The first workshop open house was a resounding success despite being held under the cloud of Covid. The open shop team has provided the following summary sheet:
Open Shop Summary — Thompson — July 2020
Download here or read below. (following the recap by Dave Campbell)
Shop Tour Recap
The first of Saint James woodworkers shop tours was held on Tuesday you lie 14th 2020. Approximately 20 woodworkers attended and each showed up with a mask.
The event was hosted by Craig Thompson, who showcased his dedicated shop space (approximately 18×18’) that is accessed from the corner of his garage. It’s a comfortable, air-conditioned space with thoughtful dust collection and air cleaning equipment. Craig’s large machinery has evolved from a Shopsmith (circa 2000) to a current radial arrangement that includes a tablesaw, bandsaw, drill press, thickness sander and even a small mortiser. He repositions a small router table when he needs it. Countertops and a mobile assembly table are built at tablesaw height. A tablesaw and the assembly table (in an outfeed position) are now at the center of the shop, allowing maximal capacities for ripping and cross cutting. The radial saw is, similarly, at the center of one wall. A half wall of pegboard accommodates most hand tools. Light comes through two windows, overhead fixtures and clip-on lamps. Favorite tools include the drill press, an updated Kreg jig, and a pocket plane that uses utility knife blades. All large tools except the radial arm saw have wheels or are on mobile platforms, so it’s possible to relocate tool into the garage for extra large projects.
Craig spends a lot more time fishing than working in the shop, but he’s an accomplished woodworker with many projects behind him — hardwood cutting boards, wine barrel stave gifts, and much of his home bar area. His stash of wood and sheet goods allows him to get almost any project underway, and it’s clear he uses his tools. It was an informative and impressive visit.
— David Campbell
After Tour Notes – Craig Thompson Shop
| Shop owner satisfied | Yes, very satisfied – tour went well and lots of good questions. It was fun to discuss the various options and features of my shop among the members |
| Number of Members visiting | Total attendance was 18 people – two folks came who were not scheduled so that’s good – Joe Zukowski and Bob Beaumont |
| Hours held: | From 3 – 5 PM actual session wrapped up about 4:45 |
| Suggestions for improving – what worked well and what should change | What worked Well:
· Let members roam around shop · Have a binder of past project photos – that lead to many questions on the how and tools used · Extra room outside shop ( Garage ) worked well as a staging holding area – had in the shop at any one time about 8 folks · John Matter brought two of his guitars as show and tell · Talked about which of the tools do you use most often · Had some giveaways which seemed to help · Name Tags helped
Improvers: · As it was the first one – no real improvers .. seemed to flow well .. very casual and free flowing. · Beverages – had water – only used about 5 bottles – so maybe the beverage idea is not needed
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