1. Changing saw blades. I admit it. I use saw blades past their lives because it's a pain to change them. This applies to almost any kind of blade. Rarely have I changed a tablesaw blade without skinning my knuckles. I really can't count how often I use a fine-tooth blade to make rough rips rather than take the time to change it out. Guilty. Miter saw? Well, I use its blades until they barely cut butter. In fact, I have to get out the manual every time, because I forget the changing procedure. But tops on this list is my bandsaw. I loath changing these guys. At least on my saw, I have to practically disassemble the entire unit in order to change a blade. Which leads me into my second most dreaded chore:
2. Tensioning my bandsaw. If you haven't figured it out yet, I love my bandsaw, but it is an endless source of frustration. I am never really sure whether the blade is at the right tension and even if it is, then I have to fuss with the alignment and tracking. Changing a blade and getting set for a new cut takes upwards of thirty minutes.
3. Changing adhesive-backed sandpaper on my disc sander. The glue on these discs is just a nightmare. Again, I have to disassemble a bit of the machine, then try to peel off the used paper. It never comes off in one peel. Then it leaves gooey chunks of adhesive all over the metal disc. I have tried all sorts of solvents and never found one that really does a good job. As a result...I don't buy a lot of sandpaper. I use every little spot of it until I am essentially sanding on plain paper: about a 50,000 grit.4. Vacuuming. It's just one of the chores that never seems to end. Sure, I sweep up as much sawdust as I can with a broom, but it has a way of getting everywhere imaginable. My ShopVac does a great job, but it takes a long time to get everything swept up even passingly acceptable. Then I almost don't want to saw any more wood since the shop is so clean. A couple of things that also bug me: it almost sucks too hard. When I use it with the wide floor attachment it actually tries to suck up my garage floor. It becomes a suction cup. Secondly, I wish they would design tools like these for people over five feet tall. Even with the extension tube, I get a backache from hunching over to sweep. Have you ever swept up perfectly good screws just because it's easier than actually taking the time to bend over and pick them up? Well, okay that's my fault, not the vac.
Admittedly, these are minor peeves, and in the scope of things, not so bad. They pale in comparison to the fun I have building things. What do you dread in the shop?
Hi Steve, well I think you just about covered everything there, all I can say is, I agree the essentials of shop maintenance is a pain but once done very satisfying. Like you once clean I dread starting another project, although the small one's are not to messy, the big one's however mean a complete mess and so a complete tidy and clean.
ReplyDeleteMike D From FB
I do a bit of bowl turning so I get a lot of shavings around the lathe. I know some people let it pile up but since I'm in the house(basement) I like to keep up with it. I'll sweep up the larger parts and put them in a bucket to be dumped in the back yard, the rest gets sucked up into my roll-around dust collector. This process saves me from having to do my least favorite chore as often...emptying the dust collector. It's a small, cheapo one but for $120 it has lasted me almost 10 years and the only problem I've had was a bad power switch which was easy to replace. But emptying it is still a pain. I don't like to just dump it outside since I also have acrylic shavings and whatever else I suck up off of the floor inside it. I usually dump it into a large 3 mil thick scrap bag that goes up with the garbage pickup. I want to get a bigger dust collector but don't have room for it and it would be even more of a pain to empty.
ReplyDeleteWe are of like minds. My solution to vacuuming was buy a turbine dust collector and a Fien Vac. Quiet and no bags to deal with.
ReplyDeleteMakes an unpleasant job slightly less unpleasant.
I really like you site and your little projects.
cheers ianw
walwoodwork.blogspot.com
Yup, the wear and tear must be devastating. The mountains of shavings.....the dunes of sand & cement dust.......the steel swarf, the discarded blades, burnt out motors.....empty paint and adhesive buckets everywhere.
ReplyDeleteThat toothpick holder sure was a major.
One of the things I really don't like in my woodshop is sharpening the chisels and plane's blades. Usually it's taking me a lot of time to do it well. And if during hand planing I accidentally hit some metal element (like screw or nail) with the plane blade, I get a nice hollow in my blade, and it means about one hour of grinding and sharpening... But nevertheless, I love all this stuff:) Regards from Poland
ReplyDeleteAhhh Krzysztof, czesc. You need to be put in contact with Brian Meeks, he'll introduce you to the Sharpening Monks then you guys can start a little sect, or sharpening cult. Look here:
ReplyDeletehttp://extremelyaverage.com/category/sharpening/
Gareth
Gareth - thanks for the link! :)
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that changing bandsaw blades is a bitch (forgive the french). But that is the price we pay for cheaper tools. In your case it is the Ridgid, in my case, the Grizzly 14". Both have poor tension meters and odd setups. At some point I hope to graduate to a 17" with much better features.
ReplyDelete@krzysztof
You make is sound like you like to recycling materials quite often (which I applaud). Resulting it you occasionally hitting a nail.
There is one rule you must ALWAYS follow when reusing lumber. Use a metal detector. The cost of a detector will save you a ton in time and money...
Well you said it all.Hate sharpening coz i never can do it right.
ReplyDeleteRegards.
Gul
@krzysztof I totally forgot about sharpening! Probably because it's a task I routinely avoid. I'm never really sure if I've done it right. Damn. All my tools are dull!
ReplyDeleteI dislike all those myself, probably the disc sander the most. However, you can change the paper without taking the table off or even loosening. Getting the paper and glue off is obvious. When applying the new paper just peel off half the backing paper and fold it over. Tuck that side down behind the table and stick the upper half to the disc. Rotate the disc 180 degrees, peel the rest of the paper off and stick it.
