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Merry Christmas, Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All! 🎄🎅🏻🎁
What's happening in your shop this winter?
- Thread starter Alan Gage
- Start date
Ok, you have to get out of my thread now and start your own. Preferably with lots of descriptions and higher resolution pictures.
Alan
Other than boat projects there is always upgrading the shop itself. Trying to find places for everything in a single car garage space is a challenge, especially with two peoples "stuff". Recently Christy grabbed some cabinets from her work they were throwing out, which is also how she acquired the bench top pieces and grey storage cabinets on the west wall, just stuff that was being discarded. The bench top pieces are 4 foot by 2 foot sections that are Formica topped so relatively easy to keep clean, even hardened epoxy scrapes off. So far it is 20 feet long with one more piece to go once the giant toolbox leaves, but at some point an upright compressor will likely fill that spot.
The two new cabinets I had to cut about 2" off the bottoms to get them to fit under the existing bench top structure, but that was enough and they just slid right in place. Should keep everything cleaner and slowly finding places for the odds and ends. Biggest issue we likely have is "I" am not neat, Christy tries hard to be neat, but I usually win and it causes issues. I am trying to change but that takes time and I'm getting old fast, lol.
Two boats in a small space is always difficult and under the Tremblay is the shop vac and router and other stuff that doesn't have homes. Once we move the generator out from under the bench they can go in that space. Since I am off and cannot do anything on the boat it is shop cleaning day.
Ultimately we need separate spaces to work in which would solve most issues. Just need to win the lottery.
The two new cabinets I had to cut about 2" off the bottoms to get them to fit under the existing bench top structure, but that was enough and they just slid right in place. Should keep everything cleaner and slowly finding places for the odds and ends. Biggest issue we likely have is "I" am not neat, Christy tries hard to be neat, but I usually win and it causes issues. I am trying to change but that takes time and I'm getting old fast, lol.
Two boats in a small space is always difficult and under the Tremblay is the shop vac and router and other stuff that doesn't have homes. Once we move the generator out from under the bench they can go in that space. Since I am off and cannot do anything on the boat it is shop cleaning day.
Ultimately we need separate spaces to work in which would solve most issues. Just need to win the lottery.
Repurposing and multiple uses is always nice. Good work.
My dad dropped off some old library shelving from a garage he was cleaning out. It was enough to build two nice shelving units in the spare bedroom and three in the shop which provide great storage for bulkier items that don't fit well in drawers.
I like things on wheels. Router table, spindle sander, planer, jointer, and band saw are all on wheels. Some are just a simple platform with casters and others are small cabinets I didn't have a use for. This lets me store them out of the way and when I want to use them I can roll them wherever I want and they're at a nice working height. Table saw is on wheels too so I can move it away from the in/outfeed table where it lives when I have to cut stock over 13' long. I also have a 4' long roll around work bench that's just two base cabinets set on a platform with a cheap melamine top. Handy to have a work surface wherever you want it and since it's so small the amount of crap it can accumulate is limited, which is always a bonus.
Ugh, tell me about it. I'm a slob and I hate it but I seem powerless to do anything about it. Usually I just let things get worse and worse until I can't stand it and then have a big clean-up. Afterwards I tell myself that I won't let it get that messy again That if I just make a point to put things back where they belong it will save me time in the long run since I won't be searching high and low and won't have to spend two days cleaning up shop. But of course that only lasts a few days.
Alan
My dad dropped off some old library shelving from a garage he was cleaning out. It was enough to build two nice shelving units in the spare bedroom and three in the shop which provide great storage for bulkier items that don't fit well in drawers.
I like things on wheels. Router table, spindle sander, planer, jointer, and band saw are all on wheels. Some are just a simple platform with casters and others are small cabinets I didn't have a use for. This lets me store them out of the way and when I want to use them I can roll them wherever I want and they're at a nice working height. Table saw is on wheels too so I can move it away from the in/outfeed table where it lives when I have to cut stock over 13' long. I also have a 4' long roll around work bench that's just two base cabinets set on a platform with a cheap melamine top. Handy to have a work surface wherever you want it and since it's so small the amount of crap it can accumulate is limited, which is always a bonus.
