Above 1200 Sq/FT The ASYLUM - Happy 40th Birthday to Me! (Est. 2005)

noelalford · Jan 7, 2014

It's hard to tell, I found a few more for sale. This one shows from the back looking towards where it would be but it's got something in the way, maybe a battery? I dunno.

http://sp.quebarato.com.br/alvares-machado/chevrolet-alvorada-3-portas__79772A.html

chevrolet+alvorada+3+portas+alvares+machado+sp+brasil__79772A_4.jpg

HOTFR8 · Jan 7, 2014

shopnut said:
THE PORCH IS COMPLETELY DONE!!!

If you paint it red it will go faster :lol_hitti

.

Sorry, Seriously you have been busy and the place looks great. :thumbup:

shopnut · Jan 7, 2014

noelalford - Awww, no midgate. But a spare battery is always good!

HOTFR8 - Funny you should mention that. Mrs. Shopnut originally wanted the barn to have a red exterior (apparently from her farm roots) and we finally settled on these colors to blend in a bit better with the natural surroundings. Thanks, I have a lot more to do yet so I can't slow down now!

shopnut · Jan 9, 2014

REPAIRING THE ROOF DAMAGE FROM A FALLEN TREE…

You may not recall this, but years ago I had a Hickory fall down and side-swipe the roof. All this time, it has bothered me a bit mostly because the trim piece was mangled so badly that it was allowing leaves and other debris (and probably water) to get underneath it. Since I had the manlift out on the porch already and a couple hours to spare, I decided to see what I could do.

That trim piece is supposed to have a nice sharp crease.

Here it is removed.

So I started hammering and about an hour later I had this.

Not perfect, but at least it is now sealing out the elements again.

Since I have just a minute more to write, I’ll share something I found interesting (yeah, it doesn’t take much to entertain me!). When I was cleaning the porch ceiling, I noticed the spiders are very territorial. The ribs on the siding provided a perfect divider for each one to fence in his zone. This went on the entire 26 feet of that wall. Weird.

There you have it, I guess I’ll take a picture and waste time writing about nearly anything

.

JCQuick · Jan 9, 2014

Ok Shopnut leave the spiders alone the eat the other florida bugs. Good job on your trim piece. Oh BTW a true porch should have rocking chair on it. :lol_hitti

Wingnut65 · Jan 10, 2014

When we do finally make it over to see the place, don't mention the spiders to my girls...

But, very observant of you on their residential limitations. Those ribs are like their very own picket fence! But nothing a little Raid can't take care of!

shopnut · Jan 14, 2014

JCQuick - If I put a rocking chair out there, next thing you know, I'll have people pulling up expecting me to cook them a country style meal!

It's a toss-up between the mess that spiders make and dealing with the other bugs. It's time to give a spider-free porch a try. (I have a feeling it’s a losing battle though :sad:

)

Wingnut65 - The spider secret is safe with me! And when the girls are walking around my place and a spider jumps on one of their heads, I'm just going to have to shrug my shoulders and say "Weird, I've never seen any of those around here before" Picket fences is a good analogy to what I saw.

shopnut · Jan 14, 2014

BACK TO THE FRONT CONTROL PANEL…

I’ve been using and enjoying the electric drive drives and all the other switches on the front control panel for a while now. But this area still needs a bit of work to finish it off, cosmetically.

I want this cabinet to match everything else around here and also be functional for storing a few odds and ends so I needed to get the lid and doors on it. That required cutting holes on the top surface for the chains to pass through.

After measuring things about 10 times, I used a 2.5” holesaw to cut the initial pattern.

And a jigsaw cut the straight lines between the circles. Ribs below kept the removed chunk as one piece.

Here it is with it setting forward of its final resting spot.

I lifted the door chain blocks up and out of the way long enough to install the cabinet top and then dropped them back in.

Now both chain blocks are in place.

With doors on.

I still need to install some type of top surface to the cabinet and seal around the chain holes better. The cutouts are large enough to see down in there and I’m sure stuff will be dropping in there all the time. I was thinking some type of brush or flaps of rubber might work, but I’m open to suggestions.

akdiesel · Jan 15, 2014

shopnut

Very creative work. Maybe you could also use some of those weather strips they put on the sides of garage doors or similar to help cover the openings. This may also help to keep your outdoor friends out as well.

flybefree · Jan 15, 2014

Great work Shopnut...looks custom cool!

v/r

Shaun

Wingnut65 · Jan 15, 2014

Agreed, great work! That just finishes off the project.

I like the brush idea over the rubber. The amount of use that the doors will get, I think rubber will get very worn. The use of brushes would always remain flexible and help to keep those arachnid, that you don't have by the way, out of the cabinet and off the cool climbing chain.

I think these drafting brushes would work perfectly

shopnut · Jan 20, 2014

akdiesel – I have some black plastic angles to trim out where the silver tileboard meets the door opening, but I like the idea of some weather strip to seal a bit AND keep the door from rattling in its loose track when the wind blows. Thanks for the idea.

flybefree – Thanks man. A few more details and that little strip of wall is done!

Wingnut65 – Thanks. Hey – the old drafting brushes! Boy, did I put some miles (or swipes?) on them. Of course, now I just dated myself AND admitted that I made a lot of mistakes on the drawing board :sad:

.

Still giving those openings some thought. The drafting brushes would be a much cheaper source than the brushes we use at work. They are from a company called Sealeze (http://www.sealeze.com/) and they are available in various forms:

If using a drafting brush, I need the brush part to be about 12” long and I seem to recall some big ones back in the day. I need to see if some have black bristles though. Good idea!

I also thought of the rubber flaps you see down in garbage disposals. They are already round-shaped to accommodate a pass-thru for each individual chain. Like this:

Whatever I do, it would be much easier if it is already mounted inside of a bezel or frame – similar to your brush idea.

shopnut · Jan 22, 2014

YARD AND PORCH LIGHTS…

I need some lighting to finish up the front porch project. I turned to LED because of the efficiency and expected long life. As far as I’m concerned, it IS the future of lighting.

For the middle area of the porch I’m using a single fixture, a Lithonia model OLAW. The amount of light this thing puts out is amazing. It has a nice broad spread and holding it up roughly in place shows that it will fill in nicely between the fluorescent fixtures on the side porches.

It carries a 5-year warranty so hopefully it is trouble free for many years of service. Going price is a little tough to swallow at $159, but you can find a deal or two if you look around. I forgot to take a picture of the actual unit, but here is a stock photo from the website.

Switch for it will be on the new front control panel.

For yard lighting, I bought 4 of these 30W floodlights.

Two will hang on the beam across the front porch, another shining down towards the lake, and the last one shining on my outdoor workbench opposite the lake. There will be a 3-way circuit with switches in the apartment and by the shop man-door for the two that shine out in front of the place.

I plugged them in and they really light up the darkness in the woods (I hope the neighbors don’t send me nastygrams!). If you look at the picture, you will see that the label is somewhat crooked. I found it funny that the ones I received had the same crooked decals. I guess they didn’t want to falsely advertise them!

Lastly, I bought one of these Lithonia model OFLR lights, only because the seller that sold me the round porch light gave me such a good deal on it (about half price). I may actually use it back by the outdoor workbench since I suspect it will have a much broader sweep than the other floods.

The necessary electrical parts are in hand and I am ready when I find a free minute to hook it all up.

Wingnut65 · Jan 23, 2014

LEDs are amazing. So much light for so little draw. But that initial cost is still high. We are looking at swapping out 6 100w spots at church with LED's, but they are over $50 per bulb right now.

On the brushes, I was cleaning out the back corner of the Hideout and found two brush door sweeps that I purchased for our porch doors that may be a solution for you. We needed a brush since the vinyl keeps getting ground off from the pavers. I found them at Ace Hardware. Ordered them on line and delivered to my local store. Can't beat 36" long for $10.49.

shopnut · Jan 23, 2014

Thanks for the tip on the brush strip Wingnut65 :thumbup:

Agreed, those LEDs are still dang pricy, but they are inching their way down. We picked up standard A10 bulbs to replace the eight 60W bulbs in our kitchen track light and they were $7.50 per bulb. The new lights are easily 30-40% brighter and the Misses is very happy for it!

SpeedinLemon · Jan 24, 2014

Hey ShopNut! Just non-stop awesome around here. I hadn't been around much lately and it's taken me over a week to get caught up with the Asylum. Worth every minute though...great read and your detail and documentation are truly incredible. I see you're well over half a million visitors/views....I'm sure many satisified customers! Do you have a special source for your LED lights? I kind of like the old school bulbs and can't stand the curly q's....They don't seem to last for me..... I thought I might give the LEDs a shot....pricey though! Congrats on the Avalanche...looks sweet and I didn't realize they were discontinuing them...Is there a replacement announced, or just taking a few years off like the Camaro did?

akdiesel · Jan 24, 2014

shopnut

That control panel is looking more and more like the Death Star.
I'm sure you will, but please take photos of the new lights off and on to get a good perspective. I need to get some outdoor lights also. I've got some 150 watt flood lights but power consumption is a big issue with me.
Any more problems with trees?

shopnut · Jan 27, 2014

SpeedinLemon – You’re too kind. Amazon and Ebay has been the source for the lights – always looking for the deals, you know. The big box store prices are still up there. I was open-minded about the CFL’s at first, but after so many of them failed, I will never buy another.

