Televisions in the Workshop?

I don’t have one in my shop but I can see a real benefit to putting this “tool” in there. After there is no better place to relax and catch up on what Norm or Scott Phillips are doing (especially when you happen to be in the doghouse anyway). :)

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

Someone posted about this some time back, but I can’t find it now. I remember most replys were ripping on the guys that had one in the shop. I do. I also check out all the workshop postings and have noticed most shops have one. My reasoning? I spend so much time out there, alone, the noise & ocassional picture is a way for me to stay connected the the rest of the world out there. It’s usually tuned in to news, with the occasional talk show if there is no news on. I tried the radio but I have yet to find one station that holds any interest for very long & it’s too hard to keep tuning in some station I may find interesting.
I guess it’s just one of those love ‘em or hate ‘em things.

-- http://www.etsy.com/shop/tpursell?ref=si_shop

For me personally, I like the idea of bringing wood working into my home space. The thought of sitting on my couch, watching T.V. and having a snack while woodworking sounds very relaxing and enjoyable. But since that’s obviously not going to happen anytime soon, all I can do is bring as much of the upstairs into my workshop. I’ll often watch a movie while I’m fooling around in the shop, it’s like mulit-tasking your intrests… how can you go wrong?

-- Blair

I don’t have one in the shop, but recently I’ve thought I would like to. It wouldn’t be on when I’m working, but sometimes when I’m sweeping or tidying, I think I’d like to have a movie on – maybe one of the movies I like but my wife won’t watch. Like Tim, I spend a lot of time working alone, and the radio and LJ are my contacts with the outside world.

-- http://www.peteroxley.com -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --

I initially had one even hooked up to 265 channel cable. I never used it once so it moved out. ;>)

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

put one in my shop, after my brother-in-law inquired that he was missing out on the football games when hes helping me on a project

-- tool time tim aka "cobra5"

My new “Workshop in the Woods” in the U.P. is situated in the middle of the Hiawatha National Forest, with very limited TV reception. However I am going to put one of our old analog TV’s with built in VCR out there this summer. I still have several tapes on woodworking plans & proceedures. I have created a small office nitch in the corner where I also have an older computer that has been updated to play DVDs. A printer can even print out plans. Our over the air TV up there is pretty much limited to a Green Bay station – Oprah, news, and lotsa Green Bay Packers!

-- "Heaven is North of the Bridge"

for me personally, the only reason I’d bring a TV/computer to the ‘shop’ would be to be able to follow online/soft-copies of instructions/plans/tutorials while working on something. but I don’t think I’ll ever do that, unless I can get the shop air-clean of dust, and not have to worry about the electronics in that environment.

-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

There are many instruction “manuasl” on video tape and/or DVD so the TV and a video playback device can be useful. Mine is often turned to a music channel so if there is no noise, there is entertainment.

You do bring up an important point about dust contamination, however. If you have a TV in the shop, it will collect an extraordinary amount of dust due to the static charge on the picture tube and associated parts. It’s a good idea to use compressed air- every once in a while- to blow out the inside. This can help reduces heat build up.

-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

When I divided my garage to make the 3rd stall a workshop I ran cable out there. I planned on putting an old pc on it but I’m going wireless so that cable may get used for a TV. About the only thing that’s on there that I’d rather not miss are Green Bay Packer games. So that’s 18 to 20 uses per year. Since I’m too cheap to spring for the package with the DIY network there’s not much else I’d want to watch.

-- gjd Southcentral Wisconsin

I’ve thought about it, but haven’t done it yet. I’m planning on building a new shop this spring/summer that may or may not have a small office space, where I’ll keep my laptop, and possibly a TV, but not sure about that. The dust being a deciding factor. One thing I can’t live without when woodworking, is my radio/cd’s/music etc. If I’m using something loud for an extended amount of time, I’ll use my MP3 player (not ipod) and put the earbuds in, under my ear protection. Music doesn’t distract me, as much as a TV would.

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

I can do without a TV anytime but the beer fridge is a necessity !

-- John in Belgrave (Website) http://www.extremebirdhouse.com , http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=112698715866

I have watched COUNTLESS times the dvd’s and videos on wood working that I have. No matter what skill you might have there is always a learning process or an inspiration that can be nurtured by a visual of someone elses work.

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

I’ve thought about putting a television in my shop. Sometimes when I’m gluing and don’t have something else to cut I’ll go back upstairs but then I’m tracking all that dust up there. Having a tv would be nice so I can just relax a moment and catch some ESPN or something.

-- Don't tell her I'm in the shop!

Never ever in my wildest dreams! We don’t even have one in the house; lived without it for 14 years, although we do watch the very occasional dvd movie via the PC.

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems