Shop on Wheels

F

Frank Eaton

Joined
Sep 10, 2004
Messages
362
Anyone ever work out of a trailer? I am not sure that I will have anywhere to make knives after my next move, thinking of putting my shop in the trailer. Anyone ever do it, Pros/ Cons. I may not have a choice though living on a military installation.
 
Frank, it's been done. Stock removal not forging. I remember seeing a pictures of a guys trailer that he pulled behind his RV as he did the Good Sam circuit. It wasn't as big as the one you picture and I sure can't point you to him or any pictures. I just know I recall it being very organized and efficient. He knocked out some nice knives out of that thing. If I can ever retire and get the urge to do the RV thing, I will absolutely put together my own knife making trailer to keep me from drinking myself into a coma every night in the campgrounds.
 
I kinda have those same inclinations of RVing the country hitting the shows, and making on the road. Nothing like drinking beer around a campfire either.
 
It certainly looks biger than my work shop. Dust extraction would be a big factor.

I met a stockman once that had a 4 wheel drive with a roo bar on the front. He boltyed on a vice and had a few tools he worked in outback location around a camp fire. He made some nice knives.

Looks like you should do well plan it out 3 times before you start so you only build it once.
 
Ray Rogers has a neat shop set-up in storage containers. It isn't a mobile shop, but it might give you an idea as to layout. http://www.rayrogers.com/shoptour.htm

Also, the late Jim "Paw Paw" Wilson had a mobile shop in a box truck. He placed PVC pipe on the floor and built another deck above the pipe. Steel stock could then be stored in the pipe.

- Jim
 
Take a look at this website.

http://www.crevanscustomknives.com/shoptour.htm

Carlton has built a very nice mobile workshop. He uses the space very wisely by putting the work benches on both sides of the trailer and at a height you can stand and work comfortably at any of the tools. His vaccum pulls probably 90% of the dust out from the Bader, so this keeps it under control.

I've been to his shop a couple of times and the limited space really works out well. You definitely have to have a place for everything, but by doing so makes for an efficient area.

Kelly
 
My shop wouldn't suit some of you guys since I use files more than a grinder but since I'm a farrier, I travel with just about everything in the bed of my pickup that I need to make either a knife or a horse shoe, including a gas forge. I eventually want to get a trailer so I can use the pickup truck for other things without spending a whole day unloading and unloading it.

When I first started shoeing horses I lived in an apartment and my shop was wherever I could park my truck and work. Back in the days before I had wife and kids, I'd even split town to do some hunting or fishing, leave the tools in the truck and catch up on shoe work in the afternoons. LOL, once I was out in the middle of nowhere hunting and locked my keys in the truck. The cap was unlocked though so I pulled out some stock and made a slip to open the cab door. No one had cell phones in those days so getting help would have meant a LONG walk.
 
Man, the shops in those links are awesome. I will definetly have to work on my shop cleanliness to pull this off. I will have to come up with a good grinder vacuum system forsure. Would appreciate any advice or ideas, if you can thinkd of anything those 2 guys didn't think of.
 
h2ostx said:
Take a look at this website.

http://www.crevanscustomknives.com/shoptour.htm

Carlton has built a very nice mobile workshop. He uses the space very wisely by putting the work benches on both sides of the trailer and at a height you can stand and work comfortably at any of the tools. His vaccum pulls probably 90% of the dust out from the Bader, so this keeps it under control.

I've been to his shop a couple of times and the limited space really works out well. You definitely have to have a place for everything, but by doing so makes for an efficient area.

Kelly
Click to expand...


this guy must be Higgy's long lost brother. look at his shop and then look at Higgy's.
 
some of my major concerns were/are:

sufficient natural light
electrical needs get met, good ground, 220v, etc.
balanced properly and stable
dust collection & ventilation

All solvable...just things to consider...
 
Hey Tracy,

He does keep a clean shop. I think he found with a small shop it doesn't take very long, if you let things go, for everything to head south. Then you are fighting the housekeeping. Plus, the grit on your machines, not good.

I've seen Higgy's shop pictures, too. You can tell these guys come from a machine shop background.

Kelly
 
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