One Day Projects Thread

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ok, ok, so I KNOW some will post a project that took two days.

I needed to replace a stepl ladder I carried in my truck (I backed over it). My 90+ very sweet neighbor stood this out with her trash. Her husband died about 5 yrs ago and I can see this is likely at least 50 yrs old.

Anyway, it's pretty solid. I tightened up the nuts that hold the aluminum treads and used a single jack and hammer to crimp/tighten the riveted connections, Viola! like new!

Modern HD paint stripper doesn't do much on old oil based, lead paint. I took 40 grit to it, except the shelf. That took my belt sander with 36 grit. It actually was over 1/4" thick!'

Cleared it, but I'm not sure I'll leave it like this. I didn't try to get EVERY spot of paint off....and it kinda bugs me. I may paint all the metal black, or possibly the whole thing. Anyway, Before & After pics

PS: The shelf "After" closeup was not cleared when I took the pic.

 

[Bert_]

I like it. Not enough love for the simple stuff. I wouldn't paint it. Maybe oil the wood to protect it.

 

[rburke65]

It’s amazing the amount of effort that goes into a simple project.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

It’s amazing the amount of effort that goes into a simple project.

Ha, no fooling.

I tried loading up HD paint stripper on it, left it half an hour. It hardly touched the old oil based paint. Got out my Milwaukee random orbital and some 40 grit and had at it. It kinda brutalized the wood a bit but what the heck. The ladder had been in the trash after all.

I’m gonna try masking off the metal for black paint tomorrow but I suspect it’ll be too tedious for what I intend to use this for. We’ll see.

 

[MushCreek]

I just helped my BIL rebuild his ancient wheelbarrow. New handles, hardware, and tire. It would have cost him at least a dollar more to buy a brand new one, so it was well worth the effort. That, and the tub is cracked and rusted out. We used huge fender washers so the tub wouldn't fall off. He was quite proud of it, though.

 

[Kaizen]

I wish my projects were that caliber. That seems relaxing. I posted this in another thread but just so damn proud I got this done. Cast drain split behind first floor wall. Replaced that six feet and another thirty in the cellar. I had nightmares of something going wrong and having a portapotty in my driveway. Extremely happy the rest of the cast stack did not drop. I love pvc.



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[FarmerWill]

Brilliant topic. Can't believe this hasn't been posted before.

 

[niget2002]

It used to be that all my projects were 1 day projects as I always tried to get the wife's car back in the garage at the end of the day.

Now all my projects seem to take days just to do a small task.

 

[niget2002]

Built these letters for the sister in law.

One day from picking up the wood at 7 am to delivery that night.

 

[seanc_mt]

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[Kaizen]

It used to be that all my projects were 1 day projects as I always tried to get the wife's car back in the garage at the end of the day.

Now all my projects seem to take days just to do a small task.

Some days all the work just goes. You have all the needed parts, find needed tools, rusty bolts spin right off. I call that firing on all cylinders. I’ve had days where I did five perfect projects of moderate difficulty and took the next day off just to bathe in the glory of it [emoji23]


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[Dan in Pasadena]

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Ha, I like it!

Yeah, when I decided to post my ladder project I was surprised there wasn’t already a thread for this kind of small stuff too. I like the feeling of having gotten something worthwhile done in a minimum amount of time!

 

[ezover]

Most of my projects could be one day projects, except waiting for parts or havin to help the wife or, you get the ideal.

 

[Dutch01]

Small hand press I built to remove bearing from front hub using scrap angle iron and wheel bearing puller.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

That ladder deserved saving. I have my Dad's 2' wooden stepladder. He gave it to me when I bought my house because his father had given it to him when he bought his first house. I recently tightened up the tread support rod nuts and all the other hardware, too. It's like new now.

Tommy

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

That ladder deserved saving. I have my Dad's 2' wodden stepladder. He gave it to me when I bought my house because his father had given it to him when he bought his. I recently tightened up the tread support rod nuts and all the other hardware, too. It's like new now.

Tommy

Tommy, I had a nice two foot one too that I tightened up the tread rods on and painted black. Then; like an idiot! I back over it after washing my truck. DOH!

That’s what prompted me to save the one above. I wonder if a lot of people don’t even know you can tighten them up? I found whacking the rivets used to put them together while backing it up with a single jack sledge also helped a lot. The ladder is tight just like new.

I think (?) some think of wood ladder as dangerous because they get loose as they age because don’t do the maintenance. And maybe they are but wooden ladder have SO much more charm than aluminum or fiberglass. There’s almost a sense of craftsmanship to them. Yeah, they’re only a ladder but I think they look better if they’re wood.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Dan,
I would not paint it. Don't cover up all the blood and sweat that history holds. Your neighbor may appreciate that look too. It looks pretty good as is. Good job.
Rick

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I'm on board with not painting it, too. My 2' has paint spots and even a very unique sneaker print from Dad when he stepped in the roller pan when I was a kid. I still remember those sneakers. I'm not covering up those memories.

Tommy

 

[bdbecker]

Here are a few of mine from the past...

Cleaned up an old hatchet I found at the ReStore. Turned out to be a no-name made in China once I got the paint cleaned up, but I was able to re-use the handle so I've only got $5 and a couple hours into it.
View media item 91527
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Built a playhouse for my daughter out of pallet boards and drops I had lying around.
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Made a bathroom organizer for Wife during the Super Bowl a few years ago (game was boring).
View media item 67993
I originally built this for holding silverware and napkins for get-togethers, but it also works well with candles and flowers.
View media item 61721

 

[Dutch01]

Storage from buckets for my granddaughter. They are held together with zip ties.

 

[Ohmthis]

bdbecker, those organizers are great! If you don’t care I’d love to make some for our lake house. I made a vanity out of pallet wood to have a rustic look and I think the bathroom one would fit perfect.

 

[bdbecker]

bdbecker, those organizers are great! If you don’t care I’d love to make some for our lake house. I made a vanity out of pallet wood to have a rustic look and I think the bathroom one would fit perfect.

Go for it! There is variation between the jar diameters, so keep that in mind when you're sizing the holes (I used a hole saw). We can from our garden, so I was able to just pick through our inventory to find ones that fit. Some drop right in, others don't fit at all.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I like the toy organizers for kids. When my grand daughters are here they have a nursery but also a ton of little toys that need organizing. Thanks!

 

[Dutch01]

I like the toy organizers for kids. When my grand daughters are here they have a nursery but also a ton of little toys that need organizing. Thanks!

If you are referring to my post of the buckets, you're welcome. My granddaughter loves it. The green bucket is what I call a floating bucket that you carry around, collect toys and fit into any empty space. Project cost me less than 8 USD in converted ZAR even with the crappy exchange rate

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: I'm in for watching what some of you can do in a day (or 2) and i'll post up a few of mine as I can.

i'm not sure i'd need a can crusher anymore cause my beer and soda intake is nil, but if you are crushing them to melt them and then cast cool aluminum stuff that could be a KEEPER.

not sure who made the nice organizer for the bathroom, but i'd think again about having open toothbrushes especially if above or near the toilet. we stick them in drawers after learning about the ECOLI that gets in the room just from one flush.

BD: great looking playhouse you built for your daughter!!

 

[bdbecker]

...not sure who made the nice organizer for the bathroom, but i'd think again about having open toothbrushes especially if above or near the toilet. we stick them in drawers after learning about the ECOLI that gets in the room just from one flush.

BD: great looking playhouse you built for your daughter!!

Thanks!

I'm the one who had the open jars in the bathroom. The toothbrushes are now stored in a drawer, mainly because kiddo couldn't reach it in there, but that is a good point about the germs.