gg

23/12/2004 4:50 PM

Moving to the big city...

I may be moving to San Francisco soon, so I'll have to wave goodbye to
my spacious workshop. How have other people found ways to keep their
woodworking hobby when living in an area where real estate is
prohibitively expensive?


This topic has 20 replies

Pg

Patriarch

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

24/12/2004 2:54 AM

"[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> I may be moving to San Francisco soon, so I'll have to wave goodbye to
> my spacious workshop. How have other people found ways to keep their
> woodworking hobby when living in an area where real estate is
> prohibitively expensive?
>

So, do you believe that no one here has a house? Or owns real estate?

When you get a chance, do a Google on the Bay Area Woodworkers club, and
see if you can plan to at least chat with one or more of them when you
visit next. There are a number of really good craftspeople living and
working in San Francisco (city limits) who can hook you up with the
latest solutions.

If you're going to be living in one of the other areas, such as the East
Bay, check out www.diablowoodworkers.com. It's a great group of people
as well, and very few of us have more space than I do - a two car garage
from which the automobiles have been evicted.

San Francisco has access to some of the best hardwood dealers in the
world, and the area has a special relationship with the woodworking
communities of Sonoma and Mendocino counties. There are a lot of
talented wood dogs around.

Just don't count on setting up a big shop in Pacific Heights. Bernal
Heights, on the other hand....

Patriarch,
here for the duration.

l

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

23/12/2004 5:43 PM

My shop used to be about 30' x 30' and is currently crammed into the
basement of a small townhouse for the same reason you note in yout
post. I find that the biggest hassle is not being able to use TS,
router and DC after about 8:30pm because of the noise. Other that
that, you get used to the room constraints and, me anyway, tend to work
in a little bit more organized manner to avoid clutter and associated
safety hazards. Other than those, no big deal....
Hope it helps . . .

gg

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

28/12/2004 11:08 AM

Heh, I believe that very very rich people own houses and have real
estate - at least in the areas that I'd want to live in :). Call it
Chapagne taste on a beer budget. I will check out the BAWC, that sounds
like a good resource. If I could get a place with a two car garage AND
in a good part of town, I'd be thrilled, but I'm not counting on it.
Perhaps I should just accept my fate and live in the Valley and let my
girlfriend have the long commute into the city :).
Thanks for your help,
George

DB

Duane Bozarth

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

24/12/2004 9:05 AM

Leon wrote:
...
> Move to a big city where the real-estate owners don't see you coming before
> you get there.

Which particular big city might that be??? Isn't that a definition? :)

Sa

"Steve"

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

24/12/2004 12:01 AM


<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I may be moving to San Francisco soon, so I'll have to wave goodbye to
> my spacious workshop. How have other people found ways to keep their
> woodworking hobby when living in an area where real estate is
> prohibitively expensive?
>
Can you spell H-u-n-t-e-r-'-s_P-o-i-n-t ? (Or have even the trashiest
locations gone 'nanas in the 30 years since I left The City?)
--
Enjoy life and *do* well by it
-- it might well be the only chance you get :-)

Steve,
http://www.ApacheTrail.com/ww/

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

24/12/2004 5:33 AM


<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I may be moving to San Francisco soon, so I'll have to wave goodbye to
> my spacious workshop. How have other people found ways to keep their
> woodworking hobby when living in an area where real estate is
> prohibitively expensive?

Move to a big city where the real-estate owners don't see you coming before
you get there.

Br

Ba r r y

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

24/12/2004 1:53 AM

On 23 Dec 2004 16:50:38 -0800, "[email protected]"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I may be moving to San Francisco soon, so I'll have to wave goodbye to
>my spacious workshop.

Rented industrial condo space.

Bands often have the same problem. Hook up with some other
woodworkers, and you can actually get a good thing going.

