tj675
Well-known member
I know those days too well. I used the #8 quite a bit when my jointer needed new blades.
I’m a bit of a Lie Nielsen addict myself.
Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT The Mary Kay Garage
- Thread starter pickles
- Start date
Workspaces sized between 265 and 485 squarefeet.
I know those days too well. I used the #8 quite a bit when my jointer needed new blades.
I’m a bit of a Lie Nielsen addict myself.
From time to time we all do stupid things. For me today it was trying to lug my workbench onto my outfeed table by myself. Even in three pieces this thing is heavy and awkward. Fortunately I got it done. 
No broken bones, no dropped workbench parts and no (additional) trips to the hospital. Normally I would have asked my wife or son to help but they are both in Canada and my daughter is still in DC for an internship. I really didn’t want to wait to I muscled it up myself.
I needed to do this to mark the mortises on the bottom of the two parts of the workbench top. You can see in the photo that the legs of the base have some large tenons. The mortises and gravity will hold this thing all together (there are four large screws too). I’ll mark the mortises cut them, cut the front slab to final length and then this thing will be ready for final assembly.
Really am glad to see the light at the end of this project.
No broken bones, no dropped workbench parts and no (additional) trips to the hospital. Normally I would have asked my wife or son to help but they are both in Canada and my daughter is still in DC for an internship. I really didn’t want to wait to I muscled it up myself.
I needed to do this to mark the mortises on the bottom of the two parts of the workbench top. You can see in the photo that the legs of the base have some large tenons. The mortises and gravity will hold this thing all together (there are four large screws too). I’ll mark the mortises cut them, cut the front slab to final length and then this thing will be ready for final assembly.
Really am glad to see the light at the end of this project.
That's going to be an amazing bench once it's complete. I'd love to make one sometime but the thought of moving it out up a flight of stairs one day makes me want to wait. Well, that and the cost of lumber, the Benchcrafted vises and the amount of time it will take to make.
Legend, I definitely recommend this as a project. It’s definitely pricey stuff and has taken me what seems like forever but it’s also really improved my woodworking skills. I think having the bench itself will also allow me to bring my abilities to another level.
So I ended up working a little more last night after my post above. This is how the workbench sits as I got home a little early from work today. 
The front slab has been mortised and sits on the front legs. I still need to trim it to final length on the right hand side as well as it screw it to the base. I’m going to hope to get the rear slab mortised and fit to the legs tonight. And then final flattening and finishing and admittedly probably another half dozen small projects including cutting some curves into the leg vise and making a plane stop to go between the two slabs. But it’s close to being able to be really called a workbench now.
The front slab has been mortised and sits on the front legs. I still need to trim it to final length on the right hand side as well as it screw it to the base. I’m going to hope to get the rear slab mortised and fit to the legs tonight. And then final flattening and finishing and admittedly probably another half dozen small projects including cutting some curves into the leg vise and making a plane stop to go between the two slabs. But it’s close to being able to be really called a workbench now.
tj675
Well-known member
Congrats on a beautiful bench!!
Thanks TJ. Very happy with it myself.
Workbench update,
This is about as close to being done as you can get without actually being done. I’ve done a final flatting of both halves of the top, sanded the entire bench and applied two coats of Danish oil to the whole thing. I also trimmed the top to final length. I still do need to cut the leg vise into a prettier shape and then put some oil on that too. It’s unfinished wood in the photo above. I also want to make a plane stop to go between the two halves of the top and finally to make a sliding deadman too. I don’t have the walnut I need for either the plane stop o the deadman so a trip to the wood store in the suburbs is in order.
Before I do that I think I’m going to make a wall hanging tool board for my planes and chisels. The design will be similar to the one you see above that stores my measuring equipment and will be hung to the right of that cabinet above this bench. At least that is the plan. As always I’ll post updates when I make any progress.
This is about as close to being done as you can get without actually being done. I’ve done a final flatting of both halves of the top, sanded the entire bench and applied two coats of Danish oil to the whole thing. I also trimmed the top to final length. I still do need to cut the leg vise into a prettier shape and then put some oil on that too. It’s unfinished wood in the photo above. I also want to make a plane stop to go between the two halves of the top and finally to make a sliding deadman too. I don’t have the walnut I need for either the plane stop o the deadman so a trip to the wood store in the suburbs is in order.Before I do that I think I’m going to make a wall hanging tool board for my planes and chisels. The design will be similar to the one you see above that stores my measuring equipment and will be hung to the right of that cabinet above this bench. At least that is the plan. As always I’ll post updates when I make any progress.
