The Cave - building my own (work)place

[TommyKillander]

Hey Guys!

My activities in the buildthreads have been a bit low recently. I haven't stopped scalemodelling, but I'm focusing my time, effort (and money) on fixing a more permanent workplace.

My current workplace is a small area next to the stairs between first and second floor in our house.
It's not a bad place, but with three kids and a dog there is almost never a quiet moment until late at evenings when the kids have crashed. But at that point I'm too tired to build aswell and I can't play music or do stuff that makes noises since it's next to one of my kids room

Painting is done in the basement, where I have a small Sparmax spraybooth placed on top of a workbench littered with tools and various stuff (sorry, got no old pictures of that area - but maybe it's good that I spare you that sight).

The basement (or cellar) is a massive stone foundation built around 1910, when the main part of the house was built. The walls are approx 1 - 1,3m thick and the major part is underground. There is no insulation against the ground and the area is not heated. The height between floor and ceiling is 1.80 m, which works OK for me since my height is 1.78. There are beams and pipes all over the place so people that are visiting needs to wear a hardhat


Okey, so I have decided to man up and start fixing the basement, starting with one end where I will have my workplace.

This is the area where I will build my bench and spraybooth- it took three days to clean out and throw away all the stuff that I had "collected" during 10 years of renovating the house.
20160821_142929 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

20160821_142957 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

20160821_142943 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

You'll get an idea of the thickness of the walls if you look at the window....

My first job after cleaning out the area will be to build some kind of wall between floor and ceiling so I can get some place to store tools, paints and other stuff. Organic material like wood against the concrete is a No-Go, so I have to build something using metal beams.

I have to fasten a metal rail to the floor, first I build a mold for the cast, using some excess decking boards and timber
20160917_153454 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Using plasterwall metal expanders as concrete anchors
20160917_164653 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Let me introduce Kenny. Kenny have faithfully served for over 10 years and will soon be allowed to meet his maker... He just needs to be "fixed" temporary so I can mix 10 bags of pre-mixed concrete
20160918_140249 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Rail is set:
20160925_133632 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

20161001_154641 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

20161001_154629 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr



Tommy

[OneSmallStep1966]

That's not a man cave, it's a man underground bunker . What a great place to baracade yourself away from the wife and kids.
I look forward to seeing it completed, I'm sure it'll turn out great

[sheppsea]

I'll look forward to see how this develops - the space certainly has great potential

[Lysus]

Well this is cool. It almost looks like a room in a medieval fortress all emptied out. Just toss some arrows and a pot of boiling oil in the corner and you're ready for any siege. Heck of a great big project, best of luck!

[jmatt]

Watching. I am preparing to improve my workspace by building a proper one -- but it won't require nearly what you have to do.

[TommyKillander]

That's not a man cave, it's a man underground bunker . What a great place to baracade yourself away from the wife and kids.
I look forward to seeing it completed, I'm sure it'll turn out great

Thanks, OneSmallStep1966
Yeah, I might get a little lonely down there
The thing is that I will be able to record videos and join the hangouts now, now that I have some privacy.

I'll look forward to see how this develops - the space certainly has great potential

Watching. I am preparing to improve my workspace by building a proper one -- but it won't require nearly what you have to do.

Thanks, sheppsea & jmatt

It needs some work but it progresses quite good, so I'm happy.

Well this is cool. It almost looks like a room in a medieval fortress all emptied out. Just toss some arrows and a pot of boiling oil in the corner and you're ready for any siege. Heck of a great big project, best of luck!

Thanks Lysus,
Yeah, I already got huge spiders so all I need is some gold and a sleeping dragon in the corner.