Barry

ma

max

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

24/12/2004 3:09 AM

Where in SF are you moving to?
max

> "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>> I may be moving to San Francisco soon, so I'll have to wave goodbye to
>> my spacious workshop. How have other people found ways to keep their
>> woodworking hobby when living in an area where real estate is
>> prohibitively expensive?
>>
>
> So, do you believe that no one here has a house? Or owns real estate?
>
> When you get a chance, do a Google on the Bay Area Woodworkers club, and
> see if you can plan to at least chat with one or more of them when you
> visit next. There are a number of really good craftspeople living and
> working in San Francisco (city limits) who can hook you up with the
> latest solutions.
>
> If you're going to be living in one of the other areas, such as the East
> Bay, check out www.diablowoodworkers.com. It's a great group of people
> as well, and very few of us have more space than I do - a two car garage
> from which the automobiles have been evicted.
>
> San Francisco has access to some of the best hardwood dealers in the
> world, and the area has a special relationship with the woodworking
> communities of Sonoma and Mendocino counties. There are a lot of
> talented wood dogs around.
>
> Just don't count on setting up a big shop in Pacific Heights. Bernal
> Heights, on the other hand....
>
> Patriarch,
> here for the duration.
>

ma

max

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

24/12/2004 3:43 PM

Steve
WE had a cabinet/Furniture shop in Hunters Point and recently moved it to
the Mission. Real estate is insane in SF. Hunters Point is supposed to be
the best value in the country at the moment. They are building light rail
down Third st and property values have skyrocketed.
max

>
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> I may be moving to San Francisco soon, so I'll have to wave goodbye to
>> my spacious workshop. How have other people found ways to keep their
>> woodworking hobby when living in an area where real estate is
>> prohibitively expensive?
>>
> Can you spell H-u-n-t-e-r-'-s_P-o-i-n-t ? (Or have even the trashiest
> locations gone 'nanas in the 30 years since I left The City?)

ma

max

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

28/12/2004 11:15 PM

George
The commutes around SF are horrendous. It takes about 45 minutes to get to
Berkeley on a good night (20 miles). Using 80 east or 24 will cause you to
lose hours every day and bad feelings.
max

> Heh, I believe that very very rich people own houses and have real
> estate - at least in the areas that I'd want to live in :). Call it
> Chapagne taste on a beer budget. I will check out the BAWC, that sounds
> like a good resource. If I could get a place with a two car garage AND
> in a good part of town, I'd be thrilled, but I'm not counting on it.
> Perhaps I should just accept my fate and live in the Valley and let my
> girlfriend have the long commute into the city :).
> Thanks for your help,
> George
>

Cs

"Cherokee-LTD"

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

23/12/2004 8:13 PM

Turning pens?

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
: I may be moving to San Francisco soon, so I'll have to wave goodbye to
: my spacious workshop. How have other people found ways to keep their
: woodworking hobby when living in an area where real estate is
: prohibitively expensive?
:

EP

"Edwin Pawlowski"

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

24/12/2004 2:26 AM


"Ba r r y" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> Bands often have the same problem. Hook up with some other
> woodworkers, and you can actually get a good thing going.
>
> Barry

Share space with BAD

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

24/12/2004 3:27 PM


"Duane Bozarth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Leon wrote:
> ...
>> Move to a big city where the real-estate owners don't see you coming
>> before
>> you get there.
>
> Which particular big city might that be??? Isn't that a definition? :)

Houston, still the most affordable housing in the country. A nice new 2,700
square foot home can still be had for just over $160,000. 3,500 square feet
normally under $200,000. Plenty of older homes in good shape with just
under 2,000 square feet for under $110,000.

b

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

26/12/2004 1:17 PM

On Sun, 26 Dec 2004 13:05:20 -0700, [email protected] wrote:

>On Sun, 26 Dec 2004 06:23:11 GMT, Patriarch
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>[email protected] wrote in news:[email protected]:
>>>>Patriarch,
>>>>here for the duration.
>>>
>>>
>>> I'll likely be in SF for a few days in January sometime.
>>>
>>> any chance for a visit?
>>>
>>
>>Unmunge the email address, and send me the details. We'll set something
>>up, if we can.
>>
>>Patriarch
>
>
>check your email...


hrmmp. yours just bounced. I'm at bridgerb <at> cox <dot> net.

Pn

Phisherman

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

25/12/2004 2:03 AM

On 23 Dec 2004 16:50:38 -0800, "[email protected]"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I may be moving to San Francisco soon, so I'll have to wave goodbye to
>my spacious workshop. How have other people found ways to keep their
>woodworking hobby when living in an area where real estate is
>prohibitively expensive?

