Model Engine Maker
Supporting => My Workshop => Topic started by: Kim on December 03, 2017, 02:03:19 AM
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I’ve started my new shop remodel. The basic idea is to clear out the cruft that has gathered over the last several years to free up space. More specifically, there’s a set of shelves that kind of divides the garage into two halves – my shop, and the family ‘storage area’. My plan is to move those shelves over about 6 feet and get rid of most of the storage area that is mostly bikes and boxes and old things we need to get rid of.
Here’s the previous state of the garage. I’ve hand lettered in a few important things. Most importantly “Shelves” are the divider shelves I mentioned. Furnace, is of course the furnace, and the water heater. Bikes – that’s the “storage” side and I’m working to decrease the number of bikes and stuff we currently store. Desk is a folding table I use for a workbench. You see lots of pictures of that – it has the big cutting mat on it. And “OA” is the Oxy Acetylene torch – my soldering station. Its actually more cramped than it looks.
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-A-CurrentLayout.jpg)
Here are the before pictures. The first two are the storage side of the garage:
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-A-1-DSC_3868.jpg)
You can see the ‘entrance’ into the shop here:
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-A-2-DSC_3869.jpg)
Just as you go past the shelves into the “shop” side, you can see my workbench with the Taig Mill on it – back against that far wall, and the desk in the foreground to the left.
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-A-3-DSC_3865.jpg)
Looking to the left from the same position, you can see the Grizzly lathe on the left, the Oxy-Acetylene setup there in the middle. There is some extra stuff in the picture – I’ve started purchasing some of the new stuff for my shop renovation. The boxes behind the OA is one of Harbor Freight’s finest rolling tool boxes. They had them on sale over TGiving weekend for $299. I decided this was the time to pick up one.
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-A-4-DSC_3866.jpg)
OK, that was last weekend.
Here’s my plan of where I want to go:
Again, same items labeled. Note that the dividing shelves have been moved, as described, and a few changes made on the shop side.
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-A-NewLayout.jpg)
And this is the progress I’ve made in a week. This shows the shelves moved and that whole pile of stuff moved.
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-A-5-DSC_3872.jpg)
Unfortunately, it is still in the garage, its just been moved to the shop side. I’m still working on getting it out of the garage. That will take several weeks.
But today, I was able to get two more shop lights installed - the two right along the top of the picture - barely showing - those are the new ones.
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-A-6-DSC_3878.jpg)
These are LED strip lights. I’m quite pleased with them. They make the 110W fluorescent tubes look dingy by comparison!
Anyway not a lot to show, but I feel good having made some progress!
Still have to move stuff OUT of the garage, and start rearranging things in the shop. I’ll be doing a big overhaul of where & how I store stuff too, so this is still quite a project.
Thanks for stopping by for a look,
Kim
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Quite a lot to rearrange. Can you launch some of it into orbit with that big silver rocket off to the side?
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When you finish, you can come do mine!!! :lolb: :lolb:
I need to make a big push next summer.
Pete
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Looks like good start Kim. :ThumbsUp:
It's always amazing how stuff can come into the house (or garage), by the sack full, but goes out by the truckload! :shrug: It seems to breed on itself and grow. I've always thought that the solution would be to cut an opening into the attic and store all the extra stuff up there. Then when it comes time to move.......................just drywall over the opening! :naughty:
Jim
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It will be well worth the effort Kim. I need to do the same thing, but without as much starting or ending space as you have. Maybe one of these days.
Bill
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Quite a lot to rearrange. Can you launch some of it into orbit with that big silver rocket off to the side?
Now THERE's an idea! :)
I've let my NAR/Tripolii license lapse, so I'd have to get re-licensed to launch that beast. He was fun! Flew on a K-motor - made lots of noise and smoke! It got to maybe 4000 feet or so, not quite into orbit maybe :Lol:
But I did use dual-deploy on the chutes. Kept it closer to the launch site on windy days!
No, it'll probably be something more mundane, like a trip to Good Will, or the landfill for stuff that has no re-use value. :(
Kim
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When you finish, you can come do mine!!! :lolb: :lolb:
How about I just give you excellent tips from afar? 8)
I need to make a big push next summer.
Pete
Yeah, I've been meaning to clean up the garage for several years. The last good cleaning was 2013... And that was just before I got my new Grizzly lathe! :) So there was motivation then too!
Kim
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Looks like good start Kim. :ThumbsUp:
It's always amazing how stuff can come into the house (or garage), by the sack full, but goes out by the truckload! :shrug: It seems to breed on itself and grow. I've always thought that the solution would be to cut an opening into the attic and store all the extra stuff up there. Then when it comes time to move.......................just drywall over the opening! :naughty:
Jim
No kidding!
I think that's how most of the family views the garage - just put it out there - out of site, out of mind.
