(compare to July 2000)
To quote the paragraph below, "it is never really 'done'." I've
spent some time trying to make the shop more productive. I built new outfeed
and extension tables for the table saw. I also installed the Biesmeyer
fence that I've had for almost a year. At some point I'll drop the
outer plate into the extension table so I'll have a good solid place to
make trim pieces. I still haven't finished making the doors for the
cabinets, although I've at least covered up the golf clubs on the right.
I also built one more of the pull-out pantries for the left closet bank.
I've built the 6 small drawers (just to the left of the sliding compound
miter saw) to hold fasteners of all sizes and descriptions. There's
an air filtration unit I hung up this past spring (just above the picture,
to the right of the table saw), as well as putting in some overhead lumber
storage. I also added a 1HP Delta dust collector. It's not
huge, but it does the job OK and it rolls easily to the places I need it.
| The big news is that I've added a new bandsaw. I broke down and
bought the Laguna LT16,
a serious monster of a band saw. Famous last words- I don't foresee
any other major tool purchases in the near future (aside from maybe a small
sanding center/spindle sander). For my birthday, Mom bought the mobility
kit to the saw, which is a HUGE plus. It rolls around the shop very
nicely. Of course I had to add another 220 outlet (split from the
existing line), but that was a minor diversion.
Other minor improvements completed in the shop in the past 12 months included:
|
 |
July 2000
(compare to August 2001)
So a workshop seems like it is never really "done." Back in December,
I decided it was time to get serious and re-organize the entire shop.
I tore out some junk shelves that were along one wall, and decided to build
custom cabinets. (Removing the shelf entailed moving all the crap
into the den for a while, but fortunately I have a tolerant spouse. :-)
The composite picture above shows roughly how it's coming along.
Cabinets aren't so difficult to make as they are time consuming.
Once I got the basic cabinets in and the overhead shelf built, I emptied
out the den and started going to work on the interior drawers, etc.
I bought a Leigh Dovetail Jig to help make the drawers and other parts,
which was a great decision. THe Leigh is definitely the Cadillac
of dovetail jigs.
Part of the cabinet design calls for pull-out pantries (in the left side vertical cabinet). Zoe helps stress test the units to make sure they've been installed correctly. . Here she stands in a slide out pantry that will eventually hold paint and other shop supplies. (No, you nut cases! I didn't put her there as the FIRST test. I checked it with a couple of screwdrivers and a magazine to make sure it would hold the weight. :-) The slide out pantry is basically a big box screwed to a small drawer, which is attached to full extension slides. Works pretty well.
Along with the cabinet drawers, pantries, and trim work, I'm simultaneously working on the countertop, which is made of 5/4 maple, joined up with biscuits. I didn't go for the pure workbench top (2x3's laid on edge) since it shouldn't get quite that much abuse. Still, I think 5/4 maple will take a good pounding. The one drawback to the "build it simultaneously" approach is that sometimes you don't feel like you're making much progress.
A few months ago I had the shop wired with some extra circuits.
It's a big help not to blow the lights in the bathroom while Zoe is taking
a bath. (Mostly it keeps Kath happy). I did some follow-on
work to the basic wiring. Now there are 3-way switches around the
shop that allow me to fire up dust collection from near most of the key
tools. Of course, I still need to install permanent dust collection.
(The shop vac isn't really the long-term solution.)
The old Tool Page is still here if you're interested
in what I think about various tools.
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