Entertainment? Isn’t just being in the shop entertaining enough? Well of course it is! However, sometimes it is nice to have a little background noise while hand cutting a dovetail, or setting up a power tool for the next operation. Sometimes having a little music on can provide a little rhythm when using the mallet on a chisel. True, a radio or CD player can accomplish this too, but many of us have our music now in a digital format on our MP3 players, phones, tablets, and computers. With internet enabled devices not only do we have to choose from our music we own, but also streaming music options like Pandora and iHeart Radio give a wide range of variety. With all the benefits already covered, the music is an added bonus. Before I left for college many years ago, I bought some decent speakers for my dorm room for my computer so that I could listen to my music in the dorm. When I setup the computer to be permanently in the shop, I dug these speakers up and put them out in the shop. Amazingly enough these speakers still sound just as good as they did back in the 90s, and do well to fill the shop with music.
As for other modes of entertainment from having technology in the shop, the options are endless, from watching videos, TV shows, and Movies , to having shop time with friends on line.
From discussions I have had with others, there is a wide ranging of opinions to having technology in the shop. As it is obvious, I am a proponent of having a dedicated shop computer. I have spoken with others who have a compelling reason to keep the technology out of the shop. Lets face it, our shops are sometimes our own sanctuaries away from reality, and some may feel it be intrusive to have this technology. To be honest, there are times I don’t want it either. The nice thing with technology…… It has an off button!
I hope you have enjoyed this series of articles on Technology in the Shop. If you have enjoyed it let me know!
I do have a radio in the workshop but I rarely put it on. I think it’s a case that I’m normally busy when I’m in there an don’t actually need any additional input for stimulation or relaxation.
Good point. There are times where I don’t want the music on either, especially when turning. Other times, when using the router a lot, milling wood, or other very noisy operations I won’t put the music on either.