Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Bob Heine's Auto Emporium

[drivesitfar]

Bob: with all this SPRAY PAINT CAN TIPS I think it's about time you should start a thread in the garage section. WOW!!

I don't date mine (will now), when I buy used I shake and if things are moving around and cheap i'll buy, yes sometimes turning upside down and clearing the nozzle works, squeezing the can to get the last drops (good one and i'll have to try that cause at worst case it might help my grip or is there a chance of exploding), putting in fire for party trick and setting the neighborhood on fire, and who's got the oldest working one.

just a few of the tips and tricks i've learned the past few minutes and I bet there are more.

I've heard that if you want to paint something a certain color that some paint stores can even make that paint color and put it in a spray can. yes?

looks like you are getting stuff done as per usual and I haven't seen any blood so guessing you are getting better at doing stuff too.

cheers

 

[oldironfarmer]

I still drip all my oil containers into a gallon container. I mix motor oil, transmission fluid, and gear grease. It all works well in the squirt guns.

Back in high school at the Mobil Station we had an outdoor rack with Mobil Oil. If the customer asked for something else we would go inside to get it, but the end of the rack had a drawer with a container below. The puncture spout was left in the can and set upside down for storage. The drippings in the container were thrown away, or taken by a guy like me, my car didn't know the difference. I've been doing this since 1964.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: speaking of the old metal spout it was a SAD DAY when we couldn't buy one or use it on a can of oil. anybody remember what year that oil cans went to plastic?

well one good thing I suppose is you didn't have to keep an oil rag in your car for the spout or can after putting a quart in your engine.

cheers

 

[oldironfarmer]

The oil spouts really became useless when the paper cans came in. A little miss or not hard enough thrust and you would crush the can. I spent time sharpening the oil spout penetrating tip. They all changed over gradually, and I liked the plastic cans from the first. Very handy and reusable. Drill a hole in the lid and make a squirt can. Cut the side out of a 5 qt and make a drain tray.

I've still got lots of metal and paper cans and the last time I tried to use a spout I crushed the paper can. I thought I might sell them at some point, but the oil is worth what the cans bring, and they still sell empty. So the Show Truck, 72 Chevelle, and 48 Coupe get the 40 year old oil.

 

[BBChevro]

I can't really recall having seen "paper cans" here, maybe we went straight from tin to plastic?


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[Bob Heine]

"Bob, I used to finish doing oil changes and put the empty cans (long before plastic bottles) on my open pump oil can for a day. Took 5 days to drip them all completely empty but I never had to buy a can of oil just to oil stuff up."

Yup! Dear ole dad used to do that with all his oil cans after changing the oil in the car too. He never let any drop go to waste.

Bob, I'm pretty sure oil was about $0.60 a quart (1966) when I started worrying about wasting a drop. Before then I was paying $0.25 a quart for used oil in a bottle because I never put more than four gallons of gas at a time -- it needed a quart by then. A gallon of gas was also $0.25.

I do the same thing when I change oil, after a few oil changes I have an extra quart for when my car gets a quart low. No need to mix the old oil with the few drops of new good oil in the jug.

JB

JB, I feel better about my frugality. Still not ready to build a used oil forge.

Bob: with all this SPRAY PAINT CAN TIPS I think it's about time you should start a thread in the garage section. WOW!!

I don't date mine (will now), when I buy used I shake and if things are moving around and cheap i'll buy, yes sometimes turning upside down and clearing the nozzle works, squeezing the can to get the last drops (good one and i'll have to try that cause at worst case it might help my grip or is there a chance of exploding), putting in fire for party trick and setting the neighborhood on fire, and who's got the oldest working one.

just a few of the tips and tricks i've learned the past few minutes and I bet there are more.

I've heard that if you want to paint something a certain color that some paint stores can even make that paint color and put it in a spray can. yes?

looks like you are getting stuff done as per usual and I haven't seen any blood so guessing you are getting better at doing stuff too.

cheers

Drives, I am no expert on aerosol paint. In fact I have more failures than successes with spray cans. Someone more knowledgeable than me should start a spray paint thread.

I haven't found a paint store within driving distance that will mix up a custom paint color but there are web sites that offer the service. It's not cheap but this site does just that: https://repaintsupply.com/r-e-color-coats-custom-matched-aerosol-spraycan-11-ounce-p3401.html

They also sell 2-part (2K) urethane clearcoat in special spray cans. Once you activate the clearcoat with the hardener, the clear has to be used up within 24 hours or it hardens in the can: https://repaintsupply.com/spraymax-3680061-2k-urethane-clear-coat-aerosol-p3685.html

I don't think I'm getting better but I get lucky on some projects and don't spill any blood. I had all the childhood diseases, ate my fair share of dirt and built a pretty good immune system. Pretty good genes on my mother's side also helps. The plastic surgeon that sewed my face back together came back four days later and had a panic attack. The wounds had healed and the skin was growing over the stitches. Only two of my wounds took more than a week to heal. The hole in my leg formed a huge pocket of clear fluid and wouldn't close and the end of my stump was a little short on skin so it had to be wired closed.

I still drip all my oil containers into a gallon container. I mix motor oil, transmission fluid, and gear grease. It all works well in the squirt guns.

Back in high school at the Mobil Station we had an outdoor rack with Mobil Oil. If the customer asked for something else we would go inside to get it, but the end of the rack had a drawer with a container below. The puncture spout was left in the can and set upside down for storage. The drippings in the container were thrown away, or taken by a guy like me, my car didn't know the difference. I've been doing this since 1964.

Andy, I bought had a second non-pump [red] oil can for transmission fluid (part of my fancy-pants lifestyle).

The cars I owned in 1964 didn't get fresh oil. Made no sense to change the oil when they burned so much. They got the used oil from the bottles next to the gas pumps and I couldn't take the bottles with me.

ALL: speaking of the old metal spout it was a SAD DAY when we couldn't buy one or use it on a can of oil. anybody remember what year that oil cans went to plastic?

well one good thing I suppose is you didn't have to keep an oil rag in your car for the spout or can after putting a quart in your engine.

cheers

Drives, I still have my oil spout but I'm not sure exactly where I put it. I keep it because I still have a can of Gunk Motor Flush. Now that I'm rolling in money none of my cars has a sludge problem so it just sits on the shelf. I keep hoping one of my grandchildren will be forced to drive an old worn out car like I had and I'll be ready to fix them up.

The oil spouts really became useless when the paper cans came in. A little miss or not hard enough thrust and you would crush the can. I spent time sharpening the oil spout penetrating tip. They all changed over gradually, and I liked the plastic cans from the first. Very handy and reusable. Drill a hole in the lid and make a squirt can. Cut the side out of a 5 qt and make a drain tray.

I've still got lots of metal and paper cans and the last time I tried to use a spout I crushed the paper can. I thought I might sell them at some point, but the oil is worth what the cans bring, and they still sell empty. So the Show Truck, 72 Chevelle, and 48 Coupe get the 40 year old oil.

Andy, I don't remember crushing the paper cans but more than once the sharp point went through the side of the can. Not only got oil on the engine, I had a hard time getting those last drops in my pump can. My smartest move was to quickly punch a second hole in the top, leading to twice the mess and the need to open another can to finish the last half-quart refill.

I can't really recall having seen "paper cans" here, maybe we went straight from tin to plastic?


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Mark, you're probably right. I can't imagine Australia allowing cardboard cans of oil to be sold. I'm pretty sure the termites down under would have found them to be a tasty Mediterranean diet alternative.

 

[oldironfarmer]

New one on me. I've never seen used oil for sale at a station. Recycled oil, I used to use that. And I used to save oil from some customers who changed it too often for my tastes and my car got that.

 

[Bob Heine]

A noonish trip to Liane's hairstylist made her look great and sucked all the strength out of me. After a stop at Trader Joe's for me (dog treats and miscellaneous manhood tests) and Pier One for Liane, we returned home. I have been trying to put a coat of concrete sealer on the driveway for almost a year so I had to at least start on it today. I would normally start by pressure cleaning the driveway but it has been raining lately and the solvent-based paint would mean another day lost waiting for the water to evaporate.

If you can't pressure clean, just use brooms and the workshop vacuum cleaner. It is also a perfect opportunity to fill the cracks in the driveway.

It's much better to face the garage when tackling this project. The opposite view makes me tired.

The apron in front of the garage had all kinds of concrete splashed on it and I ground it all off last year (when I expected to start).

The original owner of the house sealed the driveway in 1988. It held up well and surprisingly did not lift from hot tires parked on it. I put a second coat on the driveway in the early 2000s so this is the third coat in 30 years. I was able to buy the same brand and color because he left a partial can behind. I used 6 gallons for the second coat and had most of the 7th gallon left over. The label has changed but they still sell the stuff and based on the condition of the old paint -- it hadn't skinned over and hadn't separated very much -- I used it to start the project. I am not sure I chose the best crack filler but this is the stuff I used on another set of cracks years ago and it held up well.

About 2/3ds of a gallon of sealer covered this much of the driveway so I am probably going to need more sealer but I'll wait until I've used up the five new gallons. It looks like I've covered a fair bit, especially considering how much of the old sealer has been worn off.

Yeah, I'm happy with getting that much done today. You can see the sun is going down behind me so there's no point in opening another can. As I was putting stuff away and cleaning up, I looked back from the garage and there's quite a ways to go. I need to avoid looking at it this way.

The section I painted isn't the worst of the driveway. The part that has the most wear is the section by the street where I dump the piles of yard cuttings. The truck that picks it up has a large claw and it is not kind to the sealer. I plan on dumping the cuttings on the grassy swale beyond the driveway. That will work as long as we don't have a major hurricane. The cuttings from the last big one filled the 100-foot swale between the sidewalk and street.

 

[Bob Heine]

New one on me. I've never seen used oil for sale at a station. Recycled oil, I used to use that. And I used to save oil from some customers who changed it too often for my tastes and my car got that.

Andy, you're right. I had forgotten they called it recycled. It was filtered so you could see through it but they couldn't tell you what viscosity they were (didn't matter much on my cars). Almost every gas station back in the '60s had one of these outside near the pumps.

I did try Marvel Mystery Oil and STP oil treatment but my cars just laughed and kept on smoking. Those cars taught me how to clean spark plugs with a butane torch. When the oil buildup caused misfiring, take the plugs out and torch them until the oil and carbon vaporized. Put the plugs back in and it would run OK for a thousand or two miles.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Recycled motor oil is actually refined again by fractionation and really results in a new motor oil. The process gets all the water, metallic particles, fuel, and additives out. The result is good new oil but people shy away from it so it does not get good additive packages and is sold cheap. Because the oil comes in inexpensively they still make money.

 

[drivesitfar]

BOB: just an FYI. no matter what subject you start a thread on you might not be an expert on, but you'd be a great host and i bet you'd be an expert on that subject if soon if you wanted to. also with you hosting it and your sense of humor and facts it would be a fun thread that I'd be happy to contribute to too.

great topics on spray paint, oil cans and bleeding on engines lately and hope the NO BLOOD IN THE SHOP adds another day after today.

cheers

 

[xtremek]

The drive looks nice.

 

[Toothaker]

Recycled motor oil is actually refined again by fractionation and really results in a new motor oil. The process gets all the water, metallic particles, fuel, and additives out. The result is good new oil but people shy away from it so it does not get good additive packages and is sold cheap. Because the oil comes in inexpensively they still make money.

Andy, I have a question about used/recycled oil. I once heard (and you know it's true... ) that the long hydrocarbon chains of oil molecules break in the crankcase, and that recycled oil is therefore inferior with their 'short molecules'. What I actually heard is, "the molecules break in the shearing action of the bearings."

But since you worked in the industry, is that really true?

Edit: Hi, Bob. Sorry for the thread hijack.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Top job on the driveway Bob, it looks a treat.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy, I have a question about used/recycled oil. I once heard (and you know it's true... ) that the long hydrocarbon chains of oil molecules break in the crankcase, and that recycled oil is therefore inferior with their 'short molecules'. What I actually heard is, "the molecules break in the shearing action of the bearings."

But since you worked in the industry, is that really true?

Edit: Hi, Bob. Sorry for the thread hijack.

Hi Jack!

(who's he?)

I've never seen them but according to the chemists the molecules do not break, but if any of them did they would be removed by the fractionation process so they would not show up in the processed oil. If you assume lube oil molecule has a diameter of 1x10^-10m, and your oil film is 0.0005 in, then the film is 127,000 molecules thick. Pretty hard to shear them with a big ole gap like that. If you think the molecules are four times as thick, then the gap is only 30,000 times the thickness of a molecule. I'm still not worried.

For those that don't know, oil between two sliding surfaces builds up tremendous pressure. A bearing journal is an infinite sliding surface because it has no end, just goes round and around. Engine oil pump just floods that gap and does not create the pressure necessary to hold the rod off the crank. The hydrodynamic film does that.

I know all about lubricating engines, I just don't know to hook up the oil pump.

Back to an interesting story on sealing driveways.

 

[Stevelj]

Bob, the driveway is looking good! Just keep looking in the direction of the garage until you get to the street.��

 

[Guster]

Really nice job on the driveway Bob. Quite tickled that you found the same product 30 years on. Quite rare these days.

They started those 2K cans for clearcoat here... I was tempted to have a go with one. The only thing that holds me back is spraying the airborne catalyst around the house. Main reason I don't spray 2K or other things like gelcoat at home. Those catalyst tend to have 1000page MSDS and at least 750 pages mention cancer.

I remember those oil cartons. Got such a clip on the back of the head from my dad when it collapsed while pouring and spilled a good 1/2 cup over the Ford V6 in the back of the VW Kombi. My hands weren't big enough to hold it and didn't think to support it from below. I don't know what the problem was... that engine was always leaking oil that it didn't burn anyway.

Still, those were nowhere near as bad as the plastic sachets similar to what they sell fabric softener in. The smaller ones(330ml?) were OK but they sold it up to 2L that way and they were pure evil incarnate! You could buy a plastic jug for it but it was always a mess to deal with trying to pour the remnants into a normal steel oil can. There is a very special place in hell for the marketing team who came up with that idea and the exec that signed off on it.

 

[Grizz1963]

Great job.

I considered painting my shop floor, then realised it would take days to empty out.

Now I just look on in envy at others’ floors.

 

[Toothaker]

I'm painting my shop floor, one oil stain at a time.

 

[Bob Heine]

Recycled motor oil is actually refined again by fractionation and really results in a new motor oil. The process gets all the water, metallic particles, fuel, and additives out. The result is good new oil but people shy away from it so it does not get good additive packages and is sold cheap. Because the oil comes in inexpensively they still make money.

