The "Air Raid Shop" - Page 2 - Practical Machinist - Largest Manufacturing Technology Forum on the Web

joeblow · #21 (**permalink**) 07-31-2009, 09:14 PM

Love what you have done with the place!

Buster87 · #22 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim rozen

Nice KTM. Best thing about a shop like that, lets you manufacture bike bits!

Looks like a grand workshop in the making - and we're all sorry to hear about your
dad.

Jim

Thanks Jim, Its been a real tough year and we are still not there yet.

Got loads of things i want to make for my bikes!

Quote:

Originally Posted by minder

Yeah, I noticed that, shouldn't take much to get the 3 ph hooked in?
Is that near Oxford?
Minder.

Yes, not far from Oxford, about 45 mins.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeblow

Love what you have done with the place!

Thanks

minder · #23 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 02:20 PM

I grew up in that region, the Costswolds are beautiful country. I am also old enough to remember the German and Italian POW's, they had them rebuilding the roads.
I think they had it so cushy there was no desire to escape, I remember one German that stayed on and became the Landlord of a local pub.
Minder.

Buster87 · #24 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by minder

I grew up in that region, the Costswolds are beautiful country. I am also old enough to remember the German and Italian POW's, they had them rebuilding the roads.
I think they had it so cushy there was no desire to escape, I remember one German that stayed on and became the Landlord of a local pub.
Minder.

My grand parents are still in touch with one of the german prisoners of war. There used to be a big prison camp near Stow-on-the-Wold, just up the road from me, where during the day the prisoners would go off to work on the local farms during the day and at night they would have to return to the prisoner camp. Guess alot of them where just like our troops, didn't have a choice but fight.

minder · #25 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buster87

Guess alot of them where just like our troops, didn't have a choice but fight.

Except the difference in POW camp conditions were like night and day!
Minder.

Rossluck · #26 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 10:23 PM

The workshop looks great Buster. A lot of character, and it has a "safe" look about it; like you'd feel safe and happy working there. Is the rental reasonable? Is it likely to be broken into while you're not there? How far away from it do you live?

I think we all use our sheds or shops to meditate our way through chaos. It's funny how much time you can spend in them without apparently doing all that much.

Please keep the updates coming, and all the best with your Dad.

Buster87 · #27 (**permalink**) 08-02-2009, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rossluck

The workshop looks great Buster. A lot of character, and it has a "safe" look about it; like you'd feel safe and happy working there. Is the rental reasonable? Is it likely to be broken into while you're not there? How far away from it do you live?

I think we all use our sheds or shops to meditate our way through chaos. It's funny how much time you can spend in them without apparently doing all that much.

Please keep the updates coming, and all the best with your Dad.

Kind words, Thanks.

The rent is £1500 a year, which i think is very reasonable. It is (touch wood) quite a safe and low risk area, concerning being broken into. They have security patrols during the night and cctv cameras and even a hand full of people that live on the site in their motor homes. I only live a 5 minute drive away too.

Ox · #28 (**permalink**) 08-02-2009, 12:30 PM

Were you bron in 87?

Or are there 86 other Busters on this site?

--------

Think Snow Eh!
Ox

Buster87 · #29 (**permalink**) 08-02-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ox

Were you bron in 87?

Or are there 86 other Busters on this site?

--------

Think Snow Eh!
Ox

Yeah

...................

Ox · #30 (**permalink**) 08-02-2009, 01:44 PM

I'll ass ume that is an affirmative to the first part as I kant say that I have seen a slew of Busters around these here parts. LOL!

Then I congratulate you on your early start. I guess I didn't gather upon the nickle tour if this is just a hobby for you or if you are planning on "making a GO of it"?

I started my shop when I was 22, and there were a LOT of rough yrs. I sure hope to not hafta go back and doo it all over aggin if the good LORD hits the "reset" button.

I don't regret it once around tho.

Wish you the the guts to stick with it.

---------

Think Snow Eh!
Ox

Buster87 · #31 (**permalink**) 08-02-2009, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ox

I'll ass ume that is an affirmative to the first part as I kant say that I have seen a slew of Busters around these here parts. LOL!

Then I congratulate you on your early start. I guess I didn't gather upon the nickle tour if this is just a hobby for you or if you are planning on "making a GO of it"?

I started my shop when I was 22, and there were a LOT of rough yrs. I sure hope to not hafta go back and doo it all over aggin if the good LORD hits the "reset" button.

I don't regret it once around tho.

Wish you the the guts to stick with it.

