I am just starting out in woodworking and, of course, have big dreams. I would eventually like to do cabinet work, furniture, marquetry, pretty much the whole 9 yards, so, as I know very little about this passion, I am all ears and will appreciate any advice given!
My first dilemma is I have to share the garage with someone who insists on keeping her car out of the snow, ice & cold. I can’t underdtand it – my MUCH OLDER van gets along fine outside. The problem is there is no heat in the garage, and with the double door opening to the elements several times per day, the garage is subjected to erratic swings in temperature and humidty. I have access to natural gas and of course electricity – I’m just not sure what is the best way to try to maintain some semblance of a working atmosphere for myself and the wood. I have received some good advice from a thread I ignorantly broke into, but I would welcome more input!
Also, I have a TS and am reading the thread on purchasing a bandsaw, so that is helpful. I could use some direction on whether to buy a planer or a planer/molder, and whether to go with a benchtop versus an enclosed stand. ???
Replies
Welcome.
Lot's of people here have garage workshops, I'm sure you'll be getting some good advice on heating options, storage, etc. Also, there are a lot of articles about garage workshops in the various woodworking magazines. You can search their websites for back issues or watch the newstand.
Regarding buying stationary tools, I would suggest that you proceed fairly slowly since you already have a tablesaw, try building some projects and get a sense of where you want to go - buy portable tools you need for the project either power, or hand. Some people can go years without either a power planer or jointer, some could hardly make it through the day. I also suggest you do some reading - I'm beginning to sound like a broken record because I keep recommending this article - " My 5 essential power tools" by Gary Rogowski in the first edition of Fine Woodworkings Tools and Shops issue - no 153. But, I think you will find it helpful.
Good luck.
Thanks for tips and reading references. To bad all of this is not innate. Or at least hereditary - I think my great grandfather was a woodworker!
Hey JB,
I've given you some advice on the heat and humidity issues and on bench top versus stationary in tool-talk,but now I've got something different for you.The best way to learn something is to watch someone do it while they explain it to you.The best thing I've come across(short of taking a course) is the Marc Adams video series.You should check it out at http://www.marcadams.com .Expensive but I think worth every dime and more.
Brent
Thanks! Would you believe I just happened to have purchased a few of Marc's videos after being totally impressed with a cabinet class he did at a recent Woodworkers Show in Columbus. It was my first woodworking show of any sort, but if the videos are as good as his class, then I would agree it was money well spent! I've found I now need about 40-50 hours per day to squeeze in the reading and research. Somethings gotta give!
Edited 2/10/2005 11:59 pm ET by JB
First, you gotta tell SWMBO that it's actually good for a car to be out in the weather. That's what I did about 15 yrs ago. Of course, we're in CA and don't really have weather................just climate. - lol
If you already have a TS, get a roller-type stand for it so you can move it out of the way when you need to. I would also buy or make a decent size workbench that can do double duty as an outfeed table for your TS.
At this point, I suggest that you pick a project in a woodworking agazine and have at it. You had better figure on buying any handtools it requires that you don't already have. If it needs a power tool, look into renting it. Home Depot rents tools and it's a good way to test a tool before you buy - or just use one for a day.
If you get sawdust on SWMBO's ride, clean it up!!! Someday, you'll want (need?) some new tools and you don't want her annoyed with you. (Voice of experience, there. - lol)
I've been thinking I needed a way to move that baby around - its a real gut-buster.
For now I'm kind of stuck with a 28"x6' STEEL workbench that I'll have to retrofit for woodworking. I do have a 28"x27" hefty drawer steel cabinet with a wood block top that I plan to put behind my TS, and attach some wings to to serve as an outfeed. I'm going to have to be creative when it comes to space utilization! Thanks for the advice!
"I'm going to have to be creative when it comes to space utilization!"
Man, you just said a mouthful - lol. Even though I've used my garage as a 'permanant' shop for 15 yrs, it's gone thru many alterations.
RE: saw dust and wife
Early (very) in my ww'ing "career", I was working in a single car garage with a washer, dryer, freezer and furnace integral to the space. Using a router for the first time, I sprayed tiny chips all over everything. I saw the problem and wiped/dusted off everything including the W&D'er. About a week later, I'm in the "shop" on Sunday morning and my wife is saying "bye", ready to go off to church. She starts scratching and complaining about "something biting" her legs. I laugh and ask her if she's got bugs! She goes back in the house and after a few moments comes back out with panty hose in hand and shows me tiny wood chips lodged therein!! I had wiped them off the top of the W&D'er but neglected to check inside!
How to "frost a spouse" in one easy lesson!
Regards,
Mack"WISH IN ONE HAND, #### IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"
Our washer/dryer aren't in the garage (shop) but they are in the 'laundry room' (hallway) at the garage door. I'm always leaving the door open and SWMBO is always closing it whilst chewing me out because of the dust & noise. I also used to have to change furnace filters quite often because of the dust. I got a dust collector a few years ago and the dust issue has been fixed - but she still squawks about the noise. - lol
How about building her a garage 'Just for her'.. or yourself!
