Work in progress shop

Caseykasem

New User
Casey
We moved to Mebane in July, and the house (circa 1897) had a 20X40 unwired shop (circa 1920’s) that was originally built and served as a cabinetry shop. The original homeowner worked at Whites Furniture in Mebane as he built the house. In the 20’s he built the shop and as far as I know was used for woodworking of some kind up until sometime in the last 25 years where it was used for storage. The original owners son lived here after and he used the shop to refinish and repair furniture. More specifically (unconfirmed) White furniture and I believe Craftique which was another local furniture maker. First thing we did after moving in was get an electrician to replace the sketchy old electric with a new 200amp panel along with 10 8’ LED’s and some lights over the doors. Inside the building there was a structure (maybe 10’x10’x8’ high) in the back corner used as a, what I believe, was a finishing area. I tore that down due to its dilapidated state and reused the lumber in other areas of the shop. The floors has AT LEAST a 1/2” of some kind of waterproof spray on black floor covering that I first tried to scrape and quickly switched to renting a commercial floor drum sander which made quick work of it at 20Grit. Underneath were the original hardwood floors. They are in need of a serious serious rehab or complete replacement. The floor joists we’re end nailed which made the floor feel extremely bouncy so we put joist hangers all under the building and that helped significantly with bouncing and it’s ability to hold heavy machinery. Since then we have removed the original windows because they were too far gone and replaced with 7’ tall pella windows I got on clearance. Additionally I’ve covered up all the holes I could, added a heater, shored up alot of the building, and added significant storage area. As some of you know, I am an ICU nurse and have been fighting COVID from the start. Most recently I took myself out of work for two weeks because everything we had seen and done finally caught up to me mentally. I spent those two weeks reorganizing, assembling machinery, tuning, cleaning out, and ultimately making a space I could go that would be an escape for me.
In the pictures I will post with this you will see my 1938 Walker Turner band saw that I restored (mid move) and is ALMOST running. It threw the blade off at me last week and I haven’t touched it since. Lol On the right there’s a green library catalog card cabinet thing I pulled out of a different barn and it’s a beast. Next to that is a Workbench I got at an antique mall. Cast iron base and what might be hickory top. I cleaned, sanded, planed and finished (only the top) with tung oil. I left the rest of the bench alone because I couldn’t make it look any cooler than in its original state. Next to that is a sharpening station I haven’t finished yet but I made the top with a glue up of several 4x4’s. There is also a child’s woodworking bench and tools in front of the side entrance window that I just love. I got it at some antique thing in efland. My Delta Unisaw is in the center of the shop along with the turn of the century carpentry work bench I got in Maggie Valley recently.

Next week I will be picking up my new to me Sawstop from another member, and am very excited. I’ve done a lot of tool collecting, and practicing. Learning how to do different things.

At some point between July and now I knew subconsciously I was attempting to build a shop to get out of nursing. The mental trauma I, and my peers, have endured the last two years cannot be explained. I will stick with it until the pandemic is over and do my part but after that hopefully I can start up some kind of business. Something that I will enjoy.

I am so thankful for NCWW. I have met some really great people, and learned a lot. I know very very few of you personally but I consider you all close friends.
 

Attachments

  • 0F02D5A8-4348-4E6C-A938-C3AE49F449B1.jpeg
    0F02D5A8-4348-4E6C-A938-C3AE49F449B1.jpeg
    3 MB · Views: 193
  • 76DB0B0B-2A6B-4663-A26C-08590A797A34.jpeg
    76DB0B0B-2A6B-4663-A26C-08590A797A34.jpeg
    1.9 MB · Views: 186
  • 08F877AB-109E-45E9-9EA8-92AEDC2C0D8B.jpeg
    08F877AB-109E-45E9-9EA8-92AEDC2C0D8B.jpeg
    1.7 MB · Views: 176
  • 94A29C09-B427-4980-BB0B-28DBB4BDDF37.jpeg
    94A29C09-B427-4980-BB0B-28DBB4BDDF37.jpeg
    2.2 MB · Views: 182
  • A502B773-E3A9-466F-A829-CA241CBEE687.jpeg
    A502B773-E3A9-466F-A829-CA241CBEE687.jpeg
    2 MB · Views: 173
  • AC479EAF-50EC-4730-AFD9-B1AF0A4DD624.jpeg
    AC479EAF-50EC-4730-AFD9-B1AF0A4DD624.jpeg
    1.8 MB · Views: 177
  • D5D95BE1-4FC8-4A4F-A693-184425D198CE.jpeg
    D5D95BE1-4FC8-4A4F-A693-184425D198CE.jpeg
    1.9 MB · Views: 172
  • C7FD6402-856D-4A59-B82E-65561D2C3D24.jpeg
    C7FD6402-856D-4A59-B82E-65561D2C3D24.jpeg
    2.2 MB · Views: 180
  • 6681C0B8-3DA0-492F-85EF-0816A1889449.jpeg
    6681C0B8-3DA0-492F-85EF-0816A1889449.jpeg
    3.2 MB · Views: 169
  • 5BA8ED58-8303-48B8-A6E7-C3A21E4FA490.jpeg
    5BA8ED58-8303-48B8-A6E7-C3A21E4FA490.jpeg
    2.1 MB · Views: 168
  • FF506284-C85D-4774-8BFF-6096AA107E0C.jpeg
    FF506284-C85D-4774-8BFF-6096AA107E0C.jpeg
    2 MB · Views: 174
  • 9C311BB6-04CF-4A86-9476-BC1B7AFE0DF5.jpeg
    9C311BB6-04CF-4A86-9476-BC1B7AFE0DF5.jpeg
    1.8 MB · Views: 175
  • EB5514D7-3CCF-44AE-8021-24409040D0C0.jpeg
    EB5514D7-3CCF-44AE-8021-24409040D0C0.jpeg
    2 MB · Views: 164
  • 21BB946A-0B44-4F54-BD2E-869C177FB6C8.jpeg
    21BB946A-0B44-4F54-BD2E-869C177FB6C8.jpeg
    3.6 MB · Views: 172
  • 7585977F-7371-49AA-A499-0E570E9EBA41.jpeg
    7585977F-7371-49AA-A499-0E570E9EBA41.jpeg
    1.6 MB · Views: 169
  • DFAB7D96-940C-4848-9CD9-A6C2EFA20691.jpeg
    DFAB7D96-940C-4848-9CD9-A6C2EFA20691.jpeg
    3.5 MB · Views: 173
  • 2A09C63B-819E-4DAD-BDFF-04416C529DE6.jpeg
    2A09C63B-819E-4DAD-BDFF-04416C529DE6.jpeg
    3.3 MB · Views: 168
  • 30C282C6-5FE8-446E-B489-AF6A6716DA3A.jpeg
    30C282C6-5FE8-446E-B489-AF6A6716DA3A.jpeg
    3.7 MB · Views: 166
  • B43E1B24-F5F1-4E27-AA25-CBEA738217DF.jpeg
    B43E1B24-F5F1-4E27-AA25-CBEA738217DF.jpeg
    3.4 MB · Views: 156
  • E57097D0-2BCE-45C2-8A43-AA25A031B1DD.jpeg
    E57097D0-2BCE-45C2-8A43-AA25A031B1DD.jpeg
    3.5 MB · Views: 172
  • 0EFADCAD-74FE-4D72-8B16-E41CFB3AE926.jpeg
    0EFADCAD-74FE-4D72-8B16-E41CFB3AE926.jpeg
    4 MB · Views: 167
  • 73683D15-A511-499B-B792-AF0F056695A7.jpeg
    73683D15-A511-499B-B792-AF0F056695A7.jpeg
    1.7 MB · Views: 184

Caseykasem

New User
Casey
The schlitz cans were on top of that structure. When I cut through the tar paper like top they fell through. There is also a few original jigs or templates hanging on the walls. It’s quite spectacular.
 

bob vaughan

Bob Vaughan
Senior User
You're going to make that a great shop judging from how you're starting.
The down side: like all of us, you'll be wanting to add 12' per year.
 