If the Avalanche is taking a ”few” years off like the Camaro, I guess I’m glad I traded when I did – I might be dead by the time a Gen 3 is released!!!

(Just kidding of course, I still plan to live forever!)

akdiesel – I’m really enjoying pushing the buttons on that Death Star panel. It kind of makes turning on the lights fun again!

I took a few nighttime pictures of the temporarily installed yard lights, but it was before I read your request. I will try to get some comparison shots, although my camera just doesn’t capture those dark shots very well. I had all three front LED fixtures on and it was BRIGHT in that woods! The squirrels probably thought it was morning. I could have easily mowed the grass, and seen the cut line. And to think, it was all from less than a 100 watts of input. I would say those 30W floods each put out more light than my portable 500W halogen worklights.

No recent problems with any of the trees near the shop (knock on wood!). But I think a big Hickory straight out from the front doors died last fall – I’m waiting to see if she puts on leaves this spring, otherwise, down she goes. I’ll be cutting that one down myself since there is no risk of hitting anything valuable.

akdiesel · Jan 28, 2014

shopnut

Thanks for doing the lighting. I might be mowing our yard due to the week long 50 deg f weather we have been having.

shopnut · Jan 28, 2014

akdiesel said:
shopnut

Thanks for doing the lighting. I might be mowing our yard due to the week long 50 deg f weather we have been having.

Wow - its a heat wave! I guess you sent all the cold air to my parents in Wisconsin then

They had -19F this morning!

shopnut · Jan 28, 2014

LET THERE BE (YARD) LIGHT…

Before I installed the lights permanently, I wanted to see how they performed at night. So I mounted them up on the beam and draped some power cords down.

I originally had the porch area light (the one that looks like a flying saucer) mounted up higher, but found too much light splashed on and was blocked by the flood lights. So I dug through my bin of brackets and found one that dropped it down about 8”, about flush with the bottom of the floods.

My camera just couldn’t capture just how bright these lights really were, but I will post them anyway. My wood pile about 100 ft away was lit up nicely.

akdiesel · Jan 29, 2014

shopnut

Those lights illuminate your shop great. I know pictures seem to cut out the reach of lighting and only show the main glow area so these 30w lights look great for what the pictures show. The 50w would really light things up.
Do you know if these lights can be triggered by a motion sensor?
Thanks.

Bob Heine · Jan 29, 2014

Shopnut,

You may want to notify Southwest Airlines of your new lighting. I'd hate to see a 737 pilot mistake your yard for a landing strip. :scared:

shopnut · Jan 29, 2014

akdiesel – I know Lithonia makes the LED fixtures with and without the motion sensors, but mine do not have it. Both of mine have the dusk-till-dawn sensor though. It probably wouldn't be hard to retrofit if you have the parts.

If the 50W versions are proportionally brighter based on wattage, I think they would be too bright for my little lot. I’m not sure of the area you need to light up or how bright you want it to be, but be careful about going overboard with these things. I would not feel comfortable using these 30W lights at our city house as they would be lighting several neighbor’s yards as well. I think the 10 or 15W versions would be better suited there.

I walked the perimeter of the lot during that hour or so I had them hooked up, and the beams of light where even making it down to the lakeshore where they shone through the trees. I was planning to have a third 30W flood on the lakeside wall of the Asylum shining directly towards the lake, but I think I will skip it because the broad sweep of the light would also splash offensively on the neighbor’s house. Again, maybe a lower wattage version would be more suitable there.

Another thing to note was the intense point of light these fixtures make. All that light comes from about 1 square inch. You really don’t want to look directly at it. Of course during my short trial period, the lights were like a magnet for my eyeballs and I was staring at it too much causing me to squint. During normal conditions of working out there, however, I think that aspect would be a non-issue.

Bob Heine – Hey, that might explain the tire tracks on my roof!!!

Just for kicks (and because I had a full beer in my hand that needed drinking), I took a leisurely walk down the entrance road about a quarter mile. The woods had a real nice glow to it, but not really any brighter than the nearby street lights were producing. It seems about right.

