2023 Shop Update

Hello friends and supporters. Yes I'm back. Been a super busy year between the new ranch, the new shop and just life in general. Thanks to all the folks that reached out to check in on me. Here is a quick update and new channel intro for you. The plan is to get back to regular video programming. Might even cook up a batch of meatloaf for those hungry viewers.
All the best.
Tom

[@AlBorland3877]

The whole last year I kept telling myself, "2023 can only get better". And sure enough - so far it didn't disappoint at all. Good to have you back, Tom. :)

[@motivatedpeon]

"If you can't put your hand on it quickly, you might as well not have it." Words of wisdom. Great to see you again, nice to see that all is coming together.

[@Taygetea]

Reminds me of what Adam Savage has been saying.

[@dannymaciejewski]

Sounds like the evolutionary story to the male penis

[@garywalters4286]

Man , I have really missed your videos . I am so glad you are back . Looking forward to seeing you working in the new shop .

[@bobandres5559]

Good Job on the shop tom glad see your back in the game. Monumental job moving all that equipment let alone a house full as well. You dont owe us a thing, you have given so much i think we can call it even. Now on to more great content when you can. Thanks in advance for a great year 23.

[@DudleyToolwright]

Yea! Great to have you back Tom. I can sympathize with the work/life/youtube balance. It can be really tough. We are really lucky to have you creating content again. Thanks and happy new year!

[@calholli]

All my favorite channels are slowing down. AvE doesn't post much anymore.. and This old Tony nearly stopped posting.. Now Tom.

[@HM-Projects]

@@calholli life gets in the way mate, this is a side hustle. I'm grateful for anything they put out.

[@jerrypeal653]

Laying out a shop is about workflow. As soon as you toss something out to the scrapper you need it !

[@jcurran8860]

A super Thumbs up Tom. Great to see you back. Thanks for the Vid

[@josephsteffen2378]

Hi Tom. Yeah, a full size truck...brakes are what it's all about. Not what you can haul, but what you can STOP. That's what us older guys value. Life is great!

[@pauljoseph8338]

I’m not a commenter, but, I’ve been a regular viewer for ~10 years. Good to see you back.

[@TGC32]

You're one of the top manual machinist guys on here. I can't wait for new content!

[@twwtb]

Yours is one of only a few channels that I have gone back and watched all the past videos. I'm glad you are back at it, happy and healthy. I always learn something here.

[@428eliminator3]

I store my cars at a private Airport, we had a mouse problem until the owners wife went to the local animal shelter and adopted 2 feral cats. They live outdoors, they're happy, we're happy!

[@eliduttman315]

The non-venomous pacific gopher snake is another possibility. Mice ARE dinner. The danger venomous snake species present is a shame, as they too consume rodent vermin.

[@bobblack3870]

I have a barn where mice like to play and cause problems. I have tried many solutions, and one day watched a Texas rat snake kill and consume a rat. My solution of choice, which has been extremely successful, is the 'Just-One-Bite' in Chunk style. In a 10,000 SF area, I place two. Each is in a bowl or box of some type so I know where to look periodically for replenishment, for I have seen them moved a few feet if just placed on the bare floor. These are primarily corn, so not attractive to larger animals, like pets.

[@glennstasse5698]

Glad to have Tom’s wit and wisdom back on the scene. Given the complexity of the shop layout and all the stuff it almost seems like you could start with a general idea of what to do but a complete plan ahead of time would fall by the wayside as you progressed, suffering from “the fog of war” so to speak.

[@brand-x7049]

No order of battle survives first contact with the enemy. 😁

[@paulhunt598]

I moved into my new shop on January 1, 2022. Open heart surgery in March set me back from my shop work. I thrive on my shop work, but it is tempered by grandfather demands (36 grands). My shop is functional, but far from finished. The new shop gave me 3200SF of shop space, and allowed me to convert the house basement shop to exclusive wood working. The new shop is machining, fabrication and mechanic space. One significant addition was a 14k 2 post vehicle lift. My pre surgery prep required sacrificing my 4 decades St. Nicholas beard. I just couldn't actually shave it off. The close trim made me look shockingly like my KZbin hero Tom Lipton. I have decided to favor the black plastic spectacles for that reason, but the beard length has returned to former status. My next shop project is the restoration of a 1957 Delta 15" drill press for a grandson. And I need to return to neglected granddaughter heirloom hope chest projects.

[@kevinbaird9763]

Thanks for checking in Tom. Looking forward to future video content.

