Hello Everyone,
Take heart, those who have small shops. I have to do everything from ONE bay of a two-car garage (except Honey lets me roll the heat treatment kiln into her side so I can use it). The Rule, self-imposed, is that Honey must be able to park her car in the garage during cold nights and bad weather.
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The pics begin with a view towards the wall of garage that joins house (with shelves that house tools, welder, soldering/brazing, and wood-cutting bandsaw).
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Now a long view of the bay. This is it, really. Everything is here.
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Hi-torque mini-mill, and cheapy drill press. Drill press slides forward for use, and back for storage. (I am going to reinforce the table some day and get a heavier mill or mill-drill).
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This is where most of the work happens. The really fun stuff, too! Hand tools, files, abrasive papers, Ngraver, dremel, foredom, with stuff on the shelf and also in bins on the floor. I love files.
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Other view of hand-work area, with box that contains polishing stones, pads, assorted gizmos, and abrasive paper out on table instead of underneath in storage. Most important, is Uncle Al's grinder. This is a great machine given the price and all. Not as heave as KMG, Bader BIII, or TW90. Some day, I will likely get one of these three. But, when I do, I will have to sell Uncle Al's model. There can be only one!
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Forging area with 300lb Hay Budden, Chile Forge 2-burner venturi, and Uncle Al's hydraulic press. Just this, no air hammer or any other press/tool to aid forging except hand hammers. You can get a lot done with Al's grinder and press. The forge has removable burners, so I often fill it partially with soft firebrick and only run one burner for forging. Both are used for welding (and since I have learned to weld without flux, there isn't any problem with the floor being destroyed! Thanks to JD Smith for teaching me that trick!).
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last pic, shelves and belt storage (there is another on the first set of shelves shown).
Not shown, post vise, and the kiln and etching tanks stored against far wall and rolled into my half of the shop for use.
Not a lot of room, but it keeps me from going nuts with tools. The only limitation on what I can make is my own ability. I do miss having the barn on the farm back in Texas.
take care,
kc
It took a lot of time and effort to organize it the way it is now.
