A few shop upgrades

While I'm between major projects, I had a chance over the weekend to make a few upgrades to the shop. The first is on my drill press. I was drilling mortises in a tall work piece and my old "tall" fence just wasn't performing like I needed. So, I whipped this up:

It's two layers of 3/4" MDF with a couple of slots for t-bolts. I created a rabbet on the bottom for dust to accumulate. Finish is two coats of shellac.

Next is a t-track in my outfeed/assembly table. I've been wanting to do this for a while but just never got around to it. The t-track opens up all kinds of possibilities for work holding while routing, sanding, etc.

Finally, I recently purchased a Rikon belt/disc sander. I like this little tool a lot. I cleared out the area next to my miter saw and parked it there. While lifting it up and over the miter saw fence I nearly dropped it. If the machine wouldn't have broken, my foot most certainly would have. So, I created a little platform for it out of MDF and put a couple of cabinet pulls on it for handles. Now I can get a secure grip on it when moving it around the shop. The platform also makes it easy to clamp the sander down to my bench or table.

As always, thanks for looking.

Cory

 

looks like useful additions.

 

The End Of An Era

My wife and I recently decided to move so that our kids could go to a better school district. Our house was only on the market for a few weeks before we accepted an offer. That part was great, but it means that I'll be without a shop for the next three months while our new house is being built. So, it was with some sadness that I packed up all my tools, rented a box truck with a lift gate and emptied the shop.

The before: http://i898.photobucket.com/albums/ac184/coho10/IMG_0353_zps28c3a0f6.jpg

Here's the after: http://s898.photobucket.com/user/coho10/media/null_zps697acc69.jpg.html

My poor tools will be forced to endure heat and dust in their new, albeit temporary, storage space:

The new house has a larger garage, and I'll be taking up part of it. Unfortunately, it won't be until October at the earliest. It will probably take another month or two to get set up after that. So, I've got a growing list of projects to tackle when the new space is ready.

Thanks for looking.

 

new house = ton of new projects and 'to-do' lists … not all workshop related, but at least it's an opportunity for a new beginning. enjoy it! Oct. will be here in no time.

 

Starting Over, Kind Of

We moved back in October of last year into a house with a larger garage which meant I got a little more shop space. That was great, but with all of the household projects, renovations, and life in general, I didn't really get to set up my shop how I wanted. I did add a 100 amp sub panel and numerous dedicated outlets before moving in but I basically just threw everything in the shop quickly so I could start working. Now, I'm ticking off the household projects and working on the shop little by little.

Here's a link to a couple of panoramas of the shop:

http://i898.photobucket.com/albums/ac184/coho10/IMG_1812_zps778901bd.jpg

http://i898.photobucket.com/albums/ac184/coho10/IMG_1815_zps90142101.jpg

The layout is pretty similar to my last shop. One change, though, is how I store my lumber. I hated having all my boards stacked horizontally on shelves, so I made this little soldier style vertical rack:

It's a simple plywood platform and a 2×4 with some 1" dowels for separations of the different sizes. I've got a storage space for the rest of my lumber pile, so this is really just for the projects at hand. It can hold quite a bit of lumber, though right now it's just got some lowly construction studs from my renovations.

Recently I've put everything but my workbench on wheels so I can move things around easily as things evolve. That meant cutting off the toe kicks on some cabinets and adding casters, like on my new drill press cabinet:

I lined the walls with french cleats so that I can move the wall cabinets around, too. Like my new finishes cabinet:

I plan to make a few more changes, but I'm pretty happy with the layout so far and it feels a lot like my old shop. I'd like to add some dust collection piping along the machine wall and paint the walls white, but those things will have to wait until I knock out some more household projects.

Thanks for looking.

Cory

 

We just moved and I have started setting up shop. I am trying to make it feel enough like my old shop that I don't get confused, but not so cramped. It's interesting forcing yourself to relearn some things though.

 

Just going through the same process myself. Taking things slowly to make sure I get it (almost) right. Good luck!
Jim

 

Square and ruler storage

I've been trying to organize my shop and condense some of the contents of drawers and cabinets. Here's a poor man's version of Kaizen foam to keep squares and rulers from sliding around…..12" square cork sheets. I used one that was left over from a school project for my daughter. I traced the items with a sharpie and used a razor knife to cut them out. The small drawer slides back and forth on plywood strips inside of another drawer allowing me to effectively double the storage space.

Thanks for looking.

Cory

 

Great idea Cory. Your shop is really nice and neat. Makes us other guys look bad! I bet you iron your blue jeans. Ha.

Another job well done by a true craftsman!

