Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Mid-Century Moto Mecca Makeover

[hoho98925]

When I installed it she looked at it and, instead of saying, "wow, you're really killing it on your stainless welds" instead said, "Umm, why isn't it finished?" Huh? "Why can you see all the welds?"

Because they're amazing! Duh!

Umm, upon reflection, she's right. No one but me and a handful of people here give a dame about my nice stainless welds.

I give a damn about your nice welds!!!! Great Job!!!

 

[Choirboy]

I've been ghosting your build thread since before I was a member here and, like all the others, am blown away. I hope that your drive for perfection and self-betterment (is that a word?) doesn't cause you to short change the satisfaction of the amazing work you have done. Sure, all the posts might not all be 'garage' related, but all of us have GREATLY enjoyed seeing the house progress, and would be very sad if we couldn't continue following the progress! We are all cheering for you!

Don't feel down about your restoration taking this long. I'm restoring a foursquare farmhouse and am going on three years with no cabinets, outlets, or walls in the kitchen, no ceiling in the bedrooms, no paint on the siding, no money in the bank and not enough heat in the winter

We all have our three letter problems; your OCD has made your project go slowly but has created some beautiful masterpieces in the process, my ADD has made my project go slowly but has.... what was I saying? Anyway...

The reason for this post is a request that, next time you need to clean out the garage for something, could you take some photos of it as a whole? We've seen what you started with and most of the pieces as they went in, but I'm curious to see what the big picture looks like currently, though you may not consider it done. It looks great from what I can see in that last picture, when I can tear my eyes away from the gorgeous rumps of those three bikes!

 

[sakurama]

Don't feel down about your restoration taking this long. I'm restoring a foursquare farmhouse and am going on three years with no cabinets, outlets, or walls in the kitchen, no ceiling in the bedrooms, no paint on the siding, no money in the bank and not enough heat in the winter

We all have our three letter problems; your OCD has made your project go slowly but has created some beautiful masterpieces in the process, my ADD has made my project go slowly but has.... what was I saying? Anyway...

The reason for this post is a request that, next time you need to clean out the garage for something, could you take some photos of it as a whole?

Thanks! That makes me feel much better!

I know I hear from everyone that it's normal for this sort of thing to take too long and there's a part of me that knows if I ever became realistic instead of optimistic I would probably never start half the things I do. Just like if you knew all the trials and tribulations of a relationship you'd never fall in love - unrealistic enthusiasm provides the spark - unrealistic expectations are the fuel.

Actually, every once in a while someone might write me or post something here that gets me to go back and look at this from the beginning and I'm kinda amazed. It's really come a long way. That gives me a lot of hope.

And that's a great idea about shooting the garage! In fact I think it would be a good idea to go back to some of those initial shots and just reshoot them again with the good camera and the same lens, etc. as some good "mid-point" references. I will try to do it sooner than later.

Also, I'm easing up a bit on the house because I really wanted to get a bit of balance back by having some time to work on bikes, ride bikes and just hang out. I can dig in but I also am very good at relaxing.

So thanks for the suggestion Choirboy - I'll take you up on that.

Gregor

 

[chickenbisket]

I'm going to chime in and say I'd really like to see how the garage is looking now that you've filled it up. Also remember this is Garage Journal and I'm sure I'm not the only one who would be really interested in seeing your amazing bike work. Please feel free to post photos of anything you're up to in your thread. Your work is always so well polished and you take such great photos that I would have still read this whole thread if it was nothing but pictures of the floors in your home.

 

[smschriefer]

The garage looks great. The house looks great. You've got an awesome family. An awesome job. A skill set that most only dream of. Heck, the most interesting man in the world is envious of you. You are the quintessential renaissance man. Now go do, that voodoo, that you do so well!

Is the black bike the Ducati you were looking at?

 

[neduro]

Following Gregor's threads on ADV got me started on this one, been lurking for a long time and figured it was time to join and add my $0.02: Amazing work, Gregor, and well done for not taking the easy way out on seemingly anything.

I'm inspired for a few projects of my own...

 

[RaspPumpkinSeedPancakes]

...

And we got a new addition to the household...
...
Gregor

Ah. That's a good new addition, good choice. Hm, let's see some paw pads there... seal or chocolate? -- I'd bet seal, but chocolate points are great too. I once had a blue point/tabby mix. 'Twas the female Einstein in my household. lol. Smart cat.

