The Almost 10 by Almost 15

[Squashfest81]

In our quest toward the ocean, I've given up the 2 car for this Almost 10 by Almost 15.
Still need to drag in the 60in Vidmar, Card file, Gold Craftsman bench, 40's drill press, and the Shopsmith. Sadly, the 76 Trailduster, aka Ramcharger, will never squeeze in.
Spoiler alert! Shed goes up 18 inches on page 5!

 

[Squashfest81]

First roadside find to make its way into the shop. Two metal cabs totaling 51 inches by 30. Gave them a quick hit with the sander and a rough spray in the wind.
Pic taken after hung in the “raised” shed.

 

[Irongrave]

I though my new shop at 12x24 was small very interested to see how you outfit it. I love small space builds

 

[Squashfest81]

And some of the projects lined up. The press just needs a clean. The cool Craftsman sharpener needs a little more.
This is where I'll need to stay organized and modular. I know some mount multiple items to use in 2in receivers, some on a workmate. I'm thinking each mounted to hold in a woodworking vise mounted to the bench? Glad to finally have a spot to share my stuff.

 

[bczygan]

Very small spaces give us good ideas for larger spaces organization.

Time to build a large shop...!

Bill

 

[Squashfest81]

I agree, some of the coolest stuff on this site comes from the small places. I'll be stealing from all those threads I've been snooping on for years. I have a second shed, so this one will stay Shop related. No bikes, mower, rakes, snowblower. Just hobby.
Posts won't be frequent, but I'll stay on it.

 

[Squashfest81]

Upper shelf created from the old too low 4ft deep useless mouse haven shelf. Not exciting, but necessary to get things off the floor.
Pic deleted due to photodouche. Looks like a shelf.

 

[drivesitfar]

SQ: shelves like that upper loft are great for materials or boxes. i actually only get to use 10x15 of our 2 car garage so my wife can park her car in one side and i bought racks 30 years ago for her STUFF. i do have storage and a shop i lease while i'm gathering stuff for our new home or bigger garage someday.

if you want to see how much a guy can cram in a 10x15 with a garage door on one end and a 18 inch opening on the other for access i'll be happy to post a few pictures for you. if you ask and i for some reason don't see the question please PM me and i will.

i'm guessing you have seen the vise and grinder thread i started in Fabrication a couple years ago when mentioning hitch mounts? there are plenty of ideas on that thread that will help you with your space issues. another idea is to sort of make a lien too on the outside of your shed for a workbench and work area and maybe storage racks set up for materials and stuff you don't need to keep perfectly dry.

cheers and best of luck.

 

[Squashfest81]

Thanks Drives, I spend way too much time lost in the threads you start. The lean to storage on the outside is a great idea. Thinking just 3ft off the entire back. I've also decided on a plan to level and raise the shed. The problem is the door opening is just under my head forcing me to duck. Plus, I need some type of a real door. Spring plan.
1. Reinforce 2. Cut at the base plate 3. jack it up 4. Level 5. Slip in pre-framed 16ish inch walls 6. Done!

 

[Squashfest81]

Couldn't go on without the bandsaw, so I grabbed it from storage and got the Shopsmith back together. Its been cut down 16 inches and I have the larger more modern table setup. Should serve me well in the small shop.

 

[Squashfest81]

The sketched up plan. Raise it up 16ish inches and bump out the side 4x8 with a simple shed roof. This will give the 30 inch deep Vidmar and card file a place to live. It also allows for a bench in the middle. I've enjoyed the ability to walk around my bench so this is a huge plus. The rest of the space will be filled quickly with shelves, compressor, Atlas metal bandsaw, Atlas 101 lathe...

 

[Robey5]

Looks like a good planned addition for your shop.

...may I ask... what is the dimensions of your door/opening? Reason I ask is because I will be making a shed in this size range (space allows for it...), and am trying to be mindful of putting a z-turn mower in there with a 52 inch deck...

 

[Squashfest81]

Not the most exciting, but I want to track the transformation.
Thanks for checking it out Robey. The doors open to 54in wide. Don't have a zero, so I can't comment. It's only 68.5 tall. That's my issue.

 

[drivesitfar]

SQ: i scrounge too cause free wood, steel and supplies is a nice thing to have handy and the old stuff is WAAAAAAAAAAY better if you ask me. glad to hear you like a few of the threads i start. any favorite you'd like to mention?

my dad bought a new shopsmith maybe 20 years ago and about 5 years ago said it was mine whenever i came and got it. i really don't have room for it, but i'd like to use the lathe and start turning some wood. i used a wood lathe in 8th grade wood shop class and made a bowl i still use for my spare change.

the bandsaw looks like it might be a good thing to have and my dad's doesn't have one. have you used the lathe or bandsaw and how do you like them?

 

[HSpencer]

SQ

You have a great shop. I also have a shed (8X16) for a woodshop. I love working in it, and in good weather it extends outside. I am all for sheds for woodworking!! Look forward to more photos.

