CyberDruid Goes Pro...the thread that never really died... - Overclock.net

*CyberDruid* · 12-01-07

Yes it's back from the dead...the thread that started it all: the thread logging the process of me building a shop specifically for doing the work of case modification. The Druid's Lair.

Well several months ago I set some posts and started building a shop. For a variety of reasons (hardhead) I wanted to personally build very part. Well I soon found I am not 20 anymore and gave up on flipping sheets of 5/8 OSB and called in a guy to do a metal roof and another to do the concrete floor.

The rest I have managed to do.

The Druid's Lair is 14' x 32' with 6x6 16' pressure-treated wood posts set 4 feet deep and secured with 8 60 lb bags of quickcrete each every 8 foot along each side.

The roof is a 3/12 pitch truss roof with a 2' overhang on each side and a 2' ladder panel on each gabel end to give some protection from the weather.

I stood walls between each post and on the sidewalls I framed in a 4' x4' window for each wall making 8 large windows for the small space. I installed Pell DOuble Pane sliders.

I have yet to decide how I want to close off the final wall. I want a man door but I also want a roll up and I am debating on whether a 9' wide roll up is worth the trouble and expense as that would be too narrow to use a garage or anything in the future...So I might just go with a 3-0 exterior door (which I have on hand) and if I feel the need get out the sawzall and add a roll up later.

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Here's the shots. I've got a long way to go so please with-hold judgement at this stage. I only moved in yesterday.These shots are from my nocturnal moving-in experience...

Midnight Tool Explosion

I needed to sort and inventory my gear. The axes are for cable management...I'm ambidexterous.

I had finally gotten the kids to bed and just started emptying out the totes and bags onto the bench I had built hours earlier.

My tools are from over 20 years in the trade of a yacht carpenter so I have a little of everything as I am called upon to perform minor miracles to win my bread. It was getting around 11pm and about 38F...I was too whupped to put it away...bummer. I really wanted to have the shop operational on my Birthday...oh well.

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Dammit the Tool fairy did not come and put my shop right while I slept...

Now that's a crowbar there...HL2 FTW

Shazaam! Sorted.

I had some help.

In my trade almost all repairs I perform are done onsite; I sold my big stuff after the last back surgery...all my stuff now is benchtop...

I have had that chop saw since 1988. It is a first generation Hitachi 8 1/4 12" sliding compound miter saw and is a real jewel. One of the hardest working tools I own. And in '88 cost the princely sum of $784...that was big money to me.

The tool explosion undone. I'm so used to working out of bags that when I finally do get the perforboard up and start hanging stuff I'll probably freak out.

Bags for saws, routers, grinders,sanders,drills,handtools....

The survivors...I have only a few now..at one time I had 119 various clamps...building a piece of furniture I used 78 of them at once

This is my blast cabinet. I have been dying to get this set up so I can try out my photo-etch film. I want to do custom etched side panels. It's 19" x 32" enclosed cabinet with gloves light and blast gun with a variety of ceramic heads for fine work.

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I started hauling my seldom used tools out of deep storage from a ratty old spider-infested metal outbuilding...mechanics tools, more sanders, rusted clamps stuff I always thought I would get back to. And what photo tour of a shop would be complete without the obligatory dead mouse picture? Found in a huge nest he had made in a drawer in my rolling tool box...

A reminder to get the final wall up lol before they start moving into the new shop...