What did you do "IN" your garage today?

[Skyman]

In 1981, right after I met this guy, we went over to one of my girlfriend's houses. She had a BIC lighter that wasn't working properly.
He disassembled it, reversed the flint, stretched the spring out a wee bit, re-attached the metal cap, and voila! Back in working order.
There's a reason this is the guy who does all the work on my vehicles. Doesn't matter what it is: he'll figure out how to fix it. He was ecstatic about fixing that remote - he loves a good challenge. The screw and nut at the top is the new "contact point" for the momentary switch - which is the part that was broken. (I had previously glued the unit back together multiple times and re-soldered the wires back onto the circuit board at least twice.)

He sounds like the kind of guy I'd like to have for a next-door neighbor.

 

[four.cycle]

^ His talents with improvisation are somewhat awesome. He's managed to keep my 32-year-old Ford Ranger running, notwithstanding parts having been discontinued by Ford.
He's not worth a damn if it involves wood or nails - if it's "mechanical" though, he'll figure out how to fix it.

 

[Hooked]

Today’s goal was to fix this thirty five year old floorjack.

I loaned it out to a friend twenty years ago who bent it somehow, so it had a pretty hefty parallelogram to the frame. I straightened it out no problem, but it would immediately fold over again under load. To fix THAT, I welded plate steel to the bottom. After the repair, and since I had several other jacks, this one became the outside jack because it wouldn’t sink in the gravel.
Recently (this century, I think), the handle started jamming or popping out due to all the dragging and tugging it has suffered, and I had had enough. I unscrewed the handle capture bolt and found its little dog point had been jaggedly sheared off. I needed to make a new step bolt.

Here is the old and the new:

And the channel in the handle that the dog point engages: Focus!

BUT. To get to this point, I had to find a 3 jaw chuck, since neither of the chucks on my prewar Atlas Babbitt lathe would hold a small hex reliably. WTH, is that a 2.5 inch 3jaw?

I found a local machinist had a surplus new-in-box imported 5” 3jaw, and eBay had a cast iron back plate that would adapt it to my 1.5”-8 headstock with a little machining and a little drilling.
Viola! Chips!


And now I know a little more about what tooling this abused antique lathe needs. Also, I won’t have to crawl under another precariously-supported truck because the handle pulled off again.


Dog. Point!

I also have that same jack but mine has been sitting unused for many years since I procrastinate too much. It doesn't hold a load and I have tried to fix it after having been in a dire need for a jack immediately and bought a new one.

 

[DGersic]

Nice door pulls on that upper cabinet. Dimmer switch pedal?

Yep. Made some mounts from EMT tube and washers.

 

[oldman_pottering]

Today’s goal was to fix this thirty five year old floorjack.

I loaned it out to a friend twenty years ago who bent it somehow, so it had a pretty hefty parallelogram to the frame. I straightened it out no problem, but it would immediately fold over again under load. To fix THAT, I welded plate steel to the bottom. After the repair, and since I had several other jacks, this one became the outside jack because it wouldn’t sink in the gravel.
Recently (this century, I think), the handle started jamming or popping out due to all the dragging and tugging it has suffered, and I had had enough. I unscrewed the handle capture bolt and found its little dog point had been jaggedly sheared off. I needed to make a new step bolt.

Here is the old and the new:


And the channel in the handle that the dog point engages: Focus!


BUT. To get to this point, I had to find a 3 jaw chuck, since neither of the chucks on my prewar Atlas Babbitt lathe would hold a small hex reliably. WTH, is that a 2.5 inch 3jaw?


I found a local machinist had a surplus new-in-box imported 5” 3jaw, and eBay had a cast iron back plate that would adapt it to my 1.5”-8 headstock with a little machining and a little drilling.

Viola! Chips!


And now I know a little more about what tooling this abused antique lathe needs. Also, I won’t have to crawl under another precariously-supported truck because the handle pulled off again.


Dog. Point!

Good job ! I think it's cool that you first had to modify your lathe before you could could actually do the job you want, so many of my jobs end up so far down other rabbit holes before I actually get the initial job done

 

[Magnum440d100]

Working on a customers “ran last season” mower…



I’m not calling them a liar…

 

[four.cycle]

“ran last season” mower…

I’m not calling them a liar…

Ethanol-laced fuel that sat over winter.
Brand new Chinese carb on ebay: about 9 bucks.

 

[Beerhippie]

I "detailed" the interior of my beater '93 Toy Corolla--with a cordless leafblower. Opened all the doors and let 'er rip!

Worked a charm! It even got out the vacuum-proof dead wasps from between the third brake light and the rear window.

