Willie's Woodshop

[penguin]

After having a fire in my classroom last year I decided I needed the ability to teach in a mobile setting, so I decided to build a woodshop inside of a bus. Talked to a lady in San Diego who has been doing the same thing for 35 years on an old Crown School bus. Her feedback to me was that many times her bus is too big to park at many locations limiting herself where she can hold classes. So I decided to find a shorter bus, ended up locating a 98 El Dorado Escort FE (Front Engine) built on a Chevy P30 chassis with a big block Chevy. Decided not to go with a diesel since the vehicle would have to be commericially licensed for business purposes and California now has a new law that by 2013 all pre-2007 busses have to be retrofitted with a particulate filter that can cost anywhere from $12-20,000. Found the bus on Ebay for $3000 with a new paint job and only 95000 miles. Flew to LA and drove the bus home. Was able to hit 80-85mph although the gas gauge was doing it's best to keep up with it.

Penguin

[penguin]

Focus for working in the bus is kids 5-14. All tools will be in compartments for storage and travel and only brought out for age appropriate groups. Very young kids 5-7 will focus on hand tools, while older kids will begin to learn to use power tools-drill presses, disc sander, scroll saw, etc. I have a small table saw that I will carry in the front of the bus, but I will be the only one to use it. This is from the experience of working with tools and machines in my classroom.

[penguin]

I used software to create a floor plan, but old school sketches for my plans for the cabinets

[Bullwhacker007]

Cool setup.
I am very interested in the way your doors are setup.
Mine a 1999 Escort FE has a clam shell type open and close.
I like yours; simple and reliable; not like the electric system used on mine.
If you need wiring diagrams? ElDorado finally sent me some.

[Bullwhacker007]

info sent about the wiring diagrams.