Bedroom Machine Shop Build

[juiceclone]

Don't know WHAT u can do about it, but nice pointy/sharp bits are going to get tracked thru the house. My mess is way outside and still a problem.

 

[extropic]

Swarf, dust, mist & liquid control are primary concerns.

I wouldn't put the band saw in there at all. Think about it. You'll have to carry longer pieces of stock, through the residential area, into a confined space, to cut them shorter (bad idea). Also, the band saw consumes too much valuable floor space. Leave it in the garage to support your welding projects. Cut the machining stock out there.

Maybe you could incorporate your bench grinder (all abrasive power tools) directly onto your vacuum cart to free up bench space and facilitate contamination control. There are many 'quick mount' ideas around to swap-out grinders/sanders if need be. Grind while seated so the whole thing still rolls back under the bench. Buy a QUIET vacuum so it's not a PITA to use it.

You don't show a bench vise yet (necessity).

Have you fully considered the social ramifications of having a machine shop inside your residence (rhetorical question)?

 

[wildo]

Have you fully considered the social ramifications of having a machine shop inside your residence (rhetorical question)?

Good points, but the nice thing about living alone is that I can give a big middle finger to "social ramifications" of what I do in my house. Noise is a nonissue since it's just me. Smell will be mitigated through a room air filtration system hanging on the ceiling like in woodworking shops. Tracking swarf will be managed via non-fibrous flooring (garage tiles) that can be easily cleaned. Dust? Well... I live with two German Shepherds! Dust is a fact of life for me.

Now coolant... yes, this is a concern that I haven't figured out yet. I won't use flood coolant, just cutting fluids. I can deal with cutting fluid being flung around on the lathe by using a backsplash behind the lathe and wearing an apron. Over at the mill though, I don't have a particularly good way to catch the oil from being slung all over. I have seen pictures of guys who create what looks like a grease tray you'd put on a camp stove for cooking bacon around the table on their mills. This is likely what I'll do.

Regarding the vice, I did realize that I left it out of the drawing. I'd likely mount it to the right of the lathe- on the corner by where I'm showing the bench grinder.

 

[wildo]

Oh- and on the topic of long material: I'm a newbie, some I'm not sure if there are "standard lengths" of material. That said, I don't foresee working with (or rather- purchasing) material over 4' long given the projects I'm interested in making. In fact, the SB 9A that I'm purchasing is sadly the 36" bed model. The need for the horizontal bandsaw is to cut a... 'short' piece off of a length of material so I can machine it in the mill or lathe. So moving loooooooong lengths of material through the house is of no concern to me. It's a good point, but considering that I want to make spinning tops and very small steam engines- I don't see a reason to buy very long lengths of material.

 

[rwm]

wildo- I have my shop set up in a spare room in the house 12 x 15 ft, similar to your idea. Although no one sleeps there! I routinely deal with all the concerns that have been raised. I have a Jet bandsaw inside. I generally cut any long stock out in the garage with an angle grinder or portaband. The most annoying issue is tracking chips through the house. Sharp chips can embed in the hardwood floors if you step on them. Dust has not been a big issue if I keep the door closed. The angle grinder is a big offender in this regard. I do TIG weld occasionally with a fume extractor. I do not use any flood coolant...yet.
I have placed jack posts in the basement at strategic locations. I can't say the indoor shop is optimal, but it is better than watching expensive equipment rust in an unheated damp garage. Someday I will have a dedicated shop in a separate building.
R

 

[extropic]

"Broadly speaking, a rhetorical question is asked when the questioner himself knows the answer already or an answer is not actually demanded. So, an answer is not expected from the audience. Such a question is used to emphasize a point or draw the audience’s attention." http://literarydevices.net/rhetorical-question/

As to the rest of it; You're right, you're right. You're absolutely right.

 

[wrat]

Been following this with some interest because it seems it could turn into something.

