Crew Arrives Soon

I’m waiting for the electrical crew to arrive to double the amperage to my workshop. Today they’re going to tear up the yard, drill a hole in the side of my house, and give me a big bill. I can’t wait.

This morning, I went out and locked all my tool cabinets. I took photos of everything that was out in the open that a person might want to steal. I went through the garage, where the electrical panel is, and took pictures. I moved several thousand rounds of ammunition indoors. I guess I shouldn’t have had it out there!

I have no reason to think the electricians will steal, but good fences make good neighbors. There is no point in tempting people. Also, if I don’t take measures in advance, there will be problems in the future. Every time I can’t find something, I’ll think they stole it until I locate it.

A relatively expensive fishing rod vanished from my dad’s garage, and I noticed it after electricians did some work. I still suspect them. I didn’t eat it, and it didn’t evaporate.

I think I hear a truck.

False alarm. It was Federal Express.

After the wiring is finished, I’ll get some conduit and wire and fix the workshop up for my machine tools. Then I have to rearrange everything and decide where to put the big guns.

I have an L-shaped Corian counter in one corner, mounted to a wall. The previous owner left it. It has to go. I’ve been wondering if I could cut it and reuse the Corian. This morning I hit it with a sawzall, and it cut just fine. That means I can break it into two big pieces, and then I can trim them on the table saw.

My panel is on the north side of the shop, so in order to avoid running conduit and expensive wire long distances, I may put the lathe, the mill, the compressor, and the phase converter on or by the north wall. That will mean moving…actually, not that much stuff. I’ve been fervent about putting stuff on wheels, so the only thing I’ll have to drag is my workbench.

I’m hoping to put my wood stuff toward the east and south. I want a woodworking bench in that area. It doesn’t have to be fancy. There is a real fever out there for fancy woodworking benches, but I am determined to resist, because they’re unnecessary. Thousands of woodworking factories have come and gone in this country, and what did they use for the most part? Simple plywood tables. I plan to go fancier than that. I’ll want a vise and some dog holes. I’m not joining the fancy-bench religion, however.

I suppose I could make my bench top from Corian. Why not? Better than wood, and I won’t have to plane it flat.

I hate to do it, but I may sacrifice some tools. I have a jobsite table saw and a 12″ sliding miter saw on a stand. Nice tools, but I have a Powermatic 66 table saw with a 5-HP motor and an extension as long as a couch. I don’t see myself using the small tools in the future.

I’m really making this place my own. I used to use my dad’s initials for the name of this PC, because it belonged to him. I gave it that name for him when he bought it. Today I got rid of that. Totally new name. His influence is disappearing. The influence of the people who sold us the house is disappearing. Mine is increasing, along with God’s. It’s wonderful.

I can’t wait to get this over with. I can’t do anything until the electricians finish. Can’t even leave the house. Hurry, hurry, hurry.