Ian Barley
06-15-2004, 5:39 PM
Jim Becker was over here in the UK on business on Monday and took some time after his flight to come over and visit me in the shop. I really appreciate that Jim took the time and hope that he enjoyed his visit.
The other effect of Jim's visit was that it prompted me to clean up the shop a little (but only a little as you will see!!). While it was in a nearly sensible state I thought I would take some phots so here is the long overdue shop tour. I think Jim also has some pictures which I hope he will share with us.
The first shot is just to prove that we really were both in the same place at the same time. The "Land of the Giants" look is 'cause it was taken on a self timer and the viewpoint was a little low. This pic is also the proof that any resemblance between my avatar and reality is purely coincidental.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour001a.jpg
The next images is a reminder of the raw canvas - taken before I moved in this was the old dairy before I covered the walls with dust!
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Workshop009a.jpg
This next shot shows what a mess I have made of it now - taken from a similar viewpoint.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour002a.jpg
Looking back towards the doorway. 25 inch double drum sander - Long bed belt sander and dust collector in the background. The DC is raised on a jerry rigged platform to double the bag capacity (Very useful when running the planer)
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour003a.jpg
The other side of the doorway. 12 inch Planer/Thicknesser (Jointer/Planer) which is about to be superceded with a 20 inch Thicknesser. This one struggle on volume of work but I will keep it for the overhand and as a backup. The big blue box on the right is my phase convertor (rotary) and to the right of that is my original chair back jig. Jet oscillating spindle peeking out behind lumber. Also on the wall behind you can see some of my templates.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour004a.jpg
Some of todays production - chair backs - stacked on one of my two hydraulis lifting trolleys. They are fantastic for the way I work. Materials handling is important to me and I use them as outfeed tables as well as parts trolleys and worktables. Get yourself one if you have the slightest excuse. In the background under the yellow cover is the Tormek sharpener.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour005a.jpg
Now this shows how my shop - which is organised around a single purpose - is different to a multifunction flexible shop. The walkway between the table saw on the right and the mitre saw station on the left is no more than a couple of feet because I do not rip anything wider than 6 inches. The machine in the foreground is a home made flapwheeel sander. I buy commercial heads but the rest is an electric motor on a grinder stand. Saved about £1000 off the price of the standard machine.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour007a.jpg
Another view of the table saw and mitre station. You can just see the flip stops set for my regular crosscut lengths to the right of the mitre.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour008a.jpg
Assembly bench. My work is really about repeating things as efficiently as possible and the way I do that is with as may jigs, templates and fixtures as possible. This is my assembly area and going from left to right are the stations where I make seats, backs and fial chair assembly. The orange curly hoses are air supply to my assembly tools, which aremostly air driven. These are held on tool balancers for speed of location. You can also see a couple of electric hand tools (sander etc) hanging from hooks on the front of the bench - again this keeps them out of the way of the wrkpiece but within easy reach.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour010a.jpg
My seat assembly jig. The outer vertical walls hold the sides vertical and the right width apart. The bungee cords help to hold seat slats while they are being positioned and fixed. The small vertical partway across is used to assemble footrests. Plastic drawer underneath holds my spacers.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour016a.jpg
Back assembly jig. (Jim has some action shots of these - perhaps if he posts them these will make more sense). This pivots on transfer balls - just visible on the left of the jig - which enables me to reach all the bits I need without having to move around.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour018a.jpg
Final assembly. This is where I build chairs - again it swivels for speed and ease of use. The vertical at the front holds that seat to a constant height and enables me to get a more consistent result quicker - the name of the game for my business.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour009a.jpg
Thats it for now. Thank you for visiting and another thanks to Jim for a great afternoon in good company he (and anybody else who is passing) is welcome anytime.
The other effect of Jim's visit was that it prompted me to clean up the shop a little (but only a little as you will see!!). While it was in a nearly sensible state I thought I would take some phots so here is the long overdue shop tour. I think Jim also has some pictures which I hope he will share with us.
The first shot is just to prove that we really were both in the same place at the same time. The "Land of the Giants" look is 'cause it was taken on a self timer and the viewpoint was a little low. This pic is also the proof that any resemblance between my avatar and reality is purely coincidental.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour001a.jpg
The next images is a reminder of the raw canvas - taken before I moved in this was the old dairy before I covered the walls with dust!
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Workshop009a.jpg
This next shot shows what a mess I have made of it now - taken from a similar viewpoint.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour002a.jpg
Looking back towards the doorway. 25 inch double drum sander - Long bed belt sander and dust collector in the background. The DC is raised on a jerry rigged platform to double the bag capacity (Very useful when running the planer)
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour003a.jpg
The other side of the doorway. 12 inch Planer/Thicknesser (Jointer/Planer) which is about to be superceded with a 20 inch Thicknesser. This one struggle on volume of work but I will keep it for the overhand and as a backup. The big blue box on the right is my phase convertor (rotary) and to the right of that is my original chair back jig. Jet oscillating spindle peeking out behind lumber. Also on the wall behind you can see some of my templates.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour004a.jpg
Some of todays production - chair backs - stacked on one of my two hydraulis lifting trolleys. They are fantastic for the way I work. Materials handling is important to me and I use them as outfeed tables as well as parts trolleys and worktables. Get yourself one if you have the slightest excuse. In the background under the yellow cover is the Tormek sharpener.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour005a.jpg
Now this shows how my shop - which is organised around a single purpose - is different to a multifunction flexible shop. The walkway between the table saw on the right and the mitre saw station on the left is no more than a couple of feet because I do not rip anything wider than 6 inches. The machine in the foreground is a home made flapwheeel sander. I buy commercial heads but the rest is an electric motor on a grinder stand. Saved about £1000 off the price of the standard machine.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour007a.jpg
Another view of the table saw and mitre station. You can just see the flip stops set for my regular crosscut lengths to the right of the mitre.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour008a.jpg
Assembly bench. My work is really about repeating things as efficiently as possible and the way I do that is with as may jigs, templates and fixtures as possible. This is my assembly area and going from left to right are the stations where I make seats, backs and fial chair assembly. The orange curly hoses are air supply to my assembly tools, which aremostly air driven. These are held on tool balancers for speed of location. You can also see a couple of electric hand tools (sander etc) hanging from hooks on the front of the bench - again this keeps them out of the way of the wrkpiece but within easy reach.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour010a.jpg
My seat assembly jig. The outer vertical walls hold the sides vertical and the right width apart. The bungee cords help to hold seat slats while they are being positioned and fixed. The small vertical partway across is used to assemble footrests. Plastic drawer underneath holds my spacers.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour016a.jpg
Back assembly jig. (Jim has some action shots of these - perhaps if he posts them these will make more sense). This pivots on transfer balls - just visible on the left of the jig - which enables me to reach all the bits I need without having to move around.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour018a.jpg
Final assembly. This is where I build chairs - again it swivels for speed and ease of use. The vertical at the front holds that seat to a constant height and enables me to get a more consistent result quicker - the name of the game for my business.
http://www.adirondack.co.uk/images/Workshop/Shoptour009a.jpg
Thats it for now. Thank you for visiting and another thanks to Jim for a great afternoon in good company he (and anybody else who is passing) is welcome anytime.