D Force
Well-known member
It seems to me this makes practical sense to me. Is there a safety issue involved?
Reorganization, it's like a renovation.
- Thread starter GirlnAgarage
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It seems to me this makes practical sense to me. Is there a safety issue involved?
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GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
I'll have a look at moving the sensors. Thanks for the idea. The car in there is a tight squeeze front to back. I figure DH will hit my shelves at least once as well as scrape the bumper with the door.
In Japan our garage had the cement bump stops on the floor similar to those in parking lots. They did awesome for parking placement. What I didn't like was constantly tripping over the things. I might stick a couple dune buggy flags (cut to ~3' or 4') in a little base material and place them along the car body lines as it sits in the garage. Maybe one on the right front quarter and one at the mirror. Draw the location on the floor with a Sharpie so the flags are moveable and they're light enough they won't damage the car. These will be parking aids. Of course, I have a better solution but it would start an argument
rickairmedic
Well-known member
You could solve the parking situation the way I did " although it might start a fight " 
. I simply stated " if it runs and drives it goes in the " driveway " " .
Rick
. I simply stated " if it runs and drives it goes in the " driveway " " .Rick
OP
GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
You could solve the parking situation the way I did " although it might start a fight "
Rick
Looks like we think alike
Alchymist
Well-known member
Park the vehicle in the garage positioned exactly where you want it. Then suspend a tennis ball on a string so that it just touches the windshield at a convenient point - bottom center, or at rear view mirror mount, etc. Next time just pull in and drive up to tennis ball. Presto - instant position.
mdbeck1
Well-known member
I did this for SWMBFAO with a twist. I put an eye bolt in the ceiling and tied the tennis ball to a piece of string with a washer on the UP side of the eye bolt. Then I closed the garage door and tied the other end of the string to another eyebolt on the top of the garage door (with the ball pulled ALL THE WAY UP). Now when the garage door is OPEN the ball can help place the car. When the door is CLOSED the ball is out of the way.
The inspiration was getting tired of running into the tennis ball with the garage door down and no car in the garage.
I need a picture of this! What I'm thinking of as how you did this would require 16' of string for an 8' door.
Help!
FD
mdbeck1
Well-known member
No pics. ...and I took i down a few years ago. We had too much junk stacked in the garage to get the cars in there. I'm slowly getting to the point where I can get a single vehicle back in there (two car garage).
Mike's steps to a mobile car stop....
1. Get a tennis ball.
2. Put a nail or piece of metal through the tennis ball and make a loop on one end.
3. Figure out where you want the tennis ball to contact the vehicle windshield
4. Place a eye bolt above the point on the ceiling (affix appropriately).
5. Run a piece of string through the eye down to the tennis ball and tie it to the tennis ball.
6. Tie a washer to the string so that the tennis ball hangs at the right place.
7. Affix a second eye bolt to the top of the garage door.
8. Close the garage door
9. Tie the string to the washer (again)
10. Run the string through the eye bolt installed in step 7 and pull the tennis ball up until it almost touches the eye bolt in step 4. Tie the string off.
11. Open the garage door and watch the ball come down.
12. Close the garage door and watch the ball go up.
13. Have a beer and repeat steps 11 and 12 until you feel good (you might even pull the car in (but not with the beer close by)).
14. Show the new mobile tennis ball to SWMBFAO and watch her roll her eyes at you (but she will use it).
I hope this helps...
...and YES it will take 16-30 feet of string. Basically the distance from the windshield to the garage door.
Thank you. Makes two us!
Thanks! It is...both 06s - a 5.7 Hemi and a Cummins. I see you're a Dodge man? Calibers?
Nice. Yeah i have a Caliber (my sig is an old photoshop pic i made) My parents have a new caravan too. We've been Chrysler vehicles since 1990. I'm looking at a new charger now actually.
Like your progress so far.
I'm thinking about re-building my garage soon. And doing a couple (or more) dump runs. What better way to test out the new van?
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iatros
Well-known member
I ended getting a laser-guided garage parking aid. I think it was $15 on Amazon. There are a ton of them online for diff prices. Works perfectly, and c'mon.. it's a LASER in your garage!
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Your garage project is coming along nicely! What kind of work do you plan on doing at the work bench? you mentioned writing, I'm assuming that would be at the center dropped section?
I got in the habit of topping my work shop benches with Formica kitchen counter top. even new it's not expensive, but you can also watch C-List for a remodel cast off. It is smooth, reasonably flat, normally has a "drip edge" bump in the front that helps keep things from rolling off too much, and it has a back splash to keep you from losing thing down the back side of the bench.
Ladder storage was mentioned, I second hanging the extension ladder near the ceiling next to a wall. if the wall space is at a premium, you can also do it near the center (Mine is, along with several fascia boards I permanently mounted my Xmas lights to and all I have to do is hang 5 of these boards and plug them in together...)
I think the 6 ft folder might hang on the end of the left most shelf where the wall sticks out; handy, but out of the way and you lose no wall space.
I got in the habit of topping my work shop benches with Formica kitchen counter top. even new it's not expensive, but you can also watch C-List for a remodel cast off. It is smooth, reasonably flat, normally has a "drip edge" bump in the front that helps keep things from rolling off too much, and it has a back splash to keep you from losing thing down the back side of the bench.
Ladder storage was mentioned, I second hanging the extension ladder near the ceiling next to a wall. if the wall space is at a premium, you can also do it near the center (Mine is, along with several fascia boards I permanently mounted my Xmas lights to and all I have to do is hang 5 of these boards and plug them in together...)
I think the 6 ft folder might hang on the end of the left most shelf where the wall sticks out; handy, but out of the way and you lose no wall space.
OP
GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
Thank you.
This is a garage workbench so it'll see home projects, truck stuff and random anything. I'm definitely not a writer. I mentioned "writing utensils" because I normally have a pencil, Sharpie, pen, scissors, tape and those kind of desk type tools as my first reach.
The top of my workbench is going to be layered to ~1.5" with the top being birch like I have in my work work room. I was watching a show late night and got the bright idea to do a dark stain on my wood tops. So I might do a test spot and see how it comes out. The bench frame I'll paint to the dark green to match the rest. With my colors I think I'll have an Irish pub soon
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GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
I think I've decided that I want sheet metal drawers on my bench here. Looks like I'll be building a table top press brake. You know, this garage thing is a scam. I'm creating my own expenses. Buy the time I'm done with this bench I'll have probably close $300 into it. (I'm at $113 now). What's allowed me to splurge a little bit is in the past month or so our income has seen a few big promotions and bonuses which are taking care if that big HVAC cost that happened at the beginning of this build and we'll be taking off both vehicle payments early. Talk about blessings!
I might go grab some angle iron today. I'm thinking a 4'er on my small bench.
I might go grab some angle iron today. I'm thinking a 4'er on my small bench.
OP
GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
Well how sad is that? My metal supply place shut down. I pull in and there was 'we're closing' sign on the door. I go inside and chat with a guy there. He said they were in the process of liquidating and then they'd be shutting doors. I asked if they were liquidating to anyone that walked in the front door? The guy chuckled and said they sold to a liquidation company.
Now I gotta find another supply shop. That *****, I liked that place. No angle iron for me today. Instead I got to burn diesel, fight lunchtime-of-a-holiday-weekend-plus construction traffic
Now I gotta find another supply shop. That *****, I liked that place. No angle iron for me today. Instead I got to burn diesel, fight lunchtime-of-a-holiday-weekend-plus construction traffic
Red Leader
Well-known member
A scam it is. I originally just wanted to put up paper-backed insulation. Next thing I know I join GJ and go crazy.
You are very innovative seem to have a wide range of talents! I have yet to get into the metalworking/welding thing but I'm trying to avoid it as long as possible for my budget's sake. But I guess some would say why delay the inevitable?
That workbench is also looking good. Will be one of the next project I attempt in the 1950s Craftsman Garage. Can't believe I haven't commented in this thread before. Keep up your great work!
rickairmedic
Well-known member
Well how sad is that? My metal supply place shut down. I pull in and there was 'we're closing' sign on the door. I go inside and chat with a guy there. He said they were in the process of liquidating and then they'd be shutting doors. I asked if they were liquidating to anyone that walked in the front door? The guy chuckled and said they sold to a liquidation company.
Now I gotta find another supply shop. That *****, I liked that place. No angle iron for me today. Instead I got to burn diesel, fight lunchtime-of-a-holiday-weekend-plus construction traffic
Well if it makes ya feel any better I swung by one of my steel suppliers a little after 3PM today to grab a small piece of steel rod ( their hours are M-F 8-5 ) . Sign on the front door says we bolted at 3 today see ya on the 6th
. Now I have to wait till tuesday for that project.Rick
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GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
A scam it is. I originally just wanted to put up paper-backed insulation. Next thing I know I join GJ and go crazy.
You are very innovative seem to have a wide range of talents! I have yet to get into the metalworking/welding thing but I'm trying to avoid it as long as possible for my budget's sake. But I guess some would say why delay the inevitable?
Can't believe I haven't commented in this thread before. Keep up your great work!
I appreciate the kind words. Yup, it all started with I just followed a link from another site and then I found another expense.
I completely abuse the DIY thing. I look at it as investing in my education. If I never jump in and try it I won't ever learn or get skilled at it. I want to say I'm a jack of all trades but I don't because the follow up is of 'master of none'. I refuse to believe a person can be so varied in skill that they can master none. It just doesn't work that way in the body's cognitive and physical skills department. I'd like to b an example of that.
Metalworking is another money pit (you should try it). I'm not even in deep and I have a handful of things I need to get done (you probably do too. You should try it). All in good time (Now. You should try it). Oh, I also want a third welder = $$$$ (you should get one)
Well if it makes ya feel any better I swung by one of my steel suppliers a little after 3PM today to grab a small piece of steel rod ( their hours are M-F 8-5 ) . Sign on the front door says we bolted at 3 today see ya on the 6th
Rick
Dang Rick, I figured that would be me. It would have been nice if that were the case, closed early instead of closed for good. No. It does not make me feel better!
What are you working on?rickairmedic
Well-known member
Howdy Girl actually I only needed a 6" piece of 2" round bar to make a die holder for my lathe ( in order to finish another project ) funny how one little project can morph into multiple projects aint it . Your place is looking great by the way . I agree we need to get RL into some metalwork . I do have several metal suppliers here in town but the one I went to is pretty good about having small drops available " cheap " the other main yard I go to prefers to sell full 20+ foot sticks .
Rick
actually I only needed a 6" piece of 2" round bar to make a die holder for my lathe ( in order to finish another project ) funny how one little project can morph into multiple projects aint it . Your place is looking great by the way . I agree we need to get RL into some metalwork . I do have several metal suppliers here in town but the one I went to is pretty good about having small drops available " cheap " the other main yard I go to prefers to sell full 20+ foot sticks .Rick
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OP
GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
Howdy Girl
Rick
Definitely the way projects grow branches. My DH said he sees right through it. He knows what I'm up to
I'm kind of nervous about going to a different supplier (both I'm looking at are bigger). Like yours mine was a smaller outfit and I could dig through their scrap bins. Guess I'll have to turn on the girl charm and get a little gussied up before heading over so I can make a good first impression
rickairmedic
Well-known member
My bigger supplier does have a drop rack in the back that I have gotten some good deals off of . I usualy go to the smaller outfit for small pieces or odball items such as the 4' of 1/2" brass hex I picked up over there a few weeks ago . The larger supplier would not have had a drop like that just laying around.
Rick
Rick
OP
GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
Worked a little yesterday and today just to do stuff. I wanted leg levelers on my table so I decided to make them. I know, spent more on time than it would cost to buy them, but sometimes you got to practice fabbing and building if you ever want to get good at fabbing and building. I enjoy the work so I do it.
The leg levelers are just a bolt screwed into a nut welded to a modified washer. Pretty simple. I have several bins and buckets full of nuts, bolts and washers that I save 'just in case I can use them for something later'. Well this is one of those somethings later. Use them or get hoarded out.
Anyway, pics...
Pieces, put together, and nut welded
This how I set up to weld the nut. Clamping small items to ground is easy this way. Look! I got the small vise mounted.
Hole drilled and leveler in place. Hammer it in and it's good to go.
I only got three out of eight done. I ran out of fluxcore wire. I can either go buy a new 2lb roll or try to transfer some fro the big 10lb roll I've been hoarding (that my machine won't run). The projects grows more arms. Only went with two barbs instead of three or four. Eh, if they fall out I'll redo it.
For goofs I built a straight line jig for my circular saw. Got the line for the motor side. The blade side jig was done in anticipation for cutting sheet metal. Since I have one hand to use the circular saw it must apply pressure down, forward and laterally against the jig while trying to keep the blade straight and flat. With both jigs in place I only have to focus on forward and down. It's just a little safer and makes my cuts straighter. I'll have a bottom piece to serve as the blade track. This will let me cut full sheets of material on the floor instead of doing a balancing act on tables or saw horses and such.
This was put together with leftovers from the wall shelves so, no cost here.
The leg levelers are just a bolt screwed into a nut welded to a modified washer. Pretty simple. I have several bins and buckets full of nuts, bolts and washers that I save 'just in case I can use them for something later'. Well this is one of those somethings later. Use them or get hoarded out.
Anyway, pics...
Pieces, put together, and nut welded
This how I set up to weld the nut. Clamping small items to ground is easy this way. Look! I got the small vise mounted.
Hole drilled and leveler in place. Hammer it in and it's good to go.
I only got three out of eight done. I ran out of fluxcore wire. I can either go buy a new 2lb roll or try to transfer some fro the big 10lb roll I've been hoarding (that my machine won't run). The projects grows more arms.
Only went with two barbs instead of three or four. Eh, if they fall out I'll redo it.For goofs I built a straight line jig for my circular saw. Got the line for the motor side. The blade side jig was done in anticipation for cutting sheet metal. Since I have one hand to use the circular saw it must apply pressure down, forward and laterally against the jig while trying to keep the blade straight and flat. With both jigs in place I only have to focus on forward and down. It's just a little safer and makes my cuts straighter. I'll have a bottom piece to serve as the blade track. This will let me cut full sheets of material on the floor instead of doing a balancing act on tables or saw horses and such.
This was put together with leftovers from the wall shelves so, no cost here.
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mdbeck1
Well-known member
Good for you...
Those look like the "T-Nuts" that you can buy commercially.
I made some "leg levelers" years ago. Took some short pieces of 1/4" plate, drilled and tapped a 3/8-16 in the center and added two 1/4" holes on the outside. Then I could just bolt them into those pesky 4X4 legs....
Good idea. I wouldn't have thought of that one...
A minor suggestion.... Either make a guard to run on the cutting edge of the jig (to keep the saw from cutting the jig) OR put a thin board on the off-side to keep the saw from cutting your jig. I've found that makes working full sheets easier. ...oh, and I do my plywood cutting on sawhorses... Just put three 2X4s UNDER the plywood. Yeah, the boards may get cut but I don't have to walk around on my knees on the ground.
OP
GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
That's a pretty solid idea for the leg levelers you did. I've got some 1.5" and 2" wide 3/16" strap that I'll tap if these Tnuts don't cut it. KISS
This is the first time I welded standing up at a table. Since I don't have a welding table I'm always on the floor. I figured out really quick why I wear the nomex suit when I weld. Also why its important to wear pants with pull on work boots and not shorts
This is the first time I welded standing up at a table. Since I don't have a welding table I'm always on the floor. I figured out really quick why I wear the nomex suit when I weld. Also why its important to wear pants with pull on work boots and not shorts
taumac
Well-known member
theres no safety issue with moving sensors this just allows you to pull in just far enough to clear the bumper of car and keeps you from closing door on car.
rlwhitetr3b
Well-known member
The safety issue I can think of would be that a small child or pet might not block the beem and be hurt by the door closing on them.
OP
GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
No kids and the dog is taller than the car bumper
tinbender 66
Well-known member
Pretty cool idea with the washers! I can think of lots of uses for that.
Nighttrain
Well-known member
Your not down in the fire area near Bastrop are you? I kinda remember thinking you are in that area? Hope all is good there. This morning they have reported ove 1100 homes lost so far.
OP
GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
We're good. I'm up in DFW so we're getting residual haze and smoke from the fires east of us. Yesterday I had to stop and remind myself, I was mumbling about the haze and having to close the windows I opened up on the house to enjoy the cooler air. Sadly, there are people right now losing their homes and I'm fixin' to gripe about a little haze.
Anyway, our friends down around Austin/Bastrop and San Antonio/Boerne are all on alert. Fires are close.
Metal is here. Somebody get to work.
$58 Drawer slides (in shipping)
$208.34 16ga sheet metal and angle iron (for press brake)
Going to get the brake setup on my bench before I draw out my drawers. Then it'll be cutting for a while. Now though I need to eat some lunch.
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Outlawmws
Well-known member
16 ga.! Those will be some heavy duty drawers!
OP
GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
Yessir! If they fall apart it'll be from my workmanship.
Got the base of the press brake bolted on. Took a little bit to drill the pilot then work up to 1/2". Kind of disappointed with them drill bits. They need a sharpen. I used the set I recently acquired in that lot. I ended up finishing it out with my cheapo black and decker set. Called it a day and cleaned up.
Clamped up
Used 1/16" bit to get the edge space
Closer look
Bolted up, ready for the hinge and third piece
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rickairmedic
Well-known member
Where you at grab the laptop and get back out here we gots work to do . Looking good should be a nice brake when you get done with it .
Rick
. Looking good should be a nice brake when you get done with it .Rick
OP
GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
Where you at grab the laptop and get back out here we gots work to do
Rick
Rick, let's go. I need some extra hands today.
Didn't work too long but started on the hinge. Arm, neck and shoulder got tired and I'm pacing myself. I came to realize building a press brake "real quick" isn't going to happen. They're not one of those real quick projects. It's simple, but still requires time. Anyway, would go much quicker if I had a chop saw, but I don't so cutting with a hack saw & recip saw with bimetal blade. F-O-R-E-V-E-R.
Decided to build the hinge with a 5/8" bolt and pipe. Overkill is fine for supporting the 20lbs piece of angle iron over my toes. Pipe is just a 10" piece of black iron pipe from Lowes. I think I went with1/2".
Had to smooth out the seam weld inside the pipe for the bolt pin to slide in. Used a dremel for that.
Quit after this on was done. Tired of cutting. Will do the same for the second bolt pin then next order is to notch both pieces of angle iron to place the pin on the pivot point. Then weld it up.
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mdbeck1
Well-known member
...
Had to smooth out the seam weld inside the pipe for the bolt pin to slide in. Used a dremel for that.
...
How about speeding up the "smoothing out" process of the inside of these pipes by putting them in a vice and reaming it with a drill bit? You can finish the process with the dremel.
OP
GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
That's a pretty good idea. That would speed up the process to do the entire piece at once. I'm only able to reach the dremel in after each piece is cut to size.
I'm gonna owe you pizza and beer. I like you're thinking on this stuff.
What's your take on notching out the angle iron corners to set the tube??
rickairmedic
Well-known member
Well first your gonna need a big compressor . Then your gonna need an air pneumatic cut off tool and of course some cut off discs . Course you could just get a plasma cutter but they are expensive . Ok we will do it the cheap way 4" angle grinder with a cuttoff wheel .Then of course unless your really good a file to clean up the cuts .
Rick
. Ok we will do it the cheap way 4" angle grinder with a cuttoff wheel .Then of course unless your really good a file to clean up the cuts .Rick
mdbeck1
Well-known member
That's a pretty good idea. That would speed up the process to do the entire piece at once. I'm only able to reach the dremel in after each piece is cut to size.
I'm gonna owe you pizza and beer. I like you're thinking on this stuff.
What's your take on notching out the angle iron corners to set the tube??
1. Paint the metal. Dark blue or black works well.
2. Mark the edges of your notch with a scribe (if you don't have one use an awl or a nail). Now you should be able to see it well.
3. Since you don't have a chop saw it will be harder. If you have a hand grinder with a cutoff wheel you can put it in the vice and use it. Cut the shallowest cut (I'll call it the "depth"). If you're using a cutting blade I'd then cut the "length". Otherwise I'd take it over to the bench grinder and simply grind the metal out. Use the side of the grinder stone to make sure you get a fairly smooth notch.
3b. If you don't have the grinder and cutoff wheel I'd use a sawzall to get close and then grind it down on the bench grinder.
3c. If all else fails drill a series of holes in the waste area of the notch and then cut it out with a sawzall or hacksaw. Then clean it up with a bench grinder or a hand grinder.
NOTE: Step 3 might not be the safest method and you might want to put the metal in the vice and cut it with the grinder and cutoff wheel.
The most important thing when doing this type of work is to think it out before you start. Try to be safe. If you don't feel safe doing a step figure out a better way to do it.
OP
GirlnAgarage
Well-known member
Thanks guys. Here's what the end view looks like
hehe Rick, a cutting disc is what I was thinking too. I was gonna use the EZ lock disc on my dremel. Should be able to just run the disc up to the mark, then do the same on the other edge.
Guess yall might have figured my dremel is my angle grinder. Since I'm one handed an angle grinder is a bit of a stretch for me to work safely and for long periods, unless it's modified (which I haven't gotten the patience and umph to do).
I can't forget to notch the top piece too.
hehe Rick, a cutting disc is what I was thinking too. I was gonna use the EZ lock disc on my dremel. Should be able to just run the disc up to the mark, then do the same on the other edge.
Guess yall might have figured my dremel is my angle grinder. Since I'm one handed an angle grinder is a bit of a stretch for me to work safely and for long periods, unless it's modified (which I haven't gotten the patience and umph to do).
I can't forget to notch the top piece too.
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rickairmedic
Well-known member
I am not sure how many guys on here realise you are doing all of this with one hand . Honestly with what you get done I forget from time to time that your doing these things " single handedly " litteraly . I think the dremel will do the job but your gonna go through quite a few discs on it .
Rick
. I think the dremel will do the job but your gonna go through quite a few discs on it .Rick
mdbeck1
Well-known member
I am not sure how many guys on here realise you are doing all of this with one hand . Honestly with what you get done I forget from time to time that your doing these things " single handedly " litteraly
Rick
Yeah, I kind of forgot about that too. That view kind of looks like you need to trim PART of the metal out. I'd say hit it with a bench grinder or an angle grinder but with your limitations....
You need to look into a cross vice (http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-cross-slide-vise-32997.html) and mount it to a stationary tool (like a combination belt & disk sander??? (http://www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-x-36-inch-belt-6-inch-disc-sander-93981.html)). That would let you set the metal where you want it and then you could get some fairly precise removal of the materials.
How it would work. The cross vice would be solid mounted (bolted so you could move it further away or to a different tool) on the table in front of the tool or on the plate of the tool. Then you place the metal in the vice and you can turn the handles at the X and Y positions to move the metal back and forth and in and out. That would let you control how much material is removed and for how much length.
NOTE: I own the HF cross vice listed and it's got a LOT of play in it so it doesn't give really accurate distances. It works okay on my drill press to get the drill bit lined up with the rough center of stock.
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