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

[Bob Heine]

Took me the a few cups of coffee to catch up but it looks as if you are pretty much back up to speed Bob. Nice repairs on all the broken stuff. I especially enjoy the Detroit history.
I had a ‘67 tempest in my youth and I can remember drooling over a new “Judge”. I did however buy a Fiero new in 1984, it was a fun car to beat the hell out of.

They broke ground for our pool 3 days ago and making good progress, scheduled to shot concrete on Tuesday. Pools are either a love or hate thing with a lot of folks. I’ve always been a water rat so this house gets a pool and spa.

Mac, that looks like the bones of a really nice water feature in the back yard. Since it includes a spa I assume you'll be able to heat the whole thing in the winter. In New York we started the waterski season on Easter weekend and ended it at Haloween so the water in the Hudson was often freezing cold even when the air was relatively warm. We moved into our first Florida home on November 1 and swam in the pool all that first winter. The following year we quit going in the pool from Christmas to Easter and from that point on we wait for the pool to hit 80°F (around Memorial Day weekend) and stop using it when it drops into the 70s (Halloweenish).

I have that same system, seems to work well when I can't even smell the paint.

Walrus, I really like the system but don't use it as often as I should. Easier to paint out in the breeze and de-nib the bugs and leaves from the paint after using vapor cartridges in the 3M mask.

 

[Bob Heine]

I finished the microwave project last week, taking far longer than expected. SWMBO made it clear I was not to attempt to install the thing by myself (as I had done for the previous two nearly identical units. My big strong next door neighbor came over to help lower the old one to the stove (protected by padding and a piece of T1-11.

Used the templates from the new microwave to mark the tile backsplash. This is frost-proof floor tile that requires a diamond blade to cut. I decided to use a real thin Dremel-clone diamond blade rather than the big 4.5" grinder to reduce the size of the dust cloud.

The Dremel motor heated up quickly so I had to shut it off several times and wait an hour for it to cool off enough to hold with my bare hand. Took a long time to cut the first tile so I quit for the day.

The next day, after I stopped the second time to let the Dremel motor cool, it wouldn't run, with only a few inches to go. I ended the day covering ever hole from the previous microwave ovens and the two power vent hoods that had occupied the space in years gone by. Looks like the aftermath of "Say hello to my little friend."

I grabbed the Wen rotary tool (a $17 clone of the Dremel) and finished the cut. I decided to give Dremel one last chance and bought a second-hand replacement motor for a third the regular price. Neighbor returned for the install and it went almost perfect. Instructions said "drill 3/8" hole for 1/4-20" mounting screw" and I decided 5/16" hole would be plenty big enough. I was wrong but a right-angle M12 hex driver came to the rescue. My OCD is trying hard not to try to fix the time mismatch between the stove and microwave. It's hard enough to live with the different display colors.

 

[don long]

I like those BIG wood screws. I used them to secure 4x4s together while building the country store.
A good rack is hard to beat. nice job Bob
I hate doing any work in her house because it never turns out good (ENOUGH) so I make her hire it out. It saves our marriage.

 

[xtremek]

Ok, I give, how does it sit there?

 

[bugnut]

Bob, did the WEN do a better, cooler job? I replaced a tired Dremel with a WEN but haven't tried it out. Microwave install looks good and the CIC should be fairly happy!

 

[shortykorte]

Looks great Bob but what is the actual time.

 

[gearhead1960]

Looks good Bob. Hope your burly next door neighbor was rewarded with something to eat from the new microwave.....

 

[Bob Heine]

I like those BIG wood screws. I used them to secure 4x4s together while building the country store.
A good rack is hard to beat. nice job Bob
I hate doing any work in her house because it never turns out good (ENOUGH) so I make her hire it out. It saves our marriage.

Don, for decades all I bought was drywall screws because they kinda worked. The Garage Journal sent me in a better direction and now I have a bunch of construction screws and stainless screws for important jobs. Now it appears I have a lifetime supply of drywall screws that my children will inherit.
I thought about making my own before finding these. A lot less work and I shouldn't have to replace or repair them next week.
I'm in the same boat but Liane likes free stuff, including my labor. Divorce laws save my marriage. No way she'd settle for half.

