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Wood shop / bow shop suggestions

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bjrogg:
I’ve often thought about a vice I could put in center of floor so I could work from any side to. Maybe even have so its stand would slide in another pipe cast in the cement floor so it could be removed it you needed the room.

Clint had a really nice stave storage area under his bench that swung open so he had nice access to them.

I definitely second good lights.

For myself I work in our farm shop and storage for staves, arrow shaft materials, knapping supplies and tools, furs, feathers, horn, antler, sinew, leather etc. is always a growing inventory.

Bjrogg

Kidder:
These are all great ideas (except putting everything on the floor - I too have tried it!). Some of them I hadn’t even thought of! I doubt I’d be able to get away with putting my dust collector in the other portion of the shop due to size (and now electrical constraints) but that is a really good idea. I do intend to put a short range in as Pat mentioned. I’ve also struggled with the vise idea. Really the only solution short of a stave bench I can think of is to put it right on the corner of the end of the bench and have it swivel outwards.
I’ve attached the mock up I did (kind of fun) with the end goal tool wise and one with the placement with the current tools I have. Big difference, but someday… Does anyone see any problems with it so far?
Biggest question I have is dealing with the unmovable aspects - the work bench. I’m planning built ins with lots of drawers and overhead cabinets, except the last 4-5 feet near the middle of the shop end where i will have my vise and intend wall storage for scrapers, files/rasps, and draw knifes, end storage for hanging items like rulers etc. And be right beside the tillering rack. I had originally thought 26’ of cabinet bench’s but 20’ seems to fit better.
I’m also thinking about putting in a track system in the bench to use for clamp downs and for miter saw cut off stops. Anyone have any experience with them and thoughts?
Finally, what would people recommend for a cabinet/bench top surface material?
Long post but fun thinking of it, and plenty of difficult to change decisions are approaching.

Eric Krewson:
Here is my workbench; I built a frame with 4X4 corner posts and and 2X10s for the top. I made my bench top 42" high instead of the normal 36" so I could work on bows standing up and not bent over. My bench is so heavy it won't try to walk across the floor with heavy drawknifing on a stave.

One of my bow students, he is about 6' 2" tall, like I said, no bending over.



The two center sections with drawers are prefab cabinets I bought from Lowe's, I built my frame to be the exact size to slide these cabinets in with a tight fit. Initially I had shelves on the ends but came back and put two more drawers, one for my gun building files and straight chisels, the other for drill bits and my carving chisel set. I like my drawknives and wood files on the wall behind my bench.



I have two vices and a support post on each end of the work bench to hold my staves and guns in position for heavy drawknifing or gunstock shaping.



I do a lot of wood bending on my support posts.



I have a holster for my heat gun on the end of the bench as well.



To keep down clutter I made this set of shelves to house all that stuff that ends up on a workbench if not stored properly.



Lastly I made a free standing bow lay out/glue-up table, this thing is really handy, c-clamp storage and easy to walk around during a glue up. It is too light to do any bow work on but could be beefed up and attached to the floor if someone wanted a walkaround bow building bench.

Kidder:
Thanks for the ideas guys. I’m pumped to call it done! Got plenty of open floor space. Plenty of space for tools and lots of countertop space. The countertop material choice was the most difficult. However a cabinet maker friend advised to just use melamine on the top and that way I can replace it easy enough if needed and also not have to worry about spills. I’m be got my vice well mounted and two steps away from my tiller rack. just need the eventual table saw purchase and possibly an out feed table. But as far as construction, Calling it done (might eventually build an upper cabinet though).  Excited to get back to building!

PEARL DRUMS:
Nice!

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