luvit's 1975 garage -- sketched-up, getting real

luvit · Jun 5, 2012

aye.. all those planks in the rafters are leftovers from recent projects, which eventually disappear.
She'll have some more, that's for sure.. i'm wondering which teenager may jump-up and try to use the ladder as monkey bars.. i may consider heavier gauge hook and pipe fabrication.
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onething · Jun 5, 2012

luvit said:

Floor looks great in this pic. Never knew you could do anything but acid stain. We have acid stain in 80% of our house and love it.

Good job, sir :thumbup:

Foxxtrot · Jun 6, 2012

onething said:
Floor looks great in this pic. Never knew you could do anything but acid stain. We have acid stain in 80% of our house and love it.

Good job, sir

I agree. Looks fantastic! Hard to make an old, well used floor look like anything else. You managed it, and on the cheap, too! Two thumbs up! :thumbup:

luvit · Oct 20, 2012

mm k. it's been a very busy summer.
i have been collecting tools and cabinets, but no improvements to my garage has been completed since june.. and for good reason.
i needed to keep my garage relatively empty to manage this thing once it was able to be delivered by my dad. (dad pictured).
i'll unveil it with you later after my camera recharges and i watch a movie with my family.

luvit · Oct 21, 2012

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It's my grandfather's 16ft wrokbench
My grandfather (my father's father) passed away 17 months ago and my father was able to store it until he could find time to free-up his trailer to haul it.
I've built a lot of things on this bench before I graduated High School.

luvit · Oct 21, 2012

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The bench is 16ft x 38"D x 33"H -- I gotta modify the height, if i mod anything..

I really just wanted the bench top which is AMF Bowling alley at 25/8" thick
In the 1980s in Shelby Ohio the AMF plant was closing it's doors and sold-off a bunch of stuff.. my dad, uncle, & grandfather all bought bowling alleys for bench tops.

So modifying this bench to my wants may be limited to only keeping the bench top. Here are some pics of it very filthy.

Red Leader · Oct 21, 2012

luvit, I love it!

That bench is awesome. I want to end up with a bowling alley lane for a workbench one day. The one I made will do for now, but a part of me wants to say - don't mess around, get the real deal.

Some day! 'Repurposing' out here in Denver has gone off the deep end and people seem to want $$$$ for this stuff that would have just gone to a dump, simply because 'repurposing' is 'hip'. Think $1000 for a bowling alley coffee table. I'm definitely all for being a good steward, but when something is made trendy, it inevitably dissipates, which to me just cheapens the whole idea.

It would be great to find lane material from an alley from the 1940s-1950s.

shopnut · Oct 21, 2012

I didn't even think about using bowling alley for a workbench top until flybefree mentioned buying some in his thread. That's going to be really nice and it's almost long enough to play a game!

luvit · Oct 22, 2012

Red Leader said:
luvit, I love it!
That bench is awesome. I want to end up with a bowling alley lane for a workbench one day. The one I made will do for now, but a part of me wants to say - don't mess around, get the real deal.

shopnut said:
I didn't even think about using bowling alley for a workbench top until flybefree mentioned buying some in his thread.

So get this, when i moved out from my parents, for YEARS i only worked on some nice tall saw horses with a 3/4" plywood top screwed down to drive me to get a bowling alley benchtop.. but i never stumble across one.
Besides my car and a half garage really could only support my little bench which i could pickup and carry outside, until i found an old 5' long wooden teacher desktop a couple years ago, which I will incorporate into this shop.

i could see that that i was never going to be satisfied wailing on 3/4" or 1.5" of plywood tops, but the teacher desktop was an excellent compromise.

I grew-up on bowling alley benchtops no matter which location i was working at.. wondering if i'd ever get one, wondering if this one would go into an estate auction, but my day came and an old familiar benchtop is in my hands.

i can see my 93yr old grandfather quit taking care of the benchtop from all the things he let spill on it.. at his age and condition, who could blame him.

i cleaned it up and hand scraped a lot of wood glue, paint drops, & varnish clean off... but there is this one weird stain. at the far end i'll keep working on.

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luvit · Nov 2, 2012

HEY! i cleaned that weird spot off the bench after i posted last week. i used lighter fluid. lol.

then i immediately used my bench.. i removed my RV plug from my wall, added a welder plug, and made this pigtail adapter with that RV plug so i could still occasionally operate the RV push-outs.
(not to use 30A or air conditioning or anything.)

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luvit · Nov 2, 2012

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Here's my forced air heater transition.
At a glance you won't see much difference on the before/after pics, but it was all day to do this on my own.

i raised it up several inches on the ceiling chains (now bottom is 6'3" high).
i got to use my first 3/4" x 3/4" copper pipe shark bite!
moved it 2 inches away from the wall.
added plumbing and 5 valves, don't ask why, it's a plan on a prayer.
pex doesn't like being straight without clamps, so i added a big hose clamp
to do -- thermostat and power cable management.

i unintentionally used 5/8 ID instead of 3/4 ID..
is that a bad thing for my boiler's circulation pump?

Exceller8 · Nov 3, 2012

That is an awesome workbench! You're doing a great job getting it cleaned up. :thumbup:

Modern Jess · Nov 3, 2012

Just caught up on the whole thread. Nice transformation you've got going on there, and I really like the bowling alley workbench. The fact that it's got sentimental value makes it all the better. Nice.

And I grew up about 100 miles away from Shelby.

luvit · Nov 3, 2012

Exceller8 said:
That is an awesome workbench! You're doing a great job getting it cleaned up.

Modern Jess said:
Just caught up on the whole thread. Nice transformation you've got going on there, and I really like the bowling alley workbench. The fact that it's got sentimental value makes it all the better. Nice.
And I grew up about 100 miles away from Shelby.

hey, thanks! i tell ya, every time i used one of my benches, each and every time, i would think of this bench. i can't believe i actually got it. -- someday i'll post the bench top i've been using for a few years (not counting all earlier years of using the 3/4" plywood and sawhorses).

mm k... i was swamped today at another property, so here is what i did tonight in the garage.
just to note, i got a thermostat that supports 40°F -- this year i can leave the heat on so my projects will not get too cold and take forever to warm up to be at paintable temperatures!

luvit · Nov 4, 2012

hey, luvit... how 'bout you prepare for winter some more.
mm k.

leaving the water on this winter. this valve is not frost proof. bandaid this year, put a real valve on next year.

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leaving heat on this winter.. overhead doors have gaping spaces.. better seal it off.

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overhead doors don't seal at the bottom, for many reasons..
light, air, and water sneaks-in under the door..
can't find the right seal at the big box stores.. gotta solve it anyway..

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fergus · Nov 5, 2012

That'll work - that pipe insulation on the door is a good trick!

luvit · Nov 6, 2012

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..d'Do Dew Doo... Doo dee dah due..

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i didn't like the way the manufacturer instructed to hang it.
if you follow their instructions it looks like a padded room for a crazy person.
so i used the wire insulation supports..

here's what it would look like if i would have followed the manufacturer's instructions.

luvit · Nov 6, 2012

fergus said:
That'll work - that pipe insulation on the door is a good trick!

thank ya, there fergus!
it is lasting pretty well, so i may forget it's there someday until i accidentally knock it off. lol.

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nkachur · Nov 11, 2012

I love the old bench.

It is cool to get stuff that brings back positive memories for you I have gotten a couple of things from my grandfathers garage that do the same for me.

The pipe insulation is an interesting solution for the garage door.

Keep posting your updates.

NUTTSGT · Nov 11, 2012

I didn't realize there used to be a AMF plant in Shelby. The neighbor has a workbench built using alley as a top and another piece laying on the floor. I wonder if that's where it came from?

In one of the pictures, there is a chain looking thing hanging from the ceiling buy the lights. What may I ask is it ?

luvit · Nov 11, 2012

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HO! AH HA! Guard, Turn, Parry, Dodge, Spin, HA! Thrust

luvit · Nov 12, 2012

NUTTSGT said:
I didn't realize there used to be a AMF plant in Shelby. The neighbor has a workbench built using alley as a top and another piece laying on the floor. I wonder if that's where it came from?

In one of the pictures, there is a chain looking thing hanging from the ceiling buy the lights. What may I ask is it ?

That eyelet and chain is from the previous owner who was brilliant at saving a buck on everything, from what i;m discovering.
i have not climbed-in to the attic to investigate this assumed-to-be hoist hook..
i'm not a fan of hanging heavy things from rafters which i stand under unless it is really re-enforced from the ground-up. i see no signs of adding structural support below the rafters.

i may be in the attic for different reasons come january and i'll be looking at that, too.

