What did you do "IN" your garage today?

[johnehr]

At the same time I’ve been doing the above ^^^^ I’ve also been in process finishing the bed wood on my ‘55 Chevy Truck project. For just plain flat boards it is a pain in the ****. It’s extremely hard to keep drips from forming below as I brush the varnish on the tops and sides. I always go back and check below, brush them out but inevitably a few form and they do NOT full dry even after a couple days.



I end up having to razor them off or wet sand them off which loads the sanding block, etc. I’ve put 4 coats on the tops and the 3rd coat goes on the bottom today. I may stop at 3 on the bottom but I have probably 2 to 4 coats to go onthe top. I plan to give a final sand with 1500 grit and machine polish with 3M products.

I've gone nearly exclusively to wiping on varnish instead of brushing it on, it has helped reduce drips and runs quite a bit. Seems easier to control the amount of material being applied.


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[NewShockerGuy]

NewShockerGuy how difficult was it to pull the box. Frame doesn't look to rusty.

So in my case on a scale of 1-10 I'd say in all reality it's like a 4. I say this only because of some of the difficulties I faced. If you don't have ANY of what I mention below difficulty goes down to a 2 easily.

I have a tonneau cover. So this first had to be removed. Because it's never been removed in at least the 5+ years I've owned the vehicle I had a little trouble with fastners...etc. Once that was up I then had to remove my bed line. The ford OEM bed liner is REALLY a tight fit. Add more time to remove this.

Then came the T55 torx bolts. 4 of them came out pretty easy in the rear. Mind you I was spraying Kroil on them for a week prior. I then proceed to take the front two bolts off... Wouldn't budge. Spent another 3-4 days spraying those bolts down with kroil three times a day. Ended up buying a new snap on torx but because I was afraid I was rounding the bit off and didn't want to round the bolt heads off. Finally was able to get those bolts off. They were extremely rusty. I will have to post a picture of the old bolts. Removing the bed I was told could be done by two people. So I naturally asked my wife to help. That proved t to be useless... she was not able to lift the side at all. I had no trouble lifting my side. I asked my neighbor who then helped me move it to the side of the house. It's not heavy mind you, just a tad awkward. I also had to remove rear bumper because I have a step side bed and I could not lift the bed up over the rear bumper. Not hard, just 4 bolts but again, another thing to remove.

If you did not have the cover or bed liner, removing the bed is very simple process.

Since I have all this off, I figured I don't want to do anything again so I am replacing everything that I see. Fuel filler neck, hoses, tire carrier...etc. My fuel pump died luckily I wasn't at work in the parking garage or I wouldn't have been able to get my truck out and I'd be doing this work there, which is nuts.... and it didn't strand me on the highway. It literally died when I pulled it out of the garage backed it up and went to start it the next day. Because it's been cold/rainly I've been delayed in fixing it just because I refuse to work on it when it's 20 degrees outside. But after the pump was replaced, no issues in pulling it in the garage and now finishing the work.

Frame isn't TOO bad honestly from some of the pictures I've seen online but it's one of those things I have a chunk of body off... why not clean it and paint it along with the bottom of the bed, then I don't have to worry about it.

-Nigel

 

[EOC_Jason]

I wish I could find a little Ranger for sale that has been given as much TLC as you give yours Nigel... Every one I've seen has been rode hard and beat to hell...

 

[isb cornbinder]

I did some rearranging. I had some blank spaces after I sold a pantograph and some other space takers.
I might do some heavy moving today now that we have sunshine. I want to put my 1940 Ford outside and out of the way of moving stuff.

 

[welder4956]

Off on a tangent but I spotted this old trailer the other day. I’m almost certain that it was a Uhaul unit fifty years ago. It is cool, but dang, he’s still using those ancient tires!!

Brings back memories. I worked in a U-Haul rental store for a few months before joining the Navy. Whenever a customer would bring one in trying to buy parts, we would run the serial number against their national list of missing trailers. We confiscated several that showed up on the list as stolen/not returned.

 

[niget2002]

3d printed some end caps for the garage storage I installed on Friday.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2790381

Nailed some nails in heart shapes into wood for my wife's class to run string through.

 

[KDubU]

Trying out Kaizen foam for this first time. This pic is of my odds and end tools.

 

[smalltown]

Nigel I thought maybe your had taken the box off to paint things, but it sounds like you had other reason(s) to take the box off, and decided to paint etc. while you had the box removed.

I originally thought you might be taking the cab off next

 

[chrislehr]

Gout is a *****.

 

[ezriderga]

Polished the outside yesterday. Polished the inside today. Not perfect but much better.

 

[2001ZR2]

Today I fixed a chair that was coming apart. Worked to clean out the 2nd bay of the garage and made progress but didn't really open up any space.

Man I stored some **** for years...stopped when the trash bin was full.

I determined the secondary air pump I took off was seized so I installed a bad one or have an electrical issued some where.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I've gone nearly exclusively to wiping on varnish instead of brushing it on, it has helped reduce drips and runs quite a bit. Seems easier to control the amount of material being applied.

