Qash’s Workshop

Shop Tour - Submitted by Qash from Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK
Added on September 30, 2011

Hi All, I mainly make Islamic calligraphy out of exotic and tropical woods. Just thought I would share my workshop with everyone as Marc has inspired me so much in woodworking. I am a British born Asian Muslim.

I rent a unit in a warehouse. Would love to have it in my basement or a garage but l don’t have either! The shop is in a bit of a mess as l am working on a few projects. I bought most of my tools from Axminister. Here in the UK it is quite popular, a bit like your Grizzly’s. Just a run down with the equipment l use:

*Scheppach Deco 450 Scroll saw – I wouldn’t be able to do what l do without this! German made with cast iron top. Solid and beautiful machine to use. I was thinking of getting an Excalibur but this does the job extremely well.

*Jet JTS-10 Bench Top Saw Bench – At the moment being used as a worktop.

*Axminster AWHBS310N Bandsaw – Mid range bandsaw. I do a lot of re-sawing on this and it does an exceptional job.

*Axminster MB9020 Bench Top Planer Thicknesser – Does the job, would like to have the standalone systems when I get more space.

*Axminster WD13L Pillar Drill – Really cheap worktop pillar drill, does the job.

*Dakota Deluxe Full Size Router Table – Love this router table and got it half price from Rutlands £99! Attached is a Titan router.

*Axminster AWEDE2 Dust Extractor – When I got this extractor I thought it would be powerful and keep the dust in, heck was I wrong! This is not the best but I have converted it into a cyclone, and it works pretty well now and the dust surprisingly stays in.

I have been doing woodworking for the past year, but properly got into it in the past 6 months after watching Marc’s tutorials and works from other members.

Discussion

jeth bartlett September 30, 2011 10:02 am

Looks like you’re pretty well set up, and a workshop away from home can be a good thing. Mine’s at home and I sometimes wish it wasn’t, but then, I’m trying to make a living from woodwork so…

Always nice to see how people are set up in the UK, I’m British but living abroad.

Reply
Dave from Oz September 30, 2011 1:56 pm

Hi Quash, thanks for sharing.
I am going out on a limb here, not wanting to put your nose out, but have you considered that you may get better results from your dust extraction system if you have a few things changed.
1. the flex hose being ribbed slows the air flow, try to shorten it near the machine or do away with it totally.
2. you seem to go from large to small right at the extractor and then you go to large again further down the line. I think that it may be best to only go from large to small diameters the further away from the extractor and closer to the power tool creating the dust.
3. I can’t tell from the pictures, but are the t pieces directional or just a t junction? Directional and also if the radius can be larger it would help massively.
I enjoy looking and learning from other people’s shops and setups. Thanks again.

Reply
- Dave from Oz September 30, 2011 1:58 pm
  
  Sorry, spelt your name incorrectly, Qash.
  Also, when I said the ribbed tube near the machine, I meant near the extractor.
  
  Reply
  - Qash October 4, 2011 10:06 am
    
    Hi Dave from Oz,
    
    Thank you for the advice. As for the T junctions they are directional with blast gates. I will need to re-arrange the layout and get flex pipes that are not ribbed.
    
    Thank you.
    
    Reply
Codey_uk September 30, 2011 3:42 pm

Great to see some other brits on here :D

I have some of the same tools you do like the Jet TS and the Axminster planer i have been buying alot of my tools from there.

i’ve been thinking about getting that drill press you have Axminster, would you recommend it or you know of something for about the same price thats better?

you said you have a titan router in your table, i just went out and got me a nice looking router from aldi 1200w 6mm 8 mm & 1/4″ collet also has fine adjustment for the depth, think i only paid

Reply
- Qash October 4, 2011 10:08 am
  
  To be honest that drill press does the job perfectly without any problems. One problem though, the guard is very flimsy and mine has broken.
  
  Yeh that router on the table is from Screwfix and its brilliant honestly can’t go wrong with it. I think l paid
  
  Reply
Joe S. September 30, 2011 5:08 pm

Does the scrollsaw have a tilting head, or table?

Reply
- Qash October 4, 2011 10:09 am
  
  The scroll saw has a tilting table. Excalibur are the only ones that do a tilting head.
  
  Reply
jeth bartlett September 30, 2011 10:29 pm

@Codey, Aldi rules! I got a killer shop vac from there some years ago now, about 30 notes :) Cheap tuna as well as I remember.

Reply
- Wayne October 3, 2011 11:15 am
  
  Aldi is certainly one to keep an eye on!
  I’ve managed to get some Work Craft Tools from there at silly prices!
  Namely a Drill Press and a compressor! (Both of which are very similar to those sold by Axminster!)
  
  Reply
Olly Parry-Jones October 1, 2011 9:48 am

Always good to see more UK-based woodworkers’ workshops and, to Marc’s credit, there has been more than one in recent weeks. Also good to see how someone copes within such a limited space.

I assume there’s a good reason that your table saw is used predominantly as a ‘worktop’, Qash? ;-)

Reply
- Qash October 4, 2011 10:11 am
  
  I try my best to cope with the space thats why the table saw it a ‘worktop :-). I hard use the table saw, its not the best so l use the bandsaw instead.
  
  Reply
Tom October 1, 2011 4:26 pm

Qash,
You have a fine shop there – clean and well equipped.
I’d like to see some of your work.

Reply
- Qash October 4, 2011 10:15 am
  
  I have posted link below :-)
  
  Reply
Larry Clinton October 2, 2011 12:29 pm

Looks good, Qash. I was thinking like Tom, I’d like to see some of your work also.

Reply
Larry Clinton October 2, 2011 12:30 pm

I tried your website an it says “Not Found” :(

Reply
James Davies October 3, 2011 11:11 am

Qash,

Thanks for the look around your workshop and congratulations on your work – you’ve got some beautiful pieces on your website.

Reply
- Qash October 4, 2011 10:15 am
  
  Thank you very much James. Its always nice to hear from people who appreciate Islamic Art :-)
  
  Reply
Qash October 4, 2011 10:11 am

Sorry if the website isn’t working, it should be. the address is http://www.bismillah-handcrafts.co.uk.

Reply
Sam McCaughey November 20, 2013 4:25 am

Qash, thanks for sharing. I also use fairly low cost machinery and often wonder if it is good enough when I see adverts for big price gear. The excellent work you have produced reassures me. Best wishes from Ireland for the future.

Reply

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Qash’s Workshop

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