Above 1200 Sq/FT building my BIG PARTY garage

[HSpencer]

Don

Those floor jacks are catching my eye. I would love to be there and have a part in restoring them. I have found several around here like that, but not many that are "for sale". Some of the older garages here are still using them.

You place is just a WOW Don!! Your doing a yeoman's job on history. Thank You!!!

Best Regards
Herb

 

[don long]

Top looks great!

Now, where on the To-Do list did you add the Jack?

Thanks for the visit Wingnut
the Black hawk jack is in the shop where I have to trip over it. So When the Sinclair sign is up, it will find its way to the work table. It's too sweet to let sit around.

Those floor jacks are catching my eye. I would love to be there and have a part in restoring them. I have found several around here like that, but not many that are "for sale". Some of the older garages here are still using them.

Don
You place is just a WOW Don!! Your doing a yeoman's job on history. Thank You!!!

Best Regards
Herb

Herb

I could use your help on the jacks. The weather is pretty nice here so come on over Love to have the company.
The jacks are going to be my fill in projects while I try to make some head way on the Ford C.O.E.

The Sinclair pole is up and ready to add the juice for the lights
Then I will repair the sign before it goes into the frame

I built a carrier for sign frame

2014-08-25 10.38.09 by don long, on Flickr

With the help of my neighbor we managed to get the top frame on the pole

2014-08-25 11.52.02 by don long, on Flickr

2014-08-25 14.16.38 by don long, on Flickr

 

[bashr52]

OSHA approved!!

Pole looks great, can't wait to see what it looks like with the sign mounted!

 

[wallster]

Don, Sinclair sign is looking great so far. Your place is the Disneyworld for garage and car guys!

Wally

 

[80WTI_55_CHEV]

Looking good Don, can't wait to see it finished.

 

[Sunbimmer]

Again great stuff you're showing us Don, thanks for sharing

 

[FireTurtle]

Holy cow! What an amazing place. I don't know what is more impressive, the stuff you have in there or the fact that you do most of the work yourself. Your little town inside is awesome and the diner is amazing too.

 

[don long]

OSHA approved!!

Pole looks great, can't wait to see what it looks like with the sign mounted!

Thanks bashr
You know that everything I do around here is either permitted or approved:lol_ hitti

Don, Sinclair sign is looking great so far. Your place is the Disneyworld for garage and car guys!

Wally

Thanks Wally
Putting up that sign frame I felt a bit like goofey: shocking:

Looking good Don, can't wait to see it finished.

Thanks Lee
I'm trying to get it done so I can work on the C.O.E. for a while

Again great stuff you're showing us Don, thanks for sharing

Thanks Sunbimmer
I happy to know that you are enjoying my adventures

Holy cow! What an amazing place. I don't know what is more impressive, the stuff you have in there or the fact that you do most of the work yourself. Your little town inside is awesome and the diner is amazing too.

FireTurtle
Thanks for joining the party garage
We call it the party garage because I like Tom Sawyer always get my friends involved when I have a project to do LOL

Thanks for your kind thoughts
Don

 

[don long]

Today I started working on the sign
1st I gave it an acid bath to get rid of the rust running down the center of the sign
2nd the sign had serious damage by the letters "I" and "N" 5 or 6 bullet hits raising the metal about an inch or so above the rest of the sign so I had to shrink the metal without the aid of heat

3rd the porcelain around the letters "C" and "L" was badly chipped It looks like a buck shot hit the sign

All those issues must be addressed before I can hang the sign

So here is a shot of todays progress about 1/2 the front side is fixed

before

2014-08-25 17.49.17 by don long, on Flickr

2014-08-26 14.49.14 by don long, on Flickr

after

2014-08-26 14.48.19 by don long, on Flickr

2014-08-30 13.00.52 by don long, on Flickr

.

 

[PatStroud]

Very impressive - love the whole Party Garage thread. You do some really great work.
Wouldn't be nice to find an neat sign like that - THAT wasn't shot at. I'm sure you'll have it looking amazing in no time.

 

[Wingnut65]

So, how did you convince the bump to go away, hammer bumping?

 

[don long]

Very impressive - love the whole Party Garage thread. You do some really great work.
Wouldn't be nice to find an neat sign like that - THAT wasn't shot at. I'm sure you'll have it looking amazing in no time.

Thanks for the visit Pat
I,m glad you are enjoying my thread
I have found a few signs in great shape but had to pay dearly for them

So, how did you convince the bump to go away, hammer bumping?

