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Above 1200 Sq/FT building my BIG PARTY garage

Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.

bolensboneyard

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We're going to set up a few days early and I'll take pic,s if you see something you guys want just let me know and I'll pull it out for you.

Andy
While you were posting on my thread I was over looking at yours but had no comments on all you had going on over there

Looking forward to it Don.
 
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don long

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I took a tour of Rick Hendricks privite mueseum at Hendrick Motorsports and your shop reminds me of it. He has a Dairy Queen, Drive in movie theater, ridiculous amount of 427 corvettes, copo and Yenko Cameros's replicas of many stores and his second dealearship office. His is mainly cars no work being done in there just 400 cars sitting in the a/c. Also has a awesome loft with 100's of signed guitars and a few helmets. And a conference room with a massive glass table sitting on a corvette chassis. I would have some pics but they don't let u take any. Awesome shop Don

Welcome to the party garage Mike and welcome to the GJ
Sounds like you enjoyed your time at Hendricks.

How do you keep rodents out of your cars?

Got problems Herb?
I did have until I put bait traps all around the garage. About 20 of them and I have a company visit once a month and refill the traps. (Terminex) the guy says he uses more bait per box at my house than any other of his stops.
 
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don long

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Getting ready for a big red barn sale has taken up my time lately
Today I set up an electrolysis tank to clean up a BUNCH of old rusty tools for the sale. Thanks to the help from guys here I was able to build a tank and it's working well (pictures to come) I finally talked my buddy Pat into selling off some of his vintage tool collection and we have been sorting out his stuff. So far we have gone through 8 tool boxes full of stuff.

Here is my electrolysis bucket and this is the second set of tools to go into it.

IMG_1182 by don long, on Flickr

See how rusted the vice grip is, That's what these tools looked like prior to sitting in the bucket over night

IMG_1205 by don long, on Flickr

this shot was taken about 2 hours into the cycle


IMG_1204 by don long, on Flickr

As a side note. I was trying to add another tool to the bucket after this last shot was taken. I dropped a punch into the water and had a copper wire attached. When I touched the small vice grip I saw a spark just before I heard an explosion and found that ugly orange sh#t all over my shirt.
I came to the computer to find out what happened and read that the system gives off Hydrogen gas and that's what popped!!!
 
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drivesitfar

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Don: since i helped make the Homemade electrolysis thread and i was the one asking most of the questions i bet i learned more than most. that said I haven't heard of anyone having an explosion yet, but it has kept me from having an indoor tank in my shop/storage turned on 24/7. thanks for sharing your experience and if you want to post up these pictures with your issue i bet you'll help others and here's the thread in case you hadn't seen it yet.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237752&highlight=homemade+electrolysis

my guess your issue was putting the copper in the tank so i'd probably use bailing wire and attach the charger's clamp to it outside the water in the tank.

nice results that is for certain.

Just an FYI for bigger stuff i'm going to use a rubbermaid horse trough and for even bigger stuff like car frames i've heard of guys digging a huge hole, putting pond liner in it and a sort of swimming pool like E tank.

cheers
 

Ole Slewfoot

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Freedom, CA
How many amps are you running? I tried to light my hydrogen with no success. My 6-10 amp chargers seem to run 2-3A most of the time.
 
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don long

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Don: since i helped make the Homemade electrolysis thread and i was the one asking most of the questions i bet i learned more than most. that said I haven't heard of anyone having an explosion yet, but it has kept me from having an indoor tank in my shop/storage turned on 24/7. thanks for sharing your experience and if you want to post up these pictures with your issue i bet you'll help others and here's the thread in case you hadn't seen it yet.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237752&highlight=homemade+electrolysis

my guess your issue was putting the copper in the tank so i'd probably use bailing wire and attach the charger's clamp to it outside the water in the tank.

nice results that is for certain.

