TOUR THE SHOP | Dog Soul Woodworks

My workshop here at Dog Soul Woodworks, has been an ever evolving project since the day I bought the house. It hasn't always been my primary place of business, but it has always been a workshop, and my happy place. It allows me to follow my passion, and that is simply to create. I'm the type of person that always wanted to learn how to do something, rather than have someone else do it for me. So, when I needed drawings I taught myself AutoCAD. I didn't look for a local welding shop, I bought a welder. I'm a wood turner, I have a vinyl mat cutter, a diode laser engraver, multiple 3D printers, I smelt my own metal, and I play disc golf. That last one probably isn't as relevant. I've worked in the large fabrication plants, I've run those large fabrication plants, and I've spent many years curating all of resources I need to ensure that I can produce anything that they can... but better. All of this equipment in a small space sometimes gets a little cramped, but I've structured my shop to minimize, moving things around to do this, and then moving them back to do that, as I hope you can see in the photos. Inevitably this has to happen from time to time, but it's a small price to pay to be able to work from home and do what I love. I enjoy talking about my shop because I've invested so much of my life in it. So, if you have any questions even just related to that, please feel free to reach out. Enjoy the tour!

The Design Center

This is where most everything I do, comes to life.

Welcome to the dog house

I look forward to walking through this door every day.

Up to the shop

At the top of the stairs you can see my 30/60k BTU heater. Much needed during a midwest winter.

The stairs are all drawers for added storage.

And a gentle reminder for when I want to be left alone.

You pass my clamp rack on the way up the stairs, and what's that right above...

... yep, that's my dog sled. Because why wouldn't you have a dog sled in your shop?

Here it is

Don't itemize yet folks, just soak it all in.

West wall

East wall

North wall

OK, I've got a lot to explain...

OCD Tape measures & Pencils

I've kinda got a thing about having a tape and pencil handy, so you might notice these around the shop here and there.

Breakdown time: East wall

You can never have enough storage, and these cabinets are as filled as my wall space.

Southeast corner

Here you've got my simple flux core welder, my drill press, my dust collector, bandsaw, smelting furnace, bench grinder, and that mess sitting on the shelf is my drum sander.

The tool box holds a lot of my not-everyday-tools, and most of my drilling and welding supplies. My drill press is nice but I'd like to upgrade to a gear-head soon.

Dust collector

My custom collection box hold 3-1/2 times what the standard bags do. But I do need to upgrade to a canister filter.

And when it gets full...

... you get these awesome patterens

Small concession

Rikon is a beast, but the benchtop size of my bandsaw is sometimes limiting. I have a friend however, who has a full size. I think I'll leave well enough alone for now.

On the side you can see my bench grinder, and down below is the furnace that I use, primarily to make brass.

Panel Storage

From 2 feet to 8 feet, I've got a spot for it. You might notice the copper on the wall to the right...

... that is the evaporative cooler for my air compressor. The moisture in the hot air that's produced, condenses on the copper as it travels through the snake, and sinks to the low points where it gets bled out. Zero moving parts and it will run forever. Works fantastic.

A LOT to unpack here!

So I have a "milling cell" in the middle of one bay. On this side is my planer with helical head.

On the back side is my jointer, also with a helical cutter.