ZMotorsports Shop Projects 2.0

[SilverJimmy]

Mike, how do you like that Astro paint shaker? How does it compare to the ones you used when you sold paint? I’d like to get something for all the painting I’m doing around our new to us home. When I did the epoxy in my shop I actually took the 2 part cans to the local Home Depot and asked them if they could shake them for me. I had purchased that epoxy back in 1997 to do the floor in my first shop, but because I made the mistake of moving into the shop before I did the floor I never had the time or ambition to do all the work needed to coat the floor!
After having the materials shaken properly it worked great. I have a bunch of material in the same state, old but unopened so I’m hoping to be able to still use them if possible.

 

[zmotorsports]

Mike, how do you like that Astro paint shaker? How does it compare to the ones you used when you sold paint? I’d like to get something for all the painting I’m doing around our new to us home. When I did the epoxy in my shop I actually took the 2 part cans to the local Home Depot and asked them if they could shake them for me. I had purchased that epoxy back in 1997 to do the floor in my first shop, but because I made the mistake of moving into the shop before I did the floor I never had the time or ambition to do all the work needed to coat the floor!
After having the materials shaken properly it worked great. I have a bunch of material in the same state, old but unopened so I’m hoping to be able to still use them if possible.

I'm sorry Sterling, I haven't used the Atro paint shaker yet. I just purchased it a few weeks back before doing the paint touch-up on the wife's Acura, but I haven't gotten a chance to use it because the pint can fit in my shop made shaker and I didn't have a mount made yet. I have some upcoming paint work to do so I dug the shaker out last night to fabricate a mount for the next paint work I need to perform. I will have a better idea then.

That being said, I am not holding my breath that it will perform to the same degree as the ones I have used in the past as those were commercial paint shakers and operated via 120VAC rather than air, but I have read good reviews about this one so I thought I had stirred enough paint in the shop it was time to get a shaker.

 

[ntsqd]

Who knows, I may get some time over the winter.

Can I get in this line?

 

[rharman]

< snip >

I built this to tie the new design into the existing cabinet frames.

He built a really slick swing down frame to hold a smaller flat screen that mounted below the center section I built.

Full disclosure: We purchased the center door. I don’t have the cutters, a shaper or big *** router, or the skill to make that door.
The doors to the left and right I modified to hold the tinted glass.

We were both pleased with the results but it would have helped me in the beginning if I’d had your picture.

Sorry.... I have to call B.S. on that comment. We've all seen your work.

 

[T444e]

Mike, how do you like that Astro paint shaker? How does it compare to the ones you used when you sold paint? I’d like to get something for all the painting I’m doing around our new to us home. When I did the epoxy in my shop I actually took the 2 part cans to the local Home Depot and asked them if they could shake them for me. I had purchased that epoxy back in 1997 to do the floor in my first shop, but because I made the mistake of moving into the shop before I did the floor I never had the time or ambition to do all the work needed to coat the floor!
After having the materials shaken properly it worked great. I have a bunch of material in the same state, old but unopened so I’m hoping to be able to still use them if possible.

SilverJimmy, I have the Astro paint shaker and am happy with it. I got it to mix a gallon of SW Kem Kromic or alkyd enamel that the solids settled out, knowing I would end up using whenever I painted. I was impressed with how effective the shaker was mixing it. It sure beats stirring and I even use for shaking rattle cans.

I didn't use the inline lubricator included with the shaker, pain to fill. Instead I installed a lubricator in the piping at the shaker. I need to take a closer look at the lubricator I installed as it dispenses too much oil. Good thing my shop isn't remotely as clean as Mike's so I'm not too concerned with the oil residue on the stand and floor.

 

[aka Larry]

Can I get in this line?

I'm right behind you!

 

[zmotorsports]

SilverJimmy, I have the Astro paint shaker and am happy with it. I got it to mix a gallon of SW Kem Kromic or alkyd enamel that the solids settled out, knowing I would end up using whenever I painted. I was impressed with how effective the shaker was mixing it. It sure beats stirring and I even use for shaking rattle cans.