 

[nadogail]

Mounted the new bracket and 4X4 connection box on my Table Saw, installed a two screw fitting and one load cable, mounted the DPST switch to the box cover, found enough terminal lugs for the three cables that will be terminating in the switch box.

I will be working on this project again on Sunday, because tomorrow we will be finishing the turnover on a rental.

 

[Outlawmws]

I "detailed" the interior of my beater '93 Toy Corolla--with a cordless leafblower. Opened all the doors and let 'er rip!

Going to make use of this one!

 

[Beerhippie]

Going to make use of this one!

Remove any small objects you want to keep first!

I'm still looking around the parking lot for small change...

 

[four.cycle]

I "detailed" the interior of my beater '93 Toy Corolla--with a cordless leafblower.

I use my 120V "Toro" blower to clean out the truck and the van. Works like a charm. Just have to make sure I'm not blowing the **** back into the garage.

 

[Blue Chips]

Just imagine, I recently flashed a generator in a 48 Ford. Raise your hands if you think it didn't have to do with clothing,

You might say there's a 'generation' gap. Anyway, that brings back memories.

We always called it 'polarizing' a generator...restoring the residual magnetism in the field iron cores with the correct polarity. When I was in high school I worked for a small family-run business that built/repaired/modified transformers, generators, electric motors, etc. Most of the stuff we worked on was large industrial equipment, but we did a fair amount of automotive paraphernalia.

 

[Blue Chips]

Now that our new garage is almost ready for use, I'm in the process of vacating the storage unit that my 1954 Dodge M37 is/was in.

Today I brought the chassis home on my flatbed trailer. There are still about two pickup loads of body panels, etc., to bring home, which I might start picking away at tomorrow. The next storage unit rental fee is due in a couple of weeks, and I want to get it cleared out before then. I'd rather spend the money on M37 parts than on storage rental.

I'm looking forward to using my new car lift to finish the M37's undercarriage work, after which I'll probably move it to our old garage (my shop) to work on the tasks that are at a convenient working height without having to use the lift. My lower back isn't what it used to be, and the new lift should make the chassis work far more enjoyable and efficient.

 

[DGersic]

Well, the silicone didn’t work. Pressure pushed it out.




So, ten wraps of teflon tape seems to be working. There may still be a bit of leakage, but it’s no longer ******* weed spray all over the place.


Swept up the debris and ****.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I "detailed" the interior of my beater '93 Toy Corolla--with a cordless leafblower. Opened all the doors and let 'er rip!

Worked a charm! It even got out the vacuum-proof dead wasps from between the third brake light and the rear window.

That and a real feather duster will make your sbox feel like new inside. It's how I do mine.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Shuffled **** that I'm staging. Sliced plywood into 4 inch strips for a friend. Grabbed a flashlight. Had thoughts.

 

[Magnum440d100]

Ethanol-laced fuel that sat over winter.
Brand new Chinese carb on ebay: about 9 bucks.

They need it back quicker than Amazon can drop it off.

I have the carb soaking in chemdip overnight. It’ll be back together by 7 or 8 am tomorrow morning whereas Amazon doesn’t usually deliver here until between 4pm-7pm.

 

[bornbadbob]

Oh it does.... Most only have pain in one area.....the area with the most pain wins...

I had just recently put a set of finger nail clippers in the garage. . . Then I had to clean the blood off them later. I believe that was a first cleaning blood off clippers.

I have been keeping nail clippers in the garage for years. They come in handy more often than you would think.

 

[Beerhippie]

That and a real feather duster will make your sbox feel like new inside. It's how I do mine.

Nah, just blow out the loose **** and dead bugs. I figure the anchored coating of dirt on the plastic parts protects them from sun damage. Same goes for paint.

 

[LeonardY]

Took the car out.

Opened a Amazon box.
Partially assembled the shelves. Found they don't fit in the place I intended.
Packed them back in the box and submitted a return.

Dropped them off this afternoon.

Put the car back in.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Took the car out.

Opened a Amazon box.
Partially assembled the shelves. Found they don't fit in the place I intended.
Packed them back in the box and submitted a return.

Dropped them off this afternoon.

Put the car back in.

Did you consider lopping the tops off it with an angle grinder?

 

[LeonardY]

Did you consider lopping the tops off it with an angle grinder?

I did but I checked Amazon and they had a shorter one. But while they were made by the same company as my other two, They were different. Metal shelves and the legs were different. They were folded back to hide the keyhole slots. There was a lot of distortion in the keyhole section.

I just ordered the same version as the other two I bought.

 

[Wrench97]

Was off on Friday so I got to put the drivers side window motor in the Tbird, top off the R12 charge, change the oil in the wifes car....mow the grass and trim the fence line with the neighbor. Took a nap.