So... Part from my modelling workbench I plan to have som space for my electronics projects and I also need some storage for tools and other stuff. When I bought the house one of the first things I built where a workbench, so I had somewhere to work and repair stuff... I will add a large tool-board

But first lets slab some paint on those walls, so the look nicer
20161003_205241 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

"Dryfitting" the tool-boards
20161006_210516 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Also dryfitting some shelves for storage in the corner
20161006_210637 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

The walls will be partly covered with toolboards, plywood boards and shelves
20161008_183104 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Added some outlets
20161009_124856 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

That old workbench top needs some TLC
20161009_151559 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Better light is also nice
20161009_152422 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Completed, time to clean all the tools a find a place to keep them
20161009_155510 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

The shelves bring back the memories of my old Meccano construction set from when I was a kid...
20161009_180314 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

First section completed...
20161009_183134 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

I also plan to have some storage under my modelling workbench - to keep the most expensive kits in the stash maybe
20161009_183911 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Rest of the wall is painted
20161011_211541 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Shelves are completed
20161015_144723 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

So, this is the workshop area completed and in my next post I will show the progress of the modelling workbench area !


I will replace my Sparmax spraybooth with a DIY-solution.

I found this excellent guide made by Skala-Hobby and I will use that as a base for my own design. Enjoy the videos...

Part 1
[youtube]JghMC31iumw[/youtube]

Part2
[youtube]C_zId19-FoM[/youtube]

Note: I'm sure that "Ultimate Airbrush Spray Booth" has no connection with Ultimate, or maybe this is one of Lee's secret projects


Tommy

[Lysus]

Well this is cool. It almost looks like a room in a medieval fortress all emptied out. Just toss some arrows and a pot of boiling oil in the corner and you're ready for any siege. Heck of a great big project, best of luck!

Thanks Lysus,
Yeah, I already got huge spiders so all I need is some gold and a sleeping dragon in the corner.




Tommy

Just put the gold in the corner, the dragon will find you

Amazing what some paint can do! Certainly makes for a unique hobby space. Much more quiet I'm sure

[TommyKillander]

Just put the gold in the corner, the dragon will find you

Amazing what some paint can do! Certainly makes for a unique hobby space. Much more quiet I'm sure

If there no dragon around, I'm happy if a DRAGON-kit or two shows up instead...


Right... Workbench it is!

The stone-walls are nice to look at, but they do not offer much support for shelves and boards where I can put my stuff...
20161015_171736 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Storage under the bench
20161016_142458 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Construction of the stand for the benchtops
20161016_173820 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

20161024_205703 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Bought some plywood for the walls and MDF for the spraybooth
20161022_122241 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

20161022_142724 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

20161022_174454 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Painted white. I will use this space for shelves, paint-racks and tools
20161023_095249 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

First benchtop "dryfitted"
20161023_194802 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Second benchtop added. It will be 320 x 80 cm of work surfaces, that should be enough I think
20161023_195451 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Cable mantle for the Ethernet cable.
20161024_203845 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Electrical outlets
20161024_210302 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Tested with my laptop computer - we are connected to the Internet!
20161025_141153 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Temporary spraybooth - need something that works so I start modelling again, before I go crazy
20161025_170417 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Started to unpack som boxes.....
20161025_194602 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

I will probably have an electronics lab-bench here....
20161025_194615 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr


So this is basically the point where I'm standing right now, I need to build paint-racks and setup a computer, speakers and soforth... The plan is to have an operational working area afte the weekend.


Tommy

[OneSmallStep1966]

You've been busy, busy, busy. It's looking great

[TommyKillander]

You've been busy, busy, busy. It's looking great

Thanks mate!

It's been three weeks work sofar, weekday evenings and weekends


Tommy

[Lysus]

Just put the gold in the corner, the dragon will find you

Amazing what some paint can do! Certainly makes for a unique hobby space. Much more quiet I'm sure

If there no dragon around, I'm happy if a DRAGON-kit or two shows up instead...

Both dragons are good at taking our gold

That's some A+ handy-manning!

[SMAddict66]

What a fantastic space .

Rather than being frustrated at the lack of "scale" work I'm looking at a great 1:1 kit.

Enjoy the journey Tommy as much as the destination. It's what life's about - philosophically speaking of course

[TommyKillander]

Just put the gold in the corner, the dragon will find you

Amazing what some paint can do! Certainly makes for a unique hobby space. Much more quiet I'm sure

If there no dragon around, I'm happy if a DRAGON-kit or two shows up instead...

Both dragons are good at taking our gold

That's some A+ handy-manning!

Thank you, Lysus!

Tommy

[TommyKillander]

What a fantastic space .

Rather than being frustrated at the lack of "scale" work I'm looking at a great 1:1 kit.

Enjoy the journey Tommy as much as the destination. It's what life's about - philosophically speaking of course

Thanks Phil !

You're absolutely right, this is one of those enjoyable "builds" that I have planned to do for a very long time (long before I got back to the hobby actually), but other things had higher priority. It feels great to be able to finally do this!


Tommy

[SteelScooter]

This looks effing great, I am really jealous. Just don't think about all the murders that took place down there and you will be fine.

[jmatt]

It's a shame to cover up those walls - you are literally in a cave!

[TommyKillander]

This looks effing great, I am really jealous. Just don't think about all the murders that took place down there and you will be fine.

Thanks SteelScooter

No worries, the corpses are probably buried in the soil under the concrete floor. Their haunted souls can put to use by guarding the stash.

It's a shame to cover up those walls - you are literally in a cave!

Yeah I know, it's a shame, but I need to look at it practically - I need some flat walls that I can use for storage.

But there will be plenty of naked walls in other areas after I have completed the renovation.


Tommy

[TommyKillander]

Hey Guys!

I did some useful work yesterday (after a shopping spree at IKEA and some DIY-stores)

It's time for some music. I have some stuff in my attic from a dismantled home-theatre system, so I will reuse the rearspeakers and the amplifier from my gaming computer.
20161029_184044 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Also built me a paint-rack; I bought 12 meters of 43 x 21mm planed pinewood and cut it in my mitre saw.
20161029_183643 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr
I was planning to do some "real" carpenting my using dowels and glue to put the shelf together....

Tinkering....
20161029_203821 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

.....but I didnt have enough dowels and the correct drillbit so I used woodenscrews instead
20161029_210945 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

But I'm happy with the result anyway
20161029_224209 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Cheers!

Tommy

[JonMW]

Looks really good mate, would be really nice to have have a place like that.

[TommyKillander]

Looks really good mate, would be really nice to have have a place like that.

Thanks, Jon!

I was really unsure if I was able to get a nice working environment, but I think I can make it comfortable enough.

The relative humidity is around 65% at the moment, which is way too high. I have a dehumidifier (Woods DS28) set at a rather low setting, but I will raise that. My target is around 50% RH over the year.

:cheers:
Tommy

[Twokidsnosleep]

Wow a cave, bunker, prison, nuclear fallout shelter any of those adjectives apply
Have never seen stone walls that thick before
You are turning it into something quite useable

[TommyKillander]

Wow a cave, bunker, prison, nuclear fallout shelter any of those adjectives apply
Have never seen stone walls that thick before
You are turning it into something quite useable

Thanks Scott!

It's an old house, so I have to use what I got - but it turned out much better than I thought it would from the beginning.

Assembled the IKEA "ERIK" chest of drawers today - it swallowed all my tools and stuff; basically everything that wasn't paint or glue - happy with that
20161030_132932 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

First customer already arrived to the lab-bench I will try to fix this old disbanded laptop until I get a better solution, computer-wise.
20161030_133003 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr


Tommy

[Twokidsnosleep]

Ahhh you got all the soldering and electronic gizzamahoozits
A multi talented kind of guy
Workspace really shaping up now, very impressed

[jmatt]

You are inspiring me. I ordered this 10,000 lumen LED light set last week and hung them today (and pushed my tables underneath as a test). I mean, just look at that mess. But it's time to get organized and clean up the workspace. Doesn't look it in the pic but the lights are insanely bright.

I've been dreading the idea of stud and sheet rocking it (because I am weapons grade lazy and pretty darn busy) but looking at your space is making me contemplate it. It will bounce the light back so much better.



Oh, and I want that paint rack. Now.

Apologies for stepping on your thread.

[TommyKillander]

Ahhh you got all the soldering and electronic gizzamahoozits
A multi talented kind of guy
Workspace really shaping up now, very impressed

Thanks Scott!

You are inspiring me. I ordered this 10,000 lumen LED light set last week and hung them today (and pushed my tables underneath as a test). I mean, just look at that mess. But it's time to get organized and clean up the workspace. Doesn't look it in the pic but the lights are insanely bright.

I've been dreading the idea of stud and sheet rocking it (because I am weapons grade lazy and pretty darn busy) but looking at your space is making me contemplate it. It will bounce the light back so much better.



Oh, and I want that paint rack. Now.

Apologies for stepping on your thread.

That's awesome!

The hardest thing is to make a plan and get started... I had to kick my own butt a couple of times to start cleaning out the area och come up with a plan how I should build the walls. After I got the ball rolling it was quite easy, because I could see progress every day.

Good luck buddy



So finally I'm back in the saddle again:

20161031_212352 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Next step will be to fix a better spraybooth, but I will do that later - now I'm eager to get back into scalemodelling again!


Tommy

[digger303]

where does your spray booth vent too, I cannot see any ducting. Is it hidden behind the peg board.

[TommyKillander]

where does your spray booth vent too, I cannot see any ducting. Is it hidden behind the peg board.

It goes behind the booth and under the bench - keep in mind that this is just a temporary solution. The spray booth that I will build later will have a much more powerful fan and a proper evacuation of the fumes.


Tommy

[digger303]

where does your spray booth vent too, I cannot see any ducting. Is it hidden behind the peg board.

It goes behind the booth and under the bench - keep in mind that this is just a temporary solution. The spray booth that I will build later will have a much more powerful fan and a proper evacuation of the fumes.


Tommy

very neat

[TommyKillander]

where does your spray booth vent too, I cannot see any ducting. Is it hidden behind the peg board.

It goes behind the booth and under the bench - keep in mind that this is just a temporary solution. The spray booth that I will build later will have a much more powerful fan and a proper evacuation of the fumes.


Tommy

very neat

Thanks digger303


Tommy

[RobBye]

You're doing a fine job of converting that into a comfortable and functional workspace. I look forward to more updates.

[TommyKillander]

You're doing a fine job of converting that into a comfortable and functional workspace. I look forward to more updates.

Thanks RobBye

There will be more updates soon, when I start to work on the new spraybooth. I just need to finish some kits first


Tommy

[demarcation]

Lovely stuff Tommy!! I wish I had a cave like that(allthough I'm 1,89 and would be in constant need of a hardhat )

[Paul]

Very cool Tommy, you've done a great job there buddy

[TommyKillander]

Lovely stuff Tommy!! I wish I had a cave like that(allthough I'm 1,89 and would be in constant need of a hardhat )

Thanks Anders

There are a couple of beams in the ceiling that I sometimes bump into, because I have moved the workbench and are now moving around in a different pattern. But I will learn where the are, so I can avoid them without even thinking about them.

Very cool Tommy, you've done a great job there buddy

Thanks Paul

It's been a fun project, it turned out better than I thought it would be, when I started

Now I only have to fix the rest of the basement as well

Cheers

Tommy

[privatepete]

Very good Tommy, you've done a great job I'm very envious of your cave, I wish I had one " Enjoy me friend"
Pete

[TommyKillander]

Very good Tommy, you've done a great job I'm very envious of your cave, I wish I had one " Enjoy me friend"
Pete

Thanks Pete!

I still need to upgrade my spraybooth, but I will do that later.

I realise that prefer to stand up while airbrushing; it's more comfortable to than sitting down and I can reach everything much better on the bench and shelves on the wall. Also the light comes at the right angle and it's easier to see where I'm painting at

I will use a IKEA kitchenbench with drawers and build the booth on top of that. That will also give me lots of room for storage and the compressor.


