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A tour of my workshop

17K views 52 replies 29 participants last post by  harrysin 
#1 ·
My workshop or shed is 20' x 15' made of metal and sits on a concrete floor. Because I have so many tools, many collected over more years than I'll admit to, all machines have had castors fitted so that the actual layout varies from time to time. Every time that I think of complaining about lack of room, I think of the many members who manage in a 10' x 10' garden shed, half a garage or even a carport, and I think how fortunate I am but I can't help drooling when I see the size and construction of the workshops that some members have. Irrespective of the size of shop and number of tools, it's my experience that most hobbyists are very resourceful and turn out first class work with few tools and little space.
The tour starts with an outside view of the shed, we then enter and move around in an anti-clockwise direction
 

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#2 ·
The tour continues

The air conditioner is of course a luxury but it was the only unit in the house when we bought it and it's cool only so when we replaced it with a full reverse cycle system, rather than sell it for next to nothing, I had it installed in the shed. Regarding the shed, when I had it built, I had the roof insulated and it's very effective.
 

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#3 · (Edited)
Hi Harry

NICE shop :). here's a shot of mind that I have done many times b/4 and I'm going to hang it of your coat tail..hope that's ok :) not much new since 07 but I show it every time I post a new item..the norm...

http://www.routerforums.com/55029-post1.html


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The air conditioner is of course a luxury but it was the only unit in the house when we bought it and it's cool only so when we replaced it with a full reverse cycle system, rather than sell it for next to nothing, I had it installed in the shed. Regarding the shed, when I had it built, I had the roof insulated and it's very effective.
 
#6 · (Edited)
Bj that is also a nice looking shop and something you should be proud of. Really has a functional look to it.

The only problem I have with yours and Harry's shop is it is just to darn clean for my taste.:D;)
 
#9 ·
Oh Bernie, you would retract that comment if you could see it today. All those shots were taken some time ago soon after a major clean-up.
As for Bob's shop, I reckon that he has so much dust collection that he must have suckers on his shoes to prevent him being sucked-up!
 
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#10 ·
Jim, having been to Singapore and Hong Kong and seen how every square inch of floor and wall space is utilised, I often just sit and gaze around my shed trying to work out how to squeeze more into it.
 
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#8 ·
Nice setup, BJ.. Harry and yourself give me lots of good ideas!

What's the purpose of the small vacuum that appears attached to your sandblastic setup?? ..or has that been converted for sanding?
 
#11 ·
Harry, you're my idle man... LOL Woodworking and metal working! My hobby and "sort of" my career. My career being repairing metal cutting tools. But also can and like running them too. I miss cutting threads and gears and stuff! I wish I had the room to collect a few metal cutting machines too. Right now I have a small old Bridgeport mill that I think my boss is going to let me have. And keep at the shop I work at. I had a small lathe he was going to let me have, but someone offered him too much money to pass it up. Dang it!
Anyway, getting off the subject at hand. Very nice and organized shop Harry!!
 
#12 ·
Good looking shops Harry and BJ, no more getting on me regarding how clean my shop is because right now you both have me beat easily. I can sure tell that both shops have been in service for some time now, how many years between you??

BJ could you PM me about where you live, We will be making a trip to Moab in about a month and will be driving the Jeep. I was thinking if we were going to be close we could stop in and say hi.
 
#13 ·
Nice shop again Harry ,, I finished doin my insulation in mine thanks to Your cue but I can really feel a big difference
 
#19 ·
I'm flattered Dan. The thing to remember guys is that I'm 78+ and been building my tool collection since I was a teenager. Only the wealthy few can retire and set up a fully operational shop in one hit. Of course I must admit that the metal lathe and mill were bought in 1982 through my business and were written off on the books after five years. By the way, if there happens to be an Australian tax official reading this, I really did use both machines for the business, making parts that were not available as spares for video recorders, major damage was common where a blue movie tape got stuck inside and it's owner was desperate to remove it! This shot shows how flimsy modern VHS mechanisms became.
 

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#16 ·
Been to both shops and I can only sit in awe......

The best part is that I know both Harry and BJ use their shops and they are not just "keeping up with the Jones's"

Is this drool on my keybpoard???????????
 
#17 ·
Harry, your slow/fast wet grinder, although a cheapie was one of my best aquisitions. It is ideal for sharpening wood turning chisels at a slow speed. I wish I new where I could purchase another stone as mine has started to hollow in the centre. I have tried to 'dress' the wheel but with limited success. Mine is a GMC, but by the look of yours its about right. Dont know about the arbour size tho.............AL
 
#18 ·
Al, a shot of your tool rest might be enough for me to START using it after all these years since I bought it, probably close to 20 years ago. With a suitable tool rest there should be no problem dressing the wheel using a dresser like these shown, bought on ebay direct from CHINA about four years ago. They have looked after five wheels since that time and there is no sign of wear on the diamond particles.
 

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#20 ·
WOW!!!!!, Harry...
That's some shop...
but it's it way too annoying...

It's so clean it's just ain't right...
 
#22 ·
Dang Harry, that must be a really old picture if you're 78+, because the picture sure doesn't look it. I'm almost a kid compared to you, 72 last Dec.

Nice shop too, and neat. Mine's 8X12, sawdusty, cluttered, but mine, all mine, and I'm thankful I've got it; like you say, some people have a lot less, so I alway try to be properly grateful for what I have.
 
#42 ·
Nice shop too, and neat. Mine's 8X12, sawdusty, cluttered, but mine, all mine, and I'm thankful I've got it; like you say, some people have a lot less, so I alway try to be properly grateful for what I have.
JOAT, you and I have a lot in common. Retired Army, live in Virginia Beach, Va., small shop (mine's a little bigger than yours, but I am 69 3/4, and just starting to outfit a workshop. When my 5 kids grew up and moved out on their own, I finally had some money to spend on myself. When my folks passed away and we sold their house, my sister and I split the small inheritance and I bought some good power tools. Then, 20 years later, when my wife's folks passed away, we used some of that inheritance to build a 2-story building in the back yard, with space for a shop on the first floor and storage on the second floor.

I was in North Carolina just a month ago when my youngest daughter had a baby in Burlington.
 
#23 ·
I've admitted several times Theo that the photo was taken soon after colour photography was invented! It does however cheer me up each time that I see it, so much nicer than what I see in a mirror! The photos of the shed are also out-dated, there are BIG differences which when I have the time I'll photograph and post.
 
#24 ·
Mac, Harry has a palace and you have the next best thing compared to me; I have
a gutted out motor home I work in lol 25' or 27' 1978 Winnebago, to be exact. I live
in an apartment, and needless to say, don't think it would be much appreciated
for me to work in there.

I miss my old 8'x10' shed I had when I lived in my mobile home (over 10 years ago.) :sad:
 
#26 ·
I am well impressed with your shop Harry. For a smallish shop you have certainly got some equipment in there. It looks very well set out too and with machines on wheels it is a big bonus. Your shop is actually smaller than the one I started in although not by much and I found that too tight for me in the end. Of course I had to up size once I went self employed due to the volume of work I needed to do. I certainly have to admit that you have turned out some beautiful projects from that workshop and that is no mean feat from a small shop...I know. Thanks for the tour mate, I enjoyed it.
 
#27 ·
Thanks for the tour. I always enjoy seeing other shops regardless if they are larger or smaller than mine. I expecially liked the bench grinder set up, very clever.

And just because I've never been, what's winter like on the other side of the planet?
 
#28 ·
Winter......Harry has not seen a winter since leaving England......LOL.
 
#30 ·
WOW, I'm amazed that this old thread is still alive. I have made changes in the recent past and will do another photo-shoot when I can find the time, not to show off, but in the hope that it will give members the odd idea. Even though I'll be 80 next month I still can't help adding to my tool collection but hey, I don't really drink, just the occasional whiskey (for medicinal purposes you understand and I don't smoke since my heart attack in 1982 and I definitely don't go with "ladies of the night"!
 
#33 ·
Dan, there is only one lady in Harry's life. A true lady.
 
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