 

[bugnut]

fired up the printer, went thru parts and determined what needed reworked. Drew a few new versions of similar parts so they match. Cleaned up the workbench.

 

[2001ZR2]

After letting the Suburban airbox dry out,
I installed the blower motor. After finding the battery dead and putting on the jump box it started and much more out the vents.

Cleaned off the cowl for fixing the wipers...maybe today. Met the UPS guy with the Rock Auto delivery of A/C parts.

Put away tools and called it a day.

 

[Outlawmws]

I have been keeping nail clippers in the garage for years. They come in handy more often than you would think.

I have a pair "clipped" to my 4" crescent with a disc magnet in my left front pocket. all three are handy, the crescent for whatever it fits, the cillpers, and the magnet for verifying steel or not... Had that and a single AAA LED flashlight there for a couple of decades.

 

[ATL86]

Niget2002, I see the aforementioned Barker horizontal mill on a rolling table. It's got a swiveling milling vise on the table, a slab cutter in the spindle, and the overarm support above. The motor is hanging off the contraption at the bottom right, linked belt to the large pulley, V-belt (?) to the spindle pulley. Some major speed reduction going on there.

It only had one speed when I found the Barker. It needed to slow down considerably to use any sort of cutter. I thought about using a VHD but for cost, a pulley system seemed the way to go. Took a bit to figure it out but ended up with an 8 speed pulley system. Got the low speed down to 900. Perfect for a 3" cutter! Its quite the little horizontal mill.

 

[PhantomEB]

thanks mate, I'm still learning 'merican

I ain’t that crazy. I like slow crawlin. This is why I am locked front and backed with low, low, low capabilities. Can gear up for wheel speed though.

 

[PhantomEB]

Today is transmission shifter linkage hooked up, make sure the 205 is filled up and see if everything is shifting within the C6 transmission before driveshafts go back in. Lots of trial and error/fabrication coming up. If that all plays out then I can put the side and rear windows back in on the soft top and drive it out for a car wash In the back alley. Photo ops too for the FB hater peanut gallery.

also need to cut and smoothen out the aluminum hood support as well plan for some steel purchase this week for an accessible storage platform in the back of the bronco as well scrap steel storage underneath my welding table. Oh and drive over fender extensions for the trailer. Figure 2x6 1/4 wall will never collapse when driving the bronco over them. Saves me time from having to pull the fenders out for clearance. Fender extensions will be removable if I need to but also designed for if I ever get another fast street car to take to the track.

 

[rshadd]

Soldering new barrels on a control cable...

 

[larry4406]

Unpacked a new measuring wheel.

My old measuring wheel the latch broke off which locks the folding handle in a straight position for use.

Called Lufkin to buy a replacement hinge. They said they don’t have that part but the wheel has a lifetime guarantee.

They had me fill out a form on line, send a picture, no receipt necessary, and they sent me a brand new wheel at no charge!

Hate to toss it as seems like an easy fix. Could splint it permanent.

 

[Snip's]

SS Marine locking tubing hinge...




Buy a spare for the second Lufkin...

 

[rshadd]

Getting my old Westinghouse fan ready for paint... painted it black a while ago and hated it. Going to try an Industrial grey. Polished the stainless trim and taped it off.

Here is it's little brother that I recently restored..

 

[larry4406]

SS Marine locking tubing hinge...




Buy a spare for the second Lufkin...

Thank you!

How does that lock? Pin goes thru the joint and pins them together? Set screws on the hubs to secure to tubing?

I need to measure the tubing on my units and see what’s out there.

 

[rshadd]

Repaired an old Bird Feeder for my Mom and Dad, it was made by my late Grandfather.

 

[jade97]

Unpacked a new measuring wheel.

My old measuring wheel the latch broke off which locks the folding handle in a straight position for use.

Called Lufkin to buy a replacement hinge. They said they don’t have that part but the wheel has a lifetime guarantee.

They had me fill out a form on line, send a picture, no receipt necessary, and they sent me a brand new wheel at no charge!

Hate to toss it as seems like an easy fix. Could splint it permanent.

Strip of metal, rivnut and a thumbscrew?

 

[Snip's]

Thank you!

How does that lock? Pin goes thru the joint and pins them together? Set screws on the hubs to secure to tubing?

I need to measure the tubing on my units and see what’s out there.

https://www.amazon.com/RedSnake-Sta...g-Hardware/dp/B097SW9P8C?tag=atomicindus08-20

Video

 

[larry4406]

Fixed a flat….

Center toe strap pulled out of my Croc’s.

 

[Outlawmws]

SS Marine locking tubing hinge...

OK I'm surprised! I expected the SS hinge to cost as much or more than the wheel!