Ideas, Shop Upgrades, Impending Arizona Heat, Oh My!!
March 10, 2007 | Filed Under Blog
Well, it’s only early March and the weather man is already calling for 90 degree weather. Time to put on my short pants. The was never really a major obstacle in the past since I would just get in a zone, and woodwork until it was quitting time. But this year, we have a bigger issue with The Wood Whisperer. There is just no way that I can film podcasts with the camera, the laptop, the 1000W lights, all producing heat in a 110F+ environment. Not to mention, Im usually not in the greatest of moods when I am working in those temps. So something needs to be done. Nicole and I have decided to make a major investment in the show and the business. We are installing air conditioning in the shop. Now, in Arizona, this doesn’t mean you throw an A/C unit on the roof and call it done. It means a major retrofit that will include replacing three 9′x10′ doors and blowing in insulation into the walls and ceiling. So after a few weeks of getting bids together, we selected the companies we want to go with and now we are just waiting for them to get their butts over here and do the work. Its expensive, but Nicole and I really like the direction the show is taking and we feel it is well worth the personal investment.
On a lighter note, I am toying with the idea of putting a webcam in the shop. It would be a simple camera setup that would see the entire shop and will update every 30 seconds or so. I know when I used to work in the lab, I would keep The New Yankee Cam on all the time just to see Norm in action. But Norm has a very specific shop schedule and I only got to see him working maybe one or two times. My shop, however, is running nearly every day of the week. And I thought it might be fun for you guys to see what I’m up to. I guess I have to stop picking my nose now. Damn.
So that’s just some of the stuff going on right now. I might even film some of the action as the retrofit gets underway. Its not woodworking, but it is interesting nonetheless. As always, thanks for watching, thanks for clicking the ads and visiting our sponsors, and thanks for ordering stuff through Amazon. You guys (and gals) are the bestest!
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17 Responses to “Ideas, Shop Upgrades, Impending Arizona Heat, Oh My!!”
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Marc, that’s super. You’ve got a great thing going here. Keep up the good work.
Marc
That sounds great we all could see the master in action all the time. I do have a question for you I have a 10in band saw and I not sure how to tell what the right tension is for the blade, any pointers on that. keep up the great shows
thanks again
Jim Bussing
You really need A/C with that kind of temp.
I’m surprised that you didn’t have it installed eariler. I think Safety and comfort is most important in a workshop.
I’m not very fond of webcams as I find them too slow. but It’s a great idea and real good benefit for the viewers who like them.
Marc, I like you and I like your shows and all, but given what you said about “Environmentally Friendly Woodworking” http://www.woodworking.org/Inf.....hp?t=13090, I think you might want to approach things like 1000w lights, and A/C a little more cautiously. You could be setting yourself up for some embarrassing questions. Especially considering the recent political climate.
Just a friendly suggestion.
Let’s see… you are complaining that it is going to be 90 degrees, and it is 14 degrees here today, want to trade? :->)Greetings from Canada. I won’t get back to woodworking for another month, and my shop thaws out.
Absolutely fantastic videos. You should be on prime time. Start sending your podcasts to the networks. Love to watch you on a regular basis.
Hey Jim. You can test the tension by deflecting the blade with your finger. Move the guards out of the way (make sure the saw is unplugged), and use a single finger. Give the blade a little push. If it moves more than a 1/2″, its too loose. If it barely moves at all, its too tight. How much pressure to apply with your finger? Moderate. Good luck.
Hey Gene. Did you actually read my question on WWA? I mentioned that I get questions from people about how they can be more environmentally-friendly. Why would that lead to embarrassing questions about my activities? When you live in the desert and you are trying to film a podcast, Im not sure how to get around lights and AC. I could just take the summer off. :)
Glad to hear we won’t have a summer without your videos. You’re going to love having cooling in the shop.
I just built a small shop for myself at my house in north Phoenix and am going to install a window A/C unit once I get the electrical run. I can’t wait to start making some sawdust out there and can’t even imagine working without some type of cooling in the summer here.