Just an FYI for bigger stuff i'm going to use a rubbermaid horse trough and for even bigger stuff like car frames i've heard of guys digging a huge hole, putting pond liner in it and a sort of swimming pool like E tank.

cheers

Drives you snuck in on me while getting more pic's ready.
I was trying to tie up the copper wire to the vice grip. My mistake was leaving the battery charger running while shorting out the system and causing a spark next to the water.
 

drivesitfar

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Don: i saw your post over on the Homemade electrolysis thread and Outlaw made a great post following yours that should help you if you have time to read it.

best of luck and glad to hear your issue (small explosion) only netted you a dirty shirt and not worse.

best of luck and looks like a pile of cool tools is coming out of hiding soon so we'll all stay tuned.

cheers
 
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don long

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Don: i saw your post over on the Homemade electrolysis thread and Outlaw made a great post following yours that should help you if you have time to read it.

best of luck and glad to hear your issue (small explosion) only netted you a dirty shirt and not worse.

best of luck and looks like a pile of cool tools is coming out of hiding soon so we'll all stay tuned.

cheers

Good evening Drives
I did read outlaws post and have done away with the copper wire. I have cooked 4 batches so far and am quite pleased with the results.

I plan on working on the tools tomorrow

And I was always told hydrogen would burn clean...

That's quite a treasure trove of tools. My mouth is watering.

It was a loud pop like someone popped a plastic bag or something.
Tools will be amazing I promise.
 
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don long

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Last night I took this picture from my front porch just before I started pulling my cars out of the big garage

IMG_6228 by don long, on Flickr

All my drivable cars (15) were pulled out into my front drive when a very good friend dropped by and offered his yard to hold my cars. We started moving them. In case we were forced to evacuate the cars would already be gone.
All night I watched the fire with great anticipation. All the houses behind me were evacuated about 9 P.M. and fire trucks were posted along my back wall
27 aircraft and 900 men fought the fire. Tonight the fire has moved south of me so tomorrow I start the task of putting the cars back in the garage.
The 62 Vette is sitting on my car trailer and was ready to travel if needed.

This is a shot of my friends back yard last nite that made the news His yard is about a mile away

IMG_1217 by don long, on Flickr
 

LXCam

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AZ
Holy **** Don. I wondered how close it was to you. That's way too close for comfort. I haven't caught the news tonight for any updates, hopefully since the winds calmed down your out of danger. And if not, our prayers to you as well.

Cam
 

drivesitfar

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Don: i heard the fire was in your area cause a high school friend of my wife's posted something on her facebook account and she lives in your area, but I had no idea that it was and is that close. we're praying for you and wish i was closer to lend a hand with anything you needed. talk about a fire drill moving all those cool old cars around and sounds like they all probably started right up too.

best of luck and it sounds like you might have avoided a bullet so to speak so hope the wind doesn't change.

cheers
 
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don long

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Holy **** Don. I wondered how close it was to you. That's way too close for comfort. I haven't caught the news tonight for any updates, hopefully since the winds calmed down your out of danger. And if not, our prayers to you as well.

Cam

Thanks Cam
It was nice to see the flames go back over the hill and the smoke float to the south.
tonight will tell the story. Expecting Santa Ana winds around midnite tonite.

Don: i heard the fire was in your area cause a high school friend of my wife's posted something on her facebook account and she lives in your area, but I had no idea that it was and is that close. we're praying for you and wish i was closer to lend a hand with anything you needed. talk about a fire drill moving all those cool old cars around and sounds like they all probably started right up too.

best of luck and it sounds like you might have avoided a bullet so to speak so hope the wind doesn't change.

cheers

Funny you mention the cars all starting Drives
You remember my Battery charger collection??
Well I actually grabbed a couple of them and used them to fire up 3 of the cars The rest of them did start up cause they were on battery tenders.

IMG_6822 by don long, on Flickr
I only ran out of gas in one vehicle the 56 ford p/u and I was driving it. I was the last car in line and no cell phone on me. There were 6 of us driving and we made 3 trips.
 

drivesitfar

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Don: great to hear you are maybe out of the line of fire so to speak and prayers sent that the Santa Anna winds don't blow or do so in a different direction.

best of luck and crossing fingers and toes too!!
 
