Look! Our Outdoor Workshop

One of the challenges of small space living is having to find room to do "workshop" type projects. When we redid our desk during the January Jumpstart (thats right, dead of winter, in Chicago) we had to work down in our unheated, communal basement - not so fun. BUT, in June it's a whole new story...

While working on a project that required lots of power sawing of wood this weekend, we moved operations outdoors and it was a great solution...plenty of room, easy cleanup, and the enjoyment of chatting with neighbors and balmy breezes.

We purchased these two steel sawhorses from Home Depot to create a large worktable and are very happy with the purchase. The sawhorses were inexpensive ($19.99 each), super sturdy, adjustable, solidly made and they fold up to a very compact size for storage in between projects.

We simply combined them with a simple c clamp, a sheet of plywood and a good long extension cord running from our apartment and we were all set.

Comments (9)

The holes in the sawhorses top surface are so you can attach a 2x4 to them. That way you dont messup your saw blade when you cut through the top surface

posted by pronechr on June 24th 2008 at 5:54pm
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If I tried that here (nyc), my neighbors would shoot me.

And frankly, if you operated a circ saw within earshot of my open windows on a pleasant June day, I'd shoot you...

posted by Bolder on June 24th 2008 at 8:26pm
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I have been using an old ikea table as a work bench but found it lacking (wobbly, not square etc). also living in an apartment I was hogging valuable 'living' space, thanks this is a great idea.

posted by Huw on June 24th 2008 at 9:10pm
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your neighbours were ok with you taking up the sidewalk space with your project?

posted by ange_lune on June 25th 2008 at 3:04am
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I am freaking begging you and all AT staff to nix the editorial "we" for personal stories like this one.

posted by Cassis on June 25th 2008 at 4:12am
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I take it you had someone watching your setup when you inevitably had to go back indoors to get tools or parts? I don't think I would ever do that for fear of something getting forgotten outdoors or stolen.

posted by John H on June 25th 2008 at 4:15am
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Seconding what John H said... or worse yet, some precocious child nipping off fingers with the saw!

Also, SUPER SECONDING Cassis' comments on the "Royal We". I'm quite impressed/inspired by someone who manages to do a project solo, so why not celebrate it?

posted by rockypondgirl on June 25th 2008 at 6:29am
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So what were you making?! I remember seeing a photo or two of your place a while back (tall bookshelves, low bed) and would love to see more. House tour?

posted by Lori in Florida on June 25th 2008 at 6:42am
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I've seen this done before and no one seems to mind. Last weekend one of my neighbors did this and it was no big deal.

posted by jooly on June 25th 2008 at 8:28am
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