Shop Infrastructure Updates:Part II
My Journey
With the bulk of the work complete on the roll top conversion, I could tackle the rest of the jewelry and metal work area. First, the big bench went to a different part the shop and the old jewelry bench got made into a bead sorting desk and a place to house things specific to beading. I then condensed the three tool chests down to two and and they now are the home of the coin art tools. The remaining small jewelry tools got moved to the new bench for storage. This left the need for a replacement work surface to house my presses, vices, grinders, and other large, heavier tools. Fortunately, I had wood left over from the desk top which was to become the new work bench.
I decided to mount the tools that I use the bench for to 1x1 foot boards that I could then mount to the bench in a way that allowed for the tools be swapped out as needed. Getting 4 holes just right turned out to be the worst part.
I ended up with an extra bench vice and needed a better place for the coin making bolster. That is where the stump came in. Babe found me this stump and helped to prep it with his chain saw. Now, I have a mobile bench that perhaps I can take to a fair to make coins on the go. I used some of my best friend’s squires belt that I inherited, and likely would never need, to make hammer loops. [Note: the buckle and plaques from the old squires belt will get used to make a belt for me in the future].
Originally, the lampworking srea was just a temporary space utilizing a folding table. My partner has done a good job of finding these chests at incredible prices. Some of them came with stickers from there previous lives. Over time I have added some stickers from Grimfrost and Mountain Glass to them. The household tools live here in the corner next to the lap bench.
The old metal work bench is now the Wet Work/Lapwork station. The old coin tool chest now holds stuff for this work bench. This space needs better power supply, but I think it will work well.
All this time, any energy spent on shop set up had its origins during my time as a construction worker building Coach stores and working as a stage hand. I developed a habit of keeping a network space. That habit serves me well in my shop. Though, some times it gets away from me.
Besides the efficiency and safety benefits of having an organized shop, it is very important for quality control. All glass is not compatible with each other. Glass compatibility is mostly determined by its COE and it is important to keep glass of differing COE segregated as you can not tell COE by looking at it. My shop keeps multiple COEs on hand as I use differing COEs for different methods. 104 for flame working, 96 for furnace working, 90 for kiln working, and scrap glass with unknown COE. Most of my organization is built around keeping the glass segregated.
I have segregated my work space into a Lampworking Area, Glassblowing Storage, Metal Work and Bench Work Area, Wetwork/Lapidary Area, And Cold Working Space. All my COE 90 lives in the Cold Working Space along with all kiln furniture, casting, slumping, and draping molds.
The glass blowing tools and glass live under the rolling table I use as a marker and under the big kiln. The furnace and glory hole sits near the door.
Finally, the the lampworking bench is near the rack that housed the COE 104 glass and kiln.
My racks I use to organize mandrels and rods were Goodwill finds. So much of what I use in the shop is scrounged. I try really hard to use as much repurposed stuff as I can or to find quality used tools.