I didn't use the inline lubricator included with the shaker, pain to fill. Instead I installed a lubricator in the piping at the shaker. I need to take a closer look at the lubricator I installed as it dispenses too much oil. Good thing my shop isn't remotely as clean as Mike's so I'm not too concerned with the oil residue on the stand and floor.

Thank you for confirming my suspicions. I threaded the oiler onto mine, but haven't used it yet. I don't like how far it makes the connection hang off the mixer so I was thinking I would just add some oil to the fitting before each use, much like I do with all my other pneumatic tools. You helped me make up my mind.

Can I get in this line?

I'm right behind you!

Guys, while I'm flattered, it just doesn't make economic sense to fabricate these, even for sale. I don't think you realize the time involved to make the shaker and it wouldn't be profitable nor feasible. I wasn't looking for a marketing ploy because I don't think there's a market in it. Even streamlining the fabrication process by buying a few components in bulk and making a few of the parts on a larger scale I think these things would still be upwards of $1k. I know I had a little over a couple hundred dollars in parts and materials, some materials I had on hand and the other components were not the highest of quality, just sourced from eBay, but I had probably 12+ hours of labor into making one. Even if I cut that back to 7-8 hours of work by streamlining the process and buying bulk with a small profit margin these would be much more expensive than anyone would be willing to pay. Hell, most people squawk at the $19.95 for those cheap *** sawzall style of shakers.

I enjoyed building one for myself and glad I showed the process for others to follow, but I'm a one and done guy. I did it to satisfy my own curiosity and to have something unique in my shop to not only use, but to hand down to my son and grandson when I'm gone, nothing more.

I did the same thing when I transplanted the 6.2 liter LS into my Jeep. I have been contacted repeatedly about doing more of these LS swaps into Jeeps based on my posts and my YouTube channel and I'm just not interested. I know there are companies doing these swaps and I have also seen some cobbled together messes, which just makes mine that much more unique and rarer.

 

[zmotorsports]

I was able to finish up the mount for my Asto paint shaker last night, no they're not for sale......


Materials cut to size and prepped for welding.


Clamped in place on the fabrication table.


I opted to MIG weld this because I haven't held the squirt gun in my hand for quite some time now and I have some trailer mods coming up where I will be doing a fair amount of welding so I wanted to make sure I could still stick two pieces of metal together.




After wiping down with Wax & Grease Remover, I applied some Rustoleum Hammered Gray paint to match my shop theme.


Test fit.


Shaker mounted and tested out. Here the ball valve is opened about half way.


And fully open. To be honest I saw no real difference in the movement between half and full open on the air ball valve. I was pleased that it didn't vibrate or shake my workbench at all. I think this will work well for those infrequent times I do paint work. I am going to remove the oiler from the inlet and just add a few drops of oil prior to use as I don't like the pre-lube oiler for this application.


Stored under the corner of the workbench where it is easily accessed and doesn't have far to travel to be installed on the workbench.




Thanks for looking.

 

[zmotorsports]

Before cleaning up my fabrication area of all grinding debris and metal shavings, I thought I would replace the 12" disc on my combination belt/disc sander. I'm not sure how other people perform this task, but the area between the table and disc is quite tight and the instructions show to remove the table to gain access to the disc. However, that can take a bit more time than I like and then you have to make sure to square everything up again.

I have been replacing my discs using the following process for many years and it is quick and easy so I thought I would share in case someone else wanted to give it a try. If anyone has an easier or faster method I would love to hear it.



Before beginning make sure to unplug the piece of equipment to disable it from starting. Next I start by using a flat scraper under the outer edge and then pull the abrasive disc away from the aluminum disc as I rotate around the entire circumference breaking the adhesion slightly.



I then fold the top half of the disc over and place a sheet or two of paper to the adhesive on the back of the old abrasive disc.


Next rotate the assembly 180-degrees and pull the other side of the abrasive disc away from the aluminum disc and slide it up and out.


