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Howdy, I’ve flashed photos of this thing a few times. She’s a Port Huron 19-65 HP steam engine made in 1917. Each wheel weights a few tons each. The engine empty is 17,300 lbs. I moved it into its current position 8 ft at a time with a winch, about 200 ft across the yard. It took me several...

Like everyone, I’ve got too many wrenches. When I bought a steam engine, I realized I need big ones and got a whole set from a hardware store closing: Looks fancy. I hate it. They rattle every time I close the door. They’re stores way far away from where I need them, and I use them often...

Howdy, I’ve made a few benches in my time. Here’s #1 made from scraps snagged while working as a tractor mechanic: Here’s #2 that I built in a dingy basement and it’s never coming out again, also overbuilt: Here’s 3 and 4 that I over-built for use in the machine shop. I have 100%...

I’m here seeking wisdom. I built my own swinging, insulated garage doors from 2x3s, T111, and rigid foam. 4.5x8 doors, six total. I wouldn’t say they’re permanent nor better than store bought, but it’s been two years with one set being used several times a day for a mechanic business. It’s a...

Mornin, 20x24 with 12ft walls, far north of the Northeast US. We’re using prebuilt trusses 24” OC with 6-12 pitch. It’s a big shed. It’ll be sheathed with zip system, gets metal roofing. Gable end is the 20ft side. We had a bad slab pour, which translated into wonky corners. I’m level along...

Evening… So, this was my eighth time pouring concrete, I’ve done four for my own projects. I thought nothing of it. Something went wrong and I stupidly crawled into the middle of the pad to screed a stubborn spot. Wet concrete contains alkaline, which is a base. It burns like acid. I have...

Howdy gents, A friend of mine is moving his garage from my place which has power to his place that does not have power. He’s the real deal: tire changes, oil changes, brake work, “why is it making that noise?” Classic mechanic stuff. He needs air, power, and heat. Any suggestions on how to...

Howdy, There’s a thousand threads like this one… now there’s a thousand and one. I live in Northern VT. I already have a 30x40 ft garage with radiant floor heat and rockwool insulation running on propane, it’s fantastic. That’s not what we’re here for. Cold, windy climate, long winters...

Howdy, Bottom line up front: can you build a garage with gravel floor using concrete round column footings? What are some of the wall design considerations? I’m no stranger to construction. I built a 33x40 that I now live upstairs in. When I did this building, I poured the footer walls first...

I am sifting through the countless posts of similar nature. Making my own just to get the specifics out and see if you fine forum goers have other input. We are 90% through a DIY garage-house project. I've been thinking about HRV since before we started, but things progressed father than I...

I was a flexzilla fanboy. I have two hose reels and a cord reel. Used to have the water hose as well. One year of mechanic work, the extension cord reel ratchet broke (I fixed it but it’s days are numbered), the hose reels are worse for wear, and the water hose is scrap. Looking for a...

Here's the toe jack in question: Harbor Freight Toe Jack The question is: Can it actually lift 10 tons? I have an 18,000 lb CNC machine that needs to be leveled. The jack won't have to lift the whole machine, but depending on the foot, it's a lot.

Alright… I’m sure there’s a hundred posts like this, but sometimes ya just gotta let it out. Background: One day, I got sick of the excessive number of screwdrivers everywhere, so I collected them all in one giant bin, made a drawer for all the bits to collect as needed, and tried to convert...

Hi! For those with radiant floor slabs using hot water through pex: How long does it take to heat your space from cold? Say from 60 to 70 F? Does the room take just as long to heat up from a cold slab than a hot slab if you open the garage door? The long story: I built my 33x40 garage with...

Long story short: Insulated 9x8 garage doors are expensive with excessive lead times, so we're thinking about taking the bull by the horns. We've gotten quotes, everything from random contactors to big name stores. For a 9x8 insulated, normal color garage door, that'll be $1700 a piece and they...

Hello again, starting a new thread as a follow-up to my "bad floor pour." After grinding the nasties away, I'm left with a few low spots: You can see by the left over water there are a few dips. I'd like to fill them. What's the latest/greatest budget dip-filling compound you can think of...

Hi! Anyone used a pallet-jack style lift like this one? I guess it's meant to tilt a bit when lifting. I've got an in-law who wants to do legitimate mechanic work in my garage while I get my whole machine shop thing up and going. I pitched this lift to him given it doesn't use anchor bolts. I...

Ok… I messed up. I had a group of guys who I have done concrete floors with before. One guy did his entire house with Amvic, and it came out amazing. So when I went to pour my garage floor, they seemed pretty sure of themselves as to getting it in and finishing it. Floor is 31x38 internal...

Hi! I screwed up, hard. The short of it is: we're trying to build a garage for my machine shop equipment that has to move. Screw up #1: It was supposed to be 39x32; I laid this out on center, and now it's 40x33. Not a big deal. Bigger deal is the entire frost wall is out of square by 8" (if I'm...

Hi! It's cold up here. Building a new garage for my machine shop and looking for advice after some major screw-ups.