Really?

What do you use to wipe in on with?

Do you have to thin the varnish? I JUST finished applying the 4th coat on the top of the boards this afternoon and I can’t say I am all that happy with how its gone to this point. I am cleaning up assorted sins with the wet sanding following...so far.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Really?

What do you use to wipe in on with?

Do you have to thin the varnish? I JUST finished applying the 4th coat on the top of the boards this afternoon and I can’t say I am all that happy with how its gone to this point. I am cleaning up assorted sins with the wet sanding following...so far.

I've done it with Polyurethane but a quick google search yielded the same thing with varnish...

I started out with a 50/50 mix with mineral spirits, but that was real thin and took a lot of coats. I now typically mix only ~1/3 mineral spirits and its still plenty thin to wipe on. I'll mix it up in a little 5.5oz plastic disposable cup that will last me a day or two before needing to mix up more if need be. I just make sure to stir it up good each time before using.

I cut up old cotton undershirts, depending on the size of the project maybe a 6"x3" piece folded up worked well for general furniture sized things. After I'm done I just lay the piece flat to dry out for a day before throwing away.

Wear some disposable gloves. I got some thick ones from HF, after putting on a coat I would pull the gloves off and lay them out to dry too and re-use the same pair for the whole coating process...

Number of coats just depends... I would typically do two coats a day, once in the morning, once in the evening... I think I ended up somewhere with about 6-8 or so wiped on coats to reach the look I wanted.

With the mineral spirits thinner mix you have a fair amount of working time to spread it out and wipe-over wet areas to prevent drips and make sure you are keeping it thin coats.

I've never gone back to brushing on poly... Sure brushing on will build up layers faster but the bubbles & drips... ugh...

I would rather buy a HVLP sprayer and try that before going back to brushing... lol.

 

[johnehr]

Really?



What do you use to wipe in on with?



Do you have to thin the varnish? I JUST finished applying the 4th coat on the top of the boards this afternoon and I can’t say I am all that happy with how its gone to this point. I am cleaning up assorted sins with the wet sanding following...so far.

Cut up t-shirts or purchased “wiping cloths” work fine. I don’t thin the varnish at all.




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[Bamafan]

I washed a car for the first time in my new garage...big moment!

Here's a link to the thread...nothing super special, but I'm glad we're getting done with it.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=368982

 

[makonnen]

Cool thread!

Fixed a hole in my transfer case

2004 GMC 2500HD Duramax, NP263 transfer case

 

[Outlawmws]

MORE Tool Box Tetris and general "put stuff away" again

Cleaning some of what I'm handling as well...

 

[cpttuna]

Walked into my warm garage(60,000 btu mobile home furnace) and installed an extended idle switch on my 01 jeep XJ

 

[JimVonBaden]

^^^I wonder how many guys refuse to hot dogs cooked that way...^^^

Tommy

I would, but only because I like my dogs burned crispy!

 

[Joshua_Russo]

Finally changed the oil in the daily driver.

Bought the thing months ago and haven't even looked at the sight glass. Guess I thought I'd change it straight away and then just rode and rode. The PO said he kept one of the trip meters set for oil change. I never did ask which one, but the highest one just passed the 4k mile specified interval, so had to get it handled.

Glad I did, it was low and pretty dark.

Can't wait for the morning ride, always feel so fresh riding with new oil.

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[JimVonBaden]

Picked up a 2011 BMW 128i Convertible.





Spent the morning detailing the interior.





It was pretty nasty, but looking very nice now.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Fixed the water leak on the wet grinder, cleaned the dumbwaiter shaft, made a taper sled for the tablesaw, slapped some mud n tape on the wall around the lift pump, welded the drop light cage. Some other **** I can't remember. It was a busy day.

 

[dkroth]

Picked up a 2011 BMW 128i Convertible.

New fender marker lights are $22. It's a small item but it's one of those "unseen" details that make the car pop when it's all shined up.



.

 

[Fred.]

I pulled out the 10 gallon electric water heater out of the attic space, it's been needing a new one for years, went to Home Depot couldn't find replacement(I'm putting an 18 gallon back in.) I changed the house 40 gallon water heater today, so progress was made.

 

[kentenn]

Worked on tractor. Drained hydraulic fluid, pulled PTO shaft to replace seal, replaced all fuel lines, repaired dented front screen, replaced fuel filter, tightened hydraulic hoses.

 

[sdavis622]

What did you do "IN" your garage today?

Built a portable miter saw station with storage space and Harbor Freight cases. Next addition to it will be fold up wings with fence/stop block system.

 

[crasher98]

Trying out Kaizen foam for this first time. This pic is of my odds and end tools.

It looks like you did a real nice job of cutting that foam - I like having foam layouts but hate doing the cutting. Have to wait for one of those rainy in-the-mood for detailed work kind of days, don't come along too often for me!

 

[wmrra13]

I washed a car for the first time in my new garage...big moment!

