Shop Time to get organized. Well, slightly.

[Stuart Samuel]

Finally pulled the trigger on a welding table. Kovosu (Chinese company with a good reputation) was having a sale on machined cast iron grid hole tables, and decided it was time.

So…

Now I need to figure out how my back room changes to accommodate a 32” x 52” table, and how to keep it from being constantly covered in junk.

Room is just over 14’ x 12’. Ceiling is 11’6 if it’s relevant.

North wall:

East wall:

South wall:

West wall:


Shot of the DoAll that I need to wire up, for fun:

 

[Stuart Samuel]

First, I think at least one workbench needs to go. I built four 2’x4’ benches, with holes in the legs so I could bolt them together either back to back or end to end, thinking it’d be nice and flexible. Three became horizontal storage almost immediately, obvious mistake. I pulled one of them off the south wall about two months ago, and stuck it in the front room opposite the lathe, to give myself somewhere to work on that. (It’s moving along, keep meaning to post about the ups and downs there, mostly downs)

 

[Stuart Samuel]

(Front room for reference)

 

[Stuart Samuel]

My current thinking has the welding table on the north wall, where the ladders, rolling mill and bandsaw are. Rolling mill will stay and go somewhere, bandsaw needs to find a new home (if anyone’s looking). Drill press in the southeast corner should probably go as well, as I have the big drill press in the front room for big stuff, and I should get the little Burgmaster running for small stuff (previous owner ran it for a while when it wasn’t indexing properly

 

[Stuart Samuel]

My thinking is thus:

I don’t generally have lots of free time, at this point in my life. Work eats up 50+ hours a week, I get some sleep occasionally, and help friends and family with things.

So, I’d like a space where I can get going in as little time as possible. I made a list a while ago of tasks that, ideally, I’d like to be able to walk up and do with little to no prep.

- Welding (just TIG) / torch work (soldering/brazing, hot bending
- Mechanical/electronics assembly/repair
- Drilling either press or rotary tool (hanging on the bench next to the DoAll, I made a mount that uses the holes in every bench leg)
- Grinding/sanding, mostly with the 2x72 grinder in the northeast corner, next to the welder. I don’t love how that setup creates a dead zone in the corner, which has led to the welder being parked there (next to a great source of dust…), but I like that it keeps the floor underneath clear and easy to sweep. Again, bracket for the grinder just bolts to the bench with the standard holes, so it could move around.

Writing it down, it doesn’t feel impossible. First steps, a) make it easier to put things away properly the first time, rather than gradually over months, and b) figure out what machines need to go to a new home.

On ‘b)’, I need to get the DoAll wired up and decide if I’m happy with it, for how much space it uses. The small bandsaw need to go, the drill press in the corner needs to go, and I need to decide if I want to sell the Miller welder and buy a Chinese inverter machine instead.

 

[Dan Dubeau]

I LOVE threads like this. I embarked on a similar journey a couple years ago when I went on a mission to actually setup my shop for efficient workflow and organization because, like you, I had limited time, and wanted to get stuff done without spending 50% of projects just shuffling stuff and tools around. It's tough at the start, but gets easier, and is SO worth it. There's never enough room, but do what you can with what you have. I wish I had more separation between dirty tools, and clean tools, but it's not that bad.

I tried sketching stuff out, at one point years ago had some 2d cad models of my machines to figure it out, but in the end just did it the old fashioned way with a tape measure and eyecrometer and just moving them around, and figuring it out. Took a couple layouts at first, but the current one functions pretty good for the small space. One thing that helped me out a lot was those cheap shelf brackets and plywood scraps. Just getting stuff up off the floor, benches, machine tables etc and in a spot on the wall allowed me to keep moving forward. Being cheap and temporary they went up quick, but were easy to change around as the space evolved. But without them, I just seemed to keep doing that dance where you pick something up, turn around and set it down, then do it again a couple days later.....Making a spot for stuff, even if temporary kept the ball rolling forward. Once the big stuff fell into place, I could go back and refine those smaller areas and shelves. They're still a work in progress in my shop, but turn into fun little weeknight projects sometimes.

