Limited Space Shops

Sometimes less is more. We downsized a few years ago and have really lived this. The children are grown and the grandchildren are occasional visitors. A camping cot takes the place of a third bedroom. I have downsized my workspace a bit. My jobs these days are one at a time. I don’t have a list of projects waiting—other than writing projects—and I am very selective what I take in for repair. When the firearm comes in the work is done as quickly as possible.

Sometimes there is await for parts and if the project is long term it is a personal project. The work area and workspace bears some discussion. Our home is 116 years old but has been adapted to a home business along with upgrades over the decades. The porch needed serious rebuilding— it should have lasted more than a hundred years, I suppose—and the wiring and plumbing is modern. The guns are secured in a safe, as they should be.

The parts are neatly stored in bins and an old food larder in the back room serves for ammunition storage. I have worked with limited space most of my career and have picked up some tips that help. It is ideal that we begin our career working as an apprentice to an The smaller the area the more important offset is. experienced gunsmith. This isn’t always possible. Many of us get our education online, in the service, in schools—and the "by God and by gosh" method is still viable.

With success, we move into gradually larger quarters. At some point we need to learn to make do with what is available and, increasingly, that isn’t much. Property is at an all time high. I would hate to be a young person looking for a home or a business site at this time. There is a time honored tradition of gunsmiths working out of a building behind the home. If you have a garage with a door or a properly heated basement that would be good. For some work you don’t need a lot of height.

As an example, the Garrett in my attic offers pleasant light for writing and occasionally for light gunsmith work. The attic slopes downward and you cannot stand upright near the window but that doesn’t mean you cannot work there as I only need about four and one half feet to set and work. It’s also possible to make more than one use of an area. As an example, the garage may hold a vehicle but can still have a roll-out work table that is used to in the floor space normally occupied by a vehicle.

Courtesy of Real Avid. Whatever type of work we do we need a designated area for it, even if it is shared by multiple uses. Work and home must be separated for safety and sanity. The space need not be elaborate. It cannot be too cramped but can be compact. You can add special tools as you go along, such as if you learn your business is best by specializing on one type of firearm rather than abroad number. When the time comes for power tools, a shed behind the home or a dedicated corner of the garage is needed.

I have seen shops take over the garage to the point a car cannot be parked in there. Well, car covers are cheap but don’t let clutter take over. It isn’t difficult to have a storage shed wired for electricity. More elaborate gear will follow. Then there are some like myself that have downsized and need less space. However, the bathroom laundry room and the kitchen table are not viable for most of us as we need a designated area to avoid interference with concentration and for safety.

The one thing you must have is good lighting. Most home lighting is soft, being easy on the eyes and comforting. To examine a firearm for damage and finish flaws, stronger light that would be too harsh for a home environment

is needed. Fluorescent overhead lights are good with desk-type lights for maneuverability to add additional lighting as needed. You need a work bench. A handgun doesn’t require as much work Plan ahead and try to predict the likely chores your space will demand. It hangs neatly in an old food larder. space; a chassis rifle is another matter. For handguns, a sturdy rolling table is good. Don’t neglect estate sales garage sales and yard sales.

I found a beautifully made, heavy combination bench and tool storage table that a home craftsman had custom made. It was good to find this piece and keep it in business as the original owner intended, kind of like reaching back in time and shaking hands with the man. The legs are strong and the surface about 24 x 48 inches, ideal for most uses. Mounting scopes, changing stocks, and other action work are easily accomplished. I use various hard plastic rests from Caldwell and MTM to stabilize rifles during work.

Handguns are done on the rolling laundry table with a hard top. For some These screwdrivers cover much of the author’s needs. I suppose it is easier to take in the whole picture when standing. Of all the things I miss as middle age comes upon me, my knees are at the top of the list. Just the same, standing at the bench works with a sturdy chair to sit for close work. A swivel chair is good and the more adjustment the better.

