Workshops

[Mick HenshallParticipant @mickhenshall99321]

Didn't like to put my landrover on drive but needs must, bought a good quality cover for the winter, couldn't do much maintenance on it in the garage just not enough room, built a bench 10' long over last couple of days and have bought some chequer plate design rubber matting for the floor (concrete) trying to sort all the gash out that I had in there

Mick

[Chris BarryParticipant @chrisbarry]

My 10x18ft shed built last year, still a work in progress, sadly the only shed allowed by the boss so has to store everything for the garden that needs keeping dry.

The surface table on the right is now on a wheeled frame, it was bought cheap for the purpose of a very flat welding table.

[ChrisHParticipant @chrish]

My shed – converted outhouse/outside khazi/and bread oven place – is 2.5 x 3.7m, or 8ft 2ins x 12ft 1ins in real money.

I have a Weiler 280 lathe, a Warco Economy mill/drill, bench grinder, belt sander, metal bandsaw that lives under the workbench, a 1m wide shelving unit stuffed with stuff, usual collection of power and hand tools on shelves under workbench, 2 small sinks (one handwash one brewing), a wee air compressor that also lives under the workbench, and a brew store and 'fermentation locker' to brew 40 pints bitter at a time plus shelf to site finished beer barrel, an old MMA welder, a dehumidifier and an old French small wood burner stove to keep me warm.

Metal bandsaw worth it's weight in gold (hate hacksawing), roof is well insulated, walls are 2ft thick mud and stone walls rendered on the inside (hanging stuff off them is a nightmare) so not bad insulated, window double glazed, can get cosy in there, the Little People like it there, always nicking – sorry "borrowing" – my stuff, sometimes I even get it back, don't know what they're building, sometimes I get to see the floor (red painted concrete) and sometimes I get to see the bench (dark brown wood thingy), rarely get to see both together.

My shed is far too small, can't play my music loud enough (neighbours), but keeps me sane, panders to my engineering past and keeps me out the pub, and if it were bigger I would always fill it. Just don't get inside it enough, however hard I work at getting Exit Visa's from Senior Management

Chris

Edited By ChrisH on 15/02/2017 20:37:32

Edited By ChrisH on 15/02/2017 20:39:00

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

What's the most out of place thing in your workshop?

I have my late Nan's kingfisher ornament with epoxy beak, the 'couple' off our wedding cake and the RABAWIWIT:

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I've been asked if I'm serious about workshop pics for MEW?

I am serious – excellent pictures of readers in their workshops might even make the front cover!

Ideally a one good picture + one with the owner in it (or a head & shoulders) plus a paragraph of two of description.

We normally pay £50 a page, but if anyone doesn't want to bother with the paperwork just include a note saying make the money a donation to REMAP.

Neil

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 15/02/2017 17:25:07:

Always keen to receive photos of Reader's Workshops … anyone here fancy being a centrefold? (Control yourself Nick…)

Neil

.

If I thought you would actually print it I would hatch a plan for something 'printable'

But what is one persons opinion of printable may not be anothers idea of printable.

Nick

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I'm sure Neil could arrange suitable placement of the staple to save any embarrisment to both subject and reader

[BERT ASHTONParticipant @bertashton57372]

My workshop as it was, due to eyesight problems and ill health I sold everything on Ebay

about ten years ago.

Over the years my health has improved and I now miss my workshop but it would cost thousands

to replace and so I just content myself just being a armchair model engineer.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by JasonB on 16/02/2017 09:21:32:

I'm sure Neil could arrange suitable placement of the staple to save any embarrisment to both subject and reader

Enough! Body piercing is NOT a workshop technique!

Neil

[Mark RandParticipant @markrand96270]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 16/02/2017 12:09:43:

Enough! Body piercing is NOT a workshop technique!

Neil

There have been times when my local A&E department would beg to differ.

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 15/02/2017 21:07:51:

I've been asked if I'm serious about workshop pics for MEW?

I am serious – excellent pictures of readers in their workshops might even make the front cover! etc..

Neil

I am tempted to give this a go, despite I might need to do a little bit of tidying up first, which doesn't hurt in any case!

