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December 22, 2006
Mixed Feelings
My dad and I visited the welding shop the other day, and I was able to give the shop more of a look-over than ever I had previously. For some reason, it looked more manageable than it had appeared heretofore. The original building was a 40 x 40 square. Over time, the owner's father tacked on additions to one side and then to the other, and then onto the back. So now the place covers an area of around 5000 sq ft, counting the extra story of office space inside (complete with windows for yelling at the welders) and the trailer out front (presently used as the office). Unfortunately the office and the bathroom were created in corners of the original structure, so now they are both located to some extent in the middle of the shop.
To say that the mechanical facilities are depreciated is something of an understatement. The welders, brakes, bandsaws are all fairly old, but sturdy. The very large swamp cooler on the side of the building does not work, so "the guys" (as they are known) tug around the shop another large swamp cooler on wheels to cool things off locally. Some upgrades to the electrical plant have been aborted, new cable having been strung but no end runs connecting to them.
The roof has seen the ravages of wind snow and hail, and it shows. A "Tingley Elm" crowds the corner of the building, providing some shade but also periodically dropping limbs on the sheet metal and fiberglass rooftop.
But despite its defects, the place has its charms. There is a lot of space in the shop once things are somewhat put away and scrap hauled off. The office space is somewhat cramped, but very private. With a window, the second story office would provide a very nice view of Sandia Mountain. And with the trailer gone, the front area would be big enough to turn vehicles around in. The material shed in the front (which the present owner thought might make a good office, if the gravel floor were finished) would actually be a nice place to park a car or bikes that were regularly used, since it has access directly to the Conservancy District access road.
In sum, what we are considering is a very very large project. Scads of potential, to be realized only with scads of effort. Uff da!
Posted by Underblog at December 22, 2006 7:37 AM
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