Bedroom Machine Shop Build

wildo said:

Another update on the shop. In preparation for a visit from my grandparents, house cleaning tonight started with cleaning up the shop. (Hey- gotta have your priorities straight!) I decided that since the lathe is essentially done, the drill press is definitely done, and I don't plan on any substantial restoration work on the mill- that I no longer need the hardboard protector on the maple benchtop. So off it came! Now I can finalize the location for each tool on this bench and finally bolt some stuff down. This is a big step for me!







I just love how these old machines look in my shop; they are perfect for the space!



One thing I definitely didn't account for was putting such a comparably big mill in the room. I had always intended on a benchtop mill and therefore I was trying to maintain some kind of plan for the dogleg section of my bench. However, with the mill table moved all the way over to the far right, I only have 37" of space left between mill table and the benchtop that the lathe sits on. I don't know how realistic it is to have the mill table moved over this far, but it sure would be a shame to have the milling capacity and not be able to use it because a bench is in the way. I have some ideas for this space though. I have my heart set on my surface plate sitting over here, so why not make this an inspection/layout bench area. That doesn't need to be a giant bench anyhow. I'll get some cool cast iron machine legs off ebay and create a 37" benchtop. Between the machine legs- rather than a toolbox (which wouldn't fit) I've been thinking about how a nice Atlas 7" benchtop shaper might store nicely there!





And finally- there's this wall. The plan has always been to put a murphy bed here. In spite of much flak from a couple of you, I've been resolute that that is happening. Well... again, there's that big ass milling machine that I didn't quite account for. Other than moving down to a twin size bed, I'm pushing my luck on getting a full size murphy bed to fit the space available. Given that I also gave up a lot of benchtop space to the right of the mill- I think the only reasonable solution here is to build another bench for this wall. That's kind of nice anyway because that really opens up a lot of usable space! This area will essentially become my assembly table. I can also move a tool grinder over here since it's not quite fitting at the tailstock end of the lathe.




That's where I'm at for now! My focus now is on wrapping up the lathe. It's so close to being complete; I'm just itching to wrap it up.

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uncle harry said:

Great shop ! Also, can you identify and date the metal-clad 'woodie' toolbox ? I bought one just like it but with a lot of patina for $ 30.00 delivered.

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wildo said:

No, unfortunate I can't. I've looked everywhere inside and out, on every drawer, etc and I can find no markings other than on the lock itself:

WWII was my first guess from the green metal case. Mine is missing the key and the leather handle is worn but its definitely the same make of box by identifying the hasp, Thanks for your reply. Now we have this and 9A South Bend lathes in common.


My grandpa found this box absolutely jam packed full of Starrett layout tools for $100 at a yard sale. Wish I had been there; who knows what other treasures the guy might have had. He was an older gentlemen who, according to my Grandpa, "just wanted to downsize a bit." One of the tools in there had "USAAF" written on it which might indicate United States Army Air Force, which would be WWII or prior, though if the box was an army issue item it sure seems that it would have other identifying marks on it. That's basically all I know about it.

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FOMOGO said:

One question, What is that odd looking machine with the long operating handles and the digital readout? Must be some kind of shaper, I recon. Cheers, Mike

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