You have a nice space, and some cool tools (love that roller). I'm looking forward to following this one and see it come together.

 

[Bandit]

Like a lot of us, I had more schooling, I have a PHD, this stands for---- Piled, Higher, and, ,Deeper. Very useful in the shop. I also have a B.S. degree.--- there are days I can B.S with the best of them, thankfully, not everyday, all day.
Always seems there are more tools, materials to be had, lesser places to put anything/everything, more projects, not enough time or money.
Just pick one, no, sorry not that one, today!

 

[Stuart Samuel]

I LOVE threads like this. I embarked on a similar journey a couple years ago when I went on a mission to actually setup my shop for efficient workflow and organization because, like you, I had limited time, and wanted to get stuff done without spending 50% of projects just shuffling stuff and tools around. It's tough at the start, but gets easier, and is SO worth it. There's never enough room, but do what you can with what you have. I wish I had more separation between dirty tools, and clean tools, but it's not that bad.

I tried sketching stuff out, at one point years ago had some 2d cad models of my machines to figure it out, but in the end just did it the old fashioned way with a tape measure and eyecrometer and just moving them around, and figuring it out. Took a couple layouts at first, but the current one functions pretty good for the small space. One thing that helped me out a lot was those cheap shelf brackets and plywood scraps. Just getting stuff up off the floor, benches, machine tables etc and in a spot on the wall allowed me to keep moving forward. Being cheap and temporary they went up quick, but were easy to change around as the space evolved. But without them, I just seemed to keep doing that dance where you pick something up, turn around and set it down, then do it again a couple days later.....Making a spot for stuff, even if temporary kept the ball rolling forward. Once the big stuff fell into place, I could go back and refine those smaller areas and shelves. They're still a work in progress in my shop, but turn into fun little weeknight projects sometimes.

You have a nice space, and some cool tools (love that roller). I'm looking forward to following this one and see it come together.

I appreciate the optimism, Dan.
I have my doubts some (most) days.

I’ve been meaning to deal with material storage for years, and I think the west wall is the spot. Unfortunately, that’s the only non-masonry wall in the room, so I can’t just epoxy anchors into it (I don’t think my neighbour would appreciate the attempt, either).

Hmm. The plywood thing is an interesting idea. I can mount things to the brick/cinderblock, but ply would be nice in that I could just jab a wood screw in wherever, with out needing to drill first. Maybe I hang sheets of ply in a couple spots, horizontally…

 

[Tom O]

I have this from Costco and have no complaints.

 

[Stuart Samuel]

Minor addition: Finally picked up a toolbox stack. I’ve heard complaints about Kennedy boxes, but so far they suit me fine. My intention is to copy the setup I have at work, with the drawers holding the same things, or at least types of things. The less time spent trying to remember where I keep, say, spare welding helmet batteries, the better.



I’d been keeping an eye on this set near Tilsonberg, and a coworker (Gabe, with the Chipmaster) pointed out yesterday that the price had gone from $1100 to $550. I messaged the seller immediately, figuring it wouldn’t last long at that price. Met the folks there, turned out the fellow had died, brain tumour, at 43. Proceeds go to the widow and four kids.

Couldn’t bring myself to pay $550, so I gave them $700.

I’ve bought tools from dead men before, but never one younger than me.

 

[CWret]

Well done on both!
The boxes and the 700.

 

[Stuart Samuel]

Welding table is in! Took ages getting across the Pacific and onto a train, but it arrived a week and a bit ago, at work.

Unpacked it that evening, lifted the top out with the forklift, mounted the legs, and then spent hours degreasing (well, deoiling) it. Underside of the cast top is still pretty grubby, but it’s as-cast, so pretty hard to clean with solvents and paper towel. I’ll just have to remember not to bump my knees against the underside if I’m welding in non-work pants.

Moved it home midday, drove the forklift over and picked it out of the van.



