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6:12 AM
October 18, 2011
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I just joined, thought I would say hi.
I'm in Southern Illinois USA. My main tools are the mini lathe and mini mill, supplimented by a somewhat skimpy assortment of hand and power tools. I have melted and cast aluminum, but now after a recent move I need to build a new furnace and collect a new stockpile of aluminum scrap.
I have built a few air motors, a couple of stirling engines and a small live steam engine. None are anything pretty to look at, but they run. Sadly, all are now in various states of disrepair, after the move.
Up until now, my building style has been more like "use the plans as a source of ideas and use whatever will work" rather than "follow all the minute details of the plans and make it look pretty". However, I have recently been having thoughts about flirting with the later.
My workshop for years was my shop where I work, I was (still am) allowed to come in after work and on weekends to tinker. Now at the new home place I am building a home workshop in a 20' X 12' storage shed. It's starting to come together, but still has a ways to go. I have at last brought all my tools home so all I have to do now is walk out to the back yard to putter about instead of driving 20 miles into town. You don't know how nice that is unless you have been there!
This seems like a nice friendly group, I look forward to lots of good goings on here.
Les
4:09 PM
January 9, 2009
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Hi Les,
I'm sorry that nobody has welcomed you sooner! That's abnormal. Usually several people are quick to welcome new members to the site.
Anyway, welcome to the site!
Whats the status on your 20x12 workspace? Is it finished yet? Do you have pictures? My future metalworking space will be 16x24, but I'm currently in a 12x18-ish 1-car garage. So I can relate to the size of your workspace. If you can keep it from filling with seasonal goodies (like camping gear, gardening equipment, etc) it should server you well as a workspace.
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11:48 AM
October 18, 2011
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Thanks for the welcome!
I have all my "stuff" in the shop, and half the walls insulated. I have made a plug of 2" foam board insulation to block off the loft to keep heat from escaping up there. That's where all the "other stuff" like camping gear goes. I had lots of nails and hangers so I could store stuff between the wall studs, as I apply the insulation I have to take these down and find other places for all that stuff.
Wife gave me my Christmas preasent early, a real nice big roll-around Craftsman tool box, so I have been having a good time stuffing it full of junk.. er.. uh.. I mean tools and parts then re-arranging everything.
I'm off work the week after Christmas, so I hope to get the rest of the insulating done so I can see how well it holds heat. I have been heating with a kerosene heater, but that seems to be putting way too much humidity into the air, I'm starting to get a thin film of rust in places I really don't want it. I guess I'll have to look into electric heat, or a vented heater of some sort.
I'll try to take some pics next week.
12:33 PM
January 9, 2009
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Insulation will definitely help. In summer as well as winter.
I have a propane heater that I really like (it uses a 5-gallon tank). It doesn't make the shop stink like my kerosine heater did. However, I'm not sure if you'll see any difference in condensation on your tools. The problem there is more of a heat/cool/heat/cool cycle. The tools don't heat and cool as quickly as the air does, and the temperature difference between the two results in condensation. Your best bet would be to either keep the shop heated at a constant temp (60?) or leave it unheated. In my experience warming it up and cooling it down seems to be what leads to problems with rust. Some people have also found it helpful to cover their lathe and other large tools with a non-plastic (ie moisture permeable) cloth cover. I made a cover for my lathe, but I don't see much difference in condensation. However, it is great for keeping dust off the lathe! For hand tools you can get little packets of desiccant to toss in your drawers. Some can even be re-used by baking them in the oven to dry them back out. But I wouldn't remember to change them, so I don't use them. For me it's easiest not to heat the shop unless I'll be working out there for several days in a row, and then I keep it heated the whole time (but don't leave a gas heater unattended! I have an electric heating system for heat while I'm away or overnight). I also check the tools during the heat-up and cool-down of the shop to see if there's any condensation. if so, I wipe and re-oil tools and castings.
Since I usually keep the shop unheated I wear vests (not sweatshirts or anything long-sleeved). My arms get cold, but my core stays warm even if the shop is down in the 50's. A stocking cap helps. But no gloves, sleeves, watches, or rings if you're working with any tools that have rotating parts (spindles, belts, gears, etc).
Also, whatever heater you use, make sure you follow the directions for ventilation. Carbon monoxide is dangerous as I'm sure you're already aware. I spent a little more for a vent-free propane heater, but I still vent the shop a little when I use it. But again, I usually just let the shop fluctuate with the outside temp. One nice thing about Seattle is that it never really gets all that cold here.
Oh, and grats on the tool chest!
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1:12 PM
October 18, 2011
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Thanks for the tips!
Our winter temps swing from 50's to 0F and below 0F, so I really need some heat! I have a carbon monoxide detector going at all times, one that has a display as well as an alarm so I can see if the level starts creeping up. I would really like to keep some electric heat going all the time to keep the temp from dropping below 40. We'll see if that's practical once I get the insulation finished.
6:36 AM
April 19, 2011
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Hi Les and welcome (belatedly),
One day I would love to have an outside space. Right now I'm in a crowded basement. So any ideas on making a shop space are always great (and heating it- it gets cold here in NYC).
Some great things can be made with the mini-lathe and mill- would love to see some of your projects.
Nelson
10:01 PM
October 18, 2011
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Hi Nelson, thanks for the greet!
I have a few YouTube videos up featuring some of my engines and some other stuff. Nothing very pretty to look at, but fun to build and run. Here is the link to my channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ro…..ver/videos
I'm afraid I haven't finished my workshop yet. Cold weather has finally set in (12 degrees F tonight) and with no reliable heat source in the shop I have been spending available free time in the house where it's warm. When we moved I lost a lot of my indoor tropical plants because of the change of environment, I'm working on fixing up the new grow room and starting my plant collection back up. So many hobbies, so little time.
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