Small Shop Design

sharp21 · Post by **sharp21** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 5:17 am

The more I think about it the more I like that slat wall idea. I've also been following a thread about the modern workbench & how it is used these days. I might build a smaller bench, say 4 feet, then a 3 foot rolling cabinet that tacks on to the end of it. That way I could use it for gluing up or whatever.

As far as wood storage I don't see storing much more than I will need on hand for the current project.

I spend far more time in my current 20sq.ft work area in the basement than I do in the double garage. While I understand that more space is preferable I honestly feel that I will be more productive in the smaller space. After all, what good is a large shop if you aren't using it?

S.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 6:02 am

sharp21 wrote: While I understand that more space is preferable I honestly feel that I will be more productive in the smaller space.

Productive? We are supposed to be productive?

Sometimes when I get too busy to work in the shop I like to just walk in there and sit down a few minutes and think about what I want to do next (Or try to remember what I was going to do next).

I figured out how to make money off of my love of horses. Now if I could just figure out how to make a little money off of my love of the woodshop... Not big bucks mind you, just enough to cover operating cost like heat and AC and to buy a few toys along. Building repairs and up-keep also add up over time.
I have at times considered doing classes in very basic beginning working. Not that I am an "expert" but I have trained a lot of people on a lot of jobs and can teach them the basics. The trouble with that is that even just typing this out I can hear my insurance agent screaming off in the distance.

Adding something like that to my insurance would probably eat me alive... Besides, I am not sure I still have the patience for such things. I guess I will just take in more horses and let them pay the bills and keep the woodshop for fun.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 7:53 am

robinson46176 wrote:Productive? We are supposed to be productive?

Sometimes when I get too busy to work in the shop I like to just walk in there and sit down a few minutes and think about what I want to do next (Or try to remember what I was going to do next).

I figured out how to make money off of my love of horses. Now if I could just figure out how to make a little money off of my love of the woodshop... Not big bucks mind you, just enough to cover operating cost like heat and AC and to buy a few toys along. Building repairs and up-keep also add up over time.
I have at times considered doing classes in very basic beginning working. Not that I am an "expert" but I have trained a lot of people on a lot of jobs and can teach them the basics. The trouble with that is that even just typing this out I can hear my insurance agent screaming off in the distance. Adding something like that to my insurance would probably eat me alive... Besides, I am not sure I still have the patience for such things. I guess I will just take in more horses and let them pay the bills and keep the woodshop for fun.

How many horses now?

Who cleans the stalls/stable(s)?

Who feeds/waters?

Do you exercise the horses?

When do you plan to do woodworking?

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 10:14 am

dusty wrote:How many horses now?

Who cleans the stalls/stable(s)?

Who feeds/waters?

Do you exercise the horses?

When do you plan to do woodworking?

The number is in constant yo-yo mode (some horse folks are not very stable [sorry for the pun]). Right this minute there are only 11 client horses (in addition to our 5) on the farm.
We only do pasture rental and a really nasty winter drove one client to move 3 to a stall location for the winter. I understand that his son who farms has offered him a free location on his farm (a little farther out from town). I hope he takes it, constant whiner, no common sense. I don't really want him back.

Another took 3 home for the winter for convenience but will be back soon. I am not really trying to recruit anybody else before May 1rst but we do have a lady with 2 coming this evening to talk. The pastures are just now starting to get some spring growth.
I have had enough interest from enough people that we are increasing the rates a little on any new clients. Existing clients rates will stay the same as they started with. I expect to cap things off at around 25 or 30 client horses. I took back 23 acres (still corn stubble) from the fellow that cash rents grain land from me this year and it will not be good pasture until at least the 1rst of May or maybe even June.