We've got stuff from when our youngest was kid - toys, bikes, you name it. Now my wife is saying that nobody would let their child play with those toys because they're all coated in lead paint, or PCBs or something else. So, I guess it's time for them to go. Why keep them for another 10 years? I can free up the space and put it to good use! :embarassed:
Kim
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It will be well worth the effort Kim. I need to do the same thing, but without as much starting or ending space as you have. Maybe one of these days.
Bill
Thanks Bill,
I believe that I will be pleased! I'll look forward to seeing you do the same someday soon! :D
Kim
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Just a short update.
I setup the shop crane and moved the lathe back about 3 feet. A lot of hoop-la for not much change, but it does open things up in my shop area, and that’s what this is all about. I haven’t put the backsplash back on yet, just in case I decide I need to move it an inch to the left or something, but I think its in about the right spot.
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-B-1-DSC_3886.jpg)
After that task, I put together my new HF tool chest. Had to assemble the handle and the wheels. As one might expect, the fit & finish on the HF tool chest isn’t quite as nice as my Homak, but at half the price, I am very happy ;D The drawers all move smoothly and the whole thing seems like it will do the job nicely!
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-B-2-DSC_3889.jpg)
With it assembled, my wife helped me put the tool-chest on top of the roller cabinet and it’s ready to be used.
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-B-3-DSC_3890.jpg)
That’s about it for today.
Kim
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That tool chest will make a huge difference in your shop life, Kim. The seemingly small stuff can make a big difference!
Lookin' good...
Pete
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Another nice step forward Kim.
Man..........that Grizzly lathe was a serious upgrade from your Taig!
Jim
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Thanks Pete! I'm looking forward to filling her up soon!
Man..........that Grizzly lathe was a serious upgrade from your Taig!
Yeah, my wife calls it the "Iron Lung" :ROFL: that's what it looks like to her.
I took that step several years back. I was originally aiming at a 8-10" bench lathe - my main goal was to get something that could do threading. Then I started thinking about additional capability I might want, and how I didn't think I'd be able to justify another lathe any time soon, and I needed to make this one be my LAST one... so, it started to grow. And by the time I pulled the trigger on the order, this was the one in my cart :Lol:
I'm quite happy with it, in spite of the fact its a Asian made lathe. I just was never able to find any old US lathe in this area that was worth the money and had all the features I wanted.
Thanks,
Kim
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Thanks Pete! I'm looking forward to filling her up soon!
Man..........that Grizzly lathe was a serious upgrade from your Taig!
Yeah, my wife calls it the "Iron Lung" :ROFL: that's what it looks like to her.
I took that step several years back. I was originally aiming at a 8-10" bench lathe - my main goal was to get something that could do threading. Then I started thinking about additional capability I might want, and how I didn't think I'd be able to justify another lathe any time soon, and I needed to make this one be my LAST one... so, it started to grow. And by the time I pulled the trigger on the order, this was the one in my cart :Lol:
I'm quite happy with it, in spite of the fact its a Asian made lathe. I just was never able to find any old US lathe in this area that was worth the money and had all the features I wanted.
Thanks,
Kim
I think I've heard that referred to as "feature creep"! Been a victim of that myself on numerous occasions. :shrug: I hear you about old U.S. machines. Just don't know enough to be able to evaluate one.
Jim
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That's really looking nice. I'm in the part of my life where I am still trying to make things better but see downsizing will happen some day. On the size of new machines, since I've been on these forums I see most new machines (and shops) are larger, kind of like those who are into motorcycles: Very few riders buy smaller motorcycles when getting new ones.
And to quote my former boss when I had an input on facilities design: "Every time I ask you for a pickup, you want a three-ton truck."
Best wishes for great new projects, now,
--ShopShoe
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Thanks Shopshoe! :)
Sounds similar to what one of my former bosses uses to say; "Anything worth doing is worth overdoing." :Lol:
Kim
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Before Christmas, while I was moving things around and cleaning up, I’d spent a couple days on a better solution for my small parts storage. Right now it’s just a stack of Plano boxes. And the one I want is always on the bottom, so I have to move everything to get to the parts I want.
Wouldn’t some kind of slide in shelving be nice for these?
So, I took some old plywood, and some 1” aluminum angle, and made some.
Here’s my raw pieces, with a whole bunch of 6” lengths of aluminum angle, drilled and counter sunk:
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/1-DSC_3896.JPG)
Here I’ve mounted a bunch of them, regularly spaced, to two sides of the shelf.
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/2-DSC_3898.JPG)
Then assembled it into a box, like so:
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/3-DSC_3901.JPG)
And filled it with Plano boxes (or the cheap Harbor Freight equivalent :)
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/4-DSC_3903.JPG)
And this is where they now live, up on the top of a NEW modular shelving unit that I got for Christmas (now this WAS a surprise :))
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/5-DSC_3998.JPG)
And yes, they are all bolted to the wall behind, so I am earthquake proofed!
