Dukers Garage Projects

[crobar6789]

Thank you! I will try and document from start to finish the process of building the shop. In reading through some other workshop threads, I have found some interesting tidbits that have saved me some time and given me some great ideas so hopefully the various steps might be beneficial to someone else. If all goes well, I hope to go completely overboard!

I've got say I have picked up a lot great ideas for my shop from you,steevo, and jack olsen. and there is only one way to go (completely overboard)

 

[Lu-Max]

I really like the MW 18v saw. It cuts beautifully and the batteries last a surprisingly long time. They charge fast so if you have a spare one there's no down time.

 

[crobar6789]

I really like the MW 18v saw. It cuts beautifully and the batteries last a surprisingly long time. They charge fast so if you have a spare one there's no down time.

their 18v Impact driver is awesome as well

 

[Duker]

I've got say I have picked up a lot great ideas for my shop from you,steevo, and jack olsen. and there is only one way to go (completely overboard)

Wow, I appreciate being associated with that esteemed group. .


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[Duker]

I really like the MW 18v saw. It cuts beautifully and the batteries last a surprisingly long time. They charge fast so if you have a spare one there's no down time.

Good to know, thanks. Maybe I will get lucky and find a Black Friday special..

their 18v Impact driver is awesome as well

Lol...Just what my tool budget needs.


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[crobar6789]

Good to know, thanks. Maybe I will get lucky and find a Black Friday special..




Lol...Just what my tool budget needs.


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I got my impact driver off of a trade on craigslist. i would definitely check home depot on black friday.

 

[longlivepunk]

LOL, I guess the pressure is on now.... So LLP if I start a new thread what should I name it?


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"What's in a name" Duker? I just want pictures!! [emoji14]

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[creativecars]

We did! We closed last Friday. We bought 18 acres that has a river running on the back of the property. The river is navigable by boat and heads out to Lake Livingston so we get the benefit of the lake but the quiet of the river. Supposedly some of the best fishing in the state back up the river.

I am meeting with the Utility company on Monday to determine where to set service. As soon as I can load up a picture or two I will.

I have been working on plans for the new "Barndominium" building which as of right now will be roughly 40% weekend house and 60% shop. I will also have a separate 30' x 30' storage building for the horse ( 4 leg kind), mule ( 4 wheel kind), tractor and assorted other stuff.

I am undecided if I should throw it under this thread or create a new one. I think I may have littered the GJ with enough threads already.

Great name... will that be official?

 

[Duker]

Great name... will that be official?

Well, I guess it could be.... That's what these type of metal residential structures are known as at least down here in Texas.


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[creativecars]

Any updates??

 

[Duker]

Any updates??

Sorry for the delay in responding I have not had a chance to post with my schedule lately.

The most recent completed project (officially a few minutes ago) was for my Secret Santa. I finished his gift and just boxed it up so that I can drop it off tomorrow.

Thankfully, my SS posted in the Elves thread so I had a few ideas to work with in getting/making a gift. The cutting board (15" x 24") and pigtail turner are projects I made. He collects and trades tools so I found these Snap On Bluepoint USA wrenches that maybe he can use to trade for something he needs. And last, a little Tequila to share with his buds when he cooks some steaks and uses the pigtail and cutting board!

I hope he enjoys them or can at least re-gift to someone he needs a gift for...

 

[Duker]

Well, it has been a long time since I have been able to post a new project from the garage. It is not so much that I have been slacking off although it feels like it when I look at all the half done projects sitting in the garage but I have been busy working on my new property getting ready for my new workshop. I started a new thread for the build in case there is any interest to follow the progress.

Here is the link to my Barndominium build.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=326389

Next project that comes out of the garage will be a welding cart for my Oxy acetylene tanks. It's about 70% done.

*

 

[Duker]

Well… I wish I had more of an update on projects if only for the fact I would at least feel like I had accomplished something this summer. It has been a hot, humid, and as far as projects go…. barren summer in Houston this year.

I have about 7 unfinished projects sitting at various stages of completion. At least this evening I can strike one from the list. I welded up a small rolling stand for the 48” 16 gauge Box & Pan brake I got at Enco’s last sale before being totally absorbed into MSC. It still has the cosmoline or whatever they use across the pond on it which has probably been a good thing otherwise it would have rusted in the crate it was sitting for so long.

Hopefully I can put this to use soon in restoring some equipment I need to finish to get out of one of my storage units.

In the back ground you can also see one of my other projects which is the new to me 2010 white F250 (6.4L King Ranch) that I bought at auction. We had a ton of flooding in the late Spring/early Summer and this truck was one of the victims. It was declared a total loss due to the mold risk. The good news is that all it was for this truck was carpet so with a little bleach work and cleaning I get a truck about half of trade-in value. I think even adjusting for the value of now having a salvage title I will come out ok. I just got it inspected and licensed last week and have already put it to work pulling my big trailer with the tractor with ease.

I mounted the brake to the stand using rivet nuts which I have to say I love for these type of applications. Quick, easy...done!

I hope to be finished with my Oxy/Ac tank cart in a couple of weeks.

*

 

[jbmatth]

Well done on the cart, and I try to do the same thing with vehicles for myself when possible. I hate having to pay market value for something if I can help it.
JB

 

[zmotorsports]

Nice work Duke. That cart for the brake turned out nice. Nice score on the King Ranch also, even though it is a Ford.

Mike.

 

[Duker]

Well done on the cart, and I try to do the same thing with vehicles for myself when possible. I hate having to pay market value for something if I can help it.
JB

Thanks JB. My timing on the truck was fortunate as the number of trucks that hit the market all at once helped to depress prices for a short period.

Nice work Duke. That cart for the brake turned out nice. Nice score on the King Ranch also, even though it is a Ford.

Mike.

Thanks Mike, I might have to see if I can sign up with you for some online consulting services as I have little experience working on diesels so you might have to lower your standards and bone up on Ford's!

 

[zmotorsports]

Thanks Mike, I might have to see if I can sign up with you for some online consulting services as I have little experience working on diesels so you might have to lower your standards and bone up on Ford's!

No problem Duke. I like em' all. I just have to give people ****. Several of my co-workers are Ford guys and we are constantly razzing each other in one way or another about it. The memes we show each other can get pretty crazy at times.

Mike.

 

[Duker]

Finished a small project for my “new to me” F250.

Over the past few months as neighboring feeders have started to attract wildlife I have had a couple close encounters with deer while traveling back and forth from the property at night so I decided I would try and find a Ranch Hand Grill Guard to install on the front bumper. In looking through Craigslist I ran across an ad for a full Ranch Hand bumper so I bought it. The asking price was $400 which if you have shopped for one is a very fair price but got even better when he knocked off a $100 bucks if he could take my bumper in trade. I was more than happy to trade as my existing bumper had a few dents and dings.

Here was the ad on Craigslist.

Here is the truck as I drove it home sans front bumper.

The bumper had been sprayed with Line-X bedliner, which was in good shape, but I really wanted the paint to match the trim color of the truck, which was coded as Pueblo Gold. After researching on the web it appeared that single stage urethane paint could be used to paint over the bedliner. After power washing a few times and using a degreaser/deglosser I shot JAU Shop-Line urethane into the bumper with a standard 4-1-1 mix. The paint sprayed very well through an HVLP gun with the ratio.

Here is the bumper after painting. The adhesion was very good but time will tell if it will stand the flex ....but so far so good.

And here is the bumper installed on the truck. I just need to install the fog lights which I was about to do when it began to pour….again…..

 

[jbmatth]

You will love that Ranch Hand, I've had two now and they are just great. The first one I had was on my 1/2 ton, I was driving about 10 mph going into a toll booth when a truck side swiped me with his goose neck trailer. That took out part of my fender, but once the trailer hit the bumper it pushed my truck over to the side and did no more damage. Had I still had the factory bumper on the truck it would have destroyed the front of my truck. Looks great and should last you the life of the truck!
JB

 

[Duker]

You will love that Ranch Hand, I've had two now and they are just great. The first one I had was on my 1/2 ton, I was driving about 10 mph going into a toll booth when a truck side swiped me with his goose neck trailer. That took out part of my fender, but once the trailer hit the bumper it pushed my truck over to the side and did no more damage. Had I still had the factory bumper on the truck it would have destroyed the front of my truck. Looks great and should last you the life of the truck!
JB

Thanks JB. This thing is stout so I can see how it could save the truck from a lot of damage. While I would have loved to make my own bumper I just didn't have the time for the trial and error of making patterns much less the cost of the steel as I already spent my budget to buy the steel and lights to make a headache rack as well as a used weather guard tool box I am refurbishing for the truck. I may be taking my accessorizing too far...lol


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[jbmatth]

I don't think that is taking it too far, now if you get multiple CB antennas, fiberglass running boards with lights, chrome lower body stripes, chrome covers for everything, and dual 10" stacks that would be taking it too far.

I'd like to have a bed mounted tool box, but hate to give up on the lost space. That is one thing that I can say I like about Ram trucks, having storage in the bed sides is a great idea.
JB

 

[Duker]

JB, now you have me thinking about stacks ....just kidding....

if I start stalking curb feelers or spinners you have permission to back slap me and this thread!


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[taumac]

JB, now you have me thinking about stacks ....just kidding....

if I start stalking curb feelers or spinners you have permission to back slap me and this thread!


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You know the old saying Duker... If it doesn't make it go quicker or stop faster or in this case destroy anything that gets in your path it's not needed. LOL

 

[jbmatth]

JB, now you have me thinking about stacks ....just kidding....

if I start stalking curb feelers or spinners you have permission to back slap me and this thread!


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Duker,
Thank you for not considering stacks of course that would make it harder to open the box if you have stacks coming through the middle of the lid.

Oh believe me if you have spinners or curb feelers I'll come down for a visit.

You know Taumac has a point, if it doesn't make it go , or more capable it isn't really needed. Now how do I justify swapping out my cloth seats for the leather seats in the parts truck I picked up.
JB

 

[Duker]

You know the old saying Duker... If it doesn't make it go quicker or stop faster or in this case destroy anything that gets in your path it's not needed. LOL

LOL....you guys really are killing the pimping of my ride! As for crushing Gerard,.....I guess that just leaves some 36" tires and a lift kit!

Duker,
Thank you for not considering stacks of course that would make it harder to open the box if you have stacks coming through the middle of the lid.

Oh believe me if you have spinners or curb feelers I'll come down for a visit.

You know Taumac has a point, if it doesn't make it go , or more capable it isn't really needed. Now how do I justify swapping out my cloth seats for the leather seats in the parts truck I picked up.
JB

The leather seats are "orthopedic!".... That's my story and I am sticking with it!

Actually the last thing planed is the tool box and the headache rack. Another GJ member's thread sparked the rack idea as I have wanted to have something to lean and tie steel or lumber up against versus the cab. I may however, have gone a little overboard in my lights!



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[jbmatth]

If you decide to make the headache rack could you please post on how you go about it? I have the mounts on my truck and have considered it but haven't actually acted on it just yet.
JB

 

[Duker]

If you decide to make the headache rack could you please post on how you go about it? I have the mounts on my truck and have considered it but haven't actually acted on it just yet.
JB

JB, I will post it here when I get done. I will have a few hours to work on it this weekend provided the rain holds off. That said, with my current pace of completing projects you might have a new truck by then!


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[jbmatth]

...That said, with my current pace of completing projects you might have a new truck by then!

I have bought two "new" trucks this year and another at the end of last year, each one cheaper than the last and each one with ~100,000 miles more than the last. There is no telling when I might buy a new-to-me truck.

JB

 

[cagullett1]

Where did you find the truck? I'm in Dallas and really wanted to go down there to find a "deal" like you got, but just didn't spend the time to research the auctions. This makes me wish I would have!

 

[Duker]

Where did you find the truck? I'm in Dallas and really wanted to go down there to find a "deal" like you got, but just didn't spend the time to research the auctions. This makes me wish I would have!

Funny you should say that...I almost drove to Dallas to check on one but then this one came up for sale at Copart. There was a ton of cars and trucks for about 60 days. When I went to pick the truck up you are standing around with everyone waiting for them to bring your vehicle out and a bunch of used dealers were saying they couldn't sell the cars fast enough to raise the cash needed to buy more. I pondered a brief business opportunity of providing some financing to a small dealer but with my luck on lending money I would have been stuck with cars that couldn't sell! .

I think between the incredible amount of supply because of the large amount of flooding and the fact that you would have a salvage title limited the pool of buyers so it led to some great pricing. For once I happen to be able to be in a position to take advantage of it.


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[cagullett1]

I was thinking the exact same thing. I felt bad, but as soon as Houston's flooding occurred, I thought, this is my opportunity! Were you able to look at it before purchasing it? I'd be interested to hear more about this auction process.

 

[Duker]

I was thinking the exact same thing. I felt bad, but as soon as Houston's flooding occurred, I thought, this is my opportunity! Were you able to look at it before purchasing it? I'd be interested to hear more about this auction process.

Hey sorry about the delay in responding to this question. I must have missed the post in Tapatalk and didnt see it until now when I was posting a small project.

As to your question, the process is pretty easy. You register with Copart and if its a non-dealer auction you bid like you would on eBay except it has a different countdown system. On these auctions there is a timed window once bidding starts ( 1 minute I believe but it feels like 20 when you are the last bid!) and every time there is a bid its resets. If no more bids the timer runs out and you are the winner. You can proxy bid as well in case you can't watch the auction. If it's a dealer auction, you can only buy the car if you are a registered dealer. However, Copart has companies where you can sign up for a fee and bid under their dealer number. My truck was a dealer auction so I signed up with a group out of Michigan. It cost me $75 if I remember correctly. You need to put down a security deposit that is 10% of your maximum bid so a 25,000 bid requires a $2500 deposit. The dealer gets the paperwork and then sends it to you to register locally. I think I paid $20 dollar paperwork processing fee but it was a pretty simple experience.

