Dan Smith's Dream Shop

Ryan · Feb 3, 2017

This has to be the cleanest wood shop that I have ever seen... and that tool chest? Off the charts....
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.

Stuart in MN · Feb 3, 2017

Pretty impressive. I assume he did a LOT of cleaning before the photo shoot, it's pretty hard to keep a wood shop from being dusty.

mccollum · Feb 3, 2017

That. Was. Beautiful. The depth of thought he put into the tool chest alone is amazing.

MBfreak · Feb 3, 2017

Craftmanship on a very high level. The wall cabinet is out of this world!

I have seen a tool chest in Vietnam that was built along the same lines as the wall cabinet. It was for a travelling carpenter, very well used, probably quite old but wonderfully made.

Ola

gdocktor3 · Feb 3, 2017

That was pretty amazing. I love that cabinet. Never seen anything like that. Everything was so clean, neat and tidy I'd think it was part a maritime museum. Almost too clean...

justanengineer · Feb 3, 2017

Looks like beautiful work, his shop and boats are very reminiscent of my wife's grandfather, he apprenticed as a wood ship builder 60 years ago and has several he's built over the years.

dirt_dobber · Feb 3, 2017

I don't know what's in me to be so suspicious - I really wish I wasn't that way. But it looks like those tools in his cabinet have never seen any heavy use at all.

The guy and the story is amazing and I agree - it was VERY impressive wall toolbox - nicest I have ever seen. The equipment he has in the shop looks to be high end stuff. And the place was almost surgically clean.

txvwnut · Feb 3, 2017

Wow! With that view inside and out I'd have a hard time getting anything done.

James E · Feb 4, 2017

Even if I had the ability to build a tool cabinet like that, the level of planning just to decide where and how to put the tools would scare me away from that job.

OCD · Feb 4, 2017

That's too neat for me... Gives me the museum vibe, and your not supposed to touch anything in the museum...

1/2 Cup · Feb 4, 2017

Just awesome, I could only dream of a shop like that..

TMcCay · Feb 4, 2017

When I click on the link the following page only has a large black rectangle. No play button in the middle as usual. Anyone else have this issue?

mattygee · Feb 4, 2017

^Me too...^

velillen01 · Feb 4, 2017

TMcCay said:
When I click on the link the following page only has a large black rectangle. No play button in the middle as usual. Anyone else have this issue?

I just went to youtube and searched "Dan Smith's Dream Shop" and it was the first video. About 4 minutes long.

I agree with others. Absolutely awesome looking shop. But way to clean even on the tools. Nothing looks used.

mattygee · Feb 4, 2017

Just checked out the YouTube vid.. No doubt a nice setup and I don't doubt he built the boat but like some others have chimed I'm still from Missouri on this one. Not even a rub mark on a saw blade or a stray crumb in the brush?

ez-duzit · Feb 4, 2017

MBfreak said:
...The wall cabinet is out of this world!...

Beautiful work--poor design. Who would want to open. slide all those doors, etc, just to grab a particular tool you might need?

Scuderia-F1 · Feb 4, 2017

Simply exquisite!

smokey0810 · Feb 4, 2017

Love the view also!

Stuart in MN · Feb 4, 2017

ez-duzit said:
Beautiful work--poor design. Who would want to open. slide all those doors, etc, just to grab a particular tool you might need?

The whole point of that type of cabinet is to demonstrate the builder's expertise, not so much the convenience in grabbing a tool quickly. Hanging all the tools on a row of nails pounded in the wall would be more convenient, but it wouldn't have the same style. I imagine this build was inspired by the famous Studley tool cabinet: http://www.finewoodworking.com/2006/09/01/the-h-o-studley-tool-chest

cobraman · Feb 4, 2017

I didn't want it to end. Awesome.

LXCam · Feb 4, 2017

That was insanely impressive.

cvairwerks · Feb 4, 2017

ez-duzit said:
Beautiful work--poor design. Who would want to open. slide all those doors, etc, just to grab a particular tool you might need?

He's probably one of those type workers that gets one tool out, does the task, then cleans up, polishes and waxes the tool and then returns it to it's cabinet location. Rinse and repeat for every tool. No wonder it took him 8 years to build a couple month project....

Ryan · Feb 4, 2017

cvairwerks said:
He's probably one of those type workers that gets one tool out, does the task, then cleans up, polishes and waxes the tool and then returns it to it's cabinet location. Rinse and repeat for every tool. No wonder it took him 8 years to build a couple month project....

There's something to be said for folks that work that way. I'm around a lot of guys that are neat freaks to a fault and every single one of them is a master craftsman.

NedNorton · Feb 4, 2017

Wow. He has a wonderful space and I'm having Bridge City layout tool and Lie-Nielson plane, saw, and chisel envy. All those tools are worth the time spent on the cabinet. Plus, I know a lot of us wish we had the time necessary to devote to a project that is just for the fun of it. Because we just want to.