Wingnut65

If you look at the stars in the picture. I have cut slots into each bump. Then gently hammered the cuts down, and the metal moved back together as the bump shrinks.
Then I put JB weld on the cuts to close the holes, and smoothed the sign with bondo to replace the missing porcelain

2014-08-27 12.00.08 by don long, on Flickr

 

[BUGTHUG]

You need to hire me like the "town drunk", like OTIS on Mayberry RFD Other than I don't drink, but I'm getting the drool thing down, as I get older.
I could hang out by the phone booth and make obscene calls.

 

[Wingnut65]

Thanks, Don. Couldn't tell if those were cuts of pencil/chalk marks.

Can't wait to see it finished!

 

[Kevin54]

Don....I've said it before and I'll say it again.....everything is absolutely FANTASTIC.

The above pics where you are putting the pole up, it looks like it could be Hawaii. It just has that tropical looks to it. Very, very, nice indeed.

Now, you are taking care of my aluminum phone booth aren't you? It looks like the top is sort of bent up. We can't be having that. With all of the perfection that flows around your place, you need to be taking care of the booth.

BTW.....did you get the red one set somewhere? I think the last I looked, you were redoing the back of the garage for the air conditioning and was in the process of getting ready to do the work on the red one.

It's hard to keep up with you. You have so many things going on that I honestly don't know how you get done what you get done in the time you get it done in. I need just a 1/4 of your energy.

And the signs look fantastic. Did you get a chance to take in any sites or anything when you made the road trip to pick the newest sign up? And if you ever make it to Ohio again and are around my area of Urbana, or passing through close, let me know and lunch and cold ones are on me.

 

[don long]

Thanks, Don. Couldn't tell if those were cuts of pencil/chalk marks.

Can't wait to see it finished!

Wingnut65

I worked on the sign again today trying to meet your request

Don....I've said it before and I'll say it again.....everything is absolutely FANTASTIC.

The above pics where you are putting the pole up, it looks like it could be Hawaii. It just has that tropical looks to it. Very, very, nice indeed.

Now, you are taking care of my aluminum phone booth aren't you? It looks like the top is sort of bent up. We can't be having that. With all of the perfection that flows around your place, you need to be taking care of the booth.

BTW.....did you get the red one set somewhere? I think the last I looked, you were redoing the back of the garage for the air conditioning and was in the process of getting ready to do the work on the red one.

It's hard to keep up with you. You have so many things going on that I honestly don't know how you get done what you get done in the time you get it done in. I need just a 1/4 of your energy.

And the signs look fantastic. Did you get a chance to take in any sites or anything when you made the road trip to pick the newest sign up? And if you ever make it to Ohio again and are around my area of Urbana, or passing through close, let me know and lunch and cold ones are on me.

Well Kevin
The yard is what we fell in love with here. It is 3 acres all landscaped much like what you see in the post pic. We do enjoy the yard!!

Now lets talk phone booths, When I posted the pole rising picture, I noticed the phone booth and laughed knowing someone would comment on the bent roof. I had forgotten about it. The red English booth is sitting off to the side of the 2 post lift, begging for attention but it is too hot to climb into a suit and sand blast all day, so it will have to wait .

a couple weeks ago I was totally out of energy and it had been that way since the first of the year. when I went to the Doc. he found that my heart was not beating correctly so he booked me a room at the health spa(hospital)
and wired me up and shocked my heart. You know, like when someone dies on the table and they grab the paddles and juice the guy well it worked, and my energy level is up again. I didn't know how badly I was feeling until after the fact. So If you want more energy go see the Doc. lol

My trip to Missouri was in and out, however on the way home we took all back roads and did enjoy the scenery. Thanks for asking. And when I take another road trip up your way I will be in touch.

Thanks
Don

 

[akdiesel]

don

Glad to hear you are feeling better. My mother in law had the same type of erratic heart beat. She ended up with a pace maker 5 years ago. made a big difference for her.
The post looks great and from your past work the sign will be no less.

 

[softailgarage]

It's a 24 ft 3 piece Neon sign I found while chasing down my sinclair pole sign in Missouri
It was shipped out and I recieved it on Monday. I couldn't wait to get it up and lit and the neon buddy of mine was able to get The neon made and it ready to hang this morning
It took all day and into the evening to get it up and lit only to find the letter "I" not working
BUMMER

Man, I can't turn around for a second and you've got 1 more sign up and another on the way I like the missing 'I', it makes it more authentic. Or have it at a steady flicker.

 

[hpw]

Or have it at a steady flicker.

I like that idea

 

[wallster]

If you look at the stars in the picture. I have cut slots into each bump. Then gently hammered the cuts down, and the metal moved back together as the bump shrinks.
Then I put JB weld on the cuts to close the holes, and smoothed the sign with bondo to replace the missing porcelain

That is very cool (and clever as hell), thanks for sharing your work.

Wally

 

[don long]

don

Glad to hear you are feeling better. My mother in law had the same type of erratic heart beat. She ended up with a pace maker 5 years ago. made a big difference for her.
The post looks great and from your past work the sign will be no less.

.

Ak thanks for the visit
I was afraid that I was going to get an implant but after 3 shocks (lifting me about a foot off the mat) My heart started ticking normal again

You guys are setting the bar pretty high for me don't you think
We'll see how the sign turns out next week!!

Man, I can't turn around for a second and you've got 1 more sign up and another on the way I like the missing 'I', it makes it more authentic. Or have it at a steady flicker.

*****, *****, *****,
Jeff The "I" has been fixed and I will shoot a pic. tonite

That is very cool (and clever as hell), thanks for sharing your work.

Wally

Thanks Wally
I got lucky I had never done that before. I was pretty happy with the results

 

[don long]

Don....I've said it before and I'll say it again.....everything is absolutely FANTASTIC.


Now, you are taking care of my aluminum phone booth aren't you? It looks like the top is sort of bent up. We can't be having that. With all of the perfection that flows around your place, you need to be taking care of the booth.

Kevin
As per your request. I worked on the roof of the phone booth today and took most of the sway out of the top
Before

My fork lift and a hydraulic jack

Holding the booth in place while I pushed up the center of the roof
the floor is too weak to withstand the presure

 

[don long]

Back to work on the sinclair sign!

Well I have the one side patched up and ready to start painting
I have decided to do 1 side at a time because it is so big and awkward

The green will be first

2014-09-29 13.28.31 by don long, on Flickr

.

 

[don long]

And this shot is for "Softail garage" as I promised

2014-08-12 20.14.46 by don long, on Flickr

The Letter "I" is fixed

 

[don long]

Finished one side of the Sinclair sign tonite now it will sit till next week
to let the paint cure before turning it over and doing it all over again

2014-10-06 21.24.51 by don long, on Flickr

 

[akdiesel]

don

Looks factory to me. Beautiful work

 

[Wingnut65]

don

Looks factory to me. Beautiful work

Agreed. Looks like it is ready to be installed for the very first time. Except that photo should be black and white!

We aren't raising the bar any higher than your standards of perfection!

Awesome work as usual!

 

[hpw]

don

Looks factory to me. Beautiful work

Agreed. Looks like it is ready to be installed for the very first time. Except that photo should be black and white!

We aren't raising the bar any higher than your standards of perfection!

Awesome work as usual!

x100000......exceptional

 

[don long]

akdiesel, Wingnut65, and hpw

Thanks for that vote of confidence from you guys
I'm pretty stoked with how the sign is turning out

 

[don long]

After touring Hspencers thread
he had found an old craftsman circular saw from the 1950s
I was looking on CL the other nite and I found the same saw for sale
and had to have it. Made the call and with a 4 hour round trip car ride I have the same beautiful old saw

the case

103 by don long, on Flickr

The saw

2 by don long, on Flickr

1 by don long, on Flickr

the accessories

105 by don long, on Flickr

 

[dlcwent]

Nice to find the arbor wrenches with it Don. Nice find.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Great job on the sign Don

With what you have done it really captures the essence of the era, and not over restored.

I am keen to see how the Craftsman saws that both yourself and Hspenser are conserving at the moment turn out.

Looking forward to your updates.

Regards..

 

[Cdubu52]

Wow. I just joined GJ on Wednesday. I have been through this entire thread in 2 days. I joined GJ to get ideas for building a Workshop/Garage. I sure picked the wrong thread to start with.

Great work and I look forward to seeing more.

