I have an affliction. (My wife would contend that I have many afflictions.) I hate cleaning my shop. Perhaps some of my colleagues have the same affliction. At the moment my shop looks like a warzone. Tools, project parts, sawdust, all kinds of stuff most everywhere. I know I should clean it, and I do on occasion, but I hate it. Everything has its place in my shop, and after a thorough cleaning it looks and functions great. But then the next project goes into high gear, and I am so intent on working on that that the shop becomes a warzone once again.
I know that I “should” pick up after working for the day. But I don’t. It is a little out of character in that, in my real job, I am organized. My desk is neat. It is not the mess that one sees on many desks. That would drive me crazy. But for unknown reasons this organization at the office does not carry over to the shop.
I am afflicted and cannot help myself. pmm
Replies
Years ago I had a friend who would stop by the shop from time to time. He could always tell how many orders I had lined up by the state of the shop. If the floor was spotless he'd know right away that business was slow...
Anyway, they say that admitting you've got a problem is halfway to correcting it. Find a local chapter of Slobs Anonymous and share.
David Ring
http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e
There's mess and there's mess. When my shop is in full gear, the random passerby would think a tornado had come through, but if you asked me to find any particular tool, I could reach without looking and pick it up. Chaos can mask underlying order. The real question is, does it get in your way and decrease productivity, or is it just the way you work ?
Krenov made the same observation in one of his books. He mentions someone who had a small, crowded shop with tools strewn everywhere who still turned out good work. Krenov was/is apparently just the opposite type but essentially said "To each his own".Ron
When I was a "weekend warrior", my shop was in much the same state most of the time. I spent more time looking for tools than using them.Once I turned it into a business, I had to discipline myself. When I'm done with a tool, it gets put away. Storing the tools close to where they are used helps.My daily routine is such that at 1630 hrs, it's tools down - crack a beer, and clean up. It doesn't take long - just organizing whatever parts I worked on that day, and a quick sweep of the floor - check the chip bin, take out the garbage.On Saturday (sometimes Sunday) afternoons, I once again crack a beer, and deep clean the machinery - wax the table tops, and so on.The secret (for me) is the "cracking a beer" part. It's kind of like a reward for cleaning up. It also forces me to keep a reasonable schedule and get home for supper at a decent time (I have a firm rule that once beer has touched my lips, no tools will touch my hands).Works for me, and now I spend more time using my tools than looking for them.
Roy,
I like your approach. I believe firmly in no woodworking under the influence or when not feeling well. When I pour myself a glass, it's my way of punching the clock - no more work in the shop.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
There's a little piece of one of my fingers missing - nothing that you'd notice if I didn't point it out to you. I figure that was the most expensive beer I ever drank - and I was VERY lucky not to be missing a whole hand.Since then - beer up, tools down - no exceptions, ever. The beer thing at the end of the day makes clean up pleasant (sort of), and makes a clean break between work and home for me. I work from home (in a separate building), and the temptation to work all night can be powerful - once I've got a beer in my hand, the temptation is gone, and I join my wife for dinner and an evening together. It works for me. Your mileage may differ.
I function the same way, and suspect many people do. As long as you can find what you need, and not trip over something and fall into a running machine, I'd say it's OK.
I also suspect that a significant % of us don't enjoy cleaning up the shop. For me, it's something I do when I know I'm too tired to do any tool work, but I want to be out there for awhile. It's also something you can do safely with a drink in hand, LOL!
The fact that you actually have a place for everything is impressive, makes it way easier to clean when the mood strikes. If it helps to have a woman on your side, go ahead and show this post to your lovely.
I can relate completely! Reading your post, it could have been talking about me. Neat in every other aspect, but the shop can be a mess. I think it is because shop time is so precious I resent spending any of it doing something as mundane as cleaning.
In recent years, however, I have gotten better (better, not perfect... ok, a little better) by accepting the fact that I will end every shop session with a clean up. It may only be 5 minutes to put tools away, brush the dust and shavings off the bench to the floor and sweep the floor. Other times I actually take compressed air to crevices and vacuum stuff off (not too often, though.) But, by at least doing a little at a time, things don't get so bad.
pmm:
I worked like that for many years. After developing respiratory problems because of all the sawdust, I now must keep the shop hyper clean. It looks like a hospital operating room: scalpels go next to marking knives, hemostats on the tray next to spring clamps, hypodermic needles with the glue bottles....<gr>
catheter tubes next to............??Wicked Decent Woodworks
(oldest woodworking shop in NH)
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
OUCH!
