When in the process of building my shop, it struck me that the way that I had to position my stairs was going to make it difficult to get long boards above stairs for storage. I was discussing the shop with Colonial Williamsburg Cabinet Maker Karre Loftheim on a trip down there a few months back and he suggested a trap door in the above stairs floor. What a great idea! I took his advice and I'm so glad I did. Made getting 15' lengths of mahogany up there possible when it otherwise would have been tough to get 9' lengths up there. I just shoot them from right outside the front door on up through the opening. And as an added bonus, it's a cool place to take aerial pictures of the shop. :)
7 comments:
Fifteen foot lengths of Mahogany? Surely you jest! Does the trap door allow room for the 24 inch wide planks of Mahogany? ;-)
I really like the look of the light fixtures. How are they working out? Are they bright enough, with even illumination? Where did you get them?
Is the trap door where you’ll mount the Jamie Shop Cam? ;-)
Thanks for the inspiring “aerial” picture.
Dean
Hey Dean. No 24" wide mahogany in my stash. They did have a plank that wide or very close to it when I got mine though. I think my widest piece is 12 or14 inches. The 15 foot lengths are about the max length I can get up there without running into the collar ties.
The lights are working out great. Plenty of illumination. The 2 over the bench are on a separate switch, which is nice also. I made the fixtures myself. Just some 12-2 wire that I soldered some rubber coated light sockets that I got from Lowes. The shades are just galvanized funnels from tractor supply. One of a kind and pretty cheap. :)
As for the shop cam; I'm afraid I work WAY to slow for that. :)
I’m very impressed Jamie with what you’ve done. The funnels for lighting are a great idea. I was curious though, that if you ever decided to reposition your work bench (for whatever reason), would you be able to move the lights? In your previous posts, I didn’t read if you put any kind of finish on the floor (I probably missed it).
Dean
Although never say never, I don't anticipate ever moving the bench. The shop was in a way designed around the bench as I feel it's the center piece of a hand tool shop. That was the point of putting in the nice size double windows up front. I suppose the most I would do is add a second bench/assembly table in the center of the shop. I really like having the bench under the window. And as for moving the lights, not really an option. I routed grooves in the top of the floor joist and sandwiched the electrical wires in the grooves and then put the floor boards down so no wires show.
As for the floor, I never did put a finish on it and I'm not sure I will. Hopefully I won't regret it.
Thank you for putting up with my inquisitiveness Jamie. Where you have your workbench is exactly where I would want it. Maybe I’m mistaken, but the window over the workbench looks like it’s facing roughly north, which is what I would want. I think letting the floors age to a nice patina over time will work out very nicely. This dialogue has helped me settle some questions I’ve asked myself for designing my future hand tool workshop.
I see I’m remiss on one thing. Since you did post on the trap-door access in your ceiling for putting longer pieces of wood up in your attic, I should say that I would never have thought of that. It’s a very good idea. I’m sorry for the big sidetrack, and I’ll ask no more questions.
Dean
Thanks for all your interest Dean. Feel free to ask all the questions you want. I never get tired of talking woodworking, hand tools, shops or history.
And you are correct, the large window is pretty much facing due north. I hope this is a good thing. It just worked out that way with the way I wanted to position the shop to make it flow with the rest of the property.
Thank you Jamie. As far as a workbench in front of a north facing window, here’s a Sawmill Creek post that discusses the matter.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?166640-Windows-natural-light&s=3ff24e46d671972607244d9c4a04405d
Dean
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