That's the long-term plan, in the meantime I'm going to have to make do! I've tried to talk her into a tarp on poles, but she has no sense of humor!
Hey ! their is nothing wrong with a garage work shop , I moved from the basement to the garage over 15 years ago , the best thing I did for me and the shop. but the only thing is I have a separate heating bill. No dust through the house any more and it's easier to bring things in and out of the garage, ( but I don't have a wife to deal with ) and I've always parked outside. Live in Michigan. My Uncle built a shop and had to wall off the area for the wife to park , with a separate entrance door .
Now for the question about band saws, look for one that has standard size blades for one thing, next. then look for one that might have a warranty. The reason for this is after what I experienced with the saw I purchased years ago, I tried to write about some thing with the band saw and should have been covered by the warranty. the company went out of business. Well I'm still using that saw yet today. The problem with a saw that don't use standard size blades, like the one I bought my Father , he has to order all his blades from the company the made the saw ( CHINA MADE ) Don't recall the name of the company that handles WW equipment but it's in York , PA Good on your decision. I would look at Delta , but you know how those name brand price things, not within reach for the working man, in my opinion !
And I'm a self employed furniture builder, I have to pinch every penny I spend and look at it as if it's a good product for the money.
Good day. I live near a city of 80,000 population. There are 2 places that sell custom length bandsaw blades that I know of. 10 minutes up the road is another town of 50,000? and I believe there are 3 suppliers of custom length blades. I think that most places that sharpen sawblades seem to sell custom length blades. Naturally they sell a variety of qualities, but their prices seem to be better than store bought. Peter
if yer local road cleaners use salt, and you keep yer car in a garage, you could likely find evidence that the corrosion happens faster than if the car is outside....
Price of houses these days, garages in clearly intended for usable space. Swmbo hasn't had her car in the garage now for damn near 20 years.....
just a fact of life.
Look on the bright side, you might be able to keep yer tools in the living room.....
Eric
How true .. I would like to park the truck in the garage, BUT when this garage was built they must have had a Model T or a VW bug, It's not wide enough to get out of the door after U pull in. If and when I build a home, I think it going to have no less than 4' on each side , so to open the door without bumping into the wall, besides I hope to build storage cabinets on one side with doors , so you don't have to look at all the stuff one puts in the garage.
Or I'll do like one guy did when he built his home, He built the farthest stall from the house deep enough to store the ridding lawn tractor and snow blower, etc.. With a floor drain in three areas.
Thank you.
Well, if your wife complains about having a workshop in the garage, you can tell her there was this guy on Knots that used the bedroom as the workshop. Yes, that what I said -- bedroom.
Years ago, we bought this wonderful loft in NYC, and for about 2 years our largish bedroom served as the woodworking shop, since it was the only space in the loft with a door. I built this spiffy platform bed that tipped up and rolled out to the main part of the loft when the workshop was in use, and would roll it back in when the day was over.
I would say the vacuum cleaner was the most used tool in the shop.
My wife is a saint......
Actually, it was the best shop I ever had -- light, airy, neat and tidy, and scrupulously clean. Also, nice view, close to good shopping.
Used it to make a ton of builtins for the loft -- which we then sold for a huge profit. I think maybe the profit had something to do with her forbearance.
Deal with the first problem right away.; Do it in a way that she will remove the car herself and not complain about it...
This requires thinking like a woman and it doesn't come easy to men but if you do it this way you win and she won't be angery...
Find out what she'd like you to make for her. sewing cabinat or cradle or whatever, make sure it's her idea and the bigger the project the better.. Do not suggest anything, let it be her idea, no matter what don't suggest! don't offer, don't recommend and don't try to improve.; Tell her you are doing it just for her.;
Now, (and this is critical) figure out her schedule.. what you want is when she's going over to her girl friends/family or out for a business meeting. (Very important that it's someplace she wants to go to) then just before she's ready to leave create as much sawdust as you possibly can. cover the car with it, buy it import it create it but make certain that the whole car is covered and especially her seats.;
If she comes flying out and jumps into the car the sawdust will do the work for you, if she comes out and screams at you, apologize profusley and get a small cleanex or handkercief and start to carefully wipe off the windows. do things backwwards so you can take as much time as possible but look like you're frantically trying to help.; another words, start at the bottom of the windshield and wipe everything thing off only skip a space between swipes.. don't shake out the kleenex and by the time you get to the top of the windshield recognize that you need to do a better job and go back over again.; do this all franically and with a great show of effort all the time apologizing and explain that you're trying to build her ,........
Don't listen to the complaints or cries just keep wiping things down frantically.... Keep apologizing and explaining how you're doing all of this for her,. with care you should be able to spend over a 1/2 an hour doing this and still leave plenty of sawdust on the seat for her to sit in.; Ideally she won't notice it untill she's at the party and her girlfriend/mother etc. dusts her off.;
I think one or two dust offs and she'll give you the whole garage without a wimper....
Advice from the land of Garrison Kieler must be sage advice indeed, but I wouldn't try it.Alan
http://www.alanturnerfurnituremaker.com
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled