Above 1200 Sq/FT Cleaning Up My Shop

[oldironfarmer]

So the "Magnet List" continues to grow. We all know that there is a strong "tractor magnet" that draws old autos and tractors straight to Andy's farm. Now we hear that there is a "copper magnet" along with an "aluminum magnet" that can attract random power fixtures. This list seems to grow daily. Now it seems there is less of a reason to go to town as town seems to be drawn to Andy's farm--a piece at a time.

That was good!

You're not serious, are you?

Funniest thing, when people started dragging in tractors to sell I could have been offended that they thought I had junk. In reality, they lost a lot of bargaining power.

Remember the 41 Chevy coupe? My brother in law said that is his dream car, not 40, but 41. Hmmm, gives me incentive to fix it up.

Thanks for the humor!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy, I heard (and always use) it this way: "A poor craftsman blames his tools"

It sure kept me from complaining about my tools, from an early age. My dad would not stand for it. That evolved into using my worst tools until they had to be thrown out. Rarely has that happened, a few plastic box knives (why did they ever make them) and drill bits sharpened until they were too short or the web became too thick. I can't seem to grasp that I have plenty of good tools and will never wear them out. I still grab the older wrenches first. And those that went through my fire. It's a disease.

The only time I blamed my tools was on the job. When I was supervising engineers I occasionally would tell an unhappy manager "this is the quality of personnel the company has hired, when you have this quality for tools this is the result you get".

Thanks for stopping in!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Hard rain today, and I still have roof leaks to fix. It's hard to find them when it is dry. So I got my tubes of roofing tar and plugged leaks from the bottom. Three tubes worth, and only have one more place where there is a small seep.

While I was cleaning a spot to set a ladder I came across a slugging wrench. It's for about a 2-1/4" nut.

It was being thrown away when I got it, and I have never used it, and I don't regret having it. Maybe it should go on the wall someplace.

I crawled in the attic over the Skelly Garage (behind the wall of the new mezzanine) to make sure there were no leaks in that roof (I found and fixed one). Insulators had covered the walkway so I shoveled it off as I crawled in. This is the view from almost forty feet into the attic.

This afternoon I finally got around to pouring the last furnace tile.

The refractory does not act like concrete. It is mixed pretty dry but still flows well. If it were mortar there would be no problem mounding it around the nozzle form. It will trowel up just fine and then sags back down. I kept after it until it was starting to set and I didn't want to work it after it started to thicken as that breaks bonds and weakens it. This will do.

I think it went well, I'll open the forms tomorrow and find out for sure.

I still have a floor and arch (roof) to make, but I need to start curing these pieces so hooking up the new stove is next.

Thanks for dropping in!!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Took the form off the last furnace piece. Should have greased the burner flare form, I had to really whack it to get it out, but no damage.

With the four pieces together this is how the burner fits in to the furnace.

The flare form is laying in front of the burner opening it made.

The square on the burner penetration is the same size as the insulating brick.

The door installation crew showed up late morning and set to work.

Used some fiberglass tub surround left over from a rent house (many years ago) to make a form for the furnace floor. I'm using an old disc 19-1/2" in diameter for the base.

I plan to use the base shape for the furnace and also in a brick only furnace to melt aluminum castings with steel still attached. A drain hole in the bottom will let the aluminum drain out and collect in a trench. Then it can be broken up to remelt for casting. The disc already has said hole

Here's the mud going in

And pour finished

The guys finished the door

15 ft wide and 13' 2" tall

And I made a base for the oven I plan to cure the furnace in

I'll make a drawer for it sometime. Hated to waste the space.

Thanks for looking in!

 

[1/2 Cup]

Andy, your new door looks a treat..

Apologies for not dropping in a little more often, I do have a little catching up to do..

Regards

 

[dlcwent]

Are you sure the door is going to be big enough? I'm also wondering how much it'll move in those OK. winds you have there.

Looks great (...)Andy (now I don't know what to call you anymore). I did like Awesome Andy as it has a nice ring to it but I don't want to offend you. Don't worry, I'll come up with something.

