Bull's Equipto Grab

[akdiesel]

Torque1st beat me to it. I used brake clean and wiped down every track and drawer for my 59" Vidmar cabinet. Took a while but I was able to inspect them individually for any additional repairs then lubricate with the lith grease.
The hole punch was my choose as well.

 

[Hawk]

"I'd have to hold it at an angle, like this."

I would make me a jig and drill it from the outside, if I am seeing what you want properly.

 

[SRX]

Holy heck, Bull! I had no idea how big they were. You can really see the scale size inside your shop. Great score! And yeah, you totally ****!

 

[Torque1st]

Do you have or can you borrow a Whitney Jr. #5 hand punch? The sheet metal may be too thick for it, but I think the reach is right.

That is the 'proper' name for the hand punch I linked to. They are really a great little tool. I used an actual whitney unit for several years at a fabrication shop. The HF unit I found on sale seems to be just as good as the genuine tool. It came in a blow molded plastic case instead of a metal one.

Torque1st beat me to it. I used brake clean and wiped down every track and drawer for my 59" Vidmar cabinet. Took a while but I was able to inspect them individually for any additional repairs then lubricate with the lith grease.
The hole punch was my choose as well.

Brake clean would work great also.

 

[kbs2244]

As I think you have discovered, Equipto has always made some good stuff.
They were the shop equipment side of the outfit that made those “battle ship” desks.

You slide cleaning project is just begging for a parts washer shower.
It would be a good excuse for getting one.
An overnight shower should make them as good as new.

 

[Bull]

Holy heck, Bull! I had no idea how big they were. You can really see the scale size inside your shop. Great score! And yeah, you totally ****!

Thanks, fellow industrial storage hound!

Torque1st beat me to it. I used brake clean and wiped down every track and drawer for my 59" Vidmar cabinet. Took a while but I was able to inspect them individually for any additional repairs then lubricate with the lith grease.
The hole punch was my choose as well.

On my Lista box, I used carb cleaner or brake cleaner to blast out every roller bearing assembly. I also used it to blast the tracks where old grease and dirt and become caked. That took a while, and it was for a cabinet with something like seven drawers. I have 29 drawers here, and some of the drawers have two tracks and bearing assemblies per side. This is something like 120 pieces (half of them being multiple-bearing slides) to clean by hand.

I like the hole-punch idea, and it's an excuse to buy a tool. My friends over at HJE have the Roper #5. My question is, how can I tell if the steel on the cabinet is too thick for the capacity of the tool? I have two flanges meeting. I'm not sure what gauge the steel on the cabinet is, but since there are two flanges, then I'd double that number, right? Isn't that too much for a hand punch?

As I think you have discovered, Equipto has always made some good stuff.
They were the shop equipment side of the outfit that made those “battle ship” desks.

You slide cleaning project is just begging for a parts washer shower.
It would be a good excuse for getting one.
An overnight shower should make them as good as new.

When you say "shower" do you just mean a regular parts washer? Well, I am in luck. My brother and I are going in 50-50 on this one:

Comes with 20 gallons of Graymills Agitene solvent, whatever that is. We'll pay $50 each and share the unit. This unit lists on Graingers (which always has crazy prices) for something like $1400.

With parts washers, do you just put the parts in the tank and let the solvent circulate for 12 hours, or do you stand there and soak and actively scrub until clean?

 

[Torque1st]

Those punches according to the manufacturer will produce 1.2 tons of force which is enough to punch a 1/4 inch hole through 16 Ga. mild steel. You will probably be punching 3/16" holes which would punch easier than a 1/4" hole.

As far as cleaning parts like those I would give them a spray of carb cleaner then put them in to soak, agitating occasionally. The final operation would be a blast of brake cleaner in each roller bearing.

 

[akdiesel]

Here are the ones I found on Northertool.
Hand hole punch. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_16698_16698

Pneumatic hole punch. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_14322_14322

Both state 14 gauge capacity.

 

[Bull]

If the cabinet is 16 gauge steel (no idea what it really is) and there are two flanges together, won't that be 8 gauge that I have to punch through? Is that how it works?

I have 9/16 clearance from the side wall of the cabinet to the outermost edge of the flange. If these punches need 1", they won't work.

 

[akdiesel]

I don't think the two materials add up to the same thickness strength as one material of the same combined thickness, but I've been wrong before.

 

[kbs2244]

On the parts washer..
How patient are you?
I can let them do themselves.
But other, type “A” kinds, have to hurry up the process.
Either way works.

I would love to find the equivalent of a oscillating fan for a parts washer nozzle.
As it is I have to arrange things so that they splash onto what is next to them.
A real try and error again process.

But, yes, let them get soaked over night.
They will be clean in the AM
Think of the SHMBO’s dishwasher.

 

[Bull]

On the parts washer..
How patient are you?
I can let them do themselves.
But other, type “A” kinds, have to hurry up the process.
Either way works.

I would love to find the equivalent of a oscillating fan for a parts washer nozzle.
As it is I have to arrange things so that they splash onto what is next to them.
A real try and error again process.

But, yes, let them get soaked over night.
They will be clean in the AM
Think of the SHMBO’s dishwasher.

I'm patient enough...but with a pile this big, and the physical limits of the parts washer I will have access to, I can't stroll along too leisurely.

I made some progress today. I started by removing all of the screwed-in dividers in the 29 cabinet drawers, then vacuumed them out to remove dust, metal bits, and stray hardware. I stacked them outside the barn.

Looks less cluttered in the bay now...but that only lasted for a couple hours.

The drawer fronts were really dirty, and the insides had dirt as well as oil.

I used a pressure washer, Simple Green, stiff brushes, and abrasive sponge with car-wash detergent to get things a lot cleaner. But, after about two hours of washing I had to stop and do other stuff. I cleaned 15 drawers, and still have fourteen to go. This is the stack waiting to be washed. The ones standing up in the back are drying.

I should find some time during the week to finish washing the rest of the drawers. I need to do that before it gets too cold to use water in the driveway. The cabinets themselves will have to be washed in the garage bay, since I can't move them by myself into the driveway to blast them.

 

[Outlawmws]

On the parts washer..
How patient are you?
I can let them do themselves.
But other, type “A” kinds, have to hurry up the process.
Either way works.

I would love to find the equivalent of a oscillating fan for a parts washer nozzle.
As it is I have to arrange things so that they splash onto what is next to them.
A real try and error again process.

But, yes, let them get soaked over night.
They will be clean in the AM
Think of the SHMBO’s dishwasher.

I have an older (better) Matag Jet clean portable dishwasher that I have set aside just for things like this. It's amazing what it can easily clean on the hot/pot scrubber cycle! Best of all I have all of $15 or so in it, (Watch CL free ads these come up regularly! Remember its the JETCLEAN, not a wannabe unit...

 

[Outlawmws]

SNIP
I should find some time during the week to finish washing the rest of the drawers. I need to do that before it gets too cold to use water in the driveway. The cabinets themselves will have to be washed in the garage bay, since I can't move them by myself into the driveway to blast them.

Got a power washer? hook the hose up to the (laundry) washer's hot water spigot and go for it!

Or you can use the $2 car wash (Sigh... remember when it was the fifty cent car wash?)

 

[rhastings80]

I would use some Kroil/AeroKroil to clean the grease off of the bearings and slides. spray the bearing and let the soak like 5 minutes. Then spin them and spray and repeat 2 or 3 times and they will be totally clean. The stuff is amazing. I did this on my Used Vidmar box were the bearings were totally seized with dried out grease.

http://www.kanolabs.com/penLub.html#anchor173855

 

[SRX]

Or you can use the $2 car wash (Sigh... remember when it was the fifty cent car wash?)

It's $3.25 here.


So Bull, do you think it's karma making you clean so many bits and pieces to balance out the price you scored on those? Still envious of all those drawers!

 

[Bull]

I
So Bull, do you think it's karma making you clean so many bits and pieces to balance out the price you scored on those? Still envious of all those drawers!

I have thought of that. If I considered my time to be worth anything, then the cost of these would certainly be adding up!

I spent some time yesterday power washing and scrubbing the remaining 14 or so drawers. Feels good to have them all done.

Washing the main units by hand with as little water as possible inside my garage sounded weak. But the cabinets are too big and awkward to just pick up and move by myself. So, I remembered that my father has this glorified yard wagon. It holds a decent amount of weight and has big pneumatic tires. I borrowed it so I could pull each cabinet up onto it and then wheel it out to the driveway for washing and scrubbing. I did that to both of them this morning, before heading out the Thanksgiving celebrations at my folks' house.

I'll be glad to get these painted and put in place. No matter how or where I stack the pieces, they take up a lot of room in my modest garage.

 

[rburke65]

A great score on the cabinets. That is something to be thankful for. It's a big job, but you just have to keep pecking away at it and you will get done.

 

[Bull]

"I'd have to hold it at an angle, like this."

I would make me a jig and drill it from the outside, if I am seeing what you want properly.

I need to thank you for putting this idea in my head. I wasn't sure I had the clearance for one of those hand punches, so was afraid to drop $80 on one.

I wasn't patient enough to make a jig, but I did some careful measuring and drilling and did indeed drill through the top of the cabinet and then into the flange on both sides of the cabinet. I was then able to get a properly sized sheetmetal screw with 5/16 head in there and tighten them up. The sides of the cabinet I did this to now have no flexing in and out at the top. Feels good.

Thanks for the idea. If you hadn't mentioned it, I never would have thought of it.

A great score on the cabinets. That is something to be thankful for. It's a big job, but you just have to keep pecking away at it and you will get done.

Thank you. Yes, I keep reminding myself of how an ant carries an elephant. It keeps me plugging away.

 

[luvit]

So... you're in for the night while those things call your name?
looking good, man.. keeping warm today? -- we finally dropped in temperature in ohio.

.

 

[Bull]

So... you're in for the night while those things call your name?
looking good, man.. keeping warm today? -- we finally dropped in temperature in ohio.

.

I know I should be out there until the wee hours, but I can't do it. I juggled time today. Got up early to help the wifey with the littlest Bull, so I could then spend some time in the garage without feeling like a ****** dad. I spent that time sealing off my attic space in the barn by installing foam insulation and making a hatch access door. Then I had to return to fatherly duties, dinner, bedtime etc. I went back out there to do the drilling/screwing mentioned above.

If all goes well then tomorrow I should be able to sand one entire cabinet and clean it with acetone or mineral spirits, whatever I have on hand. The idea would be to paint it on Sunday. Not the drawers, just one cabinet body. Then I can stand it up and position it and gain some floor space in the bay.

Fingers crossed.

 

[luvit]

i know what you're saying on that juggling and responsibility thing.

.

 

[Bull]

Well, you win some and lose some. Today, I lost a bit.

I spent some time yesterday getting one of the boxes up on some saw horses so they were at a more comfortable height to work on. I then spent some more time sanding one down with a random orbit sander and some 100 grit sanding pads. My goal was to feather any big edges, scuff every inch, remove any loose rust/paint, and sand around areas where there was rust of any kind, so it was all exposed.

These Diablo pads are really nice.

That was all well and fine. I went over the cabinet twice with hot soapy water and a sponge to get rid of sanding dust, and one final time with a rag and mineral spirits.

I was excited this morning to get two coats of paint on the cabinet and then, later in the day, move it into position. See my top-hat heater in the pic above, in front of the saw horses? I just picked it up a couple weeks back and this was to be the inaugural run. I need to get the temp at least into the 60s to paint, and it was only 43 in the barn today. I read the manual for the heater, connected everything, and sprayed soapy water to check for leaks. I didn't see any, so I fired it up. It was humming along nicely for a minute or so when I decided to do a final leak check, sniffing and spraying the fittings at the heater and working my way back to the tank. Well sure enough, at the tank I smelled gas. I turned off the valve pronto and sprayed some more soapy water. I got a lot of bubbles at a crimped connection on the heater side of the regulator. It looked like a Spittle Bug's nest in no time.

That really sucked. I need to find a new hose and regulator, preferably USA-made. But since I had no heat, I couldn't paint a darn thing. This puts me behind where I want to be on this. Grrr!

Any of you guys know a company that makes good propane regulators with long hoses, maybe 10+ feet?

 

[TAftw]

Honestly I forgot to check out the thread on these. They look great, can't wait to see them painted. The next ones you want me to get I'm bringing a trailer though!

 

[alpinewhite]

Bull,

It's been 10 days. Surely, you have new pics.