ReplyDeleteYou hit them all on the head buddy.
ReplyDeleteThat, and putting every thing back in the right place so I can find it next time I need it.
But the pleasure I get in building stuff trumps all the hassles.
Thanks Steve.
What do you dread in the shop?
ReplyDeleteEmptying the shop vac and cleaning the filter. I leave a dust cloud for miles. It seems like I am always having to crack the motor up from the base and strum the ribs of the filter to knock the fine dust off so it will still suck stuff up.
Some say sharpening isn't woodworking but metal working, which is probably right. In any event I'm into it. Now my method is to step hone (change grits 300, 400, 600) with synthetic diamonds, then use a medium, then fine Arkansas stone, finish with a rouge charged strop. Sounds involved, and maybe it is, but I find it the fastest method to getting a keen blade.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.harborfreight.com/4-sided-diamond-hone-block-92867.html
One more trick for stone lube I use a super cleaner. Stuff like this:
http://www.clean-rite.com/
You can get their Purple Power at Wallyworld for about $5 a gallon. Better than light oil IMO. For really big blade nicks, or just to hollow grind I made myself this adjustable sliding guide table:
http://a.imageshack.us/img838/5759/sideo.jpg
Did I say I was into my metal working? Anyhow I hope this helps some here become the sharpest knives in the drawer.
Now as for whatever the worst job in my shop is I can't be doing it so much because all I can think of is having to go out and get what I don't have. Maybe cleaning my milling machine? Trying to figure out where the put something new? I donno.
BTW I use plain sandpaper on my disc sander and just use a spray adhesive to stick it on. Well I don't use totally plain anymore I use gator power grit now (cough Lowes).
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gatorfinishing.com/products/3/
And stick it on with 3M 45 GP spray adhesive. I use acetone and a scraper to remove it. A picture of my homemade disc sander with junky paper on it:
http://a.imageshack.us/img844/4565/mirrored.jpg
And yeah I have to pop the disc off mine to change the paper too, but it isn't too bad to do. I simply loosen the two hold bolts on the switch side, slide the motor back, and loosen the set screw that holds the disc to the motor shaft. Then I can slide the disc right off.
And no, I don't leave the table in the angle its in in the photo. Really today I don't even know why I made it to angle at all. I always leave it at 90 degrees. I guess it seemed like the thing to do at the time. Cutting that arc was hard though! I don't have a rotary table for my milling machine yet so I had to X-Y freehand it.
Now there is a contender for worst shop job. Having to try to do a job I don't have the exact right tool for!
Steve,
ReplyDeleteI think this applys to just about everyone that owns a Shop. It's very rewarding with a very clean shop, but it's also the latter of the projects that anyone likes to do.
I've been putting mine off, I've got Sawdust piled a mile high it seems from the Lathe and Tablesaw lol, more so the lathe as I'm learning control and practicing lol
Handi
I found that Master's Brush Cleaner made my brush cleaning a bit more enjoyable... I said a bit...
ReplyDeleteChris
I was surprised to see the bandsaw blade changing on the list. I swap blade between my resaw blade and my regular blade frequently, sometimes for just one cut. I can't imagine I spend more than 3 - 5 minutes to get it changed and dialed in.
ReplyDeleteNow I must admit that initially it took me 30 minutes, but I assumed I would get better at it, after a while. I did improve and now it is no more difficult than changing a router bit.
Perhaps Jeff the bandsaw is just an easy model to change? He is a Powermatic 14" bandsaw.
Good post though, I enjoyed it and the comments.
don't know if it works for the big brushes, but after i'm done painting i clean the tip of my brush,and then apply again soap.. only i leave it to dry. the next time i paint, i just wet the brush and it's good as new!
ReplyDeleteAs a shop teacher, I have seen students destroy projects a lot quicker that your ear! Last week students cleaned the shop and we found stratified sawdust inside the bandsaw. About 7 years ago a student asked why the bandsaw wouldn't cut. I looked and discovered the blade was smooth on both edges! I have improved maintenance over the years but it is not the fun part of woodworking for sure! I have included this blog for my students. I am new but your video on the ear project meant a lot to me! Awesome website and you take care!
ReplyDeleteaubrey.clarke@aspenview.org
300 bucks, general international 1hp dust collector. i didn't have the money/electrical current for a 1.5hp unit. the 1hp works fine going from tool to tool. you just have to get creative with how you position the hose if you're like me and your tools are all too old to have built in dust ports. makes a big difference on the drill press, scroll saw, and miter saw.
ReplyDeleteI didn't read all the replies so I might be repeating here but I hate clutter, and if I'm working, there's clutter. The only time my shop looks good is when I haven't have a project in a while and I've cleaned up and then, like you, it's almost difficult to make more dust since it looks so good. I spend a great deal of time moving things around to set up for projects, I don't have enough room out there but I doubt I ever will. I'm a board hoarder, can't seem to let anything over 6" X 6" go. Until those cleansing moments come and I throw all of it away which just so happens to be the day before I have a use for all of it.
ReplyDeletewant a good band saw for cheap? want a great project for the shop? easy blade changes and a passive dust collector? go to woodgears.ca mathew is blanking awesome
ReplyDeleteSteve-Next time you pull the sand paper off, replace it with velcro and then you can use the same sanding discs as your dewalt.
ReplyDeleteAs a metalworker my biggest pet peeve is metal shavings.
ReplyDeleteThey get evrywhere, and when you go to sit in your sofa there's always some of them poking you in the ass.