The Woodturning Forum - Woodturner's Resource - My shop is in the back yard.

Peter Wolf Full Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 52 Newport News Virginia USA Gender:	My shop is in the back yard. Jun 16^th, 2013 at 10:48pm Yeah, my shop is the outside lawn. It's showing in the background. My work bench is a children's picnic table. It's all I've got, but I have a lathe, so I've got to stand and spin where ever I can. No garage, no shed, 5 kids shoved into 1400 square foot home. That's why I started turning.
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David Hamann WR Administrator WR Patron Offline papadave Posts: 5,701 Pasco WA Washington USA Gender: Jet 1014VSI	Re: My shop is in the back yard. Reply #1 - Jun 17^th, 2013 at 12:04am any place you can turn is a great place. think of the fresh air you get and don't have to filter. smiley=thumbsup.gif
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dennis nagle WR Addict Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 1,003 Waterford Michigan USA Gender:	Re: My shop is in the back yard. Reply #2 - Jun 17^th, 2013 at 6:21am That's where I started building custom Harleys 40 years ago. Fresh air and sunshine....can't beat it.
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Glenn Jacobs WR Addict Offline JC L&S Posts: 2,077 North DFW, Texas Texas USA Gender: Powermatic 3520C	Re: My shop is in the back yard. Reply #3 - Jun 17^th, 2013 at 11:30am Serval people here started on their back porch. It's not where you start, it's how much fun you have. GHJ
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Len Layman WR Addict Offline What have I got into?? Posts: 3,118 Grand Cayman Cayman Islands Gender: PM 3520b Jet 1220	Re: My shop is in the back yard. Reply #4 - Jun 17^th, 2013 at 12:09pm I just moved off my back porch into a 11 x 11 building. As long as the chips are flying life is good. Matters not if it is the "ideal" shop or not. Enjoy.
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steve rost Senior Member Offline Jigaholic Posts: 436 Mansfield Texas USA Gender:	Re: My shop is in the back yard. Reply #5 - Jun 17^th, 2013 at 8:29pm I started in a closet in an appartment complex. WOW that brings back memories! Now i'm in a one car garage, not much bigger than a closet, just a whole lot more tools!
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Sean Kerrigan

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Re: My shop is in the back yard.
Reply #6 - Jun 23^rd, 2013 at 3:44pm

When I was a kid it was the back step which was my workshop. Dad was a fitters mate and would look after the toolshop when not required and he used to steal tools and bring them home for me, a hammer here and a file there, and then my Grandfather came over from overseas and also used the backstep as his workbench. He made ships in bottles and brought a penknife, a sharpening stone and a small set of pliers and then made all the other tools he needed from household items like clothespegs and clothes hangers.

After all that I really do believe that such humble beginnings, making do, is the best way to start. It gives one an outlook that can't be brought from a catalogue where you have to problem solve from a perspective of looking into the corners with eyes open.

Enjoy the ride!

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Buck Nemitt WR Addict Offline Lovin It Posts: 655 Toronto,Ohio Ohio USA Gender:	Re: My shop is in the back yard. Reply #7 - Jun 24^th, 2013 at 7:41am I enjoy most putting my benchtop lathe outside on a worktable and turning outdoors. I wait all winter for the time to do that
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dennis nagle WR Addict Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 1,003 Waterford Michigan USA Gender:	Re: My shop is in the back yard. Reply #8 - Jun 24^th, 2013 at 8:12am I put my lathe right against the garage door so when I turn, I open the door and face the great outdoors. Which is what I am going to do in about a minute or so
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Dirk Hoogendoorn WR Addict Offline either a mistake or design opportunity Posts: 609 Meaford Ont. Ontario Canada Gender:	Re: My shop is in the back yard. Reply #9 - Sep 22^nd, 2013 at 9:24am Raised 4 children sometimes in a home as small as 1000sq.ft. but did not start to turn until they were all out of the house. Now half of a 24`x30`garage with encroachment on the other half as well.
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James Saxinger

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Re: My shop is in the back yard.
Reply #10 - Sep 22^nd, 2013 at 6:07pm

Ya gotta turn where you can.. I started in a 2 car garage, had to pull out the truck when I wanted to turn. Had to put with some complaining about the dust though. Moved up
to a 10 x 12 converted garden shed (with the bosses permission of course) and had to buy the green thumb her own potting shed. As long as there is support from the boss, there is no problem.

James

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« Last Edit: Sep 22^nd, 2013 at 6:07pm by James Saxinger »

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Dan Herline Junior Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 37 South east texas Texas USA	Re: My shop is in the back yard. Reply #11 - Aug 21^st, 2014 at 9:23am Being that I am single I just have to get approval from my check book
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Ross Bender WR Noob Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 9	Re: My shop is in the back yard. Reply #12 - Aug 26^th, 2014 at 5:07pm I like the idea of turning outdoors...the lighting would be much better. I'm in Texas and I love the heat but I'd probably need to do it out of summer or have a netted shade or something overhead. Sounds refreshing!
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Roscoe Thompson Full Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 70	Re: My shop is in the back yard. Reply #13 - Aug 29^th, 2014 at 1:30pm You can do wood turning everywhere!
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Steven Sumrall Full Member Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 59 Shreveport, Louisiana USA	Re: My shop is in the back yard. Reply #14 - Jan 14^th, 2015 at 2:22am I started with a Mattel on the kitchen table at about ten years old. I can't believe mom let me spray those chips all over like she did.
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