When you mount a work board or tool holder on the wall be certain the wall will actually hold the weight. As an example, our old house has an attic that has little reinforcement on a walled off section. Even a few books on a book rack are too much. On the other hand, the heavy boards and treated lumber of the rest of the home are sturdy, stout in fact. But you have to know what they will take and support.

My main work area for handguns requires I slide the chair to butt against a closet door and pull the table to me. The tools are laid out on tables at each elbow. A set of files and other tools hangs on the wall. In the attic is a walled off section with along clothes rod that was in the home complete with hangers when we purchased the dwelling. In each corner a section was cut out to accept a standard furnace and air conditioning filter. This was intended to fight dampness and mildew.

It is similar to storage space some use for expensive furs, although I doubt my humble abode ever housed a mink stole! Just the same, this is a useful spot for storing items subject to rust. It is good to have a mat on the floor of the work place. You will be surprised how much pacing and walking wears the floor and a mat is easily replaced. The work area must be kept well swept and cleaned. The gunsmith doesn’t breathe who has not dropped small parts on the floor.

If the floor is dusty or covered in wood chips and metal shards it is very difficult to find small parts that have fell. And these days there is difficulty in finding parts that

were once plentiful. Keep the floor clean and swept. Keep the tools that are most commonly used most handy. A storage unit that I have found among the best types for my use is a well-finished wooden jewelry box. This is a free standing box that is easily moved to a corner. The drawers hold a good many tools and parts. The lower drawer is an open space and the upper drawers are segmented. The lid lifts up for padded storage. While I could easily remove the jewelry pads I like the look and function.

The side doors open and have hooks originally designed to hold necklaces. These hooks easily hold parts, pistol magazines, and tools in their original packaging. Often called a jewelry armoire, the nicer types of such cabinets sell for less than two hundred dollars new but there’s no point in paying that as they are common at thrift shops and garage sales for less than fifty dollars. Other storage cabinets are similar and as useful.

A partner’s desk is another addition if you are able to find one, which is simply a desk that may be used from either side. It was originally designed in the Bob Cratchit times for those in small firms working together and sharing a desk. Be certain to keep the work place separated as much as possible for different chores. As an example, writing may take abstract thought while mechanical work is concrete and logical. This limited workspace includes a couple of vises of different sizes.

They are simple enough to bolt down and are quite secure on a sturdy table. Let geometry be your guide. The vise should not be mounted on a light table that will tip over. I also have a retractable laundry line I use to keep paperwork tied up so I don’t forget the project and instructions. It is simple enough to mount a few lines of instructions to complete the chore, then file the papers and close the retractable line. This was another yard sale find.

While my example is vintage, such retractable The MTM K-Zone shooting rest is adjustable for both rifles and handguns. It is also useful to hold firearms you are working on. laundry lines are available for less than $13 new online or at chain stores. A few more tips. Metal filing cabinets show up often at yard sales. They are inexpensive and hold a lot of tools parts and paperwork. The heavy types are best as some of the smaller types with thin metal don’t last long.

When you are working with limited space you usually have plenty of wall storage and even overhead storage may be put to good use. The problem is floor space. Rolling tables work well and so do folding chairs. A huge concern is the environmental factor. If you create dust and wood shavings, keep them policed up. There are small and affordable dust removal systems that would be profitable. I travel to the outdoor range often so this means dirt and mud may be on my shoes.

Metal, dust, and wood are by products of our work. A good vacuum is a minimum. Don’t neglect to purchase fans suitable for clearing solvents from the air. A box fan is good. We need to open a door and air the work area out from time to time. This is much more important when the space we work is small. I think when we hear the term "cottage industry" most folks don’t really understand it.

Before the Industrial Revolution most things of value were made in individual cottages scattered across the countryside and delivered to a central location where they were assembled. Today my cottage is an old mill house and the quarters, while close, are not cramped due to careful husbanding of resources. They are cozy. Since I work a bit in the "shop" every day my movements are habitual. It is good to keep things arranged properly. Good luck to all expanding businesses with more employees and machinery.

As for those beginning, watch the pennies and carefully organize your gear. For those downsizing, it is good to make it this far. AG