Andy, thanks for that clarification, I had no idea how good that stuff was. There are so many things I know so little about it's embarrassing. My father reminded me almost daily how little I knew and how much I had to learn. He turned out to be right but I no longer feel bad about it. Every time I learn something new it's like a little gift. Sadly, holding on to that learning is harder and harder.

BOB: just an FYI. no matter what subject you start a thread on you might not be an expert on, but you'd be a great host and i bet you'd be an expert on that subject if soon if you wanted to. also with you hosting it and your sense of humor and facts it would be a fun thread that I'd be happy to contribute to too.

great topics on spray paint, oil cans and bleeding on engines lately and hope the NO BLOOD IN THE SHOP adds another day after today.

cheers

Drives, I can barely keep up with this thread and I would have to unsubscribe to too many fascinating threads to make the time.

I rarely bleed using a paint roller.

The drive looks nice.

Thank you Kirk. And thanks for stopping by.

Andy, I have a question about used/recycled oil. I once heard (and you know it's true... ) that the long hydrocarbon chains of oil molecules break in the crankcase, and that recycled oil is therefore inferior with their 'short molecules'. What I actually heard is, "the molecules break in the shearing action of the bearings."

But since you worked in the industry, is that really true?

Edit: Hi, Bob. Sorry for the thread hijack.

Mick, that's what makes this site so interesting to me. I had never heard that explanation. In my youth, I thought 'more expensive = better.' Now I know quality and price are not tightly linked, Perrier is not necessarily better than distilled water.

What is this "hijack" of which you speak? I have kidnapped the readers of this thread so many times I expect the GJBI (Garage Journal Bureau of Investigation) to knock on my door any day now.

Top job on the driveway Bob, it looks a treat.

Thank you Steve. Our first two homes had asphalt driveways so I sealed them every other year and it still didn't look good. This concrete sealer has been a pleasant surprise.

Hi Jack!

(who's he?)

I've never seen them but according to the chemists the molecules do not break, but if any of them did they would be removed by the fractionation process so they would not show up in the processed oil. If you assume lube oil molecule has a diameter of 1x10^-10m, and your oil film is 0.0005 in, then the film is 127,000 molecules thick. Pretty hard to shear them with a big ole gap like that. If you think the molecules are four times as thick, then the gap is only 30,000 times the thickness of a molecule. I'm still not worried.

For those that don't know, oil between two sliding surfaces builds up tremendous pressure. A bearing journal is an infinite sliding surface because it has no end, just goes round and around. Engine oil pump just floods that gap and does not create the pressure necessary to hold the rod off the crank. The hydrodynamic film does that.

I know all about lubricating engines, I just don't know to hook up the oil pump.

Back to an interesting story on sealing driveways.

Andy, bless you for sharing. Luckily, the Jacks I know don't show up on the GJ.

That oil film explanation makes sense. I recall an STP ad where the "mechanic" dips a screwdriver into a can of motor oil, grabs the tip and lifts the screwdriver. Then he dips the screwdriver into a can of STP and can't pick it up by the tip. I had to buy a can of STP just to try it out.

Bob, the driveway is looking good! Just keep looking in the direction of the garage until you get to the street.��

Steve, good to hear from you. I keep my back to the unfinished part and concentrate on one section at a time. I was on a roll yesterday and put down two gallons by noon. As I reached the road (leaving an unpainted sidewalk path) an ominous cloud formed right over me. It hadn't accumulated enough water vapor to rain but the clouds behind looked like they were ready. I stopped painting and started the cleanup process. Also set out some empty 5-gallon pails around the painted part of the driveway.

It took me an hour to clean up the roller frame and paint tray but by then the paint was dry -- not hard but dry. An hour later a four-hour shower came by. Showers continued all night but when I checked today, the paint looked fine. From this angle it looks like I'm halfway done.

I love having a 3-car wide driveway most of the time. Today, not so much. The remaining section has a low spot (the puddle on the right side) that has pretty deep mildew stains. Water from the rain gutter also stains the driveway (mahogany leaf tea makes an excellent stain) so it's going to need to be pressure washed.

Really nice job on the driveway Bob. Quite tickled that you found the same product 30 years on. Quite rare these days.

They started those 2K cans for clearcoat here... I was tempted to have a go with one. The only thing that holds me back is spraying the airborne catalyst around the house. Main reason I don't spray 2K or other things like gelcoat at home. Those catalyst tend to have 1000page MSDS and at least 750 pages mention cancer.

I remember those oil cartons. Got such a clip on the back of the head from my dad when it collapsed while pouring and spilled a good 1/2 cup over the Ford V6 in the back of the VW Kombi. My hands weren't big enough to hold it and didn't think to support it from below. I don't know what the problem was... that engine was always leaking oil that it didn't burn anyway.