Best Regards
Herb

 

[drivesitfar]

Herb: do you have any pictures of your Woodworking shed set up? i bet SQ wouldn't mind you posting up a few here or do you have a build thread with the shed included you can provide a link to? i just noticed you have a huge build thread and sorry i haven't visited it yet, but if you have woodworking shed pics in it can you tell us the post # or if SQ is ok and asks would you mind posting a few up here for us?

i agree having the woodworking either in it's own area, a shed or outside is a great move. keeps all that debris and sawdust off your cars and tools and stuff.

 

[Squashfest81]

Drives, go grab the Shopsmith! There is a following, but lots of haters. It's not a great table saw, no tilting arbor, but for most of what I do that's not an issue. The key features for me are the 11in bandsaw and 12in disk sander. I've messed a little with the wood lathe, but I need better tools. I've heard that they are decent for smaller projects, but are just too light to spin larger bowls comfortably. Of course weight can be added. I like that if I feel the call to turn, I can.
I'm on the hunt for the belt sander for it as I sold my stand alone 6x48 to downsize into the shed.
Oh, my machine I cut down the tubes 16in to keep it fully functional, but compact.

 

[HSpencer]

Herb: do you have any pictures of your Woodworking shed set up? i bet SQ wouldn't mind you posting up a few here or do you have a build thread with the shed included you can provide a link to? i just noticed you have a huge build thread and sorry i haven't visited it yet, but if you have woodworking shed pics in it can you tell us the post # or if SQ is ok and asks would you mind posting a few up here for us?

i agree having the woodworking either in it's own area, a shed or outside is a great move. keeps all that debris and sawdust off your cars and tools and stuff.

@Drives and SQ

As requested following are posts in my thread, thread reference below, depicting
woodshed photos:

Page Post
19 363
20 381,382
21 415
24 464
25 488
26 506
33 642
52 1024
59 1167

I may have missed some. There are many other photos with woodworking equipment
scattered throughout my thread. Right now, here in the dead of winter, the place looks like bubble gum
and barbed wire or I would post some more recent for you!

Stop by, glad to have you comment.

Best Regards
Herb

 

[drivesitfar]

SQ: i think a PRO stopped in at your thread and i'm happy he did to show us a few things.

HERB: i started looking at your thread and hopefully i'll catch up. i like where you started cause that looks a lot like my little shed i'm going to make bigger probably this summer. for now it's 6x13 and it has a 2x6 cutout cause it's up against my house and my fireplace.

thanks for taking the time to post up all the pages of your woodshop and even though i haven't got to see them all i've seen enough to know you are getting or you are ORGANIZED!!

 

[HSpencer]

Drives (and thanks SQ)

Drives I was looking for your build thread but had little time and no luck. I did see the link to the chair build for your daughter above. If you have a shop build thread let me know so I can see what your up to. Give me a pm if you have a link.
SQ
Keep up the good work. your place is going to be fantastic!! Thanks for sharing it with us!!

Best Regards
Herb

 

[drivesitfar]

Herb: sorry i don't have a BUILD THREAD cause i'm only allowed a 9x15 portion of our 2 car garage cause my bride wants to park her car inside the garage every day. i do have a few sheds and a shop i lease so i probably will start a build thread just because i always need ideas and it's sorta fun hosting a thread with all the great members GJ has.

SQ: so do you put flax seed, hemp seed, chia seeds, coconut flakes or any nuts in your pancakes? or do you just eat them with fresh fruit and syrup?

cheers and hope you had a great weekend.

 

[Squashfest81]

Thanks Drives,
I prefer a basic pancake, maybe nuts or fruit, with real syrup.
Snow is gone and the sun as shining. Begin operation Level the Shed. The whole front had settled more than the back with the right corner down like 5 inches. Started off with the car jack, which lifted the left side easily.

That low front corner did not work out so well. All that side load was tweaking my jack. 25 bucks and we are back in business with a 6 ton bottle. This corner soil is soft so I replaced the post with something larger.

 

[captain14]

I'm interested in yiur lifting the shed process. Just be careful and don't get hurt.

 

[-Brent-]

My friend's father had a shop similar to the size of your shed. It was nothing like yours as far as build quality. It was barely a shack. But it was well equipped (for what he did) and he was always tackling projects from building a post WW2 era Jeep to his many snow mobiles and all sorts of things in between. He was like an older version of MacGyver. Most of his work was outside. He had a small workbench behind the shed and, like yours, there was woods behind so we'd sweep off leaves and twigs to use the bench.

It's funny, we'd all love a huge shop but I have really fond memories of that little spot.

 

[sublime68charger]

I like your little shed!

Nice work on the getting back to level!

 

[Squashfest81]

Thanks guys,
She's not back to level yet, but will be. I've got to replace that front corner post with something more substantial. Then figure out the next stage of adding 18 inches to the walls. I think I've got a plan. Don't worry Captain, my keeping all of my fingers is paramount.

 

[Squashfest81]

Stole some time this morning and replaced that post. Large concrete chunk, large solid block, a hollow block, and we are level. See pic above.
Stage one complete. On to stage 2 prep. Need to deal with a large tree and scrounge materials.

