Shopsmith Forums

I have, for a long time now (not always), had a personal rule of no Radio or TV in the wood shop. I never gave much thought to computers in the shop because I never had one that I was willing to put out there in that dust.

However, I am now faced with a decision.

I just came into a few computer parts and, as a result, have been able to upgrade the old, old Gateway to a fully qualified computer, running XP, capable of going online (only 300MHZ processor), sporting two CD-ROMs (one is read/write) and 40 gigabyte of Hard drive.

Now this is no gaming machine by any stretch but is capable of accessing the internet and running Google Sketchup 7.

SWMBO (most of the time) cannot see any reason for why I have spent this effort getting this ancient old machine back up and running. I'm thinking about calling it the "Shop Computer" and setting it up in the shop.

I would rationalize that I will never be cutting wood at the same time I am working on the computer. Reasonable?.... or just .... Rationalization?

Paid $4929.25 for that old beast way back on November 25, 1997. I must do something with it to get my monies worth from the investment. Man, what a computer I could buy for that amount today?

If your SS Dust Collector is operating correctly, I doubt dust would be a problem.

I PAID OVER 10k for my first PC(4.77 Mhz, 512kb., NO HD, 2 360k floppies Monochrome display, printer and a pile of 'software'). And that was AFTER my employers most generous discount(50%)!:eek:

Go for it. You can blow it out often if need be. I currently have much older PCs doing useful work.

I agree.. go for it. I don;t feel those sort of things are an unsafe distraction in the shop. When you are using the computer, you certainly won't be using a saw, or router, or sander, etc., so whats the problem? I have a small transistor radio on my workbench. When I'm at the Shopsmith I have ear protection on and the noise of the headstock alone makes hearing the radfio impossible - where's the distraction? But when I'm hand sanding or gluing up at the bench it's great to have the oldies on and sing along with Sinatra. It makes "shop time" even nicer. Alec

easterngray wrote:But when I'm hand sanding or gluing up at the bench it's great to have the oldies on and sing along with Sinatra. It makes "shop time" even nicer. Alec

Frank or Nancy? Either one your talking real OLD oldies.

dusty wrote:I would rationalize that I will never be cutting wood at the same time I am working on the computer. Reasonable?.... or just .... Rationalization?

possibly both depending on how you define "working on the computer.":rolleyes:

if you stick a cheap DVD drive in it, then you can run the SS DVDs as well as access the plans in things like the electronic version of Fine Woodworking.

I think it is a question for you to decide:
a) if you would ever be cutting wood while checking the plans on the computer
and
b) would you consider this more of a distraction than checking plans for that same project on paper.

based on the age of the computer, you may still be using a CRT with it. if you put the monitor under a shelf, it will cut down on the amount of sawdust that settles into the high-voltage section. I've found it a lot easier to blow the dust out of the chassis than out of the monitor.

Ivan

I say do it. A computer is just a very smart tool. I use mine for work all the time
Its not in the shop though. Being able to have it up and running on line in the shop would save so much time.
Just put it in where you think it will be out of the way . As for the dust if it gets to bad just make a cover for it
If it gets too bad you might have to make a breethable cabinet. But I think you might like having it
Right there.

beeg wrote:Frank or Nancy? Either one your talking real OLD oldies.

I believe that "The secret is to bang the rocks together" defines OLD oldies.

if it is post-Edison, it can't be THAT old.

Ivan

Nancy cannot be that old, I remember her singing these boots on a movie at he drive in on a date.
Besides wasn't she just in Playboy a couple of years ago. I cannot be showing my age. In fact just watch a WOODstock documentary just last night. Saying 40 years, I was married by then:eek:
I am making an old computer to put in the shop now, I think it would be helpful to look at plans and pictures while working.

I have always had a radio in the shop. With the DC and SS running you can't hear it until you shut the off. I see no distraction.

A computer in the shop is an absolute MUST from a safety standpoint. Without it, there is an extreme risk of cranial contusion caused by the need to traverse at great speeds across the room in order to locate critical information required for project completion.