Woodworking in a suburban setting.

[timelett]

We are going to be moving soon, but wanting some inputs on scroll saw hobby in a suburban neighborhood. Should I pass on any thing with neighbors and HMO, or does any one do light woodworking in a suburban area, I thought if I didn't run a plainer I would be ok,what do you think. 

I don't really want to move out to the rule setting just to do woodworking in the winter, we camp and bike ride in summer and I would like to be near a trail. 

[RabidAlien]

I keep mine in the garage, no problems.  I have several neighbors who do various flavors of woodcrafts, including tablesaws and planers, and nobody complains about it, as long as you keep the sawdust clouds under control.

 

For instance....check the sidewalk for pedestrians before you use your blower to launch clouds of sawdust out into the wild.
Oops.

[TAIrving]

1 hour ago, RabidAlien said:

For instance....check the sidewalk for pedestrians before you use your blower to launch clouds of sawdust out into the wild.
Oops.

Kirk @RabidAlien, is that a lesson learned the hard way?  

Tim @timelett, I take the time to show my neighbors what I am doing so they can appreciate, or at least understand, about the noise and sawdust.  

[jerry walters]

I guess it depends how much woodworking you do and how much noise your equipment makes and how many hours a day you do it.   Myself, I just have a scroll saw in my basement, a band saw in my garage. Neither of these make much noise.  Most of my neighbors have no idea what a scroll saw is.  Take them to my basement to show them.  I am primarily a hobbyist and many neighbors are recipients of what I make.  Been doing this for many years and never an issue or complaint.

Jerry

[OCtoolguy]

I guess, for me, I'd never buy a home if there is a HOA involved. I believe in being a good neighbor but there is a limit to that too. Read the rules very critically. And remember that even the best HOA is just one bad person away from misery. Power has a way of corrupting even the best people.

[Insane Dust Maker]

3 hours ago, RabidAlien said:

I keep mine in the garage, no problems.  I have several neighbors who do various flavors of woodcrafts, including tablesaws and planers, and nobody complains about it, as long as you keep the sawdust clouds under control.

 

For instance....check the sidewalk for pedestrians before you use your blower to launch clouds of sawdust out into the wild.
Oops.

Here in South Africa we stay a gated security complex, the municipal regulations that I can work in the garage during normal business hours, which I adhere to, don’t do any work on Sundays. No problems with any of the neighbours.

[dgman]

I live in a typical Southern California track house on a cul de sac with six houses. Everybody knows what I do because the garage door is always open. And every year at Christmas time they all get a special Christmas gift that I have built just for them! To keep it sane, I don’t run the loud tools before 10am and after 4pm. Nobody has ever complained.

[OCtoolguy]

4 hours ago, dgman said:

I live in a typical Southern California track house on a cul de sac with six houses. Everybody knows what I do because the garage door is always open. And every year at Christmas time they all get a special Christmas gift that I have built just for them! To keep it sane, I don’t run the loud tools before 10am and after 4pm. Nobody has ever complained.

You and I would make great neighbors. I try to adhere to that same set of standards. Our biggest problem with noise is that we live under a flight path to a couple of major airports. BUT, we knew that when we bought here. At least the air traffic is quieter after 7 pm. and before 8 am. After living here for 14 years, we don't even know they are there.

 

[timelett]

We're going to look at a house Monday, I may need to make a few compromises the HMO fees and rules are a major factor. 

[OCtoolguy]

15 hours ago, timelett said:

We're going to look at a house Monday, I may need to make a few compromises the HMO fees and rules are a major factor. 

Absolutely! 

[rjweb]

We have an HOA here in Texas, every develoment has one, I don't bother them and they don't bother me, but all I use tools after 10 am and off by 7 pm, RJ

[timelett]

Thanks: We did a drive by today,the woodworking might be the least concern,looks like it could probably use a roof,it's a single story so maybe not so bad.1800 sq feet.

[barb.j.enders]

On 12/7/2024 at 4:04 PM, OCtoolguy said:

You and I would make great neighbors. I try to adhere to that same set of standards. Our biggest problem with noise is that we live under a flight path to a couple of major airports. BUT, we knew that when we bought here. At least the air traffic is quieter after 7 pm. and before 8 am. After living here for 14 years, we don't even know they are there.

 

I also live under a flight path.  Our airport is a 24/7.  The big courier companies fly in about 4am.  Some mornings it is really loud.

[Scrappile]

Ha, the kind of neighbor I would be.  I would setup my shop and work.  The noisy equipment would only be use during normal daylight hours.  I read sometimes on here of people directing their dust collection out side to blow away. I cannot imagine that.  I do not do that and I live out in the country.  Some woods are toxic to some people.  And some will inhibit plant growth.  And all is just plain annoying.  Do people really do that? 

[timelett]

Thanks for the replys, passing on the house for now.