Ok, I give, how does it sit there?

Kirk, I assume you mean the microwave. I forgot to take a picture of the final steps. The back rests on a bracket at the bottom that mounts on the studs in the wall. That's why I had to cut the tile. Once it is secure on the bracket, two elevator screws go through the floor of the cabinet above and into captured nuts in the top of the microwave. Part of the reason for the Swiss cheese look on the wall and cabinet is appliance designers' desire to build a better mouse trap and not put mounting hardware in standard locations. Reminds me of the lug nuts on my '55 Plymouth. Left side had left-hand threads and right side had right-hand threads. Imagine going to get tires for that car today: "Sir, half your lug nuts were defective and snapped off when we loosened them."

Bob, did the WEN do a better, cooler job? I replaced a tired Dremel with a WEN but haven't tried it out. Microwave install looks good and the CIC should be fairly happy!

Bugnut, I can't tell if it did a better job (I may have been more careful) but it finished the last few inches without having to sit for an hour. I got out my really old Dremel that is set up with the cable drive to do the corner cut with a smaller diamond wheel. I bought two Wen rotary tools so I could dedicate one to a TIG tungsten sharpener setup. I don't do enough TIG to justify a $150 - $800 machine so the $17 Wen rotary tool and $50 jig is the best I can do to get a decent tip.

Looks great Bob but what is the actual time.

Stewart, the stupid thing is, unlike a broken clock that is right twice a day, neither of these ever shows the correct time.

Looks good Bob. Hope your burly next door neighbor was rewarded with something to eat from the new microwave.....

Mark, it's funny you mention that. After my surgery, he came over and cleaned up the palm trees and carried all the yard debris out to the curb without anyone asking and did that for several weeks while I was on lifting restrictions. He and his husband are the best neighbors we've ever had and he likes to cook so I gifted him a super sharp Japanese Damascus Chef knife. Then the microwave died. Only the starving compliment my cooking so that's never a gift.

 

[PugetDude]

Bob.
I've go three dead Dremels with stripped collets or broken switches in a drawer somewhere, I'll dig them out and send them to you if you'll give them a proper burial. I also bought a couple of those $17 Wen's; they've held up better than the Dremels.
Scott

 

[legenddc]

I've found buying screws from a place like CS Hardware is even better than a box store. Ordered 1,000 of a few different sizes and split them with my dad for the same cost as 200 from Home Depot/Lowes. They seem to be higher quality too.

Congrats on getting the microwave installed. Ours wasn't too bad except for hooking it up to the vent which made me never want to do another install again on one.

 

[Bob Heine]

Bob.
I've go three dead Dremels with stripped collets or broken switches in a drawer somewhere, I'll dig them out and send them to you if you'll give them a proper burial. I also bought a couple of those $17 Wen's; they've held up better than the Dremels.
Scott

Scott, I took the dead Dremel apart and in the process the spring under the collet lock button dropped on the floor. Spent an hour with a magnet on a stick to try to find it with no luck. A week later I stepped on something ten feet from where I was working and it was the sprint. I had ignored Liane's advice to "Throw it out!" and put it back together. I have no idea how but the Dremel is working again (still making the "I'm dying here" noises) so it went into the drawer with the rest of its family. I have not abused the Wen tools enough to say but it's good to hear you've had good luck with them. It's a really stupid price difference.

I've found buying screws from a place like CS Hardware is even better than a box store. Ordered 1,000 of a few different sizes and split them with my dad for the same cost as 200 from Home Depot/Lowes. They seem to be higher quality too.

Congrats on getting the microwave installed. Ours wasn't too bad except for hooking it up to the vent which made me never want to do another install again on one.

Legenddc, being a terrible planner. I end up paying through the nose and wasting time walking up and down the aisles to find what I need. Amazon is no help at all because they get the stuff to my house about as fast as I can get to the store (we don't go out much anymore). I'm going to try planning ahead and order my hardware before I start the project.

 

[Lyndon]

Bob

Belated Happy birthday wishes to you. My apologies for my tardiness, just haven't been internet or FB interested for the last few days!!!

Hope you had a great one.

I am following your progress with interest, if only to be able to say to Irene in 5 weeks time - "look - Bob's 10+ weeks down and he's fine with doing all this stuff"!!!!

