Above 1200 Sq/FT 86's 20HP shop

[86turbodsl]

Jeez, another fun day. My boy got fired today. AGAIN. I think they had it out for him since his walkout. The supervisor said he swore at her, and the big boss was yelling at him for some of the product being scrapped. He says the lube sprayer was not working correctly, and the product was ripping. Back to square one.

In other news, i have the daughter's Audi on the lift and we are going to work on it together on Saturday morning.

I worked at home yesterday and today, 12 hrs yesterday and 10 hrs today. I'm ready for a break from life...

 

[Strouty]

That is really good news about the door, not so good about your Son's job. Hopefully you can get your Daughter's car done and start on some other things that you want to do.

 

[bimmer1980]

That ****'s about your son's job. Hopefully after everyone cools down, you can sit him down and have a dialog about what he could have done differently (his mistakes vs how he should have handled it, etc) and what he plans to do next. I know you had mentioned before that it takes him a little while to process things....

I know you're frustrated.... we all would be too.

I'm guessing that you don't want to "hire" him for helping in the garage to help move your plans forward? Even a short span of dedicated "working" time for **** jobs that you struggle with may be helpful. i.e. sorting, palletizing stuff, mowing grass, etc. I think you had said he has no interest in repair work, but maybe there are other tasks that fit his capabilities.........

 

[86turbodsl]

Yeah, i've tried to employ him before, other than moving things around once in a while, he's not able to do it. The only way i'm going to benefit is if i can give a task list and he works unmonitored. I have to babysit.

 

[bulletpruf]

I worked at home yesterday and today, 12 hrs yesterday and 10 hrs today. I'm ready for a break from life...

Adulting is overrated at times, isn't it?

 

[86turbodsl]

Ok, got the daughter's Audi up on the lift, and the wheel bearing changed. It was as bad as the alignment shop said it was. The inner race pushed out with the hub. I can't even imagine doing it without the $175 Schwaben tool kit. It worked perfect. If i hadn't had that, probably would have had to remove the knuckle and take to a shop to have the new bearing pressed in. I did it right on the car. Back together and on the ground in about 4 hrs.

I should have put a lift in years ago. What an amazing tool. I also had to go to town and buy some GINORMOUS end wrenches to spin the nuts on the Schwaben tool, while i was there, tried to buy a horrible freight work cart so i had a place to put tools and parts while working but they were out of the blue ones i wanted. Oh well. I have wrenches and sockets all lined up and down the lift arms. they fall off constantly.

 

[bulletpruf]

Ok, got the daughter's Audi up on the lift, and the wheel bearing changed. It was as bad as the alignment shop said it was. The inner race pushed out with the hub. I can't even imagine doing it without the $175 Schwaben tool kit. It worked perfect. If i hadn't had that, probably would have had to remove the knuckle and take to a shop to have the new bearing pressed in. I did it right on the car. Back together and on the ground in about 4 hrs.

I should have put a lift in years ago. What an amazing tool. I also had to go to town and buy some GINORMOUS end wrenches to spin the nuts on the Schwaben tool, while i was there, tried to buy a horrible freight work cart so i had a place to put tools and parts while working but they were out of the blue ones i wanted. Oh well. I have wrenches and sockets all lined up and down the lift arms. they fall off constantly.

Pics or it didn't happen!!!

 

[86turbodsl]

Lol. I'll see what i can do.

 

[bimmer1980]

Good to hear that one car project went reasonably well!! In and out of the shop in half a day is great!! Did your daughter end up helping with the project?

 

[86turbodsl]

She sure did. She was pleasant and attentive, ran the impact gun. It was super nice.

 

[86turbodsl]

I got my Mom to run down to her local HF and get my cart, now i can visit her and solve that issue. The daughter's car is scheduled for alignment tomorrow morning, and tonight i am rearranging and cleaning the shop to get the vertical bandsaw over to the welding area so i can cut pipe. We'll start on the sons truck in a day or so. Knocking er out.

