Setting Up A Workshop
Setting up a home engineering workshop
If you are thinking of setting up a home engineering workshop then it’s likely you’ve already thought of the space you are going to use, whether it’s a garage or shed or similar. Think twice about using a basement unless you have separate external door where there can be access for the machines you need. [...]
Workshop Services
Home Workshop Services – Power and Ventilation
You need to make sure that your workshop has plenty of electrical power outlets as constantly plugging and unplugging different equipment can be annoying and even worse are the snakes of extension cords which are not only a trip hazard in your workshop but a fire hazard too. It is worth investing in an electrician’s [...]
Engineering Machine and Equipment
Engineering Workshop Machines
If your planned engineering project is a heavy duty one – such as building a scale steam engine you will need heavier duty machines to undertake the machining (a smaller machine might well move about with the weight of a heavy part you are machining. You projects may be to do with build or re building cars or motorbikes including, for example re-boring engines and sorting frames in which case you will need a range of different machines to undertake the various parts of restoration. Or you may be a modeler, and need small-scale precision machines to work with a range of materials. You need to suit the size and function of the machine to the range of work you need to do. Some work can be done on more than one type of machine so you will choose the machine you will most need to use:
-Lathes – such as Myford, Boxford or Colchester; Capstan Lathes
-Milling Machines such as Bridgeport, Centec or Harrison
- Drilling Machines, Grinders and buffers
-Fabrication Machinery, Shapers and Presses. Tool and Cutter Grinders
There are now CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines available for home workshop use for the dedicated modeler , though quite expensive to buy new a quality CNC Router will machine a range of resistant materials such as hard and soft wood, plastic, modeling foam, acrylic and non-ferrous metals. It is also possible to build a CNC as a home project with electronics components from a supplier such as Astute Electronics.
Home Engineering Workshop Equipment
As well as large machines each home workshop will need a range of smaller items of equipment and tooling and small tools such as:
- Measuring tools such as micrometers, telescopic gauges, engineering levels and rules, precision squares, dial calipers and venires, internal and external calipers and rulers
- Standard home tools – such as a heavy duty drill and soldering equipment, ranges and types of spanners and screwdrivers, pliers and cutters, hammers and gimlets
- Engineering tools such a drills and cutters, needle files and larger files, heat gun
- Home-made tooling such as devices for holding work and bespoke measuring
- Other essential supplies- such as duct tape, emery paper, glues and adhesives, paints and coatings, copious supplies of cloths and wipes, brush and shovel, waste bins. Kettle and tea making supplies if far from kitchen!
- Computer and software
- Nowadays most engineers would need to have a computer if only for checking workshop supplies on eBay and other websites. However, the computer is also essential for:
- -running CAD or other design software
- -keeping a database of equipment or hobby collections
- -keeping a workshop record of activity and projects including pictures and images of work in progress
- -using for emailing hobby contacts;
- -finding information and advice about specific materials or projects
-keeping spreadsheet records of costs and dates when things were purchased-organised by items and project – good for when you sell a particular item
Home Engineering Workshop Essentials
There are a number of additional must-haves for the home workshop including:
- Storage: Each home workshop needs a whole range of storage solutions to house all the large and small tools, equipment and materials including
- Shelving – metal shelving including heavy-duty shelving for large heavy items of machinery or spares
- Wall racks or hooks-for individual tools – this can be made from pegboard fitted against one wall with hooks attached where needed or be purpose made to hold tools
- Cabinet boxes and drawers – these are essential for putting in small tools and equipment of different sizes such as screws and drills, circlips and washers. These little boxes are usually clear so that you can see what is in, but should also be clearly marked with the actually size. Don’t get these mixed up or chaos will result!
- Plastic Bins – there are all kinds of sizes of plastic bins which may be floor standing or made to do on a shelf, they may be different colours for colour-coding and they may also be stackable and slide together for stability. Some care needs to be taken initially to get the kind of storage to suit your own materials. Your own little cardboard boxes will often just not do as after you accumulate a hundred or so you can never find anything. You will also need storage to house another home engineering essential
- Junk
Every engineer will need to have a store of “junk” which will include parts of machines or engines, offcuts of metal or other material or a selection of stuff left over from previous projects. This is often the most useful resource for re-cycling and reusing key items instead of buying new or making from scratch
- Catalogues and magazines
No Engineer worth his or her salt would be without a pile (or many) of catalogues and magazines of favourite interests. These need storage too (though often need severe culling too!)