 

[sakurama]

So I don't have too much to report on the house front and that's because my mom came and visited for a week. And also because right after the kitten we got...

A puppy! Like that's not a lot of work. Well, I knew it would be but it's turned out to be a very good puppy and the kids love her. It's lots of fun to watch the cat and dog play together.

I got my last "faux" inspection - for ventilation. I needed to have an inspection to keep my permit open and it was an easy one. I've been working on the trimming out the bathroom when I have a little time but the only thing that's standing in my way to finishing it is the vent.

I hope to have that finished this week before my next trip east. I'll try to post something tomorrow to get some momentum back.

I spent most of the weekend framing some art for a client and in-between coats of stain I tackled my chuck which seemed to have gone out of true pretty badly. It turns out the jaws got messed up so I made a fixture to hold my dremmel extension.

Then used a slow chuck rpm and a high dremmel rpm and used auto feed to advance the dremmel. It took it from about 12-15 thou to one thou so it's a decent improvement but not perfect.

Then, while working on that frame I got frustrated with the Festool clamps and dug out my Kreg Auto-max clamp and came upon an idea to make a T-hat type boss that could work on the Festool table.

Essentially the larger diameter is just a hair under 20mm (like 19.9mm) and then the narrow part is about 11mm and when you insert it into any of the holes in the table you can then just push or pull it to grab an edge and then clamp. It's very slick and works very quickly.

Okay, time to walk the puppy again and get some sleep. I'll try to get an overall garage shot soon but the place is a bit of a mess. Don't worry though, I won't forget.

Gregor

 

[KGB Pilot125]

That looks an awful lot like a blue merle great dane, except those ears look a bit small. Both my Danes had ears so big they could almost trip on them when they ran.

Great idea on the clamp. I get frustrated with the Festool ones all the time.

 

[sakurama]

She's half Australian Sheppard and half Golden so she should be pretty smart without being to hyper active. Hopefully. So far she's learned to sit and stay which isn't too bad for being only 8 weeks. Potty training is taking longer of course...

 

[Sham]

Great pictures as usual!

But... I demand a picture of puppy and kitten together! Yeah, I'm a sucker for animals, what can I say... Plus, what would be internet without kittens, right?

Keep on the great job, cheers from France.

 

[jrace1001]

I've got a Half Aussie/Half poodle. Shes a handfull but very loving. Thanks for the time it takes to put all of your hard work on display for all of us. It is much appreciated!

 

[KGB Pilot125]

I've got a Half Aussie/Half poodle. Shes a handfull but very loving. Thanks for the time it takes to put all of your hard work on display for all of us. It is much appreciated!

Yeah good point. I try to remember to take pics but it's a lot of work. And as far as writing posts a second grader could do better than I could.

 

[Vertigo Cycles]

Pretty cool clamp mod. It looks like Kreg makes a pretty burly clamp.

If you haven't already, check out the Frets.com machining page. http://www.frets.com/HomeShopTech/hstpages.html. It hasn't been updated for a while but Frank is a luthier and has made dozens, if not hundreds, of tools for his craft. Metal and wood...should be right up your alley. Somewhere in the list of links, I think he had a chuck truing technique that employed the use of a washer in the jaws to keep them loaded into the scroll while you touch up the jaws with the grinder. A thou is great for most people, but I have a suspicion you'll want it tighter and putting some load on the jaws might get you there.

 

[MotoDave]

I spent most of the weekend framing some art for a client and in-between coats of stain I tackled my chuck which seemed to have gone out of true pretty badly. It turns out the jaws got messed up so I made a fixture to hold my dremmel extension.

May be a redundant question, but any chance your lathe chuck is of the 'adjust-tru' type? The picture looks like there's a set screw behind the chuck key socket, if there are 4 of these they may be used to dial in the runout of the chuck, almost like a 4 jaw. They're made by Buck Chuck as well as a few other chuck manufacturers.

 

[sakurama]

May be a redundant question, but any chance your lathe chuck is of the 'adjust-tru' type? The picture looks like there's a set screw behind the chuck key socket, if there are 4 of these they may be used to dial in the runout of the chuck, almost like a 4 jaw. They're made by Buck Chuck as well as a few other chuck manufacturers.

Yup, and I did true it first and I checked it in its three different mounting positions, cleaned swarf from the mounts and double checked that the jaws were in the correct slots. The actual jaws had burs on the faces from a crash I guess. I know I was parting something at one point and it grabbed and snapped the tool. I've never crashed the tool post into the chuck so I'm guessing it was a time a part ripped from the jaws. I had trued it using precision ground rod but noticed that the chuck body and the rod were off so I trued the body and that's when I found the burrs on the jaws which I assumed we're causing the problem. I got the body to half a thou or less.

