I’m sure all would agree that Juglans photo shoot was certainly a pleasure to view and the tool collection is amazing. I’d be intimidated in his shop, afraid I’d break something or make a mess. Conversly, he might run in sheer terror if he entered my humble workplace.
I thought I would offer some photos of my shop to provide contrast. I’ll explain first that I just built and moved into this shop last year so it’s a work in progress. The first things it produced were some quick gifts for Father’s Day, 2009. I haven’t had much time to spend in the shop until the last few weeks as I’ve been working at jobsites as a carpenter. The shop I had before this one was a commercial operation which I sold along with all the tools, so except for a few relics, I’m pretty much starting over from scratch.
I’m still recovering from the expense of building the shop-barn structure itself so my tool aquisition budget is quite meager, or the pay as you go plan. If I really need something I’ll go buy it but I can do plenty of damage with what I’ve got for now. I’d still build things if all I had was a skill saw and a framing axe.
So, not unlike walking naked in front of a large crowd, here are the photos.
I had some captions to add to the photos which I though would make it more entertaining but couldn’t figure out how to do it. Anybody know how to do that?
Replies
I really like that desk with the inlaid top you made. Nice job!
As for your shop...if it works for you, and apparently it does if you can produce nice furniture like that...then , it works! Don't be in too much of a hurry to arrange your new shop into a specific pattern....cause as soon as you do this, you will want to change it around..... as the song goes; "Don't ask me how I know, I just do." ha! ha!
Man, you got some nice scenery there too...I'd probably opt to cut in a few windows to look outside more...but then I wouldn't get much work done.
Davo
Davo,
I've got a couple of big windows on the north side. Nice view out that way too but no sun glare.
Thanks for looking, Bret
Dusty, The hand is fine and healing well, thanks for asking. Full mobility just a little stiffness. I was very lucky.
I'm quite happy with my little shop stool made from a maple burl. I tried some dovetail tenons.
Bret
Bret,
That looks Nirvana to me! Nice building to have for a shop. Hay pole on the gable for hoisting wood and the big tools as the budget allows. Last I heard Rome took a couple of weeks to build as well. Nice tools are great but when you get down to it, you can a lot with very little.
What do you keep above the shop?
Your stool is great, never have used one but maybe that is why my back is toast at night. I suppose it would quite handy.
I notice the 1400 lb beastie's are eyeing the shop with longing eyes as well. Bet they thought you were building it for them. Ha!
Thanks for posting.
AZMO
Thanks for posting the pictures. They really are illustrative of of the priorities you have about your work and work flow. The building presents a dream opportunity to be developed slowly.
I particularly like the huge 'surround' of the table saw and the dovetails on the stool. That is cool!
And a very special thanks for not publishing a photo of "walking naked". I have a weak stomach in the mornings. :-)
Jerry
Very nice, Bret. I envy the amount of space you have.
From picture #2, can we assume that everything in the shop is 2hp? ;-)
That's a good sized shop and the space looks to be used fairly efficiently. I wouldn't worry too much about organizing everything until you're fully accustomed to working in the shop. I've found that if I start organizing before I get accustomed to my work methods, I end up rearranging everything to be more efficient.
I don't think you can add captions. What I do is write: In the first picture, you see... Of course, this is more effective with fewer pictures.
Chris,
One challenge I have is that I work at jobsites frequently and have to haul lots of tools in and out of the shop which adds to the disorganization.
I purposely did not clean up prior to taking the photos. I wanted to show what it's really like.
Bret
Brett
Will exchange places anytime. I'm currently working in a 6' x 7' porch (definately not porshe)
Sharing the space with coats, boots, cleaning gear etc and they are winning.
Love your shop and your work is magnificent
wot
Wot,
I'm grateful to have a nice sized shop. It's more than adequate for furniture making. I haven't done any production work out of it yet but I hope to. I'm sure once I do the size will not feel quite so spacious.
Where are you power tools?
Bret
That shop sucks wind along with the scenery outside. Why don't you invest into something a little more spacious with a view...
