This standalone Viewer Shop comes from Kerry in New Hampshire. He writes:
Nearly two years ago I tore down the old 16’x12’ shop that was behind my house in preparation of building a new one during my three-month sabbatical from work. One week before my sabbatical was supposed to start I was diagnosed with stage 2 thyroid cancer and all my plans went on hold.
Finally last fall we decided it was time to rebuild the shop if for no other reason than to provide a distraction from what we call “Cancer World”. I have fairly recently found out about The Wood Whisperer (as well as Wood Talk Online and Matt’s Basement Workshop) so I thought it would send along some pics of my mostly completed new shop.
Here’s a shot from last fall. The new shop is 16′ x 24′ with a 9 foot ceiling.
Here’s where we ended with daylight fading on the last day of that weekend.
It’s now nearly 9 months later and here’s the shop as it set up now. Here is the view from the front door.
Just to the left of the front door is my benchtop drill press, my big manly air compressor, in the beginning of my 20 foot long workbench. You can also see my first old portable table saw tucked under the bench.
Next we move into the back corner and the back wall. Someone gave me the metal rack along the back wall and all my power tools and battery-operated tools to do not have their own case live here.
Here’s a full shot of the back wall. I’ve got a fairly good-sized wood stove in the back right corner. The picture in the upper left corner is a shot of my father who passed away last year.
As we move back up towards the front of the shop along the right-hand wall we will find my Rigid table saw, that I really really like. He’s very old hand-me-down four-inch jointer. And the hand-me-down radial arm saw (one of my wife’s favorite tools). Up top is my lumber storage currently dominated by left over 2 by stock from the shed construction. Under the wood 16 more feet of shelf for all of my power tools that have their own case. You can see my pitiful supply of clamps.
Back to the front of the shop we have my chop saw on its portable stand and a 2′ x 4′ workbench (for my wife) with a flip top and some six-inch deep storage bins.
And finally here’s a shot of the old talk to the radial arm saw that was honored when I got it, and a shot of the new top ready for its first cut through the fence.
Just a couple of weeks ago we were told that my cancer is now “stable” and I have to go back in six months my tumors re-measured. Now I have some time to finally finish a set of built-ins we started almost 2 years ago.
20 Responses to “Kerry’s New Shop – Shop Tour”
Nice shop Kerry! I wish you the best in your battle with cancer.
Whats in the attic? Nice shop, I wish I had room for a stand alone builing. I wish you the best in your battle.
dylder
Hey, I have that same radial arm saw model! It was inherited from my father in law, and is non operational at the moment (The run circuitry is seized up), but I’ve added new running gear to it and will be bringing it back into operation soon. How do you like it?
Nice shop, Kerry! YOu didn’t say how large the new building was. Looks like you’ve got the precious heat you’ll need in our ‘winter’ months and lots of space.
Good to hear your cancer is ‘stable’ and wish you the best.
Shawn
Maine
The attic has mostly house storage hiding up there, plus left over tile from 3 different tiling jobs in the house, and my 2 headed halogen worklight lives up there.
I do like my radial arm saw, but I need to mount in on a wheeled platform so I can get it out of the way when I need to cut long stock on the chop saw.
I actually found the owners manual for that saw online and have a printed copy and an electronic copy stored away.
Thanks.
Any chance you can send me the electronic copy? :-) That’s something I don’t have.
Kerry -
I just finished a wooden wheeled platform for my Craftsman RAS. I needed it to fit into an area that the original spread-leg steel stand would not fit. You can see it at http://woodwhispererforum.com/.....puser=2608
Also see this http://woodwhispererforum.com/.....puser=2608
If you want to talk about design or need more pics, email me at john@manchesterbag.com
Nice job on the shop. I built mine about 10yrs ago and am still happy everytime I walk in there. I hope you find it great for your mental therepy as well as a woodworking passion. Prayers go to you and your family during your recovery.
Nate
Great shop Kerry! I think having the storage upstairs is a great idea. My wife is always trying to stash things in my shop and this way I could avoid a lot of turf wars. Good luck on your continuing battle with cancer.
Great looking hangout Kerry! I too am in New Hampshire…on the seacoast. I wish you well in your battle and in your woodworking.
Thanks for sharing!
Jason Wood
looks terrific! I can only hope to have the ability one day to set something like that up. Thanks for reminding us that anything is possible!
If you ever get a chance – I highly recommend painting the walls with a light color (white/offwhite) it’ll help reflect the light and provide you with much more ambient lighting in there which really helps.
On a side note – we are having a woodworkers get together Sept 19th 2009 in MA for anyone around that wants to join in for some WW style picnic. you are more than welcome to join in :)
The shop looks great Kerry. I hope to have a shop that big some day. I wish you the best in your fight against cancer.
Kerry, Looks like the shop is coming along well. You’ll be glad to know that everyone I know that has had thyroid cancer has beat it. Because of the release made by the government here in the 50′s, I know a lot of people that have had it. They even call the scar from thyroid removal the Hanford Necklace here. Keep positive and play in that wonderful shop!!
This reminds me of when I first built my shop in Tennessee. it is so nice to be able to put electrical outlets every 6 feet or so. So much more convenient to build-to-suit that retrofit a garage or basement.
Looks great. Enjoy.
Wow, nice job! I’m in the planning stages of a new shop now (but of course aren’t we always planning for the next shop?).
My only criticism is what the heck’s up with that piddly little stereo? C’mon you need a kickin’ system in there! Something that can drown out the tools – that’s what I’m talkin’ ’bout!!
From a cancer survivor good to you. Hope it remains stable, mine has. About your roof rafters, I didn’t see any collar ties I sure it needs them if they haven’t been added after the picture.
Nothin like a Woodshop to cure EVERYTHING that ails ya
Very nice shop. A man does have to have his sanctuary. Great news on being stable. I hope the future is even better.
Kerry,
I’m planning on building a shop this summer and have been looking for plans. Did you build your shop from plans or did you design it yourself? I really love the extra storage above. That is exactly what I’m looking for.
Chris