In recent issues I have talked about investing in machinery and different cabinet construction methods, this month I want to focus on the ‘little helpers’ in the shop, because many times the small things make a big difference.
“Can you give me a hand?”
We all get asked this question during the course of a day. Of course we will help out our co-worker, we are team players after all, right?
Whether the task to help out with is to load a heavy or oversized panel onto the CNC, look for a panel that went missing, or to load the truck with the tools necessary to do an installation, there are some valuable tricks which can make the life inside a woodworking shop a lot easier and less physically demanding for you or your employees!
Let’s have a look at some potential little helpers:
SHOP CARTS: Many of you might actually be practicing this already, using one cart per job.
There are multiple advantages to this. For example, all parts from one job stay together until assembly. With a well-designed shop cart, a multitude of different sized panels can be held and transported together. Storing parts upright on the cart makes them easy to access and allows parts to be removed individually and stored afterwards on the same rack. This is advantageous when parts are needed in different sequences, or when only particular parts are needed. If outfitted with wheels, it can also be easily moved around. This is of particular value if your shop is tight on space!
Jumping ahead in the sequence is also easily accomplished with the shop cart solution, since the entire production is ‘on wheels.’
To get a good overview of the jobs going through production, color-coding the carts with flags or pylons can be added.
VACUUM LIFTER: Lifting heavy panels or doors, becomes a job for one person with the help of a vacuum lifter. Vacuum benches or stands can also be used to make the workplace more ergonomic and efficient.
TOOL CART: Keeping your tools organized and in proper shape is a must for every woodworker. The tool cart provides protection for your expensive tooling, keeps all tooling organized and in place.
LIFT TABLE: Working in different heights or lifting heavy workpieces can be a challenge eased through a hydraulic lift table. Instead of you doing the bending or heavy lifting, utilize the hydraulic table as an infeed solution or as an assembly table.
HIGHWAY LANES: If maneuvering around in the shop becomes a challenge, because finished cabinets or pallets that are in the way, drawing highly visible markings onto the shop floor will help keep ‘production highways’ free, so the flow inside the workshop isn’t disrupted.
Christian Vollmers is the president of HOMAG Canada Inc. He can be reached at Christian. Vollmers@homag-canada.ca or visit the website at www.homag-canada.ca