As I said, we only do pasture rental, not boarding. The client is responsible for all feeding, watering and with a few exceptions providing a portable shelter for their horses. I did haul water all winter because the weather turned bad before I got the water system finished last fall but now that it is working I no longer water any horses but mine. The client is responsible for manure handling but I will haul it away for them and spread it on my 5 acre hay lot. I also keep over-seeding all of the pastures and will drag them several times over the summer to keep manure there broken apart and spread. I will also mow the pastures a few times over the summer and spray them as needed (normally twice a summer). The client is responsible for all of the other horse care like worming, farrier work etc.
They only pay for the pasture space. I make that very clear and that everything else that I provide is as my guest. That includes a small and a large round pen, two grass footing arenas w/ barrels, a place to wash horses and 4 miles of grass lanes for riding. I also keep some small extra pasture lots available for times like now when pastures are not growing fast enough to keep up with the horses. It save folks from some extra hay purchases. We have firewood and a fire-ring for evening bonfires and we are going to fence off a small playground for the kids involved. There are several picnic spots around the farm and clients are invited to camp on the farm if they want to. We also allow free parking for one horse trailer per client.
All I do with their horses is talk to them and pet them. The owners do everything else.

We work very hard at treating our clients right (even the occasional idiot).

I do woodshop stuff in my spare time...

Rates BTW, are $100 per month for the first horse and $75 a month for any additional horse. For anyone that wants full or partial care we have a good client that we allow to sub-contract that service.

sharp21 · Post by **sharp21** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 11:24 am

What is the approximate height of the saw working surface? I'm starting to look at bench & mitre stand designs & want to see about height matching for increased table space
S.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 2:09 pm

sharp21 wrote:What is the approximate height of the saw working surface? I'm starting to look at bench & mitre stand designs & want to see about height matching for increased table space
S.

You have touched on two of the ss unique 'features'. High table(1) that varies(2). The lower limit is established by the table bottoming out on the top of the headstock and is about 40". The height increases as the depth of cut is decreased maxing out at about 43 1/2". (about = +- 1/2")

If you are tall, 40" is not a problem for a standing bench height. Since the blade would not be attached when using it as a 'bench extension', about 40" is yer 'design' target. If you are less than 6' tall, the height can be an 'issue'.

While we are on the subject of 'features', the lathe tends to be too low for tall operators. Compromises, compromises, compromises!;)

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Fri Mar 18, 2011 8:43 pm

Other than another SS for in-feed/out-feed I believe that for a smaller shop one of the best things I have seen is a B&D Workmate with a support clamped in its jaws. You just loosen the jaws and slide the support up and down as needed. When you are done the Workmate will fold and hang up on a wall. I think that is better than a support that only serves a single purpose. You can use a work mate for a hundred other jobs. A regular support stand is still only a support stand. I have some support only stands but space is not really that much of an issue. Even then I still like the Workmates as supports. If you have to sit some power-tools back on a shelf to store them then the Workmates make great tool bases for such things as miter-saws, scroll saws, spindle sanders, even a small bench saw etc.
I believe that a Rockwell Jaw-horse could be used much the same way but maybe a little less flexible.

sharp21 · Post by **sharp21** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 1:30 am

40" sounds fine to me. And I already have a couple of Workmates!

I saw that you can get a 4" jointer for the SS as well. That would eliminate the 6" floor model I was planning on & save more space besides! Besides my mitre saw are there any stand alone machines that aren't covered by the SS? I want to put as few big pieces into the shop as possible. I could even use that extra space for a Power Station

S.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 2:35 am

sharp21 wrote:40" sounds fine to me. And I already have a couple of Workmates!

I saw that you can get a 4" jointer for the SS as well. That would eliminate the 6" floor model I was planning on & save more space besides! Besides my mitre saw are there any stand alone machines that aren't covered by the SS? I want to put as few big pieces into the shop as possible. I could even use that extra space for a Power Station

S.

The SS SPT's cover a broad range of functions, but they must be 'stored' when not being used.

I would add a bandsaw and belt sander to yer wish list!

cv3 · Post by **cv3** » Sat Mar 19, 2011 3:22 pm

My shop is 12’x 16. With a two small work benches, lumber storage scroll saw ,the Shopsmith . compressor, dust collection and stuff. One of the issues I have is ripping anything over 6 ft. I have to line up the saw so the wood will feed out the door. I do not have that to deal with often but I noted on your plan that if you needed to cut a longer board you may have a problem lining the shopsmith so it would feed out the door. Just a thought.