From the editor: A shop to call home
While he might pine for more space and better dust collection, editor Mike Pekovich's far-less-than-perfect shop suits him just fine.
Welcome to our annual Tools & Shops issue. I’ve always thought that it was a cumbersome title, but I guess it’s true that not only
do we need the tools necessary to get a job done, but we need a place to work as well. Of the two, I think that finding or making a place to work is the bigger challenge. It can be a stumbling block and a barrier to entry for aspiring woodworkers, but we all seem to manage somehow. My garage has never seen a car since we’ve lived in our house, and I’m aware of more than a few basements that are littered with sawdust. And, yes, spare bedroom workshops are not as uncommon as you might imagine. I’ve seen sheds and front porches and back patios and renovated mill buildings put to use as shops. In this issue, we feature a log cabin that has been retrofitted into a wonderful work space. More and more, urban woodworkers are making use of shared spaces. On the rare occasion, I’ve even come across that most elusive prize, the custom-built stand-alone shop.
While I might pine for more space and better dust collection, I have to say that my far-less-than-perfect shop suits me just fine. Even if I could conjure up my ideal shop, it wouldn’t be perfect for another woodworker. Someone specializing in built-ins is going to need a much bigger space, while a spoon carver may get by with a stool by the fire. I sometimes envy the chairmakers with just a lathe and bandsaw in the shop.
As the end of fall points to the onset of another Connecticut winter, my shop, heated and insulated from the cold, becomes more than just a place to work, but a refuge of sorts as well. It becomes a place to think and plan over a cup of coffee at the bench, a floor to sweep, a shelf to finally reorganize, a set of chisels to sharpen. In that way our shops come to reflect not just what we make, but who we are as makers. So, while there is no such thing as a perfect shop, we are all quite capable of making a shop that is perfect for us.
—Michael Pekovich, editor and creative director
From Fine Woodworking #286
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Comments
Mike's article on insulating a two-car garage to make it a four season workshop was instrumental in the transformation of my cold and damp garage into a cozy and comfortable place to work and contemplate.
My workshop located in the Highlands of Scotland used to have up and over doors like Mike's but they have been replaced by a set of insulated bi-fold doors on one side and the other side has been permanently blocked off to allow the use of space behind it. (See photo).
The floor, ceiling and wall insulation, fitted according to Mike's instructions, now means that the shop gets to a nice working temperature using only the fluorescent lights (lots of them). This makes for a bright warm and comfortable place just to hang out and plan.
Thank you Mike.
like most weekend warriors, i transformed my three car garage in to my workshop. of course the garage shop gods needed their tribute in the form of a 10x10 room to wall off all mechanicals from shop dust. so in the end 550 sq ft is what i got. just enough for my needs.
what i've always hated about my shop was those damned roll up garage doors. my house happens to be on a hill so i got 12 foot ceilings but the garage door hardware always got in the way. by luck i came across mike's shop renovation article and it hit me. carriage house doors!!! over the last two months i've completed a shop remodel that pays homage to my man crush. mike, if you're looking ot this comment, i'd really love to hear what you think.
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in