My wife and I go for a walk, weather permitting, every morning. Usually we head east towards Wrigley Field and Lake Michigan. Sometimes also north or south but rarely do we head west. We went that way today however and I decided we should try to head to the area where I found that street parked 1967 green Sedan Deville that I posted about months ago. I wanted to see if she was still there a year later. She was. Unfortunately she is looking very much worse for wear. 
It looks like she hasn’t moved for a long time with a bunch of tree sap and leaves in her and two nearly flat tires. Looks like someone from the city has noticed and she is due to be towed. 
I guess it’s probably the end of the road for her. As a sedan, and a green on green sedan it wouldn’t make economic sense to spend much money to fix her up. It’s kinda surprising she made it as long as she has. Oh well.
It looks like she hasn’t moved for a long time with a bunch of tree sap and leaves in her and two nearly flat tires. Looks like someone from the city has noticed and she is due to be towed. I guess it’s probably the end of the road for her. As a sedan, and a green on green sedan it wouldn’t make economic sense to spend much money to fix her up. It’s kinda surprising she made it as long as she has. Oh well.
Last edited:
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Well... I think "this situation absolutely calls for a really futile and senseless gesture on somebody's part..."My wife and I go for a walk, weather permitting, every morning. Usually we head east towards Wrigley Field and Lake Michigan. Sometimes also north or south but rarely do we head west. We went that way today however and I decided we should try to head to the area where I found that street parked 1968 green Sedan Deville that I posted about months ago. I wanted to see if she was still there a year later. She was. Unfortunately she is looking very much worse for wear.
I guess it’s probably the end of the road for her. As a sedan, and a green on green sedan it wouldn’t make economic sense to spend much money to fix her up. It’s kinda surprising she made it as long as she has. Oh well.
Last edited:
Ford52PU
Well-known member
Looks like they would be a nice pair. Bring home that poor baby 
My wife would literally kill me.Looks like they would be a nice pair. Bring home that poor baby
Ford52PU
Well-known member
Yep been there!
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I understand that a Caddy makes a fine coffin.
quadrcr87
Well-known member
Surely there is a GJ member in the Chicago area looking to adopt a Caddy. Come on community, pull together.
quadrcr87
Well-known member
Since you are out of room in the garage.... maybe she would let you put that 2nd caddy in your living room?
These sold for $26K on BaT.
These sold for $26K on BaT.
Last edited:
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Resistance is futile.
captain14
Well-known member
Maybe a sectional for the deck over the garage. You know just keeping the theme….
I feel like we keep jumping around in this thread. I hope that’s ok. Anyway how about a stereo update. I’ve had two McIntosh amplifiers that I purchased with Amex points in boxes in my family room for a few months now. I finally got around to purchasing a McIntosh pre amplifier to go with them. Actually I bought it a couple of months ago but it was on back order for while so I was only able to pick it up today. My son and I put it together tonight and have enjoyed listening to a couple of albums since. Enjoyable.
The preamp is a McIntosh C8 tube amplifier. The amplifiers are Mc 830 monoblocs. 300 watts into 8 ohms or 480 watts into 4 ohms. The turntable is a NAD we bought a handful of years ago. I’d like to upgrade it at some point. The speakers are Dunlavys that I bought probably 25 years ago. They aren’t made anymore. I love them.
The stereo cabinet is one I made years ago too. My next big woodworking project now that the workbench is done will be to make a replacement.
The preamp is a McIntosh C8 tube amplifier. The amplifiers are Mc 830 monoblocs. 300 watts into 8 ohms or 480 watts into 4 ohms. The turntable is a NAD we bought a handful of years ago. I’d like to upgrade it at some point. The speakers are Dunlavys that I bought probably 25 years ago. They aren’t made anymore. I love them.
The stereo cabinet is one I made years ago too. My next big woodworking project now that the workbench is done will be to make a replacement.
Last edited:
Prospecter
Well-known member
Looks great! No worries. We like anything with pictures!I feel like we keep jumping around in this thread. I hope that’s ok. Anyway how about a stereo update. I’ve had two McIntosh amplifiers that I purchased with Amex points in boxes in my family room for a few months now. I finally got around to purchasing a McIntosh pre amplifier to go with them. Actually I bought it a couple of months ago but it was on back order for while so I was only able to pick it up today. My son and I put it together tonight and have enjoyed listening to a couple of albums since. Enjoyable.
The preamp is a McIntosh C8 tube amplifier. The amplifiers are Mc 830 monoblocs. 300 watts into 8 ohms or 480 watts into 4 ohms. The turntable is a NAD we bought a handful of years ago. I’d like to upgrade it at some point. The speakers are Dunlavys that I bought probably 25 years ago. They aren’t made anymore. I love them.
The stereo cabinet is one I made years ago too. My next big woodworking project now that the workbench is done will be to make a replacement.
