Well it really isn't much!!
I am just filling in the carport that was under our deck. I just don't have the time or the money (although I have most of the materials stored in a large shed in another area of our 45 acre property) to build the big shop. This addition will give me about 350 sq ft. With careful planning and everything I can place put on wheels, it may just work!! This area was all gravel earlier this year.
This is the new "tunnel" as my wife calls it, that will lead into the basement door, the one we use almost exclusively. I will make it very inviting when done, some nifty woodwork and lots of light. A small addition will be built in the next few days that will house the carbage cans and other disposables/recyclables. You can see the two small posts that will be used for this on the front concrete pad.
Here is the eastside of the building and the studio entrance. There will be a roof affair, timber framed with mortice and tenon joinery with wooden pegs, over this entrance. The idea here is that I can wheel the table saw, jointer, planer or welder outside and use them under the roof if I need to work on pieces really too long for the inside (welding will ALWAYS be done outside...hey did I say "welding"? I mean globbing!! that's all I really do
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The main area is about 15 ft x 15ft. The "U" shaped workbench will start under that 3 x 3 window so I can get some natural light. What a mess! I am doing a bunch of things at once here, including adjusting that old camper in the picture above that we just bought, the kids sure liked using it last weekend at a local music festival (me too actually!)!
The wing is about 8.5 ft x 15 ft. I will put the thickness sander, lathe, one of two chop saws, scroll saw and probably one of the two band saws in this area. That big compressor is going into another little shed (see below).
This is the compressor/bicycle shed. A pair of dog apartments will be added under the stairs.
And here are the soon to be apartment dwellers. Actually they both live in the house but are mercilessly evicted to the outdoors when we are not home....poor things! The bullmastiff is "Shogun" and the giant schnauzer pup (6 months old) is "Danu".
And a couple of recent projects. First, John Walkin's fine fret caul assembly attached to the $35 arbor press I bought.
And this is the arbor I just had made for the buffing machine I am building. I ordered the buffing wheels, compound and rake from Caswell today. Just some woodwork to do and it will be ready for when I am ready. This is not a cheap way to go but I am sure I will not be wanting for anything other than this anytime soon. The shaft is 1 3/16 inch ground shaft. I had the machineist put on a left and righthand thread. The washers are 3 inch saw blade stabilizers that he drilled out to the 3/4 inch thread shaft. There is 12 inches clear to the pillow block from the shoulder of the thread shaft. I have a 1 hp baldor motor that will drive this at about 870 rpm. Oh ya, about $150 for the shaft, $120 for the blocks and pulleys and $90 for the wheels, compounds and rake. I still have to make the base!! But I have everything for that. That $500 unit that was mentioned early isn't looking too bad, but I do really like making these things myself...but only once!
Well I am sure that is more than enough to put everyone too sleep. All for the pursuit of finely crafted musical instruments!!!
Cheers Sergio-buddy-ole-pal
Shane
Clinton
