New basement decoy shop

David Robinson

David Robinson

Well-known member
Well, I finally took back my basement! With a lot of help from my father-in-law I was able to wall off a 10x15 foot area for a decoy shop. It looks small due to the 6 foot ceiling but its going to work great. Guys, anyone with some determination can do this! For a $129 and a half day of work, you can section off all of the kid's crap and have yourself a man cave to carve decoys.

This is my old shop on the "storage" side of the basement. It was dark and dust went every where it wasn't supposed to go.

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I painted the concrete walls white so the space would be as bright as possible. There won't be much sunlight though that little window. We build the wall on the floor and flipped it up and nailed it to the floor joist and anchored it to the floor with 3/8" bolts.

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I covered the wall with 7/16" OSB and hung a cheap door. Just look at the door knob height - kid friendly, lol. I had to cut about a foot off the bottom so it would fit.

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This will probably be the last and only "clean shop" picture I'll ever have to share. I've got it set up with a carving bench on the right and a detail/paint bench on the left. The last thing to move in is the bandsaw and I'll be making dust!

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Now, if you've been sitting on your ass complaining of not having a shop, go into your basement, clear out a spot and build a wall (to keep the junk out) and start carving! I hope that this post has inspired you - now lets see some more shops!

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That looks great David. Its great to have a place of your own eh? Having a place to paint and leave your junk out is really nice too. I used to be set up the spare room, got evicted by Jane's niece, moved to the family room and have laid claim to the air hockey table. Having a place to paint where sawdust isn't is nice.

You going into high production?

Mike
 
That is really a nice setup. Curently I am still carving in the living room at a table of my very own. Kids and wife know not to put anything on dads table or else.....

No power carving for me though. My wife understands the shavings for the knife a power carver and I would be lookin for a new home.
 
David my workshop Im still building its coming on fine now its 28ftx12ft, Im now retired so when Im finished I will be spending most my days and nights
in it. To view it go on to Lou Tisch website scroll down the left hand side and click on the Eddie kershaw page.
Eddie
 
Nice job Dave. You may want to consider some safety cages over those 'AlGore' light bulbs before you have to call HAZMAT out to pick pieces of mercury laden glass out of your skull.

Chuck
 
Looking good! I'm also working on my shop remodel, it's 25'x25' insulation is in, dry wall is hung, pegboad and cubbies under the bench are built, 1/2 of the folddown part of the work bench are built, working on making the cabinets now (a total of 9 are in the works).I post pics when I can, the total length of the bench is 14'. My wife gave me the green light for this project and I want a nice woodshop to work in. I found the plans for this 'one wall workshop' in a magazine and just had to build it.
 
Nice job Dave. You may want to consider some safety cages over those 'AlGore' light bulbs before you have to call HAZMAT out to pick pieces of mercury laden glass out of your skull.

Chuck
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Nice!! that's a great observation.
 
Mike,

I'm definitely not going into high production - just ask Chuck how long it take me to finish one decoy, LOL! 2 weeks ago I finished up a hen bluebill and have just started a 2 new Golden Eyes to compliment the low head GE from last year. I'm sure your hollow cedar BB will look great in the rig.

Chuck - light cages aren't a bad idea. Leave it up to Al to find a sneaky way of getting mercury back into the environment, hehehe. Eventually I'll re-wire the basement and install recessed lights and lots of outlets for more power. I've just got to find an electrician that will install a second breaker box in the basement "after hours." See ya Thursday at Rutgers' shop.
 
So if I could get my husband to start carving I could lock him in the basement for days on end.... maybe I should get him to take a look into this site too!~ haha Looks great!

Bridget
 
Dave,

Ever have one of those dreams where you keep finding rooms in your house that you never knew existed?

Sort of how my shop came about. I cut through a wall that led under the back of my garage and "found" a big ol' cistern that was under there from the days before "city water." Lots of cleaning & scrubbing, running electric, and wa-la: a 12 x 20+ decoy shop (wood shop, turning area).

I keep the power tools that have to be moved out to the middle (like the table saw) on rolling caster frames. Two stage dust collector that attaches to all the pwer tools + an air exchanger (not shown in any of these views).

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Of course, just as one can't have too many decoys, one needs to have as many workspaces as possible!

Currently in the process of framing walls for my decoy painting shack that will be up out of the dungeon. Lots of windows and natural light in the plans as well as good flourescents. When this is done, I won't have to clean up all the wood chips & cork dust when I want to paint:

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Since I have always wanted a little shop to whittle in, I went ahead and bit the bullet too.

I kept hitting the local garage sales and E Bay and it just seemed to grow and grow. Now just about everyone in town comes over to play with all the gadgets.

Anyway, I think I am almost ready to start carving a bufflehead now. I'll post some pics later!





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A little belated April Fools
 
Sure Bob,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, rub it in. Next thing you're going to be telling everyone how great retirement is. hehe Nobody likes a smarty pants! BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


Nice shop pics everyone, I'm just jealous. :>)
 
David thats a nice job you have done on that workshop do you intend insulating and pannelling it. as its easyer to clean when its pannelled and warmer
in the winter, its great to have your own little den, out of sight out of mind and nobody to bother you. Good luck with your carving.
Eddie.
 
Mike,

I'm definitely not going into high production - just ask Chuck how long it take me to finish one decoy, LOL! 2 weeks ago I finished up a hen bluebill and have just started a 2 new Golden Eyes to compliment the low head GE from last year. I'm sure your hollow cedar BB will look great in the rig.

Chuck - light cages aren't a bad idea. Leave it up to Al to find a sneaky way of getting mercury back into the environment, hehehe. Eventually I'll re-wire the basement and install recessed lights and lots of outlets for more power. I've just got to find an electrician that will install a second breaker box in the basement "after hours." See ya Thursday at Rutgers' shop.
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Dave, I thought about commenting on the production rate...but thought I'd give it a rest. As far as hitting heads on things...I know from experience that Murphy's law is in full force with low clearances.

Bob, I have seen you post photo's of your shop many times, but never knew the history, do you have any before pictures?

Chuck
 
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