Alan's Workshop Build

[Bungle]

Do you expect people who rent out space of you to climb a ladder to change the dust extraction and risk falling off a roof manhandling a bag down?

The workshop is looking good. Are you planning on upgrading the woodwork kit it looks very diy compared to the metal bashing stuff?

Cheers

Bungle

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

Been renting space for years now. The rent a bench thing is just taking it to the next level.

Only I will be climbing ladders and it will be done when only when closed to bench renters. Getting the bags down will not be an issue. The slight inconvenience caused with them being high is far worth it with whats gained.

Wood working kit does look small compared to engineering kit but its all good kit. Trade rated at time of purchase, full cast iron beds, powerfull, can handle large bits of timbers or sheets and proven to be valued bits of kit in a pro shop. The large open space does make everything look small though.

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

Well I had till end if day 30th sep to empty my old units. Got to work friday at 10am, left today (monday) at 2pm. Full of cold I managed to do it.

Other old unit is in simular condition. Tomorrow ill hover the settled dust and that is that.

Progression of the new unit is slow. Works in thick and time is not piled high. I have done a few bits though.

More shelving and racks in basement. Most are bits made for 1st ever workshop so stppd the test of time for mdf. Slightly modified with bit lying around to make this.

Put up a bit of mdf to attach some jigs to.

Put up my chisel rack and mallet rack.

All the timbe is now in the new shop.
What a mess.

More done on spray booth roof and 2 of the lights in.

 

[Wizard9999]

Well I had till end if day 30th sep to empty my old units. Got to work friday at 10am, left today (monday) at 2pm. Full of cold I managed to do it.

So does that mean you were there 76 hours solid?

Terry.

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

Minus the hour or so each day getting food. We did nap also, bed settie in office. My other half slummed it with me too.

 

[Wizard9999]

Minus the hour or so each day getting food. We did nap also, bed settie in office. My other half slummed it with me too.

Heroic effort from both of you :eusa-clap:

 

[Rod]

+1
Rod

 

[AndyP]

Reading this reminds me how lucky I was to be salaried rather than self employed.

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

Reading this reminds me how lucky I was to be salaried rather than self employed.

I know what you're saying but being my own boss and having my own business is the best decision I have ever made. I struggled working for others. The rewards are far greater and having my own flexibly is great. Although at times like the last month its been hard to move everything in time. I could have thrown more money at it and had 2 months to move but where is the challenge in that.

Im now more experienced and get to reap the rewards of building my own huge workshop. The feeling you get looking at what you have built or even achieved in your business life is eurporic.

 

[Robert]

Myself and a partner spent 25+ years in business and yes it can be rewarding. To be fair though it needs to be as you will never work as hard for a boss as you do for your own business. I also came very close to losing my house which was securing the business finances when times were hard so risk need reward too.

Hope you do better than we did when it comes to management as opposed to knowing you can do it yourself. Our working lives were always full on as we never succeeded in delegating control. We tried a few times but never found anyone that could do what we could. Looking back now that was probably down to us both being engineers and not managers. We closed the business down when the time came as without us there was no business.

You are in such similar commercial units to ours it is interesting to see you get set up. Keep the pictures coming

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

Been a while but getting work out the door taken over. Much needed wood order didn't arrive so had a bit of time to work on the sheet and incoming timber rack.

Not quite finished yet and I apologise for the quick last min photos.

This is located about 3 meters for the shutter but to one side and at an angle. Its attached to the steel above by strapping and a sort of sleave block arrangements. Each leg has a pin that sits into the floor. The angles are obviously bracing to strengthen and stop it from falling. Its pretty much solid now with no movement from any side. The braces each side and on top will be made into further racking.

Basicly the main part is for full sheet material storage, smaller bits are stored elsewhere. The racking above is for lengths of no longer than 2.4m thats just come through the door ready for machining. The braces shutter side will be made into a rack for standing up longer lengths. The other side will be for 2.4 or shorter lenghts thats just come off or is due to be sawn to lengths. Thinking of putting a vertical saw there too.

