Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT Grumblebums Corner

[Grumblebum]

Finally finished off the walk in wardrobe in the master bedroom this week Officially that is the last internal room to finish on this little owner builder project I started back in 2009 (2003 if you want to count whats been done since purchasing the property).

The focus will now be to finish off outside around the house and yard. Things like a section of fence to replace, driveway resurfacing, bagging and painting the old footing brickwork and piers, enclosing off underneath the original section of the house between the piers, entertainment area and so on...you get the idea.

Anyway to more important things at hand. ...Homebrew...

Tonight the kids crashed and burned pretty early so I thought I'd throw on a homebrew to start building up a supply again. Damn carton of beer is pretty much $50 a pop now - ridiculous.

I had an Apple Cider that my wife picked up last time she grabbed some more bottle wash powder and sterilizing solution for me. First time I've done an Apple Cider so keen to see how it goes. We visited Tasmania last October for a week and tried several local ciders whist there that were quite impressive.



It required some contents from tub no 4. "Homebrew Supplies"



Pretty easy to do, mix it all together with hot but not boiling water and top up to 18L (4.7Gal). Sprinkle the yeast over the top and she will sit for a week or so to ferment before bottling.



Hopefully can get 3 or 4 brews done over the next couple of weeks before summer hits and it starts tickling into those days of 30C+ (86F+) where it makes the brew ferment way too fast.

Cheers Grumblebum.

 

[Grumblebum]

Bit of a free score today. Was in the office sorting some gear for a job tomorrow. Noticed the guys next door are inbetween skip loads (they fill one every other day) and on the pile for the next skip was this heavy duty extension cable of about 20mts.

Just needs a new female plug fitted, it otherwise has no other damage.

Laid it out in the sun for a while and it rolled up nicely again.





These retail for $30+ at the big box stores.

Cheers Grumblebum.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Been busy by the sounds of things GB, looking forward to seeing how your cider goes.

Nice score on the extension leads as well.

Regards

 

[taumac]

Nice find! You'll be amazed at how many extension cords and garden hoses that I see toss for garbage because of bad end.

 

[Grumblebum]

Been busy by the sounds of things GB, looking forward to seeing how your cider goes.

Nice score on the extension leads as well.

Regards

Cheers 1/2, I will bottle the cider tomorrow as it's been almost two weeks.

Nice find! You'll be amazed at how many extension cords and garden hoses that I see toss for garbage because of bad end.

Where I am the local Council will let you have a free pickup of "tip" stuff from the front of your house once a year I think. They never turn up when people book in the pickup and I suggest it is to allow the "pickers" among us to peruse and pick off anything useful first. There are a few scrap guys you see around that just drive around and pick up any scrap.

Personally I'm not one to dump out the front of my place.

Cheers Grumblebum.

 

[Grumblebum]

Welding/Woodwork benches part 1.

Today wifie had kindly taken the kids out for the day after I took them to swimming lessons this morning. Ironically it was crappy weather with rain all day on and off as soon as I had a chance to do a garage related project

During GJ+Beer deliberations a few weeks ago I had come up with a sketch. Basically two identical benches that would be able to be clamped/bolted together to make a larger bench when needed. Benches are 15" wide x 32.5" long x 39" high which will let them pop under the shelf where my air compressor currently lives.



All the steel I had obtained for free some time ago which is a good start. So this project should only cost about $60 for what I paid for the 8 castors + plus some flapper/cutting discs - but they last multiple projects anyway so the cost is not a lot.



Hopefully once they are done I won't have to use inadequate support structures for projects anymore . I would have moved out the other mobile bench but it's busy minding a cider brew.



Still had my dad's cut off saw here from working on the box trailer chassis. They are useless for cutting 45 angles, so ended up doing that by hand with the 5" grinder and a thin cutting disc. Just used the cutoff saw for straight cuts in the end.



Rough layout of the tops after a couple hours - fiddly stuff. These will likely have a base of ply so that a sheet of I think 8mm plate I have can be cut to fit on the top of each.



So I have now got the tops cut and legs cut for each. The kids have a party tomorrow to goto so if all goes well I might be able to get some welding done (although will probably run out of gas as the bottle is getting low and the welding shop is of course closed on a Sunday).



