What did you do "IN" your garage today?

[LeonardY]

Cleaned, put away and flung.

Then moved everything off one wall to see how to run electrical for a mini split.

 

[bugnut]

@Beerhippie, i'd use one of these to secure the tools, instant verification that they are locked in place. And it looks like loosening the nuts will let something clatter down the side of the van, without the forth hand options. Bumper hitch looks good.

@jblnut hope you get the returns on your 50k sooner than expected, new stuff always fun to assemble!!

 

[NUTTSGT]

I intend to use this primarily as a recovery point. A recovery point failure can result in injuries or deaths. I figure letting someone certified in welding do the job makes good sense.

A man's gotta know his limitations--and it was $175, which I figure is a pretty good deal.

Well I can understand that. Just seeing some of your previous work, I figured you would have DIY.

 

[Cheesy1]

2 weeks ago dad drive the 100 miles here, called me from fishing store his truck wouldn’t start. 20 year old Silverado with 200k miles. I drive to town. Push in schrader valve on top of engine. Covered in gas spray, but it eventually bled down and wouldn’t repressurize. Pump wouldn’t kick on at key on. Swapped relays just in case. No pump still.

So I tow him to my house. We fly to Utah for a fishing trip. I stay for work. He’s truck less upon his return.

Wife’s grandfather passes away in the meantime. I fly home. Drop tank. Verify not a mouse chewed wire (happened to him 2 years ago). Order a pump (Rock Auto $300. O’Reilly $430. GM like $700, all AcDelco)

Go to Texas for funeral. Get back last night. Put new pump in. Truck runs like new. Finally. 2 weeks later.

Lessons learned:

1. I dropped tank because the shop that did it 2 years ago said they were worried about the bed bolts and rust and causing issues pulling bed. Next time-I’m pulling the bed. Or a hole saw….also-they had replaced pump (Chinese) before realizing it was bad wiring. My mechanic buddy said ACDelco or nothing.

2. The fuel disconnect line toolset from Harbor Freight worked great. $30/6 pack size.

3. RockAuto saves me so much money. It’s almost laughable now that I price check against local parts stores.

4. Southern Missouri in early September is nowhere near as nice as northern Utah for working conditions.

5. I need a lift.

6. Harbor Freights cheapy 2 D-cell fluid pump will pump 15 gallons of fuel to empty a tank pretty quickly. Made reinstall a lot easier being 100 lbs lighter.

 

[bmwrd0]

Not a damn thing. Didn't even go down there.

 

[racecougar]

Y'all know that Dexter show?





Wire wheeling the undercoating from 1973 = making my own long sleeves.

 

[evildky]

I have removing undercoating. spent a lot of time crouched under a body stand doing that on my Datsun.

 

[66HertzClone]

I used Peel Away 7 to remove the undercoating on my mustang, it was pretty easy and clean as far as the work area was.

 

[GrayFlattop]

Not a damn thing other than getting the pruning shears out - and putting them back 10 minutes later. They say it will be cooler than yesterday, but I'm not buying it. Working outside for 20 minutes and I came back in drenched is sweat - and I didn't work THAT hard.

Can you say thermal expansion? This happened yesterday:
They raised this bridge for river traffic and when lowering it, the one side wouldn't close. So they throw 16,000GPM of water at it for a few hours. Fixed (by others). I hope this heat passes soon. Sure, its been worse, but I still don't like it.

 

[GrayFlattop]

Taking a break from working on the Dalton lathe to... working on another lathe!

It is rare to find a watchmakers lathe with the tailstock, rest, collet closer, and motor pulley, especially for what I paid for it at a tool sale over the weekend. And, as it is midweek, my wife works from home, and my shop is in the basement, so I try not to make too much noise, which means any metal working machinging needs to be done on the weekend or at night. Which means I need to work on quiet stuff during the week. So, cleaning this up is the task at hand.

Watchmakers - it is another world that makes my brain hurt. I'm used to precision machining, but this requires tiny precision machining.

Speaking of watchmakers, precision machining - and a wee bit of fine art, here's a 7 minute video that should hold your attention:
You will want sound on

 

[Old Man Roger]

sleeves.

What exactly am I looking at here?

 

[racecougar]

What exactly am I looking at here?

Wire wheeling the undercoating from 1973 = making my own long sleeves. It's undercoating that I've wire wheeled off the underside of the car. It's a messy job.

 

[Skyman]

I'm bad about not selling tools.

What is this alien language that you speak?

 

[Old Man Roger]

Wire wheeling the undercoating from 1973 = making my own long sleeves. It's undercoating that I've wire wheeled off the underside of the car. It's a messy job.

Wow! I thought you made some hairy looking sleeves.lol

 

[kbeefy]

Tried to clean up some of the oxidization. Did a coat of mirror glaze #7, looks good enough.
Before:


After:


I'll put some wax on it before it sits outside another 3 years.