My shop probably resembles yours, but I don't look at it as a problem, rather an agility builder. Countless times, I have danced across my shop floor, dodging the long bed of my jointer and stepping over the extension cords and off-cuts all while balancing half a dozen boards on one hand, a square, tape measure and pencil in the other and holding a cut list in my mouth.
Many of my tools have their designated place, though some have not seen that place in years. My most often tools often cover my bench. Hopefully my new bench in the making will rectify that! I tried using an apron to keep all my frequently tools on hand, but I couldn't brake the habit of measuring, marking, and putting the tools down on the bench instead of in the apron pockets.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
If I work with other people I ALWAYS put stuff back and shut drawers especially metal tool box drawers that can rip a pair of forty dollar work pants and cut your leg or but open. Ask me how I know this ! ! !I worked in an engine rebuilding machine shop. After every operation involving any dirt or grime or grit the tools went into a solvent tank, then were wiped down with lacquer thinner (excellent ventilation system) and then were replaced in clean drawers with lots of space and no clutter. Many of the tools were custom made or modified so they were worth allot and misplacing one was unacceptable. The work surfaces were also given the same wipe down. A speck of grit in the wrong place could be bad news.I am a terror to work with for the new people 'cause I am at them to shut drawers and refuse to lend my personal tools for two reasons:
a) if they knew how to use the tool they would have one and
b) They will not put it back after a few days of this borrowing stuff. Year in and year out it was the same almost to a person so no more borrow. Easter egg hunts, no matter how "fun" they are usually don't make a shop money.When I work by my self I put tools all over the shop and they may stay there until the end of the project but mostly on cookie sheets and shallow baking pans and or on roller tool carts. So I can shift the clutter quickly or take the complementary tools to another work station. I leave drawers open occasionally but I opened it and know it is open.I say it depends on the situation and who is there to share the space. Dust can be a BIG problem if it ignites so be careful with that. A room full of air born dust can basically explode; ask a grain silo person.
Why can't metal corners be blunt? I once walked into the corner of a welder and ended up taking a 15-minute break to stop the bleeding. It left a scar too.
Did the habit of cleaning your tools after a job was done carry over to your woodworking? Do you wax your machine surfaces and clean out your cabinet saw?
Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
>Did the habit of cleaning your tools after a job was done carry over to your woodworking? Do you wax your machine surfaces and clean out your cabinet saw?I wax as I sense drag, if I wet the wood to plane then I gotta tear down plane before taking a break or moving on. Cabinet saw ? ? ? you must have some other buddy in mind. I got a cheepy I totally reworked to get some semblance of precision out of. I almost never use a table saw for what I do. As Arlo Guthery says hard to believe but it's true.I got all pissed off years ago when I went to buy a cabinet saw and discovered that I could not get one with a knob adjust fence and scale etched on the tubular rail like my old high school wood shop had.
But.
That is another rant that I am saving up for. DO NOT ENCOURAGE ME. I am used to micrometer collars on metal machine tools and deeply etched scales instead of little paper stick on scales and expect the same on my multi thousand dollar table saw.
Until I can get that piss on 'em ! Not worth several thousand dollars.The planes immediately in use sit all over the place with curls in them but in safe places with a little scrap under the toe so the blade doesn't touch. Other soon to be used planes in a big book case like tool "cart" with big soft wheels to role out of the way when I need extra space near the bench to cut up rough stock or sheet. The planes not used in current project are in the other room off the shop. My "tool crib" as it were.The one place I get totally out of control anal is with my water stones. Separate Tupperware tub for each. Draw a vacuum by burping and you don't get slime !
Different rag to clean up each grit. I go about it as if I were polishing a lens. No previous grit to scratch the next finer surface etc. I just cannot let my self get the grits all mixed up in the same water ! It doesn't make any sense to me. Rinse and rinse the slurry off the stone under the facet after each blade. (keeping the slurry on the stone is nonsense !)
