Replies

1. 
   AlanMikkelsen | Dec 22, 2004 07:54pm | #1

   The garage door in the first photo opens into another room that is the same size as the tool room (24'x24').  That room has metal working machinery (two welders, welding table, cutting torch, grinder, bolt bins, large rool away tool box, compressor, hydralic press, dust collector.  It's also used to store all my carpentery tools, including table saw and cms.)  There is a bench/cabinet to the right of the band saw that holds a Delta 560 planer that can be pulled out and an insert slid in place.  I use that as a glue up table.  With the laminate top, glue doesn't stick to it. 

   Alan & Lynette Mikkelsen, Mountain View Farm, est. 1934,  Gardens & Fine Woodworking, St. Ignatius, MT

1. 
   toddhunter | Dec 22, 2004 08:20pm | #4

   That was fun. Thanks for the tour. Two questions. Is the box behind the miter saw connected to the dust collector? Whose design is the workbench and what does it do best? todd

1. 
   AlanMikkelsen | Dec 22, 2004 11:40pm | #6

   The box behind the sliding CMS is connected to a 4" hose.  My CMS is one of the cleanest tools in the shop.  Very little sawdus escapes.  I like everything about the bench.  It's a design from a Fine Woodworking magazine a few years ago.  I've modified the design slightly, but you can clamp nearly anything to this bench.  It has a capacity on the top from 0"-almost 96".   The center section is MDF inserts that can be drilled into and then thrown away when they get too trashy. Alan & Lynette Mikkelsen, Mountain View Farm, est. 1934,  Gardens & Fine Woodworking, St. Ignatius, MT

2. 
   HWG | Dec 23, 2004 12:45am | #8

   I love it all -- wood shop and metal shop -- WOW!

   Would you like to adopt me as a son?  There is no age limit on adoptees, right?

   Great job!

   Woody 

2. 
   AlanWS | Dec 22, 2004 08:00pm | #2

   Photo shop14 appears to be a workbench made according to J. White's FWW article, designed around pipe clamps. Did you make any changes to his dresign, other than the chisel rack at the end? Are you happy with it, and would you consider any changes? While I'm at it, JohnW, do you have any changes you'd make today?

   
   

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   Edited 12/22/2004 12:04 pm ET by AlanS

1. 
   AlanMikkelsen | Dec 22, 2004 08:14pm | #3

   I used 3/4" clamps instead of 1/2".  I love the bench.  I've thought severa times about gluing up a maple top, but the vertical grain fir (which I can buy at a local mill), has remained totally flat.  I have a fixed shelf under the side opposite the planing horse.  I use this bench every day.  Truly a "Versatile Bench" as noted in the FWW article.  I'm suprised this didn't see more play.Alan & Lynette Mikkelsen, Mountain View Farm, est. 1934,  Gardens & Fine Woodworking, St. Ignatius, MT

1. 
   AlanWS | Dec 22, 2004 08:47pm | #5

   Thanks. I think I will make one of these workbenches. It's from FWW #139, an issue with a lot of good stuff in it. http://www.taunton.com/store/pages/fw_toc_139.asp

1. 
   AlanMikkelsen | Dec 22, 2004 11:41pm | #7

   You won't be sorry.  It's a brilliant design.Alan & Lynette Mikkelsen, Mountain View Farm, est. 1934,  Gardens & Fine Woodworking, St. Ignatius, MT

1. 
   wrudiger | Dec 23, 2004 05:00am | #9

   Alan,

   Thanks for sharing - lots of inspiration!  How do you connect the DC manifold under the table saw to the rest of the DC system? 

   Wayne 

2. 
   AlanMikkelsen | Dec 23, 2004 07:07am | #10

   Here's a couple of pics of the manifold.  It all goes into a 6" pipe buried in the floor.

    Alan & Lynette Mikkelsen, Mountain View Farm, est. 1934,  Gardens & Fine Woodworking, St. Ignatius, MT

   
3. 
   JCinNC | Dec 24, 2004 07:12pm | #13

   Do you have the DC grounded?  I read alot about the static issues, but am a little skeptical.

   I am hoping one day to move out of the basement to a detached garage, so I don't have to quit working when kids go to bed.

   One day......

4. 
   AlanMikkelsen | Dec 24, 2004 10:32pm | #14

   My DC is run in all plastic, 6" main lines, 4" drops.  I don't have any grounding wire in the system.  I don't know if it's because one of the 6" main lines is buried in concrete, but I really don't have that much static electricity, even when I'm sanding and sucking.  I had more static electricity with the old system, that didn't have any buried pipes. Alan & Lynette Mikkelsen, Mountain View Farm, est. 1934,  Gardens & Fine Woodworking, St. Ignatius, MT

3. 
   Dave45 | Dec 24, 2004 05:47pm | #11

   Well, so much for me feeling smug about my little shop.  Your's looks truely serious.  I'll probably feel sorry  for myself for the rest of the day. - lol

   You haven't patented that DC setup at your drill press have you?  If you have, I'm about to break the law.

   Do your blast gates stay clean?  I had some problems with mine (4") until I mounted them so they opened downward.  That seems to really help keep the gate channels from plugging up.

   I also like your SCMS bench.  I just got the 10" Makita but haven't set up a permanent station for it yet.  I'm going to have to because it's definitely a "go-to" tool.

   Thanks for the pics.

1. 
   AlanMikkelsen | Dec 24, 2004 05:55pm | #12

   Have at any of my ideas.  I modestly tell LOML that my shop is an inspired design.  I drew it all up over a period of about 6 months, in church or sitting on airplanes.  I don'[t have much problem with the blast gates.  In fact, I've only got one that isn't shutting totally and that's one of the router gates.  I don't worry about it much, though, because I have a 3 hp. dust collector.Alan & Lynette Mikkelsen, Mountain View Farm, est. 1934,  Gardens & Fine Woodworking, St. Ignatius, MT

4. 
   CRAIGCONEY_M | Dec 25, 2004 10:37am | #15

   Nicely set up shop.  how well does the DC work on the Drill press table?   Is it connected to the cetral DC or shop vac setup?  

1. 
   AlanMikkelsen | Dec 25, 2004 06:00pm | #16

   Everything in my woodshop is connected to the central DC.  I haven't used my shop vac in the woodshop in three years.  The DC on the drill press works great.  I suck chips from the fence when I'm drilling, and also have sanding inserts that I can put in the table.  Then I move the hose to a hole under the center insert and it picks up 100% of the sanding dust.  With the vacumn hose drops scattered around the shop, I just move a piece of vacumn hose from drop to drop to clean up everything.  Very quick and convenient.Alan & Lynette Mikkelsen, Mountain View Farm, est. 1934,  Gardens & Fine Woodworking, St. Ignatius, MT