What did you do "IN" your garage today?

[Bessy]

Welding requires practice, but it also takes some consideration for being able to wield the fire with steady hand. Gas, arc, MIG, TIG, A steady hand and motion control is crucial

One tip I was given a long time ago, and works particularly well for gas and arc - take a wrap around your arm with the cables/hoses. this makes it so you hand is not being jerked around. -same principal for MIG/TIG - make sure you are not fighting those cables.

100% agree, Outlawmws! I'll totally try the arm-wrap technique next time I'm out there.

Being my first foray into MiG, I need to just get out there and consistently work on handling the gun (and similarly I should make a point of continuing building my skills in stick welding) and practicing the movements. The big hump, I think, will be when I can get over the "startle factor" when I actually do strike an arc. It's not fear but rather just unfamiliar assault on the senses (the sound mostly) when actually striking an arc that I just need to get used to with time.

I've got very few hours of actual practice under my belt accumulated sporadically over years. I wouldn't even put myself into the novice category yet, being that I have a few hours of formalized high school training (aka a single unit of maybe three weeks if I am lucky, dating back to 2010) and Youtube-iversity to lean on. I bought my first welder (Lincoln AC-225) at a garage sale maybe 4-5 years ago and I have successfully got metal to stick together, at least in some low-stress applications. With the new unit, the AC-225 will go back to my parents place so I have something there for various tasks around the shop.

 

[M.Brane]

Another thing that helps is to practice your line before you actually hit the trigger to fine tune your positioning. That, and keep your eye on the puddle, and the surrounding material not the arc itself.

 

[vwpieces]

Made some hooks to hang the jack stands



Blasted and painted airfilter housing for a buddies Mercedes that I am working on.
Forgot before shot but it was nasty.

 

[rharman]

The cabinets project is complete.



Still have to clean up and put things away. There’ll probably be some flinging.

Looks great. Uhh.... Did you know you have a couple of leftover drawers??

 

[PowerWagonBuilder]

100% agree, Outlawmws! I'll totally try the arm-wrap technique next time I'm out there.

Being my first foray into MiG, I need to just get out there and consistently work on handling the gun (and similarly I should make a point of continuing building my skills in stick welding) and practicing the movements. The big hump, I think, will be when I can get over the "startle factor" when I actually do strike an arc. It's not fear but rather just unfamiliar assault on the senses (the sound mostly) when actually striking an arc that I just need to get used to with time.

I've got very few hours of actual practice under my belt accumulated sporadically over years. I wouldn't even put myself into the novice category yet, being that I have a few hours of formalized high school training (aka a single unit of maybe three weeks if I am lucky, dating back to 2010) and Youtube-iversity to lean on. I bought my first welder (Lincoln AC-225) at a garage sale maybe 4-5 years ago and I have successfully got metal to stick together, at least in some low-stress applications. With the new unit, the AC-225 will go back to my parents place so I have something there for various tasks around the shop.

One thing I have found when teaching MIG to new learners, is the student should have lots of protective gear on so that they can properly steady themselves without fear of burns, either from spatter or the weldaments getting too warm. Positioning and as mentioned, a few practice sweeps to feel out where your limits of position will be goes miles in the realm of MIG work. Nozzle angle relative to the joint, wire stickout, and travel speeds are important. The Sound of the wire burning back will also help you refine your travel speeds. I imagine you are just running a short circuit setup and is it fully shielded or Flux? Those are both different animals regarding the parameters above. Whats real fun is Dual Shield. I ran some of that in 0.045 flavor hard facing recently. The process went against the grain of the past 15 years of solid wire welding based on sound and burn-back but the welds turned out great.

 

[DGersic]

Looks great. Uhh.... Did you know you have a couple of leftover drawers??

Yeah. Those are two of the three old drawers. SWMBO needs to go through them and decide what goes in the new drawers and what gets flung. Then there are the bins and boxes of stuff In the basement that either go back in the cabinets or get flung.

None of this is my stuff. I’m not in charge of this part of the project.

 

[jimkinney]

Replaced number 7 coil pack on wife's Sequoia yesterday. Got the thumbs up report after she drove it this morning. Smooth running again.

Replaced #5 (#6 was a few weeks ago) on the BMW. Third pack in 175k miles. Also changed the valve cover gasket while I was in there. Coil was easy, gasket not so much.

 

[jimkinney]

Tried to use the Dremel yesterday... Motor runs... But the chuck isn't connected...
Took it apart and sure enough the plastic sacrificial shaft coupling had disintegrated...

Ordered a new replacement part from Dremel, but needed it to work to finish a project... So I MacGyvered it...
Used a section of adhesive type heat shrink tubing but didn't apply heat to shrink it,
Good enough to finish the project... New part should arrive today...

You can also use plastic tubing.

 

[rd65]

Sprayed another coat of gold glitter paint on the brooms. They will need at least one coat of clear when the glitter coats are done. She has to take them to work Friday for their school assembly.

 

[imma_stocker]

Don’t they sell extensions?

Not sure about length extensions. I just have all the rubber blocks.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Not sure about length extensions. I just have all the rubber blocks.

I think they have a top steel plate that drops over each lift, it's a little longer.

 

[GrayFlattop]

Welding requires practice, but it also takes some consideration for being able to wield the fire with steady hand. Gas, arc, MIG, TIG, A steady hand and motion control is crucial

One tip I was given a long time ago, and works particularly well for gas and arc - take a wrap around your arm with the cables/hoses. this makes it so you hand is not being jerked around. -same principal for MIG/TIG - make sure you are not fighting those cables.

I’ll have to try that. I’ve always wrapped the cable - or hoses - around my shoulders- kinda like a scarf, so most of the weight of the cable is carried on my shoulder. YMMV as I’ve done it that way for over 50 years. Your shirt (or welding jacket) will get dirty…

FWIW, I really thinks it helps new welders if they get the opportunity to practice gas welding first. Get good at that, and the basics of managing the puddle transfers readily to other types of welding. Of course, a good set of torches and tanks ain’t cheap - and probably not the best first choice for welding equipment. If you have a local community college that offers a welding class, that’s a great place to start.

Agree 100% a steady hand and motion control is foundational. And practice, practice, practice. If practicing with scrap pieces, make sure that you cut apart or otherwise destroy your work in a vise or press to get a feel for the penetration needed for a robust weld. Without penetration, you’ve got nothing.

 

[cody1325]

Returned the stuff to HFT.


Got started on rebuilding a Coleman 502 Sportster stove I probably should've paid more attention as to condition on--quite a few pieces had rather heavy rust (but not enough to compromise the strength--still had pressure when I opened up the gas cap). Probably needs seals and who knows what else. I've got some smaller parts off and soaking in Evaporust. I'll need to read up a bit more before I go any further, and it looks like getting the entire burner off is going to be a pain. But at least $20 is not a ton, and lesson learned if it's a POS, and am sure that I can sell it for parts for what I've got in it.

 

[fillister]

Completed the rebuild of Tennsmith 36 inch shear, formally owned by Bechtel and used during the construction of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating station, it's been sitting outside for decades.

Disassembled, and had it grit blasted, epoxy primed and color coated with polyurethane.
Fabricated a rolling caster base, this will be painted the same color at a later date.

 

[Fixr]

I’ll have to try that. I’ve always wrapped the cable - or hoses - around my shoulders- kinda like a scarf, so most of the weight of the cable is carried on my shoulder. YMMV as I’ve done it that way for over 50 years. Your shirt (or welding jacket) will get dirty…

FWIW, I really thinks it helps new welders if they get the opportunity to practice gas welding first. Get good at that, and the basics of managing the puddle transfers readily to other types of welding. Of course, a good set of torches and tanks ain’t cheap - and probably not the best first choice for welding equipment. If you have a local community college that offers a welding class, that’s a great place to start.

Agree 100% a steady hand and motion control is foundational. And practice, practice, practice. If practicing with scrap pieces, make sure that you cut apart or otherwise destroy your work in a vise or press to get a feel for the penetration needed for a robust weld. Without penetration, you’ve got nothing.

I learned a bit early on with OA. By the time I got a TIG welder 40 years later, my hands weren't steady any more and my eyesight wasn't sharp close up either. So I cheat as much as I can with magnification, meds for the genetic tremor, and fixtures and braces. I'll never be a truly good welder, but I learn a little bit more now and then.

 

[nadogail]

Stapled the Landscape Cloth Lining into a couple of the Raised Bed Planter Boxes I am building.
My Fitness Trainer came to my workshop and ran me through a workout.
Called the bank holding one of my CD’s and decided to move the funds to another bank offering 4.5% rather than the 3.8% APR, in todays market seven tenths of a percent difference in APR seems worth moving the funds.

 

[jshillin]

I picked up a John Deere X520 for the ballfield the other day. I bought everything to change the oil, filter, air filter, spark plugs, fuel filter and transaxle fluid. I changed the plugs today, drained the oil and polished on it a little bit. I didn't refill the oil or put the oil filter on yet, I want to change the fuel filter before I do, it leaves me some extra room. I hope to have time to finish it up later this week or weekend. Then I have to get the X360 that it's going to replace out to prep it for sale.

 

[dwasifar]

Installed a JJB bridgeplate pickup in one of my acoustic guitars.

 

[cb750plumblife]

Replaced the oil pan in my daughter’s Chevy Trax. Gave me an excuse to head over to Harbor Freight and buy E Torx sockets. Thank goodness my wife saw the oil spot in the driveway and didn’t end up replacing an engine instead!

 

[bugnut]

Continuing on disk brakes for the moneypit baja. The disk kit for the front is back from powdercoat and I reassembled today. Started a couple days back but could not find my brake lube so delayed till after a trip to the laps. Finished the front and then started disassembly of the rear in preparation for PC. This is where I ran into an issue. There is a seal on the ebrake actuating lever. I was struggling to remove. Second caliper the seal was part way out. Well in trying to pull it out I tore it apart. The bad news is I cannot find a replacement and the vendors claim these are disposable calipers and you just replace the entire assembly. I’m trying to figure out a solution, any direction/help appreciated! Thanks

 

[kaymccampbell]

Continuing on disk brakes for the moneypit baja. The disk kit for the front is back from powdercoat and I reassembled today. Started a couple days back but could not find my brake lube so delayed till after a trip to the laps. Finished the front and then started disassembly of the rear in preparation for PC. This is where I ran into an issue. There is a seal on the ebrake actuating lever. I was struggling to remove. Second caliper the seal was part way out. Well in trying to pull it out I tore it apart. The bad news is I cannot find a replacement and the vendors claim these are disposable calipers and you just replace the entire assembly. I’m trying to figure out a solution, any direction/help appreciated! Thanks

It's a press fit radial seal. SKF is one of many brands. They are available by size. I'd try NAPA, or one of the many big truck parts places. Barring those, I'd try Granger or Kaman or any local bearing or industrial supply house.

 

[cannuck]

It's a press fit radial seal. SKF is one of many brands. They are available by size. I'd try NAPA, or one of the many big truck parts places. Barring those, I'd try Granger or Kaman or any local bearing or industrial supply house.

The piston seals on a brake caliper don't slide along a surface, they are a bellows type so as the pads wear and the piston protrudes the machined outer diameter surface will not get dirty or corrode. If it wasn't done this way you couldn't risk retracting the pads/piston(s).

 

[cannuck]

Continuing on disk brakes for the moneypit baja. The disk kit for the front is back from powdercoat and I reassembled today. Started a couple days back but could not find my brake lube so delayed till after a trip to the laps. Finished the front and then started disassembly of the rear in preparation for PC. This is where I ran into an issue. There is a seal on the ebrake actuating lever. I was struggling to remove. Second caliper the seal was part way out. Well in trying to pull it out I tore it apart. The bad news is I cannot find a replacement and the vendors claim these are disposable calipers and you just replace the entire assembly. I’m trying to figure out a solution, any direction/help appreciated! Thanks

you need to go around the vendor and find out who the manufacturer is. They buy the parts to make theirs, so MIGHT sell you a set when you tell them your problem. Sad that your vendor didn't offer to try this. assume you are asking over at Samba?

 

[Jay__Dub]

Completed the rebuild of Tennsmith 36 inch shear, formally owned by Bechtel and used during the construction of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating station, it's been sitting outside for decades.

Disassembled, and had it grit blasted, epoxy primed and color coated with polyurethane.
Fabricated a rolling caster base, this will be painted the same color at a later date.

Worked with Brown Boggs, and many antique ones, for years and years. Incredibly handy tool. Wish I'd have bought one of them when I retired. I'm sure they tossed the antique ones in the dump. Could be a challenge to shim for very thin substrates by times.

 

[Outlawmws]

A buddy had a jump shear, finger brake, regular 8 and 12 ft brakes, etc. in his home shop years back. We used to go there to fab most anything at times. RIP Carl. His widow sold everything, probably pennies on the dollar, as she wanted the $$ so she could gamble.

 

[DGersic]

The piston seals on a brake caliper don't slide along a surface, they are a bellows type so as the pads wear and the piston protrudes the machined outer diameter surface will not get dirty or corrode. If it wasn't done this way you couldn't risk retracting the pads/piston(s).

He needs the seal for the parking brake mechanism, not the seal for the caliper piston.

 

[fillister]

A buddy had a jump shear, finger brake, regular 8 and 12 ft brakes, etc. in his home shop years back/ we used to go there to fab most anything at times. RIP Carl. His widow sold everything, probably pennies on the dollar, as she wanted the $$ so she could gamble.

Yes, cutting sheet metal square and burr free is very very nice, I recently acquired a 48" pexto shear that was sloppily converted to Pneumatic and needs to be redone. Also rebuilt a 14 ga Dries Krump 4' universal sheet metal break "formally owned by the US navy" and a 48" Pexto slip roll along with a Doall 1612 . I'll post a few before and after photos. If there's interest I can post more detail in a separate thread.

 

[kaymccampbell]

The piston seals on a brake caliper don't slide along a surface, they are a bellows type so as the pads wear and the piston protrudes the machined outer diameter surface will not get dirty or corrode. If it wasn't done this way you couldn't risk retracting the pads/piston(s).

It's rotary not sliding. It's the e-brake pivot.

 

[Jay__Dub]

Brute force and ignorance allowed me to straighten the fence on my mitre saw. Put up a shelf, and put some more vintage cans I don't need up there for display. I will be cursed in the days following my demise, by the poor bastards that have to inventory, and sell everything in my shop. Glory days.

 

[cannuck]

Worked with Brown Boggs, and many antique ones, for years and years. Incredibly handy tool. Wish I'd have bought one of them when I retired. I'm sure they tossed the antique ones in the dump. Could be a challenge to shim for very thin substrates by times.

I was lucky enough last year to find a matched set of BB 48", 18ga box and pan, shear and slip roll. Incredibly nice tools (I had some much newer brand name stuff on loan years ago, but the BB stuff is at top of heap).

 

[cannuck]

It's rotary not sliding. It's the e-brake pivot.

thanks....I missed that in post-on-the-run between meetings this morning.

 

[Swanny1953]

Bi-monthly draining of air compressor and perimeter bug treatment.
Also, had a few stains in the Alcantara seating fabric in the CTS-V. Used some Griot's interior cleaner and a brush to lift the stains, then used my Mytee Lite detail extractor to remove the cleaner. Once that all dries, I'll apply some Chemical Guys HydroThread ceramic thread protector to the Alcantara and then condition all the leather surfaces.

 

[SMOKEYBEAR]

Been working on a quick refinishing of my work bench while I have boat parts out for powder coat and new windshields in the works, A few of my recent router sled projects had me screwing stop blocks directly to the table. The top is designed to be replaced, but its been there 20 years now and I've redone the polyurethane a few times, I like the character so I can't bring myself to replace it. Used some plugs and dowels to fill/ repair the wear and use its taken since the last go-round. I've used bondo previously, I like this process better. Plus I got to test my new Milwaukee cut off tool, Easy work for it. Pictures, no order

 

[SMOKEYBEAR]

Continuing on disk brakes for the moneypit baja. The disk kit for the front is back from powdercoat and I reassembled today. Started a couple days back but could not find my brake lube so delayed till after a trip to the laps. Finished the front and then started disassembly of the rear in preparation for PC. This is where I ran into an issue. There is a seal on the ebrake actuating lever. I was struggling to remove. Second caliper the seal was part way out. Well in trying to pull it out I tore it apart. The bad news is I cannot find a replacement and the vendors claim these are disposable calipers and you just replace the entire assembly. I’m trying to figure out a solution, any direction/help appreciated! Thanks

Time is money, may take some research and time to find the proper seal. Could you find a new/ rebuilt caliper faster and steal the seals off of it for the ones you have since they are already coated? I know its the more expensive path..

 

[rcktpwrd]

Been working on a quick refinishing of my work bench while I have boat parts out for powder coat and new windshields in the works, A few of my recent router sled projects had me screwing stop blocks directly to the table. The top is designed to be replaced, but its been there 20 years now and I've redone the polyurethane a few times, I like the character so I can't bring myself to replace it. Used some plugs and dowels to fill/ repair the wear and use its taken since the last go-round. I've used bondo previously, I like this process better. Plus I got to test my new Milwaukee cut off tool, Easy work for it. Pictures, no order

Bench top look great! Well used but not too abused.

 

[DGersic]

Cleaning up. Putting things away. Sorting leftovers. Labeling stuff being put away so I can find it again (probably). Some flinging.

 

[nadogail]

Loaded 12 cans of Soda into the shop refrigerator.

 

[rcktpwrd]

Loaded 12 cans of Soda into the shop refrigerator.

the important stuff!

 

[kaymccampbell]

Brought in a bunch of new stuff. Put the Dingo n Burg out. Changed the oil on the Escape. Ran its codes. Sprinkled chicken feed on the drips. Put the toys back inside. Never know when it's gonna snow.

 

[Outlawmws]

Still going light first week of retirement, but did weed out some grass going to seed that doesn't belong in the African Daisies, and getting closer to the last of the oak leaves... More re-org, and put stuff away,