With summer quickly coming to an end it’s time to gear up to get some projects done this fall/ winter. I’m a little disappointed with how many projects I was able to get thru this summer. I guess that is not all that unusual as I usually wish I could get more done. Summer is also typically a time to be a little lazy. Plus we bought a boat this year and enjoying that has taken up a lot of time especially on the weekends. Anyway the boat goes into storage in another week or two so it’s time to start gearing up for cold weather projects.
I put a chalk board on the garage to keep track of ongoing projects.
I have a number of Mary Kay projects to do. Certanly the people in Virginia have done the heavy lifting on getting her into fighting shape but there are a number of things I want to do myself. I started today with getting a convertible boot for her.
Top up:
Top down:
Boot on:
I think that justifies Miller time for me!
In all seriousness I haven’t wanted to do anythint this summer that would take Mary Kay off the road for any period of time. I wanted to enjoy her. Happily I’ve driven her a ton this summer.
I do have additional projects for her. Her stereo hasn’t worked since I’ve owned her so I also bought a retro stereo for her.
This just got delivered today. Will plan to install when it’s colder outside. As the chalk board says I do plan on redoing the door cards. While mostly white they are a yellowish white that doesn’t match the new seats. I’ll also install new rubber seals on the doors too. And she needs to headlights. It’s not on the list but maybe I’ll try to get her air conditioning to work again some day too.
Speaking of cold if I’m going to try to do more garage projects in the winter I’m going to need to keep it warm this winter. I bought an insulated garage door when I built the garage initially. I also insulted the bump out area of the garage when I put in drywall too. Next Friday I have a crew schedule to come in and spray foam the ceiling. Four inches of closed cell spray foam. The walls will stay I insulated. They are concrete block and brick. I would not want to,lose the garage space that would be required to insulated the walls. I’m going to hope this is sufficient, maybe not to get to 72 but to at least get it warm enough that I can be out there in January without freezing my *** off. I plan to install a Mr Cool mini split myself. The air handler will be mounted on the wall near where I have the bikes. I plan to put the condenser on the roof deck.
I’ll post up some more pictures once I get the ceiling done. Cheers as always.
I put a chalk board on the garage to keep track of ongoing projects.
I have a number of Mary Kay projects to do. Certanly the people in Virginia have done the heavy lifting on getting her into fighting shape but there are a number of things I want to do myself. I started today with getting a convertible boot for her.
Top up:
Top down:
Boot on:
I think that justifies Miller time for me!
In all seriousness I haven’t wanted to do anythint this summer that would take Mary Kay off the road for any period of time. I wanted to enjoy her. Happily I’ve driven her a ton this summer.
I do have additional projects for her. Her stereo hasn’t worked since I’ve owned her so I also bought a retro stereo for her.
This just got delivered today. Will plan to install when it’s colder outside. As the chalk board says I do plan on redoing the door cards. While mostly white they are a yellowish white that doesn’t match the new seats. I’ll also install new rubber seals on the doors too. And she needs to headlights. It’s not on the list but maybe I’ll try to get her air conditioning to work again some day too.
Speaking of cold if I’m going to try to do more garage projects in the winter I’m going to need to keep it warm this winter. I bought an insulated garage door when I built the garage initially. I also insulted the bump out area of the garage when I put in drywall too. Next Friday I have a crew schedule to come in and spray foam the ceiling. Four inches of closed cell spray foam. The walls will stay I insulated. They are concrete block and brick. I would not want to,lose the garage space that would be required to insulated the walls. I’m going to hope this is sufficient, maybe not to get to 72 but to at least get it warm enough that I can be out there in January without freezing my *** off. I plan to install a Mr Cool mini split myself. The air handler will be mounted on the wall near where I have the bikes. I plan to put the condenser on the roof deck.
I’ll post up some more pictures once I get the ceiling done. Cheers as always.
Last edited:
Prospecter
Well-known member
Generally I don't need it specially warm or cool in the shop. I am moving around most of the time, and the mini split cassette is right above my bench. Since your garage is a garage and shop, not a Man Cave, I suspect you'll be fine, even during the winter in Chicago.
It’s been raining today in Chicago so no boating, no riding about in Mary Kay. So I decided to try to get some work done in the basement. Specifically I worked on putting together a wall hanging shelf that will be used to store my nicer hand planes and chisels. Here is the dry fit. 
It’s not glued up yet. The clamps I put on so I could move it from the other side of the workshop. This will go on the open space of wall you see behind where it is now. The joints of the main body of the case are hand cut dovetails. I wanted to get some practice in cutting dovetails as I am hoping to use them when I build the new stereo cabinet I am planning to start this fall/ winter. The wood is all hard maple that I had left over from the workbench project.
