Show off your shop TV

[newbirdhunter]

I didn't see any other thread like this so I figured I'd start one. I have a 20" flat screen TV that I have decided I can use in my new garage shop as soon as I figure out where to put it (along with everything else that is supposed to go in there). So to help give me some ideas and to allow folks a chance to show off a little, please post your shop TV installs.

Frank

 

[farms100]

I've seen a number of shops tours with Tv's in them. Other than possibly watching a technique DVD, or having your cad drawing up on the computer screen.  I don't quite get the desire to have a TV in the shop. If a game, movie tv show etc is interesting enough to justify having it on, I'd just assume sit on the couch and focus on that.

Over the winter I stopped listening to sports talk, regular talk, or news radio in the shop and only listened to music radio. i was surprised at how much better focus and rhythm my shop time had.

can ya help a fella out?

 

[erock]

I had a TV/DVD/VCR combo...yeah VCR!  Just sitting on my Craftsman table saw for a couple months.  I found myself putting on a football game and standing or grabbing a seat to watch the game.  So nothing was getting done.  Since I gave my table saw away I had no place for the TV to sit on, so I put the TV
back into the basement.  I tried to give it away, but nobody wants a tube TV with a VCR!
I thought about putting a 32" flat screen mounted on a wall in the shop, put I opted to but some Bose speakers in the shop and subscribe to Pandora radio.
I don't miss the TV in the shop.  I get more done with out it.

Eric

 

[nclemmons]

I have a 32 inch flat screen wall mounted.  It is also used for a computer monitor when I need to look something up online, or reference a sketchup drawing.  I tend to have it on a news or sports program for background.  I also stream pandora from my computer at times.

Neil

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

No TV out there. I don't even like the TV anyways.

 

[ScotF]

No TV for me either...hardly ever watch it and would not want the distraction...I do not even have music for that matter...other than the music of listening to my Festools!  ;D

Scot

 

[jonny round boy]

Frank, your timing with this thread is amazing.

I've nearly always had a TV in my workshop. I like a bit of something going on in the background. I bought a tv tuner so I could 'repurpose' an old 19" monitor, and had that for several years.

When we bought a new tv for the living room a few months ago, I put the old one in my daughter's room, and her old one in the workshop. It's a 32" lcd, but it's broken. The bottom 1/4 of the screen doesn't display properly. I've put up with it for a few months now & it's fine for background noise, but if anything interesting does come on & I stop work for a few minutes, I can't see the whole picture and it annoys me. Also (and I never thought I'd say this) 32" is just too big for my workshop.

As it happens, I ordered a new 24" tv/dvd combo for the shop yesterday, and I'm sat here waiting for the delivery as I type this.

I'm hoping it arrives in time so I can get it mounted & set up before the F1 qualifying at 12:10, so I can watch that whilst I finish processing a cut-list this afternoon....

 

[AlexThePalex]

I like listening to the radio or a CD when I'm working, but TV, no way.

 

[farms100]

No TV out there. I don't even like the TV anyways.

lets not go crazy now

 

[Runhard]

No TV out there. I don't even like the TV anyways.

I don't watch TV at all, that stuff will rot your brain, seriously! I do have a monitor and DVD player to watch educational and woodworking videos, but not movies or any of that Hollywood junk. I have better things to do with my time. I have to admit though, I do have a 37" monitor in my office at work for our security cameras and it is also connected to cable, but the only time I have anything on is when one of our teams is playing and it's televised.

Daniel

 

[Alan m]

iv got a 20" flat screen out int he shop.
i never turn it on during the week days .
i do use it in the evenings or on the week ends.
if im trying to do work then i wont put it on but if im only messing about trying tools or tiding il have it on.
the reason i bought it was that i often watch matchs in the house but i would only be half watching it . i found i was sitting there thinking i could be out in the shop tiding up or getting ready for the day after. now i find im more productive with the tv out there during those times.
the shop is tidier

now if i could only get free view out there so i can watch the formula one

 

[Sparktrician]

There's no way in hail I would have a TV in my shop.  Nohow, no way.  I don't need the distraction when I really need to be paying attention so I don't lose any digits (like one of my best friends and my dad).  I have an old (40+ years) FM radio there, but since broadcast programming is so utterly pith-poor, it rarely gets turned on any more.  I recently discovered Internet radio and often have music on from my computer at work and in the house.  A couple of weeks ago I purchased a Grace Digital tuner to attach to my Bose Acoustic Wave System.  It took a bit of setup time, and unlike Ick's Festool manuals, the manual that came with it sucks ditch water.  There are over 16,000 Internet radio channels, so if I can't find something I like, it's a pretty sad day.  I have an elderly laptop in the shop that is so old it won't run Windows 7, but will run Ubuntu Linux well, and I'll probably add some speakers to it so I can stream music into the shop via a browser. 

