Roland’s Q1’20 challenge - workshop upgrade

At long last I’ve got ‘round to sorting out my workshop. This isn’t a sophisticated job, so there won’t be a slew of pictures. Yesterday was putting up new shelves to take the stuff which is on the old shelves. Today is moving stuff around and putting up more shelves. At some point I’ll get start wiring in lights and sockets, building new benches, acquiring a table saw and planer, and improving the dust collection. By Q2 I should be ready to start building my next guitar.
Tree recycler, and guitarist with  https://www.undercoversband.com/.
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Comments

  • PeteCPeteC Frets: 409
    time spent now will be well worth it later - good luck with the workshop refresh. 
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27344
    Roland said:
    At long last I’ve got ‘round to sorting out my workshop. This isn’t a sophisticated job, so there won’t be a slew of pictures. 
    At least give us a “before I started” photo!!
    Having trouble posting images here?  This might help.
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  • RolandRoland Frets: 8590
    Soz, didn’t take any before images. Here’s one from a few years back. You can see the old shelves in the background. 



    There’s nothing very exciting to look at. So far all I’ve done is move the shelving upwards, and increase the capacity. Everything has then been crammed back on the shelves so I can move around.



    Then there are new shelves above the window, with more to go in the corner. When that’s done I’ll reorganise the contents based on access priorities. 



    There will be a new benches in an L shape under the shelves. I haven’t decided whether the existing one needs replacing, or just given a new top.
    Tree recycler, and guitarist with  https://www.undercoversband.com/.
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27344
    I feel better about the state of mine now
    :D

    (Although I probably won't feel so good *after* you've completed your challenge!!)
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27344
    Remember this thread ???
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  • RolandRoland Frets: 8590
    Yep. Andi was in a different league. I was tempted to do something similar. We have a brick hay barn which would make a fine furniture workshop, but I don’t need that much space, nor the machines to fill it. The work I do is quite varied, but not there’s enough repeat work to justify buying and settling down large machines. I would also have to instal a new electricity supply, and run heating and/or air conditioning to keep the barn dry and the tools rust free. 

    My current workshop is 3x4m. It has a chest freezer which stops the room freezing, and keeps condensation at bay. It’s tight, but I’d rather that than too much space. As the work changes I can move things around to suit. Last year was mainly lathe work. This year looks like scroll saw and a couple of instruments.
    Tree recycler, and guitarist with  https://www.undercoversband.com/.
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  • RolandRoland Frets: 8590
    If you think life is busy whilst working then spare a thought for the retired, where extracurricular activities swamp your diary. Timber for the new workbench has arrived. In between logging fallen trees, and preparing the vegetable and flower beds, I’m hoping to get this built soon, particularly once Covid19 stops me travelling and attending local events.



    ... and how the hell can Apple’s spellchecker convert built to bilateral?
    Tree recycler, and guitarist with  https://www.undercoversband.com/.
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27344
    Workshop's looking a bit tidier than the last time you posted pics
    ;)
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  • RolandRoland Frets: 8590
    That’s the garage. My workshop is 4m long and 3m wide. Those timbers are up to 4.8m. I’ll cut the timber to size in the garage, build the base in situ in the workshop, make sure the top of the base is level, and then assemble the laminated worktop over the base.
    Tree recycler, and guitarist with  https://www.undercoversband.com/.
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  • RolandRoland Frets: 8590
    Dear diary. Another fortnight gone by with no progress. Gardening, coronavirus preparations and mending the front gate have taken precedence. My plan is to get started on the work bench frame this weekend. I might even get that done before the end of Q1. Then, when the large bottle of Titebond turns up, I can make the laminated worktop.
    Tree recycler, and guitarist with  https://www.undercoversband.com/.
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  • RolandRoland Frets: 8590
    Today I’ve been cutting wood to length for my new workbench. I want this to be heavier and more stable than the current one. The worktop will be laminated from what we used to call 2 by 3s. Nowadays that’s 45mm by 70mm. The only place warm enough for gluing is the kitchen table. This, and a shortage of sash clamps, means that it’s going to take a few days to glue all the sections.



    Until it’s all glued I don’t know whether I will need to level the top with a router jig, or just sand off the high spots. 

    While the sections are drying I’m getting on with the legs and frame. Without a heavy duty bench to work on the mortises and tenons are being cut on the floor. 



    Did I mention that the wiring is done? So the lighting is improved, and I’m no longer relying on trailing extension cables.
    Tree recycler, and guitarist with  https://www.undercoversband.com/.
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  • Andyjr1515Andyjr1515 Frets: 3127
    Nice to see this progressing :)
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  • PeteCPeteC Frets: 409
    Great investment of time for future builds - good luck with the bench build.   I keep thinking about upgrading the one I built 33 years ago to a laminated top ala Paul Sellers style.   
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  • RolandRoland Frets: 8590
    This morning I’ve been cutting mortises for the frame crosspieces. With no table saw it has to be done on the floor using a circular saw and router.



    It doesn’t help when the router bit fractures. At least the damage will be hidden under the crosspiece.



    Yes, that is woodworm in the old worktop. It was treated when I inherited it, but I’d still like to convert it to firewood, and make a new top. 

    @PeteC I’m hoping that the new bench will see me out. If don’t glue the frame it will be easier to move than my father’s was.
    Tree recycler, and guitarist with  https://www.undercoversband.com/.
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  • RolandRoland Frets: 8590
    Frame is in place. It feels really solid. 4x4” legs and 2x3” stringers are  half lap jointed, and bolted together. In drilling the bolt holes I forgot to countersink the nuts. Forstner bits aren’t that easy to use with a handheld drill. So that was a bit messy, but they are out of sight once assembled. 

    The top was glued up in three sections on the kitchen table. Each section was as much as I can lift. The sections were then glued together in situ on top of the frame. I’m letting it settle for a week or so before final levelling and finishing.



    Then I’ve just got to clear the rest of the junk out and I can get back to making things. Proper under shelf lights will have to wait until lockdown is over. In the mean time I’ve got clip on LEDs which I use for close work with the lathe and scroll saw. 

    The old workbench will have to wait too. I need someone to help me lift it out and turn it over for assessment, and that isn’t going to happen until lockdown eases.
    Tree recycler, and guitarist with  https://www.undercoversband.com/.
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