Cheers Grumblebum.

 

[Denwood]

Grumb, I'll be following along with interest. I'm in need of a very stable work table with a metal surface, that will also disappear when not needed. Between you, 1/2, and the rest of GJ, there are a lot of good ideas.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Consider your plans endorsed and approved Grumblebum, they are going to be very functional.

 

[Grumblebum]

Grumb, I'll be following along with interest. I'm in need of a very stable work table with a metal surface, that will also disappear when not needed. Between you, 1/2, and the rest of GJ, there are a lot of good ideas.

Consider your plans endorsed and approved Grumblebum, they are going to be very functional.

Thanks for the comments guys, much appreciated

 

[Grumblebum]

Welding/Woodwork benches part 2.

By 11am today the kids were off to a party so I was back into it by about 1/4 past.

Started off getting the top frames squared up and welded up. Had to call in my other mobile bench today for assistance.



Was getting low on gas, so apart from the top frames I just tacked up the rest and will weld up fully later.



Used the first top frame as the template for the second top to ensure they were the same. They came within a 1/16" of square so I was happy with that considering the hand cut 45 angles.



I hit all the tube lengths with a 120 grit flapper disc to get them tidied up a bit and cleaned off the ends for a clean weld. Indeed I love having two grinders now - no more changing cutting discs and flapper discs

First round of legs attached...



Twins!!!... Can you spot my 1/4" inch error ? Damn flipped a length around on the cutoff saw and hit the wrong side of the line. Doh! should have x marked the cut off side like I normally do.



Bottom shelf supports tacked in...



So I'll grab a new bottle of gas during the week and see how I go. Will need to fiddle a bit to make the 1/4" thick plate with nut welded in for the threaded castor wheels to screw into then get them welded on so we become mobile.

Thanks for reading. That's another weekend gone!

Cheers Grumblebum.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Looking fantastic GB, your right the weekends are not long enough.

 

[taumac]

I really like the twins. Looking to see how you put them together.

 

[Grumblebum]

Looking fantastic GB, your right the weekends are not long enough.

Thanks 1/2 Cup...and it's Monday again. That's another weekend come and gone - did you see it coming ?

I really like the twins. Looking to see how you put them together.

Thanks Taumac, some more pics shortly.

 

[Grumblebum]

Wow, the weekend has come and gone again. Not a lot of progress but did bottle the Apple Cider so will see how that tastes in a couple of weeks.

18 Litres produced 22 x 750ml bottles.

 

[Grumblebum]

Welding/Woodwork benches part 3.

Some small progress on the benches on Sunday. Mainly prepped the bottom plates and drilled a 12.5mm hole to allow the threaded shaft of the castor through and welded the nut on the back of the plate.

I need to look into some shorter shaft drill bits for the press as I only just had enough room to drill with the one I had. However I do like the drill press vise it worked very well.



...nuts tacked on



...and finally mobile - these are getting heavy to maneuver around now



...fits under - just!



...and the table saw fits too



So next is to finish off a couple of welds on the first bench then get it's twins wheels on and finish welding that one up along with some steel angle tabs that can be used to bolt or clamp them together to make a bigger work area.

Then it's paint and trimming up some timbers for the top and the shelf at the bottom.

I have a piece of steel plate that will be cut to sit flush in the top of each bench. How do others keep the top of their welding benches, ie is there something that can be coated onto it that does not hinder the welding process yet prevents surface rust forming when not in use ?

Cheers Grumblebum.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Wow, the weekend has come and gone again. Not a lot of progress but did bottle the Apple Cider so will see how that tastes in a couple of weeks.

18 Litres produced 22 x 750ml bottles.

I may need to do a sampling GB

For QA reasons only.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Welding/Woodwork benches part 3.

Some small progress on the benches on Sunday. Mainly prepped the bottom plates and drilled a 12.5mm hole to allow the threaded shaft of the castor through and welded the nut on the back of the plate.

I need to look into some shorter shaft drill bits for the press as I only just had enough room to drill with the one I had. However I do like the drill press vise it worked very well.



