stefang's Workshop

Looks like a good use of available space look forward to photos

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

Thanks for looking and the nice comment Jim. I did a little editing since you looked. The reason I wanted to show it was to maybe give some of the beginners some ideas, as I know this works very well for me. I did have problems a few week ago though when I made up a gigantic blind frame for a printed photo for my son (my biggest customer). I used half lap joins on it and corner bracing to make sure it would stay flat. Everything went fine until after the glue-up. I almost didn’t get it out of the space where the bench beams are! I had to remove a bunch of clamps and other tools hanging on the wall above the beams. Even then I barely got it out .I think my planning abilities could be really improved. I’ve been in and seen your shop too. It looks like a real professional shop. Since you are from Oregon, it reminded me of a bank manager I worked with back in the 60’s. He got tired of banking, so he quit, and moved with his wife and 5 children to Grant’s Pass where he bought a Kentucky chicken franchise . As it turned out he was allergic to the frying oils and so his wife had to run the place. A sad story. I always wondered what became of him.

-- Mike, American in Norway

Mike, this is an excellent way to plan and organize a shop. It sure is a lot easier to position and move tool/cabinetry around in Sketchup. And not to mention the wear and tear on the back that it saves as well. It looks like you developed a good plan and organized your tools in an effective and efficient manner.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

I really, really need to spend some time learning to use Sketchup. I just tore down some old shelves that were in my way in my basement workshop and need to rearrange the entire thing. I have load bearing wall and some other things in the way which makes it tough to figure out. I guess besides drawing it all in Sketchup, there is just the time it takes to measure everything. Thanks Mike, this looks like the way to go.

-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY

Sketchup is particularly good when you get to my age! Dale, if you are just starting out in Sketchup, it will take awhile to learn it, but the single most helpful thing is creating components as you develop your drawing. You do this by selecting the object you have drawn and then in the ‘edit’ menu ‘create component’. In that menu you have the option to name it, etc. I don’t usually bother with a name. I just pick ‘create’ and leave it at that.

The BIG TIP is that if you create a component for every part of each thing you draw, then you can easily change details of your detailed objects, parts or whatever. If you don’t make these components all the parts wil ‘stick’ together and you wil be unable to easily manipulate, resize, move or change them. If an object you are drawing is composed of several components and will be inserted as part of a larger drawing, then you can in turn make the entire object a single component so it can be easily manipulated within the larger drawing.

If you don’t have a clue about what I am talking about here, come back to it after getting some experience with Sketchup. You will be glad you did! The main message is to try to learn as much as you can about components.

-- Mike, American in Norway

Looks like you have thought it out well for then space available. Post some pic’s soon.

-- I will just keep doing it till I get it right.

well thought out shop , and good blog . very helpfull .
looks like a space capsule !
thanks for sharing .

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

Thanks a lot guys. I was going to paint some some cabinets before taking pictures, but I just got a request from my wife to make a scrolled bread basket my younger son and his fiance’ can take with them as a gift to his future inlaws in Sweden when they visit there in a couple of weeks. So I guess I will take the pics as soon as I’m done with the new garden bench in my blog. I don’t think that painting is going to get done anytime soon! The shop drawings are the ideal while the photos will be the reality (read messy).

-- Mike, American in Norway

Looks nice, Mike.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

Thank you CJ. I will try to post some photos of the actual thing soon providing my wife lets me out of the garden. the real thing isn’t anywhere near as tidy as the drawings. Hope you won’t be too disappointed.

-- Mike, American in Norway

Looks good Mike. Can’t wait to see the photos… You sorta got me interest again in sketch up but like you might have to get laid up for a month to learn it. Thanks for the ideas you mentioned. Maybe I’ll give it a wack soon.

Hey Mike, thanks for another take on how to make a workbench. I think I get the idea!

-- Eric at http://adventuresinwoodworking.com

I love sketchup ! I think you have done a great job with the space you are working with and I like the sliding beam workbench . I draw everything on sketchup . Can’t wait for the Pictures .

-- Rsoper rreposs@optonline.net

Natural light is good, no it’s great. When winter comes and I have to keep my doors shut I am sealed in. I have picked up a large window and will have it in my next month. Your shop is also a lot cleaner than mine. Love looking at tools I haven’t seen here in the states too.

-- A childs smile is payment enough.

Very nice use of available space Mike!

-- spanky46 -- Never enough clamps...Never enough tools...Never enough time.

You have done a great job utilizing your space. Nice looking work shop!

-- Scott, South Carolina

Thanks Scott. It sure was a mess during most of the summer because I was pretty busy with upkeep and yardwork around the house. I am keeping the place tidy and clean now and enjoying it a lot more. Today I finished the turning segment sanding jig for the new disk sander and I’m hoping to begin construction on a couple of open segment vessels tomorrow. I will also be writing a blog about them and showing my new method used to construct them. Hope you will have a look when I post it. It should be good for a laugh if nothing else. I think you are living in real woodworking country down there. When I finish this note I’ll have a look at your home page.

-- Mike, American in Norway

Thank you for the kind comments about my work. What a workshop WOW. Mine is much smaller and I can’t keep it as clean as yours. I’m impressed.

-- Dale, Ohio

Great looking shop Mike. Looks very well organized. I’m looking forward to your blog on open segments.

-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps

Thanks Dale and Jerry. My shop is pretty well suited to small projects although I can do larger things when I want to. However, in the end it isn’t the shop or the tools that matter most. As we all know, a good craftsman with few and poor tools can produce something much finer than a poor craftsman with all the tools in the world. I am still hoping to move from the one category to the other and having fun trying.

-- Mike, American in Norway