Kim
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I like that idea. A lot! :ThumbsUp:
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That's a lot of good storage Kim. Should help a lot.
Bill
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And now, 4 months after it started, I’m going to claim victory over my latest ‘Shop Remodel’ :)
And to commemorate this august occasion I’m inviting you all on a virtual tour of my newly remodeled shop!
Welcome!
So that no one gets lost in my vast, expansive empire, I’ll provide you with a map. It’s ‘mostly’ right, but don’t get hung up on too many of the little details :)
(http://lister-engine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-A-NewLayout.jpg)
As you step past the furnace (on your right) you are now entering my shop zone.
Looking straight ahead and to the right, you can see a craftsman bench drill press (this was my grandfather’s drill press). And beyond that, against the far wall on the bench, is the Taig mill (VERY hard to pick out against the peg board with all the tools, but it really is there!). Don’t look too closely at the bench top. I haven’t cleaned those off yet.
Between the mill and the bench on the far wall, is my assembly desk area. This is where I sit and navel gaze when I’m trying to figure stuff out, or where lots of small parts get lost as I try and assemble things.
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-D-1-DSC_4251.jpg)
If you shift your gaze to the left, you’ll see the new mill sitting proudly in it’s new home. Directly behind it is the 4”x7” Harbor Freight horizontal band saw. People speak poorly of this little saw, but for under $200, it has done an excellent for the last 6 years that I’ve had it. continuing left, you’ll see the shop crane, the California Air Compressor, and Craftsman 12” band saw (also from my grandfather). Beyond the band saw are the bikes, covered by a large floor mat that the dog has recently vomited on, so it got set out in my shop to ‘air out’ and dry off. Isn’t that the way it goes with shops? :)
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-D-2-DSC_4254.jpg)
Stepping further in, and looking behind us, gives a good view of the mill bay on the left. The area on the other side of that post is the lathe bay. From here, you also get a pretty good view of the new metal rack, and a corner of the welding/soldering station on the far right.
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-D-3-DSC_4256.jpg)
Moving in a bit farther, now you can see into the lathe bay. You also get a better look at the desk/assembly area. For the sharp eyed among you, you might see a little casting sitting on the desk. This is a little casting that Dave Otto recently gave me. I’m working on a plan to make this into a water pump so that I can hydro-test the boiler for my steam tractor. But that’s going to be covered in other posts in the future. :)
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-D-4-DSC_4257.jpg)
Now we’ve moved down along the benches and are standing right in front of the outside door, looking back toward the lathe bay. (You can see this door in the first picture of the shop). Again, the metal rack and the welding/soldering station are on the right. On the left is a 1 ton HF arbor press, a marginal sheet metal sheer (also HF) and a some deburring wheels. This whole table is on castors and can roll around as needed.
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-D-5-DSC_4259.jpg)
Moving on around the perimeter of the shop, standing in front of the welding/soldering station and looking back toward the center of the shop. This gives you a better view of the rolling table (it’s quite sturdy) with the deburring wheels. On the lower level of that table you can see a bunch of Rubber Maid type containers (they are actually Sterelite). Soon, these will be sitting on some short shelves along there and will contain my short pieces of metal stock. The Ridgid compressor will move to an undisclosed location. On the left there, you can see just the corner of the fence for a Jet Table saw. And above that, on the corner of the bench is a Ryobi Disk/Belt sander, that has seen heavy use for many years.
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-D-6-DSC_4263.jpg)
Moving around and standing in front of the lathe bay, you can clearly see that I’m not really moved in to the new shop arrangement. I’ve got lots of stuff piled on top of the table saw (left) and the bench along the far wall. Again, on the white toped rolling table is my mini HF Break Press. And just behind that, but before you get to the assembly desk is the scroll saw.
(http://listerengine.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10008/ShopRemodel2017-D-7-DSC_4266.jpg)
And that’s about it for the tour. Hope you enjoyed it. I certainly did, and would be happy to have you all over again sometime soon!
Next time, stay for a coke and some cookies! :)
Thanks,
Kim
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Hey Bill and Zee,
Thanks for looking in and commenting on my little parts holder shelves! I didn't notice you'd posted till after I'd posted the whole shop tour! Hope you enjoy that too :)
Thanks,
Kim
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Very nice setup! But you forgot to point out which shelf the shop elves live on!
:cheers:
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Very nice shop. :ThumbsUp: And I'm envious of the lighting. (I could certainly use more.)
Where's the computer? ;D
P.S. I have the same horizontal band saw and have been very happy with it.
The only complaints I've ever heard about has been the stand.
I built a mover's dolly and mounted mine on it.