Here's a link to the thread...nothing super special, but I'm glad we're getting done with it.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=368982

I'm confused by this statement. Up here in the PNW, I've never heard of anyone washing a car IN their garage. Do you have a floor drain and water proof walls?

Please educate the ingnorant.

Thanks!

 

[bhonshell37]

There are products from car detailing companies that sell "waterless wash ". Meguiars and Griots Garage. Both can be purchased in stores. Part stores and Wal-Mart. These can be used in a garage or outdoors. Hope this helps. Lots more information on the Autogeek and Autopia forum

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[Bamafan]

I'm confused by this statement. Up here in the PNW, I've never heard of anyone washing a car IN their garage. Do you have a floor drain and water proof walls?

Please educate the ingnorant.

Thanks!

This is actually my first garage in a while without drains. I did it all the time in my last couple of garages (Northeast and Midwest). It keeps it out of the sun in the summer and out of the frigid cold in the winter. For this one, I have it set up so there is a gentle slope out, and frankly I really only parked it half-in to test it out.

Worked pretty well.

 

[slamin81]

47 skids, around 7000 1 1/2 nails from the nail gun,4 Milwaukee blades and the cost of sawzall on my second one know, my walls are done!!

 

[rmalkow2]

Friday = Put more gas in snow blower, take out of garage and clear driveway.
Saturday = Repeat
Sunday = Repeat

 

[cweidert03]

47 skids, around 7000 1 1/2 nails from the nail gun,4 Milwaukee blades and the cost of sawzall on my second one know, my walls are done!!

Your walls look great! I’m sure you feel very relieved to be finished!


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[polexican23]

Snow, snow, and more snow shoveling. I rolled the ol' blower into the garage Sunday afternoon hoping it was the last snow storm here, cause it started leaking oil out of somewhere. I think she is due for a serious overhaul before next winter.

 

[rmalkow2]

Snow, snow, and more snow shoveling. I rolled the ol' blower into the garage Sunday afternoon hoping it was the last snow storm here, cause it started leaking oil out of somewhere. I think she is due for a serious overhaul before next winter.

If the forecast is right it looks like we both get to rest the snow blower for a few days. FINALLY!

 

[polexican23]

If the forecast is right it looks like we both get to rest the snow blower for a few days. FINALLY!

Right? they said it was like 9 straight days of snow.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

I wish I could find a little Ranger for sale that has been given as much TLC as you give yours Nigel... Every one I've seen has been rode hard and beat to hell...

Lol... I try and take care of stuff. My wife thinks I'm nuts most of the time fixing stuff that she would just say "buy a new one"..etc. My STi is 12 years old and still looks new. I just really enjoying tinkering and fixing stuff up. Plus it's nice funny to hear people gasp when they find out the truck is 17 years old but doesn't really look it's age. Most of the time when I see other rangers they too are beat up. I think people beat on them because they were a cheaper truck :-(

Nigel I thought maybe your had taken the box off to paint things, but it sounds like you had other reason(s) to take the box off, and decided to paint etc. while you had the box removed.

I originally thought you might be taking the cab off next

Yep my fuel pump went out a few weeks ago and it just happened to do it outside right after I pulled it out of the garage...go figure. So I was in the process of removing the bed to replace the entire fuel pump assembly. Then while I did that I thought why not paint the frame. Then now I am removing the rear fenders to paint the ENTIRE nook of the bed. I broke one t30 bolt and ford no longer makes them, so that's kinda crappy... I have to try and find a bolt now.

In the mean time this is what I am looking at now.

-Nigel

 

[zmotorsports]

I didn't get anything really done in the shop over the weekend that I had planned on other than getting my newly polished coolant surge tank installed in our coach on Friday night.

I had planned to get my new PSC XD big bore gearbox installed in my Jeep JKU on Saturday but on Friday I noticed my rear driver's side door became unable to open so that was first up on Saturday morning.

After screwing with the door panel and inner door panel and ultimately removing the locking mechanism and checking thing out on the bench I discovered a locking tab that had come loose. It snapped back together perfectly and I still couldn't determine why it came apart. By the time I screwed with that and put everything back together and vacuumed out the Jeep it was 2:00 in the afternoon and I didn't want to start another mess.

The wife came home from lunch with her sister so we went and visited the in-laws for a bit and then dinner. Again, not the Saturday I had hoped for but turned out ok in the end.

Yesterday a friend brought his 2006 Duramax over to the shop so I can replace the leaking gearbox on it either tonight or tomorrow night.

Even not having the weekend go as planned it was still much better than a year ago at this time and not having a shop to work in.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

First coat of paint. I had purchased a gallon thinking a quart wouldn't be enough... now I am not even 1/4 of the way INTO the gallon... Probably should have just got the quart. I'm sure I will be doing 3-4 coats now just to use the paint up.

-Nigel

 

[EOC_Jason]

Only one thing you can do now... Pull the cab!

First coat of paint. I had purchased a gallon thinking a quart wouldn't be enough... now I am not even 1/4 of the way INTO the gallon... Probably should have just got the quart. I'm sure I will be doing 3-4 coats now just to use the paint up.

-Nigel