Fleets Workshop

nclemmons

Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2007
Messages
3,206
Location
Bentonville, AR
One of the most amazing workshops that I have seen.

This guy has taken organization to a completely new level.  52 minutes of ideas.



Get your drool towel ready...
 
I saw this a few weeks ago on YouTube - amazing workspace like something out of a movie that doesn't normally exist in real life - but a bit like watching a super yacht tour that you know you'll never possibly be able to have yourself. But a lot of ideas and inspiration that could be translated into more modest workshops.

I tried to find out through a quick google search what type of work his business does, but couldn't find a lot of information.
 
TwelvebyTwenty said:
I tried to find out through a quick google search what type of work his business does, but couldn't find a lot of information.
It did not look like commercial shop where something is being produced.
 
Svar said:
TwelvebyTwenty said:
I tried to find out through a quick google search what type of work his business does, but couldn't find a lot of information.
It did not look like commercial shop where something is being produced.

But it had reception and meeting areas that looked like they were for staff/clients, and ways to track who logged out which tools. So it can 't be a personal workshop. 
 
I believe it’s a working shop. Like Svar said a google search, a Construction company.
And the amount of ladders gave it away.
 
In the comments in another video on his channel, he said commercial construction and they did mostly office new/remodel. I think he said most of the employees were in the field and he had one person in the shop with him.

Ron
 
Clearly a case of a person enjoying building the shop.  It's hard to see how this gets used much beyond storage.  You try to do anything in there, and you will have a massive mess that takes hours/days to clean up.

Seeing things like grinders in spaces that will make a mess, while it looks like many are on wheels, you would thinking he would have them in booths/nooks or something to capture the mess, that or the tools don't get used.  If that space is used regularly, I can see him having a full time employee who does nothing but clean.  I would guess it's a shop more for storing gear to go in the field, getting employees together, prepped for the day and such.

Definitely a lot of work there, and for sure building it is a skill learning/improving effort.

 
DeformedTree said:
Clearly a case of a person enjoying building the shop.  It's hard to see how this gets used much beyond storage.  You try to do anything in there, and you will have a massive mess that takes hours/days to clean up.

Seeing things like grinders in spaces that will make a mess, while it looks like many are on wheels, you would thinking he would have them in booths/nooks or something to capture the mess, that or the tools don't get used.  If that space is used regularly, I can see him having a full time employee who does nothing but clean.  I would guess it's a shop more for storing gear to go in the field, getting employees together, prepped for the day and such.

Definitely a lot of work there, and for sure building it is a skill learning/improving effort.

He did say one of his employees/friends helps keep the workshop shipshape out of hours. Makes me think that maybe the guy is somewhat wealthy and the workshop/business is as much of a hobby/passion as it is an income generator.
 
DeformedTree said:
Clearly a case of a person enjoying building the shop.  It's hard to see how this gets used much beyond storage.  You try to do anything in there, and you will have a massive mess that takes hours/days to clean up.

Seeing things like grinders in spaces that will make a mess, while it looks like many are on wheels, you would thinking he would have them in booths/nooks or something to capture the mess, that or the tools don't get used.  If that space is used regularly, I can see him having a full time employee who does nothing but clean.  I would guess it's a shop more for storing gear to go in the field, getting employees together, prepped for the day and such.

I agree.  He's got multiples of alot of tools.  Tons of batteries, and chargers  That space isn't big enough for more than a couple guys to be working, makes far more sense that they just store the tools there and take them out to go work on projects.  Course if thats the case it seems like they would be better served with a good system of packout boxes or systainers.
 
TwelvebyTwenty said:
DeformedTree said:
Clearly a case of a person enjoying building the shop.  It's hard to see how this gets used much beyond storage.  You try to do anything in there, and you will have a massive mess that takes hours/days to clean up.

Seeing things like grinders in spaces that will make a mess, while it looks like many are on wheels, you would thinking he would have them in booths/nooks or something to capture the mess, that or the tools don't get used.  If that space is used regularly, I can see him having a full time employee who does nothing but clean.  I would guess it's a shop more for storing gear to go in the field, getting employees together, prepped for the day and such.

Definitely a lot of work there, and for sure building it is a skill learning/improving effort.

He did say one of his employees/friends helps keep the workshop shipshape out of hours. Makes me think that maybe the guy is somewhat wealthy and the workshop/business is as much of a hobby/passion as it is an income generator.

Yeah pretty much what I'm thinking, the shots of the lobby and such make this look part man cave, part tax fraud (yes, 100 framed posters from movies is a critical business expense).  Why would such a shop need cases of movie posters all around?  To be honest, a lot of it is just plane tacky.  I think a lot of folks would walk into that space and feel uncomfortable pretty darn fast.

Looks like a place he more or less lives in, enjoys, and does do stuff with.  Part of this is just the tool collection. He has such an assortment of stuff, that it's hard to pin down what business would need all that. Generally if you are doing cabinet work, I don't think you do a lot of welding.  It looks much more like a hobby that grew.  Like some point in time he asked for a Delta Catalog and when handed one he had to explain he meant he needs 1 of everything in the catalog.  From there, it grew.

Wonder what his insurance agent thinks.
 
I really enjoyed watching his video of his obvious love of the shop (over years) and wood...I don’t understand any need to rip him down for what he’s got, collected over time and sharing, like he stares at the end its just how he rolls...and we’re all not the same
 
I wished he would have elaborated on what happen in the pass with his batteries chargers.
 
very nice shop. I dont think I would do any real woodworking in it. Might damage the furniture especially that beautifully inlaid work bench
 
It's a shame a guy has to explain himself just because he's successful and loves what he is doing - and had the nerve to show a little bit of it on YT.

Kind regards,
Oliver
 
six-point socket II said:
It's a shame a guy has to explain himself just because he's successful and loves what he is doing - and had the nerve to show a little bit of it on YT.

Kind regards,
Oliver

It's not all about defending/justification. Some of it is just nice background to who he is, what he does, more talk about the workshop, etc... There's also a load of photos at the end of the video showing how his shop progressed from the early years, which was particularly enjoyable to see.
 
Seems like a very good natured and modest guy, with a relaxed attitude to to life and enjoying his success in his own way.

But that outfeed table top described in the film: is it expected to do double duty as a tank transporter?!
 
TwelvebyTwenty said:
six-point socket II said:
It's a shame a guy has to explain himself just because he's successful and loves what he is doing - and had the nerve to show a little bit of it on YT.

It's not all about defending/justification. Some of it is just nice background to who he is, what he does, more talk about the workshop, etc... There's also a load of photos at the end of the video showing how his shop progressed from the early years, which was particularly enjoyable to see.

Right,  I didn't read comments on Youtube, but I think this video showed the first video just created a lot of questions, most of which he answered.  Knowing that they super cleaned it for the video, explains a lot.  Knowing that it's just him and his cleanup guy in there explains a lot.  Knowing he owns the building/complex and rents space out explains a lot.  Commercial building interiors still doesn't explain much, but I guess that can be translated into "I make the bits to make very fancy conference rooms/board rooms" would then explain his shop and what he does.

I think some of his comments do basically hit on the idea that it is one part business one part passion project/hobby.

I don't think many folks would express negativity towards him/his shop.  I think people trying to understand things can sometimes come across that way. 
 
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