[@voltairegoethe]

teachable moment missed!!! drawer guide repair!!! I wanted to see that buggah chucked and faced!

[@SteveSummers]

I look forward to seeing your post Tom 👍. I definitely understand the shop puzzle that is always evolving. You have had a unbelievable amount of work to do over the last year.

[@RidgewoodMachine]

Very impressive lighting. It's a busy shop with lots of everything except shadows. That's a tough act with all the tall gear.

[@tonyburndred2432]

Glad to have you back Tom, on our little tour I didn’t notice a lathe or did I miss it.

[@oxtoolco]

The big Yam lathe is there. The Monarch is not at the new shop yet. Still working on that. Cheers, Tom

[@marcmckenzie5110]

Tom, it was nice of you to give an update & tour. The size of the project for one person is pretty mind blowing! Keeping your spirits up; may you enjoy the rewards when the shop is basically done. 🛠🔩🗜🪛

[@sloweb1]

Ha! Just the other day I was wondering about you. Good to know that you are still kickin' and have not washed out to the sea :) About the mouse problem, tough decision on which is worse - mouse turds or cat turds in the shop. I ended up folding shut the opening of the rib at the bottom of the wall panels on the outside. Made a jig to collapse the two sides of the rib and then folding (smashing) down the face over the sides. Then a shot of foam from the inside to make it insect proof. Made a very effective and reasonably attractive solution.

[@oxtoolco]

I took a look at where the side panels meet the slab. There is an opening that depending on what the ground is doing outside there is a pathway for small critters. My plan was to mix some concrete and back fill the openings from the inside to block them. Seems cheap and pretty easy. All the best, Tom

[@geraldgaler339]

Tom it's wonderful to have you back. Like many others you were my first channel to view and subscribe to. I have learned so much from your posts. Thank you and welcome back.

[@paulcooper2897]

I miss Meatloaf! Glad to hear you are well .. and back! Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦

[@broheim23]

Tom, if you installed all of the 3/4" EMT, you did a helluva good job! (I'm an IBEW JW wireman and have installed a fair amount of electrical conduit.)

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Brandon, I had some expert help so I can't take full credit but I am pretty proud of how it came out. All the best, Tom

[@felixcosty]

Thanks for the video. For your mouse problem you could get 8 male rats in four cages and put them in the corners, mice will leave and not want to come back. Mice have a fear of rats and the rats are easy to keep.

[@oxtoolco]

That is certainly a solution I have not heard of. Makes sense as they are competitors. Cheers, Tom

[@johnmcnamara3719]

Geepers! It a long time between drinks....Greetings from OZ Tom I really enjoyed the update. Our family made a similar move away from the big smoke. and we are about to pour the slab for a Barn style shop/studio. Cant wait to move the machines out of the small garage they are stored in, there is not much room and I cant find anything! everything is boxed up. Got the three phase sorted at last so at least I can turn them on now use them a bit, after many months with no shop power.

[@oxtoolco]

Keep plugging away. Even small things add up to major achievements for the year. Cheers, Tom

[@brianmoore1164]

Happy to see you back on the Tube! Your expertise and craftsmanship have been missed.

[@TheManWith2FirstName]

Glad to see you back on KZbin and can’t wait for the videos.

[@ViceChief]

Really appreciate the shop layout discussion. Particularly for job/prototyping shops, there is almost no information out there. I've set up my own shop in 5 or 6 locations now, and one at a major corporation. Having done that, I'd say I'm still a rank beginner. Every one of those layouts was redone after install, sometimes many times as each new piece of gear came in.

[@BTimmer]

Welcome back! It sounds like a shop cat is in order! Thanks for the overhead views. Those were the best!

[@TomZelickman]

Glad to see things are slowly taking shape, sir. Hope you are doing well! - Tom Z

[@wheelitzr2]

Just glad to hear you're ok!

[@Supraman007]

I see some shop cats in your future 😉 Glad to have you back at it and happy to hear your ok. Looks like you've made some great progress on the shop, looking good. Can't wait to have me some meatloaf.

[@stevespra1]

Great to see you back. I really appreciate guys that take the time to film and edit these videos. Can't wait to learn more from one of the masters.

[@johnmarcus2324]

welcome back john

[@jacobpoucher]

Lol John?

[@dannyl2598]

Thanks Tom. I'm glad you are do well. I love seeing a shop coming together. I use the same logic in regard to sorting and organizing. I'm looking forward to watching some new videos.

