Above 1200 Sq/FT building my BIG PARTY garage

[don long]

Well the work is all finished and we are ready to party tomorrow night.
The good thing about hosting a party is it forces me to get the little things done that I've been putting off like changing out the burned out light bulbs and moving signs to make room for the new ones that have shown up over the past few months and do the little things that will help the western town become more presentable like wipe out all the cobwebs that have grown and blow out the fallen leaves and wash the windows in the saloon.
It's been a busy week but I thing we are ready.
The party theme is making lemonade out of lemons.

 

[Mr.zippy]

Well the work is all finished and we are ready to party tomorrow night.
The good thing about hosting a party is it forces me to get the little things done that I've been putting off like changing out the burned out light bulbs and moving signs to make room for the new ones that have shown up over the past few months and do the little things that will help the western town become more presentable like wipe out all the cobwebs that have grown and blow out the fallen leaves and wash the windows in the saloon.
It's been a busy week but I thing we are ready.
The party theme is making lemonade out of lemons.

Don, is it just the 3 of you that prep for these parties?

 

[Davenr]

Hi Don,

Looking really great! Wish we were there.

Cheers David and Vanley

 

[Bears Fan]

Looks like one awesome road trip to Hersey and back! I have visited there too! love all the new items you picked up for the Big Party Garage

The BPG is looking awesome for the party, glad to hear Jose's back to help!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Don, My inner (worst) self is asking, Do you ever have to worry about people stealing small things out of your place?

 

[rmalkow2]

Hey Don, Glad you were able to make the trip east to Hershey. I’ve been a couple times and also to spring and fall Carlisle meets. (Fall Carlisle is better than Spring I think) Sounds like you and Ann had a great trip finding some treasure and seeing some beautiful country as well. The Hershey swap meet is definitely a bucket list event and hard to see everything in a couple days but definitely worth going. Looks like you found some cool smells for the garage. Also very glad to hear that Jose is better and feels like he is 100% again.
Bob

 

[don long]

Don, is it just the 3 of you that prep for these parties?

Mr zippy That's a good question
It depends on the size of the party. For this one A couple came over from Phoenix to help with the food for this party and they came in on wednesday so the guy helped for 3 days. We had 5 couples here cooking, serving, cleaning up and parking cars for the evening.

Hi Don,

Looking really great! Wish we were there.

Cheers David and Vanley

Thanks David
You missed a great evening

Looks like one awesome road trip to Hersey and back! I have visited there too! love all the new items you picked up for the Big Party Garage

The BPG is looking awesome for the party, glad to hear Jose's back to help!

Thanks Tony
Yes the road trip was a nice change of pace for us. Now it's business as usual and Jose is hitting on all 8 so we will be in good shape for a while

Don, My inner (worst) self is asking, Do you ever have to worry about people stealing small things out of your place?

Well Dan
That could be a problem. However In all the parties and many visitors I have only known of 1 item that has come up missing and that was an old fire nozzle.
My attitude is if someone feels like they need something that badly then I will let it go. Most of the real valuable items here are in display cases so it would be sum what harder to take it without being seen.
For some of the more public events I have friends planted around to watch the crowd.
So it's all good

Hey Don, Glad you were able to make the trip east to Hershey. I’ve been a couple times and also to spring and fall Carlisle meets. (Fall Carlisle is better than Spring I think) Sounds like you and Ann had a great trip finding some treasure and seeing some beautiful country as well. The Hershey swap meet is definitely a bucket list event and hard to see everything in a couple days but definitely worth going. Looks like you found some cool smalls for the garage. Also very glad to hear that Jose is better and feels like he is 100% again.
Bob

Thanks Bob
Yes Hershey was a bucket list item and Ann found us some electric carts to rent to cover more territory and help carry the goodies back to the car as we found them. It is very nice to have Jose back I did miss him while he was out.

 

[don long]

The party came off without a hitch. It rained just after the party started so only the late comers and my parking guys (me included) got wet
This company is state wide so many people were bussed in for the evening. We now have parking big enough to hold the busses too.
I counted 81 cars and 2 busses parked for the evening.



The building was packed in nicely and all had a good time. The party ended at 9:30 but at 11:00 most people were still here visiting.
Even after all the tables and chairs were put away so I had to turn out the lights on them to get them to leave.



