The American Craftsman WorkShop #10: Reorganizing the Shop - Again!

...and I thought it was getting cold here in California! Your shop looks great! ...well not the Todd shop we have seen in your past pictures and videos, it looks our shops! ; ) I’m with you though, when things are where they are handy and organized life seems to just be better and working seems easier…

-- Never board, always knotty, lots of growth rings

dang, snow already!

Hey Todd….............man you got alot of “stuff” to move around. Throw some of that stuff out :^)

What I think is funny about a clean-up is you feel like your re-organized, then you look for that one tool you haven’t used in a while and its not where it used to be.

Nothing like a little gestalt!!!!

How on earth do you get this stuff organized in less than a year?!

-- Trying to follow the example of the master.

another winter draws near then dam…............

-- cut it saw it scrap it

Todd,
When you are finished cleaning up there, it is warmer in Flatonia (93 degrees today) and I have about 2200 sq ft that could use some cleaning and organizing. :-)

As for your clamps, I used to hang my on the end of the metal shelving units, until I acquired too many, then I built a 4 foot long wall bracket that most of them still hang on today. Basically its a 4” wide board that I drilled 3/4” holes in every 3 inches or so and elongated the holes, so that the clamps slide in.

Now I get tired of walking over to the wall to get the clamps, so I’m rebuilding my assembly table to house some of the most used clamps directly under the table top. They slide in from either end.

I’ll have to get some pictures and post them.

-- James

As a coastal Californian I get SO jealous whenever I see photos of snow. Then I show everybody a photo of my front yard on Christmas morning (80 deg and sunny) and I get yelled at.

Cool photos.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com

Todd,
Do you mind if I ask a couple of questions.

1) Do you like the mobile base for your jointer? I’ve got an 8” grizzly and have been debating whether to just buy one.

2) it looks like there is a cut-out section in the drywall near your breaker box. Is this the result of a prior upgrade that hasn’t been painted, or is this some type of access you’ve left in place for future wiring upgrades.

Good luck with the re-org. I’m always doing that to try and fit everything and still manage to work. I’m sure its even more important as a pro when time is money.

I am not ready for the snow this year guys. It makes my joints hurt more than before. But snuggling with the wife is good stuff to chase the cold away.

I might be interested in organizing someone’s shop in a warmer climate.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

HokieMojo – I created a chase for future access when I need to change or add circuits. It sticks out a little further than the wall and has removable baltic birch panels to open up the chase.

I need to add a stick of trim on each side of it.

I have found this to be a smart move because I even had it open recently to add more lights in the shop.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

Hokie – Missed the jointer base question.

I like the jointer base. It has proven to be stable enough when I work big boards and moves when I need it to. I purchased it from Grizzly too.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

Give us your address Todd and let us know the time when your wife can snuggle with us. I’m guessing that with all of the LumberJocks, she will be very busy.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

D’OH!

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

Better get those honey-do’s done or the wife will stop snuggling…LOL. In my case its the better half that likes moving things around…..she is better at organizing then I am….I usually put things on the shelves under my workbench…until it gets too full….then she comes in and tells me where they go…

I saw the weather…said you guys got snow….and that there is another northern express on its way….brrrrr….we get cold weather here…but snow is a treat…as it only falls here very seldom…time to work inside though….I am working on getting a nice wood burning stove for my new shop…will have to put up some insulation…and probably dry wall…work work work

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!

Your shop is gorgeous! I just “re-organized” mine by putting a tool stand in the 4’7” between the washer and dryer and the automobile.

Thanks for showing us how to do things.

-- Rich, Seattle, WA

thanks Todd. I appreciate that you take the time to help answer questions like you do.

We have been below freezing the last two nights and burning wood to keep warm .

-- rob

Nice looking shop, you got snow already? its still warm here!

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

It looks like Rita is getting ready for winter…growing her own frozen foods!

-- gbear, Carmichael, CA

glad Napa does not get snow—-and if it did KARSON cant have my address…

Sorry the joints ache with the cold…it is truly beautiful…maybe once would be nice—=snow that is…

The grapes have not even been picked here…so cold weather would be disaster…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

That is one thing I do not miss and that is the snow.. I remember 2 huge blizzards while living in Kansas and the cold blustery winds. Don’t have much snow here, Thank God. Todd, I do know about the joints hurting and acheing. That’s caused by Author Itis…................................LOL

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

Matt I already have your address.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

So do I Karson…............LOL

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

I’m not looking forward to that white stuff.

-- Whether You Think You Can or You Think You Can't, YOU ARE RIGHT!!!

lol…yikes karson!!! winters dont get cold here…well…comparatively…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

No snow here yet , but certainly cold weather , wind and rain….the furnace is earning its keep already this year.
I’ve got Walnut colored panelling in my basement shop and I ‘m trying to decide if I want to paint over it or let it be. If I paint it Asylum White , I’m afraid it will be too bright in there and I’ll have to clean and dust everything more often ! LOL
Best wishes with the redo and all of your aches and pains , Todd : )

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

I thought about you when i heard there were winter storm warning for southern MT last night. Looks like the tomatoes that didn’t ripen won’t ;-((

-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.

Todd’s got a nice warm shop and all I got is a cold saddle!! Not fair!!!

-- Thos. Angle

Good Grief, SNOW…..and the weatherman here is telling me we are having a “cool down” here, high in the low 70’s…...........

-- Gary, Little River,SC I've Learned that the Lord didn't do it all in one day and neither can I