recumpence
1 GW
Hello All,
I have been asked numerous times to start a thread about my workshop. Many people here have shops that are just as well equipped as mine. However, my shop is probably the most equipment dense shop on this forum. Also, I use nearly all of my equipment very frequently. It is not a collection of stuff that I have no clue how to use.
To that end, here are some pictures and a description of what I own;
Miller Diversion 180 TIG welder. It is on the top shelf of the steel rack.
Miller Plasma cutter (165 amp inverter style portable unit). It is on the small shelf below and to the left of the TIG welder.
Lincoln 110 gas MIG welder. It is to the right of the TIG on the top of the rack.
Taig manual 4 axis mill (I have a 5 axis tilting table for it too).
Taig CNC. I have not set it up since I moved the shop 2 years ago. It is the only piece of equipment I do not use on a regular basis.
Taig micro lathe.
Drill press.
Band saw.
Miter box.
Belt sander (bench top and two different hand held sanders).
Various grinders (bench top and hand held).
Air compressor. It is mounted up near the ceiling out of the way with air lines run throughout the shop.
Lots of specialized bicycle tools. I hate not being able to do some specific task myself. So, I normally just buy the darn tool. :wink:
My frame jig is a recent addition to my shop.
Retracting lighting. The lighting on the ceiling retracts out of the way to provide access to ladders and other items mounted to the ceiling.
That brings up the key to this whole workshop; Retracting shelves! My shop is built like a submarine. Every single cubic inch of space is used. The steel rack has two retracting drawer shelves (with 500 pound capacity linear slides). These are essential to the usability of my shop. When I need to use the bench top band saw, grinder, or belt sander, I just pull out the corresponding drawer. They lock on the inward travel and the outward travel. So, once the drawer is pulled out, it locks in place providing a solid workspace.
Also, my primary assembly table is on wheels. This table is comprised of two mechanics roll around tool boxes that are mounted back to back (therefore drawers are located on each side). The top of the box is a 4 by 6 foot piece of aluminum pier section bolted to the top. I welded together a 1.5 inch box section steel sub frame under the box to tie it all together and support the weight. That bench weighs a nearly unbelievable 600 pounds! I welded it together on its side and layed it down by myself. That was a task in itself! I had to prepare a few different size straight bars to support the box at various stages of dropping the table flat. I would lower it a bit, and set a post under it. Then I would grab the shorter post, heave with all my might to take it from the longer post to the shorter post. I did this 3 times until it was low enough to just lift it off the remaining short post (car jackstand) and set it flat. BIG job, let me tell you!
I try to keep all cords and hoses off the floor. This is not an easy task. I have a 50 foot air hose on a spring spring loaded spool and a retracting power cord. These help keeping the floor clear.
At this point, I have a few more things I want to add to the shop. For one thing, I need a central vacuum system. I want to mount a large shop vac up near the ceiling on the other side of the shop and plumb PVC tubing around the shop with various outlets in strategic locations.
My shop is in a constant state of updating and changing.
I will add more pictures and descriptions as I have them. I will probably add "How-To" info to this thread as well.
All total, I have somewhere around $20,000 of equipment in my shop. This was bought over a 10 year span. Much was bought through eBay and other discount means.
Matt
I have been asked numerous times to start a thread about my workshop. Many people here have shops that are just as well equipped as mine. However, my shop is probably the most equipment dense shop on this forum. Also, I use nearly all of my equipment very frequently. It is not a collection of stuff that I have no clue how to use.
To that end, here are some pictures and a description of what I own;
Miller Diversion 180 TIG welder. It is on the top shelf of the steel rack.
Miller Plasma cutter (165 amp inverter style portable unit). It is on the small shelf below and to the left of the TIG welder.
Lincoln 110 gas MIG welder. It is to the right of the TIG on the top of the rack.
Taig manual 4 axis mill (I have a 5 axis tilting table for it too).
Taig CNC. I have not set it up since I moved the shop 2 years ago. It is the only piece of equipment I do not use on a regular basis.
Taig micro lathe.
Drill press.
Band saw.
Miter box.
Belt sander (bench top and two different hand held sanders).
Various grinders (bench top and hand held).
Air compressor. It is mounted up near the ceiling out of the way with air lines run throughout the shop.
Lots of specialized bicycle tools. I hate not being able to do some specific task myself. So, I normally just buy the darn tool. :wink:
My frame jig is a recent addition to my shop.
Retracting lighting. The lighting on the ceiling retracts out of the way to provide access to ladders and other items mounted to the ceiling.
That brings up the key to this whole workshop; Retracting shelves! My shop is built like a submarine. Every single cubic inch of space is used. The steel rack has two retracting drawer shelves (with 500 pound capacity linear slides). These are essential to the usability of my shop. When I need to use the bench top band saw, grinder, or belt sander, I just pull out the corresponding drawer. They lock on the inward travel and the outward travel. So, once the drawer is pulled out, it locks in place providing a solid workspace.
Also, my primary assembly table is on wheels. This table is comprised of two mechanics roll around tool boxes that are mounted back to back (therefore drawers are located on each side). The top of the box is a 4 by 6 foot piece of aluminum pier section bolted to the top. I welded together a 1.5 inch box section steel sub frame under the box to tie it all together and support the weight. That bench weighs a nearly unbelievable 600 pounds! I welded it together on its side and layed it down by myself. That was a task in itself! I had to prepare a few different size straight bars to support the box at various stages of dropping the table flat. I would lower it a bit, and set a post under it. Then I would grab the shorter post, heave with all my might to take it from the longer post to the shorter post. I did this 3 times until it was low enough to just lift it off the remaining short post (car jackstand) and set it flat. BIG job, let me tell you!
I try to keep all cords and hoses off the floor. This is not an easy task. I have a 50 foot air hose on a spring spring loaded spool and a retracting power cord. These help keeping the floor clear.
At this point, I have a few more things I want to add to the shop. For one thing, I need a central vacuum system. I want to mount a large shop vac up near the ceiling on the other side of the shop and plumb PVC tubing around the shop with various outlets in strategic locations.
My shop is in a constant state of updating and changing.
I will add more pictures and descriptions as I have them. I will probably add "How-To" info to this thread as well.
All total, I have somewhere around $20,000 of equipment in my shop. This was bought over a 10 year span. Much was bought through eBay and other discount means.
Matt
I do keep the bigger tools near the door, metal saw, welders, generators.
