New shop pics

[Evan]

I finally have the garage shop whipped into fairly decent shape. There are still a few things to do before winter sets in such as finishing insulating the attic and building a fume extractor but the rest is pretty good with one exception. I even have it wired for two separate 230vac circuits, one 45 amp for the welder and a 30 amp full split phase circuit for machines including my rotary phase convertor to run the Strands drill press.

Note: This post is going to hit my server pretty hard so if you have trouble seeing the pics please try again later. There are three parts to this post so please wait for the third to make any comments.

Here is the view from just outside the double doors.



On the right is the one part I haven't made much progress on, the infamous 'wall-o-crap'. That's going to take some time to sort out.



However, looking to the left is a different story. This area used to be the 'sea-o-crap', in full storm season. There are areas of floor here I haven't seen in over 20 years.



Further around to the left is the welding bench area. On the bench right now are stair stringers jigged up and ready for welding.



Continued in next post.

[Evan]

To the immediate far right of the welding bench is a safety item, a welding screen. This keeps the sparks and spatter from traveling too far and is easily moved about or adjusted. I built this recently and it weighs very little. It can be picked up with one hand and moved. The screen can be inverted on the stand to work at ground level or lifted off to hang on the wall. It is a light weight 3/4" square tube frame with aluminum flashing pop-riveted to it.

Front and back view.


To the right of that is storage for long stock. As my garage has a 10 1/2' ceiling I can have 20 foot stock cut in half and store it here vertically.



Moving further in the the area for the shaper and drill press. A safety area has been marked and painted on the floor to indicate a 'keep clear' zone. This is mainly for me and my personal rule, once the shaper is working, is that this zone is to be kept absolutely clear of floor clutter so I don't end up tripping on something and pitch head first into the shaper while it is running.



An additional safety item is a storage cabinet for minor hazmat chemicals such as lye, pesticides and other related chemicals. The shaper is hardwired (will be that is) and a wall mounted knife switch is used to switch it on/off.



Continues...

[pcarpenter]

Nice work, Evan. It sure is a good feeling working in a clean(ish) shop! The trouble I have found is that newfound floor space becomes the permission slip for acquiring that "just one more" machine tool that ensures you don't have any more floor space

I acquired several pieces that I never thought I would own (like a horizontal mill and surface grinder) after I had the layout figured out and was really at that point where it was just comfortable to work in. Now its cramped...but I will make do and be grateful for the machines I have.

Its not just about space either...its about layout...you get one thing figured out like puting the welding table near the overhead door and then it constrains you to put the surface grinder closer to the other machine tools than you might like to have it. I would love to have all grinding and welding done in a room completely separate from machine tools other than the surface grinder. That really requires more space than guys like us can usually hope for...like separate spaces for all woodworking, machining, welding, grinding etc.

Still...good for you! It seems your new meds are a bit like Meth. They say that if a guy is cleaning out his whole garage it may be because he is on crank. It supposedly makes the most boring and mundane stuff tolerable.

Paul

[Evan]

Next to the right is the storage rack for medium shorts up to 5 or so feet long and as short as 3 feet. This rack was whipped up in a couple of hours from scrap.



To the right of that is a small desk for planning and note taking. It has one of the best padded folding chairs in the world (redid it myself..).



And finally, this is the view out the shop doors on a beautiful sunny day like today.

[ptjw7uk]

Evan,
Thats some nice clean working environment, i'm going Alistair green, makes my small workshop seem somewhat cramped.

I can see how you end up making such good machines as I seem to spend so much of my time trying to find things I just had in my hand!!
Not to sure if its working in a mess or just old age!
Peter

[pntrbl]

Looks great Evan. I could be very happy in there.

SP

[Lew Hartswick]

Looks like you didn't make it big enough. :-)
...lew...

[mochinist]

Paul didn't follow directions


Anyways looking good Evan

[Fasttrack]

Drink much coke?

Reminds me of three-phase and his gatorade bottles.


And is that a roll of copper sheeting behind the shaper??



I'm officially jealous! Between the beautiful view and well organized shop... thanks for making me feel bad about my garage. No i'm just kidding - thanks for sharing. I always enjoy seeing different shops. Help me get ideas on how to layout my tools.

[Mark Hockett]

Evan,
Did you move south? Theres no snow on the ground in the picture looking out the door. I thought there was always snow on the ground at your place LOL.