I’ve been retired for 20+ years. I was lucky to be able to retire when I’d barely turned 57. For my first nine years of retirement, woodworking was my primary interest but bird photography almost completely replaced it for the last eleven years. For a very long time I’ve wanted woodworking to be part of my life again but a bad back prevented it from happening.
Thirteen days from now will be the two-year anniversary of my third back surgery, a 4-level lumbar fusion that eventually, after 18+ months of recovery, improved my back symptoms enough that I could get back to some serious gardening. Which made me wonder – were my back symptoms improved enough to allow me to do a moderate amount of woodworking? I know from experience that spending hours on end walking on a concrete floor is a killer, even with a healthy back.
So ten days ago I decided to start an experiment. For the last five years or so my bad back has prevented me from even giving my garage/shop a deep cleaning so I started with that. And accomplished it. Next, I decided to see if I could get all my power tools back in order. So I’ve been adjusting them back to specs (a big job), removing rust where needed, having blades and knives sharpened and completely rearranging and reorganizing all the large power tools in my shop.
And I’m still standing! Which gives me confidence that I can get back to doing woodworking projects again. In moderation. Maybe. I don’t intend it to replace my bird photography – only to supplement it.
So today I’m going to show my readers what I’ve been doing. Fair warning – if you have no interest in woodworking, there’s a good chance that today’s post will bore you to tears. But it’s my life and my blog so that’s what I’ve decided to do.
My table saw is the heart of my woodshop. It’s a Delta Unisaw, a huge high quality cabinet saw. I think of it as an 800 lb. gorilla because it weighs over 700 lbs., it has a 3 hp motor (many table saws have 1 1/2 hp or even less) and it’s a bear to move but I was able to move it to where I wanted it to be.
It’s even bigger than it looks here because it has an outfeed table in the back that, in this photo, is hanging down where it can’t be seen. When I’m cutting large stock like sheets of plywood or very long boards I have to open my garage door in order to raise and use the outfeed table. Thankfully, most of my cutting won’t require me to use the outfeed table.
I spent two of the ten days just working on the table saw – moving it, cleaning and waxing it (wax makes the top of it slippery – a good thing), adjusting it back to specs and arranging to have my old, but high quality, saw blades sharpened.
My jointer is probably the second most important power tool in my shop. I spent a lot of time removing rust and adjusting it. I still have to get its three blades sharpened.
Behind the jointer are my router table and…
drum sander. Thankfully, neither of these tools has required much maintenance work.
I’ve moved my planer behind my table saw where it’s hard to get at but that’s OK because I don’t need it very often. Here you can see part of my folded-down table saw outfeed table on the right and my mortising machine on the workbench at upper left.
My chop saw and drill press. I had to make a lot of adjustments and even modifications to both of these tools.
My band saw and air compressor. I still have some work to do on the band saw.
The back wall of my garage/shop is where I store dozens of pipe clamps for gluing and two old sawhorses, one atop the other. I inherited all of that stuff from my dad – lots of stories and memories there. The wheeled cart on the right is where I keep all of my narrow stock – stuff like dowels and narrow pieces of wood. Readers will recognize some pool noodles that I use for making window lens rests for my pickup.
I still park my pickup in the garage and as you can imagine, it’s a tight fit – thus the rubber ball hanging down from the ceiling to keep me from pulling my pickup too far forward. Crash!
That rubber ball is essential but I hate the damn thing. It hangs down at forehead level and I run into it countless times every day I’m in the shop.
I’ll end with one of the most essential items in my shop – an ugly prep table used for assembly, gluing and painting.
And a lot of other things. As my dear old dad used to say, “You can never have too many horizontal surfaces in the shop”.
It’s woodworking projects like this that I’ve missed doing. It’s an antique-style pie safe that I use for storing kitchen items like slow cookers, food processors, pasta machines, mixers and the like. I built it quite a few years ago and it’s still one of my favorite woodworking projects that I’ve ever tackled.
Well, I applaud you if you’re still with me. This certainly isn’t a post you’d expect to find in a blog called Feathered Photography but it’s what has occupied my life lately so I just went with it.