 

[HSpencer]

Don

That is the saw I looked at on ebay after you mentioned you got it. I would use a little caution on that upper rubber handle cover and the switch. As far as I know there are no parts anywhere for these saws. It should turn out great. I have almost gotten my case all redone and I will post it on my thread when I am finished later today. I chose Hammered Gray in the spray can, and it came out as close to "era" color as I am going to ever get. The brand I got was Rustoleum Hammered Gray. I first sanded the case out to bare metal and then used the Rustoleum primer. I am totally pleased with the way it came out. It looks very "original". I searched around for some new case hardware, but found nothing that I liked. I drilled the rivets out and cleaned the old hardware and decided to just spray them with chrome paint. Again, I was pleased with the results.
On the blade You will have a hard time finding an 8 inch blade with a 1/2 inch arbor these days. However you can get the adapter though Amazon and it takes the 5/8" holes down to the 1/2" hole. (You, I am sure already know that, but it was something I immediately ran into.)
On the cord and switch I am anxious to see what you have to do here. I was fortunate on mine that although the cord had two repairs, it was still good enough to leave on the saw. Also, mine has had one replacement switch.
All I can say at this point is congratulations on finding one and good luck!!!!
I will be watching the progress!!

Best Regards
Herb

 

[don long]

Nice to find the arbor wrenches with it Don. Nice find.

dlcwent
I heard a rattle in the box and investigated
I was surprised to find them under the saw plate in the carrier
Thanks for the visit

Great job on the sign Don

With what you have done it really captures the essence of the era, and not over restored.
I am keen to see how the Craftsman saws that both yourself and Hspenser are conserving at the moment turn out.
Looking forward to your updates.

Regards..

1/2 Cup

I'm always pleased to see you on my thread
Thanks for that vote of confidence
I will do my best on the saw

Wow. I just joined GJ on Wednesday. I have been through this entire thread in 2 days. I joined GJ to get ideas for building a Workshop/Garage. I sure picked the wrong thread to start with.

Great work and I look forward to seeing more.

Cdubu52

I am honored that you gave me your first post
Welcome to the garage journal gang
good luck with your hunt for ideas, there are many great garages here to inspire us all

Thanks for your kind thoughts

Don

 

[don long]

Herb

You blew me away when you said you found the ad for the saw that I bought!!

Thanks for the help. I looked up vintage machinery but was unsucessful in finding anything on the saw. I'll keep looking. I noticed that you had drilled out the fastners on your case. are you planning to use pop rivits to reinstall them?

I put the top of my case in the hand blast cabinet and with glass bead started removing the rust. It came off very easily (what little I have done) I only found one small ding in my case and removed it with one light tap on a punch and my metal file.
the handle is cracked and one screw mount broken off but being it's plastic I have some special epoxy products from the Wurth company that will fix that.

Thanks for the tip on the blade insert I will follow up on that.
I'll be busy this week end so I won't get back to the saw til monday
and I will be posting the progress soon

Thanks again for all you help and inspiration

Don

 

[Davenr]

Hi Don,

Keeping an eye on all of your activity from Sydney, Australia! Heading to SEMA in November and wanted to know if 4 or 5 of us can visit with you on Sunday 2nd November. Made a presentation last week in Newcastle on SEMA but started with showing your garage to the attendees-they were all very impressed!
Jeff Hendler will also be coming over again if the date works for you.

cheers David

 

[don long]

Thanks David

Of course you are welcome to bring some friends over

That date is good and Ann will be sending you an e-mail
Looking forward to your visit

Don

 

[AZhitman]

Don, I've spent the last week reading a few pages at a time, and enjoying this chronicle of the Party Garage immensely. I've gotten lots of good ideas from it.

Would you mind showing us a little more of the workshop areas? I'm thinking you have to have some sort of "system" for organizing tools and supplies - I'm curious about this!

I'm finally getting to build my "dream garage" as well - It'll be kind of a garage / shop / museum / man cave... Still under construction:

Datsun Ranch

I have several Datsun buddies who live in Riverside - My wife and I would love to see your place next time we're out that way.

Thanks for sharing your talents, your vision, and your efforts with the rest of us.

 

[Kevin54]

Don....I've said it before and I'll say it again.....everything is absolutely FANTASTIC.


Now, you are taking care of my aluminum phone booth aren't you? It looks like the top is sort of bent up. We can't be having that. With all of the perfection that flows around your place, you need to be taking care of the booth.

Kevin
As per your request. I worked on the roof of the phone booth today and took most of the sway out of the top
Before

My fork lift and a hydraulic jack

Holding the booth in place while I pushed up the center of the roof
the floor is too weak to withstand the presure

Glad to see you got my booth back in shape. I was getting awful worried about it being all bent up.

I'm loving the Sinclair sign. Your place is something I can only dream about having. We'll hook up some day for lunch. Chances are you be here before I make it out your way. But if I make it out your way, I want the "Grand Tour". I know just by what you show on here would have to be about the same as going through the Henry Ford Museum.