 

[drivesitfar]

SQ: nice work. did you mention what PHASE 2 is? even if that settles a bit you know how to fix that now and maybe dig a hole a foot or so down and fill with concrete for a base if it's still moving and then build on top of that footing with your blocks.

looks like you are good to go for now though. WELL DONE!!

 

[Squashfest81]

Thanks again Drives. Phase 2 is waiting on some tree dropping. I've got some big trees that need to come down. One stands in the way of my 4ft bump out. The tree climbing dude is hoping for the end of the week. Phase 2 is raising the shed roof 15 inches. Phase 3 will be the bump out. Phase 4 will be running out power.
Lets not get ahead of ourselves.
Yesterday I traded for this sweet 6x48 belt sander. Yes superfans, its powered by the Shopsmith.

 

[HSpencer]

SQ

To me, ShopSmith has always looked like really high quality tools. Your set up looks great with the table saw and belt sander. It is a great package of working in a small footprint. I have never tried out one, but from the photo it looks like a good deal. The cast iron tables and all seem to be very high quality. Thanks for posting it.

best Regards
Herb

 

[Squashfest81]

Hey Herb. Always up for talking Shopsmith.
There is a ton of strong feelings regarding Shopsmith, so let's all just agree that they are not the greatest tools ever created by man.
With that said I love the Shopsmith. It will never be some giant 4 horse cabinet saw, but with the larger modern tables, it's workable. I despise the lack of a tilting arbor. It powers the bandsaw, a 12 inch sanding disk, and even lets me mess around with wood turning. Sure it tips into a drill press, which I never use. And now powers a 6x48 belt sander.
The sander appears to be of very high quality. I sold my stand alone Craftsman when we moved and have used my father's large older Rockwell. This is way better than the craftsman and feels equal to the Rockwell. It's 1 and an eighth horse. You can even mount the table on either side parallel to the belt.
The Shopsmith really is a study in concessions, but if you set out to build a tool that can do all this, you'd be hard pressed to do it better.
Oh, I also cut 16 inches out of the base to make it as compact as reasonable.

 

[Outlander]

I too work in a relatively small space, many weekends the ATV goes in and out several times!

View media item 21480
More in my albums.

 

[Squashfest81]

I like it Outlander. You are living the high life with all that space.
Tree climbing dude came by today. Now to figure out a splitting plan.
Sure he caught the edge of the shed, but we need to make changes anyway.

 

[jp828108]

It looks like dropping those trees will make a HUGE difference. Sorry to see he hit the shed. The damage doesn't appear to serious at least. I have had a few trees from my place taken down, and have a few more to go, but it makes a huge difference in the way the yard looks.

 

[Squashfest81]

Grabbed a set of three windows off the side of the road. 20in wide and 40tall. Perfect to let light in, but not steal all my wall space.
Going to split them up. 2 to replace the little front windows and the third behind the drill press on the back wall. This also adds another few inches for the DP motor to recess in the window.

 

[Ford52PU]

Nice little shop!! I too have a Shopsmith a very old1960's era Mark 7. I used to use the lathe all the time to turn pens, candle holder etc. Hurt my thumb and had to get it fused a few years back and just havent got back into turning. I also have the bandsaw and table saw but have a free standing table saw as well. Really enjoy your postings, keep on making those changes and your shop will become your hideaway. BTW my avatar is my old garage it was 12x24. I took the picture as the guy was towing it down my driveway to the flat bed to haul it away.

 

[Squashfest81]

Thanks Ford,
I actually traded my 60's 7 for the belt sander. She was in great shape, but I just don't have the room. I don't do much turning, but like that I can. The bandsaw is really key. Don't know how I accomplished anything without it.
Hopefully making some good progress over the next couple weeks.

 

[drivesitfar]

SQ: more light is definitely a plus. if you have skills to put in windows I bet you have skills to add on to if you find materials for the right price (FREE IS GOOD IF YOU ARE LUCKY).

looks like a lot of BIG WIND blew around your place and i'm guessing you are getting plenty of exercise cleaning that all up aren't you?

cheers and best of luck with the windows.

 

[Squashfest81]

I do like free, Drives.
The windows will be perfect for me as a little more light is good, but I don't want to sacrifice too much wall space. I need it all for storage. The raising and addition are next after I get all the tree mess cleaned up.
The pic shows where we are today. About a half cord of under 5in logs are stacked. Logs are bucked off to the right and I'm guessing we have that much again still needing bucking behind the shed. A log splitter rental is also in my future.
Oh, plus those pine logs need to be cut in half again as I can't turn them while rolling. They are just going off to compost in my swamp.

 

[drivesitfar]

SQ: any of that wood good for turning on the Shopsmith's lathe? nice work cleaning it up and that little rockery looks like it might need to be pushed back some more now that you have more cleared space.

best of luck with the windows and even though some projects look easy it's always a challenge for me finding all the tools (especially tape measures cause i must own 30 that are mostly MIA at the moment) and then having the uninterrupted time to actually start and finish a project without stopping.

cheers