Just fits through the interior door frame! 2” clearance, but that’ll do.

Table, with accessories.


I added two of these to the package, to help support larger things, or locate features perpendicular to the table.

NO! DON’T TURN AROU



The rest of the room is a wreck. Oh well. Work in progress.

 

[Stuart Samuel]

And yes, my plant needs water. It picked a bad time to let me know.

 

[CWret]

Awesome - looks absolutely great. That’s a fab table I want.
For others - I’ve been to his place. The plant might be suffering and in need of watering, but tools and machines take priority!!

 

[Dan Dubeau]

I love it. I didn't even notice the plant lol.

 

[Stuart Samuel]

I love it. I didn't even notice the plant lol.

I figured there might be one or two people out there with a frown on their face over it. I moved everything in front of it, then looked up and sighed. I'm not a very good plant minder, but I haven't killed it yet, and I do like having it in the shop.

 

[Stuart Samuel]

If anyone's curious, the table was $5000, give or take, inclusive.
I was especially pleased when it was delivered without any additional duty, fees, handling, handling fees, fee handling fees, etc..
I paid the price quoted in late August, and that was it. (Nice to be able to make a decision with all the information)

It's a big chunk of change, for me, and not likely to earn its keep any time soon, but it'd been on my list for a long time, and I decided to go for it.
I'm very happy with it, and the accessories. The finishing is top notch, and everything just works.

To be fair, I have nothing to compare it to. Our table at work is a 4' x 8' x 3/4" plate that's, uh... 'doing the wave', let's say, from various leg arrangements being welded to it over the years, so clamping things to keep them flat/get them flat is a challenge. And it only has a few stray holes, so access to anything past 8-10" from the edge isn't an option.

Top is cast iron, plasma nitride coated (I've been meaning to look it up, but hey, if I'm already spending thousands, what's another $350 USD, sounds pretty cool).
I was specifically looking for a cast iron table, for hot work, either brazing or bending. I didn't want to spend a couple grand, hit the top with a torch for slightly too long, and have the whole thing turn into a banana.

 

[Ironman]

If you have lived without the Doal saw for this long, I would evict it and charge it with theft of real estate.
I also think that Miller is at the same game, but it is a nice machine. Still....
If you paid 5k for that table you are serious about welding and that is a beauty. I love my 4x8 steel 1" plate table but welding berries find it attractive, and cast iron should ignore them.
That new toolbox stack means you should sell off the other boxes you have and that gets you more room.
I want to just go in the shop, do what needs doing, and shut down. I find that the biggest job in the shop is cleanup and I have compromised by letting it go until I can't stand it. Job in the mill this morning has left a solid layer of chips all over the floor, and I'll ignore it for now

 

[Stuart Samuel]

If you have lived without the Doal saw for this long, I would evict it and charge it with theft of real estate.
I also think that Miller is at the same game, but it is a nice machine. Still....
If you paid 5k for that table you are serious about welding and that is a beauty. I love my 4x8 steel 1" plate table but welding berries find it attractive, and cast iron should ignore them.
That new toolbox stack means you should sell off the other boxes you have and that gets you more room.
I want to just go in the shop, do what needs doing, and shut down. I find that the biggest job in the shop is cleanup and I have compromised by letting it go until I can't stand it. Job in the mill this morning has left a solid layer of chips all over the floor, and I'll ignore it for now

I was just thinking about the DoAll. I bought it for a good price ($800), but man, does it take up a lot of space. And that’s without the table on!

If I’m going to sell it, I’d like to see it run first, so I’m clear what I’m giving up. Also came with band files, something I’ve never had a chance to use.

 

[jorogi]

I was just thinking about the DoAll. I bought it for a good price ($800), but man, does it take up a lot of space. And that’s without the table on!

If I’m going to sell it, I’d like to see it run first, so I’m clear what I’m giving up. Also came with band files, something I’ve never had a chance to use.

If you put the table on my guess is you'd hang on to it, they're so danged handy. At a minimum they're a great little work table/shelf.