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don long

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Don: great to hear you are maybe out of the line of fire so to speak and prayers sent that the Santa Anna winds don't blow or do so in a different direction.

best of luck and crossing fingers and toes too!!

Thanks Drives
We're praying for the same

Looks to me like you need your own fire protection system. We see many fires like that here in our summer and having I have my own Diesel Gen Set so I can pump water from my own tanks.

Hi Simon
That's a good idea. The building has sprinklers. What the fire doesn't burn the water will ruin.
I'm sure glad that I had the fire dept was here the other day now they know what they are protecting.
 
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HOTFR8

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Hi Simon
That's a good idea. The building has sprinklers. What the fire doesn't burn the water will ruin.
I'm sure glad that I had the fire dept was here the other day now they know what they are protecting.

Sprinklers on the roof (yes outside and on the roof) is a common site here even then if the town water is off and the power is off then a Gen Set can run a pump to work them. Diesel will breath better in smoke than any other type of Gen Set.
 

bolensboneyard

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Here is my electrolysis bucket and this is the second set of tools to go into it.

IMG_1182 by don long, on Flickr

See how rusted the vice grip is, That's what these tools looked like prior to sitting in the bucket over night

IMG_1205 by don long, on Flickr

this shot was taken about 2 hours into the cycle


IMG_1204 by don long, on Flickr

As a side note. I was trying to add another tool to the bucket after this last shot was taken. I dropped a punch into the water and had a copper wire attached. When I touched the small vice grip I saw a spark just before I heard an explosion and found that ugly orange sh#t all over my shirt.
I came to the computer to find out what happened and read that the system gives off Hydrogen gas and that's what popped!!!

Don glad the fire stayed away from you. As for the Hydrogen; great to know as I plan to set up a bucket myself and would not have thought of this. I used to teach welding and had 125 students on the second shift. One time when I came in for my shift I found that the first shift had left a forklift charging right in the middle of the school with all that welding set to be going on around it. I went to see the shift supervisor and demanded he announce no welding until I could have it moved and he had no clue why I was excited. I had to insist even though the smell of the acid was strong enough to tear your eyes. Glad also that your shirt was the only casualty. Just thought I would mention yet another safety hazard. Stay safe.
 

rmalkow2

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Don,
Glad to hear the fire stayed away from your place and hope you continue to be protected. What a good friend to give you help and that much parking space. Sounds like you know the drill pretty well and were prepared with a good plan to save as many classics as possible.
Praying for some rain to knock down some of these fires.
 

Bob Heine

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Don, I'm glad to hear you were spared a direct hit. My uncle was a volunteer fire chief and I witnessed a big brush fire in my childhood -- watched it jump a 4-lane highway like it wasn't even there. While we in the southeast have been blown and drenched the folks in the west have been on fire. Mother nature seems to be in a bad mood this year.
 

oldironfarmer

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I look away for one day and you about get toasted.:mad:

Dang!! That was close. Hope you are out of the woods.

The good news will be that area won't burn again for a few years, but now the rain and mud slides. Lot's of folks less fortunate, a nationwide epidemic this year.

I can't imagine trying to convince an insurance adjuster what all that old stuff was worth.

Glad to see how well you got mobilized and got your cars moved.:thumbup::thumbup: Having the battery chargers restored to operating condition was certainly a wonderful byproduct of your meticulous work.:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 

Bears Fan

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37361410731_9c4641c1f6_b.jpg



36491212452_91120088ef_c.jpg



I was in Cromwell Indiana today and I just happened to run into Woody's cousin Walter, You can definitely see the family resemblance, small world! I think they are a grumpy old bunch tho :lol:
 

shortykorte

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One of the terrible side effects of beautiful California weather, everything is dry through the most of the year.
Glad all is safe.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

BUGTHUG

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Glad everything moved the other direction. Maybe your next project should be to restore a old firetruck? Have your own volunteer fire dept?
 
