Photo by Jim Ruen My shop in progress is currently full of piles of tools until I can get it all organized. |
Even great ideas can have a downside. As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, I’m making the transition to a shop remote from the garage, where it has shared residence with vehicles and assorted storage bins.
So far, the process has largely consisted of transporting tools and materials to the shed. I did install my long-suffering workbench (this was its seventh home in the past 30 years.) However, most everything else sits in stacks against the wall.
The major downside so far—apart from not being able to recall which stack needed items are in—is the fact that tools and supplies are now 100-plus feet removed. This was brought home the other day when I was installing some trim. Where I once slipped out the door to the garage, I headed out across the lawn. I grabbed the portable drill bag off the bench, the container of nails and a hammer.
Once back in the house I opened the bag to discover I had not returned the drill to it the previous day. Back to the shop I went. With the first nails placed to secure a strip of trim, I looked for the nail punch. Again I headed for the shop.
Now this wasn’t bad with weather in the 50s; all I had to do was slip on a pair of shoes. As we head into a Minnesota winter, I know such jaunts will be a little more daunting, especially if drifting snow fills in the shoveled path as it is sure to do.
I’ll definitely be making my list and checking it twice. I’ll also be beefing up my in-house tool kit. Of course as far as downsides go, having an excuse to buy new tools isn’t that bad.