Ugh, tell me about it. I'm a slob and I hate it but I seem powerless to do anything about it. Usually I just let things get worse and worse until I can't stand it and then have a big clean-up. Afterwards I tell myself that I won't let it get that messy again That if I just make a point to put things back where they belong it will save me time in the long run since I won't be searching high and low and won't have to spend two days cleaning up shop. But of course that only lasts a few days.
Alan
Your shop looks nice Mihun, well organized. Do you have to bring all your paints and epoxy in when it gets cold? I have to store all that stuff in the basement. Last night I pulled my EVO out of my wannigan to fry up some hash browns on the wood stove and it was semi frozen.
I also finished this ax last night in the shop. I picked up this old Plumb ax head for a $1 at a tag sale this spring and finally got around to hanging it on an old handle I had laying around. I sanded off the old varnish on the handle and oiled it with Watco. I need to get some leather and make a sheath.
I also finished this ax last night in the shop. I picked up this old Plumb ax head for a $1 at a tag sale this spring and finally got around to hanging it on an old handle I had laying around. I sanded off the old varnish on the handle and oiled it with Watco. I need to get some leather and make a sheath.
My shop is also build on other peoples trash. I also spent today making things fix a bit better in my tiny shop. I've built lot of small projects with tools and hardware in all the corners and horizontal surfaces.
Here a a few of the projects
A guitar stand make from wine barrel staves for my granddaughter.
A firewood rack
The shell of a light made from staves of a Whiskey Barrel. I still need to order fixture and the Edison light bulbs.
Here a a few of the projects
A guitar stand make from wine barrel staves for my granddaughter.
A firewood rack
The shell of a light made from staves of a Whiskey Barrel. I still need to order fixture and the Edison light bulbs.
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Robin, we no longer have cold issues. We had power from the house through a single 15amp circuit but in January the electricians were in and ran 60amps out to the panel we installed then we added the 20amp electric heater. It can be roof mounted but we just leave it on the floor. It will go up to 77F max I believe but we keep the shop normally in the mid 50's only turning it up when I am working out there. There is a insulated covered breezeway between the house and shop which eventually will also be heated by the shop through venting the shop door.
Those are some really cool projects Sweeper. I see a nice Ryobi collection too, I have the old style still preferring Ni-Cad to Li-ion. I can get 2 Ni-Cad batteries for less than one Li-ion and they seem to run longer as well.
Those are some really cool projects Sweeper. I see a nice Ryobi collection too, I have the old style still preferring Ni-Cad to Li-ion. I can get 2 Ni-Cad batteries for less than one Li-ion and they seem to run longer as well.
I bought a Ryobi Drill years ago and every year about this time they have a pair XL batteries for $50. I don't need the big expensive quality tools for my projects.
A pair of compact Li-ion's are $120, or the 4ah ones a pair is $160. Single High Capacity Li-ion's are $88. I can get a pair of Ni-Cads for $70.
Once or twice a year HD has a pair of 4ah batteries for $50 US, I've bought two set at that price.
Wow, not in Canada.
Dose panting the outside of the shop count? Painted the outside of the shop on two sides this last weekend. Just have to put new siding on the other two sides and then paint them also. Just did the roof recently too. Wood buildings do not hold up with out a lot of maintenance in Florida. Hope this gets another twenty years out of the building.
Karin Your shop looks great ! WAAAY better than mine!
I understand the crowded feeling ! My oldest son, Ben has been wanting to build a small canoe, and has some time, so we set up forms.
Once I pull a carbon fiber copy off of Nokomis, It will be a tight squeeze around here !
Sweeper that is some fine work ! I'll bet you could make a great canoe stand with those barrel slats !
Jim
I understand the crowded feeling ! My oldest son, Ben has been wanting to build a small canoe, and has some time, so we set up forms.
Once I pull a carbon fiber copy off of Nokomis, It will be a tight squeeze around here !
Sweeper that is some fine work ! I'll bet you could make a great canoe stand with those barrel slats !