 

[Duker]

I have been too much of a slacker in the garage projects category lately. I had to build a batch of cutting boards and pig tail turners and it left no time for Garage Projects. These are two extras cutting boards (one with feet) that I made with the remaining scrap. One of these might end up being being my Secret Santa gift to a GJ member this Christmas!

The only other "tool" project was to put my tig pedal adapter on a Lincoln 210MP I bought a couple of months back. I bought the welder as I wanted something that was dual voltage and that I could run off a generator for projects that come up on our little "farm."

I have been very happy with my Lincoln Welders up until I had to buy this part and try and install it. What a PITA.... Its not that it was overly complicated its that you have to pay $50 ( cheapest I could find as Retail is $75.00 ) for a what should either be a $10 part or even better... make the machine with the part installed.

The part is the wire harness on the bottom right. No metal, all plastic.

The part is installed on the drive side so that you have to open the lid to plug the pedal into the socket. Not exactly a great design but at least now I have that option. You can see the knockout plug that was in the hole before installation.

To install the part I turned to my trusty Snap On pliers that I got off an old "Hot Deals" GJ thread that have become my favorite pair of needle nose type pliers. I bought two at that time and they have come in handy more times than I can count. These might in fact be the tools that threw me over the edge to buy my first of now seven Snap On ratchets. I have to admit... the cool-aid, once drunk is hard to resist...

So for now, that is all I have accomplished which is kind of pathetic compared to what many other members crank out of their garage. In the pipeline of unfinished projects are a headache rack inspired by another GJ member, a truck tool box redo and a oxy/Ac cart. Hope to get them all done by the end of the year but groundbreaking on the Barndaminium starts soon so that may push these into the first quarter.

 

[Duker]

Just a note to say Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I am thankful I have all my immediate family together today and it has been a morning of cooking and laughing together (mostly at me and my lack of cooking skills) and it has been great. Tomorrow I will get to play in the shop.

Again, I hope everyone has a great holiday!


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[egnorant]

I have been too much of a slacker in the garage projects category lately. I had to build a batch of cutting boards and pig tail turners and it left no time for Garage Projects. These are two extras cutting boards (one with feet) that I made with the remaining scrap. One of these might end up being being my Secret Santa gift to a GJ member this Christmas!

I got the cutting board for Christmas! Already used it twice and it is beautiful.
It was like finding that tool you didn't know would notch up the game.

Bruce

 

[Duker]

I have been busy with my Barndominium build so with my garage stuffed full of my regular tools and with tools I had been storing in a 10' x 20' storage unit, I am getting no projects done as I can barely walk through my garage. I wanted to save a few bucks on storage fees until I moved the tools into my new shop so I stuffed my garage full but it has killed any chance of working on projects.

So what does a guy do who has too many tools in his garage already.... buy more tools of course...

It can be a dangerous thing when the time you would normally be out in the shop using your tools turns into time surfing auctions online.

I was able to pick up the following items at a auction and I think I got a fair deal but metal working tools are a new area for me as I am a rookie/novice in using my mill.

I picked up an economy SPI set of gauge blocks from .05 to 4"

A nice R8 Jacobs chuck and some 123 blocks (one with a little chip) and a collet set from 1/16" to 7/8" appear to be SPI as well.

One R8 face mill and a R8 face mill shaft.

And a pair of small V blocks and a larger V block.

All total was just under $200 with the buyers premium. Based on retail I think I fared ok but it was my first time to bid on machine tools so for all I know I may have paid way above the normal used market. I am learning the the old adage that the mill might end up being the cheapest part of the package when you factor all of the tooling you end up buying!

 

[Grumblebum]

Looks like a good starter set for the mill Duker.

I've been starting to look at mill options but figure there is a bit of tooling expense to add on top also. Think I'll be dreaming for a while yet until I get some room for one.

GB

 

[Duker]

Thanks GB. The mill was definitely a want versus need purchase but it has been incredibly handy in tasks I would invariably put off because the jigs to make or setup time was such a pain using a drill press etc. I have used about 5% of the mills capability so far but I can already justify the purchase... well at least in my mind! [emoji3]


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[Duker]

With most of my time spent on building my Barndominium and metal shop I really have not had much to show or post for projects.

However, some things are starting to be done “in’ the shop versus “on” the shop so I thought I would revive this thread. Some of the upcoming projects are:

Finishing a base and die storage rack for a tube bender I picked up as an addition to a balder grinder I purchased off of Craigslist. It was brand new still in the crate. I am thinking it might be useful in building my new front gate.



Refurbishing some Lyon and Stronghold storage cabinets I bought at auction....



The most recent was the conversion of my engine lift to an air/hydraulic ram. I highly recommend it as the speed to raise the boom is totally worth it!






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[zmotorsports]

Looks great Duke. It's a good feeling to actually be working in the shop rather than on it, isn't it?

I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving. I hope all is well and you can enjoy this day of Thanksgiving.