Mobile/Portable Woodshop

[crpaulk]

My new project is to build a Mobile/Portable shop in a 16’ cube truck. Much like my tool trailer, I want to have every conceivable tool with me when I am on the job, but now I want the added benefit of a miter saw and table saw always set up and ready to work inside the truck. On most jobs I will set up the portable shop to be as close to the work as possible, but many times I just need to do some pickup work. You know the small details that seem to come up. Sometimes, I am building a deck and do most of my work with a MAG77,  jig saw, and nail guns, but it would be nice to use the miter saw with a stop for cutting pickets, or a table saw to rip the risers. I plan on being able to pull the truck up, roll out the power cord and be ready to cut. WE WILL SEE! I plan on creating a video series, each episode documenting progress until completion. This first video is in sketch up working on the tool cabinet concept. I have a question and maybe one of you has the answer. Take a look.

Ron Paulk
www.paulkhomes.com 
[eek]

Mobile and Portable woodshop Episode 1

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Excellent Ron.  Keep 'em coming!

 

[Alan m]

great idea ron. cant wait for more videos.
im not sure about leaving the tools set up but maybe knock down but ready to set up.
as you were asking about the drawers if was thinking of something very similar to your idea. it should work. i fear that the little piece at the front would be delicate or wear out, you could allow up to 2" at the front and it would be stronger and still work. .

do you plan on taking this truck to most sites and taking the tools out for you site shop set up.

 

[ajones]

Hi you would get quite a high wear rate on the little stop on the front of your dado maybe a small nylon block would give better results

 

[FEStastic]

why not a straight dado and put a face frame bit of wood with a notch to the correct size to create a step,
might be quicker and possibly stronger

 

[crpaulk]

great idea ron. cant wait for more videos.
im not sure about leaving the tools set up but maybe knock down but ready to set up.
as you were asking about the drawers if was thinking of something very similar to your idea. it should work. i fear that the little piece at the front would be delicate or wear out, you could allow up to 2" at the front and it would be stronger and still work. .

do you plan on taking this truck to most sites and taking the tools out for you site shop set up.

Yes, the truck would be both portable shop (replacing trailer) and mobile shop for quick set up. I had an early version of this in the 90s. I hope this one combines the best of trailer and takes the mobile shop to a new level.

Photos of my old Van that the current trailer replaced:

 

[crpaulk]

Hi you would get quite a high wear rate on the little stop on the front of your dado maybe a small nylon block would give better results

Any ideas on the specifics for attaching the nylon block?

Ron Pauk
www.paulkhomes.com

 

[Alan m]

you could route a vertical dado in 1"from the front. then screw it on with a slot to let it up and down and a screw to hold it there.
you could also use the domino to mortice in domino sized nylon pieces

 

[fshanno]

How about the ToolTrailer?

Here's a link. http://www.tooltrailer.com/

Table saw, miter saw, everything you need, ready to be stolen in one fell swoop.

What's the basic concept?  What's the work flow?  Will you be building cases on site?  If so how does the plywood get there and where is it stored?  I had a grand idea a few months ago of doing serious case work right on site.  The customer was going to put all his stuff in a couple of Pods and I would have a whole garage to work in.  Well, two Pods became one Pod and two wouldn't have been enough so my workspace became his storage space for stuff while 1500 square feet of his 2500 sq ft house was remodeled.

But I'm all ears because I'll never have enough capital or cash flow for a real shop.  I'm working out of my garage right now and it's not working.  I have garage that's filled up with a cabinet saw complete with stupid 50" fence that I got for free and shouldn't have and a 6" jointer and a router table and a drill press and a band saw and Kapex station with 8' on each side and a dust collector and two large work benches and an MFT and a 4x8 assembly table on wheels that doubles as everything and a Foreman pocket hole thing on a wheeled cart and another cart with a flip table, lunchbox planer on one side and Ridgid belt/spindle sander on the other and a 12' trailer parked in my drive to hold materials and stuff in production.  The only thing missing is room to move.

 

[crpaulk]

How about the ToolTrailer?

Here's a link. http://www.tooltrailer.com/

Table saw, miter saw, everything you need, ready to be stolen in one fell swoop.

Go to the link and look at their gallery under working trailers. http://www.tooltrailer.com/photos/v/Working+trailers/untitled-1.jpg.html The tool trailer that is referred to as Ron's was mine. I gutted his basic trailer and customized it. It was nice, but didn't work well for me. It was very safe and easy to put in any garage. With tongue removed, it is hard to tow off. It is a high-end well build piece of equipment.

Ron Paulk
www.paulkhomes.com

 

[fshanno]

How about the ToolTrailer?

Here's a link. http://www.tooltrailer.com/

Table saw, miter saw, everything you need, ready to be stolen in one fell swoop.

Go to the link and look at their gallery under working trailers. http://www.tooltrailer.com/photos/v/Working+trailers/untitled-1.jpg.html The tool trailer that is referred to as Ron's was mine. I gutted his basic trailer and customized it. It was nice, but didn't work well for me. It was very safe and easy to put in any garage. With tongue removed, it is hard to tow off. It is a high-end well build piece of equipment.

Ron Paulk
www.paulkhomes.com

So that wasn't good enough?  Looks like we're in for a ride.  You know there are some guys who are going to be out of work starting tomorrow that could help.  Their last gig was customizing and supporting this mobile rig that could really haul.  You could do all sorts of work from inside and around it.

[attachimg=1]

What do you foresee as your target project mix for the mobile shop?  Meaning what would you attempt and what would you not attempt.

 

[mattfc]

Imagine if all the stuff in this "display cabinet" was green.. I see an opportunity for a mobile Festool shop!