I'm impressed with the fire box you've created. I'm sure it'll live up to your expectations. And I'm not being facetious.

Still pondering a westerly trip.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy, your new door looks a treat..

Apologies for not dropping in a little more often, I do have a little catching up to do..

Regards

Thanks for stopping in!

Closing in the shop does make it look a little, umm, closed in. Even though I've done nothing but line the walls it looks smaller to me.

Are you sure the door is going to be big enough? I'm also wondering how much it'll move in those OK. winds you have there.

Looks great (...)Andy (now I don't know what to call you anymore). I did like Awesome Andy as it has a nice ring to it but I don't want to offend you. Don't worry, I'll come up with something.

I'm impressed with the fire box you've created. I'm sure it'll live up to your expectations. And I'm not being facetious.

Still pondering a westerly trip.

I hope the door is big enough. My bale wagon is a little over 12 ft tall, and the Haybine (mower/conditioner) barely fits through a 14 ft gate. Although it is not necessary to get all your equipment into the shop it sure is handy and allows work in inclement weather.

The door is designed for wind, it has a wind brace on most every panel. But time will tell.

HA! You came up with Lazy Andy and now Lyndon has appropriated my name?

The jury is still out on the furnace. I thought I could do this with just a little more effort than pouring a single can between two forms but it has proven to be a fair amount of effort. On the plus side, having the form I can make a new quarter segment easily now to replace a deteriorated one, and I still feel having the joints will help avoid cracking and failure. A firebox is pretty simple - insulate and shoot flame in and it will get hot. Arch design to come!!

Go west, young man! Oh, I guess that's already taken.

Thanks for dropping in!

I'm hoping to slow down on building and get back to cleaning (with appropriate foundry work along the way).

 

[drivesitfar]

ANDY: who in their right mind would call you LAZY? hell the Zumba teacher can't even do that cause you are the only one that shows up for class.

1) Garage door installed and ready to be trimmed and finished.
2) final piece made with spout hole and nice job getting the spout mold out without cracking it. is the bottom and top going to hold the 4 pieces together or are you planning on making a metal strap to hold them in place?
3) had time to upgrade your electrical and still a clear mind to ask for valuable scraps you might be able to use.
4) showed us some 50+ year old tools that you may or may not have a use for.
5) probably planning on building another pole building so you can have one place clean and ready to store some fresh car and truck purchases
6) maybe sold a few cars and trucks and properties that you failed to mentioned
7) cooked meals for you and your bride
8) and i'm sure i'm missing more than a few things and that was just a list for a couple days.

I just wanted to mention that I'M JEALOUS of your drive that isn't always flowing through my veins and hoping some day i can be as LAZY!!!

it's a good thing i log on everyday to GJ and always check your thread or i'd never be able to keep up. between you and 1/2 Cup i bet you two could solve WORLD PEACE if asked to.

cheers and have a great day!!

 

[don long]

Ok Andy I'm here to check out your progress from last week but too many pages have gone by so I'll just spot check.

I'm likin the new door and don't understand the furnace so I'll be watchin for more info

Don

 

[Growlertdi]

Andy, I look in on your thread regularly. it has provided me much motivation.

That furnace you are making is turning out quite nice.y and I wouldn't know what to do with a garage door that big here on my 1/4 acre village lot.

I have finally started my own thread FWIW. link in the signature area down there.

 

[oldironfarmer]

ANDY: who in their right mind would call you LAZY? hell the Zumba teacher can't even do that cause you are the only one that shows up for class.

Good point, except since I'm left handed I've heard it said that I'm in my right mind. Psychiatrists would argue that point. But I call myself lazy. But thanks for the vote of confidence.