This is the owner of the company giving his people an update on their company. He is a good friend and a great guy


Those bikes and motorcycles were some of their door prizes.
It was a very nice evening and all had a great time.

 

[drivesitfar]

I knn no is it’s always a lot of hard work for you and yours but I bet you really enjoy seeing people have a great time at the BPG

 

[don long]

I knn no is it’s always a lot of hard work for you and yours but I bet you really enjoy seeing people have a great time at the BPG

Drives
We actually got a standing ovation when we were introduced as the hosts of the evening.
That is a bit embarrassing. They made me address the crowd. So I let them know that my reward for all the hard work getting the place ready is the smiles on everyone's face as they walk in and around the place

 

[don long]

Changing gears again
Today I grabbed a friend (Matt) and we went to town building another wall in the party garage.
This is the last area that hasn't been labeled. It is across from the country store and the old storage barn we built many years ago.

Here's what it looked like this morning before we got started



It took a while but we managed to move all the stuff away from that area so I could move the fork lift and the man lift into position
So we could take down the Goodyear sign ' lights and the music speaker





With everything out of the area we built an 18'H x 16'L wall on the floor then lifted it into place



Now I need a rest before going back and cleaning up the area for tomorrows wall build

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

So what's the plan here, Don? The wall you are showing covers up there white and red building (looks like an old time gas station). What is you preliminary thinking this new area will be?

 

[don long]

So what's the plan here, Don? The wall you are showing covers up there white and red building (looks like an old time gas station). What is you preliminary thinking this new area will be?

Hi Dan
That red and white building is my 1925 Texaco gas station. It is on the lower level.
So my thinking is to make this new area a separate place to show off my floor jacks and perhaps make a tire store there.
Here is that gas station in question

Before


Now

 

[fartymarty]

My first thought was that the back side of that wall needs to have a scenic or perhaps small town landscape painted on it so the view from inside the gas station isn't of just a painted wall. Then I realized since the wall is already in place that a very large poster could be painted and slipped in between the wall and the station...then...(since my mind rarely jumps to the best answer first, making me waste a lot of time ) I realized that what the back side of that wall needs is an old photograph blown up roughly to scale of what could be a typical view out of that gas station's window. Question is ..black and white to add some "1925 vintage" or color photo? I'm thinking B&W since everything else in the garage is such high color.
Regardless, I love seeing this thread day after day. Thanks for all the sharing Don!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Extremely cool, Don. Where did you find it and was it just abandoned or did you have to pay for removing it? Do you know of it was originally a Texaco station or some other brand? - IF you could even tell!

It looks like it was truly circling the drain and wouldn’t have lasted much longer out there. Glad you saved it.

 

[drivesitfar]

Don, It was very nice of the owner of that company you hosted a party for to acknowledge you and yes a standing ovation was well deserved. I’m guessing that many of the guests had no idea that a good portion of your items found there way to you just barely missing the scrap yards and that not only did you save them but that you’ve done a good portion of the work to make them live and shine again.

I’m certainly looking forward to our paths crossing again some day in the near future and until then carry on and keep smiling.

 

[Homebody]

I'm not worried about the wall. I know in due time Don will make each side of it perfect - as usual.

 

[don long]

My first thought was that the back side of that wall needs to have a scenic or perhaps small town landscape painted on it so the view from inside the gas station isn't of just a painted wall. Then I realized since the wall is already in place that a very large poster could be painted and slipped in between the wall and the station...then...(since my mind rarely jumps to the best answer first, making me waste a lot of time ) I realized that what the back side of that wall needs is an old photograph blown up roughly to scale of what could be a typical view out of that gas station's window. Question is ..black and white to add some "1925 vintage" or color photo? I'm thinking B&W since everything else in the garage is such high color.
Regardless, I love seeing this thread day after day. Thanks for all the sharing Don!

It's true Marty
You can see the wall thru the glass in the texaco station and anything vintage will look great there.

Extremely cool, Don. Where did you find it and was it just abandoned or did you have to pay for removing it? Do you know of it was originally a Texaco station or some other brand? - IF you could even tell!

It looks like it was truly circling the drain and wouldn’t have lasted much longer out there. Glad you saved it.