“Ah, come on, but it’s a dry heat…” Zero humidity. Can’t help but think about that here in Houston, where it’s often close to 100% humidity. But I’m just teasing. At 110-120, it’s hot no matter what! Wish I could have AC too. Maybe someday…
Gotta comment on your videos. This is the best site out there by far. As one who regularly makes movies with my Mac, I fully appreciate the incredible editing quality, your style, and the high quality, large, “non-pixelly” videos. Takes a ton of bandwidth to deliver that. Impossible without sponsors. Not to mention the very long length of each movie. The care you exhibit editing your videos makes them very watchable. Most folks don’t understand how much work it takes to edit a piece that just flows. You could probably have a great career in the film making industry if you wanted to.
Your site is one of a kind, and just what I was looking for as a brand new woodworker. In fact I’m just ready to cut up my Spagnuolo cutting board and glue it back together for the second time. So far so good with my very first project from rough lumber (your videos also saved me a lot of confusion during my first visit to Houston Hardwoods).
Keep it up. You’re at the start of a very good career, that much is plain (or is it plane, in this case).
Now if I could just find a place to buy an ink roller…
Scott
I usually use my swamp cooler as long as possible. But eventually its ineffective. Thats when the AC will really prove its worth.
And Scott. You feel like being my PR guy? Thanks for the complimentary comment! I really appreciate it. By the way, you might be able to find a ink roller here:
http://astore.amazon.com/thewo.....16-8524845
:)
Swamp coolers! Now there’s a term that gets a blank stare down here in Humidityville (Houston). I know what they are, but only because we had one in Utah. I’ve explained them to people here, and I get these looks like “are you crazy? why would you want to add humidity?”
And yeah, I’m your PR guy, all right. Just sent your link to a friend.
Marc
Have you considered moving north for the summer. Northern Idaho would be perfect for you taste. Nice lakes, forests, mild non humid temps. Let me know I will have the Chamber of Commerce send you a packet. You could caravan with our other snowbirds.
Tim
Marc:
Talking about the heat:
I’ll bet, who’s name I will not mention, that wears his “signature flannel shirt” (all year long mind you), runs his air conditioner. How else could you keep a heavy flannel shirt on during those hot New England summers?
Think abooooooout it!
What’s not to like about sweat raining down your forehead, water dripping from your respirator exhaust valve like a leaky faucet. Salt stained Whisperer T-shirt. I thought you were tough guy. Just kidding, gotta be funny once in a while.
Great stuff Marc.
Thanks for keeping it alive for all in “Internet- Land.”
Another Phoenix area woodworker here with no A/C in the shop. As a hobbyist, I’ll muddle through. You, on the other hand, being a professional, owe it to yourself so I’m happy for you….and will be thinking about cool & clammy Marc this summer when I’m out there sweatin’ my patooties off!
Hi Marc, Weird…I just talked to you the other day about my wife giving me a hard time for installing HVAC, when you do fine without.
Thanks for breaking down. Also, on a conservation note, make sure they fill ALL the cavities in your walls. Check your local utility for rebates.
Web Cam? Wahoo… but it sounds like you’ll have 29 seconds between clicks to perform anything potentially embarrassing! Glad to hear the show will be growing, surprised to see you in sweatshirts under all those lights. I can appreciate how hot they get up in cold and (usually) snowing New England, but to be down in in the desert, Oh my. You can cook an egg on the tablesaw in June, right?
Thanks for the tip about the new show coming to PBS. We have a couple of pbs options here, perhaps they’ll run them back to back with This Old House, or the New Yankee Workshop!
Love your show, and your wit! keep up the good work!
I hear you Marc, I USED to live in Ajo!
Albuquerque where I live now, is still a desert but at 5000 elevation :-)
I know that there are glue rollers that have bumps all over the surface. Have you tried those? They claim not to slide like the ink rollers. But I would think they would use up more glue and be harder to clean….