Still, those were nowhere near as bad as the plastic sachets similar to what they sell fabric softener in. The smaller ones(330ml?) were OK but they sold it up to 2L that way and they were pure evil incarnate! You could buy a plastic jug for it but it was always a mess to deal with trying to pour the remnants into a normal steel oil can. There is a very special place in hell for the marketing team who came up with that idea and the exec that signed off on it.

Oh Guster, you had me at clip on the back of my head.

I never make it through the whole MSDS without palpitations (as Fred Sanford said: "it's the big one Elizabeth"). I use a 3M mask with fresh organic vapor cartridges for small jobs with 2-part paint and I do those outside.

For the big jobs or when I'm painting with isocyanate paint in a confined area, I put on the fresh air mask and a disposable coverall. The turbine blower goes outside, well away from the garage and a hose connects to the fitting on the outside garage wall, with another hose connecting the mask to the fitting on the inside garage wall. The Breathecool II Supplied Air Respirator System w/full face mask is expensive but cheaper than lung cancer treatment.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GAFD826/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I would try other concrete sealers but the H&C stuff has worked so well I would hate to switch and be disappointed. The local big box stores have aisles full of the big name brands but only ten one-gallon-cans of H&C sealer in different colors. I bought all five of the Pearl Gray they had so I'll have to try another store when I run out.

This sealer recommends Xylene for thinning and cleanup. I haven't had Xylene in my collection of chemicals for many years. Couldn't remember why until I got some on my hand. It burns! I thought I solved the problem by wearing a Nitrile glove and not just any Nitrile glove. I put on a 9 mil glove from Harbor Freight. All went well when I got some sealer on the glove but when I was using straight Xylene to clean up, my hand started tingling inside the glove. WTF? I found a Glove Selection Guide and it looks like the only glove that works with Xylene is Viton.
https://www.allsafetyproducts.com/asp-glove-selection-chart-chemical-break-through-times.html

It also appears that my HDPE squeeze bottles don't hold up well with Xylene in them.
https://www.calpaclab.com/chemical-compatibility-charts/

Great job.

I considered painting my shop floor, then realised it would take days to empty out.

Now I just look on in envy at others’ floors.

Rian, I have the same thoughts about my garage floor. First, I keep the garage doors closed so the people who count (according to Liane) can't see it. Second, I keep three cars parked in there so Liane can't see it (and the carpet from the master bedroom covers the bay she sees most often). Third, like you, I realize it would take days to empty two of the bays and years to empty the third.

 

[Bob Heine]

I'm painting my shop floor, one oil stain at a time.

Mick, at least your project car can be rolled out of the garage to do that. Not a single wheel on mine can be mounted. There aren't enough suspension pieces attached to even think about that.

EDIT: I forgot to mention I love your 3-car garage. Mine has three individual doors so a rear view mirror or three have been scratched while backing in.

 

[Toothaker]

I hope the e-brake works if I try to move it at the moment.

What is your project car?

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[BBChevro]

Really nice job on the driveway Bob. Quite tickled that you found the same product 30 years on. Quite rare these days.

They started those 2K cans for clearcoat here... I was tempted to have a go with one. The only thing that holds me back is spraying the airborne catalyst around the house. Main reason I don't spray 2K or other things like gelcoat at home. Those catalyst tend to have 1000page MSDS and at least 750 pages mention cancer.

I remember those oil cartons. Got such a clip on the back of the head from my dad when it collapsed while pouring and spilled a good 1/2 cup over the Ford V6 in the back of the VW Kombi. My hands weren't big enough to hold it and didn't think to support it from below. I don't know what the problem was... that engine was always leaking oil that it didn't burn anyway.

Still, those were nowhere near as bad as the plastic sachets similar to what they sell fabric softener in. The smaller ones(330ml?) were OK but they sold it up to 2L that way and they were pure evil incarnate! You could buy a plastic jug for it but it was always a mess to deal with trying to pour the remnants into a normal steel oil can. There is a very special place in hell for the marketing team who came up with that idea and the exec that signed off on it.

I don't recall plastic bags for oil here, but we did have them (briefly) for milk - breakfast time sure was an adventure back then. [emoji1]

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[BBChevro]

I'm painting my shop floor, one oil stain at a time. [emoji38]

[emoji1] My wife often comments that our driveway has the only oil stain that can be viewed from space (maybe a slight exaggeration, but it can be seen on Google Earth). [emoji1]

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[BBChevro]

The driveway is looking good Bob. [emoji106]

I've got to rip some of our driveway up and make it wider - it looks a bit strange since I built the new fence and gates...


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[BBChevro]

That pic above is from the carport.

And despite how it looks in the pic, the posts and the gates are perfectly vertical.

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[bj383ss]

Bob the driveway is looking good. I used epoxy with the fancy sprinkles on my first garage but at the new house I had acquired so much more stuff I didn't have time to paint the floor before moving in. And now there is just no way it can happen. So I plan to do the Black and White checkered tile floors at some point on my auto side of the garage and possibly a wood floor on the wood shop side.