Well Dan
The station was originally a Hancock station out in Barstow. That's where we found it and the guy in the picture is who found it and I payed him to help tear it down and transport it to the house. I didn't tell Ann what was going on and when it arrived and I had her pay my friend, she was sure that I had lost my mind while she looked at all the rusted and bent panels. She is ok now lol

Don, It was very nice of the owner of that company you hosted a party for to acknowledge you and yes a standing ovation was well deserved. I’m guessing that many of the guests had no idea that a good portion of your items found there way to you just barely missing the scrap yards and that not only did you save them but that you’ve done a good portion of the work to make them live and shine again.

I’m certainly looking forward to our paths crossing again some day in the near future and until then carry on and keep smiling.

Drives
Most of that crowd has been here before. In fact we have been hosting this party for 10 years so they have seen the changes over the years. They all know me because I get all my product from this company that goes on those pieces you mentioned.
Everyone appreciates coming to see the many changes and this year was special for them being that the last 2 years the party was held off due to Covid so the western town was a big hit. I lit it up for the visit and everyone had to walk thru it to get from the parking lot to the party.
I look forward to our reunion as well.

I'm not worried about the wall. I know in due time Don will make each side of it perfect - as usual.

Homebody
I blew it yesterday. in my excitement to get the wall up and see if my measurements were correct I failed to paint the back side of the wall
Now it will be a bigger project. And I have the paint.

 

[don long]

Today's progress
We have the other half of the wall built and up. It was no easy task to stand the wall with 5 sheets of plywood on the back side
Here is how I did it

The fork lift raised the wall high enough to get the man lift in position to push the wall the rest of the way up while raising the lift and rolling toward the wall

With the wall in place we nailed the top to the 2x6 that we bolted to the beam and shot the nails into the floor at the bottom of the wall.
We left the wall 1/4 " high so we put the wall up about 1" away fro the first wall and pushed the walls together with the fork lift to put upward pressure on the top of the wall because of the angle of the beam.


There is a big hole on the right side of the wall because I miscalculated the height of the wall by 11/2" (misses 1 of the 2x4's running parallel at the top. So rather than tearing the wall apart and starting over I just shifted the wall to the left til the angles matched up
The good news is it will be easier to run the electricity thru the wall from the back side of the station using the gap rather than a ladder on the back side.

The reason for 1 sheet of plywood nailed to the front of the second wall is because the first wall was bowed about an inch so I had to bow the second wall of 2x4's. So we put the 2nd wall up before nailing the plywood to the back side and pushed the 2x4's together and held them in place with the plywood sheet nailed on when we took the wall back down to cover the back side with plywood.

Here is how it looks from the station side.



Tomorrow I'll run wire thru the wall and install a few plugs for signs and stuff.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Looking good. What color will the wall be....or will there be graphics or scenery, etc?

 

[drivesitfar]

It’s hard to believe you have any room left to do this but I guess you do. Best of luck and I hope you get it finished in time for the next party. Have a great day!!

 

[shortykorte]

You know that OSB would look good painted or a have a mural.

Those are some long 2x4. look forward to another great vingette.

 

[softailgarage]

WOW, just WOW, The progress you've made since I was last there years ago is staggering. With the price of lumber and hardware these days, the local Home Depot must love you. I'm curious, has the rising costs impacted you as far as putting off some projects or caused you to have to adjust your shopping needs? I like the idea of a large B&W vintage photo background. I think it gives the viewer a better feeling of reality and helps give the viewer a better perspective of how life was back then.

 

[BiaoBamosux]

Don
I'm sorry that you missed out on that life's little treasure.
I remember my moms Dad being a hog farmer and huge hoarder. He had a 10 acre place with old stuff everywhere. I was too young to appreciate it then and can only wish that I could walk through his stuff now.
We have 20 grand kids and they all love spending time here Grandma is a special lady that loves to do crafts with them and feed them in the diner.


Yep Dan
I was a much happier camper after my visit to the trans shop yesterday. And today I picked up the trans case to clean up and paint before they put it back together
HighTHC Shop
The color I'm choosing is a very special custom color and stripes will be decided after the car is painted.