---------

Think Snow Eh!
Ox

Sorry, i should have been more clear. Yes my name does correspond to the year i was born.

Long term i want to make a living from this shop. But initially i will use it just for my own projects. I currently work for a company owned by General Electric, where we manufacture and repair turbine blades for power stations. I served a 4 year apprenticeship there and really love it, plus it pays well. For now i think it is best to carry on working there so that i have a regular income, and gradually if i starting getting small jobs for other people then i can make the big decision to start "flying solo."

I have already experienced alot of people doubting me etc but at the end of the day i want to make a better life for my self. I love my job but i wouldn't like to work there doing the same type of work 35+ years like some of the people who work there have.

If i could just get a few jobs to cover the running costs initially then i could effectively have a great workshop that i can use for my stuff free of charge.

My main current costs are:

Rent £1500 per year
Service charge £150 per year
Last months electric bill was £7
Water (haven't had the bill yet)
Insurance (including all machines, tools, building and public liability) £470 per year

andyj47 · #32 (**permalink**) 08-04-2009, 06:51 AM

Very nice, good luck! My favorite thing about the forum is seeing the world from home.

RickWG · #33 (**permalink**) 08-11-2009, 08:00 PM

Regarding that side door:
I'd be tempted to brick it up where the wrought iron gates are & then you'll have a bit more vertical wall to use. Looks about the right size for a rollaway toolbox or fire cabinet

moonlight machine · #34 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 01:32 PM

7 pound electric! Last month for me was $680.00............

Nick · #35 (**permalink**) 08-12-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buster87

.

I'm looking into having 3 phase installed. The supply is coming into the unit, Just need a new meter. Still awaiting a price from british gas though.

Buster,
I hope British Gas gives you a lot better deal than the power companies do over here in the Colonies.

All that green stuff and all those trees make me claustrophobic. I gotta have my sand and wide open spaces.

All your hard work is definitely going to pay off. Shop looks great so far.

Nick

Shawn Ghormley · #36 (**permalink**) 08-29-2009, 07:53 AM

If it was a former POW camp. Keep a sharp eye to the ground for buried treasure. Very cool area and shop.

bradinNC · #37 (**permalink**) 09-05-2009, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickWG

Regarding that side door:
I'd be tempted to brick it up where the wrought iron gates are & then you'll have a bit more vertical wall to use. Looks about the right size for a rollaway toolbox or fire cabinet

That would also be a choice spot for an air compressor. It would keep the noise down in your shop. Brad.

ramsay1 · #38 (**permalink**) 09-06-2009, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buster87

Most of the weeds hacked down now. The unit is 35 foot long and 17 foot wide which is massive for what i will be doing.

On this end of the unit i will be putting on a set of steel barn type doors for obvious reasons and eventually it will be the only access in and out. I wont be forgetting the unit number... Got your number

A neighbouring unit has similar doors to what i will be doing.

Just some of the 100+ tyres that were scattered around the place! Im not joking you name it, their here. Bus, tractor, cars and bikes... Going to stack them to make a bit of a fence/boundry at the other side of the unit. Would cost me a small fortune to get rid of them properly!

Forgot to take a before. The weeds were fairly high, so i hacked them down with a sythe (Spelling? One of the hook shaped old fashoned garden tools) which uncovered more tyres and some trellice fencing. Will eventually put some hardcore down here or old tarmac road waste which a friend can get:thumbs_up

More weeds that will come down tomorrow if the weather is ok.

A straggler photo from inside of the fuse box and meter. Any one know how to slow them down :thumbs_up

Well thats it for now. I'm so excited. Cant wait to get the bigger jobs done, e.g. barn doors, repair/remove side door. Build work benches and tables etc and more importantly start work on the caddy.

Hello: What is your line voltage in UK? Here in the US it is usually three wire 120-240 for residential..Commercial is 120-208 or 277-480 Mike

Buster87 · #39 (**permalink**) 09-24-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramsay1

Hello: What is your line voltage in UK? Here in the US it is usually three wire 120-240 for residential..Commercial is 120-208 or 277-480 Mike

240 Volts.

Buster87 · #40 (**permalink**) 09-24-2009, 03:16 PM

Small update. I have just bough a Colchester student 1800 lathe off of ebay. Gave £1800 for it. It came from a protoytype shop and has done very little work. I think i had a good deal. It's the 40" bed version.

I need to pick it up next week from near London, about 3 1/2 hours drive each way! Haven't decided weather to hire a flat bed van and pick it up my self or pay a machine removal company to collect and install it. What would you recommend?