Inside My Shop

[Firebird 1]

Heres my poor overcrowded workbench. I built the frame out of mortise and tenon treated 4 x 4's. The top was originally treated 2x6's side to side. I added a commercial grade plastic laminated door to the top a few years after I made the bench. It stays perfectly flat and is a very durable surface. Traditionalist may cringe but this thing has performed well for me for over 30 yrs now. Over time I have added shelves and racks to accommodate any tools that came along.

 

[Firebird 1]

Another far away shot inside my cramped furniture shop.

 

[Firebird 1]

Wall with chop saw station

 

[Firebird 1]

Centre of the shop, 35 yr old Delta Unisaw. High quality still when this was built.

 

[Firebird 1]

I bought this little sjoburg bench quite a few years ago to use as a mobile unit on a job. It was a bit awkward to carry around so I put it in the shop. Its surprising how much I use this thing on a daily basis.

 

[coljar]

Now that shop has character! It might be cramped, but it has cool written all over it. I hope you don't want to change anything.

 

[zkling]

Nice place. On thing great about wood shops is although they may have sawdust everywhere, a little time with a vac and the place is in top shape again. With a metal working shop it seems that chips, oil, grit and grime get into everything and are a pain to thoroughly clean.

 

[Firebird 1]

I do try to keep it somewhat clean. I took these pics whilst in the middle of a project. I like to sweep up the sawdust at the end of everyday. I also will clean up all the small scraps when a project is done. I burn a lot, but when the scrap barrel is full they go to the dump.

 

[8man]

Nice shop. Looks like it is used and that is the best shop.

 

[RedRabbit]

Thats a nice looking shop. I love the bench.

 

[Ben Buck]

Fire, great looking shop that one could get greatly involved in!

Is that a cuppula (sp) that was in one corner of your shop?

Second picture.

 

[DonPowers]

Nice shop, thanks for posting.

What size is your band saw?

 

[Firebird 1]

The cupola is one of my orphaned projects. I found a rotted one with a beautifully patina'd copper roof. I built a the base new, now I need to finish the roof substructure. It will end up on top of my garage. I'll post a pic when its installed. I think the Jet bandsaw is 16". Its a really nice saw but I think they have changed the spec since I bought it 7 or 8 years ago. The blade is an oddball size that I have to mail order. My local woodcraft doesn't stock the size I need.

 

[RivennHewn]

Great space,
would love to see pics of your projects.

Edit: I just found your furniture thread. Dang!

 

[Kevin54]

I do try to keep it somewhat clean. I took these pics whilst in the middle of a project. I like to sweep up the sawdust at the end of everyday. I also will clean up all the small scraps when a project is done. I burn a lot, but when the scrap barrel is full they go to the dump.

Looks great, and a leafblower can be your friend. Just make sure you wear a respirator when you use it.

Now....let's see some pics of the projects

 

[Uncle Dave]

I love it, a workplace instead of a showplace.

 

[HSpencer]

I am always very pleased to see a woodworking shop of any kind. Yours is great. This is a very busy shop as seen by projects in the works. My first thought is thank you for posting this. If possible, I would like to see the whole set up meaning the entire building, inside and outside.
Woodworking shops by their nature (usefulness and ease of working) are rather difficult to set up for those folks who must do so out of a garage, where mechanics tools and other items including the family car, are also kept. Your shop seems to be a "stand alone" wood shop, which is the only way to go and keep your sanity. Wood dust and mechanics tools just really don't go too well together.
Your shop seems to have a lot in it, but to me it does not appear too small. Your work areas seem handy and well placed. What makes it look crowded is the storage of cutoffs which is simply the nature of woodshops. In other words it looks exactly like I would expect a well used and happy shop to look. If I had that much space to make a dedicated woodworking shop, I would also be happy.
I hope you will keep your thread going and post many more pictures. This is quite inspirational!!

Thanks again for posting!

Best Regards
Herb Spencer

 

[Firebird 1]

Thanks Herb, The shop is not very big, I think something like 16 x 24. I mostly build period furniture reproductions( I have a thread here someplace with some pieces I have done) and the size works for that. As typical, a shop is never big enough. The shop is definitely purpose built. I am a contractor by trade and built my own home about 15 yrs ago. I have a large 4 car garage, of which 3 bays have overhead doors for parking cars, motorcylces, project car etc. I have a wall separating the fourth bay with a 6' double door for easy acces. That area is my shop. From the outside it just looks like part of the garage. Unfortunately I only have one window on the side to limit unwanted access from ne'rdowells. It has scissor trusses for a high ceiling which helps make the space larger and I plan on adding a dormer to the roof for more natural light.

 

[rharman]

I like it. As others have said, it is clearly a shop that gets used and there is nothing better than that.

Put up a pic after the sawdust has been cleaned up. It'll be interesting to see the difference.

So much character.... Well done!

 

[turbowoodworker]

I think GJ should pass the basket and buy the OP a dust collecter.

 

[56rpm]

Now that shop has character! It might be cramped, but it has cool written all over it. I hope you don't want to change anything.

Couldn't have said it better.

 

[bj383ss]

Wow! What can I say that hasn't been said. Late to the party but what a fantastic shop. Love the atmosphere you have. I bet it is really easy to stay focused on the woodworking having that inspiration of wood all around. I agree with Herb we need more pictures and pictures of your projects.

 

[Terranova]

Ditto what bj383 said.

 

[Firebird 1]

Thanks guys, I never really thought it was that great after seeing so many operating room shops I always thought I missed the boat somehow. I do have a jet dust collector hooked up to the tables saw with a couple outlets I can hook up to my planer or sander. I also have a delta air scrubber. It does a good job but I would like to add another. I started a thread somewhere here "period furniture" where you can see some of my work.

 

[Firebird 1]

Not furniture but here are a couple doors I made for a wine cellar. Cherry with a stain. The one door has a "speak easy" door which I had a blacksmith make a wrought iron grille for.

 

[Terranova]

Right, I checked out the other thread... Nice dovetails on the blue chest. Among all the crazy amazing otheir stuff...

 

[Eric Commarato]

don't change a thing!

 

[Modern Jess]

Missed this until it was resurrected today. I love to see wood shops posted here, and this one certainly fulfills that.

 

[Woody610nb]

Open the doors and turn on the leaf blower, it's a great way to get the cobwebs and dust out.