Sean, that site is in my bookmarks! Great info.

Gregor

 

[MotoDave]

Cool, I had a feeling you were on top of it already

I just picked up a 3 jaw Buck Adjust-Tru for my 1945 13" LeBlond Regal - along with the giant chunk of cast iron I am hoping to turn into a backing plate. Been having to use my 4 jaw pretty much all of the time since the 3 jaw that came on the lathe was worn beyond saving - well that's not true, it is now a nice welding positioner.

 

[sakurama]

Nice!

It's funny about the 4-jaws. I hate swapping chucks but every time I use the four I think it's really relaxing to center up the part and I tell myself I should use it more often. Then I put the six back on. The 5c collet closer is the real joy to use.

Gregor

 

[Just F Me]

Gregor, just curious, but which poly specifically are you using for the cabinets you have in your garage? I know it's Varathane that's it...? I love the look of your cabinets. Did you have to stain them or is it just the way it came out with just the poly.

Actually, would be great if you let me know the process you used. I think reading through it, you used a microfiber roller to apply the poly then you sanded? Poly again or no?

Thanks!

 

[slik560]

Hell...the templates and jigs that you build are beyond most of my actual woodworking projects! Nice to see things done right. Downright inspirational.

 

[hilld]

Gregor

Love, Love, Love - the license plate on the third bike. Of course the build and the garage as well. Another fellow PDX'er here, actually just made the jump across the river, but still local.

Keep the updates coming....

Derek

 

[sakurama]

Ha, that was my plate for when I commuted in NYC and would split the lanes of grid locked traffic - a bit of thumb in the eye and a bit of "ditch the cage and this could be you" but I'm guessing it was rarely taken like that. Yeah, that plate will go up on the garage wall.

My Ducati's plate was "ADIOS" and the joke was on me as that bike got stolen. I still have the plate though...

No updates right now but hopefully next week will see me back at it.

Gregor

 

[Just F Me]

I saw this video today...It was released last week by the Washington Post and immediately thought of your helper Jorge.

YOUR PROPERTY IS GUILTY UNTIL YOU PROVE IT INNOCENT

 

[Wanna Ride]

Gregor, just logged in to check on your status. Seems like you haven't been terribly busy on the house this summer, but sure involved in some cool shoots and the bike build.

Can't wait to see more progress on the house projects...

 

[sakurama]

I saw this video today...It was released last week by the Washington Post and immediately thought of your helper Jorge.

YOUR PROPERTY IS GUILTY UNTIL YOU PROVE IT INNOCENT

Wow, thanks for that link. It's amazing that such wholesale theft can be not just legal but incontestable. What the hell happened to the fourth amendment and it's protection from unreasonable search and seizure?

Worse still is that the money seized becomes police property enabling the expansion of the same seizure mechanism. Just amazing.

Gregor

 

[Just F Me]

BTW...needless to say, everything in this thread is amazing. Before seeing this thread, the only woodworking I've ever messed with was woodshop back in high school.

Thanks to the amazing work that I've seen Gregor do and how he's worked smarter, not harder (not that he hasn't worked hard on the house itself harder), with the assistance of some pretty sweet tools, I've dropped $2200 on Festool in the past few weeks. These are amazing tools that work together as a system. Domino and Kapex are next, but I might not get those till next year. The green koolaid is strong...

Now I just have to figure out how to use these tools and what I want to build...LOL.

 

[sakurama]

That's some funny ****.

It's a smart system and it's easy to get sucked in but damn if I've never regretted a single (Fes)tool I've bought. I have been prepping my KTM for the national KTM rally and I was in the middle of working on my bathroom vent so my stuff is still strewn about and every time I see them it gets me amped to get back to work. I just need the time.

Gregor

 

[qprey78]

Hi, i just spend a long time checking out your threat and i just can say you are doing an eversome work. go on posting i like

cheers

 

[TimRaleigh]

Yeah, this is part of why it works. (if you're interested in the color theory angle look into Josef Albers & Johannes Itten. Make the effort to get one of their books in your hand if you're really into this- having a good print of their color studies is much better than a computer screen.)

After I read this, quite by accident I found this link to a video on Josef Albers, color theory and the Albers museum from Dwell magazine on Vimeo.
Tim

 

[Nicnumber1]

I love this thread and all that you have done. I really would like to find a mid-century FLW type house to restore they have great lines. Is there a national database to search these types of homes for sale?

Thanks,
Keep up the great work.

 

[OHSCrifle]

Most cities that have MCM homes also have a couple Realtors who specialize.

 

[Showboy]

M C M rocks!!!

 

[Just F Me]

This is one of the first threads on Garage Journal that has got me to spend money... Here comes the green kool aid.

Not pictured is the Makita Track Saw I bought and also Festool MFT/3 and other things here and there. This thread is expensive

 

[hilld]

This is one of the first threads on Garage Journal that has got me to spend money... Here comes the green kool aid.

Not pictured is the Makita Track Saw I bought and also Festool MFT/3 and other things here and there. This thread is expensive

Hey I resemble that remark. It wasn't this thread that got me into Festool, but it was this thread that made me buy the Rotex 150 sander, after seeing how it cleaned up the painted ceiling. That sander is the bomb, especially in Rotex mode, it takes off the material in super fast fashion.

 

[Just F Me]

Hey I resemble that remark. It wasn't this thread that got me into Festool, but it was this thread that made me buy the Rotex 150 sander, after seeing how it cleaned up the painted ceiling. That sander is the bomb, especially in Rotex mode, it takes off the material in super fast fashion.

Did you buy a dust extractor too? I recently bought the ETS 150/3 sander since I only sand things like plywood right now and mainly am using it for finishing, I didn't need the power of the Rotex. I also wanted the smaller 3mm stroke for a finer finish oppose to the 5mm stroke of a Rotex 150. Also picked up the OF1400 router. What fantastic tools. A lot of people will complain about their expense, but like Gregor has said, he's never regretted a purchase and in my case, since I'm not an advanced woodworker, the tools have really made it easier for me to get accurate and precise cuts. Sanding with the ETS 150/3 is amazing. Dust free sanding is awesome!

 

[sakurama]

Wow, you guys buy your Koolaid in bulk eh?

Well, I'm glad to have made the introduction to Festool for those of you who haven't seen the stuff. I know I'm always thrilled to discover something that is right up my alley that I didn't know about before - it's a rare and exciting thing.

I wish I could post a house update but sadly September is the Christmas season for photographers so I've been very busy with gift guides and travel. When I got back from NYC I immediately dove into getting my KTM all wheel drive bike ready for the KTM rally which I'd promised myself I'd go to if the bike were done. It was a very busy rush to get the graphics done but with the help of Ben and a local vendor I got the bike done and shod in some new Woody's wheels and made it to Taos, NM for the rally. While the house is a long way from done the KTM is close enough that I can say it's finished... for now.

Here's some shots of the bike from Taos.

The graphics represent the fact that the bike was started in NYC (the right side is the street map of NYC, Brooklyn and NJ) and then finished in Portland (the left side is the topo lines of Mt. Hood) and I kept the line weights similar so it would have a consistent feel. New wheels with knobbies and orange rims to match finish the bike off nicely. The bike worked well and aside from one small excursion off the road it was a perfect weekend albeit a lot of driving for Ben and I as we drove straight through without sleeping to and from.

As soon as I got back I got another gig for the week so I'm hoping that I can get time next week to make some progress on the kitchen.

For now...

Gregor

 

[igormortis]

Looks fantastic!

Love those graphics - both the concept and execution. Got it immediately, before I read your explanation, though I've sadly never been to either place.

Great work as usual. (Came here from Adv - been lurking till now)

Edit: Please tell me you're doing a shoot of the bike in both locations! Even if you have to make the NYC location a composite.

 

[sakurama]

Looks fantastic!

Love those graphics - both the concept and execution. Got it immediately, before I read your explanation, though I've sadly never been to either place.

Great work as usual. (Came here from Adv - been lurking till now)

Edit: Please tell me you're doing a shoot of the bike in both locations! Even if you have to make the NYC location a composite.

Thanks but no. Besides the time factor I'm just happy the bike now resides here in Portland and I'd like to get the bike out to ride a bit more. I need to find some opportunities to test the AWD and also explore the surrounding areas.

Gregor

 

[igormortis]

Surely you can find some grimy lighting somewhere in Portland to stand in for NYC and shoot the actual location element when you're there.

 

[JasonJ]

Wow, you guys buy your Koolaid in bulk eh?

i bought a pencil