Hello all,My latest question is about woodworking while you travel. My wife and I are still in our home, but hope to retire in October and then hit the road. We plan to travel for a year and then settle on a state and buy our final home. How many of you work with wood while on the road? What I mean is still use your hand tools (saws, chisels, hammers, etc) and power tools to make boxes, signs, furniture and so on. I understand the parks do not want the noise. So I was hoping to stop along the way and use all the noisey tools. And then do the assembly work in the park.Thank you for your time and response, Dave :h

Most winter campgrounds in Arizona, have many activities for the winter snowbirds. Lapidary, silversmithing, quilting, many crafts as well as a well stocked woodworking workshop. Spend your winter months creating and making unique items without having to haul all those tools with you....check out amenities of winter parks...woodshop will be one of them

JoeGood988 wrote:well stocked woodworking workshop.I did not know about this stuff. But not sure about leaving my tools behind. They are just like my kids. And except for the fact that they are all grown and out on their own. I would not leave them behind. Can't I use my tools in their shop?This is so cool thou. Thank you for the info.Dave :(

I brought some wood-craft projects with me from time to time. But I also found it very inconvenient to do anything with it. First, space is at a premium. Where do you set your project up at? Picnic table? Where do you put your outside food items and outside eating then? Folding table? well, there's another item to have to haul, store, set-up, take down, and deal with when not in actual use. And if it rains, or the humidity is very high, or it's extremely hot and you have to move the project inside, there goes space in your camper. (I know, been there, done that).Now I'm not a full timer. I still work a 45 hour week job and (once again) in the middle of remodeling another section of our home (gigantic family room now), so when I go camping .... I camp! That means rest and relaxation. No home hobbies, it's all about camping and I find it much nicer to keep it that way. The biggest problem you'll encounter is space and weather. Wood is fickle, subject to humidity and temperatures. And neither can be controlled when camping. Just my 2 cents.

What's nice about a woodshop at a better RV Park...yes, you pay more to camp there but the amenities are wonderful...lathe, wood shapers, band saws, chop saws, sanders, sharpening equipment, table saws,and a wide assortment of hand tools...

Fulltime and woodworking | Good Sam Community

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
May 14, 2014
We FT'd for 7 yrs.
I was too busy enjoying the travel/adventure for any extra hobbies.

Besides as a FTvr we just didn't have the extra room for stuff. We sold everything an outfitted rig with want we needed.......then still got rid of stuff.

Now that we are off the road FT I am setting up my shop. Just wasn't something I found was needed when traveling....too busy :B

BUT it can be done........consider a 'tow hauler' garage could easily set up as a mobile shop. Just need proper tow vehicle.
Good luck on your adventure.
CabinetmakerII
Explorer
May 14, 2014
AS a semi-retired cabinetmaker, my DW and I decided to incorporate some woodworking tools together with our toys in our Toy Hauler 5th Wheel. As time progressed through the winter during our first year snow-birding, I found we were doing more cabinet work than playing with our toys. When we did work, it was never before 9:00AM and always stopped by 3:00 PM. This year I left the tools behind and took only the toys. We enjoyed ourselves much more and did not have to worry about the noise and irritating the neighbors. I have heard that RV Parks with woodshops are great... if you can find a time during the day when the tools are available. It is surprising how many people enjoy working with wood.

Good luck with your projects! :D
Ropdoc
Explorer
May 14, 2014
We are looking at a new trailer right now. And the storage compartment is big enough for a pull out tray. I am thinking it would work for a small tablesaw, mini lathe and scrollsaw. I can store all the other hand tools and small power tool thru-out the trailer. Stuff I already have.
Peg_Leg
Explorer
May 14, 2014
A small folding work bench with clamping capabilities and hand tools can accomplish a lot of fine work. Outside of a lathe for turning most jobs can be done without power tools. It was done hundreds of years before electricity came along. Great conversation starter too.

I carry to many tools and then again not enough. Oh, how to decide.
Ropdoc
Explorer
May 14, 2014
TechWriter wrote:
Needless to say we all grew to hate him.

ah, yea, I don't want to be hated. I want to be praised for my awesome work and love for all.

Dave :B
TechWriter
Explorer
May 14, 2014
Ropdoc wrote:

How many of you work with wood while on the road? What I mean is still use your hand tools (saws, chisels, hammers, etc) and power tools to make boxes, signs, furniture and so on. I understand the parks do not want the noise. So I was hoping to stop along the way and use all the noisey tools. And then do the assembly work in the park.

That part about doing the noisy work outside of a park is a very good idea.

Last Winter I stayed in a park that had a woodworker who used his power tools early in the morning and who spread sawdust throughout the park.

Needless to say we all grew to hate him.
Ropdoc
Explorer
May 14, 2014
lanerd wrote:
As much as I enjoy my MH and traveling, coming home to my wood shop is really something to look forward to.

I completely agree, that is why I must take my tools along. We are selling everything we can and get out of the greedy state of Ca. I was born here and I can tell you story after story of why I am leaving. But this post is all about tools and how to use them while on the road.
n7bsn
Explorer
May 14, 2014
One of my ol co-workers did the following:
A 40 ft DP motor-home, pulling a WellsCargo -car- hauler. ie it's designed for weight. Inside the WellsCargo is their SmartCar and his wood-shop.
His tooling is all hand-held and/or bench top.

I also belong to a local wood-turning club, with a few snow-birds.
One carries a small mini-lathe, on the road all he turns is really small stuff.
Two others always stay at resorts with extensive workshops included.
lanerd
Explorer II
May 14, 2014
Good question. I found one (just by mistake) just east of Tucson called "The Voyager". Great place....great wood shop.

We are only 1/2 timers, but I've found that it is just too inconvenient to do any wood working while we are in the MH. So, I save up my projects until we get back home and spend 18 hours a day in my shop. As much as I enjoy my MH and traveling, coming home to my wood shop is really something to look forward to.

Ron
JoeGood988
Explorer
May 14, 2014
Use Google...choose an area you want to be in like Mesa, Arizona
Google : Resorts Mesa Arizona....it will show all resorts/campgrounds in Mesa...click on one at a time their website...it will show amenities offered