<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; = charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1276" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>At last, at last!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Announcing the completion of our new rebuilding = shop, soon to be known as "Southwest Piano Technologies".  Catchy huh?  For = whatever unknown reason the public seems to be turned on to catchy and = meaningless marketing phrases like "High-Tech", "Technologically Advanced", and = "State of the Art".  We figured "Piano Technologies" had a nice ring to it.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>We turned the power on last week and to our delight = all 36 light fixtures, 8 ceiling fans, and 46 outlets worked perfectly.  I = poured concrete door steps last week and have now begun the un-fun task of = clean up which so far has amounted to several massive piles of concrete and = stucco chunks, scrap lumber, empty paint buckets, various types of twisted = metal components, and lots of general garbage, (no nuclear = materials).  The only remaining task will be reinstalling two doors which were = removed for painting and finishing up the insulation on the roll-up = door.  Then at last we will be calling the county inspector for our final sign-off.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>The entire structure is a thing of beauty.  It = is situated about two thirds back on our 3/4 acre, 60 feet beyond the house.  It is built from the ground up to perfectly match the house.  Total size is 2,000 Sq.Ft., (we may expand later), =  and includes a small office and a "clean room" for action rebuilding.  = A small bathroom will be added sometime within the next few months, the plumbing = has already been installed for that.  Forced air conditioning and heating will also be installed within the next couple months.  = The county considers the building a "dwelling structure" if = the innitial plans include HVAC and plumbing which greatly complicates things</FONT><FONT size=2> so these items are being added after completion.  The building has a 10' ceiling with 8 = skylights in the main shop for maximum natural light and reduced need for electrical lighting.  The interior is finished off with textured and = painted walls.   Of course the absolute most important feature is that = I have pre-wired RU-6 underground cable to the house for connection to our = satellite dish.  A special shelf is built into a wall for a new 27" = TV.  After all <U>Everyone</U> knows you really can't have an absolute complete shop without 160 channels of subscription television!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>We are sparing no expense with machinery.  Most = has already been purchased and stuffed into our garage waiting to be = moved in.  These include a vertical air compressor, (plumbed throughout = the shop), a full sized cabinet saw, a stationary planer, a 5' jointer, = drill press, a large stationary disk/belt sander,  a buffer, grinder, = compound miter saw, and an absolutely huge commercial band-saw, (this baby = can accommodates a 2" blade and could probably rip utility poles = lengthwise).  All will be connected to a central dust collection system.  The = dust collection unit and the air compressor will be installed in a = special shed outside the shop.  </FONT><FONT size=2>The final task will = be building work benches, a large table, and shelving.  I intend to fabricate = these out of steel with solid tops.  We will also have the only sound board = press in the state of Nevada.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Okay, sorry if I sound like I'm gloating a bit = but at this point I can't help it.  This has been a two year = project and the only sub-contracted work was the concrete slab and the = stucco.  I'm feeling slightly punch drunk from the endless labor.  I'm not = sure what was worse, installing fiberglass insulation in the July heat, sanding = endless drywall joints, or digging most of a 108' x 24" utility trench by hand, = (the back-hoe couldn't reach beyond the house and it's too rocky for a walk-behind digger).   Although the HVAC and bathroom won't be = complete for a few more months we intend to move in as soon as the work = benches are competed.  We figure we can keep the temporary mess from those = projects mostly localized.  </FONT><FONT size=2>Sometime in the near = future I will post some pictures.  More details coming soon!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>I think I hear the Budweiser Clydesdales coming!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>"Da dee da dee da dee da dee dum dum dum, HERE COMES = THE BUD ...da dee da dee da dee da dee dum dum dum...."</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Rob Goodale, RPT</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2>Las Vegas, NV</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>