Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

[BB767]

I think that anyone that takes his Anvil for a nightly walk shouldn't have any trouble handling that bench-top. Great work the bench is more of a piece of furniture and the quality of workmanship is unsurpassed.

Yea, what he said!!!!!!! Thanks dcm5652. I do have to admit to being a little curious what the top does weigh? The long top is 122" X 34" X 3" thick and the "L" is 66" X 34" X 3" thick, all hard maple @ 8% moisture content. Are there any tables out there to calculate weight based on that? Is anyone aware of any?


Thomas

 

[BB767]

creativedust - Is there such thing as clear powder coating or even the ability to powder coat stained wood? If not, he'll never consider it. Afterall, the grain of the wood is part of the beauty and character of the bench.

Chris

You are kidding aren't you Chris?? Juuuusssssst asking.

Thomas

 

[Stuart in MN]

Powder coating wood furniture: http://www.pprc.org/pubs/indpaint/powdercoat.pdf

 

[BB767]

Nice to see you have the noodle pool toys to install on the cables that hold the ramp door to help eliminate a possible tripping hazard or the clothsline effect.

Sharp eye D.J. A friend of mine's father fell over one of those cables a few years back and broke his shoulder. He was over 60 years old and sure didn't need that. I went out the next day and got them. They can be a real hazard.

Thomas

 

[creativedust]

You are kidding aren't you Chris?? Juuuusssssst asking.

Thomas

No thomas its a surprise she already took them to get them powdercoated

 

[BB767]

Powder coating wood furniture: http://www.pprc.org/pubs/indpaint/powdercoat.pdf

OK everyone. I make a solemn oath here and now to never, ever powder coat wood. I promise, honest, cross my heart and hope to.......... etc,etc................

What is the world coming to????????? What will they think of next?

Sad and shocked Thomas

 

[markviii]

I didn't bring up the powder coating of wood (specifically the bench)! Blame creativedust. I knew you wouldn't consider it, such less even be aware that it's possible.

Chris

 

[Nuts]

I was surprised also, had no idea they could powder coat wood. akkkk

It is a plastic World we live in.


Nuts

 

[BB767]

So the trailer was backed up to the main door...



... of the barn and everything was...



...unwrapped in preparation to move it. The short base and top and the long base and top, 4 major pieces make up the bench.




To keep it as light as possible, everything was removed from the bench; doors, drawers and shelves.



Note the blue airline running behind the top. That's holding the top out preventing the bench from being tucked into final position.



Now that it's roughly positioned I can mark where the top needs to be "relieved" to make room for the airline.



The "L" top in the distance is in position next to the wall, but you can see how much the long top is away from the wall until I finish relieving it. I'll also attach the backsplash just before it's slid into place. From this view this would make a great starting point for a model aircraft carrier deck perhaps?



The top extension past the end panel will be about what is seen here and will also...



...be the same on this end. The base was just roughly placed here. When done the top will extend about 1/4" to 1/2" beyond the base end panel.



This gives a pretty good idea how it will look when in placed. It nicely finishes this area of the barn I think. I expect I'll use Varathane with no stain for the top and Watco Danish oil with a light stain for the base. There's a lot of acreage to this bench and it'll take a while to apply and sand the several coats of finish necessary. But as you've seen throughout this thread I'm a fairly patient guy with a streak of stubbornness thrown in so.......stand by.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

...

It is a plastic World we live in.


Nuts

Not in the Restored 1930's Auto Shop world it isn't it.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

I didn't bring up the powder coating of wood (specifically the bench)! Blame creativedust. I knew you wouldn't consider it, such less even be aware that it's possible.

Chris

Yea, Don's a trouble maker for sure, always stirring the pot. Good thing he's so great at doing powder coating. Thanks Don!

Thomas

Home shortly Miss Chris.

 

[85cobraGT]

Hi Tom, Hi Chris...I have been an avid follower of your thread but have yet to post... so I will take this opportunity... Wouldn`t it be easier to just relocate that pesky airline....i`m sure i speak for others here who don`t want to you see you ruin that beautiful top after all the work you have put into it...

 

[miragesmack]

Well, I too have been reading this thread for weeks, but life is busy, so it's taking me awhile.

I am on page 64 at the moment. Just leaving this note here (in the future) for me to discover in a week or two.........or six! I am patient, no looking ahead for me. That way I don't have to sift back and forth trying to figure out what folks are talking about.

Nice read. When does the movie version come out?

 

[creativedust]

Yea, Don's a trouble maker for sure, always stirring the pot. Good thing he's so great at doing powder coating. Thanks Don!

Thomas

Home shortly Miss Chris.

Actually I think that 3bay started it all you already knew it was going to go south as your comment after his I did do my fair share to try to start trouble so I guess im guilty but wouldnt it look awesome in like a silver vein LMAO

 

[3bay]

Yep it was me, I'm guilty, but it was said tongue in cheek, I think Thomas at least got the humor!

I wouldn't touch a fine piece of wood like that with nothing other than several hand rubbed coats of tung oil.

 

[johno]

I've been very happy with sikkens cetol finishes.
Used it for years on doors windows in the Carib., always preferred it to varnish or urethanes.

 

[walt111]

The bench would never be cut for an air line. This bench is a work of ART.

Sacrilegious to cut in to the bench. As already been mentioned I would move the offending air line.

Just my one cent worth.
walt

 

[BB767]

Hi Tom, Hi Chris...I have been an avid follower of your thread but have yet to post... so I will take this opportunity... Wouldn`t it be easier to just relocate that pesky airline....i`m sure i speak for others here who don`t want to you see you ruin that beautiful top after all the work you have put into it...

The bench would never be cut for an air line. This bench is a work of ART.

Sacrilegious to cut in to the bench. As already been mentioned I would move the offending air line.

Just my one cent worth.
walt

Hi guys, at first I was just building a bench for use in the barn, no big deal to modify it to fit but now you've got me thinking about alternatives.

The airline comes down the wall and has to make that little jog...

...so it'll exit properly out here. It's primary purpose is to support my...

...pedestal Eco model 98 air meter. (It was made in 1953, same year as the model 97 in the other shop as it turns out)

This air line was installed long before interior plans had been finalized and the Barn Bench was conceived. Out right moving it really wouldn't work I'm afraid, but I might look at how it comes out of the "Tee" above it so it might be a tidier installation. But for what it's worth, I am also looking at alternatives to modifying the top. See, I've viewed the bench as a tool, mind you it turned out to be a very nice tool, but still a tool. I'd always envisioned having to relieve the top in some way to make room for the air line. But, well...maybe there's another way. At least I'm going to look into it before I do anything else. You have made me stop and at least look at alternative. As my son will tell you, I've never felt I had all the answers and am always open to different points of view. Thanks everyone for the input.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Actually I think that 3bay started it all you already knew it was going to go south as your comment after his I did do my fair share to try to start trouble so I guess im guilty but wouldnt it look awesome in like a silver vein LMAO

You know you're right Don, Rich can sometimes be a trouble maker too! But your comment about how awesome it would look in silver vein ain't helping any!

Thomas

 

[BB767]

...

I wouldn't touch a fine piece of wood like that with nothing other than several hand rubbed coats of tung oil.

I've been very happy with sikkens cetol finishes.
Used it for years on doors windows in the Carib., always preferred it to varnish or urethanes.

I like oil finishes also Rich. I prefer Watco Danish oil and have had great success with it over the years. Pieces I've done with it over 30 years ago still look terrific. Not sure how well it would hold up on the top however.

johno I'm not familiar sikkens cetol finish. I don't know how that might hold up either to various chemicals such as gasoline, brake fluid, carb cleaner etc. I've already talked to a couple of chemists and have ruled out some finishes. I'm still researching it for the butcher block top.

Thomas

 

[LeonardY]

But, well...maybe there's another way. At least I'm going to look into it before I do anything else. You have made me stop and at least look at alternative. Thomas

Just a suggestion.

Why not scribe another piece (4 quarter maple) that will allow you to have the airline pass through. Pushing out the bench the distance you need. It will be a bit of work but scribing it will keep items from being forever lost behind the bench. It's how I always fit a cabinet to a wall. It will give you a nice tight fit. I would also do it to at the end.

Best,

Leonard

 

[hobbitss]

Just a suggestion.

Why not scribe another piece (4 quarter maple) that will allow you to have the airline pass through. Pushing out the bench the distance you need. It will be a bit of work but scribing it will keep items from being forever lost behind the bench. It's how I always fit a cabinet to a wall. It will give you a nice tight fit. I would also do it to at the end.

Best,

Leonard

I was thinking the same thing... Your putting in a back splash, just make it a thick one and have the air line go through the back half of the back splash...

The weather is nice now, shouldn't you be outside rooting around in those older buildings for tools instead of playing inside a wood shop???

 

[BB767]

Just a suggestion.

Why not scribe another piece (4 quarter maple) that will allow you to have the airline pass through. Pushing out the bench the distance you need. It will be a bit of work but scribing it will keep items from being forever lost behind the bench. It's how I always fit a cabinet to a wall. It will give you a nice tight fit. I would also do it to at the end.

Best,

Leonard

I was thinking the same thing... Your putting in a back splash, just make it a thick one and have the air line go through the back half of the back splash...

The weather is nice now, shouldn't you be outside rooting around in those older buildings for tools instead of playing inside a wood shop???

Morton makes a neat foam filler that matches the wall profile.

Note the black line on the left side of the ceiling where the straight edge of the ceiling panels meet the contoured side wall.

A closer view here. That black line is a foam strip that matches the wall profile...

...they come in about 3' lengths and have an adhesive stripe on them.

They match the contour of the wall perfectly and fill in the space between the raised sections. Leonard, I think this is what you had in mind but this will serve the same purpose.

This what I had always planned on using on the back of the back splash to seal it to the wall. The airline protrudes out beyond the space of this filler so I might thicken the top of the back splash to take up that space, use wood blocks on the bottom of the base so it can't be pushed into the void...... I bet I can make it work, just have to re-examine it some more. Not done yet. Thanks guys.

Oh, BTW Joe, you are absolutely correct about the weather being nice. So I spent the day.........wait for it.........at the drag strip getting the Chevy II ready for the racing season.

Thomas

 

[BigAl62]

Wow, this is the first time I remember this post being pushed to the second page! We must post more often to remain on the first page! Tom, that is on heavy duty work bench. In another 80 years it will still be in use!

 

[BB767]

Wow, this is the first time I remember this post being pushed to the second page! We must post more often to remain on the first page! Tom, that is on heavy duty work bench. In another 80 years it will still be in use!

Well I guess I'm partly to blame BigAl. I'm still out at the shop daily when I'm not flying (or drag racing ), but not always doing anything noteworthy out there. Today for example, Cameron and I spent the day spraying roundup, picking up tree branches, weeding the ground cover, replacing light bulbs, detailing the Chevy pick up and mowing. Not glamorous, but still necessary and with 5 acres it does take some time to cover it all. Suppose to rain the next 3 days so we'll switch to inside work, like the Walker (finally!!) and start the finish work on the Barn Bench. I've got more old pictures and a video to post plus for Joe, some rooting around in the tool shed/lean-to but haven't had the time to do so as yet. You fellows do keep me motivated to keep posting so not to worry! Thanks everyone.

Thomas

 

[hobbitss]

Oh, BTW Joe, you are absolutely correct about the weather being nice. So I spent the day.........wait for it.........at the drag strip getting the Chevy II ready for the racing season.

Man does not live by work alone, there is also Racing...

I've got more old pictures and a video to post plus for Joe, some rooting around in the tool shed/lean-to but haven't had the time to do so as yet. You fellows do keep me motivated to keep posting so not to worry! Thanks everyone.

Thomas

Tools!!!!!

 

[BigAl62]

Tom, I wasn't complaining, just an observation. It's your post, do as you want, I'm just a guest here. BTW keep up the good work and post as you can, no need to kill yourself over anything! lol

 

[BB767]

Ok, since there might be some folks out there who actually enjoy the aircraft stuff in this thread, and I am after all a "commercial aviator" here's a view we get to see frequently but you guys in the back never do...

