Shop Renovation 2020 Project Part 2 – Walls and Windows and Floors oh my!

 

Okay, I wrote this post months ago, and took the photos - it was one of those 5am writing things.  And then I have let it sit, unpublished for far too long.  

The world is an upside down place these days and I'm struggling to make myself do the things I want to do.  I love making for Elfworks, but I'm lousy at the marketing and promo stuff.  Lately I've even been lousy at the making.  But I'm still here, and here is some kind of update on what's been happening over the past months.... 

Yes, here it is months later and I've written nothing more about my Very Exciting Shop Renovation. I confess, I've had my hands firmly in the dirt trying to grow things, and lay groundwork for other projects for almost all the intervening time. In my defense, this is all part of the larger Elfworks picture, but has not gotten me far in the shop.

I mentioned that my partner Darrell had done all the actual building of the space. While it is hard for me to let go, it was a wise decision. He is a much better builder than I am, and has a lot more experience. The result being that my shop is very awesome. Not fancy, not shiny, but awesome. Much of the wood that was used was recycled from other projects, so it is a patchwork in many ways, but that had its advantages too (besides lowering the cost.)

Darrell started by framing in the walls, then the floor. The floorboards were laid, but not attached while he worked on walls and insulation and wiring (yes, that's right, insulation!!) The ceiling was framed in – we are dropping the ceiling to make it easier to heat...not like I need head room! The window on the northwest wall was framed in – positioned to allow light in from the window in the outside wall of the building. And then it got even more exciting.

Once the walls were up, the floor got finished – Darrell put a little bit of insulation under the floor and the boards got screwed down. The larger pieces had been loosely placed on the boards for layout and positioning and got moved back into their homes. I made measurements and did chalkmark layout of the rest of the space.

We had talked about bench space, something I've never had much of with the result of always having to shift tools and projects, well, off of other tools and projects frankly. Never having had it, I wasn't sure how much of it I would need. I listened to the voice of experience, and opted for more rather than less. There was a scrounged steel counter that was laying around, but when I looked at it it seemed extremely imposing and space consuming. I mentioned that I am small, looking at the counter what I saw was wasted space where I would inevitably pile things and continue my bad habits.

Solution? Rip it in half and make 2 narrow sections rather than 2 large sections. I love that we are metal people. Deciding on its height was also a big challenge. I am so used to having everything the wrong size that this was a big learning curve. Once the height was settled, sturdy framing set it firmly in place, and a leg vise, appropriately adjusted for height, was attached. (The attachment bracket of the leg vise was a partial decider on the height.)

 

 

I went outside one day and found Darrell atop a ladder, pulling boards from the outside of the building. One of the things we had talked about was light – natural light. While it is true that natural light can be difficult in a smith's shop – the colours always changing depending on how the light falls, I knew I needed it. I find it too hard to work in a dark space and light where there are no windows is always somehow, inadequate (for me.)

 

  Solution? The original solution was that window I talked about on the north wall. On further discussion, Darrell suggested we could put windows on the top of the south wall of the building and put a clear panel into my ceiling to allow for more light.

 Again, there were a number of scrounged windows waiting for use, so they got put into play. While it was a big job, I cannot tell you the difference it has made, not just in my shop but in the shop as a whole.

 Suddenly the world is lit up with those 2 windows in that wall. And my shop in particular practically gleams when you enter. Although we did install a ceiling fan overhead light, as well as making provisions for other lights where needed, during the day they have become almost redundant. Suddenly the shop that was already so exciting became a real joy. Working there will be an easy task, and I know that I can adjust to changing light, though there will be some tasks that will be more challenging with it.

 

 

 

The boards for the walls were chosen and placed with thought to texture (or lack thereof.) This meant that I could turn one full panel and one of the panels above my fantastic new benches into chalkboard. They are already covered in lists of “to do” - largely custom hooks to give my stakes permanent storage places under my benches...off the floor.

The wheeled metal frame that used to hold my propane forge was customized and given new life as a stand for my swage block and bench plate. The casters allow me to leave it stored against the wall or move it into closer proximity to the forge on my lovely wooden floor.

The propane forge now sits on a plate covering the firebox of the coal forge – allowing for me to switch to coal on larger or more curved objects (though the ventilation is not in yet.) The coal forge – a portable table style sits atop a metal plate, which gives me extra space for cooling pieces, still on the floor as is my longtime habit, but well out of the way of my feet.

The forge itself is positioned so that I can either use my anvil, my leg vise or step down and use my BAAT Hammer with ease. It will take a bit of getting used to that it isn't in the corner, but the placement is much better, especially with the changes in equipment.

An old freestanding wire basket style shelf has been repurposed as my hammer rack, also holding many spare sets of tongs and a few other pieces, nestled in the corner where my forge used to be. And steel is now stored in a rack on the west wall, neatly sorted (well, mostly) rather than a mass of buckets with random odds everywhere. Longer pieces are stored just outside the new shop space against a wall. Everything is safely chained off – and I can actually see what stock I have. Not surprisingly I have more than I realized. And now I'll be able to find it rather than assuming I don't have any and buying more. It will also serve as a reminder of the projects I'm supposed to be doing...things I bought stock for, stored it and then forgot about it, project and all.

There are still things to be done – a stack for the woodstove has to be installed, ventilation for the coal forge put in, doors to the space to be built an attached, but the place is a joy to work in. I haven't gotten very far just yet. There is a lot of new to get used to, everything has new homes – shelves and racks and a level of organization that will take some fine tuning and a lot more familiarity before it achieves the efficiency it promises. And I have been mostly trying to “make hay while the sun shines” and all that...true enough.

