Planer Tune Up

The planer / thicknesser combo was an easier tune up. I purchased some new blades from carbatec (took over 2 months to arrive, despite me checking that they were in stock before ordering). The old blades I have had sharpened locally. Always a little tricky to level the three blades which are suspended by 12 springs and 15 bolts. 

Bandsaw Tune Up

The current HiFi project requires some 50mm timber resawed and machined to 18mm. Assuming the bandsaw was still in top condition after more than a year since serious use... was a mistake. The first resaw job looked like I was making shingles with a beautiful cut at the top and a wedge at the bottom. The culprits were a combination low blade tension and the lower blade guide having come loose. It was a good excuse to take it all about and give a clean. Immediate rewards from a little maintenance with the remainder of the cuts working well. 

A couple of useful links:

http://www.finewoodworking.com/tool-guide/video/how-to-set-up-a-bandsaw.aspx

http://www.finewoodworking.com/how-to/video/how-to-resaw-on-the-bandsaw-video.aspx

Windmaster 250mm Clear Turbobeam

A quick shed upgrade - Windmaster 250mm Clear Turbobeam Whirlybird. The shed is an uninsulated metal box in a climate which can be rather warm (45.6c a month ago.) Inside temps could be 5-10 degrees hotter than the outside world. 

With the Whirlybird installed and ventilation improved the temp appears similar to the outside world and usually a little cooler. The clear plastic allows a significant amount of natural light. (Unfortunately there is some flickering with its rotation.)

(By the way, with the windows open and the 30' industrial fan, the shed is a very workable environment even on a hot day.)

Electrical Work in Progress

Here's a few photos of the electrical work in progress.

There are many options in providing lighting for a workshop. After much reading and pondering I decided on bayonet mounted domestic LED bulbs, in particular iGlobe 9w warm 2900k 100w equiv. 16 mounted in the workshop and 4 in the storage bay. I selected a large number to reduce shadows and have even lighting. (The exact number was determined by the rafters layout.) The bulbs are all the same brand, power, and temperature.  

The three main options for lighting were traditional fluorescent tubes, bayonet mounts, or LED strip lighting. 

Fluorescent are what people expect in a workspace. However, they hum, take time to warm up, flicker on warming up, and then flicker with AC current. LED strip lighting is new and perhaps the cheapest. However, it relied on transformers and offered little back compatibility or flexibility.  

The bayonet mounts with LED bulbs were the best compromise. Additionally even with the expensive LED bulbs the installation cost is less than half that of a fluorescent.  They are cheap to run, offer consistant light, switch on instantly, and are said to last 50,000 hours.    

I was also given a large mercury vapour light which I'll mount in the centre. This should add some character to the shed.

The majority of domestic outlets in Australia are 10A 240v which isn't quite enough for the larger 3-5hp machines. The workshop now has 6 x 15A outlets offering plenty options. (Note the 15A sockets have wider earth pins so that you can't plug a 15A plug into a 10A socket.)

I also had the opportunity to install a single three phase outlet. As I don't have any three phase tools this may be overkill. However, I wanted to future proof it as much as I could, and hopefully make my little workshop more attractive if I was ever to sell it.

A work in progress... 

Electrical Work Begins

Today the Electricians arrived to begin work on the shed. Its an exciting prospect given it has been about 10 months in the planning. The current plans should have enough power and flexibility to future proof the shed.

Details

• New 32A three phase sub-main, from the location of the existing meter box to the RH rear of the residence, then underground to the approx.. center of the proposed work shop area.
• 12 pole D.B in the proposed new workshop, c/w main switch and ELCB,s for light and power circuits. 
• Twenty One (21) batten holders (16 – in the workshop, 4 in the storage area and 1 in the carport.) LED lamps to be supplied by owner.
• One light switch for the workshop, one light switch for the Storage Area & one weatherproof light switch for the carport, and one 2 gang switch for the ceiling mount GPO’s.
• One double weatherproof power point in the Carport.
• Two ceiling mount double 10amp power points.
• Four 10amp double power points.
• Four single 15Amp 240volt power points in the workshop.
• One double 15Amp power point.
• One three phase 10A power outlet.

Re: Ray's question. The sub main is on the right hand side inside the door where the switches will be easy to reach. The scrap bin is easy to reach across at that point, but I may yet move it.

Electrical Layouts

At this stage it looks like the workshop will have power before Christmas. It's all become a little complex (cough cough expensive) but it should allow for ample power and flexibility now and into the future. Plenty of 15A outlets, plenty of lights, and even a three phase. Any feedback is appreciated. 

Woodscrap Bin Complete

The Woodscrap Bin is complete in the shed. I finished it with two coats of feast watson clear statin varnish and wheeled it into the shed. So far so good and shed is a lot tidier for it.  (There is extra-wood behind the bin in the photo.)

Bin 1 has offcuts of coastal black (including burls) and radiata pine.

Bin 2 has Tasmanian Mrytle (clear, figured & burls), silver ash, and silky oak. It also has some small pieces of huon pine, red gum, olive wood, ebony, purtle heart and blackwood.

Bin 3 is mostly Australian Red Cedar and some more blackbutt.

The back tray has some masonite, plywood, MDF and old templates from various projects.

Now to upgrade the workbench.

Wood-scrap Bin

In a further attempt at a little organisation I've made head way on a woodscrap bin. Currently there is scattered timber leaning on the shed walls or hidden away on shelves. This timber will be sorted into the woodscrap bin or into the garbage bin. The front lip will be for the small amount of sheet goods I use.

The construction is rather simple. Initially I wanted some quality ply but instead sourced this solid pine patchwork panels which (1800x600x18). Construction is pretty simple - screws and glue. I picked up some quality castors with dust covers over the bearing... but forgot to get the right size bolts.

Will trim and roundover the edges. Still considering what if any finish to place on it.