...nuts tacked on



...and finally mobile - these are getting heavy to maneuver around now



...fits under - just!



...and the table saw fits too



So next is to finish off a couple of welds on the first bench then get it's twins wheels on and finish welding that one up along with some steel angle tabs that can be used to bolt or clamp them together to make a bigger work area.

Then it's paint and trimming up some timbers for the top and the shelf at the bottom.

I have a piece of steel plate that will be cut to sit flush in the top of each bench. How do others keep the top of their welding benches, ie is there something that can be coated onto it that does not hinder the welding process yet prevents surface rust forming when not in use ?

Cheers Grumblebum.

Looking great GB.

I just wipe mine over, you could try spraying some spatter guard??

 

[Grumblebum]

Looking great GB.

I just wipe mine over, you could try spraying some spatter guard??

Ahh good idea 1/2. Thanks.

 

[Grumblebum]

I may need to do a sampling GB

For QA reasons only.

Actually keen to do some QA myself being the first cider I've done Might get a pale ale started tonight now that the kids are off in dreamland.

Cheers GB.

 

[Grumblebum]

Was just doing a bit of tidy up tonight in the garage and took a couple of pics of the pantry storage cupboard setup while I had to pack some things away.

Basically these tubs are what I call my "Trade" tubs as they contain materials related to just a particular task.

Tubs are:

• Sanding - sandpaper, sanding blocks, wall crack filler, misc sanding implements
• Painting - brushes, trays, rollers, stirring sticks
• Auto electrical - cable, misc plugs and adapters, sockets, battery terminals etc
• Electrical - junction boxes, gang plates, misc flex conduit
• Tiling - tile cutter, spacers, grout
• Plumbing - misc fittings, teflon tape, offcuts of copper tube

The idea is I can grab a tub and see if I have what I need, if it's not in there then I don't have it - so no time mucking about looking for stuff.

Not real exciting but it might give someone else an idea to use.





Also wifie picked these up at the local green big box store today, it's just spray glitter stuff to do pine cones for decorations, she had no idea about rust-oleum but I kinda got excited as it's the first time we've had it here and I've only otherwise seen others here talking about it during various projects.



Still hoping to get some more welding time in on the benches, will have to see what the weekend brings.

Cheers Grumblebum.

 

[1/2 Cup]

GB your storage tubs look great, you wot know your self.

Regards

 

[xtremek]

So what's going under the other table? They look really nice. If you get bored you can drop by my place and build me a couple.

 

[Grumblebum]

GB your storage tubs look great, you wot know your self.

Regards

They have worked really well 1/2. I've had them for a while now and they came about by virtue of building the extension/renovating over the last 5 years, just needed a place for all the trade type bits you acquire from the process.

Cheers Grumblebum.

 

[Grumblebum]

So what's going under the other table? They look really nice. If you get bored you can drop by my place and build me a couple.

Thanks xtremek. I am not yet sure what the second bench will have underneath. I was thinking about having an angle iron brace under the bench top so I can store one of the 4" vises upside down when not in use (it would be mounted on a base so it would slide in easily). I'm going to mount the 7" woodwork vise under the other one.

Half a thought is possibly use it to store the bench drill press. I really like having my other mobile bench without clutter on top. It would also be better as home for the drill press as the swarf would be easier to clean up off a steel top than the pine planks on the other one.

I will have to test everything out once I get them all buttoned up and see what works best. This weekend was running around after kids so no welding time (apart from fixing up the ironing board). Just at the wrong end of the year to make much progress on projects.

Still keeping an eye out for some flat bar so I can make the tray caddies like you have done too.

Thanks for checking in.

 

[BBChevro]

Hey GB, I just caught up on your thread - you appear to be going ahead in leaps and bounds.


Although I hadn't got around to building my small portable welding table, I was confident of how I was going to build it - now I see your twins, I may need to revise my plan.



As for picking up swarf from an irregular surface...

I do most of my cutting, grinding & welding outside on old exposed-aggregate concrete - the dustpan & brush just doesn't get it out of the low spots.

I've found the best clean-up tool to be old magnetic sheets (the ones that companies give out with advertising to stick on your fridge).

