Recent content by HillsME

I don't see a location for the OP but may be a reason the original door was fiberglass. I purchased a home out on the coast and it had two ugly fiberglass doors and I planned on replacing. After looking around at the newer homes with steel doors that already were rusting I decided to get some...

For my old shop I used 4 x 8 sheets of Hardie Panel exterior siding. It is very durable and holds up to moisture better than sheet rock. It is also fire safe. I did it also because I hate doing taping and joint finishing on wallboard. I painted it semi-gloss white for a nice clean surface. I was...

I also got a lathe and never had any training on them. First I made a soft blow hammer out of plastic (UHMW). Then a couple of miniature baseball bats from oak. Next thing you know I was able to make a small strange shaped bushing for my air conditioner unit that saved me thousands because the...

I got my A&P in 1970. Then went in the Air Force to avoid the draft; worked on UH-1N helicopters. Hated the military and ended up hating helicopters. Got work building wood product equipment and never looked back. Better pay, better locations and more interesting work.

My shop is 8 miles from my house. I like it that way. I get up early and love to hit the road! I can make all the noise I want anytime I want. If things get a little messy around the building WHO CARES? I can park my vehicles outside and no one complains. My wife likes living in a nice clean...

Actually cutting wasn't bad. I used very course wood blades in my jig saw for outlet holes etc, and score both sides and break for long cuts. A bigger pain was predrilling holes for the screws I used to attach; had to resharpen the bit about every 10 holes. I don't have a nail gun and you still...

My opinion would be corded unless you do a lot of work away from power. I had a bunch of B&D 18V tools and about a dozen batteries. It seems like all the batteries went bad at about the same time. May have been a bad charger but I don't know. Then you get stuck with tools but very expensive to...

I am trying a picture of my shop walls. The building was built in 1906 and was originally lathe and plaster. Had a lot of issues to deal with but got the walls insulated and covered pretty quickly with a hard and durable cover of Hardie Board. The stuff actually looks like old paneling so it...

If it was me I would frame it out so the finished interior is all flush with nothing sticking out. Insulate and then cover with 4x8 sheets of Hardie Board exterior siding. And definately run some wiring in the walls first so you don't have exposed conduit. The Hardie board looks good, is very...

Wow; 3 anvils. I would love to have just one!

Hello! I would like to introduce myself: I recently retired and so I am looking for ways to stay busy. About a year ago I purchased on old Lawyers-Dentist office built in about 1906. Have been converting it into a small shop for motorbike work and a little wood work etc. Have had a lot of fun...