What did you do "IN" your garage today?

[Outlawmws]

NSG, clamp a belt sander (Not too coarse) in a vise facing up, and lock the switch on. then going length wise, lightly hit the tops of the fins.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

Thanks for the suggestions! I do not own a belt sander and my orbital sander is a pos that is getting thrown out so I can get a better one. How long are we talking if I did this by hand? I have all grits of sand paper so I don't mind doing it by hand but if it is something like it's going to take hours, then I will just go out and buy a belt sander even though this would probably be the only time I would use it..lol

-Nigel

 

[Outlawmws]

Block sanding would probably work fine. (do let it dry fully) Maybe get it under a Heat lamp?

 

[NewShockerGuy]

Next question..lol When you say fully dry do you mean dry or cured?

I ask ONLY because according to VHT's directions on the can it's as the following.

Once dry it's very important for the part to be "cured" Place in a 200 degree F' oven for 1 hour, failure to do so will not have a product that is checmically resistant to oils/gas and ...bla bla bla.

The funny thing is they tell you what the paint is dry to the touch/handle but not fully dry. I figured 15+ hours is dry.. But I was planning on sanding it with the block as noted above and then once it's sanded put it in the oven to cure. I say this because as it sits you can sort of scratch off the paint if you really dig your finger nails into it before it's in the oven. Once in the oven and it's been cured you can't scratch the paint off at all. I tried multiple times on the valve cover once it cured and was really impressed. Even more impressed when I was trying to put the intake manifold back on and it was just rubbing up against the valve cover while I was fumbling with it and when I realized wtf was going on I checked and the valve cover didn't have a mark on it at all. Prior to curing had I done the same thing it would have been scratched to hell I'm sure.

-Nigel

 

[Fix Until Broke]

NewShockerGuy - I did this on a set of valve covers once so the top of the ribs were aluminum and the rest was painted. I painted the whole thing like you have, then took a small sanding block with a high quality paper towel moistened with acetone wrapped around it and "sanded" the paint off. Light, smooth, parallel with the ribs, strokes in one direction - kind of like filing - until they were clean. This was done in the ~30 minutes between the base coat and the clear coat. The clear coat covered everything and kept the aluminum shiny and the edges of the paint from pealing off the ribs.

Sand paper will work if the paint is dry enough and shouldn't take very long (few minutes I'd guess with some 180 grit), however you'll have to make sure you get all the sanding swarf out of the ribs before you clear coat it or cure it.

Good luck, it will look awesome when you get it done.

 

[Plastikosmd]

Couple hours off this am, gator tear down

 

[NewShockerGuy]

Welp much easier than what I thought...lol

Started with 600 gritt, the 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, then finshed with 2000. It's in the oven now curing. I will then polish the fins with mothers. It's pretty smooth shiny now but I guess just for sake of making it so it doesn't oxidize too crazy the polish will help greatly.

I thought about clearing it but every time I have used VHT or duplicolor clear it ends up yellowing and or making the end product of color look different.

So far this is what it looks like. It's in the oven now curing then I'll polish it up shortly.

-Nigel

 

[EOC_Jason]

Nigel,

Are you supposed to paint the inside? The oil won't strip the paint off over time?

Painted my diff cover. What is the best way to make the fins not have paint? I tried taping off the fins and for about 30 minutes it was a debacle because the tape either would come up or I couldn't cut the tape close enough without it looking like ***. I then said f it and I will paint the whole thing and figure out how to remove the paint after.

 

[smalltown]

Finally got it nearly done. It runs great and rides well. The 70 pound weight loss and slimmer front tire helps handling a lot. Other than the ABS light on, it is working perfectly, even the brakes.

Video of it running at the end of the video.

JimVonBaden all your hard work paid off it look great !

 

[smalltown]

Welp much easier than what I thought...lol

Started with 600 gritt, the 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, then finshed with 2000. It's in the oven now curing. I will then polish the fins with mothers. It's pretty smooth shiny now but I guess just for sake of making it so it doesn't oxidize too crazy the polish will help greatly.

I thought about clearing it but every time I have used VHT or duplicolor clear it ends up yellowing and or making the end product of color look different.

So far this is what it looks like. It's in the oven now curing then I'll polish it up shortly.

-Nigel

Wow Nigel that's looking super. The bare fins really stand out.

 

[engineer2]

my orbital sander is a pos

Mine was failing too. I discovered if you take the rubber pad off, you'll see a ball bearing. The ball bearing was rough and almost locked up. For a quicky repair I removed the ball bearing, sprayed WD-40 under the seal s to free it up and got some regular oil in there and turned it until it was smooth. Good as new unti I get a new bearing.

 

[FANTM58]

Ok , someone responded to my post
How do I respond
I typed a reply , but that was the only
Thing I my box. It looks like I’m just talking to my self.??
Quote ?
Multi quote ?

