Re: Crate shop equipment

[Stephen Fixx <Stephen.Fixx@oberlin.edu>]

  We always cringe when the architects and planners start roaming about.
Every year or so we see new drawings...and often with little input from the
staff that actually uses the space. Your crater/packer probably already has
the worst space in the museum like most of us: poor air flow (if any), no
natural light, a concrete floor and perhaps inadequate square footage as it
is. 

Truly, the equipment to do our work hasn't changed in years. A CNC router
might replace some of the shop tools but that would only take up more space.

Here they once suggested moving the registrars to a space in the basement
1/8th the size they currently occupy. It would have been a windowless closet
right behind the wall where our dust collector is.

Best of luck,

Stephen


Stephen F. Fixx
Assistant Exhibit Preparator
Allen Memorial Art Museum
87 N. Main St.
Oberlin, OH 44074
(440)775-6201
email: stephen.fixx@oberlin.edu




On 12/13/05 8:15 AM, "Jeffrey Wright-Sedam" <upny@uamail.albany.edu> wrote:

> Dear Katie,
> 
> Jim is right. Considering that wood workers provide a vast variety of services
> for museums and galleries (crates, exhibition furniture, mounts...etc) why not
> make an investment that recognizes this very important profession? Finally, if
> they are going to lose space, I'd suggest that all the shop tool be upgraded -
> there is nothing that can replace quality, traditional shop tools - new
> technology is not the answer here.
> 
> Best,
> 
> Jeffrey Wright-Sedam
> Preparator
> University Art Museum
> Fine Arts Bldg. Rm. 101
> 1400 Washington Avenue
> Albany, New York 12222
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pacinlist-bounces@pacin.org [mailto:pacinlist-bounces@pacin.org]On
> Behalf Of Jim Bodell
> Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 5:14 PM
> To: 'PACIN ListServ'
> Subject: RE: Crate shop equipment
> 
> 
> Katie,
> 
> A smaller space is not a more efficient space when it comes to working
> with wood, plastic, foam, etc.  Ask anyone who has worked in a wood shop
> and they will tell you that you can never have enough tools or work
> space.  The processes can be done with fewer tools but that requires
> reconfiguring them for each varied task.  This results in time wasted
> working on the tools not the materials.
> 
> Generally, the size of a shop is dictated by the material, the processes
> involved and the end product sizes.  I can't imagine that the
> woodworkers at your facility are pleased with the prospect of a smaller
> space in which to work. All the tools mentioned are necessary in
> addition to large layout tables/workbenches and material storage.
> 
> Additional equipment will make some processes easier but will require
> additional space for proper and safe handling of the materials involved.
> This added equipment will not eliminate the need for your existing
> equipment.
> 
> This is just the humble opinion of a 40 year veteran woodworker.
> 
> Good luck,
> 
> Jim Bodell
> Exhibitions Preparator
> Museum of Arts & Sciences
> Macon, GA
>  
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pacinlist-bounces@pacin.org [mailto:pacinlist-bounces@pacin.org]
> On Behalf Of Katie Welty
> Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 12:15 PM
> To: list@pacin.org
> Subject: Crate shop equipment
> 
> The Brooklyn Museum's department of Planning and Architecture is
> proposing to move our crate and packing shop and have asked us to
> investigate new alternative saws that could result in a shop with less
> equipment and thus requiring a smaller more efficient space.
> 
> Currently, our crater/packer has a table saw, rip saw, band saw,
> vertical wall saw, and a sander.  He cuts  wood, paper, foam and
> plastics on this equipment. Is anyone familiar with alternative
> equipment that may use heat or laser to cut foams and paper more
> efficiently?  I would welcome your suggestions.
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> Katie Welty
> 
> Registrar, Exhibitions and International Loans
> Brooklyn Museum 
> 200 Eastern Parkway
> Brooklyn, NY 11238
> 
> tel: 718-501-6337 fax: 718-501-6135
> 
>