What did you do "IN" your garage today?

[rd65]

Nailed it. It also keeps the cords from getting stressed, and failing. When you have a large investment in cabling, and use it on a daily basis this is important. I have HI-Z cables that are 40+ years old, and still work fine.

but could you get 40 years out of a cord purchased today even with correct use/storage? I am guessing no.

 

[niget2002]

3d printed some small decorative shelves for a diorama my daughter is having to do for school. I offered to print some other stuff for her, but she's doing all those out of cardboard.

 

[Rsharp66]

Finished most of my MGB GT interior strip and getting started on the dash board removal

 

[Just Puttering]

Today in the shop, I changed the 2 flywheel bearings in my bike trainer for the second time in two weeks.



First time I ordered from the usual Jungle store online place for everything. Description said SKF bearings & showed proper SKF box, bearing image showed SKF engraving. What showed up was some made in China HiPicco branded bearings. They looked ok & felt smooth. Since the original Chinese NBK factory installed bearings lasted 5 years, I wasn't too worried about them. Spent two hours installing them and they were very noisy but working.

Two weeks later they sounded like they were grinding themselves to pieces.

Second time I sourced proper SKF bearings from an industrial supplier. Another 1½ hours to do the second install and they are blissfully quiet



Breaking apart and examining the **** bearings showed an inner race looking rough with some visible porosity. The outer race showed it to be literally breaking apart where the radial load from the drive belt was highest. This was after only 8 rides of approx 45 minutes each.

I learned my lesson. No more off brand bearings for me!!!

 

[kaymccampbell]

Looked at the Ender. It's still printing.

 

[SMOKEYBEAR]

Swapped out the o-ring on the upper radiator hose. Old one was pretty flat. No more leak.

Completed some of my best work on the cold side charge pipe. It's just a bandaid, I may need it for one excursion this weekend, I turned the boost/tune down to give it it's best chance of survival. Light was coming through both cracks. The new cold and hot side are scheduled to arrive Tuesday from HS Performance.

Sanded and wire wheeled the head of the drill press. I was going to do a final de-grease outside, but everything is frozen. It's in my spare bathroom waiting for the Simple Green to thaw out.

Pictures no order

 

[Beerhippie]

One month and eight days after going on the lift, she's back on her own wheels! Purrs like a kitten.

I was a mite bit trepidacious with all the work I did while she was in Rocky's shop without a test drive. My usual motto is "change one thing and test". I got lucky, I think. I only drove the quarter-mile between shops. Tomorrow will be the first test and the start of the break0in period for the newly rebuilt transaxle. I only had to tighten one hose clamp, so far.

Lots of work still to do....

 

[dscheidt]

Each loop is twisted opposite to the previous loop.

Hold end in your left hand. Pull a loop in with your right hand, and twist it away from you as you add it to your left. Pull the next loop in, and twist it toward you as you add it to your left hand. Repeat until the whole cord is coiled.

When dropped on the floor and one end is pulled, it will uncoil without tangling and will lay flat and straight without trying to coul up again. You can see the advantage to this in guitar cables, microphone cables, etc..

Topologically, it is the same as a figure 8 folded in half. It’s the least twist inducing way to coil a cord. I’ve worked with super high speed cables that would be ruined if you coiled them any other way. They had some super low capacitance to have better resistance to interference, and twisting them changed it. The cable you use to hook your camera to a computer is about 2 orders of magnitude faster than those were.

My wife shares the cord tangling affliction, and can tangle an extension cord just by carrying it. She’s started flaking out the garden hose, because she got sick of knots.

 

[oldman_pottering]

Melt a puddle of solder on the SA block and rasp the flats of the tip into it. the SA is a "Flux" if you will, for getting the solder deep into the copper.

ohhh, I see
I thought it was because I was doing it wrong and it turns out I was right
I was doing it wrong

 

[M.Brane]

but could you get 40 years out of a cord purchased today even with correct use/storage? I am guessing no.

Depends on which cords you buy. Good things are rarely cheap these days if you can find them.

 

[M.Brane]

One month and eight days after going on the lift, she's back on her own wheels! Purrs like a kitten.

I was a mite bit trepidacious with all the work I did while she was in Rocky's shop without a test drive. My usual motto is "change one thing and test". I got lucky, I think. I only drove the quarter-mile between shops. Tomorrow will be the first test and the start of the break0in period for the newly rebuilt transaxle. I only had to tighten one hose clamp, so far.

Lots of work still to do....

That's awesome dude! I hope she gives you miles of smiles.

 

[ObnoxiousFumes]

When dropped on the floor and one end is pulled, it will uncoil without tangling and will lay flat and straight without trying to coul up again. You can see the advantage to this in guitar cables, microphone cables, etc..

It also means you can throw it like a stagehand, and watch it uncoil in the air, which is very satisfying

 

[Beerhippie]

It also means you can throw it like a stagehand, and watch it uncoil in the air, which is very satisfying

Same can be said for a "hailing coil" of line. The line is coiled so that each loop is slightly smaller than the one before, so when thrown, it can't tangle. Rock climbers use it as do sailors. More line can be stacked on the deck, with overlapping loops so it will follow the rest.

 

[Mike65]

Not today but yesterday. After our weekly food shopping trip & getting Chinese food for our next three days of dinners we put my wife's Bronco Sport in the garage. Then my F150 gets the carport.

 

[gearhead1960]

Not today but yesterday. After our weekly food shopping trip & getting Chinese food for our next three days of dinners we put my wife's Bronco Sport in the garage. Then my F150 gets the carport.

....in time for the next weather event!

 

[pancholasvegas]

Had a bit of time in the shop last night - Figured it was time to rip the Bandaid off and start figuring out what to do about the license plate / roll pan section. This piece is trashed - there are no donors available, nor accurate panels available from any of the guys in the Econoline community.

Little difficult to see with the tailgate affixed in this photo, but you can see that it is a bit worse for wear, to say the least.



I started by cutting along the spot welds holding the top section flange to the bed floor. Worked all the way to the passenger side to the edge of the flange. From there, there are some small stitches that needed to be cut open. Below the red arrow on the right side, is a stitch that holds the corner section of the bed to the flange of the roll pan. It had rotted out above that stitch, so the cut was made above that.



Looking from the rear, there are a couple more small stitches to cut.



Alternative view



Those stitches were cut, along with a few additional plunges to release the panel from the bed and body.





Flip it over and start removing the guts and everything that isn’t the panel we want.



Freeing up these spot welded flanges from the roll pan backer, bed, and other connection points.



I’ll finish getting all of the remaining flanges off this panel - and then start taking measurements to make a new one.

Hopefully be able to make my final panel weld this weekend as well, but when I hear overtime at the day job i come running, so we’ll see.

 

[imperialman67]

Here are the 4 pinballs and links to some of the details of them.

Basement is in disarray with the ongoing master bath project. I hope to reset up the basement afterwards and get them back in service. I think I have the schematics for most of them. I bought them for $150 each back around 1995 time frame except I was given the Williams Stardust by a relative. She had bought it from the same outlet I did also at the same time. After her kids went to college and they downsized, I was given it.

They all play, but some have issues. There is/was a guy local to me that works on them for a reasonable fee; he serviced them last for me 10+ years ago but to my knowledge is still around. Also, a coworker of mine is into these and restores them as a hobby; I have not asked him to futz with mine.

Bally Aladdin's Castle - 1976

https://pinside.com/pinball/machine/aladdins-castle

Williams Space Odyssey - 1976

Space Odyssey Pinball Machine (Williams, 1976) | Pinside Game Archive

Find out everything about Space Odyssey (Williams, 1976) pinball machine; General game details, ratings and reviews, photos, videos, high scores, places to play and find machines currently for sale on our market place.

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Williams Stardust - 1971

Stardust Pinball Machine (Williams, 1971) | Pinside Game Archive

Find out everything about Stardust (Williams, 1971) pinball machine; General game details, ratings and reviews, photos, videos, high scores, places to play and find machines currently for sale on our market place.

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Chicago Coin Casino - 1972

Casino Pinball Machine (Chicago Coin, 1972) | Pinside Game Archive

Find out everything about Casino (Chicago Coin, 1972) pinball machine; General game details, ratings and reviews, photos, videos, high scores, places to play and find machines currently for sale on our market place.

pinside.com

Nice! Back in the day my brother and I couldn't shovel our quarters into Williams Paddock fast enough. I'm thinking 1968-69.

 

[bustedcrawler]

Started playing with the 3D Scanner to get a feel for how to use it, how it likes parts, and how to run the software.

 

[WisJim]

Finished most of my MGB GT interior strip and getting started on the dash board removal

I almost bought a new MGB-GT in 1970 or so, but decided I couldn't afford it at the time--spending too much money on cameras and motorcycles then. Later, probably in the 1990 I did buy an MGB that was rough but then resold it when I had too many other projects. A few years after that someone local had a nice MGB-GT for sale and I looked at it and finally decided "no" again. I do wish I kept the MGA that I had in the mid1970s. It ran, had a solid body and I paid $100 for it. Sold it later when I moved out of an apartment to another one with no room for an extra car.