I know the feeling. It is more expensive and time-consuming whenever outdoor infrastructure needs attention than your most pessimistic estimate. It also requires an inordinate number of tools you must run back and forth to the garage. Luckily procured it at a discount. Just my luck at . Plus, there's the added bonus that at least one tool disappears outdoors, and you spend even more time looking for it. My kind of fun

 

[pwschuh]

Been away from the thread for a few weeks and I see I've missed a lot! Sorry I didn't know you were in my neck of the woods (Maryland) but so glad you guys got to see the Ark Encounter in Kentucky. That place is super cool. I've been to Hershey a few times and it is amazing. Got to sit in one of the restored GM Futurliners there a while back.

 

[don long]

Looking good. What color will the wall be....or will there be graphics or scenery, etc?

Thanks Dan
I'm still thinking about the out side wall but I'm trying to locate some corrugated metal that has been seasoned to hang by the gas station

It’s hard to believe you have any room left to do this but I guess you do. Best of luck and I hope you get it finished in time for the next party. Have a great day!!

Funny you should mention that Drives
The next party is in 2 weeks

You know that OSB would look good painted or a have a mural.

Those are some long 2x4. look forward to another great vingette.

Shorty
I agree and painting it white before I stood the wall up was the original plan. I even bought the paint but got in a hurry to see if the wall would fit the hole and forgot to paint it. now I'm thinking corrugated metal all rusty to add a little character to the station

WOW, just WOW, The progress you've made since I was last there years ago is staggering. With the price of lumber and hardware these days, the local Home Depot must love you. I'm curious, has the rising costs impacted you as far as putting off some projects or caused you to have to adjust your shopping needs? I like the idea of a large B&W vintage photo background. I think it gives the viewer a better feeling of reality and helps give the viewer a better perspective of how life was back then.

Hey Jeff
Nice to hear from you again. I don't know how to go about getting a mural that size on that wall

Been away from the thread for a few weeks and I see I've missed a lot! Sorry I didn't know you were in my neck of the woods (Maryland) but so glad you guys got to see the Ark Encounter in Kentucky. That place is super cool. I've been to Hershey a few times and it is amazing. Got to sit in one of the restored GM Futurliners there a while back.

Welcome back pwschuh
You live in a pretty part of the country.
I'd like to see one of those GM busses

 

[PugetDude]

Citric Acid dissolved in hot water sprayed on new Corrugated Metal will remove the Zinc coating.
Wire brush then spray with 80-15-5% mix of hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt. Instant patina.

 

[shortykorte]

Don good idea on the corrugated tin. I know in the south it’s not unusual to see a post-built garage built next to a small 40s era gas station.

Another more simple weathering of tin is Super Clean in the purple bottle. Allows you spray on as light or heavy as you want, and whatever pattern you want. Then you let it sit until you get the amount of etching you want. I let mine sit for about 15 minutes I believe. Wash off. Repeat if need more aging.

 

[don long]

Citric Acid dissolved in hot water sprayed on new Corrugated Metal will remove the Zinc coating.
Wire brush then spray with 80-15-5% mix of hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, and salt. Instant patina.

Dude
Thanks for the help

Don good idea on the corrugated tin. I know in the south it’s not unusual to see a post-built garage built next to a small 40s era gas station.

Another more simple weathering of tin is Super Clean in the purple bottle. Allows you spray on as light or heavy as you want, and whatever pattern you want. Then you let it sit until you get the amount of etching you want. I let mine sit for about 15 minutes I believe. Wash off.

Shorty
Have you priced that stuff lately? Hold on to your wallet and what you sit on cause it's gona hurt
I'm going to wait til I find an old building coming down. I'm watching 3 right now.

Repeat if need more aging.

 

[don long]

I took the day off and played hooky from the garage cause I was tired today. I went pickin instead
I was so so successful

An old fridge with the bubble top.
I have 3 others but each one is different and painted up they display well

I couldn't resist this sign.
They both came from the fellow that sold me the street clock and the water tower and wagon for the western town
He also has some miner wagons that I might pick up but the winner (I didn't get a picture of) was an ornate base and fluted pole for an old stop light that is waiting for me to go pick up. It's about 6 hours away 1 way


With the base and a little more paint it should look more like this

 

[calandrod]

I took the day off and played hooky from the garage cause I was tired today. I went pickin instead
I was so so successful

An old fridge with the bubble top.
I have 3 others but each one is different and painted up they display well

I couldn't resist this sign.
They both came from the fellow that sold me the street clock and the water tower and wagon for the western town
He also has some miner wagons that I might pick up but the winner (I didn't get a picture of) was an ornate base and fluted pole for an old stop light that is waiting for me to go pick up. It's about 6 hours away 1 way


With the base and a little more paint it should look more like this

Those are awesome!! I look forward to seeing pictures as you get those restored.

