Tips for the shop

[Wildbirdcarver]

Cleaning my shop this AM gave me an idea to start a thread on ways to keep the shop working smoothly. You folks must have some terrific ideas so be sure to post them.
One tip is to ALWAYS run a magnet through the dust and dirt you just swept into the dust pan. I nearly always find a bur, bit, wire, a wire with an eye on the end, and today I found two nuts, and a screw! big day. Also found a ceramic stick (not by the magnet of course) but saw it when raking though the dust.
Remember if you post you will get notification from WCI so you won't miss all the great tips other carvers post. Oldies are still goodies...there are new carvers you know. Thanks Dick

[Big Barn]

I kinda did something similar with using magnets. I glued 4 of the 3" x 4" magnetic calendar sheets to the floor about two inches in front of my vacuum floor sweep access. It 'normally' grabs metal objects prior to being sucked up into the floor sweep intake.

[TreeWizard]

Spend a few bucks and buy some padded foam tiles. Makes it a lot easier on the feet and legs when standing for a long time.

[Bruce Bird]

I have an old carpet under my carving chair right by the carving table.This stops anything that I drop from bouncing out of sight.Well it works most of the time. Whatever I drop gets lost in the antler dust.Must try to remember to clean that up again next time i'm in the studio.
Bruce

[N9ID]

This is a pretty simple one, but when I am done carving, I put everything away and clean up most of wood chips from my work bench. That way, the next time I want to carve, I can sit down and start carving. I don't have to look for tools or fight through piles of wood chips. Just makes it simpler for me.

Hope this helps.

[jmischel]

I'll echo what Mike said about cleaning up the shop. I make a huge mess when I'm working, especially if I'm in the garage cutting things out on the bandsaw. When I start tripping over things or having to search for tools, I clean up the shop. My friends give me grief for cleaning up the shop just to get it messy again.

My tip: you can't have too much light. I find as I get older that my eyes work fine ... if I have enough light. If by some chance freak of nature you do get too much light, it's easy enough to turn a few off.

By the way, nice to see another ham on the board. We have a couple in my carving club.

73
KB7UQD

[dogcatcher]

One of the best tips I ever received is, "Always stop working a little early and get your tools ready for the next time just before you quit for the day".

A clean shop? Never.

[One Thumb Carver]

Wildbirdcarver

I agree I clean everthing then take the tools I work with and get them ready So I can start carving when I want to. O' I must confest I really clean up because I carve in the Living Room I really do not want My Bride upset...............

[BrandantR]

One of my tips for success is always put your tools away when you are done with them. I have a place for everyting in my shop and everything is in its place. I never have to hunt for a tool, because I know exactly where it is, except when my son borrows one and doesn't put it back. I hate that!!! Tip #2: keep your teenagers away from your shop.

[torpidhummer]

I agree with Brandant and Mike,I used to carve until I was to tired,then when I stopped carving I would just leave my small shop with all the tools,plans etc,,turn the lights off ,then leave the shop as I left. Next,I would discover that some strange "Grimlins from Outer Space" invaded my shop and hid all my tools in different place
so that I could not find anything. Now,I put all of my tools where they belong,sweep my shop,turn the lights off before I leave the shop.I do not have any teen agers that always take tools out of the shop and never tell me they took anything,but those
dang Grimlins seemed to sneak in at night,is there any fix in getting rid of these critters?
Oscar