Above 1200 Sq/FT 48x32 Shop

[Chilliwack Murray]

Not many updates lately as I've been juggling lots of projects but not really finishing any to the point of posting them. I did however start and finish making screens for the outside windows that had none as well as several on the house. I've been putting this off for a long while because it looked too fiddley. Once I got through the first one, (1/2 hr plus) the second was much easier (15 min) and the last couple only took 5 min each. Sure makes me regret living without screens in the past.

My advice to others- test fit the frame before you put the screening in and don't stretch the screen when you install the spline. And foremost, don't put up with no screens like I did!

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

And another project on the go. Getting the ALM9000 ready to install.

Unfortunately when I bought it I had no place to keep it except beside the shop construction area which was covered in river sand. Even more unfortunately we had a rare stretch of dry (and windy) winter weather which carried a lot of that sand and deposited in the grease coating all of the lift parts to which said sand would be detrimental.

After pondering this for some time, the solution, it seems to me, is to lift the columns off the ground, place a wading pool underneath and wash all the grease and sand off with solvent.

Lifting will be the hard part, these suckers are heavy (in upper case) which is where the racking comes in. Would be handy to have some taller racking though.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Haven't added anything to this thread in quite some time since things have been going slowly due to work and other commitments but when I look around there are numerous changes that I forget about. Shop is full of actual projects, not shop building related which is good since that's why it's here.

Most recently, I got a pile of old door closers and cleaned this one up, added some power steering fluid and put it on the door to the Model A. (Must be a sign of the times that the iPhone repeatedly corrected Model A to Modem)



Also have been chipping away at the upstairs, insulating the walls and ceilin in preparation for winter. With some free and some thrift store furniture this has become my office, electronics and music area... I have too many hobbies.



And after trying every furniture and lighting placement I could think of, dragging everything around and around I decided track lighting is the answer for me.



One note on the tack lighting... Being cheap as I am it was tough to choose between the expensive LED track lights and the cheap 50w GU10 kit until I started looking at the package contents closely.

At HD in Canada (others similar) the 3 light LED track light kit with these heads and LED bulbs pre installed is $150 and additional heads are $45. The identical kit with no bulbs and labelled as incandescent is only $40. A pack of 6 GU10 LED bulbs is another $50 and extra incandescent head sans bulbs are $13 each.

So I picked up and extra section of track, a connector and a couple extra heads and for $165 I have 5 lights vs 3, an extra 4 ft of track to cover the rest of my desk and a spare bulb. Plus, I can move them around until I'm happy with the light distribution (or tired of messing around with it).



Next step will hopefully be covering the walls - pink really isn't my colour.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Well, it's been 6 months plus and the walls are still pink fibreglass however I did get the entire ceiling insulated with R20 batts and doubled up on the office portion so it was easy to keep it comfortable to work all winter with just a 1000W heater set on 750W.

Work has been extremely busy so little other progress except using the shop. Engine swap with one of the kids on his car, timing belts and the usual ongoing stuff for the family vehicles. Sounding like I'll be doing a front wheel bearing on the 3500 soon so next priority is to clean the sand out of the lift and get that installed.

On another note, I picked up this little Sumner lift last weekend and have been collecting pallets this week. It's had an electric winch added, not fast but infinitely safer that carrying things up and down the ladder. Only 650lb capacity but I really don't plan on anything even that heavy on this racking. Working out very well so far, the legs fit under the bench and hard to move items, forks extend so I can get pallets right to the back of the racking. I'd recommend picking one of these up if you see it cheap (and have any elevated storage) it takes little room when not in use.





Picked up a pretty nice commercial alarm system real cheap in CL also and installed that. No details on that though. [emoji850]

 

[1/2 Cup]

Just checking in, looking fantastic.

Regards

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Finally a little progress. 6 months working mostly out of town it's hard to get any shop time.

