Above 1200 Sq/FT 86's 20HP shop

[86turbodsl]

Got a wild hair tonight and kicked this off:. Organization. Finally.



I hemmed and hawed for quite a while about ordering some schaller cups, but in the end, the indecision on what sizes i needed was killing the project. I stopped at menards and picked up a 2x4 section of 1/4in hardboard and sliced it up on the table saw. Then mounted the dado blade and cut slots half way through and assembled this set up. It's so cheap, if i need to remake a few, it won't break the bank. Got all the nuts sorted tonight. I'll start filling the rest in the next few days. I might actually get organized fasteners by fall!

Also worked on the welder cart, got the water quick connects in, need to come up with a 1/4npt bulkhead fitting and some other special welding fittings to plumb the quick connects.

 

[Strouty]

Curious to see the quick connects for the water, I have not ordered any yet.

 

[86turbodsl]

You can see em here. I'm told they are for steam cleaner machines. I did not spring for Western.

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[Strouty]

Link?

 

[86turbodsl]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-4-Quick-...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

Linky.

I had to run to Livonia for work so i stopped at the welding store on the way back and got a bunch more fittings for the hoses. Hope to finish tonight or tomorrow.

I will still need some bulkheads for 1/4" NPT though. Maybe Mcmaster has them.

 

[86turbodsl]

Mcmaster. Cheap. Done deal.

Biggest problem now is i made the through holes for the bulkheads too small.
I have to make a template to use for circle holes on the plasma. There's no way
i'm hand drilling a 13/16" hole. I'd rip my arms off.

 

[bimmer1980]

I would try a unibit.... 13/16" isn't that big of a deal for a unibit. What thickness of steel?

I have bought and used unibits that are over 1" in cutting diameter... granted, they are not cheap....

Alternate to that, a "Greenlee" style punch would make a nice clean hole.

Unless the steel is more than 1/8", the unibit is going to be the ticket..... could have had one drilled in the amount of time it took to type this while response....

 

[86turbodsl]

3/16. It's a bit thick for a unibit. I have one, but the hole was originally made by cnc plasma. That will give it a nice hardened edge that will rip up my unibit.

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[86turbodsl]

Got the fittings figured out. Over bought a bit, but not too bad. It's going to be slick. Should be able to plug anything i want into the thing in seconds, without lifting the panel under controls and without tools.

 

[Strouty]

I use unibits to enlarge holes in 1" and thicker plate, the trick is that you have to keep them cool and the bit must be the size you want the hole to be. Sometimes you have to come at it from both sides, but it works very well.

 

[86turbodsl]

I might try it, but I can't get at the backside anymore without lifting the welder off.

I have sorted all the nuts. Probably the most satisfying thing I've done here in 20yrs. Permanent, off the floor storage.



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[Strouty]

Would a 7/8” hole work? They definitely make unibits in that size, then you could drill through from the front.

I love sorting hardware, very satisfying and calming.

 

[86turbodsl]

It needs to be about 13/16. I'll figure it out. The bulkheads show up today so I will try something tonight.

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[86turbodsl]

The unibit made short work of those holes. Bulkheads are in, i'm short a few ******* to get the mess mounted, but we're moving forward. I really need to finish the racks and get it painted.

 

[bimmer1980]

Awesome! Good to have progress.

The sorted nuts look good....

I have to admit, I rather detest sorting hardware.... Altho I have a hard time just dumping the mess in the scrap bin...and that is what should happen to some of the used hardware.....

 

[slodat]

Thought you might get a kick out of these bins I made the other day. I spent an embarrassing amount on Schaller bins. They are great. They are also not readily available. So, I made these to organize my 3" roloc discs. 1/8 mdf cut on the laser. The tabs are on all five sides. It is really satisfying assembling them.

 

[86turbodsl]

I saw that on your thread. It made me jealous I don't have a laser. [emoji3]

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[Strouty]

It made me want a laser, a lot.

 

[bimmer1980]

I will admit, I watched a youtube video yesterday about a 40K laser.... on Amazon for about $400...... granted, that price point and wattage will only allow you to cut up to 1/4" of wood or plastic...... it will etch a paint surface off of metal.....

I did put that on the road map for my garage.... The tech will continue to evolve, so once my work space is better set up..... I need to finish some insulation and drywall first!