.

NUTTSGT · Nov 12, 2012

Interesting, gotta love the stuff people hang off of trusses. Great looking welder and table. :thumbup:

mdbeck1 · Nov 12, 2012

luvit said:
That eyelet and chain is from the previous owner who was brilliant at saving a buck on everything, from what i;m discovering.
i have not climbed-in to the attic to investigate this assumed-to-be hoist hook..
i'm not a fan of hanging heavy things from rafters which i stand under unless it is really re-enforced from the ground-up. i see no signs of adding structural support below the rafters.

i may be in the attic for different reasons come january and i'll be looking at that, too.

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It looks like my Dad's shop. He had a very large eye bolt hanging from the ceiling. It connected through a long 2X12 and a piece of steel. When we used it to pull engines he would put uprights under the ceiling.

Capstone · Nov 12, 2012

Nice job on the tombstone and table. I am guessing that you picked that up at a yard sale or off CL? If you don't mind sharing how much the whole deal cost, you just might be eligible for a "YOU ****" nod.

luvit · Nov 12, 2012

mdbeck1 said:
It looks like my Dad's shop. He had a very large eye bolt hanging from the ceiling. It connected through a long 2X12 and a piece of steel. When we used it to pull engines he would put uprights under the ceiling.

this finished ceiling is wallboard/drywall.. i don't see any evidence of scuffs or divits from applying pressure from below. Almost all people i know would attempt applying weight without adding the uprights your dad used..
i can't wait to see what i find in the attic.. like little things that would bother me, lack of *few* or all insulation battings, etc.

NUTTSGT said:
Interesting, gotta love the stuff people hang off of trusses. Great looking welder and table.

Capstone said:
Nice job on the tombstone and table. I am guessing that you picked that up at a yard sale or off CL? If you don't mind sharing how much the whole deal cost, you just might be eligible for a "YOU ****" nod.

thanks. i obviously used the welder upside down before i tore it down and found bad insulation on the 90A wire.. lol.

i got the welder for free from my dad... the thing is i couldn't move it without damage to my floor.. i bet it weighs 500lbs.. so i leveled it, raised it up to 42" work height with 4x4 tubing & casters, the tubing was a quick and dirty way to make a surface big enough for the casters. here's the story, i think.

but it's kinda sad, in a way, that the materials and paint added up to around $85.00 USD.. maybe more, maybe less... once i got the costly receipt for the steel, i quit counting the dollars.

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GirlnAgarage · Nov 12, 2012

Welder and table look great! Love that blue

Don't worry about the cost. You'll end up making it up or go over getting new materials for projects over the life of the welder.

This reminds me, I still need a new firewood rack.

PhantomEB · Nov 12, 2012

Love the welding table with the tombstone under it, but mine gonna be matte black for the welder with gloss black legs.

luvit · Nov 12, 2012

girl, i'm kinda in sticker shock for the price of steel.. i remember driving out to far away places for my dad, getting long stocks of steel for what felt to be nearly the price of a 36" piece today.. lol. glad you like the blue..

phantom.. i can't imagine trying to clean dust off of matte paint..
i just don't know much about cleaning, though, if it won't wipe down with a wet rag or leaf blower.

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luvit · Nov 15, 2012

whelp, here's another project that was postponed prior to me winterizing the garage.
it's a cable strung-down the middle of my garage from the previous owner. -- I assume he hung plastic on there for dust or paint spraying.

the cable needs lowered to better accommodate the light fixtures .. actually, i'll likely be replacing those fixtures.
the cable needs lowered, but i figured i would attempt to do use the cable until i actually redid the cable/ceiling/lights.

there is a thread on on TGJ talking about metal working existing with woodworking.. and all the solutions are expensive and maybe inconvenient.
Here is my attempt from weeks ago which i cannot recommend as a solution because i'm not ready to fully put it to real-world testing.

i have a 8x8 welding blanket from HF that i hung from the cable with $2 worth of swag lamp chain.

again, this may not be safe.. and i'm not even ready to use it, but my plan was to maybe hang 2 or 3 across the entire center of my garage between my overhead doors and another across the front wall to protect the 2' wide drywall & insulated garage door.
3 more of these blankets will cost me about $100.

here, i hope the pics help a bit on how i'm hoping to control my sparks from getting away from me while torching or welding. -- i plan to have it hang a couple inches to drag on the floor.

maybe i'll buy more welding blankets in december

edit: before i use this, i want to add my ventilation fan for welding and have the cable lowered.. i dunno, those projects could really take more time than i realize.