No more pink fibreglass walls in the office. Under the drywall final wiring changes and additions now that I'm happy with the placement of everything. I did put in a couple 4x4 boxes with 3/4 NMT running to a 45 degree elblow above the ceiling insulation so I can pull other or new wires to strategic locations later if I want.

More track light to add in an L shape by the couch and stereo cabinet when I get around to it... House chores need to be done next.

I'm not sure enough with placement extra wires yet to tape and fill but probably next month... Maybe I'll drag the furniture around some more. Once that mess is done I will pick up some industrial carpet tiles for the floor to reduce the echo some. If that's not enough I may attach acoustic ceiling tiles to the ceiling but even as it is, the echo is not as bad as I thought it would be.


Work bench is finally setup with 2x10 shelves for test equipment and 4 duplex outlets behind. I used these metal brackets that clip into rails and hold a surprising amount of weight with zero flex or movement when attached to the studs. (Only the top shelf isn't screwed down as I am not sure of the placement yet)

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Had a free weekend and decided to get started on cleaning up the 2 post lift I'd bought way back.

I'd found a deal and picked it up before the slab was done in the shop and there was a lot of river sand laying around. Just my luck we had a rare cold dry windy stretch here at the time and it ended up with sand stuck in all the grease.

Well, turns out my material lift will just lift the columns and with the truck removed it handles them fine. So today I pulled them apart, lifted them over a cut open drum, scraped out all the grease and grit I could and washed everything down with varsol. Seems pretty clean now, as clean as any in service I'm sure.

Will start on the overhead tomorrow night hopefully then start laying out to drill the anchors maybe next weekend.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Looking great.

I only wish I had the room here for one..

Regards

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

An old CL search I'd forgotten about popped up yesterday for a pallet stacker and I picked up this 2000lb 20' walk behind for $200. Perfect shape apart from needing a battery - nothing special there. Feeling good about the racking now.

Big improvement over the material lift which I will sell for what I paid or maybe a little more.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Now that is a great score, I could do with one here..

Regards

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Now that is a great score, I could do with one here..



Regards

Always when you least expect it. Usually those deals show up when I'm on the road.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Always when you least expect it. Usually those deals show up when I'm on the road.

I know how you feel as I am usually after the fact on stuff like that.

You have done well..

Regards

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Square, plumb and anchored down. Sixteen 3/4 anchors in over 6" concrete is a lot of work.

Drilled the holes all the way through in case I had issues with an anchor. A lot more work but priceless if needed later.

 

[davetulk]

Place is looking great!!!!

 

[1/2 Cup]

I am envious..

Regards

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Got the mechanicals done on the lift today; equalizer cables strung, hydraulics connected and bled, safety release lines connected and it was time to test (with temporary power and air).



Figured I'd start with something I can afford to drop. Having done all heavy duty work I've never used a lift and had read a lot of people's comments and videos on 2 post lift stability and vehicles moving on them. I bounced and pushed this around for all I was worth and could barley get a reaction. Certainly didn't continue to bounce a few more times or show any movement raising or lowering. Granted this isn't a heavy load for a 9000lb lift and I only tried that a few feet off the ground.

Could have something to do with the fact that one column is about the same as the total shipping weight of other lifts too.

Pretty happy with it, I can stand up straight under the car and I'm 6'. Need to buy or build some longer adapters or extensions to try the truck on it. Absolutely no measurable change in column position loaded or unloaded with the car.

Backing up a little, one of the reasons for putting this off was not knowing where the rebar was located. After some google searches and YouTube videos I picked up a Bosch GMS120 which said it would detect metal up to 5" in concrete. After some practice, I ended up with a pretty accurate looking pattern of rebar traced out. I was able to repeat the findings and I decided I'd go ahead and drill.





I'll pick up some supplies and drop power down from the ceiling next week before I start on a clutch job I've been putting off.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

As usually happens, got the lift in and starting using it to catch up on all the things I've been putting off and not getting around to posting anything. Got a clutch installed that had been waiting a long time.