 

Plywood Cutting Table

I've been making a lot of built in cabinetry for our new house over the last few months, which has meant dealing with a lot of sheet goods. My old grid of 1×4s had taken a beating and finally gave in to all the abuse. So, I needed to make a new plywood cutting table. This one is made with half-lapped 1×4s, just like the last one. It measures 4' x 8' so it fully supports a sheet of ply.

I also reinforced the spots where the grid connects to my sawhorses. These area broke on my previous grid, so I made these little blocks that are glued and nailed. They make that part of the assembly much sturdier.

I can back my truck right up to this grid, slide the sheet goods onto it, and slice and dice with my track saw. Makes it super easy to rough out parts or even cut them to final dimension. It disassembles in seconds and stores in a pretty small footprint when not in use.

Thanks for looking.

Cory

 

Great idea, and not in your way when not needed.

 

New Outfeed table and shop cart

Even though I haven't posted in a while, I've been busy. I've had a lot of built-in projects around the house and a few furniture pieces, too. Between those projects, I try to take some time to work on the shop. Here's my new outfeed table, which is still a work in progress:

It's still got the top from my old table, which is undersized. I plan on making a new top when time allows. This table takes better advantage of the space I've got around the table saw and gives me a lot of storage for my parts bins and systainers.

Here are some build pictures:

The base is 2×4's and MDF with casters that engage when levelers are lowered.

This side will get drawers to hold power tools.

I haven't decided if I'm going to close this side up around my compressor or make more drawers.

On the side that faces away from the table saw, I cut a bunch of dadoes 3" apart so that I could insert 1/4" MDF panels to separate the parts bins and systainers. If I had it to do over again, I would have chosen 2" apart.

And here's my new shop cart which is the same height as my table saw. All of my built-ins were done with MDF or ply. This makes cross cutting those large sheets much easier. The center section is designed to hold systainers and parts bins. The ends are sized for plastic bins. Construction was all 1/2" plywood for base and 3/4" ply for top.

Thanks for looking!

Cory

 

New Outfeed table and shop cart

Even though I haven't posted in a while, I've been busy. I've had a lot of built-in projects around the house and a few furniture pieces, too. Between those projects, I try to take some time to work on the shop. Here's my new outfeed table, which is still a work in progress:

It's still got the top from my old table, which is undersized. I plan on making a new top when time allows. This table takes better advantage of the space I've got around the table saw and gives me a lot of storage for my parts bins and systainers.

Here are some build pictures:

The base is 2×4's and MDF with casters that engage when levelers are lowered.

This side will get drawers to hold power tools.

I haven't decided if I'm going to close this side up around my compressor or make more drawers.

On the side that faces away from the table saw, I cut a bunch of dadoes 3" apart so that I could insert 1/4" MDF panels to separate the parts bins and systainers. If I had it to do over again, I would have chosen 2" apart.

And here's my new shop cart which is the same height as my table saw. All of my built-ins were done with MDF or ply. This makes cross cutting those large sheets much easier. The center section is designed to hold systainers and parts bins. The ends are sized for plastic bins. Construction was all 1/2" plywood for base and 3/4" ply for top.

Thanks for looking!

Cory

Great work Cory. Your projects are always so neat and we'll thought out. It's good to see such nice craftsmanship.

 

Outfeed Table Progress

I was able to get a few more things completed on my outfeed table:

I cut out the handle area on the dividers, which makes it much easier to grab them. I also glued a small block on the back so the bins don't slide all the way to the rear of the opening.

The top three slots are a little more narrow than the rest, so I turned them into drawers. I'm keeping sanding supplies in there since this is where 99% of the sanding I do takes place.

I also built drawers where I was keeping my compressor.

And put some drawer fronts on them.

This led me to building a little table of sorts to sit my compressor on. The space between my outfeed table and table saw was pretty wasted and this allows me to take advantage of it. The table straddles the dust collection port of the TS.

Now if I can just figure out what I want to do about the top….

Thanks for looking.

Cory

 

Outfeed Table Progress

I was able to get a few more things completed on my outfeed table:

I cut out the handle area on the dividers, which makes it much easier to grab them. I also glued a small block on the back so the bins don't slide all the way to the rear of the opening.

The top three slots are a little more narrow than the rest, so I turned them into drawers. I'm keeping sanding supplies in there since this is where 99% of the sanding I do takes place.

I also built drawers where I was keeping my compressor.

And put some drawer fronts on them.

This led me to building a little table of sorts to sit my compressor on. The space between my outfeed table and table saw was pretty wasted and this allows me to take advantage of it. The table straddles the dust collection port of the TS.

Now if I can just figure out what I want to do about the top….

Thanks for looking.

Cory

Very nice Cory. Git er done!

 

Drill press cart part 1

I wanted to build a new cart that took better advantage of the space underneath my benchtop drill press. The one I had been using was a scavenged find. It looks like there are a 5 drawers, but it's actually 3. They're made from 3/4" material, they're narrow and deep, and don't have full extension slides, so they don't function well for small parts.

