Old School Craftsman's New Shop
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If you are a long-time friend of the Old School Craftsman team, then you know that it has been one of our greatest ambitions to build a customized shop on our property for years. In 2023, that dream finally took its first steps towards being realized as Brendon, Trish, and I broke ground on the workshop.
You may have seen our workshop update post from a few months ago. We are excited to announce that the workshop is now complete, and I have to say, it turned out better than expected.
This blog post is dedicated to showcasing some of the new features of the Old School Craftsman workshop to give you an idea of some of our new capabilities. We will discuss why we built the new shop, a few new machines we have, and other ways the new shop will help our team go further than ever before!
Exploring the New Old School Craftsman Shop
There are a few reasons I wanted to build a custom shop for Old School Craftsman. The primary reason was that we wanted to improve our capabilities so that we could pursue new types of projects and focus more on historical restorations.
In addition to that, I wanted a space for Brendon to inherit that would suit his capabilities. He is a marvel at working with robotics so adding three custom CNC robots (we will touch on this a little later) cleared the way for Brendon to explore his skills.
The shop also makes it possible for more work to come to us. Now that we have a dedicated workspace, people from all over the country can reach out to us and request custom projects. We can build pieces right here in our shop and then ship the completed projects to our clients. This will take our ability to complete historical builds to the next level, and I couldn’t be more excited!
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Exploring the New Machinery
The best part about the new shop? All the new gadgets we get to explore!
There are two new machines that we brought in for the workshop that I want to highlight, the CNC robots and the Altendorf saw.
CNC Robots
We have three CNC robots in our new shop.
- 5’ x 12’ CNC – this is the most advanced equipment, it works on 5 axis points for cutting spindels, A, B, X, Y, Z
- 4’ x 8’ CNC – the traditional CNC robot, it works with X, Y, and Z axis
- Handheld CNC – this one is used for specialty or untraditional shapes
CNC machines, or computer numerical control machines, are specialized tools that allow us as craftsmen to cut wood pieces to exact specifications using simple mathematics. Brendon is a real expert at this process!
Essentially, CNCs use inputs on a fixed number of axis (as I detailed above) to create a 3D rendering of an object, and then the robotic arm cuts a given piece of wood into the shape of the input.
The three distinct CNC sizes allow us to create customized wood pieces of differing sizes. This is very helpful for historical restorations because you can be incredibly precise with your inputs so you can make custom piece sizes. So far, one use of the CNCs has been to create custom spindles for historical porches.
Altendorf Saw
If CNC machines are made for Brendon, then the Altendorf saw was made for me. Built in Germany, this 12-foot slider saw is meant to last three shifts per day for fifty years. Talk about craftsmanship!
These models are so exclusive that the headquarters in Germany registers each individual piece of their saws, so when you order a new piece Altendorf knows exactly who the saw belongs to.
We bought our Altendorf used from a friend of mine named Jon Wonderly, and I was so eager to use it that I called to order a replacement part before Jon has a chance to change the registration to Brendan’s name. Altendorf called Job to ensure I hadn’t stolen the saw! I was more impressed than anything by their dedication to their customers.
This amazing piece of machinery was created by a team of tradesmen who care so passionately about its use, and we are more than excited about what we will be able to accomplish.
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Final Considerations for the New Shop
As of the day this post was written, the new floors are installed and covered with a rexthane sealant. Now that our respirators are off, and the chemical smell has dissipated, I cannot believe how great it all looks!
These rexthane floors will be easy to clean and oil resistant, which means the next step is getting to work and making a mess.
We are more than excited to start using our new tools and machines and since the walls are insulated and soundproofed, we can make all the noise we want without worrying about disturbing our neighbors.
There are so many new and exciting projects that we are eager to undertake. Now that we have the workshop I have always dreamed of, the sky is the limit!
Old School Craftsman is Here for Your Custom Builds
With the Old School Craftsman workshop now complete, we are ready for a new batch of exciting and challenging projects. Over the last year, Brendon, Trish, and I have accomplished so much, but it's just the beginning.
We want to hear from you! The Old School Craftsman team is here to handle projects ranging from historical restorations to custom home upgrades. We believe in old school ideologies and transparency for each project. That means being honest about every piece of work we will perform upfront and investing the time and energy required for each step of the project.
What role do historical societies play in restoring and maintaining old homes? Learn more here!
Now that we have a new workshop space, our team can do more than ever before! Click here to reach out to Old School Craftsman and discuss your historical restoration or custom home addition now!
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