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luvit · Nov 24, 2012

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the door is weak in the middle because someone reversed the swing of the door, moved the hinges, and moved the doorknob.
i guess the previous owner didn't want to change which side of the wood door is the exterior.
the weak middle makes the top of the door flex when shoved into the jamb.
The door has a leak.. so i used garage door seals.. like a good solution for $14.

until the door shrunk from the cold, i was able to pull it tight with the black screw in the picture.

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cbacres · Nov 25, 2012

Nice welding set up. I learned on that same machine, cant beat it.
Shop looking good.

Br350obx · Nov 25, 2012

What software/program did you use to draw your garage???

luvit · Nov 25, 2012

cbacres said:
Nice welding set up. I learned on that same machine, cant beat it.
Shop looking good.

Thanks.. i have a bundle of 6011, 6013, and a few other, 70xx, which arw HF electrodes. The machine is working great, i found some wires that needed tended too on the inside.. i think the 90A wire insulation was pretty much fried.

i hope to see if hobart or other brands of electrodes are easier.. and hopefully smoke a little less.. i'll have to see welding web's site.

Br350obx said:
What software/program did you use to draw your garage???

i used google sketchup. i gotta say, i work with all kinds of PCs and software for a living, and it took me a couple of full nights of messing around before i felt it was the right solution. i'm sure it does so much more than what i know.

if you have any questions, i'd be happy to point you in the right direction for answers..

a good test of patience was when i drew this pneumatic jack.
i watched this video to figure-out how to do it.

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fergus · Nov 26, 2012

Your welding blanket solution was pretty much what I was thinking of doing for welding and woodworking (and everything else) to coexist in my small garage. Great minds...

NUTTSGT · Nov 26, 2012

Looks like it might be time to replace the man door. Replacing it with a steel door should make your place more secure and more energy efficent. That is of course you pick up one with no or a small window compared half a door of glass.

luvit · Nov 26, 2012

fergus said:
Your welding blanket solution was pretty much what I was thinking of doing for welding and woodworking (and everything else) to coexist in my small garage. Great minds...

i won't say it's a great solution.. i have some anxiety with it since it could create as many problems as it could solve.
some problems i predict:
• absorb dirt/dust.. not very clean able.. it's may just be aesthetics, but what if oil/grease gets on it from some hair-brain move on my part.
Would a washing machine reduce the fire resistance?
• absorb stench.. if i leave rotten eggs in the shop.. or a dead cat.. welding smoke.. who knows.. will my garage always stink while they hang?
•they don't guarantee fire proofness.. just fire resistance.. so i may have a nice wall of candle wick waiting to be lit.
i dunno.. i guess it's better than plastic / canvas / blue tarp solutions

NUTTSGT said:
Looks like it might be time to replace the man door. Replacing it with a steel door should make your place more secure and more energy efficent. That is of course you pick up one with no or a small window compared half a door of glass.

yep, that'll be replace when i stumble on a some crazy low priced door.. or before next winter, whichever comes first.
today, mild temperatures, i don't feel the heat loss at the door seams and i may be losing more heat through my 2 large windows, pictured below (old pics).

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shopnut · Nov 26, 2012

Casters are a nice addition to that table. Assuming they are the rubber type, do you plan to protect them somehow from weld splatter or do you think they will be fine without anything?

Looking good :thumbup:

(EDIT: Looks like luvit did a little rearranging - this post was in reply to what is now reply #81)

luvit · Nov 26, 2012

my wheels are the very hard rubber. i don't believe much spatter will touch the wheels.
i'll actually have more issues rolling over my canyon-sized floor cracks than an occasional dimple in the wheel.
do you think the wheels will flare-up from spatter?

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shopnut · Nov 26, 2012

I was just curious more than anything. I wouldn't think there would be any kind of fire threat, but maybe just some pitting in the rubber over time when welding on stuff overhanging from the bench. :dunno:

luvit's 1975 garage -- sketched-up, getting real

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