new member

**william eickhoff** · Apr 14, 2016, 06:58 PM

Hi all

Just found this site looking for ideas on setting up my 'new' workshop at home.
For the last 20 years my machine shop has been part of a large double garage under the house.
Over the last 10 years I have excavated about 80 square meters of space under the rest of the house. Not something I recommend to the fainthearted. The last step involved installing 3 large steel beams (my Christmas present to myself) to keep the rest of the house where it is.
I have trained and worked as an industrial/research chemist for the last 40 years. The last 30 in university natural products/herbal medicine research. Out of necessity due to constant lack of funding and support I taught myself metalworking and machine-shop skills in order to keep our laboratory instrument going long after their expiry date. I also learned to design and build (invent) specialized lab equipment that is not available commercially. I mostly work with stainless steel, aluminium, glass, Teflon and other plastics, mainly from my home shop because the university does not support that kind of activity. I spend a lot of time in junk stores,recycling centers and scrap metal dealers looking for cheap materials. It's a long story.
Besides the scientific gear I also build a lot of tools and stuff for home, including the odd piece of furniture.

In the next 6 month I will finish off the walls and floors in my shop. Some concrete grinding, rendering and painting and start moving my machinery in. My main concerns are proper and functional placements of my machine tools and benches along with efficient functional storage of tools and materials. Along with proper lighting and ventilation. I like to get things right the first time. Looking forward to some great ideas from this group.

William
Lennox Head
Australia