[@adrianu5481]

Terrific to see you back Tom. Yours was the first youtube channel I ever watched, I was hooked! I have quite a few subscriptions now, many of them recommended by you. I have learned so much from watching you. I agree wholeheartedly with your attitude to the engineering profession and the need to pass on the knowledge. Keep up the good work.

[@bcbloc02]

Glad the shop is progressing well! They fill up so fast! Be glad you aren’t in Kentucky if you think flash rust is bad there. The 50 deg temp swings from day to day with constant 90%humidity here makes it a constant battle

[@SteveSummers]

That "flash rusting" is a nightmare. I delt with that for a long time. Get yourself a large dehumidifier. The insulation and getting that shop sealed will help. After installing my dehumidifier I haven't had a problem. My machines would drip water . Mold in the toolboxes and on anything soft like velvet lined cases. It's a nightmare for precision equipment.

[@oxtoolco]

I have a small unit that I will try. I was thinking the space it too big for something like that to work properly. When your fancy wood toolboxes start swelling and the drawers don't want to open you know you have a problem. All the best, Tom

[@SteveSummers]

@@oxtoolco I feel for ya buddy. I know all too well what you are dealing with. I picked up a industrial type unit and do not regret it at all. If you decide to buy one get good one with a pump that will empty itself.

[@tomt9543]

It’s been many years since I last saw one of those huge Miller Synchrowave welding machines! Oldies but goodie’s!

[@geoffbackman6347]

Mr Lipton, I can’t believe how much I’ve missed you Sir. Thanks for the video. We all understand that your KZbin life comes last.

[@KUGW]

Very cool shop, I like watching your channel... Even the screwing pipes and odd stuff no one ever shows. Dont be afraid to show us the little things, some people like that stuff, I find it makes videos seem more real..

[@TheTsunamijuan]

Having a fullsize truck is huge when your doing as much of the work as possible, by yourself. I've scored alot of equipment by trading favors with the truck and trailer.

[@JHorvathCinema]

FYI global industrial has those “boltless shelving” parts on clearance for super cheap right now. Search “double rivet tan” and it will all come up.

[@SPDLTD]

Thanks For the update Tom! I spent a good portion of the Christmas/Holiday KZbin drought with your videos on in the background in my shop.

[@umahunter]

Glad to see an update and that you're doing good you've been putting in some work it's coming along nicely 👍👍👍

[@calholli]

On the sides with your lower roof line, where you have that horizontal beam crossing the middle-- You could easily stretch some 2x8's across there and make a little mezzanine in that quarter section of your shop -- or even along that entire side. It wouldn't be very tall above it, but it would still give you a nice place for storage, where you can shove a bunch of boxes and get them off your floor space. Little tuck-away storage like that doesn't seem like much, but you can usually puzzle a lot more stuff up there than you might have thought possible. You could either span it with the same steel I-beam, so that it matches the building, or you could just add a simple wood posts right next to your steel post in the middle there, and have your mezzanine basically free stand on it's own wood legs, probably with one center post. You could even build couple of them a little smaller (say,12ft x 12ft) -- and use them as portable mezzanines-- where you could push them to the other side of the shop later if you wanted to shift things around in the future. Just thinking out loud. You definitely have the space for mezzanine storage in there for those "moving boxes" that never seem to find a home. It's a nice little shop. We took an old falling down barn that had this same layout with a dirt floor, and I took a tractor and pulled all the poles around and pulled the walls straight again, added some braces, poured a slab inside, and then put all new metal on the outside; it turned into a shop about like yours, when it started as a horse stall that was literally leaning over 30 degrees and half the roof was caved in. It didn't even take much lumber to bring it back to life because we were able to use nearly all the wood that was already there. She stood right back up. Most people don't realize what you can bring back to life.

[@oxtoolco]

I have looked at all that air space up there a few times. You could definitely build something pretty easy. In the center of the shop you could build over the main cross beam and not lose any headroom. You would have something like ten feet at the highest point. Cheers, Tom

[@guykulwanoski1629]

Great to have you back, appreciate the update. Coming along nicely!

[@jamesmccabe5188]

So glad to have you back. You are an important part of my machining education!

[@IraDuncan]

Great to see you, Tom! Nice progress too. Glad you're well and definitely looking forward to meat loaf and the wisdom you're so good at sharing.

[@jimbarbwe1985]

Thanks for the update, keep up the good work and keep fighting the good fight.

