After a month of searching, agonising and generally worrying – I have a studio. Done, paid for, key on my keyring.
I’m delighted, but the challenges of building my own workshop are now realities and my lack of knowledge on how to construct anything means I’m at the bottom of a steep learning curve.
Print table first, everything else after. Luckily the ledge at the back of the space will allow me to store my screens there with a bit of carpet on the floor – meaning one less thing to construct. Ofcourse there is stretching and coating and exposing said screens, but I’m not getting into that yet.
Note the bloody useful distance between where my table will be (along the lefthand side wall) and the sinks.
So, to build a print table. I am making mine from scratch to avoid a wobbly, too low, too small surface. Mine will have a 90cm high table top which will be roughly 8 by 4 (or 148cm x 122cm in metric/ normal people speak).
You will need:
-One useful person who knows how to construct things, best if they come with own transport
– Lots of wood. 6 legs (70cm square posts are good) need bracing both along diagonals and around the bottom. I will be using various dimensions of wood for this, my useful person will give me the details as we go.
-if you have a van you can buy a sheet of 8 by 4 mdf or plywood, if you have a Nissan Micra you can buy loft flooring which tongue and groove slots together. This will mean more construction, but less van.
-Wadding. I will be using recycled carpet underlay, but I have yet to order it….
-Rubber table top surface. Pond liner is apparently the stuff for this, but again I have yet to order it…
Alongside these things you’ll need: a hefty set of saw, hammer, screwdriver and staplegun. You will then of course need the right nails, screws and staples.
I am very lucky to have my father as the most useful person anyone could ask for, and he has promised to make sure I learn so that in future I can do it all solo. Maybe then I can be a useful person too, one can only hope.