 

[Bad Eye Bill]

Ok , someone responded to my post
How do I respond
I typed a reply , but that was the only
Thing I my box. It looks like I’m just talking to my self.??
Quote ?
Multi quote ?

Click on the QUOTE button in the post that replied to you. You should see their post in the box where you type your reply.

 

[Boilerhouse]

Have been doing a bunch of brake work lately, mainly disassemble, clean, and re-lube. All caliper pins on the Ranger were replaced.

To take a break, decided to replace the speed change belt, which was badly worn and had a couple bulges in it, on the Atlas lathe. Checked the bearings and they seem to be fine, but found it interesting that the install dates were scribed into the bearings, in this case Dec 17, 1942 and Jan 2, 1943 respectively. Cleaned them up and reinstalled them.

 

[C_F]

Painted my diff cover. What is the best way to make the fins not have paint? I tried taping off the fins and for about 30 minutes it was a debacle because the tape either would come up or I couldn't cut the tape close enough without it looking like ***. I then said f it and I will paint the whole thing and figure out how to remove the paint after.

I figured take a small sanding block or a piece of wood with sand paper on it and slowly go up and down on the fins? Ideally I'd like to make it shiny. Then I will bake it in the oven to get the paint to cure. Figured sanding it first would be easier than trying to sand it after it's cured/baked.

-Nigel

I was going to suggest my method (but too late now ), but looking closer, your aluminum may be too textured.

My method with smooth surfaces...is while the paint is still very wet, soak a rag (T-shirt material) with either paint thinner or brake cleaner, wring it out so there's no drips (but still plenty wet), then wipe the paint off the fins with one finger in the rag. Switch to a fresh spot in the rag after each wipe.
I'm sure this method is nothing new to many, but I thought I'd share in case it's new to you.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Chopped some baseboard.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Organization day for me. Got most of my electrical and plumbing supplies organized: outlets, GFCIs, cover plates, switches, conduit, PEX and copper fittings. All winter I'd been tossing extra parts on my workbench or tool carts and let it pile up.

Also took a bunch of cardboard and other garbage/clutter to the dump.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

Nigel,

Are you supposed to paint the inside? The oil won't strip the paint off over time?

I didn't paint the inside. Only outside. Inside is still the sand casted whitish aluminum looking color. That's the reason I didn't paint the inside, I figured over time or pretty quickly all the paint would end up turning into something with the diff oil and then make a mess/cause a problem.

-Nigel

 

[IPACA9]

Started last minute for Saturday's Pinewood Derby. We have an adult class. I always bring something crazy

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[Joshua_Russo]

Finally got it nearly done. It runs great and rides well. The 70 pound weight loss and slimmer front tire helps handling a lot. Other than the ABS light on, it is working perfectly, even the brakes.

Video of it running at the end of the video.

Nice work and looking good!

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[rmalkow2]

Started last minute for Saturday's Pinewood Derby. We have an adult class. I always bring something crazy

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OUTSTANDING!

 

[EOC_Jason]

*phew* okay... This pic is just an optical illusion, I see now it's still the outside. But you took the angle just right it also looks like it's recessed instead of raised.

I didn't paint the inside. Only outside. Inside is still the sand casted whitish aluminum looking color. That's the reason I didn't paint the inside, I figured over time or pretty quickly all the paint would end up turning into something with the diff oil and then make a mess/cause a problem.

 

[IPACA9]

OUTSTANDING!

That 392 should be pretty powerful down the track...lol

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[niget2002]

Got the last coat of varnish on a small spoon rack for my daughter.

Neighbor came over with the TV he owed me. We traded some stuff a while back and he had to got get it out of storage. It's a rather old Plasma setup, but it'll do fine in the garage. Will try to get it setup on Friday.

 

[ptgarcia]

Started last minute for Saturday's Pinewood Derby. We have an adult class. I always bring something crazy

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Hahaha, that's awesome!

 

[rburke65]

Bought an 'airplane' ceiling fan for the shop so I started to hang and wire the fan.

 

[FarmerWill]

Last night... put the Voyager XII on a float charger, interesting little Harbor Freight rig- see if that works.
Started organizing two full road boxes of hand tools that been tossed back in their drawers for a while.

 

[engineer2]

Major scrap run. Glad I read up on scrap categories.
Cut the soldered ends off of copper pipe to make it #1 copper
300lbs of steel
40lbs of house wire
70 lbs of electric motors, solenoids, ignition coils
26 lbs die cast metal
plus copper pipe, brass, aluminum
Totaled $95

Hated to scrap a couple of nice JB brand HVAC vacuum pumps, but they just aren't worth repairing when the pump wears out.