1) Garage door installed and ready to be trimmed and finished.
This was installed by a contractor
2) final piece made with spout hole and nice job getting the spout mold out without cracking it. is the bottom and top going to hold the 4 pieces together or are you planning on making a metal strap to hold them in place?
The top has to be removable. And what you are seeing so far is the high temperature liner. Soft insulating brick goes around this and then some type of container. Maybe sheet metal, maybe banding.
3) had time to upgrade your electrical and still a clear mind to ask for valuable scraps you might be able to use.
That's just being incredibly cheap
4) showed us some 50+ year old tools that you may or may not have a use for. I rest my case
5) probably planning on building another pole building so you can have one place clean and ready to store some fresh car and truck purchases

6) maybe sold a few cars and trucks and properties that you failed to mentioned
Haven't sold any cars or trucks I've had two properties returned lately
7) cooked meals for you and your bride
You'd have to talk to her about the quality of the meals
8) and i'm sure i'm missing more than a few things and that was just a list for a couple days.
Naps, naps, naps

I just wanted to mention that I'M JEALOUS of your drive that isn't always flowing through my veins and hoping some day i can be as LAZY!!!
I like your confidence in me

it's a good thing i log on everyday to GJ and always check your thread or i'd never be able to keep up. between you and 1/2 Cup i bet you two could solve WORLD PEACE if asked to.
You need to check in to keep me in line
I'll bet if we had world peace 1/2 and I could solve it and fix the problem

Reminds me of a poster from the seventies: "Visualize Whirled Peas"

cheers and have a great day!!

Thank you! It was a great day!! Thanks for dropping in!

Ok Andy I'm here to check out your progress from last week but too many pages have gone by so I'll just spot check.

I'm likin the new door and don't understand the furnace so I'll be watchin for more info

Don

Thanks for the kind words! The furnace is just to replace the brick box I've been using: more efficiency and tighter should save fuel and melt aluminum faster. We'll see

Andy, I look in on your thread regularly. it has provided me much motivation.

That furnace you are making is turning out quite nice.y and I wouldn't know what to do with a garage door that big here on my 1/4 acre village lot.

I have finally started my own thread FWIW. link in the signature area down there.

Thank you! If another person is motivated by my efforts there is some good in it after all!

Thanks for all the visits today!!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Short update for today. I spent a lot of time spray edging the yard and killing out poison ivy. But did manage a few minutes of Shed Time. Made up an extension cord for the oven and tried it out. Looks like it will work fine. So I put some refractory in it and ran it up to 200F for initial dryout. Then I thought to put a thermocouple into it to check the temperature.

Initial temperature looked good. Then I watched it through a heating cycle, was surprised the oven didn't cycle on until 165F and then heated to 245F. My thermometer showed 205F average. I was surprised but I suppose a cake or piece of refractory will be closer to the average.

I also realized the top and bottom will not go into the oven so I'll have to cure them in my big kiln. For that I have to get a temperature controller wired up.

Thanks for visiting!

 

[BBChevro]

Hey Andy, I'm playing catch-up with your thread again - I seem to do a lot of that lately.

I usually avoid commenting until catch-up is complete - so that I don't lose where I'm up to (the struggle is real ).

However, I just noticed that you had a birthday last week - so I can't let that slip by any longer.

I know that it's a (very) belated greeting, but as they say "better late than never"...
Happy (belated) Birthday young Andy.

 

[jbmatth]

Andy,
Sorry for the late reply, but better late than never. The audit was an audit, there is always something to find and I still have a job for now at least. As for rain, yes we had plenty, our gravel road is now mostly dry but very rutted up. I was able to mow most of my yard yesterday after pulling a trailer out of a ditch and it was slick in some places. Check my thread in the upcoming days to find out the rest of the story.

By the way congrats on the new door, but the top looks a little drafty.
JB

 

[oldironfarmer]

Hey Andy, I'm playing catch-up with your thread again - I seem to do a lot of that lately.

I usually avoid commenting until catch-up is complete - so that I don't lose where I'm up to (the struggle is real ).

However, I just noticed that you had a birthday last week - so I can't let that slip by any longer.

I know that it's a (very) belated greeting, but as they say "better late than never"...
Happy (belated) Birthday young Andy.

