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Workshop Information

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United States
I've loved woodworking all my life and have always had some sort of situation where I could set up and use what tools I had. In 2001, I designed and built a 40×60 "barn". Part was to be a 3 bay garage and the rest mostly workshop. Except for the trusses, drywall, and roof, I did it myself with the help of some good friends when I needed them and my wife when I was in a jam. The interior of the shop is beaded board plywood and the trim and stairs are all southern yellow pine. I've gradually made shelves and fixtures out of the same materials. I wanted the center tall enough to handle long boards without a problem. Penn State Industries helped me design the dust collector system, I installed it and it works great. I built a 4' x 4' cupola that can be accessed from the loft by a ladder. It's a neat hideaway for visiting children. The loft at the rear of the shop is accessible by a ladder that can swing up and store against the ceiling. The tools are ones I have gradually collected over my adult life. There are tools I would love to have but then my Dad always said to get the best tools you could afford but that the tools are not so important as what you can do with what you have. As you can see I have enough projects in various stages of completion, not to mention on the sketch pad to keep me going for awhile.

Yes, there are 99 (different) bottles of beer on the wall, and I drank every one of them!! You gotta have some fun along with all that work. When the machinery isn't running you're likely to hear some polka music or great music from the 40's, 50's, or 60's. One with a sharp eye will observe that the grain of the drawer fronts is continuous (cut from 1 piece of wood). It was fun to keep track of that as I went through the process of cutting the dovetails with a Leigh jig. I beveled the back of the drawers so it could hang down slightly and have a catch at the back so it wouldn't fall out but could also be removed.

I can make all sorts of excuses for the disarray but anyone that really works in their shop knows, it's never perfect. It's a work in progress. If you aren't making things your shop stays a lot neater. There are roughed out bowl blanks, drying and waiting to be finished or something or another just waiting to be tackled. I say make sawdust and clean it up as you need to. A guy told me once that if you make a promise to yourself to put away at least 10 things when you go into your shop, you will keep it organized. I've tried it and it helps.

Gallery

Comments

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4,467 Posts
Now that is a beautiful shop. You might just be tempted to call it a studio…
 

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368 Posts
Very nice shop Ken, thanks for the tour.
 

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5,163 Posts
Ken, this is an absolutely gorgeous shop that any of us would enjoy working in this type of facility. It has plenty of headroom, an abundance of natural light and plenty of space for tools. You have a wonderful infrastructure and some nice tools to play with. What is not to like about this shop!!

Thanks for the pictures. I enjoyed touring your shop.
 

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A beautiful place, and a sugery room next door… I like your sence of detail, this is a dream of a workshop.
Clever words of your dad.
 

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Really nice shop. I can see that you put a lot of thought, time and love in this place and I know you are enjoying it very much. Thanks for the tour! I love the clock(not the big one) on the wall.

Have you converted to being a Gator fan yet or are you still favoring the Buckeyes? ;-)

Erwin Jacksonville, Fl
 

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What a neat workshop you have.Thanks for the tour. I was wondering in the pictures it looks like you have a jointer planer combo machine is that a Hitachi f1000A? I really like the older combo machines, I just bought a Makita 2030 to restore.
 

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Bearpie:
You know what they say about a buckeye. It's a worthless nut! I am a graduate of UF and proudly a Gator with most of my siblings sympathetic to the OSU camp. So we have had some good time talking trash about our teams. The clock was a gift from a longtime friend, she thought I just had to have it for the shop.

559dustdesigns:
I have owned that Hitachi F-1000A for more than 25 years and it has been a great machine. I need to replace some bearings and find the brushes for the motor but I can tell you I have run miles of wood through that planer and jointer and it has the absolutely best shaving exhaust system of any tool I have ever seen, when I hook it to the dust collector there are simply no shavings escape unlike the 18" Woodmaster which is pretty messy at best.
Thank you for the comments. I love my shop and more than that love the joy it brings for me to spend time in there and the connection it brings for me to my Dad particularly. He taught us how to make do and always do your best. A good imagination and determination can over come a whole lot of problems that always seem to show up.
 

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Ken,I am new to L J's but have enjoyed the many hours of getting a fly on the wall view of some amazing shops and the incredible work that many produce.With that said,I have really gravitated to Your shop tour and how it has given Me inspiration that one day I will perhaps be afforded the good fortune of owning My very own dream shop. The pleasure has been all mine! Thanks for the peek into what has to be a dream come true for You.
 

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some day I will have a nice shop but for now I will do with what I have it the wood working I love and the shop will not change that
 

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This shop is wonderful Ken
 

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No wonder you buiding such pretty boats Doc, just look at this shop!
 

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Ken, I believe that that is one of the nicest shops that I have seen anywhere. Central dust system, nice tools and equipment, very nice cabinets, plenty of storage, looks almost like the interior of a home. What more could a man want in a shop. Very nicely done, indeed.
 

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Wow. That is one nice shop!
 

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Hi Dr Ken,
's
Now that on well thought out shop, very well done.The put 10 things away rule will certainly help keep some order.Along with rule make something for your shop after each project. Some great ideas there, when you said design you where not kidding. Like the copular idea.

Thanks for posting jb
 

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379 Posts
That's an amazing shop ken!!!!!!

Thanks, Michael Frey
Portland OR

FREY WOODWORKING INC.
 

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Wow, that's a nice shop Ken…..
Your a lucky man.

Houtje
 

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Wow, that looks like woodworker heaven. Thanks for sharing with us. Steve in Oregon
 
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