Oh - and I have that same Dremel, but haven't tested it too much, so was disappointed to see it fail against a cheap alternative.

Lyndon

 

[Guster]

Happy birthday Bob! I think you have at least deserved a new Dremel for your birthday present.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who has a perfectly good new one and still try and make the old one work just a little while longer.

 

[shortykorte]

It’s your birthday, Wen if you want to. Have a good one.

 

[Finallygotit]

Happy birthday Mr. Heine!

 

[Grizz1963]

Whaaaat?

Another Birthday in the same year? Thats just plain greedy.


Happy belated Birthday it seems Bob.

Trust it was a good day.

 

[Bob Heine]

Bob

Belated Happy birthday wishes to you. My apologies for my tardiness, just haven't been internet or FB interested for the last few days!!!

Hope you had a great one.

I am following your progress with interest, if only to be able to say to Irene in 5 weeks time - "look - Bob's 10+ weeks down and he's fine with doing all this stuff"!!!!

Oh - and I have that same Dremel, but haven't tested it too much, so was disappointed to see it fail against a cheap alternative.

Lyndon

Lyndon, no worries. I completely understand the lack of interest in electronics when there's a nasty bag in your life. They gave me a small bag that I managed to get strapped to my leg (not a very friendly design). It slipped down my leg and tugged on the plastic tube. Little bag went straight to the trash bin and I lived with the big plastic shopping bag for the rest of the week. I can't imaging going through that with a bum knee to boot.

My birthdays are way too close together now so I try to keep a low profile. Would have gotten more done Saturday but pesky relatives kept calling to wish me a happy birthday (more likely just verifying I'm still alive).

When I say I'm almost back to normal, I occasionally feel a twinge from the incisions but my everyday aches and pains (aka my good friends that remind me I'm still alive) have taken their rightful place and the surgery is just a memory.

I take back everything I said about the Dremel 4000. It was factory refurbished so I have no experience with a brand new one. When it quit working I let it sit for a few hours and when it didn't work, put it away for a day. Took it apart and found nothing obvious wrong (burned spots on circuit board, bad brushes, etc.). As I was putting it back together, the collet lock button popped out and the spring fell to the floor. Spent an hour trying to find it (flashlight across the floor to highlight shiny little spring, followed by a magnet wand). Gave up and ordered another used one. A week later I was cleaning up the floor ten feet from where I dropped it and there was the spring. Put the Dremel back together and it works!!! No idea what I did but it's fixed. It has been retired to the Shed down the hill, saving me a few steps next time some project down there needs a Dremel.

Happy birthday Bob! I think you have at least deserved a new Dremel for your birthday present.

Glad to see I'm not the only one who has a perfectly good new one and still try and make the old one work just a little while longer.

Thank you Eugene! If I include the Rotozip Dust Generator, I have six corded electric rotary tools so I may have passed the deserving stage. I'm also avoiding adding any more straight or angled air die grinders because I'm afraid to count them (there's a specialty cutoff model or two in the pile as well).

I'm an inherently lazy person so rather than changing the bits or attachments on these tools, I buy another one. There are die grinders with buffing wheels, sandpaper cones, grinding stones and cutting wheels. One is always empty in case I need to mount a burr. Electric angle grinders are set up the same way. Did I mention electric and pneumatic buffers? No sense changing pads, just grab the other buffer.

It’s your birthday, Wen if you want to. Have a good one.

Thank you Stewart!

Happy birthday Mr. Heine!

Thank you Dan!

 

[Bob Heine]

Whaaaat?

Another Birthday in the same year? Thats just plain greedy.


Happy belated Birthday it seems Bob.

Trust it was a good day.

Rian, I know! I was hoping to look back on the 'year' COVID-19 came and went. Turned out to be a pretty long year but hopefully it isn't the 'decade.'

Liane went to the local thrift stores and found me another new (or near-new) pair of jeans I can wear to the big box stores and not look so much like a homeless person. I hate wearing nice jeans I paid $20 for and then getting rips or stains from nasty chemicals. When a new pair of jeans cost $3.50 I can wear them anywhere and be confident nothing will mess them up -- Karma knows when you're wearing something expensive.

