What did you do "IN" your garage today?

[Burt Shaver]

I've used a q-tip chucked up in a drill with some semichrome to polish the seat. Sometimes it helps.

Interesting, I will give that a try if it continues to leak

 

[OccupantRJ]

What do you pay for it? I used to run SiriusXM but for the price it’s kinda silly to not be able to choose what songs I want to listen to. I did get them down to $7 a month or something but still, that’s a lot for just radio.

It is funny about shop radio or music. My BIL has a tabletop radio playing in his large workshop 24/7/365, and I have a Sony 5.1 surround sound system in mine that I rarely turn on any more. After I retired I did not care for the distractions in my fortress of solitude. Now days if in the right mood I may roll some Pink Floyd or Primus on the shop tv Youtube stream.

 

[Jakeweldsalittle]

One of the things I did today while cleaning up after many days of installing soffit was to put wheels on the stomp shear.

It’s a 1906? Pexto 36” that I used to shear the aluminum soffit. I rarely use it since it’s a 300lb cast-iron pita to move around and I figured “hey, it’s already in the lift bay. Pick that thing up and find some wheels.”
So these wheels I found (in the caster milk crate) were still bolted to stubs of 1-1/2” box tube so all I had to do was look in the treadmill remnants for enough box tube to MIG the gap. I didn’t even have to scrounge bolts or fab mounting plates.

Yay for the hoarder!

That's a great piece. When I was graduating high school, my metal shop was sadly getting fazed out to make way for a "technology class" (what a sad day). They auctioned off all the tools. My dad bought a sheet metal hemmer, slip roll, and a 36" brake with moveable fingers, all for next to nothing. He was the only bidder. All pexto stuff. We used it a bunch rebuilding the sheet metal on my jeep. I tried to get him to bid on the shear too, but he didn't think we would use it. Now we both wish he bought it

 

[aka Larry]

I built some cabinet doors for our camper as seen on Post #296 here.

 

[OccupantRJ]

That's a great piece. When I was graduating high school, my metal shop was sadly getting fazed out to make way for a "technology class" (what a sad day). They auctioned off all the tools. My dad bought a sheet metal hemmer, slip roll, and a 36" brake with moveable fingers, all for next to nothing. He was the only bidder. All pexto stuff. We used it a bunch rebuilding the sheet metal on my jeep. I tried to get him to bid on the shear too, but he didn't think we would use it. Now we both wish he bought it

I have two Delta Rockwell mid 60’s vertical bandsaws that were originally removed from middle school workshops. I got lucky in that one is a woodcutting saw and the other is a two speed along with variable speed metal cutting saw.

 

[PhantomEB]

What do you pay for it? I used to run SiriusXM but for the price it’s kinda silly to not be able to choose what songs I want to listen to. I did get them down to $7 a month or something but still, that’s a lot for just radio.

dont have it signed up yet but I do got Spotify as well.

I just want SiriusXM for where we don’t get radio reception between here and Calgary, Edmonton or Moose Jaw.

 

[evildky]

Got into the Toy this AM to run some errands. The CEL started flashing and I had no start--starter spun, but nothing else.

So I put the jumper in the Diag port and started recording the flashes of the CEL. It took a while to figure out that they weren't the usual diagnostic codes, but Morse code!

It translated as below:

Remember me?

Remember when it was just you and me?

You loved me then--

sure, it was tough love,

but it was love.

You maintained my engine even when it didn't need it.

You replaced parts before they broke.

You bought me baubles.

Now, it's Vanagon this

and Vanagon that.

Never a thought for your faithful Toy!

So, buddy, show me some lovin' or get to walking!

Well, that seemed rather unambiguous. I figured the least I could do was give the ol' gal a goodly bath.

She needed it:





and the CEL is off now. Checked engine fluids, too. All good.

I was even smart enough this time to do the washing right at the edge of the slab to make clean-up a LOT easier.

you need to check out puddins fab shop on youtube,

 

[PhantomEB]

Well finally sold off the Ridgid Table Saw and also got all that pallet wood cut up and added to my camper jackstand pads.

need to get foldable saw horses and the body paint for my topper before the shutdown hits As I don’t think I will be able to just order online.

 

[WisJim]

If AC is out of the budget a dehumidifier running will often reduce the humidity and cool enough to help!

A dehumidifier will not cool, it does remove moisture but adds heat to the area.

 

[Outlawmws]

A dehumidifier will not cool, it does remove moisture but adds heat to the area.

But its a dry heat?

 

[rcktpwrd]

Yesterday morning I upgraded the lighting in the back of my new work van. There was only the small light above the back doors wich does almost nothing. I picked up a string of 60 leds that are in groups of three. Strung them out and cut and spliced wires to place them where the light would be most useful. I'm still waiting on an on/off rocker switch to show up so I can use the lights regularly. The switch will go in the cage wall right by the sliding door. Conveninly there is a battery power source right at the B pillar on the passenger side.

Half the lights visable, the bundle is folded in half:

No lights on:

Dome light:

LED's


For now they are just stuck to the roof with the preinstalled double sided tape, I might have to add magnets or some hot glue to hold them, we'll see how long the tape holds up....

on/off rocker switch showed up yesterday, installed it today.

