Apartment Workshop has begun
August 3, 2008 – 4:10 pmToday I started on my new home away from home workshop. The new shop will be in my bedroom of the apartment that I will be staying in for the next year or so. The reason the new shop is in my bedroom is because I will be sharing the apartment with a coworker and his family. A challenge to say the least.
What I have decided to do is use the space right next to my bed. It has a large window so light will not be an issue. I did hang a warehouse type light right over where my workbench will be in case I do any work at night. You never know when that late night craving for wood might strike you. There is a good possibility that I will be on night shift in the near future as well.
There are several challenges that face my in this situation. The big one of coarse is dust. Seeing that my bed is right next to the shop and my computer and entertainment system is just feet away, there just isn’t any room for dust. Because of that I have decided to make this a handtool only shop. I figure that this is the only logical choice because of the dust, noise, and cleanup issues.
Since trying to clean up wood shavings would be a real pain in the butt, I decided to make a wooden platform where the bench will be so that all I have to do is sweep up the shavings. To build the platform I chose to make a grid work sub floor using 2×2 furring strips. Because the wood is still “bleeding” I stapled a sheet of plastic sheeting so that the sap would not stain the carpet underneath. Next I simply cut two pieces of plywood used for flooring and screwed those to the frame underneath. I was wanting to use something nicer than plain plywood, maybe birch or oak but at $50 a sheet I just could see it happening. Not for a temporary shop anyway.
I haven’t decided on what kind of finish I want to put on the floor. It is still kind of “wet” and sticky so I think I will wait a week or so to put a finish on. I don’t know if I want to paint it or just put a clear coat on. Whatever it is, it will be water based as I don’t want to deal with the fumes.
So what do think? Do-able or just plain crazy?
6 Responses to “Apartment Workshop has begun”
very doable, if not too late you can add some sort of insulation under the plywood, to dampen noise. even fabric folded up in layers would work.
good luck
how long are you going to be there ?
By runningwood on Aug 3, 2008
I may be biased, but I say emminently doable! Nice idea with the flooring. Will be following your progress with interest!
By Eric on Aug 3, 2008
I’ll go with the second.
By Dad on Aug 3, 2008
Adding insulation would be a pain now. I will wait and see how the neighbors react and act accordingly. I will have to save any pounding for the daytime I’m sure.
I hope to be here for at least a year. It really just depends on how long Boeing wants to pay me at my current wage. So having said that, I don’t want to go too elaborate ’cause I may have to just tear everything down and move back home.
By Eric on Aug 3, 2008
Very interesting project you have going on. I look forward to seeing how it turns out.
By Chris on Aug 4, 2008
Eric,
I say it’s very do-able and that has nothing to do with me thinking you’re just plain crazy:D
By Vic on Aug 4, 2008