room, it’s just that my wife wouldn’t appreciate it much, lol.
-- Mike, American in Norway
mafe
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8055 posts in 1258 days
#10 posted 829 days ago
Yes I know, each hole in my workshop have a purpose. And tools seems to grow.
Nice work.
Best thoughts,
Mads
-- Mad F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect. Democraticwoodworking.
TopamaxSurvivor
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13192 posts in 1845 days
#11 posted 829 days ago
I agree with Ellen. i know where everything is in a clutter. Can’t find anythning after organization ;-)) hope yoido better than I do Mike!! ;-))
-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0
Bob Kollman
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1779 posts in 1360 days
#12 posted 828 days ago
Well, I’ve had to muster the energy to move my whole shop. The landlord
told me no more wood working on the premise. So Mike, I’ve been spending
days packing up my shop. I have rented a house but wont be moved in until
mid March. I ‘ve been wondering where to begin for a month???? Right now
my shop is empty except for the tools that are to big to move by myself…..
uugghhhh!!!
-- Bob Kenosha Wi.
blockhead
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1423 posts in 1477 days
#13 posted 808 days ago
How’s the shop progress coming Mike? It looks like you got off to a good start. Look forward to seeing more.
-- Brad, Oregon- The things that come to those who wait, may be the things left by those who got there first.
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