WORKSHOP - do you have one for your DIY work?

Drool some more!

Drool :)

Pete

This is the home built horizontal mill. It has speeds from about 40 RPM up to 2,500 and is rigid enough to cut 16DP gears in steel at a single pass per tooth space.

View attachment 37904

This is the much modified South Bend lathe, with vee belt drive and a lever lock for the tailstock. The quick change toolpost and all its holders were milled on the horizontal mill.

View attachment 37905
 
Apologies for my terminology. Me and google have got it wrong judging by the images I get back on that term. I call it a drill press because I wouldn't glorify it with the term "pillar drill". And yes it is a bit makeshift. It has some homemade modifications - like extra tapped holes and bolts to stop it flapping about when I'm trying to do something accurate. Managed to make a new banjo bolt with it, so it can't be too bad.

I agree with the sentiment that industrial strength is better, but I can't afford it for all tools. I usually end up replacing the ones that break or are limiting with more manly versions. I have the most pathetic band saw in the world, but it does endless work for me, so it's not all about money. But try replacing a blade on it - it's an incredible fart-about to get it sorted and the blade guides right. I find that often with cheap machines - it takes a lot of patience to set them up - and I wouldn't claim that they are great even when set up - but the budget isn't infinite. And I was reminded - respirator - yes - essential. Mine is in endless use. Specs and face masks don't work even with non-toxic dust - steaming up. And wood turning with an uncovered beard is an entertaining business.

One of the problems with good kit, apart from the 3 phase lecky, is the shear weight of the stuff. Plenty of excellent kit on sale for little money. Just how do you find space for a nice mill that weighs over 500kg? That is apart from the transport, so your £200 bargain costs several times that before it dominates your workshop. Most of the more specialised kit I have ( section bender, folders, press. punch, ally cut off saw), I built for a job. As the off the shelf kit was V expensive and I was not sure if I would need it later. In all cases it paid for itself many times over (well, not the punch.. but time yet.)

Need to get the wood seperated from the metal.. saw dust and welding are not a great mix!
 
This is the home built horizontal mill. It has speeds from about 40 RPM up to 2,500 and is rigid enough to cut 16DP gears in steel at a single pass per tooth space.

View attachment 37904

This is the much modified South Bend lathe, with vee belt drive and a lever lock for the tailstock. The quick change toolpost and all its holders were milled on the horizontal mill.

View attachment 37905

BTW, very nice stuff there..
 
Evening all,

I'll own up to a 16 foot square wooden workshop with overflow garden shed adjacent for 'deep storage items'. Two standout features are a cedarwood shingle roof which gives off a delightful waftness of cedar scents when wet and we built it over a ten foot square air raid shelter so it has a basement which just happens to be the cellerage for the house. Handy in times of crisis or doubt or just well merited reward time....
 
My wife occasionally takes pics of my workshop to encourage me to tidy it.Sort of a 3 car garage lwith loads of space and two work benches down one side one for wood the other for metal(well that was the plan)
I have a pillar drill various power tools and angle grinder plus my Dads circa 1970 Oxford oil cooled stick welder.
I would love and could use a nice lathe and perhaps some milling gear.
I would also like a spray compressor and oxyacetylene gear.
I have a vast colection of woodworking tools some of which my Grandad bought second hand as an apprentice back in the 1890s.
Also some of my great granddads stome masonary tools which helped build the Palace of Westminster.
 
my Dads circa 1970 Oxford oil cooled stick welder.
Never be tempted to sell that. I had one, same age. Sold it and regretted it ever since. Modern air-cooled ones are tat.

I also would like some gas welding gear, but can't justify the cost for hobby use.
 
Well 'Shedmates' whoever and wherever you are..... things are beginning to happen.

Since my OP things have gone through various stages.

The area for my shed/workshop was negotiated by first of all buying-in, a surprise, purpose built 'log cabin' for Mrs. S.

Thus benefitting from much gratitude, I was able to have a sympathetic ear when stressing the difficulties I would face to improve house and home

without the benefit of a better workshop.

Paces were strode out in the back yard (Mrs. S is a Texan) and an allotted area was gifted. (far bigger than I had ever hoped for.. :) )


See workshop taking shape
http://s725.photobucket.com/user/johnscottorn/media/1Workshoptakingshape.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0
 
Last edited:
lathe plus mini lathe, milling machine, hydraulic press, band saws, scroll saw, lin 'donkey saw' drill stand of course, mig, arc, and the old oxt welding kit _ treated myself to some booze so a bit tipsy and that is all I can remember. Oh, linisher, sanders, angle grinders, power sanders, epoxy, poly resin. ear muffs, goggles, dust mask (all safety equipment sadly neglected until I hit middle age and realised I had to turn telly up louder than rest of family !

Edit, bench and vices of course, sheet metal cutting and bending things. Compressor with filter to take water vapour out for spraying - very old (not the filter though)_ was my grandfathers _ no belt guards _ lovely smell to it.
Trouble is, I have no space, so all stored somewhere else, fortunately for free.

Spare room is the electronics lab, much to the distress of the wife.
 
Last edited:
Well 'Shedmates' whoever and wherever you are..... things are beginning to happen.

Since my OP things have gone through various stages.

The area for my shed/workshop was negotiated by first of all buying-in, a surprise, purpose built 'log cabin' for Mrs. S.

Thus benefitting from much gratitude, I was able to have a sympathetic ear when stressing the difficulties I would face to improve house and home

without the benefit of a better workshop.

Paces were strode out in the back yard (Mrs. S is a Texan) and an allotted area was gifted. (far bigger than I had ever hoped for.. :) )


See workshop taking shape
http://s725.photobucket.com/user/johnscottorn/media/1Workshoptakingshape.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Don't forget to place your vice on a workbench so that you can use the maximum length of your workshop. You don't want to be limited to bits of steel or wood of about 4ft when your workshop is 20 ft long.
 
Double garage extended a bit & all insulated out into which is crammed the following, Startrite 352 bandsaw, Union graduate wood lathe, Harrison 140 metal lathe, Tig, Mig & arc welders, brazing hearth, air compressor & a few hand tools! Man can never have too many tools. I also have a set of antique beer pumps but for the life of me cant find anywhere to mount them!
 
When I put a shed up against the house I left "shuffle room" so that I could do just that.

I've just taken a pic in my garage to see how it's contents have spread in a couple of years.


workshop01.jpg




workshop02.jpg




workshop03.jpg
 
I am inspired to fit out a workshop......again.Not that I have the remotest idea what I would do init it would be a means to an end.........find stuff I have and go and buy again cos I cant find it
 
Last edited:
I am inspired to fit out a workshop......again.Not that I have the remotest idea what I would do init it would be a means to an end.........find stuff I have and go and buy again cos I cant find it

One think is sure, as soon as you have it fitted out, there will be a beating to your door of people who just need a little job done, preferably free... DAMHIKT
 
Top