The Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) Woodshop has now completed its upgrade that took three years to accomplish. The project included new equipment, lighting, painting and upgrade of systems.
It has been a step-by-step process to bring this facility and equipment up to standards, said Mike Napsey, Fort McCoy BOSS adviser. The key was getting funding for the new equipment and working with the Directorate of Public Works on the facility upgrade.
The new equipment replaced the old and outdated equipment with equipment that has the latest technology and safety features along with adding equipment that the shop did not have before, thus, expanding the types of projects that can be done.
The facility upgrade replaced lighting that was old and not energy efficient and not the type that is used in industrial shops. The painting improved the shop appearance, allowing the shop to be brighter for the patrons and having the type of paint that is designed for woodshops.
The BOSS Woodshop volunteers also had a significant role in the woodshop upgrade. They had direct input to the requirements that were needed from the types of equipment, floor operation layouts, reorganizing the woodshop to be better laid out and productive.
The volunteers also did a lot of self-help work for the facility improvement to include: epoxy the shop floor, safety lines to meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, upgrading the dust-collection system by replacing the whole system, connecting equipment up to the system, making shop organizational holders that better organized the shop, along with painting and cleaning.
The BOSS Woodshop averages about 500 Soldiers a year doing everything from basic projects to detailed complicated projects.
The Fort McCoy Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation has introduced a new Family Woodshop Program that is designed for parents/guardians to work with their children to build starter kits. The program has different levels in which kids can progress to the higher levels.
Lt. Col. Cheryl Hackett is the volunteer instructor for the Level 1 classes. Each child will receive a starter kit along with their own beginner tool kit and carrying case. Material fees are charged for this course. Interested personnel authorized to use the facility can call 608-388-6588 to sign up.
Additional new programming will focus on specific equipment (e.g. router, lathe, etc.,) that will allow patrons to get to know the ability that each piece of equipment, thus, giving confidence to the patrons and allowing them to expand on the types of projects that they would like to do.
Social Sharing