Machinist's/Fabricator's dream shop

[J_J]

Very impressive shop.

I am thinking that he builds and restores old cars. I wonder if his family can find him in all those buildings. How much time does he spend with his family with all those tools. Then again he might be single.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Henry Ford didn't have that kind of machining ability to make the model T !

 

[jayste]

Wow!:shocked: I feel like I just toured a job shop! All he needs is a few contracts. With those machines you can complete a lot of work. Lathes, mills, surface grinders, tool grinders, EDM machine, radial drills, smaller drill presses, welders, band saw, bead blaster! All this along with an overhead crane! Did I say wow!?:shocked::drool:

 

[MBDiagMan]

I am guessing that he was an engineer, plant manager or shop owner.
And most of that equipment was purchased over his life time. The machines
not so expensive to purchase, used. Tooling them up is another thing.
But then again you sometimes can run into deals there too.

Between my lathe, mill and surface grinder I only have $2500 tied up.
Purchasing a phase converter and the related wiring was $1800 ten years
ago. My tooling somewhere between $10,000 and 20,000, I try not to
think about that part too much...

If you read further down in his thread he answered a posters question about his career. His Dad was a tool and die maker and he started at a very early age. Ended up running a huge mold making shop that according to him went by the wayside due to NAFTA. His bio post is well worth reading.

 

[rmully]

That is the best "Toy Box " on the planet !! Happy retirement never meant so much.

 

[drivadesl]

Thats a fantastic shop retirement or otherwise. One which I would love to have. Guy sounds like he worked hard to get it to. Happy retirement!...Oh did you catch the reply following his that said " I've got a drill press". :laughing:

 

[scott_vt]

Good Evenin Guys,
Gee Im kind of suprised, that shop stool doesnt really look that comfortable !!!

 

[schmism]

Downsized is right. That's way too crowded. I can see why he needs the bridge crane, but I don't see any kind of area where he could assemble or disassemble anything.

that would be my biggest complaint. the huge horizontal cut off saw... doesnt look like it has more than a few feet clearance on either side of it (how are you supposed to cut 22' lengths of steel stock up if you cant FIT it in the garage?

what it reminds me of?

an old school "tool room" a place were only small parts were brought to be machined. Your items were disassembled "on the floor" and the specific parts were to be brought in (carried) and worked on then sent back out to the "floor"

same with small jig items.

Even a large "tool and die" room would have way more space...That shop doesnt have the space to move large dies around in, ... H3ll looks like youd have a hard time moving an engine block around in it if you wanted to rebuild an engine in the shop.

but again based on the other buildings... you would have to assemble/disassemble everything in another shop then bring just the parts that needed machining in to that shop.

The sad thing... the guy is likely of the age were the shop wont see much use. Shure the occasional project will get worked on, but it strikes me as that dream shop... that one you spent your entire life collecting tools for, and finally built a space to put them... but the reality is, buy that time in your life you just dont get out and tackle the jobs you used to.

Strikes me as the kind (at this stage in his life) that is happier with the shop just sitting there all spic and span clean than actually being used. You know the guy... your friend/neighbor that has the bitchen shop and all you need is have a small part that needs to be machined/fixed. Its a 10 min job on the mill but having to trouble him with messing up the shop ! god forbid!

 

[rjmack]

it is kind of a testament to the achievements of a lifetime... doesn't really look like much going on there though.

kind of sad in a way. i would have been more interested in ongoing projects. edit: actually, i never noticed the videos first time around... there is some good stuff going on there.

then again, maybe that's the next thing he'll post.

i bet he knows a trick or two.:thumbsup: