All, by the time I finish reading all the thread updates I've subscribed to, the day is over. Well, dentist and doctor visits helped shorten the free time as well.
Bob, I'm glad that you are able to handle all this stuff yourself. I appreciate your persistence in getting things accomplished. Sometimes I wonder about getting something done, and I've found myself thinking, "geez, Bob would tackle this!" Then it's time to get to work.
I found your comment about the "clean-up crew" who are faced with the daunting task of, "what to-do wit' all these damn jars?" in the event of your demise, very funny. The suggestion that they conceal valuable items will compel the greedy estate clean-up crew to empty each and every one.
I just got done getting my Liftmaster 8500 garage door openers and the kit that they come-with, working. I did an addition to the front property setback at our house, for the garage, as part of a multi-year plan/project to re-model the house for retirement. The guy who sold and installed the HVHZ-rated (high velocity hurricane zone, for those of you who only have to deal with those transient twisters/tornadoes instead of hours-long hurricanes) garage doors (Clopay double-wall insulated single-bay,each) didn't install the ceiling lights each opener comes-with. I just had them in a box, w/other leftover parts from the garage door install. Yesterday, I finally decided to install the ceiling lights, or at-least, one of them. You know, the ones that light-up when the OH garage door opens/closes. These are high-zoot, double-throwdown, electronic marvels that Mhz-communicate w/the wall-mount door program/control panel. They claim there is no Amazon-"Alexa" microphone eavesdropping on you 24/7, but I saw too-many circuits in the PC board for what they are supposed to be doing, opening and closing a garage door.
Well anyway, I hung one of the two wireless remote operating lamps, dug-out the manual, programmed it, and durn if it didn't light! How vexacious! I tried re-programming, and making sure I wasn't upset with a burned-out bulb I failed to recognize sooner (a motorcycle story about that I have for another time). Nope, as Chevrolet named their compact car in the 1960's, much to the amusement of their Spanish market customers, "no-va." No-go. No light.
So, I removed that one, which I had already installed, and grabbed the other wireless-controlled light fixture. Smartening-up, this one I programmed before installing it. Exito! This one worked. I installed it, and had at-least one light coming on-and-off with one garage door operating.
I called the installer, and he told me he would bring me a replacement in the morning, (that would be today) and so he did, and he couldn't program the faulty light to work, either, so it's a bad fixture. Working with the same light that I hung and successfully-programmed to operate, he did program the same light to operate when either garage door opens or closes, which I did not know was possible, and which refuted one of the keyboard commando "garage door opener mechanics" who erroneously posted specifically in-response to this question from someone else, "that's not possible!" in the 'Amazon question & answer about this product' ********, sir!
I am feeling very pleased with myself, since I finally got-off my **** and managed to get at-least one garage door opener wireless-communicator ceiling light functional, and re-programmed my vehicle remotes to work for us. It's much-better when the $ you spent for something like this is finally doing what it's supposed to be doing.
An earlier house call, the garage door lift installer had switched-out a wall controller for one of mine that was misbehaving. The durn thing was "chirrup'ing" like a cage full of happy parakeets. About every 40 seconds, day-and night, for months. It is on the other side of our split-floor plan, so it really wasn't audible unless you were in the garage. It made me feel that the garage was a sub-tropical area, and that the birds would warn me of approaching man-eating tigers, which in-fact, seemed to be working.
But no-ooooh, the new box didn't stop the parakeets' song. The garage door installer told me, "contact Liftmaster/Chamberlain, they will warranty one for you." Otherwise he wanted to charge me a lot of money for a replacement, and to install it. Since it's one screw to mount, and two screws for wiring the bell-wire solid-core thin-gauge wire lands, I thought I could handle that. After-all, if I encounter difficulty at this stage of the fitment, I'll consult my wife, the honest-to-god EE (electrical engineer).