Every day is a good day!

 

[xtremek]

Happy birthday Bob. I hope it pleasingly memorable.

 

[y'sguy]

Happy Birthday wishes to you, Bob!

 

[Bob Heine]

Happy birthday Bob. I hope it pleasingly memorable.

It's funny Kirk, at this stage they all blur together. I'm actually pleased to feel as good as I do at 77. Actually worked in the garage today. The rest of the week is a series of doctor visits. Liane postponed one of hers to next week so we only have three this week (and two next week). Maybe I just feel good because doctors are telling me I'm fine, except for a little cancer.

Happy Birthday wishes to you, Bob!

Thank you Y'sguy!

 

[patlun]

Now the rumor about your age have reached Sweden. Happy birthday! I raise my glass of Lagavulin and wish you and Liane many and healthy birthdays in the future.

 

[Mr.zippy]

77……that’s when dreams are dry, and farts are wet. A natural occurrence! I celebrate you good sir! Happy birthday and thank you for the pure entertainment I enjoy so much.

 

[jon72vega]

77……that’s when dreams are dry, and farts are wet. A natural occurrence! I celebrate you good sir! Happy birthday and thank you for the pure entertainment I enjoy so much.

Happy Birthday Bob!
May you have many more with wet farts, and wet dreams!

 

[Finallygotit]

Happy Birthday Bob!
May you have many more with wet farts, and wet dreams!

And just like that, we are off the rails and into the weeds.

 

[Trapps]

Happy Birthday, to you sir!

 

[Bob Heine]

I believe I have postponed the gutter cleaning long enough. Anyone interested in a few Florida Mahogany saplings?

I decided I need to expand the back yard carport/workshop extension. The racks on the back of the workshop have provided excellent storage for long things but I need a dry place to store some of my 'stuff.' Bought some PVC fittings and pipe along with a heavy duty white 10'x20' tarp. It worked great until the first heavy rain. In my hurry to buy the 10' pieces of Schedule 40 PVC pipe, I grabbed 12 much thinner 10' pieces of 3/4" sprinkler pipe. It bowed under the weight of the water and made large birdbaths. Luckily I didn't glue the PVC together so I can start over.

As a reward for my haste, the carport fabric ripped loose because I zip tied the PVC to the carport's metal frame. A new cover for the carport frame is almost as much as a new carport so a new one is on its way. The old frame will become the much stiffer and stronger frame for the lean-to.

As long as I was waiting for the new carport, I decided to check the cabin air filter in the PT Cruiser. It didn't come from the factory with a cabin filter so I found a housing and filter many years ago and installed it. When I say many years ago, we've owned the Cruiser since 2004 so it's at least 15 years old. It isn't the easiest filter to get to, requiring removal of the giant windshield washer tank.

I feel I got my money's worth out of the old filter.

While the filter housing was out of the way I did a little digging and found a decent pile of leaves that somehow made it past the cowl cover and into the opening next to the filter.

I did a little cleaning and freshening up of the area around the filter before re-installing it. I may have to do this again someday, hopefully sooner than 15-17 years. The car has just over 48,000 miles on it.

They sure didn't leave a lot of space for fresh air to get to the filter. The washer fluid tank is about a half-inch away.

I am amazed at the leaves getting into that compartment, considering how few openings there are in the cowl cover.

Before I pulled the Cruiser out of the air conditioned garage I gave it a good vacuum and wipe down/treatment of the vinyl bits in the interior. Not sure what's next but probably just an oil and filter change. It has been more than a year but a lot less than 3,000 miles. Getting close to the timing belt and tensioner service. Maybe an inspection of the plugs and cables at the same time..

 

[Bob Heine]

Now the rumor about your age have reached Sweden. Happy birthday! I raise my glass of Lagavulin and wish you and Liane many and healthy birthdays in the future.

Thank you so much Patrik!

77……that’s when dreams are dry, and farts are wet. A natural occurrence! I celebrate you good sir! Happy birthday and thank you for the pure entertainment I enjoy so much.

Mr.zippy, many many years ago we met an elderly man at a party who was sitting on a piano bench. He got a very peaceful look on his face and quietly asked "Do farts have lumps?"