Stones flattened on a diamond plate and or pink plate. I get really into sharpening! I go way over board and go to 8000 on even jackplane blades but I got it down so is quick and the results I get on the wood, mostly very hard woods, are very satisfying.Every thing is kept in the kitchen and is pristine and put away when I am done. There is no slurry in the tup. tubs just clear water. All the sharpening happens on a large neoprene sheet 1/8" thick. Slightly dampen counter, rub mat a few inches and capillary attraction sucks it down tight; no slipping. Rub the damp stone across the neoprene a few inches and capillary attraction sucks it down tight; no slipping. Then after ward rinse and wipe the mat and the stone goes back in the clean water of its tub.This kitchen thing works well for me because by the time I got a stack of dull blades I am hungry and want to visit with my partner and when I am finished eating I don't want to throw my self into another sweaty hard core planing session. I need to digest; so sharpening for a while is just the thing.God what a wonderful way to live! Ahh life in balance. Until I gotta go to "work" to make money to support my wood working addiction. My partner is an oil painter. She has sold several but wishes she had them back.Probably be the same with my wood work if I sold it.Hope this little encyclopedia answers your question.PS: nice web site and work ! ! ! I looked at all your pics did not read all text yet.Edited 9/30/2008 1:35 am by roc
Edited 9/30/2008 1:41 am by roc
Roc,
I used cabinet saw not because I thought/assumed you have one, but rather because it has the biggest cavity to fill of all the woodworking machines. I cleaned mine out yesterday and found sawdust inside up to the blade. Serves me right for being lazy and not hooking up the dust collection! By the way, I have a contractor's saw.
I hope I'm not encouraging you, but how do you feel about fences with digital readouts?
I do my sharpening in a laundry sink (not ideal - too deep/low) and use a slow trickle of water to lube the stones. Like you, I sharpen all my blades up to 8000x and flatten with a diamond plate. The case of my Norton stones has a shallow lid with rubber feet on the top. When inverted, it serves as a handy non-slip tray for the stone.
Glad you liked my site. The workbench is coming along - I should post some more pics. Should be done sometime in the next year.
Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
>fences with digital readoutsThey are great. Can set to zero and then move a clear amount. But. What I am after is a dial to move the fence. Is quicker than bump and wiggle.Also I want a fence that remains parallel to the blade/ square to the table when I unlock it and while I move it.Also the way to go is determine the amount to take off using vernier calipers, set a collar on the fence feed to that amount on the mark where it is and then as you dial it it travels toward zero on the collar. When You hit zero you know you are there. It is more clear than keeping a number in your head while you adjust the fence/easier to err that way.If I was into it I would get a rack and pinion for the horizontal feed of a metal lathe and mount it on a good table saw. I don't work with sheet stock much so I may never get around to that.I did make a mini table saw. I routed a recess the shape of the foot of my Porter Cable four inch hand held circular saw into a piece of nice baltic birch plywood. Mounted the saw upside down under the table. I cut miter gauge slots on both sides of the blade etc. It works great for small parts and using a thin fine tooth blade I waste less wood.
I once walked into the corner of a welder and ended up taking a 15-minute break to stop the bleeding. It left a scar too.
I did that LONG ago in the Army welding on a Tank with a carbon Arc Rod.. (1960? or so) I did not know it even happen... Except for the smell of a burning old wool Army sweatwer.
Not sure how far it went in but the Post Doctor told me.. 'Looks fine' I'm sure no germs survived that attack!
Years later no scar and just a brown spot.. (Old now and has many brown spots!) I have many injuries on my shins for some reason over time.. As I got OLD they show as brown patches of skin!
Corners: Happened to me several times.Enough was enough, took a few hours and some metal files and radiused everything I could fine. Edges on bandsaw tables, miter slot entry points, corners of miter bars and anything that was extruded, outside edges, metal vise edges. Everything that didn't effect the machine or result started to get radiused. Soft edges/corners are better.BB
>agility builder
Nice !
ROFLMAO
I am afflicted and cannot help myself. Me also.. I have a big class of RUM.. Then..
I think about cleaning the shop.. I move anything that may blow away to a safe place.. I open my garage doors and turn on the Leaf Blower!