Our navigation systems are so accurate anymore we are frequently in the exact same airspace and these days are only separated by 1,000' vertical separation.

We now deliberately offset a mile from the middle of the airway at times (they are 4 nautical miles wide) to keep from getting in the wake turbulence from aircraft above. The only thing this has to do with my shop is when I'm flying and I'm all caught up with everything, this is the time I spend thinking about various aspects of a project out there. I created a list of "to do" items for the old shop when I started that project and it grew to 4 pages which I prioritized and slowly worked through. I'll post that list tomorrow if I remember to bring it home of course. So this is the view from my office so to speak where much of the planning work is done.

Just thought you'd like to know.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Tom, I wasn't complaining, just an observation. It's your post, do as you want, I'm just a guest here. BTW keep up the good work and post as you can, no need to kill yourself over anything! lol

I know that BigAl . Not to worry my friend. Thanks again for your interest in the goings on out here.

Thomas

 

[tig]

Ok, since there might be some folks out there who actually enjoy the aircraft stuff in this thread, and I am after all a "commercial aviator" here's a view we get to see frequently but you guys in the back never do...

Thomas

Flipping cool. I had no idea this was so common.

 

[BigAl62]

Ok, since there might be some folks out there who actually enjoy the aircraft stuff in this thread, and I am after all a "commercial aviator" here's a view we get to see frequently but you guys in the back never do...

Our navigation systems are so accurate anymore we are frequently in the exact same airspace and these days are only separated by 1,000' vertical separation.

We now deliberately offset a mile from the middle of the airway at times (they are 4 nautical miles wide) to keep from getting in the wake turbulence from aircraft above. The only thing this has to do with my shop is when I'm flying and I'm all caught up with everything, this is the time I spend thinking about various aspects of a project out there. I created a list of "to do" items for the old shop when I started that project and it grew to 4 pages which I prioritized and slowly worked through. I'll post that list tomorrow if I remember to bring it home of course. So this is the view from my office so to speak where much of the planning work is done.

Just thought you'd like to know.

Thomas

That looks like the view looking up in my front yard (only the landing gear is down)!

 

[reddog289]

I was gonna say looks like what flys over my garage departing DTW.

 

[BB767]

Ok, so why isn't the Walker finished??????? I'm still doing a little touch up polish here and there on it and fitting it in as I get a moment. The '64 Impala that Cameron is going to race this year is in need of a new clutch so we're getting that wrapped up this week.

Meanwhile, why isn't the Barn Bench finished?????????

As you can see, there it in the background (being protected from harm by the old "temporary bench" in front of it). While the clutch work is going on, the '64 is being carefully cradled by the new Rotary Lift in the barn.

These cars are an "X" frame design and I wasn't sure where the lifting points were with the new lift so I had the bright idea to consult the '64 Chevrolet shop manuel for that information. And there it was, proudly displayed in the shop manuel, a '64 Impala on a Rotary lift no less......problem was the Rotary lift was a drive on lift like the one in the old shop. They didn't have these modern 2 post lifts back when the shop manuel was written, duh!

Well we managed to solve that problem with some solid cherry, wood blocks in the front to clear the mufflers and got all the pieces/parts removed and cleaned up. Tomorrow it all goes back together with a new clutch and with any luck we won't have too many pieces left over!!

It's fun working with my son in both buildings, doing work that I had in mind 5 1/2 years ago when we embarked on this project. I wanted a shop to support my drag racing habit among others. The rest has just been a bonus.

Stand by please...

Thomas

 

[Brian R]

It's fun working with my son in both buildings, doing work that I had in mind 5 1/2 years ago when we embarked on this project. I wanted a shop to support my drag racing habit among others. The rest has just been a bonus.

Stand by please...

The bonus is for us! Thanks, Thomas.



Thomas[/QUOTE]

 

[willy3486]

Ok, since there might be some folks out there who actually enjoy the aircraft stuff in this thread, and I am after all a "commercial aviator" here's a view we get to see frequently but you guys in the back never do...

Just thought you'd like to know.

Thomas

YES!! As for me I absolutely love anything to do with aircraft. I love to see them. I would love to have the shell of one or part of one at my place. I always wanted part of the body and the cockpit area. I wanted to place it on my place and use it for a shop, I was going to call it the "fly by night "repair shop. Anyway I love them so anytime post them or if you have links to the insides or inner workings I for one would not object to seeing them.

 

[Warg]

YES!! As for me I absolutely love anything to do with aircraft. I love to see them. I would love to have the shell of one or part of one at my place. I always wanted part of the body and the cockpit area. I wanted to place it on my place and use it for a shop, I was going to call it the "fly by night "repair shop. Anyway I love them so anytime post them or if you have links to the insides or inner workings I for one would not object to seeing them.

Didn't they sell off the Concorde pretty cheaply when they retired them? I think I saw somewhere that you could have one for like $2 or so, provided that you collected it and didn't use it to fly with.
I was very, very tempted, but my mom and sis wouldn't let me have it in their back yard.

-Paul

 

[3bay]

Inspiring, family, friends and your health are the only real things in life...everything else is just icing on the cake!

 

[BB767]

Ok I'll admit it, airline pilots sometimes live in their own little world. A few days ago I said I would post the following list the next day. Well today is the next day.

I had now purchased the property, this was in 2005, and was getting ready to begin and this is a list of many of the items I identified that needed attention, restoration, added to, fixed, reviewed, researched, looked at and in general just done.

The stationary is some I got from my layover hotel in Sao Paulo, Brazil. So in addition to contemplating this project while flying, guess what I did on my layovers?? Notice item #13 "use old elec panel on Morton building". Even when I first started this project, I foresaw the building of the barn and had Morton in mind to build it even that early on.


Item #6 from the bottom "Stainless Steel wall panels by welding bench?"

In fact you'll note several references to Stainless Steel or S.S. on these lists.

These are just items that came to mind in no particular order. Some items were never done due to a change of plans. This was brainstorming at it's best. I'd think something up and see how plausible it might be once I got back home. I was constantly making a mental picture of what I had and what I wanted it to become.

Item #8 from bottom "install sound sys - shelf in Fab rm e wall"

Interesting to see how the reality was translated into from those brief notes.

I apologize for the poor presentation, but at the time I did these documents starting in fall/winter 2005 I didn't plan on ever posting this in a thread about the shop.

Item #11, "remove outside J W & R sign & restore- place in lift rm over old roof"

That was the Johnson Welding and Repair sign that's now in the lift room.

Item #10 from the bottom "Plan/construct replacement benches w/stainless tops? 10' long.

It just seems so easy to just write it down and it'll happen.

Of course it started with a single page and just grew. It was my punch list of "to do" items. There are only really a couple left to be done and I'm waiting on those since I'm not sure I'm going to do them. Still taking a "wait and see" attitude.

Those lists went hand in hand with this crude floor plan I sketched on the back of a Purchase Requisition form I found in the shop. Since I still couldn't walk inside the shop due to the rather "disorganized state", the measurements were taken from outside the building. This was helpful to again visualize what was to come and organize in my mind the future layout.


BTW, I did that last bit of polish/touch up on the Walker floor jack today. All that's left is to reassemble. It's number next on my current "to do list".

Thomas

 

[BB767]

YES!! As for me I absolutely love anything to do with aircraft. I love to see them. I would love to have the shell of one or part of one at my place. I always wanted part of the body and the cockpit area. I wanted to place it on my place and use it for a shop, I was going to call it the "fly by night "repair shop. Anyway I love them so anytime post them or if you have links to the insides or inner workings I for one would not object to seeing them.

Yea, its for people like you willy3486 that I post the odd aviation material. A little peek into my "work" world.

Great name for a business BTW!

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Didn't they sell off the Concorde pretty cheaply when they retired them? I think I saw somewhere that you could have one for like $2 or so, provided that you collected it and didn't use it to fly with.
I was very, very tempted, but my mom and sis wouldn't let me have it in their back yard.

-Paul

Paul I cannot for the life of me, fathom why they wouldn't want that in their very own backyard. Truly hard to believe. I feel your pain!

Thomas