OK.. so I'm jealous.. the truth hurts! ha.. ha... ha..ha..ha..
BTW... very nice and I would probably end up just sitting outside getting nothing done but enjoying the scenery.. :>)
Bret,
If you look hard you will see amongst all the clutter, an 18V Makita drill and a1/4" Makita Trimmer. There is a Dremmel somewhere as well. Thats it!
Returning back home to Australia after 3 years here, sometime after August and I'm looking forward to getting back into my shop. I hear lots of bits of timber calling out to me - "Bruce come home"
My shop is 20 x 30 with 12' verandahs all around. I often work out there when the weather is nice, which is most of the year and it all looks out over rainforrest or the river 50' behind my house.
I've spent 50 odd years collecting tools and miss them like they were kids. The cook says I have too many and She's going to have the worlds biggest garage sale when I go to that big shop in the sky.
Looking forward to getting back, on the verandah and becoming the 'Lizard of Oz' again.
wot
wot,
thank god and the scotts for the glen f. eh?
eef
I appreciate all the nice comments and bits of humor in your replies. My intent when posting these photos was to get to know some of you better and visa- versa, and in that regard I've been successful. I had no intention of gloating about by shop and was actually self-conscious about my lack of sophistication in regards to my assortment of tools.
I'm relatively new to this forum but have been an enthusiastic participant as you may have noticed and, I'm sure, to the annoyance of some. It has been a pleasure so far and the feedback has been motivating and confidence building not to mention all the things I've learned so far. The fine craftsmanship demonstrated by everyone and the expertise with hand tools has been inspiring. Thanks to all. Hopefully some of my comments have been a help to others.
I've been working wood for a living for forty plus years and this forum has helped re-kindle my creative spirit. Although I've been away from the shop environment for a few years, I at one time made a respectable livelihood as a cabinetmaker and shop owner for a run that lasted twenty years until I decided to end it to work as a carpenter-builder for another twenty. So I'm back in the shop and trying to re-establish myself as a furniture-cabinetmaker. Wish me luck.
Is this called "waxing philosophical"?
I'm not interested in retirement yet. I've got too many things I want to build.
"I'm not interested in
"I'm not interested in retirement yet. I've got too many things I want to build"
Retirement is when you get to build the things you want! Providing Sarge, FG and others don't just show up on your doorstep to enjoy the view and distract you from it all!
Great post!
Morgan
Morgan,
Let me re-phrase that. I'd like to retire but need to supplement my retirement income with paying jobs so that I can afford to buy the tools I want and to buy the wood for the things I want to build
Ah heck there we go again with the details....;>) Morgan
Bret
Better watch out here mate before you get into one of those viscous decreasing cycles and disappear up your own fundamental orrifice.
wot
I retired 2 years 5 months ago Brett. Let me tell ya about retirement. 13 large carcass pieces for "her" working 8-10 hours a day.. 6 days a week for the first 24 months. Meals left at the top of the stairs so you don't have to waste time coming up to eat as the list has grown so long you will never complete it before the lights go out in the shop for the final time.
So.. my advice to you... Don't retire. ha.. ha... ha..ha..ha..
gdblake,
The old joke is "
gdblake,
The old joke is " I can retire in style as long as I only live another week"
The old Delta table saw is a jounior Unisaw, 8" that I can get an 8-1/2" blade on. It's a sentimental thing. First power tool I ever bought at 14 years of age, paid $37.50 for it and it was old then. I tuned it up about thirty years ago and still cuts like butter.
Bret
I find your shop to be very organized & laughed when i saw how you used a garbage can as a work area as i do the same thing
my shop is my horses former home ( 6 stalls 10 x 10 + alley 10 X 40 )
they are now outside 24 / 7 in a run in
my loft is partly for their hay storage & surplus tools etc
your setup looks to be a way better than mine for wood working commercially
nice to see a shop that looks like its worked in & not just for show !
gd,
From your post it sounds like you don't realize it yet, but I'm betting your presence may be requested on the house re-build and new shop construction. That'll be nice. You can build the shop the way you want!
Great pictures and posts, everybody.
--jonnieboy
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