Brief Making Update!

I’ve been doing a lot of work in the old workshop lately. I’ve got all my most useful hand tools on custom made tool holders on a French cleat system running the length of the wall. I’ve built an outfeed table/workbench for my table saw and I’ve built a scrap wood sorting rack. I finished a birdhouse a while ago that I’m pretty proud of and I’m working on a pretty neat project now for the house. I’m building a calendar. It’s a 2ft by 1.5ft oak plywood board with a sheet of plexiglass held in front of it by a aspen wood frame. The plexiglass has the grid for the calendar painted on the back side so we can write on the plexiglass with dry erase markers. It’s a pretty neat project. I’ll post some photos of all this stuff sometime soon so you have some idea what I’m trying to describe.

One upcoming project that I’m particularly excited about is building some work stations for K’s bead studio room. She’s making do with a cheap computer desk for now, but I’m planning a pretty deluxe set up with cupboards and drawers and a big countertop to work on. She and I are working out the details of that plan so we can get started. Along with my daily writing, there’s a lot going on! I’ll post photos along with a proper “State of the Workbench” post very soon.

The State of the Workbench: October, 2014

Moving sucks.

I've gotten to the point where I've got less than two weeks to get everything out of the apartment. This means I've had to start tearing down my workbench and storing all my tools and materials for the haul across town. It's hard to realize just how much stuff you have until you have to put it all into boxes. I was kinda amazed by how many tools I've accumulated and by how often I use almost all of them. Guess I never realized how deep I am into this hobby.

Here's what the workbench looked like a few hours ago:

Not the best photography (The lighting in that room

is terrible) but you can plainly see a big pile of stuff

and tools neatly hung on the pegboard

And here's what it looks like now:

There's still quite a pile, but you will notice the tools

are gone!

Yes, I've had to box the tools. I tried to be as organized as possible, but I don't have an ideal toolbox system- that is, I don't really have a system at all. I do have all the random toolboxes I've purchased over the years, though so I had to make that work. Here are a few photos:

 Drafting tools. Gotta have a well made plan to have

a well made thing

 Standard tool drawer. You know, files, screwdrivers,

lockpicks... basic stuff

 Cutting tools and glues. So many kinds of glue

and I use them all. That's crazy.

 Other stuff that doesn't fit a category

 I call this my "Finishing Box". It has all my paint,

polyurethane, rub-'n-buff, and tools to get the finish

just right

Tape, sandpaper, dremels, and PPE.

Like I said, I have a lot of stuff. It is kinda a sad thing to pack it all away, really, but I am glad it gave me the chance to re-organize things. Hopefully it won't be too long before we are unpacked and back in action!

I have no idea how to effectively sort and sore various grits of sandpaper. If anyone has any ideas on that, leave me a comment or something.

-J