Workshop ideas, layout and techniques for a disabled craftsman?

M

Mr.Tuesday

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Jan 27, 2012
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For many years I've been interested in trying my hand at knife making but haven't actually taken the leap due to some health issues. An accident severely damaged my left leg and as a result I can can no longer walk very far or stand unaided for any significant amount of time. Despite this I'm still determined to make knives.

The reason I made this thread is to help me brainstorm the best way to set up a workshop which will be compatible with a wheelchair and ways to perform various knife making operations (grinding, drilling, etc) from said wheelchair or another seated position. At this point in time most of my ideas just involve using lower work tables but I feel like there have to be other ideas or methods that I'm just not seeing. So I guess my two questions are; how would you set up your workshop if you couldn't walk and how would you modify your knife making methods to work while seated? Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
I think that your wanting to get into knife making can be a good thing for you.I'm sure you are thinking the bench should be at a height you can roll your chair under. I'm going to go a bit further on this and say a single layer of say 1" plywood is going to be enough. I recommend a layer of 2 X 6"s and then the 1" plywood. This will allow for any heavy equipment you may want to put into use to be placed on it without movement.
Frank
 
how about a ramp to get you high enough to grind comfortably,that way you have clearance for a dust sucker to keep those black boogers away! (Grinding dust)
you could build it with sides and a stop to prevent you from going too far while in your chair. a few extra inches of ramp should be all you need. "Standard" workbenches sit about 36-39 inches from the floor. Yes a very Beefy table is needed ,most grinders are 150-200 lbs alone,add a "Polisher" about 50 pounds.not what you want just sitting on a piece of plywood.
i have seen a few "Factories" that have the grinders doing their job seated. it can be done just think outside the box a bit.
 
You might want to have a talk with Ken Erikson (sp?). He makes high end slip joint folders and is in a wheel chair also. He is a member here I think. No sense re inventing the wheel.
 
I have my grinder on a tool stand that has been lowered to sit in front of a chair I use to grind from. I set the whole thing up so that my grinder wheel is right in front of me with my hands in a comfortable position. The other tools I use , disc sander, buffer, and 4x36 horizontal belt sander I stand at for a short time. I have a steel knee and hip and nerve damage from spinal cord surgery but I make knives quite nicely with frequent breaks and an afternoon nap. I am 65 years old and I will make knives until I drop or people tell me they are no longer beautiful. Make your equipment fit yourself and spare no expense for comfort and utility. That is my advice. Don't worry...have some fun! Larry Lehman


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As far as you workbench goes, you will have to give up some under bench storage, but I would think that a "bridge" setup like a desk would work.
 
Wow, a lot of great points brought up here. Particularly about the way to set up my workbenches and eventually a 2x72 grinder (Still not sure when I'm going to pick up one of those up). One idea I have right now is to make a special stool with some sort of stirrup for my good leg to maintain balance. For some reason I just feel like I have more control on a sander or band-saw when I'm standing or at least upright on something like a stool. I'm fine using most hand tools seated, so that shouldn't be a problem at all.
 
How about one of those stools on wich you sit as if you are sitting on a horse saddle.
 
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