Evolution of my shop

Published on by Mike

2013-06-08 16.06.27Yes, I know, my posts drop off when I am working out in the shop.  However, the time between my last post and this one has not gone to waste!  There have been quite a few changes in the shop!  Every shop is a constantly changing environment.  When we first moved into this house, most of my tools were small and portable, and I would take them out to the driveway and work.  Most of the projects I undertook then were home improvement/repair related, and a few other smaller woodworking projects which were well perforated with brad nails.  (Sorry Norm)  The white cabinet on the wall I made for power hand tools, and really was the first storage towards my shop.  It was perfect for that use, and was on the wall for quite a few years.  Everything else I had was well stored on the peg board around it.  However, as my interest in woodworking grew, and my projects became more sophisticated, my tool needs changed, and therefore my storage needs changed.  Now if you told be 3 years ago that I would have a hand tool collection beyond a set of chisels, I would have laughed.  However, that soon changed, and my hand tools started growing.  Quickly.  🙂  So that is how and why the hand tool cabinet project began.  Other storage needs had also cropped up besides hand tools.  Last year I started buying clamps.  Real clamps.  Not the junk i had bought from a discount store a few years ago.  In fact I have started buying Bessey Revos and Bessey F-clamps.  The nice thing about the Revos, they do stand up on their own.  However, they do take up a lot of floor space, and honestly, I have knocked them over more then I care to admit.  So, wall storage was needed as well.

2013-06-24 23.08.322013-06-22 14.58.54So, now the hand tool cabinet is up on the wall, and my still growing collection of hand tools are stowed away in it.  Each tool, that didn’t end up on the plane till or in the chisel rack all had custom hangers made for them.  I eventually want to put a saw till in the right door, but with just the one dovetail saw and the one Japanese saw, I decided to leave that for a later project.   I still need to make the drawers for the cabinet, but those will come later as well.  I also made two clamp racks.  The first one is for the k-bodies.  If you notice, it is intentionally only half full.  I am not buying those clamps yet.  🙂  I also made a rack down lower for my smaller clamps, including the F-Style clamps.

2013-06-24 23.08.05I dare not call the hand tool cabinet finished.  I don’t think I will ever call it finished, as it is meant to grow and change as  I do in my woodworking.  So don’t be surprised if 5 years from now if I still make the occasional update on it.  For now, on to the next project!

Oh, and the white cabinet did not go to waste.  My Dad took it, and is going to use it in his garage.

2 comments on “Evolution of my shop”

  1. Belle initiative, mais dans vingt ans, et un atelier occupé tout les jours cela serra toujours le même désordre. La seule solution est de posséder un espace de rangement défini à chaque nouvel outil qui rentre dans l’atelier et ranger tout tout les soirs… (bon courager)

    Translated by Google Translate:
    Great initiative, but in twenty years, and a workshop held every day it still shook the same disorder. The only solution is to have a storage space defined at each new tool that goes into the studio and put everything away every night … (encourage good)

    1. Thank you for your comments. I completely agree with having storage space for each tool area. I fact just last night I was working on the storage area around the table saw. With my shop being in a garage, every new tool does take some thought as to placement, as well as to good storage of any accessories for it. A workable storage solution is only as good as its ease to grab and put back the item being used.

      As for what my shop looks like in 20 years, I doubt it will look anything like it does today, even if I have a lot of the same machines and tools I do now. I believe that any shop will always be changing. The introduction of a new tool can make significant changes as well as what projects are being taken on can affect the layout and storage needs of the shop. Also as my own skill and experience changes will have an impact on how my shop is setup. I have been woodworking as serious hobby for a little over 3 years now. It took using my tools, and having a variety of projects for me to come up with what I have now. Who knows what I will come up with in 3 more years.

      Traduit en français par Google Translate:

      Merci pour vos commentaires. Je suis entièrement d’accord avec avoir un espace de stockage pour chaque zone de l’outil. J’ai fait hier soir, je travaillais sur la zone de stockage autour de la table de la scie. Avec ma boutique étant dans un garage, chaque nouvel outil prend un peu de pensée comme le placement, ainsi que pour une bonne conservation de tous les accessoires pour elle. Une solution de stockage utile est seulement aussi bon que sa facilité à saisir et remettre le produit utilisé.

      Quant à ce que ma boutique ressemble dans 20 ans, je doute qu’il se penchera tout comme il le fait aujourd’hui, même si j’ai beaucoup de ces mêmes machines et des outils que je fais maintenant. Je crois que n’importe quel magasin sera toujours en train de changer. L’introduction d’un nouvel outil peut apporter des changements significatifs ainsi que les projets qui sont prises sur peut affecter les besoins de mise en page et de stockage du magasin. Aussi mon propre compétence et l’expérience des changements auront un impact sur ​​la façon dont mon magasin est installé. J’ai été le travail du bois en tant que passe-temps sérieux pour un peu plus de 3 ans maintenant. Il a fallu utiliser mes outils, et d’avoir une variété de projets pour moi d’arriver à ce que j’ai maintenant. Qui sait ce que je vais venir avec en 3 ans de plus.

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