Picked up a replacement 'kids car' to replace the old Tempo. $300 and 50,000 kms I figured was good enough and drove it to the wrecker for $150 scrap... Kept the battery, well, because I'm cheap. Replacement fixer upper probably needed a transmission.. and it did. So that was a chance to pull a fwd one apart which I hadn't done before. Only problem was work schedule meant it was out and apart for 2 months before I was back long enough to put it together. That's where camera phones are most valuable... And google. Couple hundred bucks and it's been running great, and the AC works well... It's been an incredibly hot summer here.

All that done, I decided to move forward with the outstanding driveway work, retaining wall replacement and getting a roof over the travel trailer. Got a completely unreasonable estimate on having that done so I went to plan B and started looking at used equipment and found an old (really old) JD400 backhoe that was in pretty decent shape but ugly with an oversized cab someone fabbed up and covered in green. Owner had no bites on it so I picked it for about 1/3 of what similar units are listed for around here.

Had it moved home and pressure washed it, put brushes in the alternator and replaced one control valve and it runs pretty good. I'm thinking I can at least do most of the digging I need to, have a little fun and sell it for what I paid if not more if I take the house off. In the mean time I have almost free use of the machine. I'll likely have my original contractor come back and do the final grading and fix up anything I make a mess of at the end.

Will put up a few more pictures and details of the projects soon...

On a separate note, to all those in the southern US dealing with wind and water over the past few weeks, I hope you all stay safe and don't suffer too much damage.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

The rest of the story on the JD400 backhoe.

As mentioned, needed to do some groundwork and prices quoted were out of the question so started looking for a machine I could afford. Excavator would have been more practical but they cost so much I'd have no money left for materials.

Found this beauty with an oversized shack, all green and slimy, wouldn't start or charge the battery when I went to look at it so nobody was beating the door down to buy it. They were asking about the same as other similar machines much newer that looked much better.

Went back with some tools to get it running, checked it over, did some research and decided to make an offer. Picked it up cheap based on some worst case calculations for parts. Had it moved home for a couple hundred bucks - poor green kid on the lowbed had never seen anything this old and was at a loss how to drive it let alone load it.

Swing cylinder was weak and would drift so some swapping hoses on the controls determined the problem was in the valve. Pulled the valves and filters and found a few chunks missing from the swing valve housing lands. Picked up a used valve in decent shape for a couple hundred buck and 12 bucks shipping and hit up the hydraulic supply for every o-ring I could find the size of. Pulled and resealed all the valves, replaced the filters and a few low pressure hoses and filled it back up. Alternator needed brushes for a total of 4 bucks and rewired most of the dash (only a half dozen wires).

So, had it out digging and looks like it will take care of 90% of what I need to do, I will have the original contractor come back and do the final grading but in the mean time I have nearly free use of a machine, if I take off the ugly roof and apply a little paint it will sell for much more than I paid but really, I'll be satisfied to get my money back out of it... I am thinking I will invest in a muffler though.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Okay, finally got some time away from work to work on some shop projects. First off, made up some extensions for the lift pads... Actually my father inlaw made them up since I took too long. I'd ordered the nuts and bolts 6 months ago and he had the tube cut and waiting. Now I can lift the truck and the Model A.

It does take some getting used to seeing the 3500 up over your head... Not sure I ever will really, I think I'll just keep it down low, for a while anyway.

Looks like it's time for a muffler soon though.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Next up is a roof for the travel trailer so I put the backhoe to work... I figured this was the easiest of the digging project I have planned for an amateur. I dug up the old sketchup files and used it to get a better picture in my head of what I was trying to accomplish and help determine elevations and dimensions. I just discovered the sandbox function that really helps with visualizing ground contours. ANyway, I will add a sketchup picture to show what I think I'm trying to accomplish... A few other details got added along the way.