 

[Bull]

Honestly I forgot to check out the thread on these. They look great, can't wait to see them painted. The next ones you want me to get I'm bringing a trailer though!

Not sure I have room for any more...well, maybe.

Bull,

It's been 10 days. Surely, you have new pics.

This is a real sore spot for me. That heater hose still hasn't been replaced. No heat, no painting, no progress. I ordered a long propane hose from Amazon with 1/4 male and female ends. The male end fit the regulator outlet perfectly; the female end didn't fit the gosh-darn fitting on the heater. I haven't had time during the week to research what size the fitting must be, or to go to a local store with the old hose and hope for a match.

I'm pretty peeved about it, but thems the strokes.

 

[muibubbles]

wahhh i was hoping for a picture-ful-cabinet-full of awesomeness post!!

 

[Bull]

wahhh i was hoping for a picture-ful-cabinet-full of awesomeness post!!

So was I!

Bad luck; without it, I wouldn't have any at all.

The male fitting on the heater base is too small to thread into the supposedly 1/4 female end of the hose, but it's also too large to thread into an 1/8" fitting I had. Nothing is ever simple.

 

[luvit]

The male fitting on the heater base is too small to thread into the supposedly 1/4 female end of the hose, but it's also too large to thread into an 1/8" fitting I had. Nothing is ever simple.

• It feels like, when i enter a store.. i'm always looking things that:
• are rare or rarely asked for
• are hard to find in the store
• are not stocked in-store
• are discontinued for new regulations or safety
• has never existed

i'm looking for things like those little less often, but still often enough.

.

 

[luvit]

you took-on a big task, man.. big for what it is.
it will be awesome when you're done.

.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Bull take your old hose to a propane dealer and they can just replace the end of which ever hose you want them to, or make you a new custom hose...Rich

 

[Bull]

• It feels like, when i enter a store.. i'm always looking things that:
• are rare or rarely asked for
• are hard to find in the store
• are not stocked in-store
• are discontinued for new regulations or safety
• has never existed

i'm looking for things like those little less often, but still often enough.

.

This gave me a good chuckle. I've been to that store a few times lol.

you took-on a big task, man.. big for what it is.
it will be awesome when you're done.

.

I agree it will be awesome, and it is a big task. All just sitting there right now, taking up a bay and then some, so my Roadmaster can't even live inside. Lame.

Bull take your old hose to a propane dealer and they can just replace the end of which ever hose you want them to, or make you a new custom hose...Rich

Aren't they going to laugh at me for bringing in a laeky Chinese hose to repair?

Maybe I'll take the hose to the local Tractor Supply after work on Friday and see if they have one that will work.

 

[rharman]

I'd have to hold it at an angle, like this.

Bull,

If you need to drill in tight spaces like this in the future, take a look at this. I've had one of their kits for years and, when you need it, it's indispensable.

http://www.tightfittools.net/kits.html

 

[luvit]

...Lame.

naw, man.. it's not like you're an equipped cabinet refinishing shop..
just like i'm not an equipped fence builder.. took-me-all-summer-to-fence-in-3-acres.. dry, hard ground, drought, hot, summer.

.

 

[alpinewhite]

still no update, Bull?

 

[Bull]

still no update, Bull?

Salt in the ol' wound, eh? Goring the bull, huh?

Yeah, I'm pretty bummed. I ordered an electric heater a couple weeks back, after agonizing research. Put up plastic in part of my barn downstairs to trap the heat. My buddy who does wiring was finally going to be free on Saturday afternoon, around 2:30, to help me wire it. Because you know, I can't paint much out there when it's 36 degrees inside, so the project just sits and eats up a shitload of my small space. Well, by 5:30 I realized my buddy wasn't coming. He called to apologize, and said he'd give me a call on Monday to schedule a time to get the heater installed. So now it's Wednesday. No call.

Maybe I shouldn't have bought these things!

 

[Cobra4B]

Subscribed... that looks like a lot of work.

 

[HOTFR8]

Well at least I know I am not alone. I am still waiting on my builder to come back and work on the extensions. My problem at present is trying to keep cool.

 

[alpinewhite]

Do you now have heat, Bull?

 

[The Boss]

They look heavy - have fun moving those - I'm not helping!