Michael W

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

My workshop is built from a mixture of concrete block walls and ship lap boarding which is insulated for the most part with 4 inch king span type material, heated throughout the winter by a small oil filled radiator which keeps the temp fairly constant, It is about 18 feet by 8 feet with an OSB boarded roof again insulated with king span and felted on the top surface. Machinery comprises of a lathe and two mills and various bench surfaces, sharing space with two stationary engines in various states of assembly, unfortunately there are always numerous projects underway at the same time which means it is far from tidy; my wife is always nagging that it needs tidying and the other day she remarked that I had left the workshop unlocked, my reply was that if anyone ventured in there uninvited then they wouldn't be able to find anything because she always maintained that I could never find things.. Not the correct response!!!

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, I built my garage completely from scrap, given to me by my old employer at the time. At the moment it needs a major de-clutter, but there is a couple of lathes, a milling machine, two or three non working lathes, welders, a floor standing drilling machine and a number of hand tools all hiding up in there somewhere. Use my little lathe and milling machine in my little hobby room indoors mostly during the cold winter months.

Regards Nick.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

I am in a brilliant position at the moment as I have to down size but I still have the jobbing shop which is still working.

 

So the plan is, start in spring at the new house and erect a 18' x 10' or 12' [ max size that will fit into the space at this very tiny house ] sectional garage as being the most cost effective and durable. Plus it's cheque book engineering, if I have to build it then it will take ages.

 

Then line it out and insulate it very well, Benches custom built to a plan, same for cupboards.

Then move in just what equipment I want and not cram everything in because I have to.

All the big machines and anything I don't want in the new shed will move to one of my customers who is going to make some space for me, the rest will get sold, given away or scrapped.

 

I often think it would be nice to move the lot but seriously do I need all the hassle and clutter ? I started off in a 10' x 8' shed with just a Myford ML7 working on vintage bikes and really enjoyed myself. I know I can go back.

 

I have a friend who has various interests, his current and lasting one is vintage cars so he has a nice garage, a workshop and various sheds. One shed is full of vintage radio gear from years ago, 30 at least. He'll never get round to sorting it, his interests have moved on but if you suggest he sells it all and probably move his metal stock into the shed so he's not falling over it, literally, it gets poo pood as I'll sort it out one day and get it all working.

Truth is he doesn't have the time but I feel we are all like this in some way or other. It took Ower Gert dying for me to get a wake up call at just how much crap we had around us and just how much we need on a day to day basis.

Edited By John Stevenson on 17/02/2017 01:11:30

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Two 20' insulated shipping containers, both with a roof over them, extended to a working area in front of them with an outside workbench and hydraulic m/c lift.

Container no. 1 is the machine shop. Poor quality photo supplied, apologies. Visible on the L/H side is an '83 Migatronic mig welder (actually can't see it in the photo…), a '78 TS M1 mill, a '79 Boxford S200 shaper, and a '69 Boxford VSL lathe. Rear bench has a Taiwan pillar drill and large 24 x 36" surface plate. Not visible on the R/H side is more workbenches, a large compressor u'neath a bench, a Stent T&CG, a Wolf bench grinder and a Creusen linisher and polisher. The walls are s/steel lined and insulated.

Container no.2 is mechanics and assembly/dis assembly of components, engine building etc. Housed in here is a small hobby bead blast cabinet, an engine degreaser tank, lots of shelving, tool cupboards, workbenches and my Snap On tool roll cabinet and top chest. This one has fibreglass walls and insulation. Cost each in 2003 was £1500 + vat. On top of that i had carpenter mate and electrician mate kit them out inside.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Arn't shipping containers wonderful things, there's a whole shopping center called "The Restart Mall" in Christchurch (NZ), most of it should be gone soon, it was built after the 2011 earth quake which more or less leveled the CBD, some of the locals think that some of it should become a permanent fixture in the city.

Ian S C

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Am envious of the large shops that some of you have, but am in awe of what others achieve in very small spaces.

And I thought that I worked in Rubik's Cube!