Maybe I could offer a word about the abstract concept of "dual purpose". Simply put, it doesn't really exist. For example, a motorcycle. It can somewhat do dirt and can still be ridden on the street, so it's labeled "dual purpose" but in reality, doesn't do especially great at either. Of course, fans of the concept (such as I) are fine with that because there's no need going nutty in any special direction. Flying cars are another wildly pursued undertaking with the exact same results. The importance of all this babbling is an interesting paradox that results. That is, the more you pursue having BOTH, the less you have of EITHER. The more effort put into a good driving car, the more abysmal it will be when wings are attached. To make it a performing plane, so much of the automobile componentry becomes superfluous that it's simply dead weight. After sufficient compromises are made (and there's always many), it becomes either an encumbered car or a death trap with a steering wheel.

Obviously, these are complex examples. But in your case, the same realization should take place. The choice is simple. Is this a 1) bedroom you can do some machining in? or 2) a machine room you can sleep in? This distinction is real, IMO. Considering the furnishings, I'm thinking you're already leaning toward option 2. Then i read this:

Dust is a fact of life for me.

Y'know, i live on a farm and tend to keep the dirt out. Which is why I wouldn't have the grinder in there. Of course, I'm funny that way. I'd have the grinder out with the woodworking stuff because that's where the dust is. I don't have my grinders anywhere near my mills and lathe because that grit goes everywhere and invariably settles where it can do the most damage. Cutting you can do with appropriate feeds and speeds to minimize debris, but grinding is always gonna be a mess.

So why would any of this matter? I mean, right, it's your house and none of my business. But i think this is bigger than we might imagine. Remember this post?

And what will a night at these luxury accommodations cost ?

I think you're on to something.

Those of us that remember when the "bed and breakfast" craze was starting, also remember when the "winery cottage" and "fantasy camp" ideas also followed. Ordinary people that know almost zippo about winemaking or football paying enormous sums to spend a night or two with those that do.

I see your modest bedroom here as something that could really grow legs. It would appeal to the neophyte and craftsman, alike. A niche market to be sure, but by indications, a steady one.

For every guy that owns a machine, there's a hundred or more that would love to but cannot. Okay, come stay at the "Bed and Boremill" (I dunno...) or the "Spindle House" (whatever) where we have a far reaching curriculum of machining experiences for the first-timer and experienced machinist, alike.

Sure, this is not where you're going, but someday, someone will. When these things start popping up all over, you can say you started the whole thing right here on this list.

Wrat

 

[planeflyer21]

Don't know WHAT u can do about it, but nice pointy/sharp bits are going to get tracked thru the house. My mess is way outside and still a problem.

I used to work 10 miles away and chips were still a problem.

 

[wildo]

Wrat- I really enjoyed your post! I have a couple friends on facebook trying to get me to remove the bed stating that it's an impractical waste of space. I, for one, very much enjoy the notion of a "themed" bedroom, if you will. Certainly this is the latter, as you stated- a machine shop with a bed. But what a fun bedroom it will be! I don't think my room will turn into "Bed and Boremill" but I also think it's a fun idea! Hell- I might make up a sign to hang outside the room.

 

[wildo]

I think it's really amazing the interest and comments this thread has generated. Thanks everyone for your thoughts and opinions! Some good things have been brought up. I can't guarantee that this build will move at a quick pace as I'm building/purchasing only as I have the money to do so. As you all know- it's such an expensive undertaking...

Here's the first real pictures. They aren't much, but they are progress! The 120" x 30" x 1.75" butcher block maple top from Grizzly arrived and is moved into the house. It took three of us and came directly into the room through a window:


And today I went to my awesome local steel supply and got all of the pieces for the long bench. This is a small "mom & pop" kind of steel supply specializing in small cuts. All of my pieces were cut to length by the supply. Super service and super prices! The steel is 2" square tube 11ga, and the angle is 1.5" x 1.5" x 3/16". The dog is my Belgian Malinois.


The ceiling was painted last night, and I'm painting the walls this weekend. Wallpaper will likely go up during the week next week.

And finally, I was researching flooring and I'm stuck between rubber horse matting (which may get chips embedded over time) or garage floor tiles (which are a hard plastic and assumedly would be more/less impervious to chips). I updated the drawing to included wall paint (a blue/grey that matches my home office) and wallpaper (the brick- also in my home office) as well as the flooring. Here's the current rendering: