Above 1200 Sq/FT Restored 1930's Auto Shop

[BB767]

The jackstand shelves would have been a good candidate for pocket screws, eliminating the need for the corner blocking and cutting the shelves to fit around them.

Quite possibly csp. I admit on some things I'm a little old school.

The corner screw blocks increase the surface area in those corners by quite a bit and they contribute greatly to the structural rigidity of the unit. It has zero tendency to rack or sway. Even using pocket screws you'er still dealing with plywood end grain to a degree. If the wood in question was solid and not ply I would have been more comfortable using them but granted it is still a valid technique. Notching the shelves was accomplished very quickly and easily so that wasn't a problem at all. As with all my material on here, I don't consider it the way, just a way and darned if you guys don't come up with a better way often. Thanks for the suggestion.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Well Tom payback for the oildown was that they had jet cars there that weekend. We were pitted right behind the starting line. Its amazing how much **** there is on the starting line and in the staging lanes. All of it winds up in your pit. And jet fuel smoke to choke a horse. Still a day at the track beats anything in my book. Love the Chevy II Good luck in Stanton. Raced alcohol funny cars there years ago, glad they stopped doing it, track was too short for 250 mph runs.

That sounds most unpleasant Bumpy55. A jet engine will manage to fling an amazing amount of......."stuff" rearward. It's kinda like being in the center of a big sand blasting operation. Certainly not fun. We always try to pit in the same row as you were, but at the east end, by the trees. Keeps us in the shade the longest in the mornings.

Thomas

 

[1948]

Thomas

nice!

 

[50fordbob]

I have a question about your Morton barn. How did you know where to position the electrical boxes so they would fall in the flatter part of the ribbed interior metal? The box next to the jack stand box looks perfect. Bob

 

[BB767]

I have a question about your Morton barn. How did you know where to position the electrical boxes so they would fall in the flatter part of the ribbed interior metal? The box next to the jack stand box looks perfect. Bob

Bob, thank you for noticing and an excellent question!! Looking back I guess I've not really addressed all of the barn electrical installation detail. Bare with me here...

Here are outlets at 18", 4' and 9'. A quick, cursory glance around the barn will show...

...that I was able to do a pretty good job...

... of centering the outlets on the interior ribs most everywhere. It's another small detail but it was important to me.

Here's a look at part of the interior while it was still under construction to give you an idea of all the outlets that were installed throughout the barn, including down the middle of the floor as seen here. I wanted a lot of flexibility on the interior layout so having plenty of them gave me that. If I hadn't centered all those outlets......well my eye would have been drawn to them every time I was in there, and who want's that?

My Morton guy tells me he's never seen electrical done without it being surface mounted on any of his buildings. I wanted this clean look so...

...I had to do all my wiring...

...after the framing was done...

...but before the interior insulation and metal were installed.

I then had to note on the blue prints precisely where all the wire was. I also took tons of pictures showing the wiring before it was all covered up with metal. After the interior metal was completed I had to go around all the walls and mark out where wire would be found, waiting underneath the metal. After that was done it was then a matter of cutting a hole for the outlet. Since the metal was already up, and I had left a little excess wire at each location, I could then locate and cut those outlet holes centered on the interior ribs in almost every spot. Honestly cutting all those holes in the metal (and there were a bunch!) was truly a pain in the a$$ and I got more than a few cuts doing so with all those sharp metal edges but hey, what price glory, huh?

Now looking back a couple of years later I'm well satisfied with the clean, uncluttered appearance and am glad I took the trouble to do it this way.

Hope that wasn't too wordy of an explanation Bob and thanks for your interest.

Thomas

 

[Kevin54]

The saw in question was dear old Dad's 14" Delta bandsaw which he bought new in 1948.

I worked at Rockwell (Power Tool Div.) in the late 70's before they closed the doors and we were still making bandsaws at that time that looked the same as the one in '48. I guess you just couldn't improve on a good thing!!!

 

[slimpickins]

Now looking back a couple of years later I'm well satisfied with the clean, uncluttered appearance and am glad I took the trouble to do it this way.

Hope that wasn't too wordy of an explanation Bob and thanks for your interest.

Thomas

Thomas, you never cease to amaze me with all of the forethought that you put into all of your projects! It's truly amazing. I seem to never get past the forethought stage and get started...thus my signature tagline.

Any time I need inspiration, I just come to your thread!

 

[Nuts]

heh heh Tie the bag Son. Best laugh of the day.

That was quite the fishing expedition finding all those wires behind that tin,
well done and a beautiful job. Not that we would expect anything else.

If I ever get the time to tour the family land near Carmi, Il, I'll make it a point to
head North to see the Center of the Universe.

Doug

 

[BB767]

So, while the projects posted here have slowed down a bit that doesn't mean I haven't been hard at it out at the shop. Taking advantage of the recent good weather, I've been doing a little tree trimming/removal out in the woods next to the shop. There were several small Cherry trees that never looked healthy but I left them hoping with all the brush removal and thinning out several years ago that would revive them. Unfortunately they never recovered so I removed them.

I decided to get some better pictures to show the process used a few years back when all the first cleanup was done out there.

To remove trees a backhoe equipped with...

...a frost tooth was used. This is a single tooth where a bucket would normally be found on a backhoe boom as seen.

It is used to rake and break the roots on either side of the trunk.

Then the tooth applies slow pressure against the trunk 8-10-12' up.

With the roots cut, the tree can than be pushed over, turning up the rootball leaving no stump.

The limbs are cut and removed from the trunk...

...the frost tooth is used to knock dirt away from the roots.

As dry as it's been, the dirt falls off pretty readily as seen. Now there is no stump left in the ground to have to deal with. The roots are cut away and burned and the log is either cut for lumber or firewood.

This process is a quick and efficient way to remove a tree. With the log removed and some dirt brought in to fill the hole everything can be done in 20-25 minutes or so. Less for smaller trees and a bit longer for larger ones. This is what was done back in 2007 seen in earlier posts when I did my first clean out of the woods by the shop. We removed dozens and dozens of trees this way.

Next up we'll see how the clean up on the hedgerow/drag strip/heliport etc. next to the shop is coming along.

Thomas

 

[BB767]

I worked at Rockwell (Power Tool Div.) in the late 70's before they closed the doors and we were still making bandsaws at that time that looked the same as the one in '48. I guess you just couldn't improve on a good thing!!!

It was a timeless design for sure Kevin but Dad wasn't happy with the way they cheapened them up over the years. Owning an old one and then looking at a new one those differences really jumped out at you. He was old school all the way. As rugged as they are and with care, when I'm done with it I expect Cameron will pass this one on to his son or even grandson.

What other old Delta designed equipment were they still making when you worked there?

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Thomas, you never cease to amaze me with all of the forethought that you put into all of your projects! It's truly amazing. I seem to never get past the forethought stage and get started...thus my signature tagline.

Any time I need inspiration, I just come to your thread!

Maybe it's a pilot thing. You have to be waaaaay in front of the airplane so you'er always thinking far ahead. That or I got tired of years ago saying "dang I shoulda done it this way".

Happy to help you out anyway I can though. Even how not to do some things like create lovely, dark swirl marks in concrete to hide tire marks. Dropped the ball on that one!

Thomas

 

[BB767]

heh heh Tie the bag Son. Best laugh of the day.

That was quite the fishing expedition finding all those wires behind that tin,
well done and a beautiful job. Not that we would expect anything else.

If I ever get the time to tour the family land near Carmi, Il, I'll make it a point to
head North to see the Center of the Universe.

Doug

Carmi is a wonderful area Doug, congratulations. I'm about 2 1/2 hours north of there. Take I 57 north a bit and you'er practically here!

Thomas

 

[BB767]

nice!

1948 I have been avidly following your adventures with your service station restoration thread. That property has tremendous upside. Nice work there my friend! Stay the course.

Thomas

 

[HOTFR8]

Interesting to see your trees being removed that way and I have never heard it called a frost tooth. Here it is called a pick end and the underground was dug with a pick end before the back hoe bucket was used as the ground (Rock under the top soil) is so hard.

To remove trees here we would cut them off at ground level then use a stump muncher to destroy what is left as often a tree may fall over due to the fact it can not get the roots into the rock below the topsoil.

Do you have a wood heater or open fire that you can use the wood in or will you have a bonfire ?

 

[BB767]

Interesting to see your trees being removed that way and I have never heard it called a frost tooth. Here it is called a pick end and the underground was dug with a pick end before the back hoe bucket was used as the ground (Rock under the top soil) is so hard.

To remove trees here we would cut them off at ground level then use a stump muncher to destroy what is left as often a tree may fall over due to the fact it can not get the roots into the rock below the topsoil.

Do you have a wood heater or open fire that you can use the wood in or will you have a bonfire ?

In winter when the ground is frozen, a frost tooth is the only way to break the soil open. A normal bucket has too much surface area to penetrate.

The black part of the soil around here is generally referred to as loam. Loam is then broken down into specific, different soil types. But the upshot of it all is our loam is roughly 40" - 60" (101-152 cm) thick and as such rocks are not even the slightest problem. Most trees here are removed as you stated and the stumps then ground up, but for smaller trees the way Don and I do it, works really, really well!

What at first glance...

...appears to be a moving brush pile...

...is really Don...

...carry another tree to the brush pile.

We'll let the brush dry out and once it's not so dry we'll do a fairly impressive bonfire. This is but a small amount of brush that we'll roast marshmallows on.

Thomas

 

[W_A_Watson_II]

Nice burn pile, when's the weenie roast?

 

[BB767]

Nice burn pile, when's the weenie roast?

Wanna come? Marshmallows are on me!

Thomas

 

[Amitygravel]

Hello Thomas !

Now that is a burn pile !
Its a small world by the way. Got sent to do a small fixit job last Friday.
The homeowner was wearing a t-shirt with the U of I Institute of Aviation logo on it.
So I had to ask if he knew you. Of course he did , and he went to school with your Dad !
Mr Benn.
He said and I have to agree , "I don't think the man ever sleeps" when we talked about your shop and projects !

Craig

 

[charlief1]

Wanna come? Marshmallows are on me!

Thomas

If I could I would Thomas. Wish we had loam instead of sand for 12" and then clay under it. Right now it's a little dry and dusty and for the first time in a while I've got heat rash on my arms. The nice thing is we don't get low temps very often though.

 

[BB767]

Hello Thomas !

Now that is a burn pile !
Its a small world by the way. Got sent to do a small fixit job last Friday.
The homeowner was wearing a t-shirt with the U of I Institute of Aviation logo on it.
So I had to ask if he knew you. Of course he did , and he went to school with your Dad !
Mr Benn.
He said and I have to agree , "I don't think the man ever sleeps" when we talked about your shop and projects !

Craig

Around here Craig it is indeed a small world. Mr.Benn and Dad were in college together after the war and were good friends. He is one of the reasons I chose aviation for a career. I expressed an early interest in aviation and he gave me no end of encouragement. He was the head of pilot training, chief pilot if you will, and would invite Dad and myself every year when I was young to come to the airport. Whereupon he would give me the grand tour and it always ended with an airplane ride. Told me "
if you want to come to the Institute, we'll have a spot for you." I am deeply, deeply in his debt.

BTW, before I forget it, I found a few more go kart pieces in the tool shed that were pre-made and never installed. I'm saving them for you on your next visit. It'll look a little different around here when you come.

Thomas

 

[HOTFR8]

In winter when the ground is frozen, a frost tooth is the only way to break the soil open. A normal bucket has too much surface area to penetrate.

Same here except we have shale type rock that once you fill the trench or hole again it sets like concrete. Here you can even see the pick end used with the bigger machines and in fact in some places they have one machine fitted with the pick end and another to follow and dig the trench in case the work gets wet and sets. I recently watched a house and Shed excavation up the road from me that used two machines like this.

The black part of the soil around here is generally referred to as loam. Loam is then broken down into specific, different soil types. But the upshot of it all is our loam is roughly 40" - 60" (101-152 cm) thick and as such rocks are not even the slightest problem. Most trees here are removed as you stated and the stumps then ground up, but for smaller trees the way Don and I do it, works really, really well!

I can see your method has worked very well and you are lucky you have such a deep loam topsoil. In fact it looks to me like it would be good to gorow potatoes in. Top soil here would be the same loam type just not as deep.

We'll let the brush dry out and once it's not so dry we'll do a fairly impressive bonfire. This is but a small amount of brush that we'll roast marshmallows on.

That will be fun. Post photos and pre warn the local Fire Brigade of the Burn.

 

[BB767]

If I could I would Thomas. Wish we had loam instead of sand for 12" and then clay under it. Right now it's a little dry and dusty and for the first time in a while I've got heat rash on my arms. The nice thing is we don't get low temps very often though.

We do indeed have some of the richest farm ground in the world around here. It is impressive.

While I don't have heat rash, my arms are allllll scratched up from the thorns on the hedge trees.

This is the kind of stuff I've been trimming and cleaning all week. And just a few feet away on the "other side"...

...sits the barn, serene and peaceful. I'm gaining though!!

I will take note of your absence charlief1 and we'll toast a marshmallow in your honor!

Thomas

 

[BB767]

Same here except we have shale type rock that once you fill the trench or hole again it sets like concrete. Here you can even see the pick end used with the bigger machines and in fact in some places they have one machine fitted with the pick end and another to follow and dig the trench in case the work gets wet and sets...


...I can see your method has worked very well and you are lucky you have such a deep loam topsoil. In fact it looks to me like it would be good to gorow potatoes in. Top soil here would be the same loam type just not as deep.


That will be fun. Post photos and pre warn the local Fire Brigade of the Burn.

That doesn't sound like much fun soil to work in, in fact it sounds like a lot of work!!

We're not potato country here, corn and soybeans for as far as the eye can see........ and some alfalfa of course!

Our volunteer fire department will be there, roasting weenies and marshmallows alongside me as I take pictures of the whole affair to share here. Perhaps you can make it next time?

Thomas

 

[charlief1]

We do indeed have some of the richest farm ground in the world around here. It is impressive.

While I don't have heat rash, my arms are allllll scratched up from the thorns on the hedge trees.

This is the kind of stuff I've been trimming and cleaning all week. And just a few feet away on the "other side"...

...sits the barn, serene and peaceful. I'm gaining though!!

I will take note of your absence charlief1 and we'll toast a marshmallow in your honor!

Thomas

Make is smores and you should be OK Thomas. BTW, we just started a batch of mustang grape wine and I think I may be able to send you and Chris a bottle if you're interested. Once it's out of the tank and I get a taste I'll send you a PM if it's any good.

 

[HOTFR8]

That doesn't sound like much fun soil to work in, in fact it sounds like a lot of work!!

Tell me about it as most of my place has been excavated before I built anything.
(See the topic Sheddwellers the extension to see more).

We're not potato country here, corn and soybeans for as far as the eye can see........ and some alfalfa of course!

Perhaps you should try planting some Spuds (Potatoes) on that spare block and see how they go or grow .

Our volunteer fire department will be there, roasting weenies and marshmallows alongside me as I take pictures of the whole affair to share here. Perhaps you can make it next time?

As like all your events I will be there but only in Spirit. You never know, one day just maybe a stranger with an Aussie accent may just knock on your door.

 

[krazyman]

First GJ forum post...

I wondered over here looking for ideas for my shop/garage. I've come away with a whole lot more.

Took me about 10 days to get through the 1930's Garage - but in no way do I feel prepared for a test.

Absolutely love the old school tools and the restorations/recyclings.

And anvils.

Thomas, you are a true renaissance man

Unreal. Keep it coming.

All the best,
Jeff

p.s. I think I may have been on one of your flights at some point in the last 25 years - I seem to remember hearing the phrase "Center of the Universe" during a Continental flight over IL.

 

[BB767]

First GJ forum post...

I wondered over here looking for ideas for my shop/garage. I've come away with a whole lot more.

Took me about 10 days to get through the 1930's Garage - but in no way do I feel prepared for a test.

Absolutely love the old school tools and the restorations/recyclings.

And anvils.

Thomas, you are a true renaissance man

Unreal. Keep it coming.

All the best,
Jeff

p.s. I think I may have been on one of your flights at some point in the last 25 years - I seem to remember hearing the phrase "Center of the Universe" during a Continental flight over IL.

Hello Jeff and welcome to Garage Journal and this thread. As you'll see, GJ is a wonderful place for information and exchange of different ideas on a wide range of topics.

Chris and I both have enjoyed doing this thread and have met some fantastic people because of it. A real win-win situation I think. As long as there seems to be interest and I'm not boring anyone I'll keep putting new material of interest on here.

If you were on a Continental flight anywhere near Illinois and "....Center of the Universe...." came over the PA it's HIGHLY likely that was me. When I use to do domestic coast to coast flying I never missed an opportunity to inform folks of their proximity to that historic spot.

Stay tune for more and many thanks for the kind words of encouragement.


Thomas

 

[hobbitss]

Around here Craig it is indeed a small world. Mr.Benn and Dad were in college together after the war and were good friends. He is one of the reasons I chose aviation for a career. I expressed an early interest in aviation and he gave me no end of encouragement. He was the head of pilot training, chief pilot if you will, and would invite Dad and myself every year when I was young to come to the airport. Whereupon he would give me the grand tour and it always ended with an airplane ride. Told me "
if you want to come to the Institute, we'll have a spot for you." I am deeply, deeply in his debt.

BTW, before I forget it, I found a few more go kart pieces in the tool shed that were pre-made and never installed. I'm saving them for you on your next visit. It'll look a little different around here when you come.

Thomas

Tool Shed??? HE SAID TOOL SHED!!!!!

 

[BB767]

Tool Shed??? HE SAID TOOL SHED!!!!!

Joe, with that latest load of material taken out of there last week I'm definitely creating some working space in there. I have to work my way in to some of the more......interesting material that I see. No gold bars yet but hey, you never know!

You are without a doubt an extremely patient man!

Thomas

 

[Amitygravel]

Hello Thomas !

At work right now , but I will get ahold of you by pvt msg to set up a day to run down to the shop. Talk to you soon.

Craig.

 

[hobbitss]

Hello Thomas !

At work right now , but I will get ahold of you by pvt msg to set up a day to run down to the shop. Talk to you soon.

Craig.

You may not have a Gold Bar from the Tool Shed.....

 

[Amitygravel]

Just rusty gold for me Joe. Doesn't matter what shape !

Craig

 

[hobbitss]

Just rusty gold for me Joe. Doesn't matter what shape !

Craig

Ahh... Mining treasures from rust...

 

[BB767]

They let me back in the country so I'm home again and was able to complete Project OPC this afternoon. This is Part I.

As you might remember a Wilton horizontal bandsaw was left when I bought the shop. You can see it here in this picture of the fab room shortly after I purchased the shop. It's the orange colored piece of equipment in the center, slightly left.

Here's that same saw, front view. It's an older model that worked and I used it quite a bit over the last 6 years. During the Johnson years it had been used extensively and had also been modified for various unknown reasons. It was purchased mainly for use when the heavy duty trailers were being fabricated out there in the 1970's. To me I didn't have any sentimental attachment for it. Since it functioned as is, I put off cleaning it up until a later date. Then as chance would have it, I came across a 1 owner Wilton horizontal bandsaw for sale...

...that had been much better cared for, not nearly as many hours use and didn't need any cleaning up, all good things I thought. It only needed a base (a temporary base seen here) to be able to move it around so the old saw was sold and...

...a base for the new saw was fabricated using 1/4" (.6 cm) thick angle steel.

The ends were cut on a 45 degree angle...

...to visually enhance it.

Because 1/4" stock was used it could be drilled and tapped to bolt the casters on. These are temporary lock nuts shown.

1/4" steel plate was used...

... on either end...

...for the saw to sit on.

Overall a very simple, but effective design.

Since Wilton uses orange for trim I decided to do it in an Orange Powder Coat, OPC.

That turned out nicely and tomorrow I'll continue with Part II of Project OPC.

Thomas

 

[BigDaddyUSMC]

Y MANIFOLD GANG
BONNEVILLE SPEEDWEEK .... 43 days & counting
Thomas
Dave Schleppi told me about a very interesting build going on for Bonneville 2012 speedweek.
An Offy powered Watson Indy Roadster , Built in Mac Millers garage in Indianapolis
This is one car I'm going to hunt down at Bonneville.

SEE YOU ON THE SALT

 

[BB767]

Working most of today outside (109F - 42C heat index, hot. hot, hot!!) When I got home later I looked like something the cat had drug in. We're finishing up most of the last of the hedge row clean up. It is looking fine and it's really opening up the view from the shop. No pain, no gain!

I did want to get this on here so, continuing with Project OPC, Part II.

With the base now powder coated, the casters were bolted on.

The casters selected were Blickle, made in Germany. Any followers here from Germany? You guys make super fine casters! These are sealed ball bearings, so no grit from the saw will get into them, non-marking rubber. They're about 5" (125 mm) in diameter, with about 500 lbs (225 kg) weight capacity.

Two of them have foot activated brakes (easy on-easy off) installed in opposite corners to keep the saw from swinging around when in use.

With the base turned over, the ends of the bolts needed to be finished off.

What goes well with powder coat? The obvious solution to that is polished stainless steel nuts and washers of course! And in this case, stainless steel acorn nuts which will also act as lock nuts on the bolts.

As I'm sure you know, washers have two sides to them and one of those sides is always a finished side with rounded edges. That's the side that goes up and will be seen.

To prevent galling with stainless we should always use a dab as opposed to a blob of anti-seize on the threads.

The acorn nuts are then installed. On the inside bolt a regular nut was used since it's hidden inside the base of the saw and unseen. All the hardware is grade 8.

So the base is all ready for the saw. Because the saw weighs several hundred pounds, moving it onto the base by myself took some thought and a little effort.

If you're fortunate enough to have a John Deere (or any tractor with a bucket for that matter) this isn't so difficult.

Some ratchet straps...

...around the saw and attached to the bucket and...

...it was placed on its new base with nary a mark or scratch to that nice powder coating. Actually I just used the bucket and loader as a stationary frame that the saw was suspended from. The tractor wasn't even running during the move. I used the ratchet straps to slowly lift the saw up. That allowed me to creep it up and still have a hand on the saw to steady it. With two people I'd probably use the tractor hydraulics to lift it, but by myself I thought it best to be right with the saw since I wasn't sure about its balance point. Once it was over the new base, I did let the bucket down, which you can do without the tractor running; gravity takes charge.

It rolls effortlessly on the new base and the large, wide casters don't dent up the tile floor.

The orange powder coat is almost an exact match for the factory trim.

Because the factory base tapers...

...there is some side clearance on the new base.

Overall though I think it's fine.

It adds some "Bling" perhaps to the fab room. I think it would have Mr. Johnson's approval, seen parked between his floor press and cast iron bench.

That project is now done and I have a couple more projects in progress that I'm presently working on. I'm starting to formalize my thoughts on the next big shop project, a "Portable Dirty Room" or PDR. Check back to see that one take shape.

BTW Joe, I am still working on the tool shed from time to time. I haven't forgotten!

Hot, Sweaty, Sore and Tired Thomas

 

[eokie1]

VERY nice, as always, Thomas !!!!
James in soggy St. Augustine, FL

 

[Red Leader]

As I'm sure you know, washers have two sides to them and one of those sides is always a finished side with rounded edges. That's the side that goes up and will be seen.

To prevent galling with stainless we should always use, a dab as opposed to a blob of anti-seize on the threads.

The acorn nuts are then installed. On the inside bolt a regular nut was used since it's hidden inside the base of the saw and unseen. All hardware is grade 8.

You know, its the little details that make this project special. This is a good example

 

[BigAl62]

Y MANIFOLD GANG
BONNEVILLE SPEEDWEEK .... 43 days & counting
Thomas
Dave Schleppi told me about a very interesting build going on for Bonneville 2012 speedweek.
An Offy powered Watson Indy Roadster , Built in Mac Millers garage in Indianapolis
This is one car I'm going to hunt down at Bonneville.

SEE YOU ON THE SALT

That is one COOL looking car! I've never heard an actual Offy running, I hear that they have a unique sound.

 

[BigAl62]

"As I'm sure you know, washers have two sides to them and one of those sides is always a finished side with rounded edges. That's the side that goes up and will be seen."

That's the way I was taught to install washers, you'd be surprised at how many people don't. It was explained to me that the sharp edges were less likely to allow the nut or bolt to pull through. I suppose it could if there was enough force, but I've never seen it happen.