 

[Bopbop]

Don,
Looks like you had a good day of pick' n. We have 2 good swap meets coming up at Thanksgiving on back to back weekends we are ready to hit.
John

 

[don long]

Those are awesome!! I look forward to seeing pictures as you get those restored.

Thanks Calandrod
I like them alot but they fall down the to do list a ways while I get the changes made in the party garage and work on the el camino

Don,
Looks like you had a good day of pick' n. We have 2 good swap meets coming up at Thanksgiving on back to back weekends we are ready to hit.
John

Yes Bopbop
I was happy to get the call to come by this guys place. He is the same hoarder that sold me the street clock and the water tower for the western town. He lives in a castle that he built when he was young and he likes model trains and toys but bought everything that came his way all his life and now is ready to start thinning out the herd. All the better for me.

Good luck with your thanksgiving hunt

 

[don long]

More work today on the wall.
I got the wall wired with plugs for neon signs and display cabinets before hanging the plywood Then started sheeting the wall
The plywood tat I have is 4x10' sheets so they are a little big to handle by my self but with the aide of the fork lift and the mobility of the man lift I managed to get 6 of them hung today + the one we put on before raising the wall.
My friend Matt went deep sea fishing for the rest of the week so that left me by my self since Jose is still a bit sore I left him to do the yard work today

 

[drivesitfar]

It’s hard to imagine you building that big wall by yourself so be careful. I’m guessing on the Texaco side of the new wall there is enough room for a ladder so Jose or another person can paint it if you don’t end up finding rusty metal to put on it.

Great stoplight and nice find. I bet that will look great wherever you decide to put it.

Have a great day!!

 

[don long]

It’s hard to imagine you building that big wall by yourself so be careful. I’m guessing on the Texaco side of the new wall there is enough room for a ladder so Jose or another person can paint it if you don’t end up finding rusty metal to put on it.

Great stoplight and nice find. I bet that will look great wherever you decide to put it.

Have a great day!!

Drives
I'm no superman. The wall was a 2 day project with Matt and Me working together One on the fork lift and one on the man lift letting hydraulics do the lifting lol.
I only put the plywood on this side by myself jumping back and forth between the fork lift and the man lift

 

[don long]

Today I went out shopping again this time for an old gambling wheel for the saloon



I also picked up a small gas station and a couple of early Shell oil cans aLONG WITH A 24" Shell porcelain 2 sided sign
So it was a nice afternoon drive.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I also picked up a small gas station and a couple of early Shell oil cans aLONG WITH A 24" Shell porcelain 2 sided sign....

You know us: No pics? It didn't happen! Lol. But seriously, a gas STATION? A truly ancient; 1920's, like the one you showed us earlier? Let's see it.

That gambling wheel is perfect for the saloon! Hey, when you do get to the refrigerators will you actually get them cooling and keep them plugged in?

 

[don long]

You know us: No pics? It didn't happen! Lol. But seriously, a gas STATION? A truly ancient; 1920's, like the one you showed us earlier? Let's see it.

That gambling wheel is perfect for the saloon! Hey, when you do get to the refrigerators will you actually get them cooling and keep them plugged in?

OK Dan
I'll get you some pic,s. I was so happy to get these few items that I put them up in the garage all ready.
The gas station is a smaller toy station with 1/24 scale cars.
The refrigerators will only be for looks they take way too much electricity to run them.

 

[don long]

Here are your pic,s Dan
The shell sign I'm trying to find a good place to hang it because it is 2 sided and both sides are 9's


The 2 old shell cans need to be cleaned up and polished a bit, that's tomorrows lil project.
They are hard to find this old





Next is the gas station in question.



It is in the case with the other stations



And last is the Champion spark plug light up sign



It is in with my other plug pieces