[@williammills5111]

Thanks for the update- glad all’s well. Shop looks great, lots of work to get it to this point for sure. Looking forward to seeing what comes next. Carry on with the carryings-on.

[@AirfixLtd]

Welcome back Tom, I missed your input tremendously. Looking forward to 2023 with you.

[@CleaveMountaineering]

Having the broom fit behind the machine is a great idea.

[@Jbailey2817]

Really glad you are back making content. I’ve been checking your channel regularly to see if there was anything new. Looking forward to more.

[@bigun447]

Welcome back tom. Shop arrangement is a never-ending project. As soon as you get it the way you want it, guess what? You see if you move something 2" it will be better.

[@bin_chicken80]

Hi Tom, good to see you are well and see your shop is going well too. Thanks for the video! Where are you going to put all your hammers? 😁

[@oxtoolco]

I got a story about the hammers. Check out the next video for details. Cheers, Tom

[@guytech7310]

Tom: I think your need a bigger Boat^H^H^H Shop! (Reference to Jaws Movie) Nice job. Truely an impressive shop! Happy New year!

[@kglesq1]

Your content is the best around. Very glad to see you back!

[@saadalqahtani919]

Shoutout from Saudi Arabia, welcome back Tom, good to see you.

[@Smallathe]

Great to to see a new video. Glad to hear all's well. Congrats on the new shop rearrangement. Looks great!

[@one4stevo]

Your looking good Tom. Great to see everything coming along smoothly. You could get some extra storage with a mezzanine floor in there

[@wilsonhardy2100]

Congratulations on the upgrade to your truck! The best thing I ever did was go from a sub 1/2ton to a 3/4 ton truck. 👍

[@fromjunk2newstuff]

Really happy you are well and making videos again. Your shop layout looks great and well thought out. I hope and wish you won't have to move any of those heavy machine again and you can get on with just enjoying the workshop we all love. I wish you all the best for 2023 and on.

[@TheTacktishion]

welcome back!!! I missed you, and so did a lot of others... 32000 views in 2 day, ain't to shabby.... Keep up the good work....!

[@465maltbie]

lovely to see that you are getting it put back together. Charles

[@OldIronMachineWorks]

I would like to see how you put on hose clamps! LOL Shops looking good Tom.

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Gary, I would be more than happy to host a special hose clamp training session just for you. I imagine you being an old farmer type you probably have some tricks up your sleeve. All the best, Tom

[@OldIronMachineWorks]

@@oxtoolco Always great to hear from you Tom, 😂

[@martineastburn3679]

I have a very heavy duty Semiconductor Prober station on anti-static strong wheels. It had an anti-static sheet on top and I left it there. Makes moving the bench mill easy.

[@jantman]

Great to see you back, and good to know the shop is coming together. Thanks so much for sharing the update!

[@wd77]

Nice to hear back from you Tom! Does anyone recognize the yellow thing in the middle of the shot @20:22 to the back of the shop. Looks like some lifting/transport utility or cart. Maybe I just don't recognize this because of me being from Germany. Anyway cheers go out to all of you. Looking forward to see some of the machines back in action :⁠-⁠)

[@RonStoppable102]

Looks great, Tom!! Had to fight a situation like that a couple of years ago regarding stuff flash rusting. The quick stop-gap was to throw in a roll-around dehumidifier that ran non-stop and a fan across the shop just to keep air moving and dehumidified until proper provisions could be made.

[@colebremer902]

King of all home shops. Unbelievable.

[@moeszyslack4676]

Congratulations on getting your shop to where it's at Tom. Really looking forward to some new videos. Happy to hear all is well with you, of course.

[@erikisberg3886]

Thank you Tom for showing us around! Many good tips, I found this valuable since we moved into a rural area some years ago and I am unfortunately still in the process of arranging everything in the nowadays much larger shop. Some machines are still on the pallets. I have tried CAD for the layout but prefer PAD in the form of a printed paper floor layout and yellow stickies for furniture and machines. I find it easy to tweak and shows a good overview, One thing I do regret not doing is to put up a wall around the grinding area, to much work at this stage. Had some condensation rust problems a previous shop, a dehumidifier completely solved that. I have set aside a small area that already has walls as a "clean room" for microscopes, metrology and the shadowgraph that I use all the time. I found an old for free biolab hepafilter cupboard as extra worktable and to keep the air clean. I for one would like to hear more about Your wisdom on shop layout, both mistakes and successes.Thanks again.

[@jeffreyschmiedeck4254]

Your shop looks very thorough out 👍.