Happy Birthday Bob!
May you have many more with wet farts, and wet dreams!

Jon, as you may have guessed, there are times when I pre-wash my delicates.

And just like that, we are off the rails and into the weeds.

Dan, where did you see rails?

Happy Birthday, to you sir!

Thank you Mark!

 

[xtremek]

It's amazing where dirt and leaves end up in a car. Nice job on the air filter. So will it be two carports side by side now?

 

[Bob Heine]

It's amazing where dirt and leaves end up in a car. Nice job on the air filter. So will it be two carports side by side now?

Kirk, I try to keep the leaves out of the front fender behind the door. They like to collect there and eventually turn into a spongy wet mass to get the steel cancer started. I was surprised to find leaves this high up in the car.

I'm hoping to use the old carport frame to build a sturdy tubular steel frame for the tarp lean-to alongside the new carport. If I do it right, there may be some fun welding involved.

 

[Bob Heine]

One of my two fun welding projects was doomed to failure. I managed to metal glue the second broken garden/garbage can cart but the steel cancer is pretty advanced so it is only a matter of time before one or both fall apart in a new place. Anticipating this, I ordered a janitorial cart that is similar but because it's made by Rubbermaid, it is 99% plastic.


The other fun welding project was to metal glue the first airbrush paint rack together. It holds 28 2-ounce bottles of paint so about a third the number I have on hand. I like the way it came out and plan to build two more.

I borrowed this design from a craft site and it was held together with glue. I trust glue for some applications but worried it would fall apart, even with zip ties added. I was curious how much this rack of paint bottles weighed and it turns out it's almost 7 pounds (good thing I didn't put this together right after my surgery -- real close to my lifting limit back then).

 

[shortykorte]

Pic of how you repurpose the janitor cart for trash can.
That’s a lot of air brush paint. Don’t recall you being an airbrush artist.

 

[madison069]

Happy Late Birthday! Hope it was a good one.


Your leave collection reminded me that I need to go through my truck and clean out all of the cracks and spots that collects dirt. Then get ready to spray fluid film everywhere for the winter.

 

[xtremek]

Yep, Bob, you opened the door, and Shorty brought it out into the open.. We want to see some airbrush art work.

 

[Bob Heine]

Pic of how you repurpose the janitor cart for trash can.
That’s a lot of air brush paint. Don’t recall you being an airbrush artist.

Stewart, Amazon claims the janitor cart will arrive on Friday so it's possible I can take a pic on Saturday. Unless it's a re-badged Ikea cart. In that case, all bets are off.

I made the mistake of shopping for a couple of colors to be able to mix what I wanted. That Acrylic paint in 2-ounce bottles is stupid expensive unless you buy a collection. Back in July I mentioned the new compressor and airbrush collection but I'm no artist, just a wannabe (there's a pinstripe setup as well):

I have been putting together my airbrush setup as well. The compressor is pretty quiet and I added a manifold so I can connect three airbrushes at the same time. I already had a Harbor Freight and an Iwata airbrush but the cup on the HF airbrush isn't secure and falls off if I move the airbrush. I bought a cheaper clone of the Iwata that has three different needles, and nozzles.

Happy Late Birthday! Hope it was a good one.


Your leave collection reminded me that I need to go through my truck and clean out all of the cracks and spots that collects dirt. Then get ready to spray fluid film everywhere for the winter.

Cody, thanks for the well wishes.

Even though we live a mile from the ocean, the salt air doesn't seem to cause a lot of rust. The big problem in this area is the sun -- it bakes the interior and vaporizes the paint on horizontal surfaces.

Yep, Bob, you opened the door, and Shorty brought it out into the open.. We want to see some airbrush art work.

Kirk, so far I only used the air brush to freshen up the pin striping tool box. I also used it to touch up a paint chip on the PT Cruiser.
I tested the Iwata airbrush on my pinstriping case because the lid was pretty scratched up. I didn't do a very good job mixing the blue, yellow and black 1-Shot enamel. There's a little black section on the right corner.

I

My next spray gun job is probably going to be the shed. After brushing latex on the back of the shed I decided to treat myself to a low-end Graco airless sprayer. Had one a long time ago but gifted it to my son after he painted our house.

