Shop Tours...
Peter Hyde and His Shop
First I am not a collector. Just a
chippy (English slang) Apprenticed to my trade in the ‘50’s in
London England. Worked at wood butchery ever since and still love
it! I was taught by 2 elderly joiners in a shop where the hand tools
were a mainstay of production. We had a large 12” rip saw and a 16”
combination thicknesser and jointer. The morticing machine was a pig
sticker with a long lever and a huge weight at the other end.
My mentors had traditional tool chests
with Norris smoothers and shoulder planes and a variety of wood
moulding planes. My first 6 weeks of work were spent pushing cabinet
scrapers over Honduras mahogany door frames to be sanded ready to go
to the French polisher. I came home with bleeding thumbs and tears
every night until the calluses built. Slowly as I acquired skills I
was allowed to spend my tool allowance and under supervision slowly
put a kit together most of which is still in everyday use. I also
inherited some tools (a Disston cross cut and several Sorby chisels
and a Marples steel jack plane) from an uncle who was killed at work
and also some awls and a black Arkansas oil stone from my
grandfather who was a dabbler. I have always done auctions and flea
markets where I have added Disston and steel planes to my tool box.
Lately I have taken up wood turning as a hobby! and have just
purchased a 1950’s Delta 12 x 36 lathe. One of my skill areas has
always been staircases and railings. Currently I work building
theatre scenery at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake in
Canada. Probably the best job I have ever had as far as self
expression and personal input. Also some other great coworkers and
acquaintances such as Rob Brophy who has to take the blame for my
being here.
Basically a 20 x 12 one time car port made into a single car
garage by
adding 3/8" sheathing and Insulbrick. Mourning doves are extra!
Inside we have all the trappings of a well organized and
efficient work
space.
Now for the itemized guided tour!
Looking East to insulated 12 x 7 ft. steel 1/2 ton up and over door
Moving on if we now turn 180 degrees we will view the West end and
"Man" door
Notice the efficient heating system with 2 heat settings-
freezing and
hell, also the convenient placing of the tool bag so that tools
are
quickly to hand. The firewood pile is classic chip 'n' dale (not
to be
confused with Chippendale) and also worth a mention is the
overhead air
and electron supply.
That's about it! I would however like to illuminate tourists
with the
following information.
This "shop" (if one can really call it that) has produced in
the past
15 years
- A 16ft. cedar strip canoe
- At least 6 large kitchens
- Numerous turned items
- As well as 2 large garden gates and other reno projects
for the
residential part of the shop. A work still in progress.
As a contrast this is my 40 hour a week residence:
The carpenters shop is about 60 x 60ft. L to R along back
wall. General bandsaw, Delta 12" RAS , Dewalt 12" SCMS and
the corner of a General 10" TS
There is also a fully equipped welding shop and the "fit up
room' where scenery is trial assembled before being loaded on
trucks and transported to the 3 Shaw theatres.
And finally there is the paint shop where a crew of very
talented
scenic artists make our plywood and pine into all sorts of
exotic woods
and textures that fool the eye and create the magic that is live
theatre.
Update - 07/07/2006:
This is the result of about 1 year's clean up and
reorganization. Lathe is where wood stove used to be. Main tool
storage in vertical cabinet built using 1/2 of old bench (former
bank tellers counter) with milk crate storage and mini drawers
above in R.H. back corner. Lathe tool carousel on workmate.
Jointer tucked in behind bandsaw and drill press.
Wall cupboard behind drill press now stores all drill bits,
holesaws, sanding drums, mortising attachment. Drawer under
mechanic's vise on left is for wood moulding planes and Stanley
55.
In this view there is a new to me sectional up and over door
and a new wood storage rack on the left. Old Craftsman table saw
has been revamped with new Delta Unifence and new extension
table and is now on tipjack wheels. All the other machinery is
also on tipjacks. Heating is now electric. OUCH! Overhead
radiant is useless. Other heater is a 220v construction unit
hard wired to a baseboard heater thermostat. Set to 8*C heat
costs were about $80 a month for a mild winter. Insulation is
the next must do!
Wood floor is really nice! Was a show floor from the theatre and
is 3/4" ply and 1/4" felt covered with 1/4" masonite and painted
with non-slip paint. The sheets of ply were grooved on all edges
and 1/4" ply tongues were glued in as the floor was laid. I laid
down a continuous sheet of HD poly over the concrete and the
floor is fully floating with no fixings except for caulking
around the perimeter.
The chunks of newly cut cherry will be moved down into the
cool cellar under the house for storage. They have been totally
covered in a wax emulsion to try and eliminate cracking and
should be ready for rough turning in about 6 months.
Whole clean up caused about 10 trips to the local landfill!
I hope you enjoyed the tours and please drop in and visit me at:
Hyde's Shop
January, 2006
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