On another note, work *****. I need a new vocation.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

I got my Mom to run down to her local HF and get my cart, now i can visit her and solve that issue. The daughter's car is scheduled for alignment tomorrow morning, and tonight i am rearranging and cleaning the shop to get the vertical bandsaw over to the welding area so i can cut pipe. We'll start on the sons truck in a day or so. Knocking er out.

On another note, work *****. I need a new vocation.

Aerospace/missile and defense. We need practical automotive guys real bad right now.

 

[86turbodsl]

I have found it difficult to move out of the automotive sector. Other industries dont like us. Even with my diverse interests and experience.

Drove with the daughter to get an alignment this morning. The exhaust dropped off on the way there. Guess both kids are getting exhaust this year.

 

[bimmer1980]

Aerospace/missile and defense. We need practical automotive guys real bad right now.

What are the typical locations for this sector? I'm familiar with some of the company names, but any in particular you are referring to?
Are they looking for remote or onsite people?

 

[86turbodsl]

I applied to a Raytheon defense position once, from the description i was a perfect fit, but never even got a call back to say FOAD. Nobody likes automotive guys except automotive. If i knew then what i know now, i'd have never gone into this field.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

I have found it difficult to move out of the automotive sector. Other industries dont like us. Even with my diverse interests and experience.

Drove with the daughter to get an alignment this morning. The exhaust dropped off on the way there. Guess both kids are getting exhaust this year.

Because they're stupid, with frat bro mentality. They're too dense to realise that their projects are so microfractured, that an automotive guy could easily fit right in and get to work. Especially on electrical systems. My brother is in the same boat. He's trying to get out via management.

I literally had this discussion with a fellow engineer today. He thinks that will be changing, because there is a limited pool of engineers that keep circling the same companies. It's getting bad. My company will have basically almost doubled it's engineering staff in about 3-4 weeks. Probably be at 20-30% growth by the end of the year.

What are the typical locations for this sector? I'm familiar with some of the company names, but any in particular you are referring to?
Are they looking for remote or onsite people?

All over. Look up office locations for the big primes. Raytheon, Lockheed, Kratos, Sierra Space, Blue Origin, SpaceX, Dynetics, Liedos, Northrop Grumman, Aerojet, Boeing, Airbus, etc. Then looks where they have offices. A lot of them are located in areas with high engineering populations. I'm in Huntsville Al, which is the engineering capitol of the US with some 6% engineers. I could throw a stick and hit an engineering firm. Job security is no concern to me. There's 25 companies in 15 minute driving distance that would be happy to pay me good money. And I'm only one year in. I mean, automotive you're fighting for 1-10% profit margins? Meanwhile defense, you shoot for say 30%, and since it's a risky one-off, if you make 100% on it, oh well, good for you. Fun industry to work in.

 

[86turbodsl]

My sister in law is a plant manager at one of the big defense firms. I should talk to her again sometime.

 

[bimmer1980]

How are the shop projects going? It's been blazing hot out here, but today is finally a bit cooler.

I would imagine your shop is a bit on the warmer side?

 

[86turbodsl]

Hi there, i have been working on getting the bandsaw operational. That's an essential tool for exhaust work. i really don't want to deal with a carbide burr and stainless slivers on all that 304. The new 3 phase motor is installed, the new blade guides are here, new detroit bandsaw bimetal blades on hand, and went to install the lower guide in it's holder, and tightened it down, and the blade guide kicked sideways a few degrees. I suspect that was why it was at HGR. With the lower guide twisted, it would have either thrown the guide block out, worn the guides severely or just flat made crooked cuts. So with the design of the holder, about my only option is to weld up the slots a little, then shave down on bridgeport. I'll weld it up tonight and slot it back out at work tomorrow.

In other news, the soffiting and fascia on the shop started coming off. I crawled up there, found no evidence of rot, but the stuff is all lying there on the shed roof, so i have to get the truck running so i can go fetch 10 ft long stuff at the store. It's almost August and i haven't even started working on the new boiler. Getting nervous!

And Edit: the shop has actually been pretty pleasant. Insulation all day, closed up, and don't open till it gets colder at night.
As i age, and heat is less of a problem, i may not even need A/C, unless the machine tools need it.

 

[bulletpruf]

It's almost August and i haven't even started working on the new boiler. Getting nervous!

Some folks wait for college football season. Others anxiously anticipate hunting season. Here at Garage Journal, we are on pins and needles waiting for @86turbodsl's boiler season...

 

[86turbodsl]

Lol. Yeah, that's valid... I'd probably get more done with less beer....

Don't you have a Brutus to work on ? Lol.

 

[bulletpruf]

Lol. Yeah, that's valid... I'd probably get more done with less beer....

Don't you have a Brutus to work on ? Lol.

Yeah, I took the day off on Friday so I could get some wrenching done. Was on vacation last week so I have some catching up to do. Need to get the Super Duty leaf springs mounted this weekend and will then transition to freshening up the Dana 60.

 

[86turbodsl]

v-codes? That's the hot ticket i hear. I'm living vicariously through your youtube vids. Lol. I posted comments before hearing your family vacation time comment at the end. Also, i just realized you were in Texas prior. Brother is in DFW.

 

[bulletpruf]

Saw your comment and replied. Subscribed to your channel as well.

Vacation is over; time to get back to work!

DFW is a hike for me; about 5 hours from the mother ship in San Antonio, but that's where my Alfa is currently, so I need to make a trip up there in the not-too-distant future.

 

[86turbodsl]

Ok, he didn't make it much past Austin most of the time. I think he has business there. I thought real hard about a job at SWRI in San Antonio, but i couldn't make the move fast enough. I'm not real "portable" as you can imagine.

 

[bulletpruf]

Ok, he didn't make it much past Austin most of the time. I think he has business there. I thought real hard about a job at SWRI in San Antonio, but i couldn't make the move fast enough. I'm not real "portable" as you can imagine.

We love San Antonio but the summers can be brutal. If you have friends/family or a vacation rental up north to escape to in July/August, it's not so bad.

Other than that, cost of living is great, traffic isn't bad at all, food is great (as long as you like Mexican or BBQ), etc.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

Some folks wait for college football season. Others anxiously anticipate hunting season. Here at Garage Journal, we are on pins and needles waiting for @86turbodsl's boiler season...

No need to fake the drama here! It'll come hot and heavy we know that much!

(Maybe cold and heavy? )

 

[83VillageRepair]

Ok, he didn't make it much past Austin most of the time. I think he has business there. I thought real hard about a job at SWRI in San Antonio, but i couldn't make the move fast enough. I'm not real "portable" as you can imagine.

You could certainly do it. I moved my 30 x 100 shop from SD to Texas. Just have to make sure to negotiate a good moving allowance and go on truckpaper.com and buy your own mayflower trailer. Now if I just had a place to unload it...

 

[86turbodsl]

You could certainly do it. I moved my 30 x 100 shop from SD to Texas. Just have to make sure to negotiate a good moving allowance and go on truckpaper.com and buy your own mayflower trailer. Now if I just had a place to unload it...

Sure i could, but i'm not sure at my age i want to work that hard anymore. It's either DIY or hire it all out. I don't have the ambition for the former or the cash for the latter. And with housing prices, anything i do is a step backward. Part of my problem is i find great deals on distressed stuff, so i have too many projects in the queue, which means a lot of disassembled stuff lying around. And the piles of stuff sitting around means i really avoid moving it unless necessary. It's a conundrum i think.

 

[bulletpruf]

Sure i could, but i'm not sure at my age i want to work that hard anymore. It's either DIY or hire it all out. I don't have the ambition for the former or the cash for the latter. And with housing prices, anything i do is a step backward. Part of my problem is i find great deals on distressed stuff, so i have too many projects in the queue, which means a lot of disassembled stuff lying around. And the piles of stuff sitting around means i really avoid moving it unless necessary. It's a conundrum i think.

At this point, it's not a move. It's a migration.

