The Shop

My shop, my domain, my retreat, it’s where I like to hang out. It’s located on the right side of my garage. Originally, before I bit into the Comet bug, it was going to be my wood shop. I wanted to do the Yankee Workshop thing so I started by building a few work benches with lots of storage. Along one wall and on the ceiling, I added several 120VAC receptacles and on the other, I installed one 220VAC receptacle which I share between my table saw and my welder. On the ceiling, I added 6 four foot long florescent shop lights to up my work area.

Where’s what you see as you walk up the driveway into my shop…

On the left is a strong sturdy work bench that can be hammered on without much movement. Underneath I store all my paints and solvents. I don’t weld anywhere close to this bench. One top is my Ford 9” waiting for me to attach the 3^rd member to the axle housing. I'm also trying to decide if I want to throw a locker in while I still have it apart.

On the right side is my miniature drill press. I bought it used from a friend for $75. Next to it is my table top radial arm saw. I bought this at Sears about 20 years ago. Hard to see, but the next station is my 10” chop saw. Also bought that saw used for $50. I built all the work benched the same height to I could lay a long board across the top and have a level surface for cutting, measuring, etc. Every work bench has casters underneath so I could move them around if I had to…

On the other side of the chop saw is another sturdy work bench for doing whatever it is I’m building that day. All the benches have storage underneath. Those boxes hold Comet stuff.

This work bench is constructed just like the other ones along the wall but painted and with drawers. ALL my benches are a little too deep. I have a hard time reaching thing against the wall.

Here’s my table saw / router table being used as a storage table along with the every important TV on the wall and shop vac. You can’t see it, but just to the left is my fire extinguisher and first aid kit. VERY important for any shop!!!

Here’s my favorite tool, my Hobart MIG Welder. It’s the 175 amp model and runs on 220VAC. The welding cart was the obligatory first welding project for that welder. It has a place for my Ar/CO2 tank and another shelf for that Plasma cutter I probably will never get. Before this welder I had the smaller Sears MIG welder but sold that to finance this one.

Here’s the newest addition to the shop. It’s a Porter Cable, 2 stage, 175 psi, 80 gal tank that runs on 240 VAC. It’s probably more than I need but many say you can’t have too much air. I’ve used it a few times now and my air tools just perform so much better with all the air they need readily available.

I ran about 30 feet of ¾” galvanized piping from the compressor to my Sharpe air filter. I went to the Sharpe spray gun web site and they had recommendations for running your air lines in the shop.