What did you do "IN" your garage today?

[Crazyjake8493]

Very nice!

I want to re-start brewing after a 25+ year hiatus.

What do you have for a brewery?

Pretty simple setup by today's homebrewing standards. DIY electric brew-in-a-bag setup with a 10-gallon kettle, 240v 3500w element, controller with a PID, SSR, heatsink, contactor, and switch. DIY'ed it almost 10 years ago but if I was starting over today I'd buy something like the Anvil Foundry all-in-one. I'm mostly brewing 4 gallon batches and fermenting in kegs.

The microwave isn't an ideal exhaust fan but works well enough and I use it for heating up my coffee or things like forced diacetyl tests or boiling small amounts of water.

Under the workbench is my fermentation fridge. The black you see is the side of a mini-fridge controlled by an Inkbird. Removed the fridge door and built a box from 2" XPS insulation and OSB. To the right of that is the kegerator - just a chest freezer controlled by another temp controller to 38ºF. Removed the lid, added a 2x6 collar for the lines to pass through, and re-set the lid on that. The black pipe insulation is a trunk line going up to the bar in the dining room, but it often isn't in use unless we have company.

I brewed for several years before I started to taper off but we started a small homebrewing club last year and it really reinvigorated my interest in the hobby.

 

[Outlawmws]

I know I’m going to get some hate

No hate here, its a light duty trailer.

 

[GRN96WS6]

Well $h!t looks like the exxon valdez in here!

 

[Outlawmws]

Looks like the exxon valdez in here!

Oops?

 

[GRN96WS6]

Oops?

Not an oil change gone bad....sadly, the oil has maybe 100 miles on it but a gasket is leaking, and the pig mat I tossed under it two days ago (bc the leak didn't seem big) was not able to contain it until I could get to it today.

 

[Fav Onefour]

Well $h!t looks like the exxon valdez in here!

Bummer.
Last fall one of the guys was doing engine oil in the combines. The process involves climbing up and down the ladder fairly often. Drain hose is about six feet long and ends under the frame. It usually takes three pails to drain. Filters are up top along with the fill plug and dipstick.
He should have made one more trip up and down the ladder. The last pail started running over pretty quickly when he started filling. Fill guns are handy as heck when you close the drain plug. They aren't so handy when it's pumping right through.

 

[rharman]

Got a bit of a start on putting various hardware stuff away and reorganizing where stuff was scattered across 2-3 locations. Going to be a long slog... It didn't happen overnight and won't get fixed overnight.

 

[GRN96WS6]

Bummer.
Last fall one of the guys was doing engine oil in the combines. The process involves climbing up and down the ladder fairly often. Drain hose is about six feet long and ends under the frame. It usually takes three pails to drain. Filters are up top along with the fill plug and dipstick.
He should have made one more trip up and down the ladder. The last pail started running over pretty quickly when he started filling. Fill guns are handy as heck when you close the drain plug. They aren't so handy when it's pumping right through.

Those hold a lot more oil than this does haha! I wish it was a oil change gone bad, it has a leak from a gasket but did not appear big, clearly it was as the pig mat could not contain! I should have put the pan under it instead, oh well.

 

[WildBill]

I am not sure who at ford decided that putting nylon over metal timing gears to make them quieter was a good idea, but I just spent all day taking what seems to be everything off my 1967 Cougars 289 to get down to this beauty. I had pulled the pan to get the leftover old valve stem seal parts out and found all these little plastic gear looking parts. Was super confused at first as to why there would be a plastic gear in a 58 year old untouched engine. Probably will be a lot easier to get it timed correctly after I spend forever getting everything cleaned up and back together. It did run really well though and didn't make any weird sounds, which is confusing looking at this.

And since I had to pull them anyway it will be a good time to install a new mini starter and do the 3G alternator upgrade I was planning. Since the starter is from an early 90s mustang it has a built in solenoid, and the newer style alternator has a built in regulator. This will let me lose the voltage regulator and starter solenoid off the inner fenders, clean up the wiring, and get about 80 more amps of charging power.

 

[Outlawmws]

A couple of days ago someone suggested one of those mortar/concrete mixing tubs. I have one but will likely get one dedicated for this ****..

HD is cheaper than HF?

 

[SRU1436]

Not much inside.. moved about 80 yards of dirt to put in a pickle ball court. Replaced a hydraulic hose on the skidsteer moving said dirt. Added to my fire wood stack. Sprayed weeds mowed the lawns... grilling chicken now..

Holy firewood Batman!

 

[Beerhippie]

I am not sure who at ford decided that putting nylon over metal timing gears to make them quieter was a good idea, but I just spent all day taking what seems to be everything off my 1967 Cougars 289 to get down to this beauty. I had pulled the pan to get the leftover old valve stem seal parts out and found all these little plastic gear looking parts. Was super confused at first as to why there would be a plastic gear in a 58 year old untouched engine. Probably will be a lot easier to get it timed correctly after I spend forever getting everything cleaned up and back together. It did run really well though and didn't make any weird sounds, which is confusing looking at this.

And since I had to pull them anyway it will be a good time to install a new mini starter and do the 3G alternator upgrade I was planning. Since the starter is from an early 90s mustang it has a built in solenoid, and the newer style alternator has a built in regulator. This will let me lose the voltage regulator and starter solenoid off the inner fenders, clean up the wiring, and get about 80 more amps of charging power.

My brother had a '71 or '72 AMC Javelin w/401 cui engine back in high school. Little did we know, it used a timing wheel with nylon teeth and an aluminum web--not like yours. We found out one day when he got in a rolling drag-race on the highway and he floored it. Next thing I was aware of, the hood was folded back over the windshield and a giant fireball enveloped the rig. We managed to get to the side of the road, where passing motorists donated fire extinguishers. We towed her home using my Falcon van--embarrassing.

When we took the engine down, that gear was gone. All that was left was the aluminum web. Fortunately, it was a non-interference engine, so, other than the folded hood and everything in the engine compartment being burned up, it wasn't all that bad. He had it back on the road before summer was over.

It's amazing what happens when a large-displacement, high-compression engine fires with open intake valves through a Holley 650 4-barrel with the throttle wide open and the accelerator pump squirting! One witness claimed the fireball went thirty feet in the air. We never found the air filter housing.

Who looked at a 401 with a claimed 330 BHP and said, yeah, a plastic timing wheel should be juuust fine there....

 

[WildBill]

My brother had a '71 or '72 AMC Javelin w/401 cui engine back in high school. Little did we know, it used a timing wheel with nylon teeth and an aluminum web--not like yours. We found out one day when he got in a rolling drag-race on the highway and he floored it. Next thing I was aware of, the hood was folded back over the windshield and a giant fireball enveloped the rig. We managed to get to the side of the road, where passing motorists donated fire extinguishers. We towed her home using my Falcon van--embarrassing.

When we took the engine down, that gear was gone. All that was left was the aluminum web. Fortunately, it was a non-interference engine, so, other than the folded hood and everything in the engine compartment being burned up, it wasn't all that bad. He had it back on the road before summer was over.

It's amazing what happens when a large-displacement, high-compression engine fires with open intake valves through a Holley 650 4-barrel with the throttle wide open and the accelerator pump squirting! One witness claimed the fireball went thirty feet in the air. We never found the air filter housing.

Who looked at a 401 with a claimed 330 BHP and said, yeah, a plastic timing wheel should be juuust fine there....

That's pretty awesome.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Fought with and reassembled the poolboy. Dusted the woodshop.

 

[DGersic]

Spent some time hunting for a vibration in the steering. Mounted a GoPro clone camera in a few places to watch the suspension while driving. Watched the resulting videos while parked. Didn’t spot anything helpful.

Coming home from rehearsal tonight, the bulb in my gas gauge died. Pulled it out, found that it’s some weird VDO specific bulb. Found a four pack on Amazon, so ordered that and some other stuff.

 

[Fav Onefour]

Those hold a lot more oil than this does haha! I wish it was a oil change gone bad, it has a leak from a gasket but did not appear big, clearly it was as the pig mat could not contain! I should have put the pan under it instead, oh well.

Right around eleven gallons in crankcase.
I saw you post that the oil only had 100 miles. I think it hurts more when the oil was still good.

 

[Wrench97]

I am not sure who at ford decided that putting nylon over metal timing gears to make them quieter was a good idea, but I just spent all day taking what seems to be everything off my 1967 Cougars 289 to get down to this beauty. I had pulled the pan to get the leftover old valve stem seal parts out and found all these little plastic gear looking parts. Was super confused at first as to why there would be a plastic gear in a 58 year old untouched engine. Probably will be a lot easier to get it timed correctly after I spend forever getting everything cleaned up and back together. It did run really well though and didn't make any weird sounds, which is confusing looking at this.

And since I had to pull them anyway it will be a good time to install a new mini starter and do the 3G alternator upgrade I was planning. Since the starter is from an early 90s mustang it has a built in solenoid, and the newer style alternator has a built in regulator. This will let me lose the voltage regulator and starter solenoid off the inner fenders, clean up the wiring, and get about 80 more amps of charging power.

They all did that back in the 60's, before that inline engines used a Fiber gear......

 

[Old Man Roger]

Fought with and reassembled the poolboy. Dusted the woodshop.

 

[kaymccampbell]

More like.

 

[GRN96WS6]

Right around eleven gallons in crankcase.
I saw you post that the oil only had 100 miles. I think it hurts more when the oil was still good.

It ***** but at least it isn't 11 gallons with 100 miles or the hours equivalent! I'm only out $30 and some time.

 

[Old Man Roger]

More like.

I expect more from you.

 

[Hooked]

Spent the day Monday cutting out cardboard 'trees' for our upcoming VBS next week. Coordinator had a bunch of large, 4' square, shallow boxes saved from a recent stage assembly in the activity building.
After crawling around on the floor of the shop all day my legs and knees are screaming at me today.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I expect more from you.

Tough **** puppy. You take what you get and be glad I don't kick you in the *** for a chaser.

 

[rd65]

I am not sure who at ford decided that putting nylon over metal timing gears to make them quieter was a good idea, but I just spent all day taking what seems to be everything off my 1967 Cougars 289 to get down to this beauty. I had pulled the pan to get the leftover old valve stem seal parts out and found all these little plastic gear looking parts. Was super confused at first as to why there would be a plastic gear in a 58 year old untouched engine. Probably will be a lot easier to get it timed correctly after I spend forever getting everything cleaned up and back together. It did run really well though and didn't make any weird sounds, which is confusing looking at this.

And since I had to pull them anyway it will be a good time to install a new mini starter and do the 3G alternator upgrade I was planning. Since the starter is from an early 90s mustang it has a built in solenoid, and the newer style alternator has a built in regulator. This will let me lose the voltage regulator and starter solenoid off the inner fenders, clean up the wiring, and get about 80 more amps of charging power.

Be sure to check your oil pick up. Did mom's Country Sedan waggon w/ 460 back in the day, pickup was full of nylon bits.

 

[rd65]

I got the shifter installed and adjusted properly.

Gotta love a well decaled shop fridge.

 

[rd65]

Moved a couple of things to make room for the mower. I will pull the deck, swap out the blades, and do a midseason deck clean up tonight. Then I sat down for my customary after mow beer.

 

[69charged]

Well $h!t looks like the exxon valdez in here!

well, ****. i feel your pain!

 

[ATL86]

Got up around 5:30 this morning. Got my coffee and headed out to the garage/metal shop. (Wife is loosing her **** over this by the way) Spent the morning preparing my new to me Jhead Bridgeport for paint! Put the last coat of bondo on her, so hopefully will be taping off for paint in a couple of days!!

 

[kaymccampbell]

Took the Burg out. Returned it with a full tank and a shiny new sticker.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Got up around 5:30 this morning. Got my coffee and headed out to the garage/metal shop. (Wife is loosing her **** over this by the way) Spent the morning preparing my new to me Jhead Bridgeport for paint! Put the last coat of bondo on her, so hopefully will be taping off for paint in a couple of days!!

Losing her **** over 0530? Coffee? Going out to the shop? Spending your time fiddling with the milling machine? Or some other completely unmentioned item?

 

[ATL86]

You nailed it!!

