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*** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

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*** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

#1

Ellis Walentine

*** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

Ellis Walentine

It's more like the Vernal Equinox than the Ides, but here's our bi-monthly question for your valued input.

I've been burning the midnight oil in my shop building stuff for our new house. It's been great putting in full days in my element, especially since I don't have to do it for someone else. But, since we'll be selling our current place -- and, with it, my really nice workshop -- I'm having to rethink the whole concept of "shop." The thought of setting up another shop -- the building, utilities, wiring, dust collection, layout & assembly areas, stock prep, finishing, storage -- is more than I'm willing or able to deal with -- been there, done that several times. The other dimension to this is that I'm not exactly getting any younger, and y'never know when some shoe is going to drop on your head. So, I don't want to waste my remaining good years starting over. But, I can't imagine living without a sanctuary of some sort.

I have resigned myself to having a small place dedicated simply to escaping to the pleasures of hand work, design and contemplation -- and whatever projects pop up to amuse me or absolutely need to be done. It's time to draw the line on big projects that require lots of room, large machines and copious amounts of time and stress. A bench, a band saw, a lathe, a drill press, a bunch of prized hand tools will have to do; and I can wedge those into a pretty small space. If I have the time, energy and motivation to build another house or kitchen or large furniture, I'll just have to cultivate arrangements with other local woodworkers who have the necessary equipment.

This long-winded introduction is leading up to my question(s) of the month for you: Do you have an exit strategy from your current mode of work? Will you always have a shop? What will your last shop look like compared to what you have now? What sorts of things can you imagine doing in the shop as you get on in years? Are there unfinished projects on your bucket list that you are really motivated to accomplish before you're through?

It really comes down to what part woodworking plays (and has played) in your life and where you'd like to go from here. What are your plans -- or your best guesses -- and we'll pass your replies (ruthlessly edited, of course) to Woodworker West magazine for our next (number 105!) column, "News & Views from WoodCentral.com." This question is more about your outlook and rationale than about the nuts and bolts of your transition, but specifics are also welcome.

And, I promise, this will be the last geezer question for a while. ;)

Thanks in advance for your thoughts on all this.

Ellis Walentine, Host

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

#2

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

john lucas

My shop is my escape so I guess I'll always have one. I have the biggest shop I have ever had right now and it's really nice but my wife and I both are looking at what it will take to downsize a few more years down the road. The yard is too big and requires a lot of work. The house also both inside and out. The big shop is nice but of course the building isn't new and requires looking after. So once we have been here long enough to maybe make some money on this place we will be downsizing big time.

I think I can do with a lot less equipment if I simply decide to. At one point in my life I thought I would have to get buy with a small shed. I looked at what I like to do and decided that with a lathe, bandsaw, hand tools, carving tools and a workbench I could get buy. Hopefully I won't have to go that small. I'd like to keep my small jointer and planer. Downsize the table saw to very tiny. All on rollers so they can be stored. Sell the big lathe and keep the midi. Downsize the dust collector and sell the big air compressor. Wipe on finishes will work fine instead of needing to spray.

The plus side of having a big shop. I don't have any inheritance for my kid. Life insurance will probably only cover funeral expenses + a little. I have contacted an auction company in town who will action off all the shop and give the proceeds to my son. So in some ways if I hang around a while and stay healthy having a big shop will pay off for someone.

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

#3

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

Henry (Raleigh NC)

So even though I hope I am at least 2 decades off from scaling down the shop, I have indeed considered the possibility. I'd still love to scale it up, but that is unlikely.

My new interest in 3D mechanical puzzles requires some precision not required for larger scale work (I'm learning on that front); required pieces there are all small scale and so would lend themselves to a small scale (precise) tool set. I think that includes router table, small BS (or a much better scroll saw than I have now), and likely a mini-lathe. Time will tell if my interests shift - carving and intarsia remain as fronts I have not yet attempted, but think that these both lend themselves to smaller spaces and quieter work.

Henry

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

#4

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

bill tucker

Interesting thoughts, which float through our minds the farther down that path we travel. Just happened to recently visit someone in a retirement community in Florida. He kept a few hand tools in the garage, but depended on the community shop for all large tools (well equipped). Got me to thinkin'. Then there's the other idea. Buy one of those 20' shipping containers and set it on blocks. Set up shop inside and when you move, take it with you. You could put cedar boards on the outside for looks. Wouldn't need dust collection....just put the lathe at the front, open both doors and turn on a big fan behind you. ;)

bill

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

#5

ebd

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

ebd

I'm hoping to live in this house and use my workshop out in the barn till I die or run out of wood. If I had to give this place up and start over I'm not sure I wouldn't just give all my tools to my son & daughter and quit completely. After accumulating a table saw, band saw, planer, jointer, drill press, two lathes and accessories, bunch of self made jigs, sharpening station, numerous hand machines, and hand tools, I don't think I would be able to work happily making due and not having the machine/tool that's meant for the job.