Tommy

[TommyKillander]

Hey Guys!

It's time to wake up this project again and continue with constructing a proper spraybooth. I'm really looking forward to that!

I'm really not satisfied with the solution I have today with the Sparmax SB-88 next to my building mat. In theory it would be ideal I guess to be able to build an paint stuff basically without leaving the chair, but it does not work for me. It should be noted that the SB-88 itself works perfectly, but the it doesn't fit my workflow/ergonomics.

I prefer to stand up when airbrushing; it gives me a better overview of what I'm doing and also prepare everything in advance (putting parts on sticks, premixing paints etc) so it's not a big deal for me to move to another place when painting. Besides it's good to leave the chair and stand up for a while.

Furthermore; I need some place to store primers, thinners and other stuff that I have.

So I will build a "standup"-spraybooth with lots of storage underneath.



This is the place where I will build this "workstation". I will add ventilation for extraction of the paintfumes in the "door" where the pipes from the heat-exchanger (that funky thing on the wall) goes - it leads into a ventilated area under the house ("suspended foundation" I think it's called in english).

Soo... first of all, get rid of the Sparmax booth.
IMG_20170802_152835 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

...I will setup it here temporary
IMG_20170802_153004 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

So... this area will be used for the spraybooth and some storage shelfs
IMG_20170802_153125 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

I have ordered lots of stuff that have started to arrive now

My next step will be to clean out the area properly and cast a rail in the floor. The construction will be the same as for the other parts that I have done already.


Stay tuned!

Tommy

[TommyKillander]

Did some work on the ventilation port earlier today.

As I mentioned earlier in this thread the spraybooth will be a knock-off of Skala Hobbys design. So I will use an IKEA LAGAN Extractor Hood - because it's dirt cheap (£ 40), has all the features I want and it seems pretty easy to rewire it and attach the fan unit inside the booth

IMG_20170803_133144 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

So what I need to do next is prepare the ducting for it.

I will use the wardrobe metal basket as a "fence" to keep wildlife outside
IMG_20170803_133716 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

IMG_20170803_134705 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

IMG_20170803_141157 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

There you go!

There is a natural draft that unfortunately goes the wrong way, but there is a "valve" taking care of that (I don't know the english word for it) included in the LAGAN hood extractor. So everything should be OK


Tommy

[Twokidsnosleep]

Always respect guys doing this stuff themselves...well done
When are you coming over to drill the hole in my new house's wall???
Better to have someone else do it for me and plead innocence as wife WILL kill me and you can just run away

[TommyKillander]

Always respect guys doing this stuff themselves...well done
When are you coming over to drill the hole in my new house's wall???
Better to have someone else do it for me and plead innocence as wife WILL kill me and you can just run away

Thanks Scott!
I would love to make a visit, but in that case I'd rather bring some local microbrew and leave the tools at home

About the hole in the wall, try to pitch it like:

"Ok, I can setup a closed system using the latest recirculation technology and I have to replace expensive char-coal filters once a month - but we don't need to drill a hole in the wall. Or we can let a carpenter drill a hole in the wall and install everything; 50 bucks - job done."

As you can see from the photos most of the basement in my house is a pretty messed up place to begin with So I have free hands to do basically anything I want with that area, because everything I do is to the better.

The house was built early 1900 and were renovated during WWI and WWII, when money and material where short supply. Basically nothing had been done there since the 50's and the coal-stove and the old water heater from the 40's where still there when we bought the house. The only thing the previous owner did was to install an electric heater instead of the coal stove in the 60s.