There are ways to have a small shop or even a portable one, although
you may not have a table saw, jointer, etc. Hand tools become
important. I love SF, but too much $$$ and very small spaces. Take a
look at the "WorkShop Book" published by Taunton Press for good ideas.

Pg

Patriarch

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

26/12/2004 6:23 AM

[email protected] wrote in news:[email protected]:
>>Patriarch,
>>here for the duration.
>
>
> I'll likely be in SF for a few days in January sometime.
>
> any chance for a visit?
>

Unmunge the email address, and send me the details. We'll set something
up, if we can.

Patriarch

b

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

26/12/2004 1:05 PM

On Sun, 26 Dec 2004 06:23:11 GMT, Patriarch
<[email protected]> wrote:

>[email protected] wrote in news:[email protected]:
>>>Patriarch,
>>>here for the duration.
>>
>>
>> I'll likely be in SF for a few days in January sometime.
>>
>> any chance for a visit?
>>
>
>Unmunge the email address, and send me the details. We'll set something
>up, if we can.
>
>Patriarch


check your email...

b

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

24/12/2004 2:40 PM

On Fri, 24 Dec 2004 02:54:51 GMT, Patriarch
<[email protected]> wrote:

>"[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote in
>news:[email protected]:
>
>> I may be moving to San Francisco soon, so I'll have to wave goodbye to
>> my spacious workshop. How have other people found ways to keep their
>> woodworking hobby when living in an area where real estate is
>> prohibitively expensive?
>>
>
>So, do you believe that no one here has a house? Or owns real estate?
>
>When you get a chance, do a Google on the Bay Area Woodworkers club, and
>see if you can plan to at least chat with one or more of them when you
>visit next. There are a number of really good craftspeople living and
>working in San Francisco (city limits) who can hook you up with the
>latest solutions.
>
>If you're going to be living in one of the other areas, such as the East
>Bay, check out www.diablowoodworkers.com. It's a great group of people
>as well, and very few of us have more space than I do - a two car garage
>from which the automobiles have been evicted.
>
>San Francisco has access to some of the best hardwood dealers in the
>world, and the area has a special relationship with the woodworking
>communities of Sonoma and Mendocino counties. There are a lot of
>talented wood dogs around.
>
>Just don't count on setting up a big shop in Pacific Heights. Bernal
>Heights, on the other hand....
>
>Patriarch,
>here for the duration.


I'll likely be in SF for a few days in January sometime.

any chance for a visit?

CO

Chip Olson

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

25/12/2004 1:33 PM

On Thu, 23 Dec 2004 16:50:38 -0800, [email protected] wrote:

> I may be moving to San Francisco soon, so I'll have to wave goodbye to my
> spacious workshop. How have other people found ways to keep their
> woodworking hobby when living in an area where real estate is
> prohibitively expensive?

I live in an inner suburb of Boston, which while not quite as insanely
expensive as SF is still on the pricey side. My workshop is a 9x12 room in
the basement of our 2-family house. Currently it's just workbench,
table saw and drill press, and I may eventually add a jointer. Fitting a
band saw in will be tricky, however.

Look for houses with full basements (rare in SF, is my impression), or
garages where you can park in the driveway (or put all your tools on
mobile bases).

--
-Chip Olson. | ceo2 at thsi dot org | remove the 2 to reply

Br

Ba r r y

in reply to "[email protected]" on 23/12/2004 4:50 PM

26/12/2004 12:25 AM

On Sat, 25 Dec 2004 13:33:22 -0500, Chip Olson <[email protected]> wrote:


>I live in an inner suburb of Boston, which while not quite as insanely
>expensive as SF is still on the pricey side. My workshop is a 9x12 room in
>the basement of our 2-family house. Currently it's just workbench,
>table saw and drill press, and I may eventually add a jointer. Fitting a
>band saw in will be tricky, however.

I would ditch a drill press for a band saw in a minute. <G>

The longer I own a band saw, the more it's one of the top tools I own
in usage time.

Barry


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