Video Archive

Episode 5: New Tool and Tool Buying Philosophy

2010-02-04T21:22:00.001-08:00

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Episode 4: Wagon Vises and Dead Men

2009-11-29T20:41:00.001-08:00

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To complete my bench I installed a wagon vise and a sliding dead man. The wagon vise holds a work piece so that operations, such as carving or pattern routing, can be done on the face. The sliding dead man supports, when used with the leg vise, long stock for work on edges.

Episode 3: Workbench Appliances

2009-11-21T10:57:00.000-08:00

In part 2 of the Dirt Simpe Workbench, I introduce two appliances, a simple jig and walk through the installation of a leg vise using a simple vise screw.

Evolved Short: My Wife's New Planer

2009-11-13T21:41:00.000-08:00

So I'm on Amazon.com, drooling over tools and I add a planer to my shopping cart. I just can't pull the trigger. I step out to the garage for a moment and come back to find my wife ordering it for me. I love that woman.

Episode 2: Not So Simple w/ Closure

2009-11-02T04:28:00.000-08:00

Episode 2: Not So Simple
Uploaded by EvolvingWorkshop. - Watch original web videos.

Epidode 2: p2
Uploaded by EvolvingWorkshop. - Independent web videos.

Well, it's been a long, dramatic day in the shop. I laughed. I cried. I kicked stuff. In the end I have a bench that I am mostly satisfied with. After a full day I ended up with 20 minutes of footage and no closure. In part two I provide closure and rant about my failures. Try not to laugh too much at my lack of foresight.

I'll be adding project plans to the Projects page in the next two days so be sure to check back after Wednesday.

Evolved Short: Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T05:11:00.001-07:00

Evolved Short: Happy Halloween
by EvolvingWorkshop

Instead of belly aching about not having tools, I made a plane. In the spirit of Halloween, I made this clip to commemorate the occasion. Enjoy!

Episode 1: Intro

2009-10-15T05:06:00.000-07:00

Ron's Evolving Workshop: Intro and Tour
Uploaded by EvolvingWorkshop. - Independent web videos.

Me
My name is Ron Shillings and welcome to my blog. In this blog I will be documenting the evolution of my woodworking shop from a basically bare space, to a working shop. This is not going to be your traditional wood working blog. I am by no means an expert. On the other hand, like many who might visit my blog, I have discovered a wealth of information on the web. I will be sharing the resources I've discovered and sincerely hope that you will do the same in the comments section.

The Shop
My shop is slightly larger than a one car garage. It is detached and in the backyard, which is fortunate because I don't have to have the "but I want to park in there" argument with my wife. The walls are bare studs and it has a simple bench in the corner from the previous owner. The bench is more adequate for a bench grinder and space for rebuilding carbs than for wood working. It has two large windows, one facing east and the other south, for good natural light. It's not much but I like to think of it as Bob Ross would a blank canvas. Full of potential.

As far as tools go, at this point anyway, I have an 8-piece set of chisels, plane, Ryobi table saw and router(don't get jealous), circular saw, Craftsman miter saw, card scrapers, random orbital sander, tenon saw, and dovetail saw. Oh and a few clamps.

The Show
I love watching woodworking shows and I love to drool over the tools that are available in the large shops. But my income has always been better spent on groceries than woodworking tools. So how do I come in at ground level and still have a functional shop. There are still alot of things I can do with the small arsenal of tools mentioned above. Number one on the list is to improve my shop. By improving my setup, it may come to pass that I can improve my work flow and the quality of my work. After all, a shop is a very important tool in itself. Its setup and funtionality will directly affect your product.

That's what these videos will be about. The shop is the featured project and each project will be a step forward in its evolution. First up will be the dirt-simple workbench. This will not be the permanent , end all bench for the shop, but it will serve as a clamping surface and assembly table for the rest of the shop. When we eventually make it to my dream bench, the dirt simple one will continue duty as an outfeed table and brace for my rickety tablesaw. It's humble beginnings for this little shop and I hope that my trials and failures will serve you well in developing your own shop.

And what I describe as a K-clamp is actually an F-clamp. The Jorgensen is the K-clamp.

As promised here is the link to the Amazon.com listing of Workbenches by Christopher Schwarz.