If you do the same...be sure the wheels are outboard enough. ;D
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Thanks for the tour Kim. You have put a lot of work into reorganizing the shop space. I noticed the radial 5 in a couple of the pictures. So where is the traction engine hiding out :)
Bill
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Hey Kim
Wow, you have come a long way, and have put together a very nice shop!
Table saw? isn't that just another horizontal surface that collects stuff? :lolb:
Thanks for the tour,
Dave
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Thanks Chris, Zee, Bill and Dave, for stopping by.
Very nice setup! But you forgot to point out which shelf the shop elves live on!
:cheers:
The shop elves pretty much own the place. They dictate where they want to be. Much of the time they hang out at the farthest back corner under the bench against the wall. I'm quite sure that if I ever move those benches I'll find all the bright shiny things I've dropped over the years! :Lol:
Very nice shop. :ThumbsUp: And I'm envious of the lighting. (I could certainly use more.)
Where's the computer? ;D
For this expansion I added two 8' LED lights. They are really nice! If one of the 8' florescent tubes ever goes, I'm replacing it with an 8' LED for sure.
The computer is in the den in the house. I use my phone if I need to look something up out in the shop :)
I noticed the radial 5 in a couple of the pictures. So where is the traction engine hiding out :)
The traction engine is in a box on that same messy bench. In the first picture you can almost see it - its just to the left of the Taig Mill, below a row of red handled files. If you zoom in, you can see the copper boiler sticking out at a jaunty angle there :)
Table saw? isn't that just another horizontal surface that collects stuff? :lolb:
Clearly, that is the case for me! I do try to keep it clear so that I can use if for important things. I've found if I set the wrong stuff on it, it can induce rust :( (anything that's wet, of course).
Don't forget to grab a cookie on the way out!
Thanks for stopping by!
Kim
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Excellent remodeling :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp: I'm envious of the amount of space you have.
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That's a very nicely organized shop that shows the thought that you put in. I envy the new things you got to add as your built it.
Congratulations and a wish for many happy hours there.
ShopShoe
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Thanks Roger and ShopShoe!
I plan to enjoy it! ;D
Kim
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Excellent remodeling :ThumbsUp: :ThumbsUp: I'm envious of the amount of space you have.
Hi Kim, as Roger said.
I am jealous.
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Got my butt in gear, you old dog :lolb:. I’m blessed to say that I have near 4500 sq. ft. of shop space, but, that has given me the chance to lay crap everywhere. Kim, my pal, you have given me the will to get it organized :praise2:. Thanks
Cletus
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Achim,
Thanks for stopping by!
Well, I'm sure I've got more space than others, but I can tell you, it doesn't feel like enough! I'm still pushing things around and trying to jam more stuff in. But I guess that's the way of it. You always want more space (or tools, or casting sets :)) than you have!
Kim
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Got my butt in gear, you old dog :lolb:. I’m blessed to say that I have near 4500 sq. ft. of shop space, but, that has given me the chance to lay crap everywhere. Kim, my pal, you have given me the will to get it organized :praise2:. Thanks
Cletus
Cletus,
Happy to give you a good kick in the pants, if that helps :LittleDevil:
I think I've got a little over 400 sqft (about 2 bays of a 3 car garage). But you have me beat by 10x!
Now you're going to have to give us a tour of that 4500SqFt shop! :stickpoke:
Kim
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Ahhh.... The dreaded shop remodel, This might just be the inspiration I need to actually complete mine - like I've been threatening to do for about the last 5 years. I've only got about 300-400 sq. ft., and that's shared between the tools for working with that brown non-homogeneous organic stuff that Jo hates so much and the metal tools.
Don
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Hi Don,
Yes! Definitely, finish your remodel and post some pictures of your cool new shop! I love to see other peoples shops :)
Kim
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Very nice space, Kim, and superbly set up following your sort-out. :ThumbsUp:
I like the Grizzly lathe and mill. While I'm a fan of old British/American/European iron, I also find myself drawn to the convenience of new import machines, and these look like good ones! As you note above, they come with all you need straight out of the crate (or maybe I should say 'most of' what you need).
Hope you are having happy times in your shop.
gary
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Thanks Gary,
I am enjoying it immensely!
My own little hideaway :)
Kim
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:ThumbsUp:
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My own little hideaway :)
It's an excellent space - very nice indeed. :ThumbsUp:
I love that cabinet you have made to hold the plastic storage bins - I shall be making use of that idea.
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Thanks Stewart,
Those little sliding cabinets keep the plastic trays much more accessible than my previous system, which was to keep them in a stack. And the one I needed was predictably on the bottom. :Lol:
Kim
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Thanks Stewart,
Those little sliding cabinets keep the plastic trays much more accessible than my previous system, which was to keep them in a stack. And the one I needed was predictably on the bottom. :Lol:
Kim
That's my current system! And not very satisfactory at all.