I have a small machine shop under a detached two car garage. It measures 20'x20'. Small by machine shop standards but probably in the middle of what those here have. It's dedicated to metal work with the minimal wood working tools in the basement.

In the mid-1980s, after a couple of years at a “real” job, I realized I could afford some machine tools. So I spent all my savings on a lathe, a mill, and minimal tooling. The lathe is a 14”x33” 5HP Goodway from Taiwan which I purchased new. Compared to others here, a large lathe. I've used no other lathes to any extent, but really like this one.

[center][img]www.currin.us/MEM/Shop/lathe.jpg[/img][/center]

I've build a few add-ons including a tool post grinder, 5C collet holder, soft jaws, etc. One advantage of a larger lathe, with a 5MT spindle, is a 5C nearly fits inside the Morse taper. An adapter is a fairly clean addition.

[center][table][tr][td][img]www.currin.us/MEM/Shop/5C-1.jpg[/img][/td]
               [td][img]www.currin.us/MEM/Shop/5C-2.jpg[/img][/td][/tr][/table][/center]
[center][img]www.currin.us/MEM/Shop/TPgrinder.jpg[/img][/center]

My mill is a Bridgeport size knee mill, a 2HP SuperMax also from Taiwan. I purchased this used with mechanical dial readouts on the X and Y axes.

[center][img]www.currin.us/MEM/Shop/mill.jpg[/img][/center]

Some 15 years ago, after too much futzing with a rotary table, I initiated the adventure of retrofitting my mill for CNC. After 3 or 4 years of part time effort, I have a three axis CNC mill. I haven't used the rotary table since. I'm now using VariCAD as my CAD system and SheetCAM for generating G-code. Both run on a Linux system which is the only operating system I now use. Obviously I use LinuxCNC for the machine controller. SheetCAM is a 2 ½ D package and I'm still looking for an inexpensive 3D CAM package for Linux.

[center][table][tr][td][img]www.currin.us/MEM/Shop/Zaxis.jpg[/img][/td]
                             [td][img]www.currin.us/MEM/Shop/Xaxis.jpg[/img][/td][/tr][/table]
             [table][tr][td][img]www.currin.us/MEM/Shop/cnc.jpg[/img][/td]
                            [td][img]www.currin.us/MEM/Shop/Yaxis.jpg[/img][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

There's a 7” horizontal band saw from MSC and a very old converted vertical wood band-saw. The vertical isn't too useful but retains its place.

[center][table][tr][td][img]www.currin.us/MEM/Shop/HorizBand.jpg[/img][/td]
                             [td][img]www.currin.us/MEM/Shop/VertBand.jpg[/img][/td][/tr][/table][/center]

I also have a old SyncroWave 250 welder set up for TIG. TIG welders have gotten so much smaller, with improved power electronics, but this one is in place and works well. (works far better than I do.) When I purchased it, it was the smallest welder available with high frequency for aluminum.

[center][img]www.currin.us/MEM/Shop/welder.jpg[/img][/center]

The newest addition is a stationary belt sander I built last summer.

[center][img]www.currin.us/MEM/Shop/BeltSander.jpg[/img][/center]

And, needing a small tube bender to fix the one shot oiler on the mill, I made one from plans. Some might recognize the plan set.

[center][img]www.currin.us/MEM/Shop/TubeBender.jpg[/img][/center]

As I mentioned, the shop is on the bottom floor of a two car garage. It's half sunk into the grade (nicely cool in summer) with only one people sized door.  I wrestled for some time how to move the equipment in. It was either open up a double door and fix the “driveway” to it, or build a hoist and lower the machine tools through the floor of the upper garage. The trap door won so I built a gantry of 4”x4”s and an I-beam. Using a fork lift and chain hoist the equipment was lowered into the shop. I wish I had pictures, but alas you'll just have to believe me. It was exciting. I think of this every time someone talks about moving a machine into the basement of up some stairs.

But the item which may generate the greatest envy is this radiator.

[center][img]www.currin.us/MEM/Shop/radiator.jpg[/img][/center]

We live in a very unique neighborhood in Klamath Falls, Oregon where one can drill a hot water well. We don't pump water from the well (that's against code) but run two pipe loops down 200+ feet and back up. The water comes out at 180F. One loop for domestic hot water and one for heating. Well, the shop is plumbed into the heating loop keeping it at a 68F, for free. It's really nice, forever hot showers and if the house gets stuffy just open a couple of windows and turn up the heat. (Though at -15F the shop loop struggles and the temp can drop to 60F or so, a real shame.)

So, there's a quick tour of my shop. That's most of the stuff, without looking into the drawers. I do like the equipment and find it more capable than I am. Being newly retired I hope to spend more time there. An engine build has risen to the top of the list. I'll likely start a Webster IC build soon.

I hope this is of some interest. Thank you for coming along on the ride and reading this far.