The one I built is a little lower, wider, and has full extension slides so I can get to everything in the drawers. It was very simple construction (pocket screws, butt joints, glue and brad nails) out of material I had left over (MDF, plywood, maple edging).

Here's the new one, with the old one next to it.

Top drawer with most used bits:

Middle drawer has a tray for bits used a little less often:

I still need to build a drawer for the bottom, add drawer faces, and mount the drill press. More to come….

Thanks for looking.

Cory

 

Drill press cart part 1

I wanted to build a new cart that took better advantage of the space underneath my benchtop drill press. The one I had been using was a scavenged find. It looks like there are a 5 drawers, but it's actually 3. They're made from 3/4" material, they're narrow and deep, and don't have full extension slides, so they don't function well for small parts.

The one I built is a little lower, wider, and has full extension slides so I can get to everything in the drawers. It was very simple construction (pocket screws, butt joints, glue and brad nails) out of material I had left over (MDF, plywood, maple edging).

Here's the new one, with the old one next to it.

Top drawer with most used bits:

Middle drawer has a tray for bits used a little less often:

I still need to build a drawer for the bottom, add drawer faces, and mount the drill press. More to come….

Thanks for looking.

Cory

Great job Cory. Any woodworker would be proud of that cart.!

 

Drill press cart part 2

I was able to finish up the drill press cart last night. Built another drawer, added drawer fronts and pulls, and a seal coat of dewaxed shellac. The bottom drawer is totally empty right now, but I'm sure I'll find something to put in it.

On to the next project, an MFT type top for my shop cart. More on that soon.

Thanks for looking.

Cory

 

Drill press cart part 2

I was able to finish up the drill press cart last night. Built another drawer, added drawer fronts and pulls, and a seal coat of dewaxed shellac. The bottom drawer is totally empty right now, but I'm sure I'll find something to put in it.

On to the next project, an MFT type top for my shop cart. More on that soon.

Thanks for looking.

Cory

Nice.
That really cleans that up. Goog job.

Steve

 

Outfeed and assembly table done

I finished up the work on my outfeed and assembly table last night. I really just needed to build the top, so I glued together three layers of 3/4" MDF, banded it with maple, then laminated with white formica. The bridge between my table saw and the table is floating so it can be moved.

It's big, heavy, and dead flat. Exactly what I was after. The parts bins have been filled up and that's been really nice too. I can easily grab whatever part/screw/washer/etc I need and get to work.

I also organized the drawers a little better. My OCD is alive and kicking.

As always, thanks for looking.

Cory

 

Outfeed and assembly table done

I finished up the work on my outfeed and assembly table last night. I really just needed to build the top, so I glued together three layers of 3/4" MDF, banded it with maple, then laminated with white formica. The bridge between my table saw and the table is floating so it can be moved.

It's big, heavy, and dead flat. Exactly what I was after. The parts bins have been filled up and that's been really nice too. I can easily grab whatever part/screw/washer/etc I need and get to work.

I also organized the drawers a little better. My OCD is alive and kicking.

As always, thanks for looking.

Cory

looks awesome, I wish I had the space for this. Do you have any pictures of the attachment of the "bridge" portion of the outfeed?

 

Festool CT26 and Dust Deputy

I've been drinking the green kool aid for a while now and I recently added a dust deputy to the CT26. The vac works exceptionally well and is a great part of the whole Festool ecosystem. This was kind of slapped together with leftover 1/2" and 3/4" plywood. It mounts to the vac where a systainer would go and locks in place. I added a holder for a sander and a hook for the hose. The top shelf holds my router or track saw.

Thanks for looking

Cory

 

Festool CT26 and Dust Deputy

I've been drinking the green kool aid for a while now and I recently added a dust deputy to the CT26. The vac works exceptionally well and is a great part of the whole Festool ecosystem. This was kind of slapped together with leftover 1/2" and 3/4" plywood. It mounts to the vac where a systainer would go and locks in place. I added a holder for a sander and a hook for the hose. The top shelf holds my router or track saw.

Thanks for looking

Cory

Even the Magpies like the green.

 

Getting back at it....Quick Festool organization

In my world there are two seasons: Golf and woodworking. Since it's dark at 5:00 and too cold for the links, it's officially woodworking season. I've been slowly getting back at it with a couple of projects here and there. This small project keeps my systainers organized so I can get to each one individually. Now I don't have to undo the whole stack to get to one in the middle. Super quick and simple construction.

Now I can get to finishing 15 cutting boards, 10 drawer fronts, some storage shelving, and 2 nightstands!

 

Our shops are forever evolving and never ending fun job.