I got the new wall-mount door opener control panel, wired it, mounted it, and I didn't need to consult the residential EE. And, you know what? The birds had flown the coop, no constant "chirrup!" I think they probably interfered with the stealth microphone reception which I know is reporting my colorful shop invectives when I draw blood in there or botch something.
I kinda miss those cheerful fellows, and their constant greeting.
Philip, I have three garage doors to fuss with.
Our house was built in 1988 (before hurricane Andrew) and had very flimsy steel doors. When we bought the house in 1996, I filled the doors with Styrofoam insulation at the same time I insulated the garage ceiling. Because the doors were so light, the builder had installed 1/4hp (might be 1/3hp) chain drive openers. The three doorbell buttons were installed in individual switch-plates. I thought it looked stupid and put all three buttons on one switch-plate and patched the two unused holes.
Our home is located in a zone E risk area (evacuate for Cat 5 storm). After Andrew (1992) my homeowner insurance wouldn't cover wind damage so I needed a separate policy through Florida Windstorm Underwriting insurance (eventually renamed Citizens). It was less than $1,000 a year so it wasn't too bad. In 2001 Citizens decided to raise its rates 20%. They would then raise their rates by 30% the following year and 40% every subsequent year until
"...your premium reaches the appropriate premium for your home."
The notice included a way to reduce the premiums if your house had some "Loss Reduction Devices." Being an insurance company, they won't take your word for it so they generously offered to have an "approved qualified professional" (AQP) check your house for $150. The AQP was going to check for the following:
I didn't qualify for three of the reductions (the two crossed out and the Garage Door Bracing). I tried to buy some braces and install them myself but the garage door companies won't sell you braces unless you change the extension springs as well (added weight). I contacted the insurance company about the doors and they said
none of the credits would apply if the garage doors weren't braced. ****!!!
My 2001 tax rebate for $600 covered half the cost (if I install them myself). Turns out garage doors aren't all that hard to install and our local Faith Farm was happy to take the old ones away!
The real work was installing the Styrofoam insulation in the new doors. I removed the 8 pieces I had carefully fitted to the old doors and cut them up into a 32-piece jigsaw puzzle so I didn't waste all that foam (remember, three doors like this one).
The new doors are heavier so the primary garage door opener gives up the ghost. I took it apart and discovered the circuit board was fried. A new circuit board was $110 and a new opener was $139. A few years later my Corvette daily driver opener suffered a similar fate. My garage now has two of these....
...and one of these.
The new openers have fancy controls to replace the doorbell buttons so my 3-button switch-plate has to go. Those two boxes I patched over have to be opened back up for the new controls and they interfere with the oddball button. Found a used fancy button like the other two. I gutted the electronics and installed the doorbell in its place.
It may look stupid to have labels on the buttons and switches but as my memory fades, I expect to be like most old people in Florida and drive long after I no longer know how.
My final goal on the garage door openers is to replace the remaining old Liftmaster chain drive with an 8500 Liftmaster. That requires me to convert the center door from extension springs to a torsion spring. Until recently I couldn't find a kit (they don't want you mucking with the old torsion springs). Clopay now sells an EZ-Set conversion spring that uses a neat tensioner that avoids the two-bar four-handed tension setup.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Clopay-...Doors-109-lbs-133-lbs-LW-ORANGE-A-8/207135204
Bob, I have limited my self to one only "
Miscellaneous Screw Collection " because what peeves me off is when I go to the hardware store and purchase some screws that I need, and then some time later that I in fact have 20 of the same in some obscure place in the shelves that I had forgotten about.
Bevelling the edges of your storage box looks great, however I am still concerned your hinges are missing some screws and they appear to have unclocked themselves.
Regards
Steve, I could probably limit myself to one "
Miscellaneous Screw Collection" container but I'd have to find a clear 55-gallon drum.
It is very frustrating to have the screws you need but not be able to find them. I haven't really made it easier on myself but I am getting better at hiding more stuff in one place. This way I don't have to wander back and forth between the garage and workshop as much.
I could have sworn I clocked those screws but double-vision sometimes fools me.
