What did you do "IN" your garage today?

[oldman_pottering]

Washed both the cars, 3/4 painted out a clear corrugated plastic roof sheet ( ran outta paint), fiddled around cleaning up a 2nd hand wood working plane I bought off marketplace a month or so ago, I am not very good at holding a consistent angle for sharpening

 

[Outlawmws]

fiddled around cleaning up a 2nd hand wood working plane I bought off marketplace a month or so ago, I am not very good at holding a consistent angle for sharpening

They make guides for that: both for power sharpening or honing:

Hone Guide:





Or roll your own:

 

[bugnut]

@manwithtools Dan, are you taking orders for cabinets yet? Golly you got it going on!

Painted a few cabinet backs, shelves and drawer fronts today.

 

[bugnut]

Swapped DS wiper arms around on the Ridgelines. New arm arrived, put the old one back and installed the new one on the 25 Ridgeline. Figured out the proper setpoint and installed. Tested and everything is clear ready to go.

 

[manwithtools]

@manwithtools Dan, are you taking orders for cabinets yet? Golly you got it going on!

Not taking orders, but I do intend to make some serious furniture projects in the future. These cabinets are for my daughter's kitchen remodel, our son is going to build a home soon and I'll be making all his cabinets and built-ins as well.

 

[PhantomEB]

another Saturday of cutty cut cut. Didn’t go stupid right off the bat. Said set up for 6” of uptravel As I have feelings I will be cranking down the coil buckets to get that closer to 6.5 When I level out the front. Lucky for me that I put the old flare back on and said I shoulda cut it at the bottom of the rocker.

Already told Michelle prep for another trip to Havre soon. She goes FINALLY I won’t have to listen to you ***** about that Blackstone you should of got! What else do you need from Havre. Said might as well get front fenders, dash pad and a radio antenna.

might put some engine splash shield back in under the ‘15 Focus as well the front splitter. Ordered them off Amazon and want them off the floor. Then all car needs is the under rad deflector, factory headlight housing and 6000 lumen headlight bulbs.

kinda loving the two tone look going on there. Might get some grey paint to match the soft top while waiting on new front fenders.

 

[rd65]

Installed the new hopper bag and two rear sections of bag frame on the 42" craftsman sweeper. I've had the parts for years and have held off on installing them until the bag deteriorated further. This year finally finished the old one off. Changed up the hitch mount so that I can ditch the spacer that was used. Had to make up a couple of spacers to get things to fit properly and do a bit of grinding on the mower side.
Finished up the sink install with some caulking and plumbed the pressure relief valve to take any bleed off down through the hole in the slab.

 

[dudley123]

Rented a liftgate box truck to pickup my "new" to me 7.5HP 80gal IR-T30 2475 Compressor! Underestimated 650lbs and not being palletized so took 3 of us to slowly walk it onto the liftgate and into the truck. Tossed onto new pad I poured last week and built a 6x4 shed around said monstrosity of a comp.

Time to rest!

 

[Blue Chips]

Other than the inevitable mess, I love drywall and finishing it.

Even though I don't like the repetitive nature of drywall work, there is a kind of 'Zen' to it for lack of a better term. There's something highly satisfying about almost magically transforming bare framing to a finished, completed appearance in a short period of time...and there's that sense of 'closure.' There must be something in Gestalt psychology that could explain it.

 

[bmwrd0]

Just cleaning up, working on minor projects (stuff that needed cleaning). Got tired, went upstairs.

 

[Blue Chips]

#4 plug wire. How the hell did I do 75 on the Interstate and pull 65 up a steep grade on three cylinders?

Maybe the ignition voltage was high enough to jump the gap and still provide a hot enough spark?

 

[Roont]

Today was a bummer! My old hunter p611 pc won't turn on or not sending signal to monitor. Going to see if I can find a video card for it haha. But of course I find this out when I really need it. A friend has an 05 mustang and Mavis keeps telling him they can't do alignment without replacing tie rods.

The steering rack and tie rods are new and greased. He had another shop check front end for looseness, they confirmed nothing loose and everything looks good, they just didn't have an alignment tech working on weekends. My friend then brought it back here.

I sent photos to mavis asking which of the brand new shiny parts his tech was referring to.