The braces on top will be built up square and horizontal beams coming off the angle to form more timber storge.

 

[chataigner]

....Hope you do better than we did when it comes to management as opposed to knowing you can do it yourself. Our working lives were always full on as we never succeeded in delegating control. We tried a few times but never found anyone that could do what we could.
...

I had much the same experience Robert, could not find anyone to take mine on either. I came to the conclusion that the key is in the words "do what we could do". That is, anyone who believed he or she could run such a business and was sufficiently motivated was going to do what I did, start his or her own, not run mine.

Alan, you have my admiration, it takes huge courage and commitment, but I agree with you, it is worth it when you see what you have accomplished.

 

[Doug]

Looks an excellent work space Alan, hope business is going well.

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

Been a while again. Stuffs getting done. Rack is finished.

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

Even had my other half draw some stuff so we can quickly measure lengths to see where they will fit. To long a length laid flat would cause a headache once noggin made contact.

 

[9fingers]

It is starting to have a good lived-in workplace feel now Alan.

Hopefully you can take a short break over the holiday to put your feet up!

Cheers

Bob

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

Managed to get the metal sorted in to racks on wall. Off cuts in sorted draws under the metal.saw and all sheet metal in a pile.

You can just about see the smithing and tapping bench in corner.

Paints are out of the booth and on shelves.

Alot of the wood thats stock is now on top of the office. Office is 8m in length and there is two piles you can't see.

Spray booth is coming on. Boarding inside is nearly done and the curtain door is up.

I have also made a round bench that has some smaller bits of kit on. Bench drill, mortiser and sharpening station at min.

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi Alan,

It's really coming along now.

All the best,
Neil

 

[Rod]

Looking good and all that space - can you keep it all warm?

Rod

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

Quick update. Busy ain't the word but things are getting done slowly. HSE have also been in and had there say so that's made things slower. However another unit has came up that's connected to mine so am going for it. Another 1000 sq/ft to which I'll just knock through.

 

[Robert]

HSE have also been in and had there say so that's made things slower.

Ahh memories. We had an unused saw that was left with no guard on it. The factory inspector could pounce on it in triumph and issue a notice on it. It made them happy having found a hazard and saved them having to spend more time on the things we used. We had found in the past they keep looking until they find something and what they find wasn't always easy to fix.

 

[9fingers]

When I was working we had to go through regular audits for government contracts.
These were the type where they could not hold a competition for the best price as we had either lots of previous experience or owned some rights to the technology etc.
Their auditors had the right to crawl all over our pricing and to try and beat us down in price. After a few sessions of been beaten up by them, I learned to leave a few sacrificial items around deep in the spreadsheets for them to find and after they had found a few they were happy they had done their job and we were left with a sensible price for the job and a small margin to cover technical risk.

Anyone who has worked with govt depts will have possible come across their hierarchy

Junior Scientific Officer
Scientific Officer
Higher Scientific Officer
Principal Scientific Officer
etc

These Auditors had a similar hierarchy as "Cost Officers". It always amused me when the people came to us flashed their business cards as "Higher Cost Officers" This was exactly the effect they had, as we built in (hidden) costs of the days of work they caused by their auditing! :lol:

Apologies for the hijack Alan

Bob

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

No worries all interesting

 

[Wizard9999]

However another unit has came up that's connected to mine so am going for it. Another 1000 sq/ft to which I'll just knock through.

No that is just greedy!

Terry.

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

Sorry Terry. I have the keys and after a measure it's 1200 sq/ft.

It's a right state at the minute so a bit of work is needed.

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

The main room.

Where the cardboard is on that last picture is around about where I'm smashing through. This is where in the current workshop it will some through.

This is a side room that used to be used as an office. My use isn't fully decided.

Like I said, a little work require.

 

[AndyP]

Your business must be doing well. Long may it continue.

 

[Hudson Carpentry]

Thank you Andy

 

[Robert]

Must have been a depressing office to work in with those dark walls!

Amazing how a coat of paint will improve the feel of those new areas.

Good to see you expanding and doing well.