Small Woodworking Shops -- Let's talk about them.

[irvshapiro Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close irvshapiro]

I consider myself a maker and as a maker I user multiple materials. While I spend a lot of time making videos about 3d printers, just because I own a 3d printer does not mean it is the right tool for every job. For example, I have a series of videos about making a 90th birthday present for my father that included woodworking, 3d printing, and a bit of electricity. Here is a link to the first video in the series:

https://youtu.be/j1sYVJjAWyM

I own a range of woodworking tools and have an interest I would love to discuss with others about woodworking in small spaces. My shop is about 8 feet by 12 feet with every corner filled. So if you enjoy my videos and want to help me expand into more videos about woodworking please join the discussion.

[jwcutler Member Find all posts View Profile Close jwcutler]

I've been using my lathe to make everything from Christmas ornaments to tool handles, mainly for myself as a piano technician. I find it to be a rather zen like experience as I can listen to music while watching a block of wood become something more. My shop is sometimes playroom and sometimes workroom. Just this morning I sent a freshly restrung and finely tuned 1924 Steinway grand back home.

[irvshapiro]

I love your description of "a rather zen-like experience". I agree. I just received a 10" Turncrafter VS lathe to replace, supplement my 5" PenPal yesterday. At 100lbs it is going to have to stay in the box in my garage until my son can help me move it to my small basement workshop. I have mounted my PenPan on wall supports (it only weighs about 15 lbs) and will use it for high-speed polishing of pens and then set my new 10" variable speed lathe on the slower pulley which supports speeds of 500 to 1800 RPMs. The PenPal goes to 3000 RPM which is excellent for high-speed friction polishing.

[irvshapiro Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close irvshapiro]

My woodworking workshop ready for my new TurnCrafter 10" lathe:

[jwcutler Member Find all posts View Profile Close jwcutler]

My shop is living proof that any space will become filled, and if you move to a larger shop, more stuff will magically appear! The exercise equipment in the one photo usually takes up some of the open space in the other. In this case it is moved aside to make room for a piano coming in. My lathe is an introductory model from Rockler but I have found that it does a fine job with my projects.
Soon it will house a 3D printer too!

[irvshapiro]

Yep. I fully understand. On the DrVax youtube channel, I review and talk a lot about 3d printing. So now I have eight 3d printers at my home and one at each of my grown children's homes. Fortunately in woodworking equipment does not change as radically overnight.