Sanity Enhancing Techniques *

 As many of the Chant's readers know, a while ago (seems like millennia ago) Mrs. J bought me a new shed to be my wood working shop.  This decision was facilitated by a few factors.  First, we had moved in to our new "forever" home and she wanted to be able to keep an eye on me.  Second, the AC in the old shop had died and well, Texas...> 6 months of the year...temperature=Hades.  Third, 10' x 12' just isn't enough room to work efficiently and safely.  

Yes, Beans, I still have all my extremities attached.  Although not for lack of trying on the shop's part. 

In any case, the new shop is 16' x 24' with a 10' ceiling and two 16' x 8' lofts (7' above the floor) for storage,  and seems infinitely larger than the old one.  

However, for many different reasons, some good, some not so good, I hadn't made much progress since the initial move of "Stuff" from the old shop.  The primary reason, which I believe most woodworkers will understand, is lack of storage.  Yes, it has lofts, but I need my tools and other stuff (stuff is, but not limited to, screws, bolts, braces, bits, pencils, tape measures...on and on ad infinitum) easily available. 

Well, you get the picture.

And...I wanted them where I could see them and get them fairly quickly without having to dig through some tool kit/cabinet/cardboard box/bucket, plastic container. But, I couldn't put up any kind of storage, until I'd put up the interior walls.

I thought I'd get the bottom half done before I started any other part of the plan, but as they say, "No plan survives first contact with the enemy intact"

I needed to move stuff out of the old place before it got too hot this summer.  Unfortunately, the only storage spot was the floor.  I soon found out that the old adage, "Stuff expands to meet available space" is absolutely true.

The foam panel insulation on the assembly table is to protect the sheet of plywood worktable as I sawed various pieces.  For a couple of bucks a sheet, the saw would cut into the insulation and not the plywood.

Now, there's two sides to everything.  On the left side above is the beginning of order and efficiency.  Shelving and tool benches.  On the right, is chaos and land mines, or at least tripping hazards.

One of my main objectives was to keep things visible, but out of the way when not in use.  My drills were the first tools to go up, but not out. (BTW, that's not their final position, just the most convenient at the time.)  Circular Saw and Drills were the "Go To" tools at this time.

The magnetic bar tool holder under the AC was in an excellent position for convenient holding of hand tools at the time.  It's since been moved also.

About this time, my second Grand Daughter arrived a tad early and my carpentry co-worker became a fairly busy trying on his Dad Role.  But, that side of the workshop is going to house my workbench and the place on the floor where the plywood rests is approximately where the table saw will reside, I can move both out of the way fairly easily and their shape and size should protect the insulation quite a bit.  

BTW, and speaking of insulation,  the highest the temperature got this summer inside the workshop with the mini-split AC set at 75 was 78.  And this was a hot summer, even for Texas.

As I said earlier, I wanted storage to move up and take advantage of wasted space, so rather than enclose the rafters on the loft ceilings,  I took advantage of it.

Nuts, bolts, screws, hooks all stored out of the way, but visible and accessible.

Yes, Beans, the router table isn't very functional at this point.

Another thing that always bothered me in my old shop was that clamps were never readily accessible. That's less of a problem now.

While all this is going on, my Daughter asked if I would refinish the diaper table we'd used for her changing when she was a baby.  Now that she's a Mom, she wants her Daughter to follow.  Yes, Beans, it's going to be White instead of that particular shade of brown.

Even the pipe clamps are more accessible.

Or from a different perspective.

So, this shows where I'm at in this project at this point.  

This project so far has been fun and deeply satisfying.  Can't wait to get back from the Cruise * and get back into it.

Along with the other projects, Mrs. J, MBD and others have in mind for me, of course..

Peace out, Y'all!

* Posted on 9/11, because with any luck as you read this Mrs. J, MBD, SIL, MG and our Wine Maker Friends are somewhere in the Med.  Ahhh Well...Somebody's got to do it.