I broke my rule and worked on a weekend for nothing for this guy. Arg

 

[Beerhippie]

Maybe the ignition voltage was high enough to jump the gap and still provide a hot enough spark?

Maybe... be maybe hot enough to jump to the bracket that wore that hole in the wire. I was careful to pull the abrasion shielding on the new wire up to where it covers that spot and zip-tied it in place.

Now I have the driver's door card off the Brick so I can install the new map pocket and see what I can do about the lock situation. Doing the yo-yo between shops again for parts and tools.

 

[rzims]

Its pouring down rain, so I pulled the little Ranger into the shop for some random stuff.
Had a brake light out and swapped out the bulb....Nope. Checked the fuses, the brake light switch near the pedal and finally decided to look at the bulb housing. Sure enough, it was corroded and crusty inside. Cleaned it with some sandpaper and all good!

I had gotten a flat recently and in changing the tire, the outer chrome cover on the lug nuts came off, so I put on the new lug nuts I had ordered. I considered upgrading the rims and tires to a 15" and probably should have, but didn't.

Then had to replace an old and leaking vacuum hose and since I was in there, I decided a good cleaning was needed. Ended up replacing a couple other hoses that weren't bad yet, but looked pretty rough...

My FIL bought this truck new in 1993 for just under 9k. 5 speed, AM radio, and crank up windows. I bought it from him in 2000 for 4k. It's only got 120k on it and both my daughters learned to drive in this thing.
It continues to just keep running....

 

[Blue Chips]

A few small garage/shop jobs over the past several days:

First, some simple mouse damage repair work:

The leads for the cruise control electromagnet on my Toro 522xi garden tractor showed distinct signs of having served as a meal or nest material for a mouse or other furry critter. All but one or two strands of the wire were chewed through. It was an easy repair job (cut/strip/crimp/double heat shrink).



I rounded up the usual suspects, but I had to let this one go for lack of evidence.



Above image created with Photoshop and some AI generation.

Next little project:

The right-rear axle seal in my Toro 522xi failed rather suddenly, as evidenced by the oil slick that appeared overnight on the garage floor. A quick check for play in the bearing and end play in the axle showed that the bearing was probably fine, and the oil seal had failed.

I was going to use a three-jaw puller to remove the hub, as shown in the service manual. However, I'm leery about applying too much pulling force on the edges of what I assume is a cast-iron flange that might be firmly rusted in place, and I didn't like the way a bearing-separator-type puller fit against the hub, so I cobbled together a quick custom puller from some 3/8 mild steel plate, with appropriately drilled holes and a 3/4" nut welded on. The puller used the five threaded holes in the flange for the lug bolts. I also made a simple seal installation tool by turning down a piece of schedule 80 PVC pipe on the lathe.

After pulling the hub off and carefully prying out the old seal and checking for burrs on all surfaces, I installed the new seal, cleaned and replaced the hub, installed new grade-8 set screws torqued to spec with Loctite 271 on the threads (all per service manual) and jam nuts.

I used a 3/8" four-point socket for the square-head set screws. I topped off the transmission oil and checked for leaks. All was good.



I already have some ideas for improving the puller so that it will work on hubs like these that have been converted from lug bolts to studs.

 

[Outlawmws]

Tossed onto new pad I poured last week and built a 6x4 shed around said monstrosity of a comp.

This one needs pics!

 

[Nofries]

Wow what a whirlwind of a weekend. In Laws were in town and my Wife was going to tale them home Saturday. Well she became ill and I told her I would take them home. So load up and drive from Charlotte to Pittsburgh Saturday morning. Ended up calling 911 for my mother in law that fell and scraped up her head. Few hours in the ER, CT scan stitches and we are on our way 45 minutes to go. Get to their house, unload the car and go to the grocery store for them. Neither are able to drive any more. Go the bed. Get up and shovel the drive and walkway, thermometer said 25 degrees, on the road by 8am. Get back home by 3pm. Got clearance to fly on the interstates, 79 to 64 to I77. Only had to slow down a few times in VA and WV but otherwise wide open most of the way home.
Got home it's now 60 degrees! grabbed a snack and pulled some steel out to start my project i had intended to do this weekend. Measured twice and cut up steel for a firewood rack. Hopefully will weld it up this week sometime after work.

Sitting on the couch now while the wife makes dinner.

 

[Outlawmws]

my mother in law that fell and scraped up her head.

What did you do? Take her in the rig with no doors?



Seriously hope shes fine.

 

[Beerhippie]

Door cards back on.



Electric locks disabled.

First bling for the new rig:



Wouldn't want to be mistaken for a Syncro snob!

 

[kaymccampbell]

Assembled all the creches. Glittered them. Then worked in CAD on a new plinth project for the deck railings.

 

[CoogarXR]

Not my garage, but a friend's garage-

Out in the Explorer today, and suddenly it lost power on the highway. I slowed to about 20mph and that's all the faster it would go. So I puttered up the shoulder to the next exit (took forever!). I pulled over and called two friends I had on that exit. One was home, so I limped it to his shop. I figured the catalytic converter plugged up, because it was running fine, it just wouldn't go over about 2k RPM or 20-25mph. That, and while I was pulled over, I looked, and it wasn't putting out much exhaust out the tail pipe. And I could smell "hot exhaust" smell underneath, so I assumed the cat was getting hot.

I puttered on over to his shop. I pulled in, borrowed his drill and a step bit, drilled a 1" hole in the cat, and test drove it. It runs fine again! Of course it's loud now, but that's future-me's problem. I could at least drive it home safely now.

 

[niget2002]

Wife and daughter cleaned out the front flowerbeds on the house. So I pulled the ZT out of the shop and drove the dump cart around for them to fill it. When they were done, I put the ZT back up.

 

[pancholasvegas]

Parts have been arriving and I’ve been playing in the shop on the Econoline trailer as available.



Corner side panel arrived from Idaho. Fantastic shape considering what we had currently. Considering what good shape it was in, and that the stake pocket was intact (something my patch panel was missing,) i wanted to remove the lower wheel-well section on the left and leave the rest complete. This way I can graft onto the bedside and maintain a one-piece bedside, with the factory corner connection and stake pocket.

I did start addressing a bit of the dent situation. There was limited access due to the fuel vent / filler cover that was still intact.


I started by hitting it with the DA really quick to show off more of the damaged area while I worked the dents a bit.



Got enough cuts and bangs on my hands hammering with the limited access that I switched gears to removing the original corner section.





All of the spot welds along this seam were drilled, then seam busters used to completely split the panels. There were also a couple locking tabs that were unfolded to allow it to separate.



Then the fuel inlet/vent cover had its spot welds removed - this gives us better access for our dent removal - I haven’t decided if I’ll be reinstalling this via weld or enable it to be easily removable as an access panel.





Next up I wanted to check out the fitment of our replacement panel and see if my plan to basically install / replace as though this was a hybrid of a collision replacement / rust repair. I don’t want to hack and slice things away right away, I’d rather try and replace / repair as the factory manual shows.

Side panel loosely lined up and clamped in place.



Plenty of adjustability when it comes time, especially after the flanges get straightened back out. Next up I threw the other bedside panel up - that’ll be a tricky cut again to **** weld.



Out of level at the moment but just mocking up.

Waiting on another couple pieces in the mail. Have to stop by the welding shop for new gas this week and I’ll also be pulling off the corner to work on the dents more before continuing forward.

 

[e-tek]

Nothing much today....minus 20 and windy and my new shop is awaiting ceiling insualtion.

 

[GRN96WS6]

The girls rental garage opener seems to have eaten its main gear....instead of looking like | it looks like / haha, seems easy enough to fix but it's a rental, that's her landlords issue, I did try to put the chain back on the sprocket but decided it would not stay or cause more harm. So I got greasy hands for nothing!

 

[Nofries]

What did you do? Take her in the rig with no doors?



Seriously hope shes fine.

No took the wife's rig/car much easier for 88 year old parents to enter and exit.

She tripped on a curb, we were stopping one last time for a pee break, the curb was taller than a regular one, as she stepped up I don't think her other foot came up as far as it should have.

She is good. All scans were clear just a contusion with stitches and a little pride. She was herself the entire time just as fiesty as the day i met her over 20 years ago.

 

[SMOKEYBEAR]

Messed around most of the afternoon on the drill press. Walked out and didn't look like I accomplished much. I do have the motor bells in primer, band cleaned up and motor hardware cleaned. The bearings are soaking for a thorough cleaning and fresh grease when I get some more time. Just doesn't look like much.

