Shop Tours

A Modest Shop

comments (10) July 22nd, 2010 in Shop Tours        
na_nelson na_nelson, member
thumbs up 42 users recommend
First thing I did when I came back was make this workbench. Probably the most important tool in the shop! Handtools on the wall, some lumber storage to the right.
Hastily made parts/assembly table (I really need to get a smaller better stero so I can open up more space). Lovely aluminum bar clamps, off-cut storage, and shelves for shop needs ie glue, screws, sandpaper, finish, books...
Machine room. 8 jointer, 14 bandsaw, 13 planer, table saw, drill press. Dont mind the mirual my Father put it there years ago heh.
Becuase the machine room still house my Fathers desk/bench, cabinets, and other suchwhat I cant use the space effectively... So theres a little section of over spill ha. Router table, my lovely Davis and Wells boring machine, and a lathe that I really dont use anymore (I used to build drums) but dont have the heart to get ride of yet... maybe my Father would like to turn bowls some day.
I may not have top of the line machines, or even close, but when it comes to hand tools I am vey happy with what I have (one could always use more though ha) and spend the time to properly make and tune them up. The right tool for the right job! smoother plane, polishing plane, high and low angle planes, 2 jointer planes, 4 coopering planes, jack plane, hogging shave, refined shaves different scales, round bottom shaves, scraper shave, low angle shave...
First thing I did when I came back was make this workbench. Probably the most important tool in the shop! Handtools on the wall, some lumber storage to the right. - CLICK TO ENLARGE

First thing I did when I came back was make this workbench. Probably the most important tool in the shop! Handtools on the wall, some lumber storage to the right.
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Shop Specs

  • Location: Maple Grove, Minnesota, USA
  • Size: about 370sq. ft.
  • Type: Basement
  • Focus: Furniture
  • Heating/Cooling: House has central air... and it's a basement ;)

A small modest shop can produce fine work! After attending 2 schools in woodworking I have come back to my home town with little to no budget and the oppertunity of cheap space in the basement of my folks' house.

The "shop" is divided into two spaces. One, was originally my father's "handyman" workspace which now I call the "machine room". the other was my brother and my music space, now it's my "bench room".

The few machines are not state-of-the-art, are small, and sometimes "inadequet" but one learns how to best make due, be clever and resourceful. I am pretty focus on handwork in my work. Finely tuned hand skills will never be replaced by machines. So I get by with not quite square cuts on the poor table saw by fine tuning by hand. Even the finest tuned machines that I've had the privieldge to work with cannot seem to give ideal results so I'd be hitting it by hand also, though not as much.

Whatever the case I was giving an oppertunity to really give it a go so that's what I'm doing. I don't know what I would do without a shop to work in :)

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Comments (10)

Antondeg Antondeg writes: Awesome hand tools and wonderful work that was created by them. I am just really getting into the hand tool work myself. I would live to make some planes at some point. Keep up the good work and stay true to your heart and craft and the reward will come.
Posted: 8:31 pm on February 7th

gringoadal gringoadal writes: es un motivo de satisfaccion haberme inscrito a su pagina,me a permitido tener mas conocimiento de las buenas practicas de carpinteria y el uso mas adecuado de la herramienta, sin mencionar las excelentes ideas para desarrollar muebles de todas clases para el hogar.

atentamente
adalberto aguilar tobie
Posted: 1:54 pm on September 14th

na_nelson na_nelson writes: AlessC -
The second one down, the dark one?
Is actually a scrapeshave/spokescrape/chairscrape made from Wenge. Here's a closer photo of it... http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_quV-skKzjmI/SgTnHy9OQgI/AAAAAAAAAV4/tGU6kH0SKYA/s1600-h/P5040039.JPG

I used an iron from Hock specifically for this kind of tool though making your own blade would not be tough. Then made the brass fitting out of some square brass bar stalk. I don't recall if it is 1/2" or 3/8" brass bar.
I'm not sure if there are plans online to make one of these or not. It is a great tool to have if you are working with some cranky woods like the Shedua side tables I made.
Posted: 3:27 pm on September 12th

na_nelson na_nelson writes: Thanks for the compliments!
Hmm I attended a Cabinetmaking school here in Minneapolis, MCTC though I mainly was working on furniture projects for 2 years and then the Inside Passage School of Fine Woodworking out in Roberts Creek, BC.
Was it worth the time and cost? Hmm that depends on what one wants to get out of it I would think.
For me MCTC gave me a good base of knowledge in the trade/craft/material/multiple machines. Everyone needs to learn some how whether by school, apprenticeship, perhaps family in the trade, etc. IP does cost some money but for me it was a great experience in craft and life. It has given me a major boost in confidence in my skill, attention to detail, style, and so on. If one were solely gauging on my current sales, no it would not be "worth it" but it is too early to tell, I hope.
Posted: 3:18 pm on September 12th

AlessC21 AlessC21 writes: na_nelson,

I have been trying to figure out what kind of hardware you have on the second spokeshaven - top to bottom - you have on the fifth picture.

Thanks,
Posted: 10:21 am on September 8th

Arbi56 Arbi56 writes: You are a truly gifted woodworker. Having seen your furniture contributions on this website, I can say that neither the size of your shop, nor the quality of your machines (per your own humble assessment) have in any way hindered you in making some truly remarkable pieces.
Market yourself, charge what you need to charge for your work, run it like a business; and keep doing what you're doing!
Posted: 10:06 pm on July 27th

nsantangelo nsantangelo writes: Nicholas love your work what schools did you attend? Was it worth the cost and time? Sure looks like it love your design and level of craftsmanship looking forward to seeing more in the future. Nick
Posted: 6:58 pm on July 26th

na_nelson na_nelson writes: Ha thanks, though I never mentioned that my work shared the "quality" of my table saw ;). That's kind of the point to share. One may not need a huge shop, I like to work on a relatively small scale, and one can product lovely products with not-so-ideal machinery with practiced hand skills and a good eye :)
Oh man that mural, I just kind of chuckle about it... It's not painted by the way, it's just wall-paper.
Posted: 1:06 pm on July 25th

Dean2 Dean2 writes: You are being far to modest about your shop. I saw the pics of the items you have made. Your work is beautiful, the lines and details are eye catching. A less modest shop may be too distracting. Oh. I love the mural!
Posted: 8:38 am on July 25th

GEide GEide writes: Awesome shop and hand-tool collection Nicholas. Thanks for posting all the pix. Yes, love the mural.
Posted: 6:04 pm on July 22nd

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