In this photograph the Pillar Drill can be seen at the far end on the right and next is the Router Table. This was built to the design of an American Wood Working Show, "The New Yankee Workshop". Since the Photo was taken the Router Table has been modified, Castors have been fitted under the Cabinet and the kick plate has been removed. The old gliders were not working very well, so something had to be done.

On the left is an old Schools Bench which, I was lucky enough to be given. One of the legs was starting to rot. I cut all the legs down by four inches and fitted castors. This is now the home for the Sliding Mitre Saw, Band Saw and Scroll Saw.

Present projects.

Although the Table Saw and Planer Thicknesser are on Castors the bases are being modified. The Manufacturer made metal bases, which supported the machines but wasted a lot of space. I am building cabinets, which will have drawers to house the tools and parts for the machine above it.

Future Projects.

The Pillar Drill will have a cabinet fitted under it. This will have several drawers to store all the Drills. At the back of the Cabinet will be the Wet Grinding Machine, which is mainly used to sharpen the turning tools used on the Lathe.

A further cabinet is to be built, to house the sanding machines. Including a bench belt and disk sander and an Oscillating  Bobbin Sander.

I will post further photos as the work is completed.

What are we going to make in the Workshop I hear you ask? We will make almost anything which we wish to have or somebody asks us to make.

So far we have made a rather large Bench for one friend. The owner of a local Shop fitters, who has been very helpful to us wanted a couple of finials for a bed he is building. We completed these just before Christmas 2005.

Update 2006

The Pillar Drill and sanding Station have now got their own mobile cabinets. These include storage space and drawers for the tools and consumables. As with all the other machines the cabinets are on castors for mobility.

We had found that our old band saw was not large enough for some of the work we wished to do. A search on the internet took us to a tool shop in East Devon, which specialises in second hand machines. We were in luck they had just the right machine. Even better the price was right. It had come from a School and was  in quite good condition. A set of new blades, a wheeled base and the machine is like new.

The Future

There is only one more machine which would be nice to have and that's a wide belt sanding machine. However we can survive without. We do have a cheap table saw which we used in a boat yard for a few years. It is a bit of a brute but does rip quite thick timbers.  We intend to make a mobile assembly table with this saw built in on a flip up top. With this we will be able to save putting excessive strain on the  Sheppach table saw.

The Past

I was interested in woodwork as a child. I used to watch my Father using tools and learnt a lot from him. When I want to a school at Ruthin in North Wales I was very lucky to have a very good woodwork teacher. He taught me a great deal and I attribute my ability to make Dovetail joints by hand to him. For many years I considered that Mr Harry Evans had taught me everything about woodwork.

About 10 years ago I was shown an American TV Show called the "New Yankee Workshop". If you have not come across it the show is hosted by a man called Norm Abraham. His teaching skills are incredible and I started to learn new skills and easier way to do the old jobs. Having met a number of "Famous " people over the years I am not what you would call Star Struck. However I have to admit that I have become a very keen fan of "Norm".

I have recorded all the TV shows the "New Yankee Workshop" have made and put them on to Video CD. When it was announced that Norm was to be visiting the Axminster Tools Show at Exeter in 2003 I just had to go. I was lucky enough to meet the woodworking Guru and exchange a few words with him. In fact I thanked him for teaching me so much and hoped we would be watching new shows for many years to come. I know it is rather sad at my age but the inspiration this person creates is incredible. It has been said that he is responsible for a vast increase in interest in woodwork and also a large increase in the sales of the woodworking manufacturers. ( He ought to be on commission)

One or two people including my eldest Daughter have commented on a similarity between Norm and me. I can't see it myself but I will let you be the judge.

For those who don't know me Norm is the one on the left. I am the fat one on the right.

On the Links Page you will find links to the New Yankee Workshop and other sites which are run by Fans of the Show.