 

[86turbodsl]

I'd love to add one, but i'm starting to worry about running out of space. I am NOT adding on to the building.

With that in mind, i went yesterday and picked up another auction purchase. I bought 4 sections of 48" wide pallet racking in Pontiac. For $108. I am stealing Ray916MN's idea for pallet racking for storage of motorcycles. I'm going to use the 4 post lift and a ramp to roll bikes over onto the pallet rack. The 4 sections will make a space 8' wide and 18' long. Plenty of space to roll bikes over and maneuver. I'll set the height at the max lift of the Challenger 4 post. And it will also give me a definitive location for the 4 post that i've been needing.
The downside - When i got there, i found that one section had non-teardrop beams that had been WELDED to the uprights. And i didn't bring a grinder. Sooo, i took down what i could, then went to lunch and Harbor Freight and bought a Bauer grinder. I needed a new one anyway, and i've had extremely good luck with HF grinders. I've owned 2 prior. The first one died after about 15 years of use. The new bauer is quite nice. I like it. Smooth. Anyway, got those welds ground off and then finished loading up. Then drove about 20 miles west to Commerce, where i picked up 2 more uprights for cheap. Since the sections i bought were in a row, i needed one additional upright min to complete the side by side arrangement. Then drove home from there. So for about $160, i got 6 motorcycles worth of floor space back. Can't beat that with a stick.

Now the upside - The place in Pontiac was 1 block off Woodward, and it's Dream cruise weekend. I saw some REALLY nice hardware out running around when i went to lunch. 69 Torino big block, 66 Satellite Hemi, corvettes, etc.

 

[rmalkow2]

Great job with getting hardware organized. It’s a tedious job but very nice to work from when done and you’re looking for that correct fastener.

Bob

 

[86turbodsl]

Thank you. I wanted to go get more hardboard today, but it was rainy and i didn't want it to get wet.

I have discussed my progress with the wife and we decided to just get the shop functional instead of doing everything in the most ideal way. Basically curb the perfectionism. In that vein, i will be erecting pallet racking and getting the shop more functional without getting everything painted first. I turn 50 in a week, and it's too slow. I can always paint walls and pallet racking later. Being able to efficiently accomplish tasks is more important.

In that vein, i cleared spots for pallet racking that i picked up tonight. and cleaned and organized tools. I'm going to use up every bit of wood that i can on racks and organizers before buying more if possible. I need to get some outlets installed before the pallet racking goes up. Hopefully tomorrow.

 

[Strouty]

You are making great progress for sure. Once you figure out the perfectionism thing, let me know what you do to make it go away. I don't have to be a perfectionist, I just can't not be one, except when it gets down to the wire, then I instantly become a hack.

 

[86turbodsl]

It's a continual fight. I know the "right" way to do things and just don't execute most of the time because i'm waiting for everything to fall into place.

Reality is, i won't live long enough to make everything perfect. I need to just execute to the best of my ability as soon as i am able to complete the job.

Knowing this fact and executing are two different things.

 

[86turbodsl]

Got a lot done tonight i think. Washed the car, it needed it. Installed 2 pairs of outlets at the end of the old pallet rack, cleared the space, installed some more pallet rack out into the middle of the shop. It's larger than i expected, i need to move and/or stack the fairlanes because the next section will be directly behind them and will prevent them from moving.
Also got a few little other things done. Pumped another couple barrels of oil into the storage. I'd like to fill the last tank before winter hits. But over 500 gallons inside now, so i'd be ok for a while if winter hit suddenly.

Got the kid working on an excel cross reference sheet for the wiring on his truck. We'll see if i need to finish it for him. It seems pretty simple to me, but he seemed confused.

I need to get to town with the truck and snag a couple more hardboard sheets. More organization to be done.

Supplyhouse.com order shows up tomorrow with fittings and valves for air lines.

 

[86turbodsl]

Pic of the new pallet rack. And a box of money showed up.

I tried contacting Challenger to find out the max lift of my old 24012ew, but even they couldn't tell me. I also tried the internet way back and they didn't post specs on that lift all the way back to 1999.
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[86turbodsl]

And what's a shop if you can't make a couple of fixes along the way. Made a barrel sucker pipe out of copper scrap and modified the trimmer head to take metal blades instead of the plastic ones that wear out instantly. At 12 bucks a set. Grrr .

