Theblackbox
Member
- Messages
- 343
- Location
- Somerset uk
Thought I’d stick a thread up about my workshop and the goings on this won’t be about the work I do more the work behind the scenes on machinery restorations and moving the workshop around a full time job in itself often gets overlooked and I get bogged down in it so hopefully this might give me a boot to get on with the many projects!
This is a space that I run a business from so machines aren’t kept original or immaculate as long as they work, do the job and are safe that’s all that matters!
Bit of history it’s been a long hard slog to get where I am today lots of hours, lots of eating dinner at a bench and even sleeping in the workshop.
started with not much cash hardly knowing anything have had a massive learning curve in all aspects made a tonne of sacrifices done some pretty cool projects met some awesome people
started the business about 7/8 years ago I got made redundant from a stainless exhaust manufacture that got asset stripped the guy had run up massive debts and took what he could and scrapped the rest very sad sight to see!
Didn’t really know where to go or what to do with little experience in the industry I had a few days a week offered to me subcontracting this was mostly polishing/ finishing pharmaceutical, medical and other interesting stuff plus a bit of stainless exhaust work and it went on from there. I started in my parents garage (I’m early 30s now so I would have been 25/26!) with a 2x1mtr bench that I had made, a basic 240v 180a mig, tig and a bandsaw that didn’t cut straight. (Sadly don’t think I have any pics of the early days!)
After a while the work I had coming soon overtook the subcontract stuff plus I got fed up with the playground politics that seems to be in a lot of big shops at that time I was mostly doing retail stands and what ever else I could get my hands on! Parents got fed up of me working from home so I found a 6x7mtr unit on the estate I am on now. Felt like a mansion worked in there for about 3yrs. When a neighbour was moving out of the unit I am in now rent was about double what I was paying I had no plan on how I could manage but I knew that it was achievable and Took the leap been in this place 3yrs I think!
Measures about 10x12 / 10x10 mtrs with a mezzanine.
Now I mostly make bespoke dog cages for cars and vans along with a multitude of other work I’m quite particular with what I take on.
Recently I’ve had to go vat registered so another change for the business and new opportunities so it’s time for a good sort out!!
Onto the tour….
This is a space that I run a business from so machines aren’t kept original or immaculate as long as they work, do the job and are safe that’s all that matters!
Bit of history it’s been a long hard slog to get where I am today lots of hours, lots of eating dinner at a bench and even sleeping in the workshop.
started with not much cash hardly knowing anything have had a massive learning curve in all aspects made a tonne of sacrifices done some pretty cool projects met some awesome people
started the business about 7/8 years ago I got made redundant from a stainless exhaust manufacture that got asset stripped the guy had run up massive debts and took what he could and scrapped the rest very sad sight to see!
Didn’t really know where to go or what to do with little experience in the industry I had a few days a week offered to me subcontracting this was mostly polishing/ finishing pharmaceutical, medical and other interesting stuff plus a bit of stainless exhaust work and it went on from there. I started in my parents garage (I’m early 30s now so I would have been 25/26!) with a 2x1mtr bench that I had made, a basic 240v 180a mig, tig and a bandsaw that didn’t cut straight. (Sadly don’t think I have any pics of the early days!)
After a while the work I had coming soon overtook the subcontract stuff plus I got fed up with the playground politics that seems to be in a lot of big shops at that time I was mostly doing retail stands and what ever else I could get my hands on! Parents got fed up of me working from home so I found a 6x7mtr unit on the estate I am on now. Felt like a mansion worked in there for about 3yrs. When a neighbour was moving out of the unit I am in now rent was about double what I was paying I had no plan on how I could manage but I knew that it was achievable and Took the leap been in this place 3yrs I think!
Measures about 10x12 / 10x10 mtrs with a mezzanine.
Now I mostly make bespoke dog cages for cars and vans along with a multitude of other work I’m quite particular with what I take on.
Recently I’ve had to go vat registered so another change for the business and new opportunities so it’s time for a good sort out!!
Onto the tour….