Andy my grandpa taught me about the screwdriver trick with STP. When in High school I built a mouse trap car for one of my science classes. The instructor suggested we buy ball bearings for the wheels to make them faster. My dad and I built mine out of wood and lubricated the wholes with STP. My instructor didn't believe in it. So I took some STP and a screwdriver to school to demonstrate it to him. Needless to say my mouse trap car one first place in the acceleration test.

On the last day of school when we had Seniors lock in night they had Valet parking. When I pulled up in my Caprice my science instructor was one of the valets. He was delighted to get to park my car!

Ok back to Bob's regular programming.

Bret

 

[Guster]

Oh Guster, you had me at clip on the back of my head.

I never make it through the whole MSDS without palpitations (as Fred Sanford said: "it's the big one Elizabeth"). I use a 3M mask with fresh organic vapor cartridges for small jobs with 2-part paint and I do those outside.

For the big jobs or when I'm painting with isocyanate paint in a confined area, I put on the fresh air mask and a disposable coverall.

I have that same mask and filter setup. Glad you mentioned coverall Bob. Few people know that isocyanate is easily absorbed through the skin. Same for MEKP which even absorbs through your fingernails and burns like hell by which time you can do nothing about it.

Xylene is a great solvent, commonly known as the aromatic solvent used in marker pens nowadays. The other benzene derived kin, toluene and styrene are usefull also. Similar to the hexane components of petrol. At least they all appear tame compared to older tetrachloromethane(carbon tetrachloride), trichloromethane(who doesn't miss chloroform), trichloroethane and other popular chloromethane solvents and refrigerants of old if I recall.

I feel dizzy recalling all that...

I don't recall plastic bags for oil here, but we did have them (briefly) for milk - breakfast time sure was an adventure back then. [emoji1]

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That was around the same time... nothing worse than discovering a leak in your fridge a day later or worse... in your car.

 

[oldironfarmer]

I worked with a mechanic who hated STP. Said it would fracture steel. Seems he and a guy he worked with used their stellar powers of reasoning and deduced that if a little STP was good then a lot must be better. They filled a semi truck engine with only STP. The viscosity (in my assumption) caused the crankshaft to fracture and break. They knew the clean break was because the STP had impregnated the steel and broke it. Since we put lead in gasoline (this was 1966) I asked him why not just throw some wheel weights in the carburetor. He didn't get it. Labeled me a smart ***. It stuck.

 

[oldironfarmer]

The 3M 6000 series respirators are widely used in industry and are not only effective, they're cheap too. For curiosity, the 6200 is medium size, 6100 is small, and 6300 is large. 6200 fits almost everyone.

 

[Toothaker]

I worked with a mechanic who hated STP. Said it would fracture steel. Seems he and a guy he worked with used their stellar powers of reasoning and deduced that if a little STP was good then a lot must be better. They filled a semi truck engine with only STP. The viscosity (in my assumption) caused the crankshaft to fracture and break. They knew the clean break was because the STP had impregnated the steel and broke it. Since we put lead in gasoline (this was 1966) I asked him why not just throw some wheel weights in the carburetor. He didn't get it. Labeled me a smart ***. It stuck.

Was this mechanic in central Texas? I knew a mechanic who just positively knew STP broke cranks. Same theory, that it impregnated the steel and weakened it. This was mid 70's when I was a teen and live in Temple, TX. Even funnier, he was a huge Richard Petty fan. (STP sponsored the King for years.)

 

[oldironfarmer]

Was this mechanic in central Texas? I knew a mechanic who just positively knew STP broke cranks. Same theory, that it impregnated the steel and weakened it. This was mid 70's when I was a teen and live in Temple, TX. Even funnier, he was a huge Richard Petty fan. (STP sponsored the King for years.)

Could have been the same guy, Oklahoma 60's, Texas 70's.

 

[bolensboneyard]

I knew a guy once who used to brag about how much weight he could lift. I bet him he could not lift his own weight. Left with his ten spot while he was still standing on the palms of his hands!

 

[oldironfarmer]

I knew a guy once who used to brag about how much weight he could lift. I bet him he could not lift his own weight. Left with his ten spot while he was still standing on the palms of his hands!

I would have stepped up a single stair for you.

 

[drivesitfar]

BOB: I remember having a few STP stickers and maybe i'll find them if my mom ever cleans out her attic.

nice stories as per usual and I usually always leave your thread smiling and feeling a bit better.

CARRY ON!!

 

[Guster]

The 3M 6000 series respirators are widely used in industry and are not only effective, they're cheap too. For curiosity, the 6200 is medium size, 6100 is small, and 6300 is large. 6200 fits almost everyone.

That's the one. I have one permanently fitted with particle and another with organic vapour filters. The soft urethane rubber on the former is starting to go sticky so time to get another.

I also have a Moldex brand one that has a real nice low profile for wearing under my welding hood or grinding mask.