I'm still curious if this cold color temperature LED light draws in the bugs or not. The night I tried it, it was pretty cold and there weren't any bugs flying around whatsoever, so I guess it wasn't a good test.

akdiesel · Jan 29, 2014

shopnut

Form what I have read LED lights do not attract bugs. Not sure if color makes a difference though.

shopnut · Jan 29, 2014

Boy, that is great news! What a bonus!

shopnut · Jan 30, 2014

I FOUND SOME MATCHING PAINT FOR THE LIGHTS…

As delivered, the gray color of flood lights were fine. But I didn’t really like the bronze color of the porch light, so I decided to make it blend in a bit better with some matching tan paint. Usually I end up settling for a “close match” with these off-the-shelf spray paints, but this time I was fortunate to find a perfect match, right down to the sheen. It’s nice to know too, should I need a quick repair on the barn siding.

Here are the light and brackets happily drying. We’ll see how they look on the next visit out.

With the recent change of plans on where the switches will be located, I needed to re-wire a circuit in the front panel. So off came the lower cabinet one more time (I’m getting good at it!). I guess it was better to do it now then after I finish up all the trim work on this small wall. Door chain blocks are just dangling there.

There was also time to start on the additional wiring leading out to the new lights. Cables for two light circuits terminated at the porch ceiling. But with the lights being located on the beam now, the original cables wouldn’t reach and a junction box was added for the splices. Hopefully you will barely see it with all the ceiling vinyl back up in place.

Bob Heine · Jan 31, 2014

shopnut said:
There was also time to start on the additional wiring leading out to the new lights. Cables for two light circuits terminated at the porch ceiling. But with the lights being located on the beam now, the original cables wouldn’t reach and a junction box was added for the splices. Hopefully you will barely see it with all the ceiling vinyl back up in place.

Shopnut: Why not turn that box into a feature. Put a switched (or half-switched) duplex outlet in the box and you have a perfect place to plug in holiday lighting for the porch area.

shopnut · Feb 1, 2014

Bob Heine said:
Shopnut: Why not turn that box into a feature. Put a switched (or half-switched) duplex outlet in the box and you have a perfect place to plug in holiday lighting for the porch area.

Aw man - Holiday lights would have been a perfect use for my spare circuit up there, had I not used it already for the switched yard lights. Originally, my yard lights were going to mount elsewhere.

But your switched outlet idea would work nicely if I’m willing to give up either the porch or yard light during the holiday season (I don’t have any constant power to tap into right there). Perhaps that’s what you had in mind? I could add that outlet like you suggest, but have the switch up there choose between the holiday lights (plugged into the new switched outlet) or the normal light. I think a 3-way switch is basically an SPDT switch so it should work for this. I would just need to find a receptacle combo with one outlet and a 3-way switch. This is what I’m now on the hunt for (note the extra screws for the 3-way switch) except in an outdoor version or with an outdoor cover plate:

I guess that just goes to show ya… When one spare wire sounds good, two will be even better!

Thanks Bob.

shopnut · Feb 3, 2014

THE LOFT IS READY TO LOAD…

There were a few more details to finish before I could start loading the new loft. First, I added some 1x4’s to keep stuff from rolling off the floor into the wall abyss below.

Then I remounted the water hose reel in its new, higher spot. It still bothers me a little to hide this nice polished stainless reel inside the loft, but oh well. The hose nozzle hangs just within reach but high enough I don’t bump it with my head.

The first things to get loaded in are some spare windows. They fit in that back nook perfectly. So perfect, I will probably forget I have them!

Four more windows, a car hood, and a big stack of fluorescent light fixtures may just fill it up, but at least I won’t be tripping over the stuff anymore.

Wingnut65 · Feb 3, 2014

And the vacuum of the space in the Loft has just started to pull in its collection of treasures, some, never to be seen again...

Lights look great. I thought I saw a glow to the east a couple weeks ago. :thumbup:

HOTFR8 · Feb 4, 2014

I like the way you have hidden that reel.

shopnut · Feb 4, 2014

Wingnut65 – I think I better keep a list of the items being stored up in that loft for two reasons. One, so I don’t forget what’s buried back in there. And two, to keep me off the ladder when I’m wondering what’s up there!

“Glow to the east” – I guess the light level is just perfect then! Now if akdiesel says he saw the glow, it might be a little excessive!

HOTFR8 – Thanks. Fortunately, our mild climate allows me to have “exposed” water pipes with little risk of freezing.

shopnut · Feb 5, 2014

I DIDN’T THINK INSTALLING SOME LIGHTS WOULD TAKE THIS LONG…

I’m trying to squeeze this job in between a dozen others so it’s really dragging out. From the new junction box down to the lights, I’m running more Romex cable. The rib on the siding will form a pseudo conduit.