It’s not glued up yet. The clamps I put on so I could move it from the other side of the workshop. This will go on the open space of wall you see behind where it is now. The joints of the main body of the case are hand cut dovetails. I wanted to get some practice in cutting dovetails as I am hoping to use them when I build the new stereo cabinet I am planning to start this fall/ winter. The wood is all hard maple that I had left over from the workbench project.
82355
Well-known member
You only want a shop heated to 60, maybe 65 degrees, or you get hot while working in it. It is very annoying to be sweating in a shop in the winter.
Martin
Martin
I saw this on the block today. 
Street parked AstonMartin SUV. This is actually the third or forth time I’ve seen this car street parked nearby so it must be a regular thing. I thought I was silly for street parking a five year old BMW M5. This guy has certainly one upped me with this.
Street parked AstonMartin SUV. This is actually the third or forth time I’ve seen this car street parked nearby so it must be a regular thing. I thought I was silly for street parking a five year old BMW M5. This guy has certainly one upped me with this.
Garage Update: I finally got the ceiling of my garage insulated yesterday. Four inches of closed cell spray foam. 
The truck showed up yesterday at 8 and the two man crew was done around 2. The cost, for reference to anyone considering this, was $2,200 for my slightly oversized two car garage.
The goal is to add a mini split and be able to work on Mary Kay and to be able to also wash my cars without freezing my *** of this Chicago winter.
I‘ve also wanted to paint my ceiling and improve my lights. Obviously it only made sense to do that after I got this insultion done.
The truck showed up yesterday at 8 and the two man crew was done around 2. The cost, for reference to anyone considering this, was $2,200 for my slightly oversized two car garage.
The goal is to add a mini split and be able to work on Mary Kay and to be able to also wash my cars without freezing my *** of this Chicago winter.
I‘ve also wanted to paint my ceiling and improve my lights. Obviously it only made sense to do that after I got this insultion done.
Last edited:
Wall hanging chisel and hand plane cabinet is glued up. Need to sand, finish, put on a backer and hang still. I’d like to think I can do that tomorrow but at worst case I expect to have this done this coming week. It will be nice to clean up the workshop a bit once this is done 
Prospecter
Well-known member
Looks like all your progress if forward! Is that a track saw under your bench?
Under the bench is a Festool dust collector. I forget the model number right now but can post a photo of it if you like. I do have a Festool track saw however. It’s TS 55 and it lives under the outfed table I built. It comes in very handy when working with plywood as my shop is too small to manipulate a full sheet on my table saw.
Prospecter
Well-known member
I also like the track saw better than a portable table saw when I am away from home.
captain14
Well-known member
Is that tool cabinet on the right recessed into a former well opening?
Your tool displays look good. Now maybe a small low voltage cabinet light above each one….
Your tool displays look good. Now maybe a small low voltage cabinet light above each one….
It is a window. Originally it was presumably a regular window but somebody replaced it with glass block at some point presumably for security reasons. Before we did the major remodel and addition to our house that was the back wall of the house and the window looked into the back yard. We added a family room on the back of the house so then it became a window into our crawl space. In other words not much of a window. The glass block is still there but I framed it in and put up some metal pegboard just to get some extra storage,
I thought I’d do a quick update. I got my tool display cabinet glued up, sanded and finished this week. I put a backer on today and hung it. I still need to make some chisel holders that will go in the empty area to the far right and also make a saw till to hold my dovetail and tenon saws. These will hopefully fit in the smaller empty area to the left. I’m hoping that I can get that done in the next day or two.
Im also hoping to get my garage ceiling painted in the next weekend or two. I ordered a Wagner airless sprayer which I’m hoping to have this week. I decided on buying one instead of renting because I might also paint the ceiling oh my basement workshop too. Rent a sprayer twice and you’ve almost bought a new one.
Im also hoping to get my garage ceiling painted in the next weekend or two. I ordered a Wagner airless sprayer which I’m hoping to have this week. I decided on buying one instead of renting because I might also paint the ceiling oh my basement workshop too. Rent a sprayer twice and you’ve almost bought a new one.
I thought I’d do a quick update. I got my tool display cabinet glued up, sanded and finished this week. I put a backer on today and hung it. I still need to make some chisel holders that will go in the empty area to the far right and also make a saw till to hold my dovetail and tenon saws. These will hopefully fit in the smaller empty area to the left. I’m hoping that I can get that done in the next day or two.
Im also hoping to get my garage ceiling painted in the next weekend or two. I ordered a Wagner airless sprayer which I’m hoping to have this week. I decided on buying one instead of renting because I might also paint the ceiling oh my basement workshop too. Rent a sprayer twice and you’ve almost bought a new one.
Beautiful work!!!
I need to hang some tools up in the basement........ta da.
