Replies

1. 
   jhard | Apr 03, 2009 02:05am | #1

   I spend about 30-40 hours a week in the shop but have also recently been frustrated with lack of progress. After a little self-evaluation, I realized that my shop had become a disorganized mess. I was spending more time looking for stuff than actually working.

   I'm now on a 3 day cleaning and reorganization crusade and hope that progress improves.

1. 
   danmart | Apr 03, 2009 03:15am | #2

   Now I'm inspired.  I am committed to a clean up starting tomorrow afternoon. Your point about wandering around is true for me. When it gets too messy, I am not efficient.

   I feel better when the clutter is reduced and I feel organized. It helps me.

   How many hours? As a part timer: no less than 20hrs/week. Can't seem to stay connected with less than 10/week.

    

   Edited 4/4/2009 12:38 pm ET by danmart

1. 
   Walnutz | Apr 03, 2009 05:31pm | #6

   ha ha ha!  Me, too.  I just got a large job the other day, and I decided that before I start it (had to order the ply for the boxes, anyway) , I was going to give the shop a major overhaul. 

   I moved every tool to one side, gave the shop a good cleaning, and am now spending the next two days re-organizing it for a better work flow layout.  I'm looking forward to getting it done, as I really don't like cleaning!

2. 
   johnlill | Apr 05, 2009 09:55pm | #13

   Danmart - I cleaned up my shop a couple of years ago. After several purchases due to the fact that I could not find something (I knew it was somewhere!), I decided to get organized. It has made the 4-6 hours a week that I can spend in my shop much more enjoyable! Now I make it a point to put things away and clean up after every session.

   John L

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Apr 05, 2009 10:32pm | #15

   John,

   I started keeping all the tools/parts together with the machine/function, including wrenches, bits/blades, specialty tools, etc.  Hand tools near the workbench.  Seems to work good for me.  I suppose an in the business person might have a different approach that works for them.

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

2. 
   flairwoodworks | Apr 03, 2009 03:34am | #3

   I work my day job three days a week and work in the Flair Woodworks shop at least three days in most cases, and sometimes after my day job. Often full days are 8-12+ hours not because the work demands it, but more because I work inspired and of course there is always something to do. Weekly, I'd say at least 30 hours. I spend too much time in front of this computer though.

   Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
   (soon to be www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happiness.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   MGelder | Apr 03, 2009 04:02am | #4

   I can get out to the shop on Sat and Sun afternoons for about 3 hrs each.  With work and our 3 yr old I don't get much time, but I am a teacher so I get plenty of time in the summer and we are about to have a week off.  I plan to be out in the shop for at least 30 hours or so.  My list of projects is so long I try not to get overwhelmed.

    

3. 
   ASK | Apr 03, 2009 05:01pm | #5

   My shop is in the cellar of our weekend house. So that limits me to only the weekend at this time. Usually spent 5-6 each day if I'm working on a project. Subject to other demands, skiing, walking with a group in the mornings, taking care of the grandbaby when they visit. You know

   ASK

4. 
   marti038 | Apr 03, 2009 05:42pm | #7

   I don't have any kids yet, so it's easier for me than some other folks my age to get some good time in my shop. I usually spend about an hour or so 3 nights a week and then another 8-10 hours on the weekend.

   "I realized that my shop had become a disorganized mess." This is the statement that hit me right between the eyes though. I'm really, really new to woodworking, but now that everyone in my family knows I'm enjoying it, my project list accumulated rather quickly. The only problem is that I've never made the time to really "set up shop" I've got two fold up tables that serve as my tool chests. Thank God I made a work bench first!

   I put my foot down recently though. After I finish the console I'm working on now, it's all about the shop all summer long. Cabinets, storage, jigs, organization, etc. I think in the long run it will save me A LOT of time. Point in fact, last night I spent 10 minutes looking for some parts that go on my router. Then another 10 looking for the ones I really needed after that. Soon, there will be 1 single drawer to go to. I think I'll make a photo biography of the process.

5. 
   Lataxe | Apr 03, 2009 09:33pm | #8

   C,

   I stopped wearing a watch or having a clock in the shed (that goes, anyway) about 5 years ago.  Strangely this takes off some kind of pressure one didn't even know was there.  I think it was invented by Henry Ford and his evil time & motion men, then inserted into our brains so we would all drive ourselves to ever-greater "efficiency".  But why accept a drab accountant's definition of "efficient"?

   I wouldn't worry if your projects go slow because you have other things to do, especially pleasurable other things.  Unless you're doing it to live why reduce your woodworking to the staus of a job?

   Ah ha!  But how to ensure that projects get finished?  I don't know except that if I want them to then they do.  Sometimes it seems to take ages whilst other times the piece amost leaps out of the shed by itself.

   ***

   Tidiness is a shed-virtue, especially if the shed is small and the tools are many.  Everything must have a place and be in it when not in your hand.  Once you stop putting tools down at random, shed life improves enormously.  Also, one must have a Large Brush.

   Lataxe, phartin' about in a purposefull manner.

1. 
   davcefai | Apr 04, 2009 02:23pm | #9

   I manage about an hour most evenings, 5 to 10 at the weekends. My constraints are the noise regulations - pipe down after 8pm - and my back, which demands frequent breaks.Spring Cleaning is due but I always manage to find something to do which is more exciting and will make a mess anyway.Having said that I can manage to get the bench clear in a few minutes so it can't be _too_ bad :-)

2. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Apr 05, 2009 10:25pm | #14

   Lataxe,

   I don't know except that if I want them to then they do.

   Now that's it.

   Projects this time of year are sorta prioritized by the weather for me.  If it's raw, wet and windy then lots of woodshop time; nice day and it's get ready for summer thangs.  Tend to be in the woodshop quite a bit.

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

6. 
   RalphBarker | Apr 05, 2009 07:36pm | #10

   I find that I spend more time in the shop when I avoid getting on the computer and reading/responding to Knots posts. ;-)

1. 
   RJT | Apr 05, 2009 08:04pm | #11

   Ouch!

1. 
   RalphBarker | Apr 05, 2009 09:49pm | #12

   The problem is, this stuff is addictive! Must be the orange banner. A day without orange banner is like a day without sunshine, or something like that. ;-)

7. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Apr 06, 2009 07:48am | #16

   Four to ten hours a day...

   Sarge..

1. 
   davcefai | Apr 06, 2009 07:55am | #17

   I read a good tip some time back, possibly in FWW itself. Probably only works for amateurs like myself.Every time you enter the shop, put away 10 things.

8. 
   GRW | Apr 06, 2009 02:04pm | #18

   Woodwork is my 2nd job. Most years I get 600 to 800 hrs of shop time per year. Some weeks slow, some busy. In this economy I'll be lucky to get 400 hrs work in '09.