I hope to get back to bird photography very soon but for that to happen our weather will have to cooperate, smoke will have to clear out and fires will have to be brought under control. In the last two days, four fires have sprung up in areas where I photograph birds so it’s quite discouraging.
Ron
Note:
Table saws are hugely dangerous so I’d have bought a SawStop table saw instead of a Unisaw if SawStop technology had been available back then. But I still love my Unisaw and I will until the day I have fewer than ten fingers. May that day never come.
Steve said “Glorious” when he saw your pie safe.
All our furniture is “antique “, except davenport and recliners. Your shop is certainly well equipped. What’s your next project?
You never do anything half heartedly—bird photography and woodworking!! Love it and and keeping up with you on your blog.
Guilty as charged, Deedee. And that’s not necessarily a good thing.
Bravo Ron! You’re inspiring. What dust collection system do you use? Gary Dunning
Ha, Gary – I was afraid someone was going to ask that question.
I don’t have a “system”, other than my compressed air hose, shop vac and big shop broom. I know all the reasons why one should have a good system, but I just don’t.
If my back actually holds up so I can do some big projects again, that might be my next purchase. If I have room for one, which is iffy.
I still remember that pie safe from when you shared it before. It is gorgeous. And, as Marty said, nice Magpie hat over it.
Thanks, Arwen.
Well done you. It must feel as if you are reclaiming part of your life that you thought was gone forever. I look forward to seeing what you create. Sadly many of your photos refused to load for me, but I certainly got the gist of it. And admire your organised work shop.
Thanks, EC. Sorry my photos wouldn’t load. I wonder why.
Love that your gorgeous pie safe is now wearing the “magpie hat.” 😉
You have such a wonderful set-up for woodworking. I’m so glad that you’ll be able to get back to a beloved hobby. Can’t wait to see what projects you have in store!
And post whatever you want to post on YOUR blog. 💜 If someone doesn’t like it, they can just scroll on by.
Thanks, Marty. I KNEW you’d notice the magpie hat.
Not a boring post at all! I love looking at fine hand-made furniture and crafts and I love checking out a fine workshop/studio! I hope you include photos of some of your new work in your future posts!!
“I hope you include photos of some of your new work in your future posts.”
Joanne, if things go as planned, I intend to. Occasionally.
That is one impressive workshop Ron! I am so excited for you to start creating again. Congrats on the clean-up, prep-up. I admire your creative talents – woodworking, photography and your clever turn of a phrase. You go, guy!
“woodworking, photography and your clever turn of a phrase.”
Thanks for giving me credit for all three, Karen – even though none of them are always deserved.
‘But its my life and my blog ..’ Amen Ron. SO thrilled for you. Nice way to celebrate 2yr post surgery milestone.
Thanks, Kathleen. September 26th – the day that will live in my personal infamy but it turned out well in the end.
What an outstanding workshop! My dad and Dan’s would both have wanted to examine your well-equipped “garage”! There’s a fellow who makes bird feeders and houses for us whose shop is in his garage, north of here, and yours is far more well-equipped! My dad taught me to use his table saw when I was maybe a very tiny 8 year-old, as long as I didn’t tell Mom! I got some good lessons from him, but, sadly, none of his tools. And I did tell mom, but not ‘til many years later!
The pie safe is gorgeous!!
“as long as I didn’t tell Mom!”
That made me smile, Barbara.
I inherited many of my hand tools from Dad. My folks lived with me for the last 5 years if their lives and I so wish Dad had been able to use and enjoy my table saw especially. He’d have loved it.
Your garage is as well-equipped as most of the theatrical scene shops I’ve seen. You just need a bit more space and you could be building sets for a Broadway show! Wonderful!
Carolyn, a “bit more space” would be wonderful. My garage is slightly larger than most double garages but that’s still not enough space.
You are a multi talented guy Ron. Woodworking is something I am really envious of. I have a neighbor who has equipment like yours here and turns out some beautiful crafts. Was there something in your lifestyle that contributed to your back that required all these surgeries, or just nature – what you were born with? Like that last photo with the Magpie that I bought a print of for my wife.