 

[gearhead1960]

When I was in the UK in the late 70’s I admired the MG V8 (Buick 215ci mill) models from a distance. Always thought that would be a cool car….

 

[kaymccampbell]

Loaded the dumbwaiter with groceries. Pulled the plinth print off the Ender.

 

[Upstater57]

Wiped down this 2002 MXZ 500F, took some pictures and posted it for sale. Since posting it, I’ve had 3 replies but now I’m not sure I can let it go even though nobody uses it.

Nice sled in nice shape! Unless you need the space it takes up, or need the cash, I'd keep it if looking at it makes you happy.

 

[LanceMc]

Got a box of socket rails from Ernst so I did a little bit of socket polishing and organizing.


^^ These 1/2” sets above are all used sockets I’ve purchased from GJ members and a few from eBay

 

[Beerhippie]

Trans oil temp gauge. Lights when the headlights are on, dims with the instrument panel.

Why don't fusebox maps in manuals ever correspond to the the actual fusebox? Why do they make blade fuses interchangeable? Since the map and fuse designations don't seem to have any basis in reality, I'm not certain that some of the fuses are the wrong amperage--but pretty sure they are. Mostly 15A fuses where the manual says a 10A should be, so probably not catastrophic, but....

 

[SweetD]

Getting ready for the reseal portion of this outboard lower unit. Waiting on the upper bearing housing, hopefully delivered tomorrow. No rush really, boat's not going in the water any time soon! I really like how my vise can hold this "fixture", it's perfect for holding the work.

 

[DGersic]

Working on my Time Machine.

One of the unusual features of the Zaccaria pinball machines is their use of vacuum formed plastics. The big three US manufacturers used flat screen printed butyrate plastics, which are easily broken and hard to replace. So, upping anti, it’s not flat, it’s even thinner, even easier to break, and replacement is even harder.

When I restored this game years ago, I combined three games, keeping the best for myself. This plastic, best of the three, was broken off, and everything to the left of the hole by the brush was missing. I created / grafted in a repair, hand painting the missing artwork. I’m no Bob Ross, but I think it came out pretty good.




Ball impacts chipped the paint at the tip.




I got my brushes and paints out. A little “bonding primer”.




A bit of paint.

 

[GreenIron]

Got the 16' utility trailer ready for my neighbor to use.
Backed the trailer into the shop.
Remove one tire/wheel for repair(slow leak, sheet metal screw ).
Carried the suspect to Discount Tire for a free repair.
Reinstalled it and check pressure in the other 3(plus the spare).
Checked all lights, then greased the hubs, tongue jack and hitch coupler.
She's now ready for a road trip today.

 

[bugnut]

Listened to the snow melt off the Kubota, fiddled with a drawing in sketchup. Flathead screws arrived, so I was able to do final assembly of deer feeder assemblies. Opened a couple ebay arrivals with Craftsman sockets and then quick inventory of 3d printer filament.

 

[Upstater57]

Working on this machine. It's a 1930's pencil labeling machine. I removed the guards and the electrical controls. This will become a piece of industrial art. This machine was operating by people who are blind and made pencils. This machine labeling the pencils with a gold film. Other machines put the eraser on the end. It's a lot of machine for one small job. LOL. It labeled millions of pencils from the 1930's through the 1990's. Still operated when I pulled it out of storage. Once finished it will be a monument recognizing people that work and have worked in blind industries.

 

[Upstater57]

Working on this machine. It's a 1930's pencil labeling machine. I removed the guards and the electrical controls. This will become a piece of industrial art. This machine was operating by people who are blind and made pencils. This machine labeling the pencils with a gold film. Other machines put the eraser on the end. It's a lot of machine for one small job. LOL. It labeled millions of pencils from the 1930's through the 1990's. Still operated when I pulled it out of storage. Once finished it will be a monument recognizing people that work and have worked in blind industries.

I know the members of this esteemed forum will appreciate knowing that I am only using vintage Plomb, SK, and Utica tools in its disassembly.

 

[DGersic]

This machine was operating by people who are blind and made pencils. This machine labeling the pencils with a gold film. Other machines put the eraser on the end. It's a lot of machine for one small job.

That’s neat. I’d like to see it run.

 

[larry4406]

Working on this machine. It's a 1930's pencil labeling machine. I removed the guards and the electrical controls. This will become a piece of industrial art. This machine was operating by people who are blind and made pencils. This machine labeling the pencils with a gold film. Other machines put the eraser on the end. It's a lot of machine for one small job. LOL. It labeled millions of pencils from the 1930's through the 1990's. Still operated when I pulled it out of storage. Once finished it will be a monument recognizing people that work and have worked in blind industries.

I hope that will be on display somewhere.

 

[esben57]

Carrying on from #75,592
Took the VW polo to auto electrician who diagnosed the airbag control module faulty. He closed for the holidays and a few weeks ago had another look. Two days and a used module, the damned thing would not code to the car. Took it away along with the original module.
Had a trawl and found a place 50 miles away, sent it off but they were unable to test it.
Now then. They gave it to DHL to bring it back who brought it to the Depot near me. Then sent it to Newquay. Newquay is 300 miles away.
Eventually got it back and found Airbag team just a few miles away. They cured the internal fault in minutes. Wished I'd known of these earlier.
So today I've took some of the interior out of the VW and swapped the modules over. The chap at airbag team will code it to the car or clear the fault code FOC - Monday.
If you need any airbag repairs in the UK try Airbag Team

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[Upstater57]

I hope that will be on display somewhere.

It will be installed as a monument next summer. I will post a pic when it is at its new home.

 

[Beerhippie]

This machine was operating by people who are blind and made pencils.

When I first started working for the USFS a few decades ago, all of our pencils, pens and headlamps were made by American Industries for the Blind. Not to be too crude, but it did leave me wondering about QC....

All the exposed moving parts of that machine also make me cringe when I imagine sightless people working with them. OSHA would have a cow if they saw sighted people working with something like that.

 

[SMOKEYBEAR]

Used a heated work space at work for some painting for the drill press project. It was going to be on hold here at the house for weeks based on the forecast. Came out as good as I needed it to. The head piece is drying now with the light blue, it will get some navy blue as well.
I may do a little reassembly later this even or tomorrow.

New AGM batteries in the Excursion to replace 4 year old Napa wet cells. The cold took the last bit of life out of them, had to use 2 Noco GB 150s to get it to go

 

[Outlawmws]

Used a heated work space at work for some painting for the drill press project. It was going to be on hold here at the house for weeks based on the forecast.

Large cardboard box and a clamp on lamp and heat lamp makes for a decent "spray booth", and keeps things warm enough to paint and cure in cold weather.

 

[Upstater57]

When I first started working for the USFS a few decades ago, all of our pencils, pens and headlamps were made by American Industries for the Blind. Not to be too crude, but it did leave me wondering about QC....

All the exposed moving parts of that machine also make me cringe when I imagine sightless people working with them. OSHA would have a cow if they saw sighted people working with something like that.

I cannot speak for the old days, but today most blind industries are ISO certified and many have optical QC. I believe QC was performed by sighted people back in the day. The machine in the picture had dozens of metal guards around the moving parts. Special jigs and other safeguards are engineered into most blind labor operations with a severe amount of orientation mobility training and oversight for blind employees. There is far fewer lost time injuries for the blind verses sighted people. I know of blind people operating CNC milling machines and other machine operations. The work ethic of blind people is incredible. I do know they are not allowed to drive the forklift. LOL

 

[Beerhippie]

I cannot speak for the old days, but today most blind industries are ISO certified and many have optical QC. I believe QC was performed by sighted people back in the day. The machine in the picture had dozens of metal guards around the moving parts. Special jigs and other safeguards are engineered into most blind labor operations with a severe amount of orientation mobility training and oversight for blind employees. There is far fewer lost time injuries for the blind verses sighted people. I know of blind people operating CNC milling machines and other machine operations. The work ethic of blind people is incredible. I do know they are not allowed to drive the forklift. LOL

I was thinking of back in the "good ol' days" when safety was entirely up to the operator--I've worked with old industrial machinery that had reciprocating, rotating, spinning, etc. gears, grabbers whatever right out in the operator area where great care had to be taken to keep yourself and clothing out of the works. Giant stamping mills driven by overhead belts connected to fifteen-foot flywheels that were directly connected to the stamp mill--all you could do to stop that monster was disconnect the drive belt, after which it took five minutes for the machine to actually stop. We had a World Tandem labeling machine here at the brewery long ago--WWI vintage--that was pure terror to even watch others working around. Amazingly, only one employee ever went to the hospital due to that.

Just thinking that if enabled employees were treated with such disregard, how were the "lowest" of our society treated? People who, in those days, would be considered "wards of the state".

 

[DGersic]

All the exposed moving parts of that machine also make me cringe when I imagine sightless people working with them. OSHA would have a cow if they saw sighted people working with something like that.

He did say that he removed all of the safety guards to expose the workings.