Mike Davis

Mike
Corporate Member
Thanks for the long write up, I enjoyed reading it and appreciate even more what you’ve been through since I was in the hospital for emergency surgery at the start of the pandemic. I met some fine doctors and nurses and was amazed at their dedication.

I think you will enjoy that nice shop especially with the historic aspects. And you will do it justice by helping it pass on into the future and preserving the rich woodworking legacy.
 

Mike Davis

Mike
Corporate Member
Oh, I would really like one of the old cans. One of my old friends in Alabama was a sign painter who painted two silos with that exact art.
 

Caseykasem

New User
Casey
Thanks for the long write up, I enjoyed reading it and appreciate even more what you’ve been through since I was in the hospital for emergency surgery at the start of the pandemic. I met some fine doctors and nurses and was amazed at their dedication.

I think you will enjoy that nice shop especially with the historic aspects. And you will do it justice by helping it pass on into the future and preserving the rich woodworking legacy.
I love all things with history and between the tree and all the woodworking history we had to get it. I wasn’t planning on parting with any but Mike I’ve reached out for advise on several occasions and sending you one is the least I could do to say thank you. Pm me your address
 

Caseykasem

New User
Casey
You're going to make that a great shop judging from how you're starting.
The down side: like all of us, you'll be wanting to add 12' per year.
My, soon to be wife, is incredibly supportive. Otherwise none of it would be possible. Oh yeah I am already planning a 20x10’ lean to on the end to store my tractor and wood lol
 

Hmerkle

Board of Directors, Development Director
Hank
Staff member
Corporate Member
Casey,
As Mike said - I too enjoyed reading your story and want to thank you for your service as an ICU nurse. I can't even imagine what all the first responder and nurses have been through over the past two years... THANK YOU!

You are of to a GREAt start and would love to see your place the next time I am over? (sorry to invite myself, but I too love history! Too bad those walls can't talk!)
 

Caseykasem

New User
Casey
Casey,
As Mike said - I too enjoyed reading your story and want to thank you for your service as an ICU nurse. I can't even imagine what all the first responder and nurses have been through over the past two years... THANK YOU!

You are of to a GREAt start and would love to see your place the next time I am over? (sorry to invite myself, but I too love history! Too bad those walls can't talk!)
Oh yeah! Come on by in at least a few weeks from now
 

JohnnyR

John
Corporate Member
Great tale Casey! Finding that property was karma for all you do. Just got out of the hospital for knee replacement and you could feel the stress on all the nurses. Godspeed!
 

ScottM

Scott
Staff member
Corporate Member
Hey, my brother-in-law is a beer can collector. He has over 15k cans in his collection. If you still have the cans, he might be interested in buying them.
 

Michael Mathews

Michael
Corporate Member
Casey,
If the floors are thick enough, can they be sanded with an industrial floor sander to resurface them? Or are they rotted and weak? Great start and keep us posted on your progress!
 

Caseykasem

New User
Casey
Casey,
If the floors are thick enough, can they be sanded with an industrial floor sander to resurface them? Or are they rotted and weak? Great start and keep us posted on your progress!
I actually sanded them down with a big drum sander. The rest can be done by hand and with a scraper. I’m honestly not sure. There is no sub floor or else I would make them the best I could and fill in the rest with something? I don’t know honestly lol! They are not rotted nor weak though. I know that much. At least 3/4” thick. I need to get someone who knows what they’re doing come give me some advise. On that and the some of the floor joist layout.
 

drw

Donn
Corporate Member
You have had quite a journey with a lot more to go. The journey is fun for everyone, thanks for bringing us along.
 

Premier Sponsor

Our Sponsors

LATEST FOR SALE LISTINGS

Top