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don long

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Don glad the fire stayed away from you. As for the Hydrogen; great to know as I plan to set up a bucket myself and would not have thought of this. I used to teach welding and had 125 students on the second shift. One time when I came in for my shift I found that the first shift had left a forklift charging right in the middle of the school with all that welding set to be going on around it. I went to see the shift supervisor and demanded he announce no welding until I could have it moved and he had no clue why I was excited. I had to insist even though the smell of the acid was strong enough to tear your eyes. Glad also that your shirt was the only casualty. Just thought I would mention yet another safety hazard. Stay safe.

Thanks bolens


The fire is still burning deep in the forest and we're out of any danger.
Except for my carelessness lol

Don: i'm hoping your situation kept improving through the night and still saying prayers and crossing my fingers and toes. best of luck!!

Hi Drives

No wind over nite so the cars are back in my yard waiting to be cleaned before putting them away

Don,
Glad to hear the fire stayed away from your place and hope you continue to be protected. What a good friend to give you help and that much parking space. Sounds like you know the drill pretty well and were prepared with a good plan to save as many classics as possible.
Praying for some rain to knock down some of these fires.

Hi bob

Thanks for the prayers. They do work.
Because the cars were gone during the fire I could relax and sleep well.

Don, I'm glad to hear you were spared a direct hit. My uncle was a volunteer fire chief and I witnessed a big brush fire in my childhood -- watched it jump a 4-lane highway like it wasn't even there. While we in the southeast have been blown and drenched the folks in the west have been on fire. Mother nature seems to be in a bad mood this year.

Hi Bob
Thanks for the visit. The wind was blowing very hard the nite. I moved the cars because I knew fire is so unpredictable. But we were spared. sorry you guys got hit so hard.


I look away for one day and you about get toasted.:mad:

Dang!! That was close. Hope you are out of the woods.
The good news will be that area won't burn again for a few years, but now the rain and mud slides. Lot's of folks less fortunate, a nationwide epidemic this year.
I can't imagine trying to convince an insurance adjuster what all that old stuff was worth.
Glad to see how well you got mobilized and got your cars moved.:thumbup::thumbup: Having the battery chargers restored to operating condition was certainly a wonderful byproduct of your meticulous work.:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Yes Andy

That was close.
As I stood in the garage looking at all the stuff I just kept thinking I'm glad that I have a blanket policy on this place so burn it to the ground if it catches fire. Just for that reason. lol
Battery chargers that close was very handy that nite. Non of them have been restored yet they just still were working.
 
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don long

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I am stealing that bucket idea. Nice thinking!

Thanks Brent

Feel free to help yourself to anything you see on my thread, Cause I probably stole it from some one else.
I saw the words Sugar house on your avatar and had to chuckle. That's where I lived until I was 10

I was in Cromwell Indiana today and I just happened to run into Woody's cousin Walter, You can definitely see the family resemblance, small world! I think they are a grumpy old bunch tho :lol:

Bears Fan

That's funny but it only counts if you drug him home chain and all

One of the terrible side effects of beautiful California weather, everything is dry through the most of the year.
Glad all is safe.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Shorty

I prefer that over your hurricanes I think The earth quakes on the other hand are scarry.

Don: i hope ALL IS SAFE and that you are maybe out of harm's way now. ARE YOU??

Yes Drives I'm good and back working out in the garage again

Glad everything moved the other direction. Maybe your next project should be to restore a old firetruck? Have your own volunteer fire dept?

Good Idea Herb

I'll see what I can find lol
 
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don long

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don long

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I finally found some time to work on the rocket this week.
I managed to get it painted white (the first color) yesterday

Loading the rocket into the booth using my forklift and my engine hoist to handle the 18' rocket

2017-09-28 15.24.19 by don long, on Flickr

Holding the rocket up high so I can paint the bottom of it

2017-09-28 16.46.11 by don long, on Flickr

using wire hooked to the ceiling helped balance the rocket and the lift was raised so I could stand on it to paint the top.

2017-09-28 17.19.34 by don long, on Flickr

The wings still need to be painted

2017-09-28 11.56.47 by don long, on Flickr
 
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