 

[BBChevro]

I can remember STP stickers being THE must have sticker when I was growing up in the '60s - I think I had an STP sticker way before I knew what STP was. [emoji4]

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[shortykorte]

I can remember STP stickers being THE must have sticker when I was growing up in the '60s - I think I had an STP sticker way before I knew what STP was. [emoji4]

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And don’t forget the cars that were completely covered in STP stickers. In Tallahassee, it was a VW van.


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[Bob Heine]

I hope the e-brake works if I try to move it at the moment.

What is your project car?

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Mick, my emergency brakes are 4"x4" scraps with 45* cuts on one end jammed behind the tire. I should put a handle on one so I can adjust the location without putting my hand in harm's way.

The project car is a 1972 Corvette coupe with 454 (more like 460ci) and Turrbo400. Bought it like this in 1978...

...and this is from 2006 (it has been downhill since then):

I don't recall plastic bags for oil here, but we did have them (briefly) for milk - breakfast time sure was an adventure back then. [emoji1]

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[emoji1] My wife often comments that our driveway has the only oil stain that can be viewed from space (maybe a slight exaggeration, but it can be seen on Google Earth). [emoji1]

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The driveway is looking good Bob. [emoji106]

I've got to rip some of our driveway up and make it wider - it looks a bit strange since I built the new fence and gates...

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That pic above is from the carport.

And despite how it looks in the pic, the posts and the gates are perfectly vertical.

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Mark, we didn't drink much milk in Australia but we drank our fair share of box wine, which had a plastic bag in the box. We even bought a cooler specifically designed for box wine. Similar to this one but much more cheaply made.

I had a Lincoln Town Car that had a minor leak. A friend replaced his blacktop driveway with a fancy paver one and asked that I not park my car on it. I parked on his lawn.

Your fence and gates came out great and I see what you mean. Our house is on a busy street and I always pull out nose-first. Having a drive that's wide enough for a K-turn helps.

Funny, when I look at that picture, the posts look perfectly vertical to me.

Bob the driveway is looking good. I used epoxy with the fancy sprinkles on my first garage but at the new house I had acquired so much more stuff I didn't have time to paint the floor before moving in. And now there is just no way it can happen. So I plan to do the Black and White checkered tile floors at some point on my auto side of the garage and possibly a wood floor on the wood shop side.


Andy my grandpa taught me about the screwdriver trick with STP. When in High school I built a mouse trap car for one of my science classes. The instructor suggested we buy ball bearings for the wheels to make them faster. My dad and I built mine out of wood and lubricated the wholes with STP. My instructor didn't believe in it. So I took some STP and a screwdriver to school to demonstrate it to him. Needless to say my mouse trap car one first place in the acceleration test.

On the last day of school when we had Seniors lock in night they had Valet parking. When I pulled up in my Caprice my science instructor was one of the valets. He was delighted to get to park my car!

Ok back to Bob's regular programming.

Bret

Bret, I thought about epoxy in the garage but it's already painted and the idea of grinding that off doesn't excite me. I replaced the tile in the kitchen and great room with Pergo and had to grind the Thinset off in preparation. I didn't expect it to be as bad as drywall dust but it seemed worse. Taping the door jambs to keep it out of the other room would have worked great had I thought to tape off the A/C return and vents. Made the selfish decision to work in comfort rather than a pool of body fluids.

There is nothing regular about this programming.

I have that same mask and filter setup. Glad you mentioned coverall Bob. Few people know that isocyanate is easily absorbed through the skin. Same for MEKP which even absorbs through your fingernails and burns like hell by which time you can do nothing about it.

Xylene is a great solvent, commonly known as the aromatic solvent used in marker pens nowadays. The other benzene derived kin, toluene and styrene are usefull also. Similar to the hexane components of petrol. At least they all appear tame compared to older tetrachloromethane(carbon tetrachloride), trichloromethane(who doesn't miss chloroform), trichloroethane and other popular chloromethane solvents and refrigerants of old if I recall.

I feel dizzy recalling all that...




That was around the same time... nothing worse than discovering a leak in your fridge a day later or worse... in your car.

Guster, I originally bought the fresh air system with a lower face only mask. When I discovered iso is also absorbed through the eyes, I bought the full face mask with some tear-offs.

When I started working for IBM in 1964 we were issued pint cans of Trichlor cleaning solvent and the big computer customer sites had gallon cans of it. Didn't think about it because we had a bottle of Carbona (carbon tetrachloride) at home with a fabric covered applicator under the cap. You diidn't want to pay for dry cleaning the entire (obligatory) 3-piece suit just to get rid of one grease stain.

I worked with a mechanic who hated STP. Said it would fracture steel. Seems he and a guy he worked with used their stellar powers of reasoning and deduced that if a little STP was good then a lot must be better. They filled a semi truck engine with only STP. The viscosity (in my assumption) caused the crankshaft to fracture and break. They knew the clean break was because the STP had impregnated the steel and broke it. Since we put lead in gasoline (this was 1966) I asked him why not just throw some wheel weights in the carburetor. He didn't get it. Labeled me a smart ***. It stuck.