But I can tell you that I've had inspiration for 3 new large projects since this adventure began – larger than any of the things I've attempted yet. This is a space where I can see things happening, and keep track of what I'm doing. Not that the previous spaces were to blame for that lack – that was all on me. This space though, and the time ahead where I am here and not travelling to and fro to that other life that is on hold for the forseeable future...well, I have much hope for the undertaking of great adventures.

Moving Shop

Well, This is something that I thought it was important to put in, but it is certainly late in being written. And yet, it still applies. Perhaps that is why it is so important.

I moved my shop 4 years ago now – closer to 5 at this point. And my shop spaces are still in chaos.

There are certainly a multitude of reasons for this – but the longer it goes on the worse it gets.

My thought was “I'm moving to a bigger space, it will be easy to get it all organized and then I can have a great space and be more efficient.”

Great theory.

Moving a forge space is never an easy task. The weight of the tools involved, and their bulk makes it draining and awkward at best, even when it is exciting. Moving a household is also never an easy task. Now tack on a wig studio, make-up supplies, a jewellery studio and a tin shop.

And immediately after the move, go abroad for 6 weeks and on return straight into a theatre contract.

Now, I know, this sounds like whining. And maybe it is, a bit...not that there is anything at all to whine about – all those events are pretty great.

 But one of the things I want to do here is think about, speculate about, talk about the reasons for the chaotic spaces with the hope of understanding more about my motives (or lack thereof). All in the hopes of making things better.

Let's start with some of the more obvious bits.

A chaotic space can be indicative of inner chaos. Well...that says about all it needs to say, and certainly it is true. Interestingly, I started to write this piece nearly a year ago, and things have been improving in some of my spaces. In part, at least, because I have slowly been able to begin to formulate an idea of what my new life might look like...what I might be able to create now that I am beginning to see what is really happening with my time and my space. Beginning being a very important word. Nearly 5 years in and I'm only beginning to see the patterns and possibilities.

It has also taken this long for me to get a feel for what I want things to be. I had some very lofty ideas, I'm sure, when I was dreaming about all this. Fitting the elements of the imagined life that still work for me into the life I am trying to create is a huge and daunting process, especially since that needs to have some basis in the reality of how this all really works.

There are things I had thought I wanted that are, looking back, unrealistic and ridiculous. They aren't even things I want – they are things I thought I might want, but they didn't hold up to scrutiny. There are things that are now in my line of vision that I hadn't even been able to imagine before. Life is active, not static. Change is something we can count on, and should look forward to – even the hard changes – the ones that feel awful are often the most valuable ones.

Now that I am beginning to get a better idea of things I can start to commit to the ideas. That is another reason for the chaos – lack of commitment to a space, a practice, an idea...Some of that lack of commitment came from a fundamental lack of belief in what was possible. What was deserved, what was allowed – pick your baggage. It all boils down to the same thing. We can't commit to something we don't believe in – not in any way that counts. I wasn't willing to commit the time to the spaces to make things work well...yes, that's right. Self sabotage.

Having the time to use the space and see how it will really function is also in there. How much space do you dedicate to each of the fundamental bits? You can't know that without understanding how you work in a space. Knowing how you work period is a big part of that, but how that translates into any given space is a whole other dimension. Particularly when the space has (or has to have) multiple uses. And so, you have to make the time to work in the space to see how you work in the space and – you see where I'm going here, don't you? This too is getting better.

With time, almost all things are possible. And the only way to get the time is really to make the time. I manage to make time for all the things that I have to – I've always managed that. I can make time for the outside world, but not for myself. So that is another thing that I am working toward changing. But that, too, is a delicate balance.

Once upon a time I'd make time by staying up most of the night to work a job. Or by never taking time off – working (once) an insane stretch of days (something like 45 I think) 18 to 20 hour days with not a day off – each containing multiple jobs (usually about 3 or 4). Guess what? I'm not doing those things. Ever again. I couldn't if I wanted to. True, I was a lot younger then, and a lot more stupid. Oh, and just so you know? I don't recommend it. It was dumb, and stunts like that broke me in more ways than one. I did it because I didn't see any other way. There is always something that you miss if only you look, with an open mind, and ask the right questions.

So now, I need to find other ways to make time. And I am working on new disciplines. One of them is making sure I don't go back to that path where I make crazy stupid choices out of sheer habit. Making sure that what I'm making time for is the things that are important to me, to my new life. I still put too much into the schedule, but I am working on recognizing the price and how to defer the cost – better juggling the time I have to fit in a little of everything...or so I hope.

Having supportive, patient people around you – taking the time to be with them, listen to their perspective and just be in that positive space and out of your own head, that helps immensely. And don't kid yourself – that is important, hugely so. Whether it is taking time to walk through a local garden space and get out of your own head, or giving yourself the time to go to dinner or for a coffee with friends and connect with someone else...that is all a part of it. It lets you step back and get a little perspective on where you are and where you are going. Can't see the forest for the trees is a real thing, and however you manage to step back, it will stop you walking in circles through the woods.

It seems like this has little to do with moving shop, but to me,  it has everything to do with it. Moving shop isn't just about the physical placement of the tools (and when mine is closer to done there will be more on how it ends up getting set up) – it is about how you fit in your space. And how your space fits you. Without that, the rest is a bit moot. It's process. And if the process is all surface, it won't hold.

Change is hard, and change takes practice. It takes commitment. It take dedication and a willingness to step back and look critically at what you are doing and adjust as needed. Whether the adjustment is because you are falling back into old patterns, or whether it is because you haven't quite got it sussed just yet and you need to re-think. It is hard to be flexible, to not berate yourself for not knowing better – not doing better, not seeing that thing you missed. But change is life, life is change. It is all the same skill set, its just in how you apply it.