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[Strouty]

You trying to pre set the pallet rack to the height of the lift for the motorcycle storage?

 

[86turbodsl]

Yes, the one in the photo is just to hold the racks. I want to get the platform height set so I can throw the wood deck on it and get more materials used up. Less **** to store on the floor.

From the best information i can find on my 20 year old lift, the max lift height is about 75 inches. I don't want to have a big slope on the ramp between mezzanine and lift. My main bikes are almost too heavy to push already, don't need to add uphill to it.
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[Growlertdi]

86,

Forgive my data dump of a post, I have a few questions and comments that have come to mind after a long hiatus from your thread.

So are you turning the new Green racks into some sort of mezzanine storage for the bikes? and your 4 post will be behind those between them and the door?

Do you have more than one 4 post lift since you are also talking about double stacking the Fairlanes?

Sorry, I just caught up on 2.5 years of your thread (my last post was in Jan 2017) and trying to keep up..

Following the progress of your heat automation system and garage door lift has been quite satisfying.

I also remember back in the day seeing people making Babbitt style heaters by submerging the ball and blowing the air straight up through the surface of a pool of oil that is kept at the correct level by a divorced oil tank and float switches.This kept the electronics out of the furnace and if the floats fail to fill the divorced oil tank, the system runs out of oil in the furnace to atomize, turning the system off. Also had some kind of overflow protection in that if the tanks get too full somehow, it would also overflow back into the storage.

Not sure if any of that is helpful, but perhaps having the flames shooting up into the boiler heat exchanger instead of horizontally into it might not be a better way for your setup.

Looking forward to more updates.

 

[86turbodsl]

Hey there. Welcome back. To answer your questions, yes, the green racking will make a mezzanine over the top of part of the woodshop. The main 4 post will be in front of it, between the main door and the green rack. A short ramp will bridge between the lift and the mez. I'll use the space under for smaller tools.

I also have a 4post lift to stack the fairlanes. Really need to get that setup.

I have seen the burner design you speak of. I can't use the vertical design with my boiler. Nice idea though. I think i can nail it with the fully variable design I'm working on.

Yesterday I went and picked up 150 gallons used oil. Tanks will be pretty full after this weekend. Also went and looked at and purchased a Hobart gr-303 engine drive. Excellent running condition. Minor wiring issue. Have to go back and pickup sometime this coming week. I have several jobs I need it for. Then maybe sell it who knows.

Off to a wedding today so pics will wait for tomorrow.

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[Strouty]

We don't need any wedding pics....

 

[86turbodsl]

Lol!!! Done.

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[Growlertdi]

Thanks for the reply. Looking forward to more updates.

 

[86turbodsl]

Wife and I hung the first set of beams at height. Then I moved the books away from the wall so we have room for the next uprights. That's today's plan. And cleaning.

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[86turbodsl]

Took the day off, running errands this afternoon. Had to go to the secretary of state for the annual a** r*ping birthday present they give you. Walked in, took a ticket, sat down. About 30 people besides me seated. Wait 15 minutes, they call the first number. I'm 20 behind. There's 2 clerks and they don't look motivated. This is a 2 hr wait for sure. I get up and walk out. Come home and do it all online like i should have in the first place. 45 minutes of my life i'll never get back. At least it wasn't 3 hrs.

Back out to the shop.

 

[86turbodsl]

F'n rain. Why does it always rain when i need to go get something done.

Cleaning and organizing today. Back to work tomorrow for 3 days then a 4 day weekend.

 

[86turbodsl]

Got 2 full sections of pallet rack up. Need to get them bolted together and decked. Found I have 2 different lengths. I think the leftovers and the wire racks will sell for enough to cover all of the racking. Can't beat free.

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[Strouty]

Are you bolting these to the floor as well?

I hear you on the rain, I have a couple more days of decent weather, going to try and take advantage of it. Just remember, it could be snow.

 

[86turbodsl]

That is the plan. I think to have moving 600lb bikes up there it should be bolted down.

Got the rack sections bolted together with 2x3 and put up braces. Then my boy and I put up all the plywood I didn't have a spot for.

Really opens up the space.