For some reason, I love pulling the masking tape off a fresh paint job. Here is the porch light and bracket ready to go back up.

I’m running with Bob Heine’s idea of getting a switched outlet up in the same area for future holiday lights (thanks again Bob!). I originally was thinking I needed a 3-way switch to make it work, but it dawned on me a simple single pole switch could work if I didn’t mind the outlet being powered up anytime the porch light circuit is powered up. The switch will now just knock out the porch light downstream of the outlet. The main wall switch will then turn on/off the holiday lights that are plugged in the outlet.

Here are the parts. A white cover should hide and protect that switch/outlet okay. I’ll have to leave it open if a cord is plugged in the outlet, but it’s up 12’ in the air so I’m not too concerned about water getting splashed on it

Lastly, it finally looks like the fall season at the Asylum with the leaves falling. Usually this happens in November, so it is really late this year. It was the new Avalanche’s second trip out so I snapped a picture. It still has less than 600 miles on it, but I mostly have been riding the scooter lately.

BrownEnterprises · Feb 7, 2014

Wow....organization to the next level. Congrats. Everything seems so "sterile". Great work!

shopnut · Feb 11, 2014

BrownEnterprises said:
Wow....organization to the next level. Congrats. Everything seems so "sterile". Great work!

Thanks a bunch B-E. That sterile look is really a by-product of the other things I wanted in this place - Materials that will remain looking the same over the years (the vinyl siding), materials that won't corrode and need maintenance (the stainless), and a place for everything to tuck away (actually, I would need another shed for ALL my junk! But I'm trying to squeeze it all in

)

Thanks for stopping by.

Wingnut65 · Feb 12, 2014

I think I read something wrong... Bob's idea of a switched outlet and your selection of the 'switched outlet'...

Isn't that going to involve a vertical travel to turn on the lights? I mean, break out the PEEVED or the trusty ASCEND! :lol:

I thought we were trying to avoid having you make anymore ascensions!

I bring up some classics by our own Omph to say that O is alive and well!!! I got word from him that he's started a four step rehab program to be able to get work done in the shop.

. Step 1 - Turn off the computer
. Step 2 - Get off the couch
. Step 3 - Get my **** out to the shop!
. Step 4 - Get work done!

If I would be as creative as O, or it would be a little later in the morning, I'd probably have a creative acronym for such a program. He did say that due to difficulties with time management and distractions by this highly addictive forum, it will be a while before he'll be able to post a progress thread, but until then, it was cold turkey. Not sure if that is a drink, or just what happens in Washington state in February...

shopnut · Feb 12, 2014

Wingnut65 – Yep, Omphaloskeptic (wow, haven’t spelled that out in a while!) would be harassing me about the whole light switch thing right about now. Thanks for filling in! Most things are a compromise and with only two switched circuits when three were required, I think it is a workable solution. I figure when I’m plugging in the Christmas lights for the season in my handy-dandy manlift, I will flick the switch up there to kill the porch light. When it’s time to take them down, the remote switch will turn the porch light back on. Throughout the holiday season, I can switch on/off those twinkle lights daily via the front control panel from the safety of the ground. A final post is coming on the light installation – it is done!

I’m sad to not see Ompha around here anymore because he always injected a great deal of humor (and creativity) into this thread. But the show must go on, as they say. I know he was getting increasing concerned about not getting his rear in gear on his own place, so dropping GJ cold turkey was probably the best approach. I hope he is making great progress without the distractions of this forum. Unfortunately, he didn’t realize this forum can be used for good. I find it is a great shot in the arm for making weekly progress on my place and would have found it very difficult to continue on all these years without the GJ.

shopnut · Feb 12, 2014

THE FRONT LED OUTDOOR LIGHTS ARE FINISHED…

And I’m pretty happy with their performance. I added a junction box right out there by the lights to make the connections. The plastic box got sprayed with matching tan paint.

Some views from below. If you look closely at the porch ceiling, you can spot the white outlet cover.

Behind the outlet cover, you will find the outlet for the Christmas lights and the switch to turn off the porch light during the holiday season. I guess the lid will remain open whenever there is a cord plugged in there, but I figured there is not much harm in that since it is on the ceiling.

And with that, all the switches on the front control panel now turn something on.

I have at least one more fixture to install out back by my outdoor workbench. I’m sick of messing around with portable halogen lights back there to illuminate my work area.

Vernmotor · Feb 12, 2014

Now what kind of name would Ompha give this control panel ?

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