Hatcher's Workshop '14

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Steve Kinnaird

Smart man. Keep her happy, and all will be well.
Good idea for that loft. Now, how about a glimpse of the tool room?
You know, the ugly part of the shop.

Steve

Happy Wife, Happy Life!

Well the ugly part of the shop is extra ugly because I am walling up a separate room which will lie behind the garage door. This room will be my big noisy, dust producing and collecting, tool room. It will be about 30% of my 26' x 28' main floor and will also reduce the amount of air that I need to heat and control humidity in. Here are a couple small views. First this is part of the south wall were I keep some of my wood samples:



I have a 18' bench across the back east wall where I have a go-bar deck and a place to put things to dry, cool down, or just stage to be worked on:



When I first was setting up the shop I tried making work stations for the different stages of a guitar build but, with time I realized that was just too much to light, power, tool, and clean up. So now I'm working toward a central work area with a radius of areas for staging and feeding the process as well as getting things out and away when done. This is working out well especially when I let it develop organically rather than pushing it.

I'll have more pictures as I progress.

Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by J Willis

Very nice! I love the wood choices and how it all ties together. I like the headstock shape too!

Thanks! Cocobolo is not the most fun wood to work with but it sure is pretty.

Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

Hard to beat a workshop (mancave) in the back yard. I built mine to the purpose, and it has NEVER been as tidy as your upstairs.

Thanks for putting that up Bruce. I wish I had those sky light windows! Natural light is wonderful to have, that's why I put in the 3' x 5' front window which my main workbench is behind. The problem with lower windows is you can get distracted easier, like when I have wild turkeys looking in at me or the other day when a bobcat was chipmunking along the rock wall.

My shop is to the side of the house across the driveway. Easy commute except in the winter my commute is sometimes by snow blower!
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by iim7V7IM7

No "man cave" in this one...:-)

http://www.core77.com/blog/architect...hool_27247.asp

Nice, I'd like to go see that.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Burton LeGeyt

Mark, I still need to get up and visit! So little time these days.

Hey Burton,

I'd love to have you out anytime! I know those babies can change your lifestyle for, well, for awhile.

I Look forward to having you out!
Mark

[aknow]

Mark: That guitar is beautiful, especially the fretboard.
My guitar sounds more complex and amazing everyday!
Thank you again!
Dr. Steve

[CoolerKing]

Bruce, tidy workspaces indicate demonic possession

[fountainhead]

I'd love to visit your shop someday, and see where the "Hatcher Magic" happens!

[Steve Kinnaird]

Thanks Mark for the tour. Your photos of work in progress are always so pristine, it's good to see there is a down and dirty side to your work. That said, it's still way too clean and organized. But my wife, who is looking at this over my shoulder, is poking me in the ribs asking why my shop isn't that organized?

So thanks...thanks a lot.

Steve

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by fountainhead

I'd love to visit your shop someday, and see where the "Hatcher Magic" happens!

Well you are welcome anytime. Just give me a call when your have the time

Thanks,
Mark

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by Steve Kinnaird

my wife, who is looking at this over my shoulder, is poking me in the ribs asking why my shop isn't that organized?

So thanks...thanks a lot.

Steve

Sorry man

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by aknow

Mark: That guitar is beautiful, especially the fretboard.
My guitar sounds more complex and amazing everyday!
Thank you again!
Dr. Steve

Thanks Dr. Steve! I'm glad that guitar is working out for you
Mark

[fazool]

That was great to see. I love that fingerboard, especially.

A good buddy of mine ran IBM's Machine Vision Laboratory for his career but his passion was woodworking. He bought a house and had a workshop that looked so much like yours.

It was a beautiful magical little building.

Seeing yours reminded me so much of that. I love such things.

[Mark Hatcher]

Originally Posted by fazool

That was great to see. I love that fingerboard, especially.

A good buddy of mine ran IBM's Machine Vision Laboratory for his career but his passion was woodworking. He bought a house and had a workshop that looked so much like yours.

It was a beautiful magical little building.

Seeing yours reminded me so much of that. I love such things.

Thanks fazool,

It's great you had experience with a small shop. They really can be magic places. It was a small workshop on the Delaware River that I shared with my brother, son and various others that lead me to guitar building. My brother was restoring antique aircraft, my son was laying up surfboards, and I was making cedar strip ocean kayaks. Sure beats TV!

There is a movement in this country of people getting together and starting makerspaces. For anyone that feels the kids today aren't creative or skilled I'd suggest visiting one of these makerspaces. It will blow you away! Or Google it and check out a couple of the websites. I am very involved with a lot of people and organizations here in Peterborough getting one started.
Better yet join one!

Mark

[jzarifis]

I am so excited to receive this beauty. Mark is an exceptional luthier and individual. He is easy to work with, and really listens to what you want your dream guitar to sound, look and feel like. We have had multiple conversations about the guitar and life.

I consider Mark more than just a great luthier who built my dream guitar, I consider him a friend.

Thanks for my dream guitar,

John Zarifis