 

[Alan m]

There's no way in hail I would have a TV in my shop.  Nohow, no way.  I don't need the distraction when I really need to be paying attention so I don't lose any digits (like one of my best friends and my dad).  I have an old (40+ years) FM radio there, but since broadcast programming is so utterly pith-poor, it rarely gets turned on any more.  I recently discovered Internet radio and often have music on from my computer at work and in the house.  A couple of weeks ago I purchased a Grace Digital tuner to attach to my Bose Acoustic Wave System.  It took a bit of setup time, and unlike Ick's Festool manuals, the manual that came with it sucks ditch water.  There are over 16,000 Internet radio channels, so if I can't find something I like, it's a pretty sad day.  I have an elderly laptop in the shop that is so old it won't run Windows 7, but will run Ubuntu Linux well, and I'll probably add some speakers to it so I can stream music into the shop via a browser. 

i have to agree to a point.
i would never have the tv on if i was using any of the dangerous tools

 

[newbirdhunter]

Sorry guys, i'm at fault for not being clear enough. I plan to use the TV as a monitor with an Apple TV connected to allow me to watch YouTube videos for woodworking tips/tricks/learning... and maybe the occasional cute puppy video (i love dogs) [big grin].

@Nellc brings up an interesting idea, i.e. I can forgo the Apple TV and actually put in a PC for reference as well as streaming music. I think I'll re-work my plans to go with that idea instead. Thanks!

@Johnny Round post pics when u get that new guy installed.  [smile]

@Spark I would agree that watching a TV program while operating any dangerous tool is not the smartest idea one can come up with.  [eek]

 

[farms100]

I didn't think people would be watching TV while working with dangerous tools. However over the years I have seen, or heard enough stories about experienced and experienced woodworkers doing dumb stuff. including myself a time or two, usually I was tired and or distracted, or didnt know any better.

Having  a TV on while puttering around cleaning, organizing or some sort of skill/ project video makes sense.

personalyl I have a limited amount of shop and wall space, taking up valuable real estate with a Tv is not worth it.

 

[Old School Carpenter]

Having  a TV on while puttering around cleaning, organizing or some sort of skill/ project video makes sense.

Yep, I've got one for that, and late nights when I fall asleep in the shop. Pitfalls of spending so much time in the shop/ and having a comfortable shop with a leather recliner. [big grin]

Mike

 

[jacko9]

Music only for me in my shop.  I did build my first chest of drawers out of quarter sawn oak while listening to Pink Floyd (over and over) [wink]  It took some time to hand cut the case dovetails and the drawer dovetails since it was a large chest.

Jack

 

[nclemmons]

Francisco

I actually use mine with a Mac Mini - debated an Apple TV but liked the flexibility of DVD's, full internet browsing, Sketchup, etc.  Works great.  The mini stores my itunes library as well so I have music, pandora, etc. 

I use a bluetooth keyboard and trackpad so minimal wires to deal with.  I frequently will draw a plan in Sketchup and then do detail measurements as I build with the TV / Mini as a point of reference.

neil

 

[newbirdhunter]

@NeilC  If I were to forgo the Apple TV and use a computer, it'd be my MacBook Pro. The Mac Mini is a possibility too given that we need to upgrade my wife's.

 

[peter halle]

In my soon to ex shop I have a 19" that I started to use as a monitor when doing videos.  Much easier to see if the camera is capturing your intended area versus your crotch.  When I move back and work on building out my micro shop at home it will have wired internet connections and will have tv capabilities as well.  You never know, one day a shop.  Next day - man cave.  Next day - doghouse.

Work safely!

Peter