Scott's Texas Haven - 34x28 Attached

[s_blaylock]

Small update: Got a file cabinet to replace that white plastic bin. good news is bins fit in there almost perfectly. I just screwed them to the back panel so they dont move







I am using the bottom two drawers for all my short and/or small metal scraps that i like to hang on to.





Took a good trip with some good friends out to Caballo Lake, New Mexico for a little rock crawling. First time pulling with the new truck. It did great and the Jeep kicked **** as always.







Nothing wrong with a little rig humpin on a mountain top

 

[s_blaylock]

I had a piece of wood from an old workbench shelf. I threw it on top to make some more work space available.

 

[Falcon67]

Quite a nice setup going on down there. We used to live a little ways south of you in Spring.

 

[Duker]

Looking good! Love the rock crawling Jeep! I am east of you near Humble.

*

 

[zmotorsports]

Looking great. You really have a nice looking shop there to work in.

Mike.

 

[s_blaylock]

Thanks guys! I get more excited as each piece of the puzzle falls into place.

 

[s_blaylock]

I had some time this weekend to clean up and finally put tools away that i had packed for the New Mexico trip. The few remaining boxes I had sitting around got unpacked so i'm feeling really good about that.

I put up a shelf over the work bench. Keep in mind i plan to expand this workbench to ~8 ft and add another HF44" box underneath.


The lathe got put into place and sitting on its own feet. Tooling and accessories unpacked and loaded up.


Heres a closeup of the tailstock tray i made for it and loaded with tools. I got this idea from Tom Lipton at oxtools on youtube.


Air compressor and hose reel temporarily plumbed up to get me by for a while. I would really like to do copper lines with drops near each machine, work bench, and garage doors. We'll see how long it takes me to get to that...


Here is the painted fishing stuff shelf and I made up a few hooks out of scrap round bar to hang extension cords.


And my shop buddy didnt feel much like taking a picture this time.

 

[s_blaylock]

Another project completed that's been on the list quite a while. I wanted to attach this 3/16" steel sheet to the butcher block top on my rolling table. I wanted the holes and countersinks to be nice and straight and I didnt think i could do that by hand, so..



Progress...



Finished. This will be my secondary work bench and welding table



Here is my bench grinder stand that some might find interesting. The base is an oil field drill bit with the cones cut off. Its heavy, but still not quite heavy enough as the grinder tends to walk around when its on.



And just a couple overall shots at where i'm at now





Thanks!

 

[MT Mike]

Here is my bench grinder stand that some might find interesting. The base is an oil field drill bit with the cones cut off. Its heavy, but still not quite heavy enough as the grinder tends to walk around when its on.

I had the same problem with my grinder stand. Picked up an inexpensive silicone baking mat and glued it to the bottom of the stand, now it doesn't walk at all when I am using it.

 

[zmotorsports]

Looking very nice.

Mike.

 

[gipraw]

Looks great .. I am in Cypress, so not too far away.

Another project completed that's been on the list quite a while. I wanted to attach this 3/16" steel sheet to the butcher block top on my rolling table. I wanted the holes and countersinks to be nice and straight and I didnt think i could do that by hand, so..

Nicely done, but you missed the perfect chance to justify buying a mag drill.

 

[s_blaylock]

I had the same problem with my grinder stand. Picked up an inexpensive silicone baking mat and glued it to the bottom of the stand, now it doesn't walk at all when I am using it.

Yeah i need to do something for sure. Possibly a rubber mat and heavier base plate so i can lean on it more.

Looking very nice.

Thanks Z!

Looks great .. I am in Cypress, so not too far away. Nicely done, but you missed the perfect chance to justify buying a mag drill.

Thanks for stopping in! And yes, I said to myself while drilling each hole "i need a mag drill"

 

[s_blaylock]

A few things have happened over the last couple weeks. I got tired of walking across the garage all the time for paper towels, so I built a simple holder right on the lathe tray. I will probably put more of these up around the garage at some point.





I started to put up my lights finally. The six T8 fixtures were already there. I am adding a bunch of the Costco LED fixtures that I got a while back.



Got them mounted and wired up. Quite a bit of difference. Its like turning on the sun now. I put up 9 total LED fixtures in addition to the 6 existing T8 ones. I have three LED fixtures left and I'm not sure if I need them or not. I might hang one directly over the work bench...we'll see.





I put in some of those cheap amazon stick on LED strips up under my sink cabinets and wired in a switch. Its not ideal as the transformer takes up an outlet socket, but i didnt want to mess with installing an outlet inside the cabinet at this time.





Had a little side project to do for the wifey. Our new guest bed frame had casters on the feet and it made the bed too wobbly. So i machined up some aluminum feet for it. Good and sturdy. Our guests can sleep, or do whatever they please in full confidence now





Thanks for checking in!

 

[zmotorsports]

Very nice. I love having the tools to know out kool kustom items like that.

Great job.

Mike.

 

[dirt_dobber]

probably the nicest bed casters I have ever seen -wait, no - they are the nicest I have seen.

 

[j p smith]

I noticed lately I can't always see the pictures, just the black box with an x. Why is that?

 

[Salim]

Great shop! I had a question on how you wired you Costco LEDs. From the pics looks like you ran the cord they came with into your ceiling, how is it wired once its in there? Hardwired with Romex and daisy chained from one to another? I plan to do my install this weekend and appreciate any tips! Thanks!

 

[s_blaylock]

Very nice. I love having the tools to know out kool kustom items like that.

Great job.

Mike.

Thanks Mike, me too!

probably the nicest bed casters I have ever seen -wait, no - they are the nicest I have seen.

'Preciate it! a little excessive yeah, but its quality shop time.

I noticed lately I can't always see the pictures, just the black box with an x. Why is that?

Not sure boss, my pictures are hosted on photobucket and seems like most everyone else can see them.

Great shop! I had a question on how you wired you Costco LEDs. From the pics looks like you ran the cord they came with into your ceiling, how is it wired once its in there? Hardwired with Romex and daisy chained from one to another? I plan to do my install this weekend and appreciate any tips! Thanks!

Yes exactly. I cut the plug end off and ran the wire up into the attic. I put in a junction box that taps into the existing wire circuit, then ran some romex to each group of lights. I ran it such that i could connect two lights at each junction box, just a little less wiring doing it that way.

 

[bmw57isetta]

Scott:

25 bonus points for the Whataburger cup in post #41! Nice to see a little orange and white in there if you get my drift.

Kidding aside, great garage and projects to go with it.

 

[s_blaylock]

Scott:

25 bonus points for the Whataburger cup in post #41! Nice to see a little orange and white in there if you get my drift.

Kidding aside, great garage and projects to go with it.

Lol, I was freaking out trying to find the cup in post 41! I do see it in post 47 though!

Orange and white ain't so bad as long as it's only on my whataburger stuff

Thanks for taking a look!

 

[hoho98925]

Nice shop and some great toys as well.

 

[bmw57isetta]

Scott: Sorry about the blank round on the post number. Glad you found it.

As an Aggie, you'll appreciate this one. New preacher started at our church a few years ago. He and his wife were big Aggies and had just come from College Station. Everyone in the congregation was emailed to wear their orange and white Longhorn shirts on his first Sunday. He got up there at the pulpit for the first time, looked around and said "I've never seen so many Whataburger fans in one place at the same time". Brought the house down.

Now ... back to your garage.

 

[s_blaylock]

Nice shop and some great toys as well.

Thanks!

Scott: Sorry about the blank round on the post number. Glad you found it.

As an Aggie, you'll appreciate this one. New preacher started at our church a few years ago. He and his wife were big Aggies and had just come from College Station. Everyone in the congregation was emailed to wear their orange and white Longhorn shirts on his first Sunday. He got up there at the pulpit for the first time, looked around and said "I've never seen so many Whataburger fans in one place at the same time". Brought the house down.

Now ... back to your garage.

Lol! That's pretty good!

 

[s_blaylock]

Few things...picked up a roll of nice drawer liner stuff from amazon. Width and length happened to be perfect to fit all 10 drawers





My little buddy got some safety gear for Christmas, gloves and glasses.



Started on my material racks. Its really nice to have a table like this to lay weldments out and keep them flat. I highly recommend one.



A few welds. Not great but not terrible. I haven't been under the hood in quite a long time




Set outside in the Texas winter (~60F) to cool.



I just need to paint and cap the ends before i can hang on the wall. Hope to have that done soon.

 

[MacTexas]

Looks like you have a good helper there. Brings back memories of my helper except mine would have a superman cape around his neck. He is 32 now, they grow up fast.

Nice garage by the way.

 

[s_blaylock]

Looks like you have a good helper there. Brings back memories of my helper except mine would have a superman cape around his neck. He is 32 now, they grow up fast.

Nice garage by the way.

Thanks Mac! Yeah he's a hoot. I spend most of our garage time together trying to keep him out of metal chips or finding where he put all my screwdrivers and allen wrenches. He likes to get them out of my tool box and then place them in various holes throughout the garage. Good times.

I got the machine feet I ordered from McMaster, so I was excited to get them on the mill.







And my two chip throwing buddies are finally in place. I think i'm going to tear into the mill head and rebuild it before I do any projects on it though.



Thanks for checking in!

 

[cgd]

Great looking place. I like your file cabinet turned tool box.