 

[mybigwarwagon]

Happy belated Birthday.




I showed a friend of mine the picture of the bunker across the road from you. He said it was a good thing the gate was wide because people were going to get disoriented on that driveway.

 

[jon72vega]

I finished the microwave project last week, taking far longer than expected. SWMBO made it clear I was not to attempt to install the thing by myself (as I had done for the previous two nearly identical units. My big strong next door neighbor came over to help lower the old one to the stove (protected by padding and a piece of T1-11.

Used the templates from the new microwave to mark the tile backsplash. This is frost-proof floor tile that requires a diamond blade to cut. I decided to use a real thin Dremel-clone diamond blade rather than the big 4.5" grinder to reduce the size of the dust cloud.

The Dremel motor heated up quickly so I had to shut it off several times and wait an hour for it to cool off enough to hold with my bare hand. Took a long time to cut the first tile so I quit for the day.

The next day, after I stopped the second time to let the Dremel motor cool, it wouldn't run, with only a few inches to go. I ended the day covering ever hole from the previous microwave ovens and the two power vent hoods that had occupied the space in years gone by. Looks like the aftermath of "Say hello to my little friend."

I grabbed the Wen rotary tool (a $17 clone of the Dremel) and finished the cut. I decided to give Dremel one last chance and bought a second-hand replacement motor for a third the regular price. Neighbor returned for the install and it went almost perfect. Instructions said "drill 3/8" hole for 1/4-20" mounting screw" and I decided 5/16" hole would be plenty big enough. I was wrong but a right-angle M12 hex driver came to the rescue. My OCD is trying hard not to try to fix the time mismatch between the stove and microwave. It's hard enough to live with the different display colors.

Bob,
Great job on the microwave install/adaptation!

I bought a Wen rotary tool based on your recommendation, and I love it.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Nice paint jar racks. Where did you find the plans?
Nice work on the porcrowave, too.

 

[Bob Heine]

Happy belated Birthday.

I showed a friend of mine the picture of the bunker across the road from you. He said it was a good thing the gate was wide because people were going to get disoriented on that driveway.

Thanks Uncle Willie!
I am at a loss for words to describe that driveway. It really looks like they started a dozen different patterns starting from the corners and the middle and called it good to go. It isn't even a random pattern, just a jumble.

Bob,
Great job on the microwave install/adaptation!

I bought a Wen rotary tool based on your recommendation, and I love it.

Thank you Jon. Once we bought the first large capacity microwave, we can't get along without one. It allows me to nuke several bowls at the same time.

I currently have several Wen tools and have been very happy with them. Wen is the reason I own a track saw. I'm a rank amateur in everything I do and learned a long time ago that a Martin guitar did nothing to improve our son-in-law's playing. He was so disappointed that he gave up playing, claiming the Martin didn't work right.

I feel like some brands charge a premium because they were first to market (i.e. the IBM PC). Then someone comes along and builds a really good or maybe even better clone for less money but the big name brand sticks to its price model. You can buy this Dremel 2-speed kit with 15 genuine Dremel attachments and a lawnmower blade sharpener jig for $34.97:

Or buy this Wen variable speed kit with 190 attachments, including a storage case and flex drive, for $33.26:

Nice paint jar racks. Where did you find the plans?
Nice work on the porcrowave, too.

Kay, I found the paint jar rack plans by accident. I was looking for a storage rack for (at least) 78 two-ounce bottles and all the ready-made ones cost more than the paint. Somehow my Googling popped up this "Dollar Tree craft room organization ideas" video:

The Dollar Tree parts, at $1 each, total $5 per rack. You need one Cooking Concepts paper towel holder and four of their napkin holders for each rack. Because I chose welding over gluing, I bought a 12"X12" piece of steel for the floors for $7.46. I forgot I have a couple of computer case side covers laying around so it's really only a $5 project if you have some sheet metal scraps laying around.

 

[cros13]

Paint rack looks great old boy! And a happy birthday to you too!

I had my Dremel die on me too. I cant remember now, but They have a known issue with a dry solder joint failing causing them to stop.

They are so cheap though its nearly a throw away item when they finally die on you.

Rudi.