The first thging I did when I bought the house where to start reroute a new heating system We had to spend the first winter using the existing heating and we where freezing while the electric bills sky-rocketed


Tommy

[digger303]

Oh man you have a real cave ...
Wish I had spotted the Ikea extractor. I looked at others locally but for the money I decided I might as well go for the purpose built one. YET now I see I could have saved a tonne of loot...OR the more likely scenario bought way more kits

[TommyKillander]

Oh man you have a real cave ...
Wish I had spotted the Ikea extractor. I looked at others locally but for the money I decided I might as well go for the purpose built one. YET now I see I could have saved a tonne of loot...OR the more likely scenario bought way more kits

The purpose built ones are not a bad choice, but for a DIY solution a cheap extractor is best value for money. I looked at solution using high quality computer fans or industry grade radial fans, but the cost ended up 4-5 times the cost of the IKEA fan.

But as you say; the money will be spent one way or another


Tommy

[63bp]

Awesome. I would love to have a cave that was actually a cave....

[digger303]

Oh man you have a real cave ...
Wish I had spotted the Ikea extractor. I looked at others locally but for the money I decided I might as well go for the purpose built one. YET now I see I could have saved a tonne of loot...OR the more likely scenario bought way more kits

The purpose built ones are not a bad choice, but for a DIY solution a cheap extractor is best value for money. I looked at solution using high quality computer fans or industry grade radial fans, but the cost ended up 4-5 times the cost of the IKEA fan.

But as you say; the money will be spent one way or another


Tommy

I looked at locally available extractors and it was half as much or more as the real deal, so I thought I might as well buy the proper thing. Never thought that Ikea ( 900km round trip, but I occasionally visit.) would have them !

[TommyKillander]

Awesome. I would love to have a cave that was actually a cave....

Thanks 63bp
I think it's gonna be a cool place when I have cleaned out and painted it, but it will only be suitable for a workshop or storage. So it's perfect for this hobby since no one else claims the space - so I can do whatever I want

I looked at locally available extractors and it was half as much or more as the real deal, so I thought I might as well buy the proper thing. Never thought that Ikea ( 900km round trip, but I occasionally visit.) would have them !

Ikea has a lot of stuff that can be useful in his hobby


Okey, I have continued with the casting form for the rail in the floor. It's completed now.
IMG_20170805_163324 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

And I have attached plaster board fasteners as anchors to the rail that will be along the wall in the floor.
IMG_20170805_193212 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Next thing would be to mix some coarse concrete, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will be nice weather tomorrow so I can do that outside


Tommy

[Twokidsnosleep]

I thought about doing something to the workshop...maybe putting up the shelving and the cabinets
Then I sat down until I gained my senses back

Nice work, I do have a spare room for you to stay in

[TommyKillander]

I thought about doing something to the workshop...maybe putting up the shelving and the cabinets
Then I sat down until I gained my senses back

Nice work, I do have a spare room for you to stay in

I have days like that too... actually I had it yesterday; I went down in the basement probably 10 times looking at the mess, but I didn't have any energy to do anything about it. Had a couple of glances into the box where I store the WIP Kfir, but didn't have any building mojo in me...

Instead I went upstairs and watched YouTube for a couple of hours

Thanks for the invitation, Scott. If I have the opportunity to visit Canada I will let you know for sure
Closest I've been sofar is Seattle


Tommy

[TommyKillander]

Huzzah!

I managed to set the rail into the floor today, very pleased with this indeed

My old trusty concrete mixer where summoned from the dead and patched using some leftover timber and clamps(!)
IMG_20170806_123721 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Mixed concrete poured into the mold
IMG_20170806_123800 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

And the rail set and fixated with some more clamps, screws and a stone I borrowed from the garden
IMG_20170806_130713 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Now I can start to paint the walls and setup the ducting while the cast cures, later this week.


Tommy

[TommyKillander]

Short update today:

Painted walls white - It's remarkable how much that does to the lighting conditions and the overall impression
IMG_20170807_213958 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

IMG_20170807_214039 by Tommy Killander, on Flickr

Tomorrow I will remove the mold and start putting up the metal beams


Tommy

[digger303]

Is the wall real rock ! Looks like it.
I can see the concrete floor has some cracking. Do you ever have a moisture problem ?
It is going to be a really cosy space...very cool.