 

[engineer2]

Started last minute for Saturday's Pinewood Derby. We have an adult class. I always bring something crazy

Anybody interested in a small assortment on Pinewood derby stuff? Polished tool steel axles, tungsten weights, Teflon bushed wheels, finished car body. Never could finish better than mid-pack because I don't have access to lathe or a machine shop. The dads who built the winning cars wouldn't let their kids touch them, LOL. They were works of art and got faster as the races went on. Of course, nobody cheats.

 

[Lassen Forge]

Long story - Monday we got hit by snow, so I went to plow the driveway. What I didn't intend to plow was the 12GA extension cord across the drive powering up the driveway lighting. Oops.

Amazing how fast 12 wraps of heavy extension cord (anchored on both sides) can pull the rake axle out of a snowblower... Fortunately, the sheet metal deformed enough to let it jump the housing without breaking it.

Anyway, last night, with an UGLY (3-5 feet) snowstorm coming in tonight, figured I'd do some Q&D repairs.

With a nasty storm coming in tonight, I had to get busy... Fortunately getting the housing off was easy... no one told me it would weight a ton, tho. Anyway, got it apart, got the pieces pit back together, replaced the shear pins, fought like a (deleted) getting it all back together, and she ran like a Swiss Watch (or at least a Minnesota Snowblower)... Took a beating, and keeps on Eating... (the snow, that is...)

First 2 are when it first hit the bench - the support bushing was not attached to the shaft end. Third is the thing disassembled, waiting to go back together... 4th is the test run, and 5th is back in position waiting for tonight's "follies" (or "flurries").

What a machine!

 

[isb cornbinder]

This will be attempt number three to post this little something. My first try was interrupted by a power outage for a second. Five minutes later and just before I could hit submit, the power went out for the next 57 minutes.
Yesterday I was taking empty coffee cups out of my truck and tossing them into the recycling blue box. The first two cups hit the blue box like and NBA player had tossed them. Number three cup took a detour and hit my 1940 Ford across the LF fender. I thought the cup only had a dry paper bag and some serviettes stuffed inside. There was coffee over the hood, windshield, LF fender and door and some running down the running board. I dabbed off some of the mess with a plan to return this afternoon to wash the car.
My wife ordered Boston Pizza for supper. I have about two hours to become Mister Clean. Today is chilly, raining and generally uncomfortable.

 

[Outlawmws]

Started last minute for Saturday's Pinewood Derby. We have an adult class. I always bring something crazy

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Not sure that would go down the track without getting hung up...

 

[IPACA9]

Not sure that would go down the track without getting hung up...

Have to bevel the inside of the fenders so they don't touch.

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[Outlawmws]

It looks super cool but doesn't it high center in the middle anywhere?

These are my two, the black one was made in grade school as a cub scout. The wood one was for the "dad's Race" the year my son made one. We both won! Mine was better than a foot faster than any other car though.

I was going to also run the old car to see how it would stand up after decades, but the plastic wheels got brittle and the "hub" inside disintegrated so the wheels wobble... I'd love to find vintage wheels and replace them...

 

[jpickar]

I never built a car for the dads race. I let my youngest son build a car and race it for me in the dads race. He couldn't hardly stand it he wasn't old enough to be in scouts yet.

 

[dkroth]

Out with the old, in with the new.

.

 

[IPACA9]

Re: What did you do "IN" your garage today?

It looks super cool but doesn't it high center in the middle anywhere?

These are my two, the black one was made in grade school as a cub scout. The wood one was for the "dad's Race" the year my son made one. We both won! Mine was better than a foot faster than any other car though.

I was going to also run the old car to see how it would stand up after decades, but the plastic wheels got brittle and the "hub" inside disintegrated so the wheels wobble... I'd love to find vintage wheels and replace them...

They ride on a six lane aluminum track. Basically your wheels bounce down the raised center of the track keeping it on course. As long as the fenders don't interfere with the wheels you are good to go.

A few cars through the years.

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[Outlawmws]

Some nice looking car there!

Ours was a wood track with the raised centers (Both generations). I found that keeping the weight to the back generally helped as light front wheels were less likely to drag on the center divider.

 

[IPACA9]

Some nice looking car there!

Ours was a wood track with the raised centers (Both generations). I found that keeping the weight to the back generally helped as light front wheels were less likely to drag on the center divider.

Right. I have three boys. Ages 11, 8 and 4. I'm in it for a long time. I've played with different ways of building and weight placement. Every year is different. Just never know till you run it down that track. I've had some awesome cars be the slowest and the most stupid be the fastest.

Not even all of them. Need to make a display shelf in my shop I think.

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[kgp50]

Finished up a chop saw stand project using material from the left-overs bin. Used 1-1/4 square tube (with a couple of 1-1/2 tube 'sleeves') and recycled jon boat seat swivel for saw base. Very stable. Will probably tweak it a bit more, like adding a catch tray for small cut pieces, but glad to have the saw finally on a mobile stand.

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