I took a day to think about this guys shop and my comment. Initially I could only agree with Frank. Then I got to thinking about a buddy of mine that plays golf. Each season he spends at least 3K on golf fees. That excludes gas, nineteenth hole, bets, meals and the smokes and coffee on the way to the course. Then add the tools (putters balls bag and drivers) and you have a handsome sum.
Now I have felt very guilty lately about my shop (there is a thread on this board with it) more so with the tough economy thinking well if if if etc. I am sure many of you might be thinking this.
I also felt that if, if, if I had not built it there would still be peace in the neighborhood.
But as many a post here has said your/my shop hurts no one. I bought most of my tools for the price of one golf season and these machines will last a lifetime. It gives me immense pleasure to be part of the ww community and to spend time in my shop and hopefully pass on something of an ability to create something to my kids.
So why should this guy feel any different and do any different.
My friends (locals) think I am crazy, they talk about my shop as if it is enormous and an overindulgence just as some feel this guy has done. But mine is modest by any standard.
Like this guy, I have researched for years before setting up shop. I determined that dust was most important to me and have plans to take care of it to the absolute best of my ability.
Also ask yourself, what would you do if you really had sufficient money to be able to do anything you want. Would you not take care of the sandpaper frustration for essentially very little outlay.
It amazes me we see a person with a ton of wood as no problem, yet to convert that wood to something attractive ultimately takes finishing involving tons of sandpaper and time. He has simply set up to make it efficient. His sunk capital on sandpaper is probably less than 1/10 of what we all have lying around in wood.
I think at the end of the day we are all just envious
of how well he has set up shop and frustrated that we did not do the same when we spot somethings which we could have done but did not in the course of our own endevours.
I do think though there is a balance which if different for each of us where we change a little of the challenge and frustration into boredom if we remove it all.
Chuck and Larry have made two really good points that I think are worth remembering when one looks on at someone elses shop.
Chuck made the point that if you never use a tool it will never get blunt so then why did you buy it. (this if you think about it applies to so much).
Larry made a point about seeing shops where the guy has bought all the tools more for show than to use. ( I have seen this where a guy retires and is looking for something to do and trys woodworking without being sure he is really interested).
This guy says he spends 3x 16 hour days in his shop per week. So I guess to him efficiency and safety (dust) are paramount to sustain that work.
Each to his own.