Thanks for the Birthday Wishes

Heck, mister, I'm only 17. And I'm having the best time of my life

Andy,
Sorry for the late reply, but better late than never. The audit was an audit, there is always something to find and I still have a job for now at least. As for rain, yes we had plenty, our gravel road is now mostly dry but very rutted up. I was able to mow most of my yard yesterday after pulling a trailer out of a ditch and it was slick in some places. Check my thread in the upcoming days to find out the rest of the story.

By the way congrats on the new door, but the top looks a little drafty.
JB

Glad you could mow. We're looking at more rain forecast for this week.

I don't want to get the building to tight. Ventilation is important for health, you know. Plus I do a bit of welding in the shop. I think it is just right.

But thanks for noticing! I thought no one would comment. I can't insulate a sheetrock until I get the sliding doors down (access to bolts from inside) and once the doors are off I have a 2x12 to put up on the outside then the metal siding.

Thanks for the comments guys!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Here we go again! More playing in the mud!!

Time to build an arch for the furnace. The roof in a furnace is called an arch. Probably came from brick arches in old fireboxes but now flat or not the top is the arch. And mine will be arch shaped

Planning on using a 16" disc for a form. Reverse of the floor (yes, the bottom of a furnace is called a floor, but the top is not a roof, it's still the arch) I want the dish down on this form. And I want a lop around the perimeter so I can put a compression band around it to lift with and help hold it together after it cracks (yes, refractory will crack under use, the trick is to use it as long as possible cracked or not). The lip will be created by a 1" wide board around the disc.

Board on the left is marked (look close, I had trouble seeing it) and the one on the right is cut.

Got lucky on this cut. The board hit the saw pedestal just before I finished the cut.

Form is in place and caulked, almost ready for pouring.

The cut's not that bad, it's smeared caulk.

For the gas vent/charge hole I set the bandsaw at 2 degrees and cut a 4" disc out of 2x6, then painted it.

A little paint for release agent

And it's ready to pour

And it's poured

While I was doing that I was cooking the first segment in the oven. First two hours at 175F, then two hours at 300F, then two hours at 500F. When I get my temperature controller hooked up I'll cook it at 900F in a kiln.

Thanks for looking in!

 

[bolensboneyard]

Andy keep it up and you will get me to stop cutting grass and start building a kiln or something to melt or fire stuff in. Oh ****. Here comes Ginny with the tractor keys again.

 

[drivesitfar]

ANDY: i know you could have probably bought your new propane fired oven, but i'm grateful that you wanted to build one so we'll all know how if we need to.

it's looking pretty cool if you ask me and once you start melting big items of aluminum and other metals are you going to change the molds from the muffin pans to maybe wash tubs?

cheers

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy keep it up and you will get me to stop cutting grass and start building a kiln or something to melt or fire stuff in. Oh ****. Here comes Ginny with the tractor keys again.

I'm not sure what the draw is to melt metal in a controlled situation, but I just love it. Don't try it, you might get hooked.

ANDY: i know you could have probably bought your new propane fired oven, but i'm grateful that you wanted to build one so we'll all know how if we need to.

Actually I could not find one that seemed suitable. And they seem incredibly simple to build. At least before you start. It really is simple, just several pieces. Most furnaces I could find were quite small, relied on ceramic fiber blanket (which is hazardous when fired) and pretty costly. Industrial furnaces are astronomically high. I also want to convert to used oil at some point, and that is a DIY burner. I've not seen a furnace like I'm building, but the basics are the same.

it's looking pretty cool if you ask me and once you start melting big items of aluminum and other metals are you going to change the molds from the muffin pans to maybe wash tubs?

cheers

Thanks for the kind words! Melting big items will still be cast as muffins. They are just a convenient size to charge the crucible with when you want to make a casting. If I start melting outside a crucible I'll be putting the melt into trenches and then cutting it up.

Thanks for stopping in, guys!!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Started on a bench for my South Bend lathe. An old fire door (actually it was a mis-cut new one but I've had it for twenty years) and 2x4's.

I'm cooking furnace parts full time.

Pulled off the sliding doors today

Got the last 2x12 in place and started on the metal covering.

Glad to have my helper show up!