There was a perfectly sized hole already in the cage, right at the opening of the sliding door:

 

[ObnoxiousFumes]

dont have it signed up yet but I do got Spotify as well.

I just want SiriusXM for where we don’t get radio reception between here and Calgary, Edmonton or Moose Jaw.

Ah ok makes sense. Well whatever you do don’t pay full price, it’s insane and you can usually talk them down to something quite a bit more reasonable. Like I said I think I was paying 6 or 7 bucks a month before I cancelled it.

 

[zimman]

Got more chap out of storage. Rent a truck next week. Now nut and bolt sorting.
Zim


Then got hot and bored and this happened. It's been a minute since I touched a brush. One Shot paint was 8 years old. LOL

 

[Wrench97]

I had a customer last week who had wheel locks on his car, we call and asked if he knew where the key was..."yea it's in my sock drawer" do you need it? Well you brought the car in saying it needs brakes so yea .....

So the guy is back today with the wheel stud key... pull the front yep it needs pads and rotors, odd size 380mm rotors local AP and dealer have the 350mm and 400mm in stock but not the 380mm ordered from dealer 2 days out and list for $652 each, pads are $319...must be the german car tax.....

 

[Prospecter]

Talented guy. You are still cruising right along getting your garage organized. Will you eventually get the storage emptied and be able to vacate?

 

[welder4956]

Got a little more done today on the AC install. I doubled up the sill and added jack studs on the sill due to how heavy this unit is. Probably overkill, but easier to do now than after it is installed. I didn't like the 3-gang outlet box, so I went with 3 separate single gang outlets. I got the outlet boxes wired up and insulation reinstalled, cut the hole through the siding, shimmed the side of the opening and flashed the opening with Zip tape. Still need to cut the inside sheet of OSB and install the AC shell and brackets tomorrow. I covered the opening for tonight with the old sheet of OSB till I can get some help lifting the AC unit up into the hole.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Finished wiring some more lights in the rear storage area of the garage, and put the extra MC cable back in the attic.

Mounted the bracket for the canopy on my tractor, and then realized the factory mounting bracket had slots that didn't fit the included bolts, so I had to remove the bracket and enlarge that with the die grinder. Try to finish that one up tomorrow and try out the canopy.

 

[bulletpruf]

In the garage today? Redneck CrossFit!

After work today, I went to the gym to lift some weights, but I skipped my usual aerobic workout and went to the shop to finish torquing the track pad bolts on the dozer. I torqued about 150 1/2" bolts in 3 iterations - initial torque to 48 ft/lbs, then 120 degree turn, then double-check with a torque wrench set to 133 ft/lbs. The 120 degree turn is the step that wore me out.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I'm still trying to find a keyboard for older, arthritic, dyslexic fingers. I'm currently using an older MS split "ergo" board. Love the keys with the tactile feedback they have, and the full-size, but not loving the split design, nor the "ergo" wave. Some of the keys--ENTER, BACKSPACE in particular, are too narrow compared to the keyboards I'm used to.

Just tried out an HP board that was NOS surplus from the office. See post above. Keys too small, entire board too small, no tactile feedback from the very light keys, etc. It's gone on to old electronics hell now.

I guess I'll look at more offerings from MS as the keys are really nice, but, once again, suggestions are appreciated. Being way out here in the boonies means there are no B&S stores (some BS stores, 'though) to try things out. Ordering and rejecting gets old.

I bought a 2 pack of these. They didn't **** too bad and the letters light up so I can actually see the damned things in the shop.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D4HKW2D7?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[bmwrd0]

Woke up early (2am) so did quiet work in the shop: fixing an old bridge lamp that one of the cats broke. Then, later today, I pulled the carriage from the Dalton and brought it down to the basement shop to clean up and get 100+ years of chips out of the crannies.

 

[rd65]

Swapped the deck on the push mower. Had to cut the heads off three screws for the front wheels. They mounted from the inside of the deck and the heads were rusted round. I still need to sharpen and reinstall the blade and finish servicing the air filter.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Drilling long holes.

Test pieces to see what’s possible.




16” long 1/2” bit, restrained with bronze bushings in maple blocks, bed frame steel, and lots of clamps.

The best so far, entrance:




And exit:




I’m pretty happy with a 10” deep hole that only wandered 1/8” or so off of center. The real pieces are 17” long, so I’ll be drilling from both sides to meet in the middle.


My first attempt (top) wasn’t great. Second (middle) was better. Third is good enough.

I split them in half longitudinally, then run a core box bit down the center of both halves, then glue them back together. Perfect straight centered holes.

 

[rharman]

I've used a q-tip chucked up in a drill with some semichrome to polish the seat. Sometimes it helps.

Interesting, I will give that a try if it continues to leak

It does work well as a very fine lapping compound.

 

[bugnut]

After a few days of just dropping stuff off, I was able to clean up a bit. The bar off the chainsaw and replaced, cleaned, and installed a sharp chain. Cleaned up the saw mess, fired up the saw and let it settle in cooled and put on the shelf ready to go. Opened boxes from amzn and sorted things to go into the house vs shop. Piddle with a couple projects, looked at the forecast, trying to decide on car show Saturday.