[@bhoiiii]

Glad you're back, sir. All the best to you.

[@connorstrothman7287]

I saw that Strong Hold cabinet in there! They're made here in Louisville Kentucky and I co-op'd there. Pretty cool seeing one of the cabinets we make out in the wild. They're skookum as frig.

[@davidsomerville7868]

an ultrasonic cleaner is priceless when cleaning the crud off of all the EDM machine parts

[@jardine1able]

Good to see you again and also good to hear you are well. Shop,s looking gre at.

[@componenx]

Glad everything's ok, and the project is progressing! I spent way too much time catching up on videos last month, and realized that you hadn't put out any in a long time.

[@frankinpattaya]

Good to see you back Tom,, regards Frank

[@qivarebil2149]

Glad to see You back, Tom. Happy new Year to You & the mice! 🤩👍

[@dannymaciejewski]

Really good to hear from you again Tom!! I see all the hard work you are putting in!! Keep it up mate! Well done.

[@TheKnacklersWorkshop]

Good to see you Tom... Thanks for the shop update...

[@robertoswalt319]

It is great to see a new video from you. It is good to hear that you are healthy and that your shop is coming together so well.

[@melwhitney5823]

Good to have you back Tom! I hope 2023 is a great year for you.

[@williamelliott5041]

Glad you're back. Missed your content and wisdom.

[@andyoverall1951]

Good to see you back, Tom, looking forward to some project work and meatloafs!

[@wyattoneable]

Thanks for the update Tom. I enjoyed seeing the shop from above. I remember Steve cutting that wheel out for you. Way cool project.

[@oxtoolco]

Hey Wyatt, I think you have my wheel mixed up with somebody else. I fabricated that wheel from 11 separate pieces as a weldment. Who is Steve? Cheers, Tom

[@wyattoneable]

@@oxtoolco Steve had the channel name "buckrun11". He cuts metal for a living and I thought for sure he sent you a torched cut wheel and you machined it. He watched a lot of your machining videos some years ago. I can't remember his last name or his current channel name. He makes black smith dies for sale now but he hasn't done much on KZbin.

[@wyattoneable]

@@oxtoolco Steve (can't remember his last name) use to make prepping videos then changed to making black smith videos. He works at a metal cutting company and he now makes black smith dies and tools but he's not very active on KZbin now. I could have sworn he sent you a large wheel he torched cut and you finished the machine work.

[@sjoemie_himself]

Hey Tom! Great to see you again and glad you're doing well. Thanks for the update on the new shop and showing us around. You've made great progress already, hope to see some more updates along the way. A new meatloaf is something nobody would say 'no' to 😁 Greetings from the Netherlands, Mark

[@takedeadaim8671]

It’s very time and emotionally consuming to set up a new place. Glad it’s coming together for you

[@oxtoolco]

You are dead right about the emotionally consuming. It is a very strange feeling when you find an optimal layout or something is just not working. Hard to put into words. Cheers, Tom

[@joebruey]

Good to see you back, bud. I come up that way from Socal every once in a while. I'll message you if I head up that way in the future in case you need something transported up your way. Happy to help with the shop, if needed.

[@oxtoolco]

Right on brother! Cheers, Tom

[@davidwatson4649]

googled toms name as well and prayed all was well warms my heart everything is ok wish i could come help

[@k.s.1871]

For those of us that have moved multiple shops, we understand both the rewards and the frustrations . Welcome back to the KZbin community ! You were definitely missed !

[@legallyfree2955]

Moving is always work, but moving to a bigger shop is always easier than moving to a smaller one! I moved to a shop that was 30% smaller once it did not go well could not build an extension fast enough.

[@JustinAlexanderBell]

That wire EDM is so cool, the wiring loom is a prime example of quality workmanship.

[@z06doc86]

Man it’s great to hear from Tom. I sure miss his content, no matter what it is. Always interesting and insightful. Thanks Tom. 👍👍

[@richardgregory6653]

Nice view from the "Tomdrone" ! Resetting a shop is a task that makes me sweat just thinking about it. I really appreciate your videos and always learn from your thought Process..ATB

[@StubProductions]

Great to see you back. Really need to insulate the building and put in dehumidifier or heat pump.

[@patricksullivan9951]

Hi Tom, well Happy New Year! I see that you indeed alive and well, looking forward to what you will present in 2023! The shop is coming along nicely! Take care of yourself!!

[@simprote]

Thanks for the update! Missed you. Just got your book for Christmas, best gift ever!