Creative Woodworks & crafts 2004-03, страница 37

Introduction

I first met Rick Hutcheson at the "Ultimate Woodcrafting Festival" in '99, here in New Jersey. He was traveling with his friends, Roy King, Scott Kochendorfcr, and Shelia Bergner. During one of our conversations I heard him referred to as "The Animal" and even though I was curtous as to how he got that name hung on him. I felt out of

place asking, ft wasn't until T got this assignment and went to his shop in Grimes, Iowa, that T discovered why he got the name.

Everyone thai had been there warned rnc that I would be amazed with his "shop." Amazed? Dumbstruck would be more like it! It is not just, a shop, but also a classroom, museum, and computer

design center.

There are two things that make up a shop: space- and layout. Ultimately, a shop should be planned around workflow, and here at Rick's it starts at the right front of the building. As you enter the right side you are in the breakdown area. That is where lumber or sheet goods are brought in and cut into working sizes.

The right bay of three bays contains a long workbench with plenty of drawers and cabinets, while the wall is well-adorned with tools hung on pegboard. Mechanical tools are toward the front, woodworking tools are toward the back, and all arc organized as to their use. Rick is self-sufficient and does most of his own plumb-ing, electrical and mechanical repairs, thus the wide assortment of tools and supplies.

The left side of the same bay houses his heavier tools, such as the table saw, router table (shop-built by Rick), planer and jointer. Notice the network of dust collection hoses and dust collectors.

The back of the shop has a large storage section. The finishes and lumber are visible, but behind those- racks are plumbing, electrical and other assorted maintenance supplies, all neatly stored.

As you move around the back of the bay, you pass between the entrance to his office and his CNC router, a Route-a-bout that is being developed by a friend of his and is giving Rick countless hours of fun. He can take any scroll saw pattern, scan it into his computer, do his magic in the program, load it into the CNC computer, clamp a piece of plywood in place, turn it on, and in minutes has a sellable project.

14 • Creative Woodworks S. Crafts March 2004