Got the door opening all trimmed out and finished

Got to figure out what to do with the old doors now

This has changed the look of my shop

Thanks for stopping by!!

 

[Grumblebum]

Andy if I could walk out to that every day and tinker I think I'd be a happy camper.

Well done.

Will bob come and grade the front there now ?

GB

 

[Finallygotit]

^^^^^^^

What GB said!

 

[drivesitfar]

Andy: i'll throw in my vote for having something like you have especially if it comes with a HELPER!!

do we call you the MUFFIN MAN cause i'm guessing you'll have a few at the pace i think you are going to be making them soon.

how did the last mold come out and pretty creative ideas you had making it BTW?

cheers.

 

[-Brent-]

It looks great! How long do you think it will take for the bright stuff to blend in a bit better?

 

[BUGTHUG]

I need to come down and TAG your building.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Andy, now your garage really looks the goods.

Well done..

 

[Finallygotit]

I need to come down and TAG your building.

OK, that right there is funny!

 

[JC23]

One of them doors would like pretty Kool with a big ol Rat Fink on it!

Which one?

 

[TIMI]

A good picture comes
So there is still, on the right side of the place, for creative embodiment.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy if I could walk out to that every day and tinker I think I'd be a happy camper.

Well done.

Will bob come and grade the front there now ?

GB

Thank you! I'm pretty happy with it now. Just need to get finished up so I can get on to more stuff. Like melting aluminum. And getting a 48 COE on the road

I'm thinking about a concrete pad or two, but the grading is really done. Weeds and a floor lift are kind of making it look shabby.

^^^^^^^

What GB said!

Thank you!

Andy: i'll throw in my vote for having something like you have especially if it comes with a HELPER!!

do we call you the MUFFIN MAN cause i'm guessing you'll have a few at the pace i think you are going to be making them soon.

how did the last mold come out and pretty creative ideas you had making it BTW?

cheers.

Thank you!! Unfortunately, the shop didn't come with a helper. I've been having to hire him It's really hard for me to hire someone to work at my place. He has been renovating houses for me and does a great job and eager to work. It really is letting me get more stuff done.

Muffin man? I guess I need to wear loose shirts.

Update on the arch cast coming

It looks great! How long do you think it will take for the bright stuff to blend in a bit better?

Several years. Funniest thing, I like the look of fresh renovation. So I don't mind if it blends in or not. Main thing is keeping the weather out. I've always been too cheap to pay for painted metal. I admire the beautiful places other people have, but it's just not for me.

I need to come down and TAG your building.

I do have security cameras. But come on down anyway!!

Andy, now your garage really looks the goods.

Well done..

Thank you very much!!

OK, that right there is funny!

One of them doors would like pretty Kool with a big ol Rat Fink on it!

Which one?

I was thinking next door...

A good picture comes
So there is still, on the right side of the place, for creative embodiment.

Thank you!!

Thanks everyone for stopping in and taking the time to comment. Kind comments are invigorating.

 

[BBChevro]

Great work on the furnace and the new door Andy.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Had to go to the County Seat to file a deed and mortgage today. That always takes until noon, but I had a nice time visiting with the folks at the courthouse. Our County Clerk is named Moles. I always tell them I will bring poison peanuts next time because I've heard they have moles. The help loves it, not oto sure about Ms. Moles.

Got the plug out of the arch and flipped it over. Took off the form but the disc was stuck tight.

So I got a punch and gave the disc a sharp rap and it popped loose.

Finished putting the lathe bench together.

I spent some time getting my engine hoist dug out (I originally bought it to assemble my new lathe) to lift the lathe to the bench. Then my helper showed up and I asked him to help and it was a ten second job to get it up.

I can work alone but help is nice.

Then it was just a matter of bolting it down and getting the motor mounted and aligned.

The motor swivels on it's base to tighten the flat belt drive. I only have part of the overcenter belt tightener so I need to make something for it. When I used this lathe before I propped the motor up with a piece of wood.

