Woodshop 101

Hello everyone!

I can't believe how long it's been since I last posted. May is usually super busy for us so I haven’t been able to work on the house as much as I'd like.

So far I've just been piddling in the house and doing yard work and watching for tornados.

One project I have been working on is in the new woodshop. I’m to the point that I need the shop to finish out some of the projects in the kitchen.

It took about a week just to sort through stuff in it and get rid of things. I also took the time to do some organizing of the junk. Unfortunately, I'm still having to work around a lot of it. A lot of the stuff in the shed will be placed in a storage building yet to be built..... ** ANOTHER project!

Enough of this...on to the pictures!

Here it is - the 'little red shed'. We have often wondered how old this building is, but have never know. However, while working on it, several clues came to light letting us know how old he is.

This is the west side.

As you can see, the siding is in need of a lot of TLC.






It's closed right now, but there is a small opening/doorway in the apex of the roof. There is one just like it on the east side.

Here's the east side.

You can see the other opening in the apex.

The tree is a large Walnut. I have had so many people say I should remove this tree so that I can place a double door on this end or perhaps a wood storage lean-to.

Personally I just don't see the sense in taking out a large, beautiful tree just to make room for a door or storage. Perhaps I will regret it one day when it blows over onto the shed. This has already happened with another tree a few years ago.

The shed is divided into two separate sections by a wall with no door connecting them. No one seems to know why this was done, but we've had several speculations.

Here is some of the junk on the west side.

Most of it is restoration materials and recycled materials from other old houses.

You can barely see the double arched glass door hiding behind all the junk. This was one of the original doors from our first house. The new owners of that house didn't like and took it out. I scavenged it off their trash heap.

Just more of the same, only this time on the east side.















This is the dividing wall from the west side.

As mentioned, we are not sure why it was built. There has to be a purpose though and the wall does not go all the way to the top.

If any of you have thoughts about this drop me a line.

The east side of the wall.

See all the pink stuff? That's some of the left over insulation from the attic. It'll be used to insulate the walls here.











Here's the ceiling apex.

The inside height is about 14'.

I'll insulate the vertical section just like the wall, but I'm undecided about leaving the opening usable, or just for looks on the outside. I've only needed to open it once and that was to remove a tree trunk the previous owners stored in the rafters!

Here's a general view of the interior ceiling looking to the west.

The plan is to make a loft out of the west end for storage of wood and project items such as chairs.









We are also going to insulate the ceiling, but plan to use the foil stuff that looks like bubble wrap. You just staple it to the ceiling. I figure the shininess of it will help with lighting as well.

Okay, remember how I mentioned 'clues' as to the age of the shed?







Well here is the first one.

The floor boards are the exact same kind as the hardwood floors in the house.

The rest of the 'clues' will start falling into place as soon as the wall comes down.

Voilà!!

The wall is gone. I imagine this is the first time the two halves have seen each other since the wall was built.











Another 'clue' to the age could be seen once the wall was gone.

Do you see the flooring?

Do you notice anything about it?














Okay, here are the clues:

1) The type of flooring;

2) The wall; &

3) something about the flooring.

Based on this we think the shed was built as soon as the house was finished using the leftover building materials. So we believe the shed is as old as the house.

Here's why we think this.

1) The type of flooring (the flooring is the exact type that's in the house);

2) The wall (the wall was built using the exact same solid wood sheeting that's on the exterior walls of the house. It is even tongue and grove!); &

3) something about the flooring (the flooring, for the most part, runs the entire length of the shed, just like it does in the house).

To me, these all point to usage of left over material. Even the siding is the same as the house, but in much worse condition.

What do you all think?

Well, I forgot to get a 'before' pic of the wall with the insulation added, but here is the first wall to be finished out!

The wafer board sheeting comes courteous of my friend Bill. he is the one that helped talk me into going into the woodworking business and building this little shop.

This is the east wall cleaned up and ready for finishing out.







I could not bring myself to get a 'before' pic. It was bad - real bad....

Same wall different view.

I'm debating whether or not to put a window on this wall. Space will be at a premium but I do like the natural light.

To the extreme left of the pic you can see a shelf unit (cream colored). We have no idea where this thing came from, but it is old and was in the shed when we bought it.

I'll get more pics of it later and post them.

Here is the latest addition to all the junk.

Once again, Bill has helped me out. This is an old, cast iron stove that he took out of his shop. I'm going to use it as an auxiliary heat source and it emits great atmosphere!

Can't you just see some old geezer sitting next to it whittling something?



The sucker is heavy and was a pain in the butt to move.

No one told me it was in two pieces when I moved it. Imagine my surprise when I went to move it and the body came off the legs!

The best part is that it's a double burner. Just remove the chrome top and there are two burners on the top. So, during the cold months I could have a pot of tea or coffee brewing while I'm out here.

I have a lot to do to it before I can fire it up; such as a chimney and protection for the floor and walls. That will have to wait till later though.


Well, I need to leave you now - I need to get my lazy butt outside and do some work.

Let me just leave you with this final picture.

Hey, I told you what I found in the east wall was bad!








Till next time!

Cheers ~
Larry