Escape FROM my dream shop

[cbacres]

As I said earlier, this update is out of sequence.
Sometime back in May a few of us gathered at Craptains shop. There was much haggling, swapping, trading, and even some exchange of currency.

I came home with a nice Lista cabinet that I got from Chris. After measuring twice and buying once, I got it home only to find that it would not fit in the space under my fab table.

I did a bunch of cutting, welding, and painting and I got the Lista cabinet right where I wanted it and life was good.

Nothing a grinder with cutoff wheels and a welder won’t fix! Nice job!

 

[shortykorte]

Pack up and head to nebraska,much easier living here!

Like Leigh NB.

 

[shortykorte]

Mack look forward to a visit at the new shop. Bring the Lista and I’ll fill it up and have it waiting for your return.

 

[rmack898]

Mack look forward to a visit at the new shop. Bring the Lista and I’ll fill it up and have it waiting for your return.

I'll bring the new trailer empty and have it filled upon departure

Awesome....you do clean up well.

I told Laura someone would make that comment, figured it would come from you Chris

Name a time when Shorty is not looking for discounted anything.

Have you ever been to Hooters with Shorty?

Looks like a great trip Mac. And grandkids make all the difference. Wasn't sure I believed all the fuss about grandkids, but the last four months I've had my world turned upside down by the introduction of our grandson. Now I can't get enough of him.

Mike. be grateful that your grandson is close by an not 1000 miles away and enjoy every minute.

Nothing a grinder with cutoff wheels and a welder won’t fix! Nice job!

Craig, I call that industrial cut and paste.

 

[rmack898]

Somewhere in the last 4 months is progress on the Sprinter van project. Well I made a temporary wood platform to support a full size bed in the east west orientation. The 2 Maxx air fans are installed and we headed to the Keys with Etta our dog for a week to do some proof of concept testing before we proceed with any further van building.

The Maxi air fan concept was a win. With the fan over our bed blowing air and the fan in the front of the van sucking air, we were quite comfortable in mid 80's overnight temps. Air conditioning is not required.

The east west bed configuration also proved out as a winner. Laura is short enough the I can lay diagonally on the bed and not encroach enough to disturb her sleep.

We had a great one week trip with 3 different camp sites and proved out some of the basic needs to move forward with more permanent build elements.

You can tell that Etta and Laura were enjoying the down time, I was kind of chilled out myself.

 

[56vette461]

Looks like a great trip Mac. And grandkids make all the difference. Wasn't sure I believed all the fuss about grandkids, but the last four months I've had my world turned upside down by the introduction of our grandson. Now I can't get enough of him.

I have 4 young adult grand kids. They have differently changed our lives. I have breakfast at 6am every Thursday morning with my 22 year old grandson before he goes to work. Sharing their lives is a blessing.

 

[Finallygotit]

Nice shot!

 

[shortykorte]

With those beautiful sunsets come no see’ems, mosquitoes, etc. it’s best to go to CA.

Mack, look forward to more on the van build.

 

[rmack898]

Sunsets are so overrated, that is the sunrise.

More van build stuff is on the short list as we have a trip planned to Tennessee in October.

 

[rmack898]

One more little job in the shop should bring me up to current day.

My former employer brought me a pair of hydraulic cylinders off a Cat skid steer that had the rod ends egged out pretty good.
I had to make a plug to fit in the rod end so I pick up the center. I bored it out to make it round again and then installed a new Caterpillar supplied sleeve and under size pins in it to bring it back to life.

 

[rmack898]

So I'm starting to get a few little projects done around the shop that have been nagging at me long enough that I had to do SOMETHING.

I got two of these Alemite hose reels at an auction for $12.50 each. I gave one to Trevor and have been tripping over the other one for way too long. I bolted it to the floor on my shop front porch and installed a garden hose on it.

Now I won't have to move that hose reel again and I won't be tripping over the hose anymore.

 

[rmack898]

One more thing before I get into the dumpster diving stories.

3 days ago I guy calls me and says his dump truck broke a pin on the body and it came down and crushed the hydraulic reservoir. The truck is old, a replacement tank is unobtainium, and they need the truck back on the job right away. He wants to know if I can help him and I told him to bring me the tank.




The next day I call him and tell him to come get his tank. I'm pretty sure that I'll be getting more work from him.

Up next....................
Dumpster diving, stay tuned.

 

[Finallygotit]

Nice work on the tank Mac! After seeing that picture, i was wondering how you were going to fix that. Cutting most of it off and starting over is/was a good idea.

 

[cbacres]

One more thing before I get into the dumpster diving stories.

3 days ago I guy calls me and says his dump truck broke a pin on the body and it came down and crushed the hydraulic reservoir. The truck is old, a replacement tank is unobtainium, and they need the truck back on the job right away. He wants to know if I can help him and I told him to bring me the tank.




The next day I call him and tell him to come get his tank. I'm pretty sure that I'll be getting more work from him.

Up next....................
Dumpster diving, stay tuned.

Great job on tank.

ok, waiting on the dumpster dive part!

 

[rmack898]

Needless to say my list of things to do is LOOOONG, and there are 3 categories.
1. Things that need to be done.
2. Things I want to do.
3. Things I don't want to do.

I didn't want to cut up the table I just got done modifying to fit the newly acquired Vidmar cabinet but I knew if I didn't do it right away, I would be moving that empty Vidmar all over the shop every time it gets in my way. So I just bit the bullet, cut up the table, painted the Vidmar, and got it done. I really didn't want to spend the time on doing it but now that it's done I'm glad I did it and got it off my plate.



Did I mention dumpster diving?

I picked a motorcycle/ATV jack. The wheels need some lube but it works.

A carbonator pump and tank. The motor and Procon pump are worth a few bucks. Most TIG coolers use the exact same pump.

A reconditioned crankshaft for GM 454 still in the box. It's .010 under and came with new bearings in the box.

I also snagged a set of retractable running boards that came off a Ford pick up. They will need to be modified but they will find their way under my Sprinter van at some point.

 

[Finallygotit]

Mac, nice finds! I find it amazing what some people will just discard. BTW, where do you find these treasures? Other than the obvious "in a dumpster, silly".

 

[rmack898]

. BTW, where do you find these treasures?

Dan my latest part time gig is driving the roll off truck. Peeking in the dumpster is required before you load it on the truck.

 

[68400BIRD]

Looks like that crank will need to be turned again which will make the bearings just a tad to big. LOL

 

[rmack898]

So the next item on the list is a combination of a thing I want to do and a thing I don't want to do at the same time. Remember the "gate" project?
The gate is sandblasted and ready for paint and installation, I want to get it done and out of the shop and that's where things start to compound.

I wanted the gate to be unique in the fact that it pivots on itself, with no other posts or visible hinges. And that's where the project compounding begins. I have a new track carrier for a large excavator and that is going to be the pivot point for the gate. In order to use it I need to turn it down in the lathe so it will fit inside the gate tube.

I have a 10" 3-jaw chuck on the lathe and the carrier is too big to fit in the chuck. Two years ago I knew that the 10" chuck was the limiting factor for this lathe, so I bought a 14" 4-jaw chuck for it. The lathe spindle is L-1 and it takes a large spanner wrench to remove the chuck, a spanner that I don't have.

Last year I made a quick sketch of the spanner I need and had intended to draw it in CAD and cut it out on the plasma table. The sketch is still here on the desk and I no linger am using Fusion 360 and have switched to another CAD program and have not taken the time to become proficient with it.

So here I am with no spanner, unable to change the chuck on the lathe, and unable to cut the carrier down to make the pivot for the gate install.

The easy way out would be to install 2 posts and use some pillow block bearings for hinges and just install the gate and forget about the unique pivot that I thought way too much about.

Or I could just send my spanner sketch to Trevor and he would send me a cut file for the plasma table in about 15 minutes. Then I could cut the spanner, change the chuck, cut the carrier and try to install the gate and see if my unique pivot design works.

Or I could spend the time tomorrow getting better at using the new CAD software, draw my own spanner, cut it out, change the chuck. cut the carrier, etc, etc.

The heat wave we are having is expected to last a few more days so I think I will try and draw my own spanner tomorrow and see how it goes.

This is how 4 months go by without getting much done.

 

[Finallygotit]

Mac, spend some time indoors with a cold beverage (or a hot one) and work through the CAD program. Face it. sooner or later you're going to have to master the new program. C'mon, you can do it!

 

[Chrisb62]

You could turn a backing plate for the 4 jaw chuck and put it in the 3 jaw chuck...... sounds kind of like a Shorty solution .....never mind.

 

[shortykorte]

I can do the CAD or the Fusion 360 for you.


On painting the cabinet, roller, brush or spray? What paint did you use?

 

[rmack898]

Thanks Shorty but I have to resolve the CAD issue on my own.

The paint is rust oleum rattle can with the new sprayer top. The new adjustable sprayer is a game changer in rattle can world.

 

[bulletpruf]

Haven't seen those yet; are they that much better?

 

[rmack898]

It’s almost as good as the HF purple spray gun which is also disposable although I get about 3 uses before I toss them.
HD is stocking the Rust Oleum cans.

 

[rmack898]

Made another trip around the big golden orb so I decided to treat myself and I’m so glad that I did.
Thanks for the encouragement Mike.

 

[shortykorte]

I’ll have to check out the new spray cans.

Nice chair. Is it that comfortable?

 

[jbmatth]

Happy belated birthday, nice gift you got for yourself there.

JB

 

[cbacres]

Made another trip around the big golden orb so I decided to treat myself and I’m so glad that I did.
Thanks for the encouragement Mike.

Like the colors. Going to get one later this year.

 

[zmotorsports]

Made another trip around the big golden orb so I decided to treat myself and I’m so glad that I did.
Thanks for the encouragement Mike.

Happy to help spend your money Mac. Happy belated birthday.

 

[Gator-J]

So the next item on the list is a combination of a thing I want to do and a thing I don't want to do at the same time. Remember the "gate" project?
The gate is sandblasted and ready for paint and installation, I want to get it done and out of the shop and that's where things start to compound.

I wanted the gate to be unique in the fact that it pivots on itself, with no other posts or visible hinges. And that's where the project compounding begins. I have a new track carrier for a large excavator and that is going to be the pivot point for the gate. In order to use it I need to turn it down in the lathe so it will fit inside the gate tube.

I have a 10" 3-jaw chuck on the lathe and the carrier is too big to fit in the chuck. Two years ago I knew that the 10" chuck was the limiting factor for this lathe, so I bought a 14" 4-jaw chuck for it. The lathe spindle is L-1 and it takes a large spanner wrench to remove the chuck, a spanner that I don't have.

Last year I made a quick sketch of the spanner I need and had intended to draw it in CAD and cut it out on the plasma table. The sketch is still here on the desk and I no linger am using Fusion 360 and have switched to another CAD program and have not taken the time to become proficient with it.

So here I am with no spanner, unable to change the chuck on the lathe, and unable to cut the carrier down to make the pivot for the gate install.

The easy way out would be to install 2 posts and use some pillow block bearings for hinges and just install the gate and forget about the unique pivot that I thought way too much about.

Or I could just send my spanner sketch to Trevor and he would send me a cut file for the plasma table in about 15 minutes. Then I could cut the spanner, change the chuck, cut the carrier and try to install the gate and see if my unique pivot design works.

Or I could spend the time tomorrow getting better at using the new CAD software, draw my own spanner, cut it out, change the chuck. cut the carrier, etc, etc.

The heat wave we are having is expected to last a few more days so I think I will try and draw my own spanner tomorrow and see how it goes.

This is how 4 months go by without getting much done.

I cant figure out where Honu Grove NE Florida is, but if you are near St Johns, I can loan you my L-1 spanner to swap your chuck. Or you could use my lathe and I could probably learn something in the process.

Edit: went back through and found my earlier post. We are across the river from each other. Looks like I never sub'd an lost track of you progress. Catching up now. There is a lot.

Edit #2: I get the location now. Nice work on the homestead!

 

[shortykorte]

Gator, it’s over yonder!

 

[rmack898]

Thanks for the birthday well wishes guys, I spent almost the entire weekend down with the flu. Laura is 3 days behind me and it's kicking her *** pretty good too.

I went back to work today for a short day and after 9 hours I was out of steam and called it a day.
I did however spent my sick downtime this past weekend getting more cozy with my new CAD program and have my spanner wrench ready for the next step. I'll sent it to sheet CAM and see if I can run a post the my plasma table likes. I just need to fined some time to do it.

 

[rmack898]

I cant figure out where Honu Grove NE Florida is, but if you are near St Johns, I can loan you my L-1 spanner to swap your chuck. Or you could use my lathe and I could probably learn something in the process.

Edit: went back through and found my earlier post. We are across the river from each other. Looks like I never sub'd an lost track of you progress. Catching up now. There is a lot.

Edit #2: I get the location now. Nice work on the homestead!

Gator,
From your first post in this thread I thought you had packed up and left for a more northern locale, glad you're still here.
I'll be in your hood tomorrow doing a burn on a property we just cleared on 13 right around CR 214. I'll probably stop at Molasses Junction for breakfast tomorrow.

Honu Grove is in west Tacoi and if I don't get my spanner made by the weekend I may take you up on your loan offer. I don't need much of an excuse to go visit someone else's shop.

 

[Gator-J]

Gator,
From your first post in this thread I thought you had packed up and left for a more northern locale, glad you're still here.
I'll be in your hood tomorrow doing a burn on a property we just cleared on 13 right around CR 214. I'll probably stop at Molasses Junction for breakfast tomorrow.

Honu Grove is in west Tacoi and if I don't get my spanner made by the weekend I may take you up on your loan offer. I don't need much of an excuse to go visit someone else's shop.

Sounds good. Jsut let me know. Fair warning, my shop is not nearly as neat and tidy as yours.

As much as I want a mountain locale, the PNW property is just TOO expen$ive to justify it. I am not setting myself back a decade.

 

[rmack898]

I got some time tonight and loaded my wrench file in sheet CAM and ran a post to load into the plasma table. I double checked all the parameters, zero'ed out the Z axis as the torch height control has been flakey lately, and then I pressed start.
The torch went to the start position, touched off, pierced the plate and and just sat there and didn't move.

I restarted the program several times checking everything each time and getting the same results only now the torch won't fire. I finally realized that I ran out of air pressure.

I went out to the shed where the compressor lives to find that the compressor has used the last of it's 9 lives. The compressor is 30 years old and it started getting dark so I called it a night. Tomorrow afternoon I'll get a chance to survey the damage and see if I need a new compressor or not.

 

[Gator-J]

Edit #3 now if anyone has caught the different versions:

I was doubting that I had an L-1 based on your dimensions. The spanner I have seems bigger, but I can't tell the diameter of the circle.

According to the manual mine is indeed an L-1.

You can buy the real deal for $75 on ebay right now Williams 414

 

[rmack898]

You got it right Gator,
the nut diameter for the L-1 is 7-3/8".

I was able to cut the wrench, and change the chuck. Of course I had to make a lifting device for the chucks. Some 1-1/2" tube, some 1-1/4" round stock, a big washer, and some yellow paint and I had a chuck lifting tool.

The bearing carrier that I need to modify is made from some unknown chineseium alloy that is full of hood inclusions and it's eating a bunch of my tooling, but I'm getting there. Two good days of QST and I'm not complaining.

Should be shorter day job days this week so I may get some QST in after work this week.

 

[rmack898]

More Pics

 

[Craptain]

Love the handle on your tool post.