CameronSS's Convertible Cross-Campus Cloister

This last summer my primary concern with college wasn't so much about classes, more about how to condense my large, noisy, smelly, flammable shop at home into something that wouldn't get me kicked out of a dorm. I think I managed it pretty well. Virtually everything I use regularly fits in my dad's old AB Dick case that he carried when working for them on service calls to repair photocopiers and the like. This case sits under my desk, and you would never guess it was anything but a suitcase unless you tried to pick it up. The case itself is a pleather-covered plywood beast, and it weighs over 30 pounds loaded up.

Not in the main case is my car tool kit, which contains virtually every tool necessary to completely disassemble my car on the side of the road. The heavy tools (crescent wrenches, etc.) stay in there, I can bring them inside if necessary. There is also a small case that sits on the closet shelf to hold a Versa-Pak-powered Wizard (Dremel-like rotary tool) and electric screwdriver, which are my compromise between keeping everything clean and quiet and having access to a Dremel and a drill.

Step 1: The Lid

This is where most of the empty space is. I only brought things that I used at home on a regular basis, so I wasn't concerned with bringing as much as I could. Up here we have:

•  #2 Phillips
• 3/16" Flathead
• #1 Phillips, the screwdriver I got when I was five
• Smallest round rat-tail file with plastic hose as a protective sleeve
• Compact 10' Stanley tape measure
• Small vise grips
• Scalpel (used as a hobby knife that won't snap)
• Slip-joint pliers
• Compound-action wire clippers
• Combination wire cutters/strippers/crimpers
• My favorite machinist's hammer
• Bicycle spoke wrench
• Wee 1/8" flathead screwdriver

Comments

[Ashurii]

Whoa.. this is one amazing piece of kit. But your neighbouring dorms must hate you with all the noise your mini workshop makes :D

[CameronSS]

Actually, the Selectric makes more noise than almost anything. If I'm going to do something noisy I wait until the maintenance people are vacuuming the halls.

[Kiteman]

Get a gas soldering iron, and work on the roof, or the fire escape*?

<sub>*I get the idea** that every American building over two stories has a hugely-complex flight of metal stairs that goes past every window as required.

**From eighties TV.</sub>

[CameronSS]

I checked that one out the first week I was here! Although I was thinking telescope operation more than soldering.

The dorm I'm living in consists of two nearly-identical five-story buildings. Each one has two elevators in the middle and a staircase on each end. The stairs on one side are fully enclosed and intended for everyday use(up and down). The other set can be accessed from the inside only on the second through fifth floors, and is intended only as a fire escape (ALARM WILL SOUND). The stairs themselves are outside, although made of concrete and brick, but access from the ground is blocked by a door with no external handle.

This fire escape side does lead to the roof on both buildings; there's a little raised part for the roof access door on both buildings visible from the taller parts of campus. So if I could get into that stairwell I could get to the roof, but that would require either a 12-foot climb up a flat brick wall to get to the second-floor landing, or getting through an emergency exit without tripping the alarm.

I decided a fume extractor would be easier. :P

[Kiteman]

A 12 foot sheer climb? That should be easy - according to 21st C TV, all American teenagers are experts at free-running, and could mount such an obstacle with a surfboard in each hand.

_{Or is that Baywatch..?}

[CameronSS]

Whoo! Surfing! I think I saw a wave on a farm pond once...

[depotdevoid]

Nice, I've been doing something along these lines with my backpack over the last several months. I like the idea of using a suitcase, it's much more durable than a backpack!