The Workshop

Last updated: December 2008 

This is my new Grizzly table saw. The 2-hp saw has a built-in dust collection port (seen at lower left), and I attached a hose near the blade. This is one piece of heavy metal, so I also bought a mobile base. I had to add a 30-amp breaker to supply power to the table saw.

May 2008

 This is half of the 3-hp dust collector situated in the closet. It is farily loud, and the sound is partially contained by being in a closed room. This unit required its own 20-amp circuit.

 

 The six-inch PVC pipe is attached to the dust collector and routed over the doorway. The black square at the height of the door knobs is a blast gate, one of five, which allows me to hook up hoses where I need them.

 

 Branching off the six-inch PVC are four-inch lines.

 

 I put a dust hood at the back of the miter saw.

 

I built this 1500-cfm air-filtration device out of the crate for the table saw. It consists of an attic fan, a high-end filter and an on/off switch.

 Emily is inspecting the table saw crate.

 I love these Belkin outlet strips, and I added one to the side of the router table.

This is the centerpiece of the workshop. It is my primary workstation, and on this end is a built-in router table with removable fences.

My miter stand is shown here in its upright and locked position. Miter stands are great for making repeated cuts. Just clamp a block at the length needed, butt the board up to it, and make as many duplicates as you need. As with most of the items I built for the workshop, it is mobile.

The wings fold down for storage.

This is my lumber cart. It holds all the short scraps that I don't want to throw away, as well as plywood.

Using iron pipe and flanges, I made a lumber rack that is high enough for me to walk under and holds quite a bit of wood.

I enclosed the stereo and CD player to keep some of the dust out. That stereo and I go way back, so I try to be nice to it.

Mounted underneath this workbench are my old-but-awesome speakers.

The antique tools finally have a place to retire.

After doing some work for a neighbor, I scored this great General Electric Telechron clock that dates back to 1954-59, according to a website for old clocks.

I got this idea out of a magazine. It's a shallow cabinet with a pegboard door, and it now houses all the items that were cluttering my countertop.

This is my tablesaw sled built completely with scrap wood and acrylic.

This is a pretty safe sled. The block of wood on the back keeps my fingers away from the blade.

 I made this push block out of free wood as another way of keeping all my digits.

 I had this partial sheet of painted plywood left over from a job, and now it is my outfeed table.

My new 4-foot-by-8-foot cubby helps me organize some of my stuff.

 

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