Hope you have much enjoyment getting back into the woodworking and of course – be safe.
“Was there something in your lifestyle that contributed to your back that required all these surgeries, or just nature?”
Just nature, Everett. Genes will get you every time. For me it’s a propensity for arthritic bony growths in my back that pinch nerves going to my back, legs and feet.
Ron, You have a wonderful workshop! Maybe you’d give me a tour on my next visit.
I sure would, Brett.
We have a similar set up that hasn’t been used much in, oh, maybe a decade. I swear the woodshop gets more use as an apple-pressing cidery. Maybe someday my husband will get the woodworking itch again. I’ve got a list of projects….
“I’ve got a list of projects….”
Made me smile.
Fabulous photos! Love the sequence, with the stunning pie safe creation as the finale. Congratulations on the hard work to do what you desire!
Thank you, Janis.
OMG Ron. You are a serious woodworker. Jealous of your well equipped shop.
Happy for you. So, now get on it and make something and post about it along the way. Would enjoy seeing that.
Thanks, Michael.
I’m afraid my first few projects won’t be very exciting. I’m planning on building some accessories to use with my power tools. At least one of them should help me to keep all my fingers. Don’t want to lose my shutter finger especially… 🙂
WOW! That is an amazing set up and amount of tools! 🙂 Glad you are able to get it ready to go again and, hopefully, spend some winter days creating wonderful pieces again. Don’t need a Jon Tester hand tho that was a meat saw issue that did him many years ago. Joe had a pointy push stick do his right hand many years ago – a stupid “new” creation of his boss – that did a lot of damage to the main motor nerve.
You posted the pie cabinet previously and luv it! 🙂
Some welcome rain the past couple of days – over an inch so far – YES!
Judy, I remember reading about Tester losing three fingers in a meat grinder. Makes me cringe just to think about it. That’s a helluva way to add filler to your hamburger…
Congrats on your rain. I know you needed it.
I AM IN AWE of your set-up !!! It’s the best, and the cleanest, I’ve
ever seen, and I was glad to note the heavy rubber mats in front
of almost every piece of equipment (thinking of your back, as well as safety ). You are SUCH a “gear guy” in both of your endeavors……
you deserve the very best of enjoyment and achievement in each
one; you’ve clearly put a lot of time, money, and thought into both
fields……thanks for sharing photos of your beautiful shop!
Kris, those rubber mats are new. The old ones, like me, have seen their better day.
OK, I guess you’re right. I’m a gear guy, through and through. 🙂
Ronnie, how interesting that your post today is about woodworking, because last night when we were talking about you (were your ears burning?) Larry asked if you were still making furniture and I said no that you were totally focussed on bird photography now. Next time I speak with him, I will correct that piece of misinformation. The table you built for me is still beautiful and testifies to your skill in the wood shop.
And yes, we missed you! It was great to see Larry, and we both said, at the end of the evening, that we certainly hope we will see each other again. He’s pretty frail, but “still Larry” doncha know!
Sue, Larry will always be Larry and that’s one of the things we love about him. I can’t imagine him being any other way.
I thought about you guys last night and wished I was there. Yes, my big ears were burning and when they’re on fire it’s a significant burn.
It didn’t dawn on me until my sister mentioned that Larry was Mr. Bessey. I had him and Geri Sorben for English when I attended South High in the 70s. Whenever he would assign something to be done in class, he would come down the aisle and hit a desk saying “Hubba Hubba” when time was almost up—such fond memories.
““Hubba Hubba”
Yup, that was Larry (“Bess”, as I always called him) at South High back in the day. Whatta guy!
Wow, you were into woodworking! That is lots of equipment. Happy that you will be able to enjoy that hobby again. Hopefully you did get some help moving the Unisaw. Don’t overdo and get injured. 😊 The pie safe is beautiful — think it was in your blog at some point.
Thanks, Laurie. I have no plans to move that monster Unisaw again. And yes, I posted a photo of the pie safe years ago.