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

#6

Steven Antonucci

Not an answer sorta...

Steven Antonucci

...But if I didn't have access to a shop, I'd seriously consider joining a maker space to gain access to equipment.

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

#7

Joe Fleming

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

Joe Fleming

I don't have an exit strategy, but I sometimes get an itch to do a wall-to-wall inventory so that my wife won't be stuck. Then I go out there and realize that the mess is too intimidating for me to even start.

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

#8

Brad Vietje

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

Brad Vietje

Green Wood Studio: Basically planning to do more hand work. I'll keep one powered lathe, but also a compact spring pole lathe. Working green wood with hand tools: carving bench, shave horse & a few chopping blocks to make spoons, bowls and relief carving on riven panels in the Peter Follansbe tradition. Spoon knives, sloyd knives, TWCA cam, carving axe, froe, and a few bowl adzes. Chain saw and band saw for processing raw materials.

I've gotten started with spoon and bowl carving, but have lots more learning & fun yet to come.

Safe spinning,

Brad Vietje

Newbury, VT

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

#9

Brad Vietje

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

Brad Vietje

Hmmm.... Revised Response.

As I get older, I'm losing more and more friends and relatives, so I suspect I'll be turning cremation urns for the rest of my days. I'd better plan ahead and prepare one for my own remains, cuz I won't be there to make one when the time comes.

Lost my wife's mom just 3 weeks ago, but with 4 months warning, so hers is complete. Now her dad wants me to start another for his ashes, and I have 2 more to finish for an elderly couple by request, so maybe I ought to start a local urn business?

Maybe there IS no getting out of this turning stuff -- literally, if my own ashes are destined to go into a turned object. Deep thought for the day.

Safe spinning,

Brad Vietje

Newbury, VT

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

#10

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

Dave Paine

Do you have an exit strategy from your current mode of work?

No exit strategy at this time. So far my health is good and so I am able to spend time in the shop. My share of aches and pains at times which remind me I may one day be unable to work in the shop.

Will you always have a shop?

I hope so. A shop can be merely a place to work where the dust does not get into the living area. I have my tools in the garage. No fancy planning out the shop. I made room for machines as they were purchased. I have recently added metal working to my wood working hobby. A recent purchase of a milling machine meant I had to move some unused wood working machines out of the shop to eventually be sold.

What will your last shop look like compared to what you have now?

I have not given this any thought. If I continue to reside in the present house, the garage will continue to be my shop. I normally feel to be constrained by space in the garage, since I have to share the space with my tractor, portable generator, etc.

What sorts of things can you imagine doing in the shop as you get on in years?

My projects have reduced in physical size over the years. I now do mostly turning and making jigs and tools. Flat work consumes a lot of assembly space which I do not have. I end up using the top of the cabinet style table saw for assembly. This is a hassle when I need to use the table saw.

Are there unfinished projects on your bucket list that you are really motivated to accomplish before you're through?

I do not have long term projects. I have not thought about a bucket list for projects. I like to work on new projects or projects where I am going to learn something. I often get inspired to make things rather than plan to make things. I am a hobby wood/metal worker so I am not doing production work. I prefer to make one-offs rather than repeat projects.

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

#11

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

Wayne Kuhn

As long as I can walk up and down the basement steps i will keep my small basement shop. No plans for any large scale projects, do as the mood strikes.

I'm at the age where i am allowed to putter.

When the time comes, Baltimore Area Turners gets my tools to do with as they please.

I used to yearn for a 30 x 60 shop but have recently revised my thinking as the thought of walking from end to the other would be too much. I like my small 12 x 25 shop.

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

#12

Re: *** SURVEY: THE IDES OF MARCH ***

jake niedling

When I retired 2 years ago, I had always thought I would built a workshop. For the past 18 years, I have been turning only. It is in my 3 car garage along with my bass boat. When I looked into the cost of building a workshop, it was going to be $40K. Functionally, it was just for my lathe and to have more space. I decided not to spend the money and just continue to turn where it is currently located. I make a lot of items for charity ( beads of courage bowls and Christmas ornaments for two clubs) which really provides me with a lot of satisfaction. Occasionally, I go to a friends house to use his bandsaw, but most of the time its from the chainsaw to the lathe. Wood blanks just never seem to be a problem, when you belong to 2 clubs and have a few good friends. Not a segmenter, so no need for a miter or table saw. So between the lathe just making chips and the bass boat, were happy in the small space I have now. I plan to keep it that way for a long time to come.