I realized after the fact that I really had no pictures of that end of the shop showing the old elevation so I had to go back in time and pull up some 'out of season' photos. Had a few stumps to move before I could really start digging, once they were out of the way it went pretty quick and I got better on the controls as I went. Boy that machine could use a muffler though.

I was hoping to be able to place the concrete blocks with the JD400 but they are too heavy. I can get them high enough to move them so that half the battle, I will need to hire a crane truck to stack them when I'm ready.

Almost finished prep work for the blocks, I need to arrange for 7 more blocks for the first course, then I will use the flat top blocks I already have for the second course. Hope to have everything lined up for the weekend but work is calling and weather is looking pretty bad this week.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Leveled and ready for blocks (a couple days ago, we had a deluge yesterday) but looks like another big rainstorm this weekend so might have to wait until next weekend.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

After a long delay due to working for a living and finding blocks for a reasonable price I finally got back at it. After sitting unsupported for 3 months of rain and a little snow, very little had moved which made me happy.


A friend loaned me his forklift to unload and place blocks. Would've been easier with two people and or sideshift but it's done. Got pretty mucky for the forklift by the time I got the blocks set.


Pretty happy with the end result, dead level along the length, the top course are a little skewed when viewed along their length which after removing, inspecting and re positioning a couple times turned out to be why these were seconds and 1/4 the price. No issue with a second course but wouldn't want to stack them 4 or 5 high or it would become noticeable.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Some 4" drain pipe and several trips to the gravel pit and backfill completed.


3" inside on top of the clay'ish bottom tied into the roof drain system and covered with 3/4 clear crush. 3" minus to fill in the rest and 3/4 minus topping except over the drains, that is 3/4 clear up to the surface to get maximum drainage if water ends up running from the driveway onto the pad which is a possibility with the final required grading.


The six extra blocks at the front [Edit: Ha, can't count - five extra] are temporary until I get the rest of the driveway grading done but needed the pad finished first to ensure I had the required height under the roof. Driveway will have to match that.


Just got it done before the snow returned. Will wait for a break in the weather to start the roof.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

On another note, after many years of washing up with cold water I finally put in a mini hot water tank. And I needed a place to hide it so I got creative.

I thought it was my idea until I googled it and found lots of better examples.

 

[Styx]

OK that's cool.

Cheers Randy

 

[1/2 Cup]

Chilliwack Murray looking great.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Well, weather has been hot and dry and I've been busy with all sorts of fixin'... Plus there's always work. I got a little help to frame up the roof for the trailer lean to roof back in May. Won't know for sure how much height I have to spare until I can get the trailer under. Hoping to raise the pad at least a foot to help out with the driveway grade.

Was happy to get some professional help for the framing, now it's back to amateur hour. After the roof decking, before the roof was a good time to finally get the soffits installed on this end, it was always too high (or any other good reason) to get to but not so bad with a nice gently sloping roof under the feet.

Roofing goes on very easy when everything is absolutely square and straight... That professional help goes a long way.

Cutting the siding and reinstalling took several more nights after work but I was able to fix up some of the less than perfect flashing I put up when I originally installed the siding.

So all done with that project, time to get serious about the wall and the driveway.

 

[Pluribus]

Looks great! Had no idea how big it was until I could see it with the small car & tractor under the new roof.

 

[MagKarl]

No kidding, that looks great.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Looks great! Had no idea how big it was until I could see it with the small car & tractor under the new roof.

I find that I remember exactly how big the shop is every time I get the bill for materials!

The shop wall to the blocks was 15' and it is 30' deep. So roofing sheets were just over 18'

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Still speaking in past tense, after hording concrete blocks over the past year, time to start on the wall and driveway project.

Step 1 was to chew away (just) enough material to get the trailer under the new roof and determine if I could raise the level of the pad to made the driveway slope better. As it turns out I can raise the pad about 16" or 1/2 of the bottom row of blocks. This will work well for the final grading. Also, will need to permanently bury the electrical and water that was temporarily run.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Chilliwack Murray well done.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Thanks for the compliments!

