Dream Shop - Old Shop Demolition finished. Demo photos added.

I'm living vicariously through your photos! Mine will be very similar to yours, except I'm adding a soundproof garage that can be used to shoot guns out of, or as a rehearsal space (or even car storage!)
Upstairs will be office, engraving, restroom, packing area.
 
Your buffer with it's integrated dust collection in another thread got me wondering... what's your setup going to be for handling dust, grinding on particular? Any key choices you made since it's all a new shop?
 
Bill DeShivs said:
I'm living vicariously through your photos! Mine will be very similar to yours, except I'm adding a soundproof garage that can be used to shoot guns out of, or as a rehearsal space (or even car storage!)
Upstairs will be office, engraving, restroom, packing area.
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You don't mind stairs ?
My knees are shot.
 
The upstairs will be for storage and rolling carts of equipment. I will temporarily install a set of stairs while getting the upstairs shelving done, and then remove them and install an elevator. After 70, climbing stairs with hands full of heavy things is asking for a trip to the ER (or worse). Better to roll them in the elevator lift and go up 8 feet.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
The upstairs will be for storage and rolling carts of equipment. I will temporarily install a set of stairs while getting the upstairs shelving done, and then remove them and install an elevator. After 70, climbing stairs with hands full of heavy things is asking for a trip to the ER (or worse). Better to roll them in the elevator lift and go up 8 feet.
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It will be interesting to see your elevator
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
I will temporarily install a set of stairs while getting the upstairs shelving done, and then remove them and install an elevator. After 70, climbing stairs with hands full of heavy things is asking for a trip to the ER (or worse). Better to roll them in the elevator lift and go up 8 feet.
Click to expand...

I'd suggest keeping the stairs for a couple of reasons:
First, what happens when there is no power for the elevator? and
Secondly (putting my physical therapist hat on now), continuing to do stairs when you don't have hands full is a good way to remain functional (unless you already have a disability that makes stairs difficult, that is).
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
The upstairs will be for storage and rolling carts of equipment. I will temporarily install a set of stairs while getting the upstairs shelving done, and then remove them and install an elevator. After 70, climbing stairs with hands full of heavy things is asking for a trip to the ER (or worse). Better to roll them in the elevator lift and go up 8 feet.
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Make sure you post pics. That way no one can say "his elevator doesn't reach the top floor...".

Just kidding, congrats on the new shop.
 
More progress today. They got the entry door hung and delivered the siding. We also cleared away the last of the construction trash.
Siding guys come Monday to finish the outside. That should wrap up stage one and get a signed off inspection. Then the big (and fun) work starts inside.
The fellow installing the door was using a set of my saw horses. I have about four sets sitting in the shop. He was admiring my large yellow industrial set of folding steel horses. They are many times heavier and a foot wider than the standard folding horses, and each folds up to a 36"X4"X4" unit with a handle. I asked him if he wanted them and he looked shocked. I said I wasn't likely to need them again, had three or four sets of good folding plastic ones, and the hardware to make half a dozen 2X4 saw horses. I told him if he would use them regularly, that would please me. He looked like he had been given a $1000 bill. All I wanted was for them to go to a good home and get lots of use.

I spent yesterday driving a 600 mile round trip to get new Pandora showcases for our jewelry store. I unloaded them today (my birthday) and installed them and ran power for the lights. I brought two of our older ( but very nice) 7' tall showcases home to put in the new shop as display cases for some collectables and maybe a knife or two. I delivered all the rest of the old cases to a Pawn Shop I know and they will trade me a "store credit" for any tools I want.

I have a few new photos, but will take more Saturday and post the progress to date.
 
Sounds like you've been busy mate.
Always good to hand off something you know will be used when you no longer need it.

Happy Birthday too!
 
Yes ... sort of. I have left plenty of room in the grinding room and at the forge for students and guests to safely watch/learn. With a lot of the equipment on rolling carts/bases it will allow making more space when needed. I have a box of safety glasses and a bunch of aprons for visitors to wear, too. TRghere will be tall stools to sit on (for me and guests).

I remember an old timer from Mississippi/Arkansas - Cleeston Synard - who had a big barn for a shop. He bought the old bleachers when they tore down the local ballpark to build a new school and put them up on one side of the barn. Every Wednesday was open shop day and people were welcome to come and watch him forge bowie knives.
 
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Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Yes ... sort of. I have left plenty of room in the grinding room and at the forge for students and guests to safely watch/learn. With a lot of the equipment on rolling carts/bases it will allow making more space when needed. I have a box of safety glasses and a bunch of aprons for visitors to wear, too. TRghere will be tall stools to sit on (for me and guests).

I remember an old timer from Mississippi/Arkansas (I think his name as Cleeton or something like that) who had a big barn for a shop. He bought the old bleachers when they tore down the local ballpark to build a new school and put them up on one side of the barn. Every Wednesday was open shop day and people were welcome to come and watch him forge bowie knives.
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Cleston Sinyard maybe?

Hoss
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
Yes ... sort of. I have left plenty of room in the grinding room and at the forge for students and guests to safely watch/learn. With a lot of the equipment on rolling carts/bases it will allow making more space when needed. I have a box of safety glasses and a bunch of aprons for visitors to wear, too. TRghere will be tall stools to sit on (for me and guests).

I remember an old timer from Mississippi/Arkansas (I think his name as Cleeton or something like that) who had a big barn for a shop. He bought the old bleachers when they tore down the local ballpark to build a new school and put them up on one side of the barn. Every Wednesday was open shop day and people were welcome to come and watch him forge bowie knives.
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Great idea. I’m setting up my shop as we speak, and we are starting a mental health group in February making knives and guitars (or mechanics, furniture etc.) We are bringing people together and doing something useful.
 
Yes, his name came back to me about 10 minutes after I posted. He was a really neat fellow, and had a nice wife. Cleston and his wife sat next to us at the show in Biloxi and chatted all weekend. I don't think either of us sold much, but we had a good time.
 
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Sad to see no windows with that nice landscape, but I understand safety is a concern. Congrats Stacy!

Pablo
 
I got an hour out in the shop today moving stuff around. I fitted the entry door with the nice hardware I have had for nearly 10 years waiting for the shop door to install it on.
The big day comes tomorrow when the siding guys come out to wrap the trim and install the siding.
 
OH, HAPPY DAY! (cue Edwin Hawkins Singers)

Siding guys arrived very early this morning. Luckily, I was just heading out to work when they pulled up and got out to unhook the construction trailer. I went over to say hello and he said he would have his truck (blocking the drive)moved in a minute after they unhooked the trailer and it would stay there while they did the job. I explained that they were at the street address, but the shop was behind the house on a different street. They managed to turn things around ( my house is the end of a dead end street) and drove around to the shop where they backed right up into the lot.

The siding fellow noticed the jewelry store name on my shirt and asked if I knew Stacy Apelt ... I stuck my hand out and said, "Glad to meet you." Turns out he and my son worked together a good while back. Small world!

He looked the building over and asked about the electrical boxes. I told him I had put them where I needed them. He said they were fine, but offered to change them to a much better type that was built to match and install in the siding. I said, "You are the professional, do it."
The metal wrapping fellow was setting up his cutters and bending brakes as I left.

I expect that I will have some good photos to post tomorrow.
 
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