I am really thrilled to have you post here and can't tell you how much it warms my heart knowing you are feeling better.
Nice box! The routed corners do look good!!! Now you need to get started on that new hardware cabinet, I may have a few ideas for it
BF, thanks for the compliment and for posting. I have seen your rolling cart and have only one fear. It upsets me when I remove and misplace a few drawers from my hardware cabinets but would have "the big one" if I misplaced the whole rolling stash. I love your cabinet and I love having stuff on wheels but combining the two in my life could be fatal.
Hey Bob! Interestingly my router table router is an old Craftsman with the trigger in the handle. I hate using it because I have to reach under the workbench it is mounted in to turn it on and off. It's a pain but I don't know how to wire a switched outlet for it.
Those shavings make very nice coal forge starter fuel. If you think you want to take up blacksmithing, save them.
Box is looking gooder and gooder.
Andy, I share your frustration with that router mounted on the table. Just last week I removed it and installed the plunge router in its place.
I would prefer to take up whitesmithing. My wife hates it when I leave black smudges everywhere.
The box is becoming a problem. It is looking better than I expected and if Liane sees it, I may have a new To-Do list. She believes my woodworking skills are in the "one hand clapping" category.
"TV, I was going through my current cardboard collection and that was the only piece big enough. Maybe I should cut back on my cardboard recycling. I also checked my sheet asbestos supply for some added R-value and that has apparently gone missing. I completely forgot about the duct tape. Gettin' old is a *****.
I love your little piece of paradise and I look forward to updates. "
Bob, your box is turning out great. It is nice to make stuff. You should put the shavings above the cardboard drywall patch for insulation... Also, Duct Tape will fix anything!
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TV, thanks for stopping by. You have once again given me an incontinence test. I passed (?) but just barely.
Just dropping by to say "Hi", Bob! Good to see you made it through last year without too much damage. Maybe you can even spend some time on new and fun projects, besides just doing maintenance! Best wishes
Hi
Ric, it's so good to hear from you again. My wife is finding things to fill my senior moments. If I get that "why am I in here?" look she thinks up a project for me to do. That or "if you aren't doing anything..." and I have a chore or repair.
Looking good Bob. Spring must be in the air. Bobby
Bobby, the yard is in bloom and leaves are falling off the oak trees. Very confusing.
Had to laugh at the ad that came up below this picture.
Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk
Andrew, they obviously know I'm a Floridian. Just for fun I Googled "who can i sue" and got this response:
^^^^^^
Evening Bob,
Love the storage jars, they remind me of my Dads shed when I was little, He had loads of glass jam jars with the metal lids nailed to the underneath of various shelves. I raked through them all, but I don't remember ever using anything. We later bought a workshop and started a business, bought stuff in bulk and stored it under the work benches.

I do love a router and have a few, big and small. Palm routers are very useful, I haven't chopped in hinges by hand for years now, all routered in. If I may be so bold, I think your box lid is binding because the hinges may be in too deep, a folded piece of sandpaper under one leaf might help out.

The 45dg bevel really smartens the box nicely.
Steve.
Ps. it's official, deposits paid, flights ordered, put the kettle on, I'll be over in july.
Steve, my father-in-law saved peanut butter jars for more than a decade. Kept them in a cardboard box in the basement. Without asking, his wife threw the box out, thinking it was the previous owner's trash. That ended up being the last time he ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
I went out to the Workshop, removed the hinges from the box and planed some off the top of the box (not the lid). Sure enough, the lid closed tight when I put it back together. Now I need to find a better scrap to make the lid and mortise the other hinge leaf (with a router). Thanks for the excellent advice.
The box is coming out better than expected and I may just make it a Valentine's Day present -- or Mother's Day.
I have some loose tea from my India trip in 1996. It makes a cup that looks more like coffee than tea.
If you are coming to Florida in July, do you have a fire suit? Our summer sun isn't as strong as it is down under but I have seen several Brits burst into flames upon leaving our airport terminal.