If any adhesive residue is remaining, take some acetone and give the aluminum disc a wipe, then fold the removable film half way and fold it over the other half on the new replacement abrasive disc and slide it down between the aluminum disc and the table halfway. Then rotate the disc 180-degrees and remove the remaining film from the adhesive backed disc and push the new abrasive disc onto the aluminum disc to ensure it is fully adhered all around.


Reconnect the equipment to power and you're all set. Easy peezy.


Then the fabrication area of the shop was cleaned and shop closed up for the evening.



Thanks for looking.

 

[Jgaz]

Sorry.... I have to call B.S. on that comment. We've all seen your work.

Thanks

 

[PugetDude]

Thank you for confirming my suspicions. I threaded the oiler onto mine, but haven't used it yet. I don't like how far it makes the connection hang off the mixer so I was thinking I would just add some oil to the fitting before each use, much like I do with all my other pneumatic tools. You helped me make up my mind.









Guys, while I'm flattered, it just doesn't make economic sense to fabricate these, even for sale. I don't think you realize the time involved to make the shaker and it wouldn't be profitable nor feasible. I wasn't looking for a marketing ploy because I don't think there's a market in it. Even streamlining the fabrication process by buying a few components in bulk and making a few of the parts on a larger scale I think these things would still be upwards of $1k. I know I had a little over a couple hundred dollars in parts and materials, some materials I had on hand and the other components were not the highest of quality, just sourced from eBay, but I had probably 12+ hours of labor into making one. Even if I cut that back to 7-8 hours of work by streamlining the process and buying bulk with a small profit margin these would be much more expensive than anyone would be willing to pay. Hell, most people squawk at the $19.95 for those cheap *** sawzall style of shakers.

I enjoyed building one for myself and glad I showed the process for others to follow, but I'm a one and done guy. I did it to satisfy my own curiosity and to have something unique in my shop to not only use, but to hand down to my son and grandson when I'm gone, nothing more.

I did the same thing when I transplanted the 6.2 liter LS into my Jeep. I have been contacted repeatedly about doing more of these LS swaps into Jeeps based on my posts and my YouTube channel and I'm just not interested. I know there are companies doing these swaps and I have also seen some cobbled together messes, which just makes mine that much more unique and rarer.

I figured out that I would be competing with the 9 year old Indonesian kid sewing sneakers if I tried to sell my work for what people think the should pay. So, I either do small projects for friends gratis or not at all.

 

[T444e]

Thank you for confirming my suspicions. I threaded the oiler onto mine, but haven't used it yet. I don't like how far it makes the connection hang off the mixer so I was thinking I would just add some oil to the fitting before each use, much like I do with all my other pneumatic tools. You helped me make up my mind.

I made a pedestal mount for mine and anchored it to the floor in the shop, best solution for me. I ended up hard piping it, lubricator mounted on the pedestal, as I was sick of the hose across the floor when using. I used an air hose in the drop and didn't think of installing a quick connect to allow for oiling. I may end up doing that as copper piping is easy to modify.

 

[madison069]

SilverJimmy, I have the Astro paint shaker and am happy with it. I got it to mix a gallon of SW Kem Kromic or alkyd enamel that the solids settled out, knowing I would end up using whenever I painted. I was impressed with how effective the shaker was mixing it. It sure beats stirring and I even use for shaking rattle cans.

I didn't use the inline lubricator included with the shaker, pain to fill. Instead I installed a lubricator in the piping at the shaker. I need to take a closer look at the lubricator I installed as it dispenses too much oil. Good thing my shop isn't remotely as clean as Mike's so I'm not too concerned with the oil residue on the stand and floor.

Your comment about shaking rattle cans got me to thinking, maybe if a metal cap can be fabricated for the rattle can that would eliminate the weak point of the rattle can? Then the Astro shaker can be used for all paint?

 

[SilverJimmy]

Go to a muffler shop and get a piece of exhaust pipe remnant the right size and you’re set!