The 3M 6000 series respirators are widely used in industry and are not only effective, they're cheap too. For curiosity, the 6200 is medium size, 6100 is small, and 6300 is large. 6200 fits almost everyone.

Andy, one of the STP executives in charge of research and development lived across the street from our first Florida home. He had tickets to the Daytona 500 and I had to attend management school that week. Liane got to go and really enjoyed hors d'oeuvres in the STP sky box. She had no idea who was in the race or who won. I cried like a baby.

That mechanic had a lot more money than me. STP came in pretty small cans and one was about the same price as five quarts of oil. I felt like Daddy Warbucks putting one can in my best car (low mileage '47 Ford Tudor with flathead V8).

I'm amazed it was 1966 before you got to be a smart ***. I was called dumb *** some time in the late 1940s.

I have to buy the 6300 (I thought the big L on the nose meant it was for losers). I may have a large skull because I rarely find a hat that fits. I can only wear those adjustable bill hats with the pin in the last hole for a short time before my head starts to throb.

Was this mechanic in central Texas? I knew a mechanic who just positively knew STP broke cranks. Same theory, that it impregnated the steel and weakened it. This was mid 70's when I was a teen and live in Temple, TX. Even funnier, he was a huge Richard Petty fan. (STP sponsored the King for years.)

Could have been the same guy, Oklahoma 60's, Texas 70's.

Mick and Andy, I never heard about STP crank failures. Sounds like an urban legend started by Marvel Mystery Oil. I used that stuff for everything but Liane said not on her pancakes.

I knew a guy once who used to brag about how much weight he could lift. I bet him he could not lift his own weight. Left with his ten spot while he was still standing on the palms of his hands!

I would have stepped up a single stair for you.

Bobby and Andy, one of my early job interviews (North American Winfield Door Co.) had one simple criteria: "Can you lift 150 pounds?" Not knowing better I said yes (did it once in Gym Class). The job was to carry a 20-foot 4"x4" 1/4" angle iron (132 pounds) from the rack to the punch press. They failed to mention I would repeat that trip many times every day. At the end of 3 hot months I had shrunk from 150- to 125-pounds and my spinal column was changing my bellybutton from an innie to an outie.

BOB: I remember having a few STP stickers and maybe i'll find them if my mom ever cleans out her attic.

nice stories as per usual and I usually always leave your thread smiling and feeling a bit better.

CARRY ON!!

Drives, my huge collection of STP stickers turned into a single sticky mess in the Florida heat. Thanks for the kind words.

That's the one. I have one permanently fitted with particle and another with organic vapour filters. The soft urethane rubber on the former is starting to go sticky so time to get another.

I also have a Moldex brand one that has a real nice low profile for wearing under my welding hood or grinding mask.

Guster, I have two in the garage and two more in the workshop set up like yours. I keep the ones with the organic vapor cartridges in Ziploc bags. I heard they absorb vapors without breathing through them and I often squirt my cleaning chemicals on the workbenches.

I have a couple of older 3M masks but the elastic straps lost their elastic. I found the straps but they want more for the straps than for a new mask. Someday I'll take them to a fabric shop and get some new elastics in pink and baby blue or maybe with lace.

I can remember STP stickers being THE must have sticker when I was growing up in the '60s - I think I had an STP sticker way before I knew what STP was. [emoji4]

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Mark, I had those stickers before I owned a car as well. The stickers were cool but I wanted the STP suit like Andy Granatelli wore.

And don’t forget the cars that were completely covered in STP stickers. In Tallahassee, it was a VW van.


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Stewart, between Andy and Richard, anyone who loved cars loved STP. I am a closet sticker person. Most of my automotive stickers are on the inside of the doors on the white cabinets in the garage. At one point I was covering my tool chests with them but gave those chests away to grandchildren -- they aren't getting my garage cabinet doors.

 

[rixtrix1]

Driveway is looking very good, Bob! I totally agree with Drives about the good feeling after catching up here. While in college I worked for a discount store named Yellow Front. I ran the auto, sporting goods and home improvement sections and ordered STP by the pallet. Every case came with 3-4 stickers inside and I was the supplier for all my car loving friends. Never used it, but hated to clean up the mess left when a leaky can destroyed a shelf. The only thing I found that would easily clean off the mess was Rislone. A single swipe with a soaked rag made it all disappear. A great detergent( I think it was concentrated ATF) and a can added during an oil change would clean up the grungiest engine inside I ever saw.

I grew up in the days before MSDS and as a teen soaked my hands in MEK to get airplane fabric dope off( felt velvety like kerosene without the smell or residue), benzene to clean spark plugs and Xylene on a variety of airplane related cleaning tasks: no masks, gloves, suits or clean air supplies. I also played in the street, rode a bicycle without a helmet and for reason I'm still alive, although I take all the precautions listed above now. I don't use my mask always when welding for all the 30 second jobs I do, but it makes the bigger jobs less fatiguing.