Got some dash issues, and a bunch of previous owner wiring mishaps. I'm doin it... pulling the dash.



That wasn't so bad. Check out this heater box...



Cleaned up pretty well.



While it was all apart I lubed the wiper linkage, disassembled, cleaned and reapplied conductive grease in the blower motor switch, Cleaned the horn contacts and got them working again, and am replacing the previously bypassed heater control valve.

 

[Outlawmws]

Got some dash issues, and a bunch of previous owner wiring mishaps. I'm doin it... pulling the dash.

That wasn't so bad. Check out this heater box...

I need to do that:

And exactly for that, only I'l be soaking the core in Hydrogen Peroxide. Wasp nests...

FYI you can cut a hole in the heater box and use a shop vac to get leafy debris out in the future...

 

[Outlawmws]

Started the "Ice melt test" for the two coolers:

I did use two 1/2 gallon milk carton blocks of ice - one in each, and now we see how fast each melts.

Coleman is 70 Qt. advertised
Pik-Nik is 72 Qt. calculated

7 hrs in. both are holding up decently, but not surprisingly, the Coleman is edging ahead.

 

[kbeefy]

I need to do that:

And exactly for that, only I'l be soaking the core in Hydrogen Peroxide. Wasp nests...

FYI you can cut a hole in the heater box and use a shop vac to get leafy debris out in the future...

I was going to try that until I realized I had wiper and air diverter issues anyways. Getting it all out allowed me to get it much cleaner, and pulling the dash really wasn't that bad. Now I'm just waiting on a couple parts that were already broken to put it back in.

After the dash, knee brace is out and the heater core hoses are disconnected, the heater box is really easy to get out and in. Did it twice because the attachment stud fell out when I wasn't looking.

 

[2001ZR2]

Good thinking!

I should say I even moved the cars that I thought the limb might even graze. Weird normally I damage things before I consider this.

 

[Beerhippie]

Getting started on my "goof plate" for my little boo-boo yesterday.

Poking around the boneyard for something about 12 ga. and at least 3 X 4", I turned up this:



That'll work perfectly--especially as I want to do a thing that will be easier with this. It's only 14 ga, but that will be fine for what it is.

Rough fit:



Fits like a glove--just needs a little finishing.

Here's the "thing" I wanted to do:



That bend allowed me to block off that 3/8" opening on the back of the receiver tube.

Cleaned up the edges, radiussed corners and drilled some holes. Got 'er good and surgically clean after scuffing the smooth SS surface.

On to painting....

 

[Beerhippie]

Playing with paint...



Trying to match the texture of the powder-coat on the bumper, I chose Rusto Hammered Black--which is actually kinda' gray. Scrap from bumper (yeah, that scrap) in foreground.

So I let that cure for fifteen minutes and hit it with a light topcoat of Rusto Gloss Black:



Once that gets some road dust, it'll be a fair match.

Painted the SS screws and washers, too.

They'll all cure in the shop (raining outside) for an hour or so and then into the oven.

In the meantime, I'll swat more flies. Got five or six just while writing this. I'm currently working on my backhand and wing shots.

 

[Outlawmws]

I'm currently working on my backhand and wing shots.

 

[jblnut]

Little man and I finished up the planter upgrades last night over some mint chocolate chip ice cream and A&W Root Beers.


Time to test it all out !!


I can’t believe it. Completely new wiring harness, new monitor, 16 new brain boxes, 12 hyd cylinders, 42 hyd hoses, 12 electric motors, firmware updates on 40 things and no leaks or electrical issues. It all just worked. I am so impressed.

 

[Beerhippie]

Completely new wiring harness, new monitor, 16 new brain boxes, 12 hyd cylinders, 42 hyd hoses, 12 electric motors, firmware updates on 40 things and no leaks or electrical issues. It all just worked.

Isn't there some kind of Presidential medal for that? Maybe Congressional?

Should at least get a headline (above the fold, of course) in the local rag--if any.

Local Man Completely Rebuilds And Upgrades 12-Bottom Planter, Works The First Time!

 

[jblnut]

Isn't there some kind of Presidential medal for that? Maybe Congressional?

Should at least get a headline (above the fold, of course) in the local rag--if any.

Local Man Completely Rebuilds And Upgrades 12-Bottom Planter, Works The First Time!

I didn’t do it alone. I had close to $400/hr in helpers here lol. Little man and I were sort of the gophers if you want to give us a title. I did make all of the hyd hoses and run most of the wiring so I guess I can take some credit for some of it.

 

[KwikFab]

Nothing other than wrap up a few orders for shipping tomorrow

 

[bmwrd0]

Started pulling the little lathe apart. I have another body in a little better condition, so I will be swapping that one in while keeping all of the new pieces.