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Still in past tense... Got as much material out of the way as possible for the start of the wall construction. This one required more skills than I have to be done right. Plus there are a lot of really big rocks here.


Not an issue for the hired machine and have to admit I was shocked to see the depth of the excavation. Had to run back inside and review my calculations.


Hard to stand around and not do something and also not get in the way. It helps justify the bill a little if you can at least learn something along the way. I spent as must time as possible watching and learning when I couldn't lend a hand - or keep cold water in the cooler. Was near record hot - 35C this particular day.


Doesn't seem like a lot for the first day but there is a lot of work involved. Base is compacted, backfill is compacted every 16", geogrid screening compacted in the backfill.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

OK, rest of the wall and I'll be caught up...

Had only temporarily buried the power and water line. Time to make it permanent... Teck cable is direct bury, two 3" conduits for network, security or anything else I hadn't thought of.



Another day, another section. This was the hard part of the wall, it should start going faster now and at least the heat has let up a little. 28 and cloudy is a big improvement.



And so it goes. It's Friday and a pile of material to get out of their way before Monday...

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Weekend is over and I have a little material to use up elsewhere now... I have another pile like this already moved so the old JD has more than paid for itself... I sprung for a muffler on Amazon for the benefit of the neighbours -I forgot that was on my to do list.




Wall is almost done and initial grading done. Have to determine how to deal with the entrance to the RV parking though it looks like elevations are going to work out better than I expected.



This is where it pays off having help, operator did a great job managing the grade and transitioning. No way I would've gotten this right.



Almost done with the help now, a rock wall and some cleanup to do tomorrow.



Last day for the excavator - it sure was a pleasure watching this guy work.. I leaned a lot.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

Well, got behind on pictures again. Contractor work is complete for the wall and driveway, now I need to finish the top and get the RV parking elevation sorted out.

I have 6 half height blocks coming to add to the top of the wall, then I will finish the upper driveway up to the wall. The grade is constant and not as steep as it looks - the panoramic photo feature distorts it a little.



Drainage in front of the RV pad, I know, I put the pipe in wrong with the holes up but that is because it is surrounded by non pourous fill. I am expecting water the flow on top of the fill and enter the pipe that way. I've installed clean outs on all the piping with the idea that it would be better to allow sediment to enter the pipes and have the ability to flush it out vs having a filter material over the pipes that will eventually plug up with no way to clean it.





On the plus side, the elevations are working out better than I'd hoped. I have room to raise the pad about 18" meaning there will be little to no slope into the area. I think I have it sloped so the majority of the surface water will hit the catch basin but I'll need to wait for the rain to know for sure.

Next was to pull the trailer out and practice my surveying skills and raise the pad to match the driveway. I'll try to get pictures up tonight.

 

[Styx]

Looking good...
Looks like you will get that rain this weekend to test the drainage...

Cheers Randy

 

[Pressingonward]

Nice build! The siding looks great!

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

With drainage done, I pulled the trailer back out and put in some 3" minus to raise the pad with a column of 3/4 crush over the drain piping and finished it with the same road mulch that's on the driveway. Ended up slightly higher than the driveway in the centre and nearly even at the edges with about 4" clearance above the AC unit when the trailer is back in place.

We've had some pretty heavy rain this weekend but haven't seen any puddling or even enough water in the catchbasin to make it out the drain. This may just be due to how dry the ground is, we really haven't had much of any rain in several months.









Regarding the siding, I assume you mean the cedar... It was a bit of a gamble, I chose to leave it natural rather than stain or otherwise use a finish that would require ongoing maintenance. So far I'm very happy with it, it's starting to weather but taking a lot longer than I expected. Eventually it should all turn grey and should outlast me without any finishing. I do need to go around and drive in the nails with a punch and maybe add some screws to the batten boards as the wood has shrunk and gaps have opened up.