Just a few taps over the area, then poke a corner into the hard to get spots and wipe it off over a bin - it works for me.



Yours is becoming another one of those "must watch" threads, great work.

 

[Grumblebum]

Hey GB, I just caught up on your thread - you appear to be going ahead in leaps and bounds.


Although I hadn't got around to building my small portable welding table, I was confident of how I was going to build it - now I see your twins, I may need to revise my plan.



As for picking up swarf from an irregular surface...

I do most of my cutting, grinding & welding outside on old exposed-aggregate concrete - the dustpan & brush just doesn't get it out of the low spots.

I've found the best clean-up tool to be old magnetic sheets (the ones that companies give out with advertising to stick on your fridge).

Just a few taps over the area, then poke a corner into the hard to get spots and wipe it off over a bin - it works for me.



Yours is becoming another one of those "must watch" threads, great work.

Thanks for the kind words Mark, I'm happy that others find my tinkering of interest considering my short time here so far.

Also check out Gerard's small portable welding benches in his thread if you haven't seen it. He has some good ideas too.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

(they start with post #1215)

I need to get a weekday away from the office to finish welding up the benches while no one else is home to slow progress so to speak

Thanks for the swarf clean up tip.

Cheers Grumblebum.

 

[Grumblebum]

Welding/Woodwork benches part 4.

Had a couple of hours work on the benches today. Managed to get the second bench welded up and mobile.

The threaded castors were attached with a nut welded on the back of the base plates. I also found that the castors with the brake on them are about 1/16" taller than the ones without, luckily they are threaded so I could just screw up the front about a 1/16". Total height is 39".



Base plates and castors attached, just sprayed some WD40 in the thread before screwing the castors in.



First test out side-by-side and end-to-end, only thing I found was that when butting together the castors will hit each other, so I will need to pretty much have them joined up where I intend to work as trying to wheel them later won't work too well.

They feel very sturdy, I was concerned that they may not have been wide enough and a bit off balance once the wheels were on, but they are firm on their wheels.





And they even fit!

I fiddled with using the base of the second bench to store the drill press. When I picked it up to put down there I remembered why I wanted to keep it out and permanently mount it. It's only small but it's a heavy little sucker. So I think it's going to have life back on the larger mobile bench.





So they are both now mobile and almost usable. I probably need a day now to finish off.
- weld on some angle iron tabs to clamp/bolt them together
- setup one to accept the 7" wood vise
- setup the other to store the 4" bench vise when not in use
- cut the 8mm steel plate I have for the tops
- timber top support base and timber bottom shelf(s)
- clean and paint

Thanks for stopping by.

Cheers Grumblebum

 

[rmalkow2]

Very nice job! Those mobile benches will be very useful in the future and you did a great job planning how to store them when not in use.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Great work GB, a nice fit as well.

 

[taumac]

Thanks for the kind words Mark, I'm happy that others find my tinkering of interest considering my short time here so far.

Also check out Gerard's small portable welding benches in his thread if you haven't seen it. He has some good ideas too.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

(they start with post #1215)

I need to get a weekday away from the office to finish welding up the benches while no one else is home to slow progress so to speak

Thanks for the swarf clean up tip.

Cheers Grumblebum.

Thanks for the mention. It's also a good feeling I inspire others and their builds. Your tables look great and came out better than mine. Think I might have to redesign mine.

 

[Grumblebum]

Very nice job! Those mobile benches will be very useful in the future and you did a great job planning how to store them when not in use.

Thanks RM, now I have to get the air compressor relocated as it's now in the way after being booted out of it's home.

Great work GB, a nice fit as well.

Cheers 1/2, they did turn out to be a very snug fit

Thanks for the mention. It's also a good feeling I inspire others and their builds. Your tables look great and came out better than mine. Think I might have to redesign mine.

Taumac, I like your carts, and the ladder tops are a great idea and I might do that later too once I see what and how much welding I end up doing.

Cheers GB.

 

[BBChevro]

Thanks for the kind words Mark, I'm happy that others find my tinkering of interest considering my short time here so far.