To paraphrase a saying from my engineering days, "A clean shop is a sign of a sick mind." My shop is never spotless - although I try to keep it reasonably organized. On occasion, I'll stop working on a project for an hour, or so, while I tidy up the worst of the chaos - then immediately mess it up again. lolOne cardinal rule I've always had is that SWMBO and the kids (when they were still living here) are welcome to borrow any tool in the place as long as they return it when they're finished - and put it back where they found it! Not where they think it should go, but wherever they picked it up. That worked well once they understood that putting things away wasn't really all that "helpful". - lolThis summer, I spent several weekends helping #2 daughter and #1 SIL with a facelift of their house and my tool bucket turned into a "problem". I have a "basic load" of tools that live in the bucket and each tool has a "home" in one of the pockets. When I need a hammer, nail set, pliers, utility knife, etc, I know exactly where to look. My stuff usually got back into the bucket, but seldom into the right pocket. They have more projects in the works, and are building up their collection of tools, so I've decided that his and hers tool buckets will head the list on Xmas day. - lol
After knocking chisels, planes and wood parts off the bench and causing loss of achievement for the day, I learned my lesson. I try to keep my tools handy to the area that I will use them and find it easier to put them where they belong instead of moving them out of my way.
I find myself cleaning up the router chips and such as I go also. I just find the project turns out better when I am not fighting the mess all the time.
It's not that I am a neat freak, I just hate to be non productive. If I have to redo something that was avioidable, I have lost.
http://www.superwoodworks.com
The reason I put tools / materials back after using them has nothing do with wanting a clean shop for appearance sake. It is only because I grew weary of the inefficiency of wasted steps and time.
If I'm likely to need the tool again that day I leave it on my Mobile BLT. (Boards, Lumber, Tools). The Mobile BLT (my wife named it) is a 10' x 2' workbench my wife and I build 20 years ago that that I recently fitted with wheels. I'm in the process of converting part of my barn into a woodshop and the MBLT made putting up ceiling joists and hanging drywall much easier.
Edited 9/30/2008 7:39 am ET by Christopher_Hawkins
If your "job" space is very neat and organized maybe your shop is your form of "rebellion". Could be that its' untidy look is very therapeutic for you on some deeply psychological level. Cleaning it up occasionally could be a response to a guilt complex resulting from a childhood experience (Catholic grade school or the like).
How's that for gobbely-gook!! LOL Just enjoy your shop but be safe!!
Regards,
Mack
"Close enough for government work=measured with a micrometer, marked with chalk and cut with an axe"
I was taught the rule of ten by the more experianced guys inthe shop when I was starting out.
Everytime you walk into the shop put ten things where they belong. After awhile you can't find ten things to put away.
Of course, I haven't reached that point...
Len
"You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time. " J. S. Knox
(My wife would contend that I have many afflictions.) Mine did also but somehow we got along!
I enjoyed all of the responses to my original post. Keep them coming. It is nice to know, although I suspected, that I have a lot of company out there in woodworking land.
I got a kick out of the psycho babble post theorizing that my occasional cleaning is in response to a guilt complex originating from Catholic school. Probably tons of truth in that.
Even now, I thought about cleaning shop prior to going to the regular job. Trashed that idea quick. Certainly don't want to get all dirty right now. I can always think of an excuse, with very little effort. Ok, no effort.
Have to go on a vacation next week. Damn. My idea of a vacation is a week in the shop. But my wife wants to get away. Can't take my shop on the airplane. Damn again. I'm right in the middle of an interesting project. I could really use that week. But one has to to what one has to do to keep the wife happy. I try not to become obsessed with woodworking, but it is tough. Gotta keep some balance in life, and certainly want to keep "my lovely' happy.
I am going to try to be more neat in the shop but have very little confidence that anything will change.
pmm
One of the best rules for a long, happy marriage: "Happy wife, good life." :<))Ron
My outlook on cleaning up is do it when the project is done. Taking the time to organize myself after every day would make me have to think " now where was I?" when I came into the shop the next day. If you dont clean up and leave everything the way it was the day before you just keep on a hummin' , as it were. My wife would just say Im a slob but she doesnt care too much since my shop is a stand alone building away from her nest.
I actually have 2 businesses that I use my shop for. When the second business has some activity I clean up the wood working part even if the wood working project is not complete yet. The other business actually pays the majority of the bills so it goes to the front of the line.
Wicked Decent Woodworks
(oldest woodworking shop in NH)
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
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