 

[badmatt]

Polished the **** box.




I need to finish up that window trim and baseboard… and put the end cap on the light… I’ve been lazy.

 

[zanyad]

Sorted and reorganized a plastic parts cabinet and an 18-drawer steel parts cabinet this afternoon while listening to the game. Threw out a bunch of **** I'll never use, consolidated a bunch more. Still have a bunch of bolts to sort but they're in one coffee can instead of scattered in several drawers.

 

[545_days]

I painted the one-car side of the garage's ceiling yesterday and hung light fixtures today. I have some wired replacement tombstones for the 4' T8 fixtures coming from Amazon later this week before I can finish.

We are also upgrading our home network. I traced and labeled all the cat 6 cables with temporary painter's tape labels. Shrink wrap label tape arrived today, so hopefully I can add permanent labels tomorrow.

 

[Bob Peach]

Ran copper fuel and return lines from the new generator to the furnace oil tank in the shop. Had to move all the machinery on the front wall. Glad everything is on wheels. Test ran the generator. It is very quiet, i expected it to be louder. Cannot hear it in the house. Electrician coming in the morning to wire it up. 47 years in this house I guess it was time to do this.

 

[rd65]

Serviced the rider, YT3000. Fresh oil & filter, checked the spark plug, serviced prefilter, air filter was fine, greased zerks, new deck drive belt. Blades were fresh towards the end of summer, so they only needed to be touched up a bit. Coated mower deck and first tube for catcher with Fluid Film, a first for me, will see how/if it works with the wet spring grass.

 

[FLHCHAZ]

Put all the tools away and cleaned the bench. Waiting on the Fed Ex guys to bring parts for the Riviera project car

 

[Real_PhillBert]

I don’t envy you, drywall finishing is not my forte, I would rather pay a pro, better job and way less time.

You are absolutely correct.

I just find myself low on funds and high on time right now. Got it done, took me about 65 hours to complete. I'm at zero risk of being recruited by local drywall companies, but it's good enough.

 

[Real_PhillBert]

Interesting, I applaud your efforts (BTDT) but how did it pass final inspection without being taped? It would be a "fail" here unless it was an unattached building more than 30' from the house, I am assuming that this is an attached garage. Maybe it was one of those "drive by" inspections that I wish I could get.

I dont know enough about the codes to answer that question.

I know in this area a level 0 garage is pretty normal unless you specify otherwise.

 

[racecougar]

Welded up 11 pieces of steel into a transmission crossmember for the '73 Mustang build. It picks up the stock crossmember mounting points, uses a '73 Mustang transmission mount, and sets the 4R70W at a 3-degree down angle.

 

[Nofries]

I dont know enough about the codes to answer that question.

I know in this area a level 0 garage is pretty normal unless you specify otherwise.

Typically most code calls for drywall hung and joints taped on the shared wall of a garage and the house. this creates a "fire barrier" between the two. I've seen tons of homes with just the shared wall hung, garage is left with studs exposed.

 

[larry4406]

Typically most code calls for drywall hung and joints taped on the shared wall of a garage and the house. this creates a "fire barrier" between the two. I've seen tons of homes with just the shared wall hung, garage is left with studs exposed.

Correct the taping and spotting of nails is for fire rating.

Our new homes come standard with the garages taped and all the nails spotted. We offer the customer an option for finishing and painting the garage to match the standards of the interior of the home. We use 5/8" Type X drywall on the walls and the ceilings.

 

[LeonardY]

Some ******* thought he could do a silver paint job on a model after not building one in many many years...

There's a few runs. I'll need to do some sanding tomorrow and give it one last coat. Then put some clear on it.

Let it dry for about 3 days. Silver paint stays tacky longer than other colors.

 

[Real_PhillBert]

Typically most code calls for drywall hung and joints taped on the shared wall of a garage and the house. this creates a "fire barrier" between the two. I've seen tons of homes with just the shared wall hung, garage is left with studs exposed.

That must not be the case here, but I cant say for sure. I didnt have the basement finished, but they had to hang drywall on the ceiling of the basement for "fire code", again that drywall is a level 0, no taping.

Every single unfinished basement/garage I've been in has been the same.