Shop Update

After months of planning and preparation, the shop is finally taking shape. There’s something deeply satisfying about organizing a workspace where every tool has its place and every surface is ready for the next project.

New Workbench Complete

The centerpiece of this update is a new workbench built from reclaimed maple. At 8 feet long and 30 inches deep, it provides ample surface area for furniture projects while the twin vises—a leg vise on the left and a wagon vise on the right—handle any workholding situation.

The top is 3 inches thick, laminated from 8/4 stock that was flattened and jointed by hand. Nothing teaches you to appreciate a sharp plane quite like flattening 24 square feet of hard maple.

Tool Storage Solutions

Wall-mounted tool racks now hold the most frequently used hand tools. Chisels, planes, and saws hang within arm’s reach, organized by function rather than size. A dedicated sharpening station sits at the end of the bench with waterstones, a strop, and a granite reference plate.

What’s Next

With the shop infrastructure complete, focus shifts to projects. First up: a Shaker-style side table in cherry, featuring hand-cut dovetails and a floating panel top. The wood has been acclimating for six weeks and is ready to work.

Stay tuned for detailed project documentation, including wood selection, joinery techniques, and finishing approaches. There’s much to share from this newly organized space.