Thread: New Workshop and Machines for Christmas

Any pics?

This is a huge machine acquisition in one go! Good luck with the workshop fit out, and certainly hand tools are useful if you do a wide variety of woodworking projects (I guess that there are some projects that can be fully done by machines, but they are not the most interesting ones!)

Sounds like you have all the toys. I guess the benefit you have is you have a blank canvas to layout all your machines to the best work flow up front. Then build your benches and cabinets around that to suit.

Look forward to seeing great things come out of your shed.

Looking forward to see how things progress from here.

I would suspect that you will not fully give up on the hands tools.

Can I come over and play
Mum said I could ?!?!?!

Originally Posted by Tahlee

I am somewhat concerned that after 40 years of using mostly hand tools that I am entering a new era with power tools ... my trusty planes, handsaws, and chisels will still have a place I suspect.

Regards

Rob

Hi Rob,
Congratulations! My guess is that we are seeing the culmination of years of hard work to get to this point in your life? Having done something similar, but over a longer time frame, may I offer a few unsolicited suggestions. IF your woodwork is indeed a hobby and NOT a commercial enterprise then I hope you make the same discoveries as I did. All of the machines and power tools are simply there to get you to the point where you can finish with your hand tools! When I have finished a piece of furniture, my real joy comes from knowing, but probably not saying, that everything visible has been finished by me and my hand tools, no electricity, no computers, just the skills that men and women have used over the centuries. There's a pretty fair argument that says power tools have replaced the old apprentice but NOT the craftsman!
I hope you also get to share the joy that I do in getting much more quickly to the joy of creating a piece ... not just making it!
enjoy!
fletty

Originally Posted by fubar

Any pics?

Here are a few pic of the Workshop.

The first shows the workshop at the bottom of the block. It is quite a fall (the decking on the left is 2.2M above ground level) and there was 1.1M of fill required to level the workshop floor.

The second shows the outdoor work area ... I will put a pergola over it as a winter project. The double roll door at the front of the workshop will give me plenty of room for long timber, and the 1.2M side access door will ensure that I can move my equipment out to the paved area OK.

The machines are seen in pic 3 ... I set-up the combo machine today ... it is very quiet and the spiral head gives a fine result ....

You can see the dust collector at the back that needs to be assembled, along with the 14/12 band saw, and of course the Fusion 36.

The 12mm plywood for the lining is under the dust collector ... I want to get that done so I can build my benches.

All went well assembling the jointer/planer ... I have got to master the cleaning of the grease from the cast iron and the sealing with wax ... I used a combination of paraffin oil, WD40, household cleaner, and followed that up with an application of bees wax. I think I should have used 2 or 3 coats of floor wax instead of the bees wax ... I will redo tomorrow.

Getting the jointer/planer out of its crate and onto the mobile base was not an easy task (its over 200 kg) ... a system of levers and wedges finally did it. It was only after I had it assembled on the base that I discovered that I will need to take the front panel off (monthly) to check the belts and oil the bearings and chains ... that means disassembling the trolley each time!! ... I might make a larger trolley.



IMG_1584.JPGIMG_1573.JPGIMG_1576.JPGIMG_1577.JPG

I have a collection of woordworking magazines and have earmarked the projects that I would like to do .... but I want to start with some less complex pieces so that I can have time to get the finishes up to scratch.

Now 5 months retired .... and living the dream

Any comments of lighting and bench design would be welcome.

Regards

Rob

Originally Posted by fletty

Hi Rob,
...... When I have finished a piece of furniture, my real joy comes from knowing, but probably not saying, that everything visible has been finished by me and my hand tools, no electricity, no computers, just the skills that men and women have used over the centuries. There's a pretty fair argument that says power tools have replaced the old apprentice but NOT the craftsman!
I hope you also get to share the joy that I do in getting much more quickly to the joy of creating a piece ... not just making it!
enjoy!
fletty

Thanks for the very insightful comments .... to be able to properly hand finish pieces and avoid the temptations of the machines ... is a very salient point.

I recently went to a woordworking expo ... the joinery was first class in many pieces ... but too many projects seem to be rushed in the finishing. I often think that a well finished average jointed piece is better appreciated than a poorly finished exemplar jointed piece.

Regards

Rob

Rob, consider putting up a small lean to or shed behind the main shed for the dusty and porting thru the wall. Getting the dust out of the shed is the best thing you can do!

Consider getting an engine crane from super cheap auto etc. Great for lifting and moving machines etc around the shed makes things much safer and save your back or hernias. They are often on sale around the $200 mark.

You may also want to consider your power points in relation to the machines layout and get a sparky in before you clad the walls. Make sure you know where the wires are before you screw the cladding to the wall and the conduit/wiring.


As for your question about benches that is a can of worm you want to keep closed There is a bench thread on the forum showing example of peoples benches also one on vices. Apart from that there are many build threads. Make it well and make it solid apart from that it is all personal choices based on your budget, ability, height, and what work you intend to do, mostly I think people just end up making he one they think look the best . This is due to when you start out you don't really know all those answers.

I doubt that the word workbench is grammatically correct or even physically possible. The singular form of the word does not exist. It is more accurate to say workbenches. Whatever you make you will like for a while then.... Doubts will come, the creeping and insidious desire to fiddle with it will keep you awake at night. Strange rashes will appear on nameless parts of your body. And so will be born the next incantation of the workbenches.

Looks like a lot of planning has gone in to this shed. Great selection of quality machines so far. Enjoy the room you have at the moment as it won't last. Cupboards, benches and machines will soon fill it up.
I agree with DSEL74 on the power points. You will be surprised how many you actually need down the track, especially if you have a number of power tools whether hand or machines. Any points you put in, make sure they are doubles as they don't cost any more to install, but give you twice as many to choose from.
Ah retirement, looking forward to it.

Originally Posted by Treecycle

Looks like a lot of planning has gone in to this shed. Great selection of quality machines so far. Enjoy the room you have at the moment as it won't last. Cupboards, benches and machines will soon fill it up.
I agree with DSEL74 on the power points. You will be surprised how many you actually need down the track, especially if you have a number of power tools whether hand or machines. Any points you put in, make sure they are doubles as they don't cost any more to install, but give you twice as many to choose from.
Ah retirement, looking forward to it.

And if you can get at least one 15 amp outlet that might prove useful

You may want to consider having suspended Power points to reduce running leads across the floor.