With retirement coming up, wanted to have 12 x 8 feet. Because of the position of a Bay tree, the back door , and the space between the fence and the patio wall, ended up 10'9" x 6'9". The 18mm ply floor sits on 8" x 2" bearers, and the frames are 50mm with 19mm outer cladding and 12mm ply inner with glass fibre insulation. The door end is on 100mm framing because of the weight of the Fire Door with 6 lever lock. The original felted roof is now EPDM rubber covered, again 12mmply on 50mm framing, with glass fibre insulation. There are no windows, (security, and they would be covered by shelving anyway) Warco Economy Mill/Drill on steel bench at one end, with the BL12-24 at right angles along the "back" wall, and a 18" wide steel benching along the "front" wall.

The insulation keeps it nice and snug, (East Anglia UK, so frost is rare, as are 30C summers) 60 watt tubular heater under bench keeps rust at bay, with a 2Kw thermostatically controlled fan heater for a quick warm up.

Power comes from 11 twin metal clad sockets, on a ring main (One day, perhaps, may get round to having a proper Consumer unit rather using a RCD in the Utility Room!) One double socket is filtered to stop the VFD feeding anything back into the mains. Lighting is two ceiling mounted independently switched 5' fluorecents, with a 24 volt Halogen on the lathe, two ex industry worklights with 3 watt LED lamps on the Mill/Drill, and another one above the vice on the Fitting bench (which very occasionally is visible beneath all the clutter)

Workshop tours are not practicable, two of us would fill the narrow aisle. For once in my life, have to be fairly tidy and put back anything not immediately needed. Almost too small and congested (not to mention untidy/cluttered) to be photographed.

Absolutely dread the thought of moving house. WHERE would everything go (during the 6 months necessary for preparation) and afterwards?

But don't we all get enormous pleasure and satisfaction from whatever size shop that we have, and the things that we make / repair / restore in there.

Howard

[Allan BParticipant @allanb]

so this is the randomness that I call my workshop, and belive it or not this is the tidy version

[Richard S2Participant @richards2]

I lost the use of my Garage/Workshop that I built in 1983 due to the monopolisation by Wife, Daughter and Son- by means of Tumble dryer, Freezer, Bikes etc and large Gym/Exercise contraptions and weight racks.

Moved all my gear to a 'Bolt Hole' I purchased so I could operate from it when I took Early Retirement and started part time self employment to fund my hobbies etc. Good thing is that this Garage/Workshop is integral on the ground floor and have 2 more storeys for accommodation above it .

Not as tidy and well appointed with paraphernalia of a typical ME's Workshop, but does for me when I'm there and tons of storage places and space to work on non-model restoration projects. Pic is a few years old now and place is due for a refit.

[richardandtracyParticipant @richardandtracy]

My workshop in 2009. Before it got even more cluttered with a cnc engraver, 10" thicknesser, bigger drill press, floor standing drill press, two computers and another 50-100 cubic feet of timber from pallets that I might possibly need one day.. Have yet to get the Norton 6DB flypress in there too.

The shaper is no-longer on its trolley, that's under the flypress.

Usually have room to do things, and with the bandsaw where it is I have a straight run out of the doors, so can saw items longer than the 35ft building. All benches visible are made from pallets. The one to the left of the lathe was from two pallets planked with 6" x 2" timbers bolted together with M10 studding. This was then cross planked and a 1800 x 900 x 6mm plate screwed to the top after I saw the plate in a skip. My anvil is on top of it, as the bench can easily take it in use. The blue painted steel used for the lathe support was 2mm sheet I found in a skip. The bench under the mitre saw is from an 8 x 4 ft pallet set up on legs. As you can see, no expense whatsoever has been expended.

Regards,

Richard

Edited By richardandtracy on 22/02/2017 15:49:08

[the artfull-codgerParticipant @theartfull-codger]

Thanks Allan B you've made my day a workshop just like mine!! [full] I'm allways amused at some of our american cousins workshops [often in a basement] massive & spotless.they must have big basements over there.

[Allan BParticipant @allanb]

The artfull-codger you are most welcome 😀 and at present that is the more organised of the two, the joiners shop has a 2 inch sawdust carpet and I can’t see any of the bench space 😂

Yer I do envy the Americans as they seem to have far more space, and an obsession with it being clinically clean 😂 I don’t think I could ever work like that, but the extra space would come in handy to collect more “useful” stuff 😀

Allan

[SteamgeekParticipant @steamgeek]

I am surprised we have not seen a picture of an armchair, tablet and slippers

[Author]

Posts