Also check out Gerard's small portable welding benches in his thread if you haven't seen it. He has some good ideas too.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211899

(they start with post #1215)

I need to get a weekday away from the office to finish welding up the benches while no one else is home to slow progress so to speak

Thanks for the swarf clean up tip.

Cheers Grumblebum.

I am familiar with Gerard's twins as well, and may incorporate some design elements from his too - it really depends on what free stuff I find.

 

[Grumblebum]

I am familiar with Gerard's twins as well, and may incorporate some design elements from his too - it really depends on what free stuff I find.

Free is an important key where possible, mine are based on what I had available. The angle iron was what I pulled out in a small industrial unit we purchased at work, the previous guys had it as framing for storage (it also made my other mobile bench), and the box tube I picked up at a customers site one day as they had only used it to brace some demount-able buildings while moving them.

Only expense so far in these twins are the castors and likely a couple of cans of hammertone. So < $100 hopefully

Cheers GB.

 

[Grumblebum]

Small parts storage...

These caught my eye in one of the christmas catalogues on sale at one of the local automotive parts stores and I picked up a few yesterday to try out.

They are stackable steel storage trays for small parts storage that I figured would look ok on the bench and help with some clutter that was starting to build up.





Took a little deliberation to work out the best layout, the other plastic storage trays don't exactly match But I think they will work out ok and I'll be easily able to grab small bits'n'bobs that I use regularly enough.









The shelf in the corner stores 2 litre ice cream containers with other things like small battery chargers etc.



Cheers Grumblebum.

 

[rmalkow2]

Nice and neat. i'll have to shop around online and see if they sell those here. I like that they have wider drawer sizes.

 

[BBChevro]

You're a step ahead of me GB - well, actually more like a staircase than a step.

I've just recently started buying plastic multi-compartment trays - which is a big step up from my ice cream containers of mixed nuts and bolts, etc.

They look really good GB.

 

[1/2 Cup]

You're a step ahead of me GB - well, actually more like a staircase than a step.

I've just recently started buying plastic multi-compartment trays - which is a big step up from my ice cream containers of mixed nuts and bolts, etc.

They look really good GB.

Mark, I still do take away containers, my ice cream containers are a thing of the past.

GB, they look great.

 

[Grumblebum]

Nice and neat. i'll have to shop around online and see if they sell those here. I like that they have wider drawer sizes.

RM this is where I got them from, I'm sure you will find something similar. They do stack quite well - they just have a rubber plug in the bottom corners that sits in a divet of the one beneath. I like that they don't move around when you open a draw like the plastic ones do.

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/on.../workshop-storage.aspx?id=70904&brand=Toolpro

You're a step ahead of me GB - well, actually more like a staircase than a step.

I've just recently started buying plastic multi-compartment trays - which is a big step up from my ice cream containers of mixed nuts and bolts, etc.

They look really good GB.

Thanks BB. Yeah when I got into the forum here one of the first things I did was sort the ice cream containers of screws etc into the multi trays. Much better now. The ice cream containers I like for other odds and ends because they seal nicely and don't break and crack easily like the take away trays tend to do (sorry 1/2 cup). But I did steal the multi tray method from 1/2 cup way back early in his thread

Mark, I still do take away containers, my ice cream containers are a thing of the past.

GB, they look great.

Thanks, it's time for a beverage as wife is cooking stuff tonight for a gathering she has tomorrow with her friends, so I might go tinker for an hour.

Cheers GB.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Thanks BB. Yeah when I got into the forum here one of the first things I did was sort the ice cream containers of screws etc into the multi trays. Much better now. The ice cream containers I like for other odds and ends because they seal nicely and don't break and crack easily like the take away trays tend to do (sorry 1/2 cup). But I did steal the multi tray method from 1/2 cup way back early in his thread



Thanks, it's time for a beverage as wife is cooking stuff tonight for a gathering she has tomorrow with her friends, so I might go tinker for an hour.

Cheers GB.

I mainly use the take away containers for the not so every day stuff. The thing that I find with them is you can readily see what's inside them. Most of mine are labelled and they stack pretty well.

Not quite beer o'clock at this hour.

 

[jon72vega]

Grumblebum,
Wishing you and your family a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!