 

[86turbodsl]

Ah, i don't want a second domicile either. Too much headache to maintain one place never mind two.

 

[83VillageRepair]

Sure i could, but i'm not sure at my age i want to work that hard anymore. It's either DIY or hire it all out. I don't have the ambition for the former or the cash for the latter. And with housing prices, anything i do is a step backward. Part of my problem is i find great deals on distressed stuff, so i have too many projects in the queue, which means a lot of disassembled stuff lying around. And the piles of stuff sitting around means i really avoid moving it unless necessary. It's a conundrum i think.

That is one of the reasons I like your thread, we have similar tastes in projects and old machine tools. My dry van has 3 lathes and a milling machine that are waiting for me to build a shop.

 

[Strouty]

Ah, i don't want a second domicile either. Too much headache to maintain one place never mind two.

I wish I had less places to deal with, so I can understand and respect this statement, I am at three spaces so far.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

Ok, he didn't make it much past Austin most of the time. I think he has business there. I thought real hard about a job at SWRI in San Antonio, but i couldn't make the move fast enough. I'm not real "portable" as you can imagine.

Now that Southern Research is owned by Kratos for the aerospace side, SWRI is going to get a lot more work from NASA and other agencies that require use of a non-profit research facility.

 

[86turbodsl]

Now that Southern Research is owned by Kratos for the aerospace side, SWRI is going to get a lot more work from NASA and other agencies that require use of a non-profit research facility.

The downside of a service organization like for example on the automotive side, AVL, FEV, IAV, Ricardo, etc, is you are project based, and when you haven't got a project, you have a lot of highly paid people sitting around on your payroll. So that type of employer tends to whack everybody that isn't nailed to a project if there's a gap between projects. I can't deal with instability like that with being single income. Or i'd have to dial everything WAY back and just sit on a giant pile of cash between gigs. That's why i never tried to do that type of work. I have multiple friends who went through that garbage. I'd get a call... Yeah, AVL laid me off... i'm looking for work. You got anything? It's been 4 months and things are getting tight. If i had a nickel for every one of those calls...

 

[bulletpruf]

I wish I had less places to deal with, so I can understand and respect this statement, I am at three spaces so far.

Ditto. I have two places in Virginia - apartment and rental house where I do my wrenching. And then the Mother Ship back in San Antonio, plus a 12' x 45' storage unit in San Antonio. Ready to retire next year and move back home.

 

[bulletpruf]

The downside of a service organization like for example on the automotive side, AVL, FEV, IAV, Ricardo, etc, is you are project based, and when you haven't got a project, you have a lot of highly paid people sitting around on your payroll. So that type of employer tends to whack everybody that isn't nailed to a project if there's a gap between projects. I can't deal with instability like that with being single income. Or i'd have to dial everything WAY back and just sit on a giant pile of cash between gigs. That's why i never tried to do that type of work. I have multiple friends who went through that garbage. I'd get a call... Yeah, AVL laid me off... i'm looking for work. You got anything? It's been 4 months and things are getting tight. If i had a nickel for every one of those calls...

Job security is HUGE! That's why I love active duty Army. It wouldn't take an act of Congress to fire me, but it would be close to it!

 

[83VillageRepair]

Job security is HUGE! That's why I love active duty Army. It wouldn't take an act of Congress to fire me, but it would be close to it!

Are you planning on a second career after you retire?

 

[86turbodsl]

Working on the bandsaw guides today. The lower guide was all jacked up as i think i mentioned earlier. So i welded the faces up, then tried cutting and just dulled the cutters. So i annealed the guide holder and we setup the bridgeport to cut the slot with a carbide. Should be able to finish today i hope.

 

[bulletpruf]

Are you planning on a second career after you retire?

Yep. The Long-Haired General expects me to continue to work until our daughter graduates college.

I had planned on a govt job in San Antonio - huge military presence there with 3 large bases (AF and Army) so lots of job opportunities. However, now I'm leaning towards private sector. I think I can get a private sector job, full time telework, working half the time I would as a DoD civilian and make the same or more $.