 

[Fordguy1964]

Stage 3 portion of the gas tank treatment had to be delayed. There was still a slight amount of water in the seams of the tank. I'll let it sit for another day to make sure it is completely dry. I thought about cooking it in my powder coating oven but thought better of it. I mean what is another day? So, I went ahead and replaced the carb on the concrete mixer. She now purrs like a kitten! It may be time for a sandblasting and paint. She runs like a dream though. I greased up the bearings on the wheel bearings, the mixing tines, and the drive gears. She is about ready to go to work.

 

[WildBill]

Started my solar power install, still have some wiring and stuff to finish on the roof, then have to run conduit/wires and install the inverter and batteries in the house. About 20KW of panels, could make 180-200KW or so on a good summer day. Just using the shop to hold them, power is going to house and extra sold back to power company for a 1 to 1 credit. Which can be used for house or shop as needed. I have two separate meters so it's a little convoluted.

I know my shop lights are sad, I have nice ones to install but haven't got to it yet

 

[Beerhippie]

Got my parts out of the oven

\

Wanted to get that installed, but torrential downpour.

Went up front to wait for old friends from out of town to show up. They sat five feet from me for fifteen minutes before we recognized each other. Old *****.

We were planning to spend a couple of days backcountry driving in the Brick--but torrential downpour. What to do now? Adventure drive in flash-floods? Maybe I'm too old for that ****--as are my friends.

Best laid plans of mice and men....

 

[kaymccampbell]

Rode the chair.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Scuffed, primed and painted the interior side of the man door.

 

[SMOKEYBEAR]

110 heat index, Nothing. Didn't even open it up to put away a few things.

 

[Skyman]

Went up front to wait for old friends from out of town to show up. They sat five feet from me for fifteen minutes before we recognized each other. Old *****.

Yep, but it does beat the hell outta the only known alternative.

We were planning to spend a couple of days backcountry driving in the Brick--but torrential downpour. What to do now?

You were sitting in a brewery, no?

 

[WordMan]

Nothing. It's too damned hot out there!

 

[LeonardY]

Spent the morning Bending conduit. Waiting for the Jungle shipment.

Not perfect but it is good enough.
Then the rest of the afternoon watching my AC guy install the mini split.

Yes, I intend to cover the vent. I need to put some finer screen in there. Wasps have been trying to build nests in the wall. Yes, the builder ran romex through the vent.


The Amazon shipment arrived late. So today I play Sparky and the AC guy is coming back to cover the lines.

I've already tested it and it's glorious.

 

[BonzoHansen]

Avalanche bearings are done, successfully test driven yesterday.


So that's outside, as is the 67 to make room for a 20yo tractor that decided to not restart the other day. No compression.

Only a few things cause that. And if it were crank/rod issue my $200 tractor was being retired. But it could be valve related. So off came the head. That could do it! Exh seat left the chat. $100 for a new one, just need to order it. Common on these engines per Dr Google.

I guess I'll finally do the vc gasket that's been leaking for years. Did it cause dirt buildup problems causing overheating? Maybe. I only use it like 4 times a year, so it never made the priority list. Life's a dice roll.

 

[Outlawmws]

Started the "Ice melt test" for the two coolers:

I did use two 1/2 gallon milk carton blocks of ice - one in each, and now we see how fast each melts.

Coleman is 70 Qt. advertised
Pik-Nik is 72 Qt. calculated

7 hrs in. both are holding up decently, but not surprisingly, the Coleman is edging ahead.

So I stopped the test after 12 hours. I stated just after 6AM - both coolers had sat out overnight, and the day was mid 70's or maybe a bit more and in tree shade (oak trees - not 100% but close)

Only a little of the block remaining in the PiK-Nik cooler I guessed maybe half in the Coleman. The Pik-Nik had a slight mishap in the first hour as the aluminum parts inside were against the block and melted into it, so that speeded its melting up slightly:



Coleman 1 hour in:



Both at the end:







So I took those and dropped them into Pyrex for measuring to see what remained. I would guess the Pik-Nik ice lost close to 1/2 cup to the oops in the first hour. so 1 cup vs 5 remaining; out of about 7-8 cups:




My rough conclusion is that the Coleman should go about 2X the Pik-Nik, or 2-3 days for the Pik-Nik Cooler.

I think I can improve on that with a piece of Styrofoam under it during transport and use, and by making a cover from one of those shiny mylar bubble sheets. Also if Plastidip is available in white (It is), I might/could paint that inside so the bare aluminum isn't in contact.

 

[khnitz]

I fixed an oil leak from the low oil pressure switch on our Generac whole-house generator. We lost power Wednesday around 10pm, and it is not expected to be restored until sometime on Sunday. Fortunately, I was able to source a new switch in town this morning. More detail here.

 

[rd65]

Intention was to work on the 4Runner but the desktop computer fiasco was ongoing. Got it up and running this morning after a Costco trip.