On the place being uber clean... It all came clear once I saw the Taunton Press credit at the end. I know before they shoot a house they send someone out a day or two early to help get the place staged and to make sure YOU have it spotless. At least that used to be the M.O. I'm guessing that is what went on here.

Either way, very cool space!

Cheers,
Chris

cort · Feb 4, 2017

Nice shop. I could do great work there. The setting alone is inspiring, not to mention the tools.

Tim Kennedy · Feb 4, 2017

Wish I could get something to show up on my computer when I try to log on to the blog site --- oh well.

SteveL · Feb 4, 2017

cvairwerks said:
No wonder it took him 8 years to build a couple month project....

Do you really think that someone could build a sailboat of that size in a couple of months? Based on the age of his kids at the time of the build, I would assume that he had weekends at best to devote to the project, plus, according to him, they only worked in the shop during summer months. I for one am envious of his shop, and skills.

AJ. · Feb 4, 2017

Tim Kennedy said:
Wish I could get something to show up on my computer when I try to log on to the blog site --- oh well.

Just Google Dan Smith's Dream Workshop and you will find the video. The Blog didn't work for me either so that's what I did.

Pretty impressive!

Cheers Andrew

LS6 Tommy · Feb 4, 2017

Usesless. Not a single wrench... :lol_hitti

Tommy

MikeF2316 · Feb 4, 2017

The only trouble with that kind of chest/cabinet (aside from the skill in planning and constructing) is that there's a place for everything... and nothing more. What would you do when you get something new? Or heaven forbid, something breaks and its new replacement doesn't fit into the old location?

LS6 Tommy · Feb 4, 2017

MikeF2316 said:
The only trouble with that kind of chest/cabinet (aside from the skill in planning and constructing) is that there's a place for everything... and nothing more. What would you do when you get something new? Or heaven forbid, something breaks and its new replacement doesn't fit into the old location?

That is exactly why I will never have one of those huge tool boxes where each drawer only contains 8 or 9 tools nested in custom cut foam.

Tommy

ez-duzit · Feb 4, 2017

It's for show--not for practical use.

Tim Kennedy · Feb 4, 2017

AJ: Thanks mate!

Handtoolsforlessdotcom · Feb 5, 2017

oh man, the amount of detail put into each shelf required massive amounts of future planning. every tool fits so perfectly its every neat freaks dream, mine included!

oldmxracer · Feb 5, 2017

AJ. said:
Just Google Dan Smith's Dream Workshop and you will find the video. The Blog didn't work for me either so that's what I did.

Pretty impressive!

Cheers Andrew

Thanks, that worked for Me !

Yes, impressive !

TMcCay · Feb 6, 2017

That is a very impressive shop indeed!

Choirboy · Feb 6, 2017

dirt_dobber said:
I don't know what's in me to be so suspicious - I really wish I wasn't that way. But it looks like those tools in his cabinet have never seen any heavy use at all.

The guy and the story is amazing and I agree - it was VERY impressive wall toolbox - nicest I have ever seen. The equipment he has in the shop looks to be high end stuff. And the place was almost surgically clean.

Actually, not the most impressive wall toolbox I've ever seen... but I was able to see the H.O. Studley tool chest in person at the Handworks festival last year. Makes this one look like someone slapped it together with cardboard and hot glue.

With that said, Dan Smith's box and shop make everything I do look like I slapped it together with cardboard and hot glue... extraordinary workmanship to say the least! Some day I aspire to be half that good.

Yes, when you make a toolbox like this you run the risk of problems if you ever have to replace a tool. I suppose, though, that if you could make a box such as this it would be child's play to turn a matching chisel handle or shape a matching saw handle.

ford33 · Feb 6, 2017

Beautiful shop and boats.

I could never work there. I would accidentally saw into the bench top or get glue on the floor. It's too neat for me and I like a clean neat shop.

LegacyIndustrial · Feb 6, 2017

Few things I'd like to say...
#1. We now know what the inside of an asylum looks like.
#2. This gentleman has extreme talent
#3. I want to thank Ryan for selecting this content
#4. I like the subliminal messaging

Screen Shot 2017-02-06 at 8.43.31 PM.jpg

rubberrodder · Feb 6, 2017

LegacyIndustrial said:
Few things I'd like to say...
#1. We now know what the inside of an asylum looks like.
#2. This gentleman has extreme talent
#3. I want to thank Ryan for selecting this content
#4. I like the subliminal messaging

Sorry to disagree with you on this one L.I.,But I think he might be referring to the legacy of love, and craftsmanship he taught and shared with his sons. As well as the memories made during its construction. You probably already knew that though,ya big joker!

Dan Smith's Dream Shop

Administrator

Well-known member

New member

MEMBER EMERITUS

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Member Emeritus

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Active member

ALLIANCE MEMBER

Well-known member

Administrator

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

ALLIANCE MEMBER

Well-known member