Well, my OH has finally agreed to build me a shedio!!!! I think the Kiln, oxycon, torch, and ever increasing glass and press stash in the kitchen has started to take up just a bit too much space!!!! (I already use the spare bedroom for my jewellery and card making!)
It won't be big, about 6' x 6', but it will be all mine! ;D
Question is, what do I use for my bench? He's doing some plans now, and is looking at building a wooden banch all down one side, with a narrower one for storage on the opposite side.
Do I get sheet metal to bend around it to protect it against molten glass? Or is there a better solution?
I want to get it right, from the start, as once it's done, it probably won't be changed for many years!!!
I've ordered my ventilation kit from Tuffnells, so no more open doors, open windows, and crossed fingers!!!
Sooooo excited!!! ;D
I have a piece of granite that covers my bench. It was an off-cut found on ebay, and cheaper than a piece of steel. It was from a guy that sold granite for kitchens. Works well ;D
Thanks Lynne. Hadn't thought about anything like that. Would go well with my purple colour scheme too!!!!
Quote from: Purple Cobwebs on June 16, 2011, 01:50:55 PM
Thanks Lynne. Hadn't thought about anything like that. Would go well with my purple colour scheme too!!!!
LOL! He was very good, and cut it to size and bull nosed all the edges. It is nice to work on, and very easy to clean :)
Or Ikea do a stainless steel table top.
mine is a bit of old kitchen worktop with stainless steel on top. I bought the whole sheet and the guy cut it up for me, he wanted to charge me for the whole sheet to just cut the bits I wanted, I said I wanted all the offcuts since I'm paying for em! I have them on the back wall too so I don't set fire to my lovely purple paint!
some people use tiles.
someone on here posted a pic of their workspace and it was covered in tiles.... cant remember who now :-\
it was Vonnie, its here http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=30163.0;topicseen
I just have wooden work top, and a flame proof square right under my torch.
Gets a bit smelly when I forget to use my rod rest though.
I want to go with tiles so I can put some on the wall too.
Mine is an old computer desk with a sheet of metal on the top stolen borrowed from DH's workshop.
It is a only temporary set up, hope to move my studio before the winter as the conservatory is so cold then (unless its a sunny day)
As long as you have the area under and around your torch in some sort of fire proof material I think you can choose whatever you like.
I've just got tiles, large ones, and they get an awful lot of abuse, as I happily use them to marver, squish, etc :)
Not that I am recommending this, but I have rubber mats. I am very aware when I put something hot on them ::)
I have an old table covered with steel - but I bartered and swapped for mine, it cost me nothing ;)
I'm covering mine with ceramic tiles, just bought a job lot from Focus when they started their close down so got them as cheap as chips, not the same colour but who cares it will be bright!! So got enough for the walll as well
Sandra
Mine's kitchen worktop and I use the metal stand thingy that came with my HH as a protector. Warm Glass sell some metal bits just for the job. In class we had wooden table tops and a baking sheet under the torch to catch the drips and hold the rods, worked fine.
Mines a wooden table. its great when it sets alight ;D (tis hardwood, so its doesn't last long the flames)
My old set up were slate tiles. Loved it, and it looked purdy too
I got a huge sheet of metal - I think it's aluminium for about £20 from B&Q which I've got on top of an old dining room table.
Thank you all so much for all of the fab ideas! OH is sitting planning away on his computer!!!!! We've agreed a layout and size, and where the windows and door will be!!! He's got some sort of CAD package, so he's positioned my kiln and oxycon on the plan!
I'm quite tempted by the tile idea, then I can have some funky colours!!!!!
Oooh, excitement. Mustn't get too excited though, as I'm sure it'll be Christmas before its all finished!!!! Thinking of starting a mini blog to chart it's progress!!!!
:P
Hi
I use a kitchen worktop along the short side and a thinner bathroom worktop along the longer side to form an L shape work area. then shelves along the other short end on the shed, if that makes sense. B&Q do 600mm x 600mm tiles 3 for £15 ish in store which would cover enough worktop to work on. I use a few flame retardant soldering tiles on the wall in front of the torch and a couple on the roof above it just to be safe. Heres the link
http://www.suttontools.co.uk/acatalog/Soldering_Blocks.html
and the product reference is Soldering board 300 x 300 x 12mm Ref: SA028
Regards
oh yeah, you reminded me, we added a strip of timber to the back of my work bench, to widen it.
cause I have a bobcat which has quite a long narrow flame, and I plan at some point to hook it up to the 2nd oxy, my other torch is a midrange plus, which I also plan to try with both oxys.
I'm a cheapskate and have Poundland baking trays as my worktop protection lol! ;D
I got four lots of stainless steel splashbacks off ebay which are set on the counter top and on the wall behind the torch below the extractors.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2767/4123870819_4291a49394.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheekycherubdesigns/4123870819/)
IMG_5528 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheekycherubdesigns/4123870819/) by Kaz ~ CheekyCherubDesigns (http://www.flickr.com/people/cheekycherubdesigns/), on Flickr
Kazx
I had a work surface built on three walls of my shedio - MDF, and then tiled all the way around with edging to finish it off.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
Kaz, what a beautiful kitty you have!
Aw - that was my Mili who was unfortunately killed on the road last October.
I probably should have edited that photo before showing.....sorry!
Kazx
Can I just say, Kaz's space is lovely to work in...
Oooh, I'm liking that very much Kaz!!!! x
I second your comment Krysia! It's luvverly and cosy! I DREAM of a workspace like Kaz's - maybe when we (eventually) move house ...
Maybe if you get the chance to work in other people's torch spaces that might help
I got an engineer's bench from Machine Mart.
Its made out of metal so doesn't mind hot glass being dropped onto it and is painted a bright cheerful red.
Have got my torch clamped on one side and my kiln on the other. It also comes with a drawer that goes underneath ( fits either side) for all your fiddly bits (especially good for not leaving the torch lighter on the bench). And its got a raised 'lip' around 3 sides which stops things from dropping off.
I love it :)