Jim
Thanks Jim, I hadn't thought about that, but I will tomorrow.
G
Guest
Guest
Same here. I have several Ryobi One+ 18V tools, including two drills. I originally purchased an early model Ryobi drill and when the battery for that one began to fail bought another drill. That drill, with battery and charger was on sale for little more than the cost of a new battery. And later a Ryobi circular saw, same on-sale with battery deal.
Having two fully charged drills is beyond advantageous. I keep one with a drill and one with a Phillips head or nut socket for the job at hand so I don’t have to switch between drill and driver.
The shop in NC where I spend time also has Ryobi One+ tools. Since it can be a couple hundred yards (or a half mile) between job sites and electrical outlets there the battery op stuff is a necessity and I just rotate batteries through the chargers so I always have a couple of fully charged batteries to turn to, just in case I find myself a half mile from the shop with two drills, a circular saw and four batteries.
If you have multiple batteries and chargers including Ni-Cads and Lithiums it is best to avoid randomly using the chargers. According to Ryobi the lithiums should only be charged in the dual chemistry chargers (but the Ni-Cads can be charged in either).
I like your “spray” shelf. It looks much like mine, down to the PB Blaster. The PB Blaster label design is almost as funky as Dr Bronners, but that stuff really works and no shop should be without a can.
Also the multiple cans of WD-40. I think I too have 3 cans of WD-40 in the shop. Other than the fact that WD-40 is ubiquitously available I’m not sure why I have 3 cans of it. I rarely use them for anything; I was never that enamored of WD-40 and prefer silicon spray or Teflon dry spray for many uses.
I don’t see any 3M Super 77, but maybe that’s on the adhesives shelf.
It's funny to me that some people prefer the NiCads over Li-ion. I changed my Ryobi over to Lion about 5 years ago and it completely changed my opinion of the tools. Lots more power and speed and the charges lasted much longer and the small ones weigh much less. With Liion I can leave my tools for a month, come back and they are still charged. NiCads when brand new are OK, but as they age they seem to hold less of a charge until they are just about useless. It wasn't the cheapest direction but it definitely made me happy! I bought the 6 port charger, and the impact driver at the same time (which is great by the way). The only things I see wrong with LiIon is the cost and if the batteries are cold they don't work as well for a little while until they heat up.
Mike the Super 77 is on a lower shelf and the silicone went to the barn to spray the snow blower, we got a lot of wet snow with a lot of water in it.
Dave I was very impressed with the circular saws power and the amount it would cut on one battery. It wouldn't be my 1st choice to frame a shed, I've got a wormdriver Makita, but i took it to work for a large shelving project and it did everything I needed it to.
Dave I was very impressed with the circular saws power and the amount it would cut on one battery. It wouldn't be my 1st choice to frame a shed, I've got a wormdriver Makita, but i took it to work for a large shelving project and it did everything I needed it to.
G
Guest
Guest
Same here. I still have one Ni-Cad that will hold a decent charge, but the Lithiums were a near quantum leap. I need another Lithium charger (I have one of each, and one of each in the NC shop) and may have to keep an eye out for a deal, either on a 6-port charger or another sale-priced Ryobi tool with battery included.
The later generation drills are also an improvement on the earlier versions.
I have no snow blower. I have two sons who each received a quality snow shovel a few years ago, undisguisedly wrapped under the Christmas tree. A little Pffftttt of silicon spray on a snow shovel blade makes a helluva difference in wet snow.
Super 77 is pretty much crap as an adhesive, but for some jobs less is more.
I was likewise impressed with the little Ryobi circular saw. I’m not running 200 feet of extension cord for some minor cutting. heck, I’m not plugging in one of my 120v circular saw just to make a couple of quickie cuts in the shop.
One of those 120v circular saws is a worm drive Skil Special Saw. My father’s, from 1956.
https://books.google.com/books?id=x...TAE#v=onepage&q=Skil Special Saw 1956&f=false
$50 in 1956 dollars is (. . . . inflation calculator. . . . ) $436 today. Dad built all manner of stuff with that saw. It is all metal, weights a ton and the worm drive is still strong enough to break your wrist.