 

[nadogail]

Completed the disassembly of an experimental structure I built from 2X4’ last week. Those 16 penny nails were rather difficult to remove, I used my biggest hammer to knock it apart, this is the first time in years that I’ve used that 8 pounder.

I will be able to reuse most of those 2X4s

 

[larry4406]

Completed the disassembly of an experimental structure I built from 2X4’ last week. Those 16 penny nails were rather difficult to remove, I used my biggest hammer to knock it apart, this is the first time in years that I’ve used that 8 pounder.

Good cardio!

 

[Beerhippie]

Completed the disassembly of an experimental structure I built from 2X4’ last week. Those 16 penny nails were rather difficult to remove, I used my biggest hammer to knock it apart, this is the first time in years that I’ve used that 8 pounder.

I will be able to reuse most of those 2X4s

A very good argument for construction screws. Then you can reuse the fasteners, too--without having to straighten them.

 

[cody1325]

Completed the disassembly of an experimental structure I built from 2X4’ last week. Those 16 penny nails were rather difficult to remove, I used my biggest hammer to knock it apart, this is the first time in years that I’ve used that 8 pounder.

Weirdly enough, it was stripped drywall screws that made me drag out my 8 lb. Council last. I've used that thing more for demolition work than shop work.

 

[cody1325]

Decided to locate the oil filter in the '21 Escape as I'm only looking at around $40 total for me to do it, $70 at least if I pay my mechanic. Ford put it on the bottom of the motor behind the radiator. I may need a longer flex-head and an oil filter socket to get at it. I think my bent flex-head SK Tuff-1 may work.

Same goes for that broken park light on the edge of my '98 Ram headlight. I will likely end up standing on a stool and buying a flex-head 1/4 as well.

OK, looks like I've got an excuse to buy those new Icon ratchets I keep eyeing....

 

[Outlawmws]

Those 16 penny nails were rather difficult to remove, I used my biggest hammer to knock it apart

Were they the green cement coated nails? if so that's why; "cement" in this case means glue, an it's heat setup, from the heat of the friction of being driven in.

A very good argument for construction screws.

100% concur.

 

[GrayFlattop]

Next to the garage, I pulled a bunch of weeds and planted about 12 packs of annual flower seeds. I did pop into the garage to get a spreader clamp and a couple of short 2 x 4s to facilitate the boiler repair in the basement.

Actually, the boiler is just fine, but I did have one fitting that had a S L O W leak - maybe 3-4 drops a day. The leak location is sub-optimal to repair. Since it was 87 F out, it was a perfect day to isolate, then drain the boiler. Broke loose the union, then tightened the fitting to the boiler input - got another half turn out of it. Filled the boiler and then it was leaking faster…

The boiler has 1-1/4” MPT stainless steel ******* for supply/return and while stainless pipe can be a bit more difficult to seal, the other three fittings were leak-free since installation last year. So I broke loose the union again, and removed the fittings from the boiler to inspect closely, then clean the threads. applied 15 wraps of Loctite 55 and slathered on some Loctite 567. Buttoned everything up and pressure tested it. No leaks so far, but we’ll see what it looks like in the morning.

The young kittten we adopted last November watched intently the entire time. Sadly he was unable to assist due to his lack of opposable thumbs. That said, he was unfazed by my cursing, so there’s that.

 

[Beerhippie]

Were they the green cement coated nails? if so that's why; "cement" in this case means glue, an it's heat setup, from the heat of the friction of being driven in.

....

VC (Vinyl Coated) Sinkers, as known in the trade. Drive easier, pull out harder.

I wonder how many pounds (or tons) of them I've driven....

 

[alinc100]

Wood Glue comes in 1 Gallon Jugs

and 5 gallon and 50 gallon containers as well.


Over the course of the last few days I have been able to work on my 'next level' of pen turning. I ordered some (new to me) stainless kits and (new to me ) stabilized hemp blanks, both available at Bullseye Turning Supply . One of the 'challenges' is these are closed end pens, hardware is epoxied in place and turned on custom mandrels. The other significant 'challenge ' is hemp is brittle, tough to turn and likes to chip and flake. Now my first two didn't turn out perfect but I'm happy with the results. I turned a green rollerball, which the wife claimed even before I could get photos and a blue with a fountain nib.