Just stopping by to introduce myself and say HOWDY from Texas.

I grew up in and around a master craftsman's workshop and have spent many happy hours making sawdust over a lifetime. Even though I've been at it quite a while, I'd have to classify myself as a hobbyist. It's hard to find the time between family, work, and other competing hobbies.

I plan on retiring in a couple of years and seems like the time is right to jump back in. I'm going to start off reorganizing my tiny 12x16 shop.

Here is a cherry blanket chest that I started in 2015 but never finished. Getting this finished up is job one.

 

.40

Welcome to TPW.  Getting stuff completed is the real challenge. 

Welcome aboard, always good to see new members. Nice job on that chest, love to see it once finished.

Welcome, look forward to seeing your work.

 

1 hour ago, forty_caliber said:

I'm going to start off reorganizing my tiny 12x16 shop.

Warning, this may not be completed in a lifetime.

Edited March 13, 20215 yr by DuckSoup

38 minutes ago, DuckSoup said:

Welcome, look forward to seeing your work.

 

Warning, this may not be completed in a lifetime.

TRUTH!!!!

Welcome!

Welcome to TPW .40! 

 

 ... 12x16 ... all in one place?  

1 minute ago, Larry Buskirk said:

Welcome to TPW .40! 

 

 ... 12x16 ... all in one place?  

 

It's a hard working little building out behind the house.  Man cave serving as reloading room , wood shop, armorers bench, and no telling what else.

 

Currently on the bench is Flintlock longrifle in 1760-1770 Colonial style that I'm building.  .54 caliber 42" barrel with fancy grade 3 sugar maple curly stock.  The photos show a completed and blued barrel assembly, and stock with first coat of Aqua Fortis before blooming.  I've got about 100 hours into this project and it will be ready for final assembly soon.  All hand work, chiseling, filing, sanding, polishing.  I can't take credit for all of it, I bought a kit with 95% of the stock inletting done.  https://kiblerslongrifles.com/

 

I use the t-tracks to setup reloading presses, clamp projects, etc.  When we moved to this house, I lost a lot of shop space...more than half.  I used to be able to run free-standing tools and leave them setup.  I have to move machines to be able to use one station now.  My tools are jammed up and lining the walls.  I'm thinking about selling them off and getting a shop-smith mark 7 since getting a bigger shop is out of the question with retirement looming.  Changing shop-smith stations would be trivial by comparison.  

 

.40

Beautiful long rifle! Can't wait to see this when finished!

Welcome aboard .40. Always happy to see a new face.  Great  bunch of guys here . No attitudes, just helpful and friendly people and some of the finest woodworkers around.

... My current "shop space" is roughly half of yours (12x8), and shares space with the yard equipment. 

 

8 minutes ago, Larry Buskirk said:

... My current "shop space" is roughly half of yours (12x8), and shares space with the yard equipment. 

 

Yuck!  I feel your pain.  When I set up my first shop in my parents garage back in the late '70s I had 1/2 of a two car garage.  I managed to build/repair/refinish enough furniture to put myself through school in that space.  My dad wanted to buy me a shop-smith or a car for graduation.  I needed the car worse.  I was glad to get rid of the "gutless wonder" that was a 1963 AMC Rambler.  Got a brand new Plymouth Volare with a 318 quad 4 V8 and a new job.  Coding Cobol programs on an IBM Series 34.   

 

.40

It's not so bad. Pull out the zero turn, and that frees up most of the space.

I'm retired from AMC/Chrysler, probably worked in the plant where that 63 Rambler was built. 

Welcome, my shop is marginally bigger than yours, and my skill level is probably about the same. This is a great place, most of the people are very knowledgeable, and very willing to help out anyone, any way they can. I do not have very many fond memories of your state, but I’m pretty sure that’s because I was in boot camp  . So HI! 

Welcome , looking forward to seeing those projects complete

Welcome aboard to the nut house.  Just drag up a stool, milk carton or whatever to have a seat.  Someone will offer a drink and there are choices.  

 

We have a Shopsmith section and some of us luckier folks have at least one.  

 

AMC 63 Rambler with a gutsy 232 big block.  Wow!  And, on corners it rolled like play dough.  What fun!

 

Coder in Cobol on an IBM 34.  You lived life in the fast lane.  That machine worked so quickly it would peel the paint off the walls.  I think there are a couple of other coders here.  I coded in VB, VBA, MySQL and quit.  Oh, started in Xbase languages of DBase, Foxbase and another.  Been too long.  Read Cobol and Fortran while in systems.  

 

Welcome aboard.  If you behave, someone may even give you a ride on the corporate jet, helicopter, yacht or other traveling machine.  We look forward to seeing you complete that project and more.  

 

 

Like Artie, my only visit to Texas was for training, at the former Amarillo AFB way back in 1952. My Daughter spent a bit more time there, getting her masters degree at University of Texas in Austin.

4 hours ago, Larry Buskirk said:

It's not so bad. Pull out the zero turn, and that frees up most of the space.

I'm retired from AMC/Chrysler, probably worked in the plant where that 63 Rambler was built. 

 

 

Explains alot don't it now???  

Welcome.

Welcome aboard 40 Cal!