Replies

1. 
   willy | Nov 01, 2005 02:04am | #1

   A beautiful web page!

2. 
   Patto | Nov 01, 2005 02:39am | #2

   Bill

   Nice ideas, particularly like the practicality of the sewing table.

   david

3. 
   GDH2 | Nov 01, 2005 03:27am | #3

   Based on the few shots in your beautiful web site, I judge your shop exquisite! The bold garage door and the whimsical person door really piqued my interest in digging in to see more.

   Your workbench looks great, but it does raise questions.

   • I am used to benches that are accessible from all sides - does the location against the wall cause problems?
   • Do the vents work well? Does the size and quantity work, even the ones at the far end from the DC? What HP is your DC?
   • Or do you block some with solid panels when you're working on a small item?

   Your Bosch DIY pin router (if I've got it right) is really cute!

   Thanks!

1. 
   billsams | Nov 01, 2005 12:39pm | #5

   GDH2, Willy, David, and Joe-
   Thank for your compliments!! It's a joy to have one's shop in print!!GDH2-
   The doors are on the "acknowledgement page" of the book, (which is exceptional) and hopefully like you, others interest will also be piqued.The Sanding/vice bench is a secondary bench, (which is really nice to have). I also have a bench accessible from all sides, with which the bosch overarm router is now attached to the back side off.The "vents" in the sanding table work really well. I have an oneida 3hp system with a 4" & 5" port attached to the sanding bench. One of my first projects after building the bench was 72" solid panel exterior shutters. (The sanding portion is 8' long) The shutter itself was sucked down with no movement during sanding. For smaller pcs I do cover up portions of the bench, but it may not be really necessary.I had sent with my pics to taunton a detailed view of construction, but I assume it was too much to put in. The suction box TAPERS from 5" deep at the port end to 1-1/2" at the far end. These amplifies the suction far from the port. I may modify to reduce that far end a little more say 1".

   Thank you for your interest. I actually need to take new pics of the shop and update my website as things have been added and changed a bit.Thank you all,
   Sincerely
   Bill

1. 
   lumberjacksson | Nov 01, 2005 09:49pm | #6

   Nice shop, nice work, and nice website.  This is recognition well deserved.

    

   Andy

4. 
   YesIWood | Nov 01, 2005 06:32am | #4

   Bill,

     Congrats on your book preview.  Nice work and a great shop.

   Joe

   Is it really saw dust or wood dust?

5. 
   WillGeorge | Nov 02, 2005 02:21am | #7

   From what I'v seen so far sure your shop is a whole lot better than my house!

1. 
   billsams | Nov 02, 2005 03:27am | #8

   Andy and WillGeorge,Thank you both for your compliments!! My shop is one heck of a "doghouse" when my lady is upset with me, which is actually very rare, ...fortunately for me!!Bill

6. 
   mudman | Nov 02, 2005 06:26pm | #9

   Beautifull shop, more importaintly beautifull work. I noticed what looks like a craftsman Radial Arm Saw. Is it a model 100? I bought one a couple months back and am just now starting to dial it in, and have a couple of questions.

   Mike

1. 
   billsams | Nov 02, 2005 07:27pm | #10

   MIke, My shop pictures on my website need to be updated as things have changed a little bit in configuration.The radial arm saw (70's version) was handed down to me from my father in law and now I have passed it along to another woodworker. I ended up replacing with a 2nd hitachi compound miter saw. This works better for me as the fences line up for both saws rather than the radial arm fence protruding past the hitachi fence, making it awkward to cross cut stock longer than 8'.Sorry I cannot help with dialing in your radial arm, but I am sure there are many here who can help.Thank you for your compliments on my shop and my work.Regards,
   Bill

1. 
   mudman | Nov 03, 2005 06:26am | #14

   My question is not about the process of how to do it. I want to know if the saw is capable of accurate, repeatable cuts? I thought it was a well made saw but the other day I noticed that even when the knob at the end of the rail is tightened I can still move the blade side to side about a 16th. I don't want to spend a day jacking around with this saw if it will always do that. Did you find it to ba a reliable saw?

   Mike

1. 
   billsams | Nov 03, 2005 01:05pm | #15

   Mike.Sorry for my misunderstanding on the RAS. I only used mine for rough cuts as the bearing were sounding pretty awful and there was over 1/16" wobble in the blade during startup and slowdown. Once up to speed all seemed OK.What you describe of moving the blade side to side with the front knob locked, ...sounds as if something is not right!?Repeatable cuts, I would NOT have trusted it for cutting "to length" a series of stiles and rails. Kerfing the back of board every 1/4" or so for bending, the saw is accurate enough for that.IS that the kind of info you desire?Bill

1. 
   mudman | Nov 04, 2005 06:43pm | #18

   Yes and no! It is the information I wanted, but not the answer I was hoping for! I want it for cutting parts (especially shelfs) to length. Percesion is needed. Now I think I might just sell it and hold out for the real deal, an old Dewalt monster saw.

   Mike

7. 
   stephennj | Nov 02, 2005 11:04pm | #11

   View Image

    

   Nice website also.

   Did you really combine two shapers and two table saws here?  That is a novel idea!

1. 
   billsams | Nov 03, 2005 02:20am | #12

   Stephen,Yes, I really did combine two tablesaws, one router and one shaper into a single unit. Great outfeed tables for all the different tasks.My latest project, making glass doors for a china hutch, I was able to set up the cope and stick on the shaper and router, the shoulder cuts of tenons are the table saws, so there was no having to change setups, so if mistakes were made, I could just redo with all the setups in place.This idea was not submitted for the book, but maybe I should have?? There is another woodworker in the new book who has THREE tablesaw's setup around a table, I could also see that working well!I'm thinking about adding another tablemounted router to the right of the main saw.....maybe!Regards,
   Bill

1. 
   stephennj | Nov 03, 2005 04:18pm | #17

   Thanks for the reply.  When I get a shop with that much room (in my dreams), a triple table saw will be first thing on my wish list.  Gongratulations for being recognized for your ideas.  As a intellectual property attorney, I know that many times its just as important to be recognized for your ideas than to be compensated for them.  (Although both would be nice!)

8. 
   forestgirl | Nov 03, 2005 05:28am | #13

   "Thanks for letting me gloat a bit!  Bill Sams"  Congratulations, Bill, well done!  Can't wait to see it.  ahhhhh, we are in the company of a star.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   billsams | Nov 03, 2005 01:07pm | #16

   Forestgirl,Thank you, my face is turning red now....:-)Bill