 

[zimman]

Talented guy. You are still cruising right along getting your garage organized. Will you eventually get the storage emptied and be able to vacate?

Yeah we want out this month. $115 for a 10x30 is cheap but I need that cash for wiring. LOL. There is also a mustang in the storage unit I have to finish this winter. Been there 4 years. Lots of work waiting for me.
Zim

 

[NUTTSGT]

Rounding stuff up for a short road trip, cleaned up a 36" sheet metal brake and snapped a few pictures....ate a couple of pop tarts and drank a Dr Pepper....all before 0900.

 

[rsparks64]

Rounding stuff up for a short road trip, cleaned up a 36" sheet metal brake and snapped a few pictures....ate a couple of pop tarts and drank a Dr Pepper....all before 0900.

Sounds like you started eating the road trip food before you started the road trip.

 

[BonzoHansen]

ate a couple of pop tarts and drank a Dr Pepper

Breakfast of Champions

 

[NUTTSGT]

Breakfast of Champions

No milk at the house and had stuff to do. Gotta do what you gotta do.

 

[dwasifar]

I'm still trying to find a keyboard for older, arthritic, dyslexic fingers.

You want one of these:


Yes, I'm serious. Buy one on eBay and do a bolt mod restoration.

 

[OccupantRJ]

27 years after being underwater my old faithful Simplicity sewing pattern cabinet I bought in 1976 is getting some love. Sanding to bare metal started today. Never, ever, give up the garage!

 

[RivennHewn]

Technically outside the garage, but it’s nice outside today.

Broken cable on a window regulator.

Don’t we have fun?

 

[Outlawmws]

Camping prep. hard to be motivated in this heat.

 

[PassnThru]

Mowing the front yard this afternoon and suddenly in a right turn I'm going straight. One tire turned right - one tire turned left. Inspected and found the steering linkage on the left tire had popped off the knuckle. Man - I really need to mow - we've had so much rain I'm mowing higher than normal and still can't keep up. Popped it back on with a pry bar and made it about 30 feet. Popped it back on again and babied it back to the garage.
Stared at it - wondering who I was going to borrow a mower from.
Gotta try something - two large zip ties to the rescue. The majority of the torque is on the ball sideways - I just have to keep it from popping off.
Yard mowed. Ordering parts.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Fixed.lol

 

[BuyMyGarage]

Got out to the garage yesterday just after 4 pm. Temp was 78 and humidity was about 55, outside humidity was 58. More on that..

Worked on putting casters to the Grizzly disc/belt sander i got at an estate sale last week. Only had short casters, so had to use wood as the base. Needs some cleaning



Finished emptying the top box from a Craftsman stack that I also got last week. Removed all the stickers and glue, washed with the hose. Going to repaint. Looks like I will spend more for the paint than I did the box. This looks way worse in the picture!

$125 for the sander, $75 for the toolbox. Box had a lot of tools and connectors, but nothing i didn't have and nothing better than a couple Craftsman.




Notice the bare metal on the top box, turns out Bug and Tar remover are great at paint stripping if left for 30 seconds (was removing glue)

I worked to about 6:30 then looked at the temp/humidity, it showed 35%. Looked online and confirmed, local humidity had dropped 20 points to 32% in 2 hours. Then went back to 50% 3 hours later.

I am going to move the dehumidifier from the basement (unused) to the garage to stabilize that number. I do have a fully insulated and sheetrocked garage, with insulated doors. Air conditioning would be nice, but cant put in a split system as it is on the front of the house, nowhere to put it. Could try a window unit, but the casement windows make it hard.

All in all, much better night working in the garage last night.

 

[Beerhippie]

Fixed.lol

A zip tie is NOT a permanent fix. Gotta use baling wire for that.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If its not one thing, it's another...

 

[BuyMyGarage]

Adding insulation first is an even bigger game-changer.

The attached garage is fully insulated with drywall and the garage doors also have insulation. Casement windows make it hard for a window unit, but I have one, so headed to YouTube to see.

On another note I just told the wife I need a barn or I need to put air in the garage. She said "i think the dog would like a bratwurst". I said, "what", and she replied "I heard you". soo, I think I have more convincing to do on both of those idea's.

 

[BuyMyGarage]

A lot of good advice here, but first get the trash cans out of the garage, hang up some fly strips, throw away/donate any non-working/non-essential junk like bad DVD players. In other words, make it a space you can do work in, and once you add a dehumidifier or AC, a place you WANT to do work in! Also, I love that bench.

I, on the other hand, have been out doing chores and garage sailing, so back to cleaning out junk that accumulates.

Washed the 2 cans yesterday, put them outside in the bushes, but we have a racoon problem here, so I will see how that goes. Brought up another CD player from the basement, but that didn't work either, will try one more tomorrow.

Been trying to find something that the wife and I both enjoy, she likes hiking, but I need two knees. Turns out Garage and Estate sales we have in common. It's also a contest, who can sell more on eBay. So far she is beating me by about $40 after 1 week.