Official Leather Shop Thread. Show us your Shop or Shop Area.

[will ghormley]

I saw this thread this morning and it got me to thinkin' about everyone's shops.  I see all these great photos of guy's work areas.  I even have photos folks have sent me from France and places like that, just so I can share their shops with them.  I'm always impressed by how many tools guys have, and how organized they are.  Everyone seems so tidy too (except me)!

Then, I think of the little dump I work in.  When folks tell me they want to stop by and see my shop, I ask 'em, "Why?  You'll just be disappointed."  I don't know anyone who works with leather that has a smaller inventory of tools than I do, and mine are scattered all over the joint.

But then I got to thinkin'. I've got this dumpy little room and an unimpressive array of tools, but I've done alright.  Why not show folks anything is possible if you are willin' to work with what you've got.  Then I realize, there are folks who don't have near as much stuff as I've got.

But, it reminds me of a story I like to tell the classes I teach.  When I was just startin' out full-time in leather workin', I had two hand stitchin' needles.  I was workin' on a job, and one of my needles broke.  I had enough fumes in my truck to get to The Leather Factory and back, and I had eleven cents to my name.  So, I loaded the kids into the truck, and drove up to see Byron at The Leather Factory.  Julie met me at the door and asked what I needed.  I asked her how much hand stitchin' needles cost.  She said, "A pack of 100 is such-and-such."  I asked her how much one needle was.  She said they didn't sell single needles.  I explained to her I had just broke a needle and only had one needle left.  I had eleven cents and needed to buy a needle so I could finish the job and get paid.  So, she busted open a pack of needles and sold me one for eleven cents.  That eleven cents and the needle it bought was all there was between total failure and all the success and near failures I've experienced since.  And, it wasn't all that long ago, (in dog years anyway).

So, if you'd like to see my shop, hit the link below and check her out.  I'll warn ya' though, it's long on character and short on flash.  http://www.willghormley-maker.com/Shop.html

Will

[JD Alan]

It's not the shop people are interested in; it's the man in the shop. That's why I took a half day out of my shooting schedule in California to go meet WC. The man is inspiring, and he remembers when he met you!

Like it or Mr Ghormley, you are an inspiring character. I imagine Chuck Burrows goes through this sort of thing too.

Thanks for taking the time to share pics and descriptions of what's going on in there. I can guarantee you there won't be a single person from this forum who views your pictures who will be disappointed

[Gun Butcher]

Will, back before I ever built my first Muzzleloader, I told someone I didn't have anywhere to build it and they gave me a story about a guy that built award winning rifles under his house. He had actually shoveled out a hole and laid his table top on the ground in the crawl space. I never said I didn't have a place again. My first one was built in the living room floor with the aid of a very understanding and supportive wife.
What more can a man ask for.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

  Will, your work area isn't half as bad as you made it out to be, in fact it looks nice and cozy, I was lucky as a kid growing up and being exposed to a work shop, my Dad loved his shop as I do mine today, but mine didn't happen over night, I've been putting it together for close to forty years now, and it's changed configurations several times over this period, I have to say that I would feel like my heart had been cut out if I didn't have my shop, it's a great part of who I am today.
  Will it's nice to see that you and others are all pretty much the same, we all are blessed to have a place to do our craft, no matter how big or small, or how neat or cluttered, it's our space and that's all that matters.  Thanks for sharing and the look see Will.


        tEN wOLVES 

[DUKE DEADEYE NUKEM]

This is one of my favorite benches and I'm going this week to pick up a couple more.
SOLID MAPLE TOP. 1 3/4 inches thick and $189.00


SAM'S CLUB LINK




Not bad looking wood.

[DUKE DEADEYE NUKEM]

This one is almost done just have to assemble the 4 large drawers.









WHAT A MESS!!!!

[Ned Buckshot]

Well here's a couple of my shop. It's in a bedroom of my apartment.

Lots of stuff packed in there!

Ned

[Ned Buckshot]

And here's the other side.

[JD Alan]

Ned, it seems to me that you've produced some mighty fine gear over the years. I don't know how much of it has been done in your apartment, but it just goes to show that you can do a lot even if you don't have a ton of money to throw at things. For those that do, more power to them, but for those that don't, it doesn't appear to be stopping them, which is cool!

[Ned Buckshot]

Thanks JD. I've been living here over 2 years so alot has been done in a small space.

Ned

[outrider]

Will,

Your shop is laid out just right.....don't let him fool you fellows...he has a nice shop....I tried to steal that nice hunk of marble...but I could'nt lift it  and then again he wouldn't help

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Will,

Your shop is laid out just right.....don't let him fool you fellows...he has a nice shop....I tried to steal that nice hunk of marble...but I could'nt lift it  and then again he wouldn't help

    Outrider, I heard Will was like that, he probably told you, that you could have the dugout ifin you could get it in your trunk.


                     tEN wOLVES 

[JD Alan]

Outrider, that's really cool that you've visited Will at his home-shop. I'm sure you had a good time.

[outrider]

JD,

It took me two years to get to see him...first time 8" of snow....second time...ice storm.  Let me tell you...Will, is a first class guy.  He is down to earth and extremely  talented and my wife and I really enjoyed our visit with him and his two sons.  He is welcome at my home anytime....we as a group are very lucky to have him, and others, in our forum.  enough said

P.S.....I still would like to have that hunk of marble...but I would have to rent a U-Haul and a fork lift to get it home

[DUKE DEADEYE NUKEM]

This is a really good example how resourceful a fine craftsman can be. Very good use of your space Ned.

[Dalton Masterson]

Nice shop Will!

Mine is pretty much just in one corner of a long bedroom. Its packed and stacked with stuff I sell on Ebay, a gun workbench, part of my watch collection and watch tools, a stereo, my Adler shoepatch machine, and this here computer. Plus all my cowboy shootin gear and clothes are directly behind me when I stand at the bench.
Someday, I hope to dedicate about half of this room to leatherwork, and get rid of some stuff......
DM

[JD Alan]

Dalton, that must be one big bedroom, or have a very small bed!

[Ned Buckshot]

Thanks Duke.

It doesn't take me long to get anywhere in there!

Here's one other corner, 2' that would have been wasted.

Ned

[Dalton Masterson]

Naw JD. No bed in there now. Its a 4 bedroom house with just us and Wesley, so I took the "shop" looking one downstairs. It has its own bath, and pretty much its own entrance if I ever decided to make an actual business type shop out of it.

Ned, I missed yours. Nice setup for a small area!
DM

[DUKE DEADEYE NUKEM]

 Howdy Duke

    Nice shop/work area, looks like yours is in your house, there is a benefit to that when it's cold or hot outside, it looks like you have all your needs met, thanks for the look see

    tEN wOLVES  

Oh I wish mine was that well organized. Those pics are from the previous post Ned put up.