 

[Kevin54]

I can't believe that this thread went two pages and no one mentioned the bandsaw.

 

[s_blaylock]

Great looking place. I like your file cabinet turned tool box.

Thanks and Gig'em!

I can't believe that this thread went two pages and no one mentioned the bandsaw.

Haha, i thought the same thing! thought for sure that would draw up a little conversation. Guess it'll be a little hidden gem tucked away in the middle of this thread now.

 

[Kevin54]

Thanks and Gig'em!



Haha, i thought the same thing! thought for sure that would draw up a little conversation. Guess it'll be a little hidden gem tucked away in the middle of this thread now.

I think it's pretty darn cool. You need to post up an article about it, because I figure that a few members would be all over it to make on for their self.

 

[jgregt]

Great garage.

Regarding windows, have you considered solar screens? They are a big help and can be removed if you want some more sunlight in the winter. Also gives you excellent privacy in the daytime.

Just a thought.

 

[darwyn]

I think it's pretty darn cool. You need to post up an article about it, because I figure that a few members would be all over it to make on for their self.

I have a similar saw that I got off from Craigslist. You used to be able to buy kits for them. Here is a link to mine. The reviews were not all positive ...

 

[dykstra]

Way cool garage!

 

[Saxaphool]

Per your attic door issue, I have a similar situation. When we bought the house it came with a metal paint roller extension handle with a hook riveted on the end. I can reach up and hook the plywood of the attic door and pull it down. Then I reach up and put the hook end under the top step of the folded ladder...I can then "lever" the folded ladder towards me and basically "catch" the ladder as it comes down. Certainly not elegant and did take me a few tries to perfect the technique....but it works.

I then reverse the process to put the attic ladder back up.

 

[s_blaylock]

Great garage.

Regarding windows, have you considered solar screens? They are a big help and can be removed if you want some more sunlight in the winter. Also gives you excellent privacy in the daytime.

Just a thought.

Thats an excellent idea! I will look into that!

I have a similar saw that I got off from Craigslist. You used to be able to buy kits for them. Here is a link to mine. The reviews were not all positive ...

Thanks for the link to your thread, nice saw you have there. Mine works well for what I do. I'm not ripping 4x4's on it or anything.

Way cool garage!

Thanks for stopping in!

Per your attic door issue, I have a similar situation. When we bought the house it came with a metal paint roller extension handle with a hook riveted on the end. I can reach up and hook the plywood of the attic door and pull it down. Then I reach up and put the hook end under the top step of the folded ladder...I can then "lever" the folded ladder towards me and basically "catch" the ladder as it comes down. Certainly not elegant and did take me a few tries to perfect the technique....but it works.

I then reverse the process to put the attic ladder back up.

Yeah i kind of figured a long pole is the best/easiest solution. I'm getting more comfortable with just grabbing the ladder and getting it down. I mounted the ladder close to it for just that reason. Thanks for the idea and thanks for checking in!

 

[s_blaylock]

Got some help to prime and paint my material racks



We think they look pretty dang rad



I also started tearing into the mill head. My good buddy had a great idea to mount a plate to the table with a post in order to stick the head on it. Made for easy removal and brings it down to a level i can work on it without a ladder



The inside is SUPER NASTY





This is where I'm at now. Besides from just being filthy, all the bearings, shafts, etc look and feel great. I will replace both belts while I'm in it and a few misc things. The only thing that feels a bit funny is one bad spot on the quill travel. I may tear into it a bit deeper to figure that out.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Have any big shots of the whole shop to get a feel for how everything is laid out?

Love the tailstock tool holder on your lathe. Tom Lipton is the man.

 

[Finallygotit]

I have torn a few of those drives apart. Yours is on a level of one of my worst. Man that was a filthy job. Glad the other parts are in working order.

 

[jarhead]

Nice work getting that Mill Head off, it's always fun tramming them in

 

[s_blaylock]

Have any big shots of the whole shop to get a feel for how everything is laid out?

Love the tailstock tool holder on your lathe. Tom Lipton is the man.

When i get some things cleaned up and put back in place, i'll remember to get a shot of the whole garage. There are a few in this thread that get most of it though.

I have torn a few of those drives apart. Yours is on a level of one of my worst. Man that was a filthy job. Glad the other parts are in working order.

Thanks! yes it is nasty. This Supermax has a cooling fan on the back of the head, so whatever environment it was in was super gross and blew it all into the head. It's dust, coolant, and whatever else was in the air. Really glad most of it just needs a good cleaning and lubing.

Nice work getting that Mill Head off, it's always fun tramming them in

Thanks! It came apart so easy that I'm sure it will be a true pain in the *** to put back together. Cant wait till im at the tramming part!