The belt is a strip I cut off of a wider food service belt. Round baler lacing with a piece of baling wire for a pin. This is how I loaned it out years ago. When he brought it back he informed me that i needed a new belt. If I could find the right leather I'd put a leather belt back on it.

Also finished cooking the last quarter shell for the furnace today. Got to cure the arch and floor in the kiln, so that's next. My haired man is painting tonight

Thanks for stopping in, one and all!!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Great work on the furnace and the new door Andy.

Thank you!

 

[Craptain]

That is quite a chuck on such a little lathe. Who built the lathe? It is similar to my Atlas 618 but different in several ways also. Like for instance I don't have flat belt drive. I also suspect you are far more productive with it than I am.

 

[ajohno]

Great job on the lathe bench Andy. I also like the look of the lathe.

 

[dlcwent]

Andy, seriously do you stop long enough to eat and sleep???? I wouldn't want to show up at your place for a visit because I'd feel I was keeping you from doing something.( I'll still chance it)

Really, you do seem to get a lot of things done everyday and how you find time to take pictures and keep all of us informed is astounding. Ah ha, Astounding Andy. That's it.
You can't take offence at that can you?

All of it is impressive.

 

[jimreed2160]

Overheard at NASA

Engineer--The international space station has developed a wobble. It looks serious.

Chief--Round up some bailing wire and sheet tin. Get Andy up on the next flight.

Engineer--OK, but the cows are not gonna like him being gone.

 

[oldironfarmer]

That is quite a chuck on such a little lathe. Who built the lathe? It is similar to my Atlas 618 but different in several ways also. Like for instance I don't have flat belt drive. I also suspect you are far more productive with it than I am.

One you get the chuck to spinning there's not stopping it! The lathe handles it well.

It's a South Bend, built about 1941. The ways are well worn so I loaned it out after I bought a new one. He used it for several years doing steam locomotive repair. Relief valve seats, etc. Genuine steampunk. Now it is destined for pattern work. I'm probably going to put the three jaw chuck back on it for most pattern work I'm expecting to do. I take forever to dial in a four jaw chuck. My buddy the machinist won't use a three jaw because of the built in tolerance. But he does real work.

Thanks for stopping in!

Great job on the lathe bench Andy. I also like the look of the lathe.

Thank you, I like using "found" materials. I think the old fire doors will hold the little lathe stable enough.

As I was bolting the lathe down I was thinking "If I was a real GJ member I would rebuild this lathe and refinish it prior to putting it into service". My excuse is I like the patina

Thanks for visiting!!

Andy, seriously do you stop long enough to eat and sleep???? I wouldn't want to show up at your place for a visit because I'd feel I was keeping you from doing something.( I'll still chance it)

Really, you do seem to get a lot of things done everyday and how you find time to take pictures and keep all of us informed is astounding. Ah ha, Astounding Andy. That's it.
You can't take offence at that can you?

All of it is impressive.

Come on over, it's not very far on a big enough map. I really do like to have visitors, just wear clothes you can get dirty. The whole place is dirty.

Well, I like the kind words, even if they are in sarcasm

I like the "*** Sounding Andy" Hee Haw Hee Haw

Overheard at NASA

Engineer--The international space station has developed a wobble. It looks serious.

Chief--Round up some bailing wire and sheet tin. Get Andy up on the next flight.

Engineer--OK, but the cows are not gonna like him being gone.

You come up with some good stuff!! But the cows don't care right now. After I quit their daily feeding for the summer they treat me like an alien. I even heard talk of building a wall...

Thanks for stopping in, guys.

Just a reminder, if I ever offend you, you must have misunderstood.

 

[-Brent-]

Just a reminder, if I ever offend you, you must have misunderstood.

I got a chuckle out of this one!

 

[oldironfarmer]

I got a chuckle out of this one!

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for admitting you found my attempt to avoid offending people to be amusing. I trust you didn't mean to offend me. What if I'd been serious? Oh, never mind, I'm never really serious.

I finally got around to making a drill sharpening video. I'm not good at this, Whew Took the video 5 hours to load, but it seems to work.

I hope you get the point!!

How I Sharpen Drill Bits