Setting up Your New Shop
By Bob Rosand
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Is it time to upgrade your woodturning shop? If so, here are some basics to consider.
I was delighted when I read Harvey Fein's article on his shop (Spring2004 issue). During the six years I've served on the AAW publications committee, I always thought that the AAW members needed a regular "Woodturner's Shop" department.
Now that Harvey has introduced you to his shop, I would like to share some details about my shop/studio. For you beginning turners, I also offer suggestions on setting up your first woodturning shop.
For longer than I care to remember, I turned in my 25' x 50' dark, dank basement shop. All in all, the basement wasn't a bad working environment, considering my original shop- a 7' x 8' metal shed that was filled to the gills when I moved in my first lathe.
On the positive side, the basement furnace provided a convenient heat source in the winter. And my basement stayed cool all summer.
My move to the shop and studio shown here became a reality after my father died a few years ago. The small house I built for him next to our home eventually became my new digs on Dug Road.
I divided the working area into two sections: my work area (28' x 13') and a student work area (26' x 14'). In one corner of my work area, I have a jointer, tablesaw, bandsaw, belt sander, and drill press. The tablesaw and jointer are mounted on rollers so that I can keep them out of the way when not in use.
My work area includes a Oneway 2436 for larger work and a 1018 for smaller work. I find that I spend most of my time at the 1018.
Outfitting a new shop
So you've been bitten by the turning bug? Great! In addition to sorting out the "what to buy?" details for lathes, chucks, grinders, and turning tools, there are important shop setup details awaiting new turners.
Before building your own shop or converting an existing building into your dream woodturning studio, here are some things you may want to consider.
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Flooring. My first project was to attach 1" furring strips to the concrete floor. After running electrical wiring between the strips and installing 3/4"-thick foam insulation panels, I screwed down 3/4"-thick tongue-and groove plywood sheets. I painted the plywood with a gray non-skid paint, which keeps me from sliding on wood chips.
Turning all day on a concrete slab is brutal on any turner's legs. For additional comfort, most woodturners also purchase a 3/8"- thick 2' x 6' rubber mat (about $30) for the area beneath the lathe.
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Heat. I rely on an efficient kerosene heater that draws air from the outside and does not have an open flame. Most important to me: I am comfortable in my shop for less than $500 per year in kerosene costs. (For details on the Monitor kerosene heater, see www.medfordfuel.com.) The original electric baseboard heat is my backup heat source.
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Dust management. Woodturners and all woodworkers should consider air filtration an essential part of their shop. Today, ceiling-suspended air cleaners sell for around $250 and are worth the investment to trap those nasty small particles you'll want to keep out of your lungs.
You'll also want to invest in some type of dust collection canister and route hoses to your lathe area. Some manufacturers now sell dust hoods for some lathe models.
For a minimum investment, add a box or window fan at the headstock or tailstock of your lathe. Being a left-hander, I mounted a 21" window fan at the tailstock of my lathe. This blows the fine dust away from me. I urge all turners to wear a dust mask or respirator-especially when sanding. The multi-purpose respirator I wear (about $45) meets NIOSH standards.
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Lighting. If you can't see, you can't turn. At least, you can't turn well. Over my small lathe, I mounted three fixtures with 100- watt bulbs. I also installed a swing-arm lamp that allows me to focus light on one turning area. My big lathe has five 100-watt bulbs as well as the swing arm lamp. See AAW Journal Issue 19-4, pages 28-29 for Maurice Clymers' lighting details.
While on the subject of vision, keep what you have. A $20 face shield or $10 pair of safety glasses is absolutely essential for work at the lathe.
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Insurance. Before you tackle any big shop additions, talk to your insurance agent about insurance coverage. I received a major shock when I moved from my basement shop to the new studio shop. Although my homeowner's policy included the basement shop, the new location-considered a commercial building-required a contents and liability policy for a commercial building. Annual premium: $1,200.
A swing-arm lamp provides tasking light for Bob Rosand at his grinding station.
Bob Rosand is a member of the AAW publications committee and a frequent American Woodturner contributor. He lives in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.
This article originally appeared in The Journal
of
The American Association of Woodturners
Volume 19 Number 4, Winter 2004.