(I was asked to move my Shop Tour from the Blog section to Projects... You are not seeing double if you are re-reading this!)
My Wife and I moved into our own Home 10 years ago last February... In the Apartment we had just left, my Shop was located in the Cellar... a Cellar, that flooded after every Rain, and was numbingly cold in the Winter! I was thrilled and excited to have a dry space again to relocate my Shop to...
as with all shops, the equipment was moved around several times before a more or less comfortable flow was found.... But this basement, has it's own issues! I spent more time working on the shop than in it, Tearing down the drywall that somebody had put up for a ceiling (badly) Cleaning out old wiring, upgrading the lighting, replacing overhead beams, repairing windows, adding a small forest of 4"x4"s to hold up this old House... But for all of that work, I still was faced with the facts... Though this is a dry Cellar, it is about 25' away from a major roadway, and with the rumbling of constant traffic, and the even heavier disturbance of Winter Plows, it makes it the most God-awfully dustiest Place in the World! The Block and Brick foundation slowly crumbles anything loose off of it (or between it) And it has limited access as well, the Cellar Door and a narrow stairway are the only way in or out... Lumber can be brought in without trouble through the Window but sheet goods have to be broken down in our driveway... For all of that, I still felt very lucky to have a shop at all, until health issues made negotiating the stairs difficult... Thankfully, my health has improved, but Debbie and I (though not ancient) are not young anymore... We've attempted to consolidate our living conditions to one level, on the first floor of our House... When Debbie suggested moving the Shop up into the House I welcomed the idea! Winter Warmth, Summer Coolness, Debbie for company rather than dust and spiders!
So for several months, musical rooms was played... Our Dining Room, the largest room in our Home, has become our "New" Living Room, while the "Old" Living Room has become the New Shop Most Shops have as their Core and Center, the Table Saw... While mine is literally in the center, it doesn't see a lot of use... The Band Saw is my preferred method of Rough or Bulk cutting and was the last major piece to find it's way upstairs... My small Workbench was my Grandfather's, and is now seeing third generational use... In this location, I was finally able to bolt it to the floor, which dramatically increases it's effectiveness for hand planing and sawing! I replaced the bottom of an old Radio Flyer kid's wagon years ago, and gave it to my Mom, who used it as a decoration on their Porch... When my Parents passed away, the Wagon found its way back to me... I use it for house repairs! When I'm working on a Room or Area in the house, I wheel the tools to the scene, and keep them consolidated in the Wagon... The Heart and Soul of this Man's Shop is the combo of my small Drill Press and Scroll Saw... Few Projects are made here without seeing some time at one or both of these machines... My handy little Rotor Table completes the four walls of this room along with the Stereo and Album Collection (which will be moved out of here when a suitable spot is found for them)...
This is still a work in Progress, and not all things have moved up from the Cellar yet... But some things are NOT going to make the trip! The neatly organized wood scraps are staying downstairs, along with the Miter Saw and Planer... There is a Vacuum set-up behind the bureau holding the Joiner... Its hose reaches everything and everywhere down here... The Table has most of my powered hand tools on it, Circular Saw, Reciprocating Saw, Drill, Belt and Random Orbital Sanders, et al...
The Shelves next to the Planer hold mostly Hand Tools, collected from my Grandfather and Father's Collections, along with a life-time of my own investments... And in the last direction is my original, first Scroll Saw Station...
And that's it! Two Shops, sort of, but they're still evolving... So far I'm really enjoying working upstairs... The only thing I've had to watch out for is sawdust on the hardwood floors, they get as slippery as a shuffleboard!
Thanks for your Time, and I hope you enjoyed the Tour!
3 September 2025
Mike, in Concord, NH - A candle loses none of its flame by lighting another candle...
Very cool!!! I would love it if i could set my tablesaw, planer & jointer in the family room by the fireplace. I might just try it to see what my wife thinks.
