Shop Layout

What with having contracted a slight illness over the Christmas break (seems to be just a basic cold), the best thing to do is... more design!!!

Here is the plan for the new shop layout (click image for more detail), to be more or less done by the end of January.

From Blogger Pictures

Some notes, left to right:

• The band saw in the corner of the shop, is on casters and is to be moved out away from the wall when used.
• The first cabinet is to anchor the spindle sander or belt sander, which can be removed and stowed in the cabinet underneath.
• The jointer is not really in a cabinet, but also on casters. The counter top extends over the jointer to conceal the device and give more work surface.
• The miter saw is recessed such that the tools surface is flush with the counter top. Storage is underneath
• The next cabinet over will have a recess for either the the portable downdraft table or portable planer. Both can be stowed underneath when not in use and a removable counter top leaf replace the area to extend the work surface.
• The router table cabinet will have a built-in flush router mechanism to raise/lower the router. It will likely have T-slots for fences/clamps/etc. Initially this will be a plain surface with the full router mechanism to be added later.
• Dust collection ducts will span the entire wall, concealed within the cabinets and tee-ing up through the work surface where needed for the specific tool to be attached.

One tool I don't have yet, is the portable planer. I won't really need it till later this year (at least). I have just started looking but this Makita planer (Makita 2012NB 12-Inch Planer with Interna-Lok Automated Head Clamp) gets pretty good reviews. If any of you readers have a recommendation, please feel free to post a comment.

From Blogger Pictures

Happy Holidays

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday. About this time deep thought is given to the projects forthcoming for the next year. Look for a post on New Year's day about the "planned boat projects for the coming year ramblings." Around this time I like to plug other internet resources I have enjoyed and followed. These are listed on the side bar in case you missed them. See you in the new year...

Small Parts Design

Been working on some small part design... Here is a rough design of the dive cylinder locker. It will hold two dive cylinders and will be mounted under the side decks. A simple construction of Coosa board and fiberglass tubing. A "top" and "bottom" is cut from Coosa with the "top" having a flange for thru-bolting to the underside of the deck. There will be a similar design for the propane locker with different size tubing for the propane cylinders. Edit: Design include vents and drains to the outside as well.

The Shop, The Plan

For a point of reference, here is a shot of the shop "as it is now". Look at all that wasted space with those make-shift tables and loosely routed dust collection ducts! I hate it. It has worked out fine for the time being, but there will be much more "woodworking" happening this next year. As for the plan, the tool layout will be pretty much as it is shown in the picture, from left to right:

• benchtop spindle sander
• benchtop belt sander
• 48 x 6 inch jointer
• band saw
• chop saw
• router table

The current "portable" router table in the picture at the very right will be replaced by built-in counter top version. And I need to make room on the benchtop for a portable planer (which I don't have yet) and a recess for the portable downdraft table (already have). All cabinets will be modular and on locking casters enabling periodic cleaning underneath. They will be simple cabinets with shelves and/or drawers underneath made out of MDF. Nothing fancy or elaborate. So there. I guess I am comitted now. Hope to have this all done just after the first of the year.