Replies

1. 
   mstens | Sep 01, 2003 12:38pm | #1

   You should see the state of my shop currently.  There's stock that's been rough milled piled up on my router table waiting to be used.  There's a half finished chair for my daughter sitting propped up against the wall and there's dimensional lumber that's being ripped to different width for use in framing another room.  Yep, surgically clean alright

2. 
   BG | Sep 01, 2003 12:39pm | #2

   Jacko,

   Yes, all the shops here are 'prissy clean'....you can eat off the floor.  Most woodworkers I know prefer the lighter aprons so they can catch the curls from planing before they hit the floor and run them over to the trash can. 

   Personally, I prefer the 'Manly clean' workshop...dust, particulate matter and decay made the world what it is today...thicker and greener.  Like in the bathroom, the toilet/water closet is a target for gosh sakes...whose a perfect marksman all the time..  

   
   

   ---

   Edited 9/1/2003 9:22:21 AM ET by BG

3. 
   DaveHeinlein | Sep 01, 2003 03:46pm | #3

   Yea, my shop is definetly sterile.

   I have to diagree with you about the fine sawdust keeping rust off machinery, though. the dust absorbs moisture and transfers it to the cast iron, which in turn gets rusted. Even overnight. At least that's what happens in my shop.

   
1. 
   TomS | Sep 03, 2003 03:54am | #13

   Dave,

   Now THAT is a shop!

1. 
   DaveHeinlein | Sep 03, 2003 04:17am | #14

   Yer kidding right? That's the old section, during a period of a bad run of housekeeping. Come to think of it, it looks that way quite often. Oh well. I try to sweep every Friday about a half hour before quitting time.

1. 
   Biscardi | Sep 03, 2003 04:33am | #15

   Between big jobs everything gets swept, tools get rubbed down and waxed. At the end of the day all the tools not needed for the next stage get put back and everything gets unplugged.

   The latter is probably neurotic but some of my stuff is getting older and I don't want to torch the new house.

   Frank

4. 
   nmdan | Sep 01, 2003 05:57pm | #4

   mine looks like a bomb went off in it 99% of the time ,............clean it aint

    Daniel

1. 
   rayjack | Sep 01, 2003 06:09pm | #5

   My faith in (US) human naure has been restored.  Get real FWW!!!

5. 
   RANGERP75R | Sep 01, 2003 07:20pm | #6

   jacko

      Keep in mind that FWW has a staff. That staff can clean a shop before pictures are taken. In Hollywood where they make movies, the make-up goes on first and the pictures follow. Always...

      I wouldn't lose any sleep over U.S. shops being "squeaky clean". Only in the movies. ha..ha..

   Regards...

   sarge

1. 
   Biscardi | Sep 02, 2003 01:36am | #7

   Guys,

   Look at the guy on page 75 of FWW. The Tablesaw is polished, the guy is wearing a pressed shirt that actually looks like it might be silk, and there isn't a dust mote to be seen.

   Frank

   Edited 9/2/2003 12:30:26 AM ET by BISCARDI

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Sep 02, 2003 06:40pm | #8

   Frank

      With that blade 3/4 of the way through the stock an no hint of saw-dust, something is awry. Just stepped out of the shower an pressed clothes. Got a smile on his face also.

       I was off last week and working on a new work-bench. If he had the heat and humidity we had in Atlanta last week, he wouldn't be smiling. Of course, the shop is probably air conditioned.

       A hint of HOLLYWOOD. Probably whish off in a limo to the "Brown Derby" for lunch right after the shoot.

      Hey, this sounds good to me, I'm going to sit down and fill out a application for FWW. Maybe they need a stunt man for some of the shots. ha..ha..

   Regards...

   sarge..jt

6. 
   RoyinMD | Sep 02, 2003 07:37pm | #9

   With a big grin, I started the "Most Trashed Shop" thread and contest/challange. I'm tring to improve my ways, I really really am.

   Enjoy, Roy

1. 
   jagwah | Sep 02, 2003 10:54pm | #10

   It's just the opposite thought with me. Ever since I was a young boy in junior high I thought the coolest shops were in Europe.Our shop teacher showed a film about apprenticeships in Germany. There was work going on all over that huge shop but no trash or dust. The floor was painted a gloss grey and everyone wore neat and clean aprons.

   Now that I have my shop I often wonder if the film wasn't propaganda. It seems the more I try to keep a neat shop the less it is.

   I've finally decided to enjoy the sawdust and not sweat the cleanliness short of safety.

   One question tho, are mushrooms found under your bench edible?

1. 
   Kevin | Sep 03, 2003 01:12am | #11

   One question tho, are mushrooms found under your bench edible?

   Perhaps a better question would be whether one would remain lucid if they were eaten. LOL

   Regards,

   Kevin

1. 
   jagwah | Sep 03, 2003 06:14am | #16

   Hadn't thought about that but then if I remained lucid they would only be edible. 8)

2. 
   Midnight | Sep 04, 2003 02:36am | #17

   if you think I'm gonna paint the carpet an wear an apron just to look cool......

   (j/k)

   granted.... if I'm using the power tools I tend to get a bit anal about cleaning asap. SWMBO has asthma.... nuff said...

   plane shavings on the other hand.... well..... lets say I've learned that when they get knee deep....... it's time to clean...

   sheesh..... was only that deep between the bench and the wall.....Mike Wallace

   Stay safe....Have fun

7. 
   LeeTree | Sep 03, 2003 02:27am | #12

   My shop isn't nearly as clean as the ones in the magazine, but i do make an effort at the end of each weekend/day in the shop to shopvac the floors and blow out as much dust as possible. I certainly cannot compete with the staff and the magazine, but then I have no mushrooms either. ;-)

   - lee -