Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT Grumblebums Corner

[Grumblebum]

That looks great to me.

I am no welder but I have welded overhead (notice I didn't say overhead welding) Having a lift is a wonderful thing for many reasons. It is real nice to have when welding over head. It allows you to get away from the splatter mostly. Maybe I'll take a couple of snaps and then you can give me some pointers on how to improve my skills.

A lift would certainly help. The problem I have in the welding cubicle is that you can't really brace your body against anything to keep steady - I'm sure this is just practice thing though...

The instructors keep saying it's lots of practice, but I think knowing a few techniques etc is a great help as you have 1/2 a clue as to how the weld is supposed to look etc.

GB, Wow those welds look fantastic.

Regards

Thanks very muchly 1/2 cup

Here is a teaser of what just got delivered to my office

View media item 60369
Cheers GB.

 

[BBChevro]

Are you sure that's going to work here - it might be spinning in the wrong direction for Australia?


Just kidding GB, it looks like a great invention - a lot of trucks use a pre-cleaner that works in a similar way, but I'd never thought of having one for a shop vac.



Your welds are looking really good too - and as for overhead, I try to avoid it as much as I can (I really don't like being in a "molten steel rain-storm").

 

[Terrick down Under]

GB, please tell me how this works out, I have been looking at those cyclones for a while and just...undecided.
My best secret for welding the perfect pattern in the beads, Is from gripping the handset tightly and then my natural shaking starts and we get a perfect weave. I cant help it, it is a muscle condition in my forearm, that is sometimes very annoying, like hitting your funny bone.

 

[Lyndon]

Rod

Did you get that here? I was wondering about the availability of those out here.....

And I recognise the floor of your office behind the box - see you still haven't cleaned up in there......

Does Dave still work with you??

Lyndon
Beavering away in the corner at work.....

 

[Lyndon]

.
.
.
.
.
My best secret for welding the perfect pattern in the beads, Is from gripping the handset tightly and then my natural shaking starts and we get a perfect weave. I cant help it, it is a muscle condition in my forearm, that is sometimes very annoying, like hitting your funny bone.

Gee T, is that a good thing (I guess it is if you can use it to be productive???).

Lyndon
Wondering?

 

[dlcwent]

I shouldn't chime in here as GB is the one taking the welding lessons. But I'm a big mouth and love to give my opinion (rather right or wrong)( and usually wrong) The only lessons I've gotten are from my neighbor that is a professional welder(30 years working as a welder for a company that builds ships for the US Navy) The "shake" is per say a technique that incorporates the "stitching" that should be used when one is welding. Am I right about this GB? And PLEASE don't hesitate to tell me I'm wrong.(As I've said before, I am not a welder)

WOW I probably just sounded like a complete ****. waiting for a correction and will apologize for "thread Jumping"

And G'day 1/2 cup. why are you even bothering to check in here to see what the rest of us are up to? This is the start of your holiday and you should be having a 1/2 cup moment and not checking into what the rest of us are doing for the next few weeks.

Okay not following some very good advice..............Don't post after a few beers. "You're not making any sense"..............Dan heading off to bed. The "big" auction starts in 14 hours.

 

[1/2 Cup]

I shouldn't chime in here as GB is the one taking the welding lessons. But I'm a big mouth and love to give my opinion (rather right or wrong)( and usually wrong) The only lessons I've gotten are from my neighbor that is a professional welder(30 years working as a welder for a company that builds ships for the US Navy) The "shake" is per say a technique that incorporates the "stitching" that should be used when one is welding. Am I right about this GB? And PLEASE don't hesitate to tell me I'm wrong.(As I've said before, I am not a welder)

WOW I probably just sounded like a complete ****. waiting for a correction and will apologize for "thread Jumping"

And G'day 1/2 cup. why are you even bothering to check in here to see what the rest of us are up to? This is the start of your holiday and you should be having a 1/2 cup moment and not checking into what the rest of us are doing for the next few weeks.

Okay not following some very good advice..............Don't post after a few beers. "You're not making any sense"..............Dan heading off to bed. The "big" auction starts in 14 hours.

Dan, I just have to keep you blokes on the straight and narrow.

 

[dlcwent]

Strewth my friend. We need you here to keep us on the up and up.

Did I use that properly?

 

[Denwood]

A lift would certainly help. The problem I have in the welding cubicle is that you can't really brace your body against anything to keep steady - I'm sure this is just practice thing though...

The instructors keep saying it's lots of practice, but I think knowing a few techniques etc is a great help as you have 1/2 a clue as to how the weld is supposed to look etc.



Thanks very muchly 1/2 cup

Here is a teaser of what just got delivered to my office

View media item 60369
Cheers GB.

You'll be quite happy with it G I did a few mods on the intake side (where dust enters the cyclone) to cut it back, and shape it for better flow. Depending on your tube size, (if it fits over the intake, rather than into it) you may find that spot may be a clog site. I'll take a pic or two. I just mod'd the pipe edges a bit so that there were no internal edges for debris to catch on.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Strewth my friend. We need you here to keep us on the up and up.

Did I use that properly?

Dan, you would certainly pass our citizenship test. Well done.

I would brush up on Cricket, Aussie Rules and what beers are the best as some of those questions trip up potential newcomers.

Regards

 

[dlcwent]

Thanks 1/2 cup. Will take that advice. Have a great day and I'll say goodnight.

 

[Grumblebum]

Are you sure that's going to work here - it might be spinning in the wrong direction for Australia?

Just kidding GB, it looks like a great invention - a lot of trucks use a pre-cleaner that works in a similar way, but I'd never thought of having one for a shop vac.

Your welds are looking really good too - and as for overhead, I try to avoid it as much as I can (I really don't like being in a "molten steel rain-storm").

No hurricanes today BB

My arm has a few holes in it from the "molten steel rain-storm", when that happens your weld suddenly goes wonky too.

 

[Lyndon]

Hey Rod

How did that auction go up near Wilton that happened while I was away. I heard from someone else (that had a sausage sizzle fund raiser at the place) that it was huge.

Did you get anything (the old E-Type say).....?

Lyndon
Just wondering?

 

[Grumblebum]

GB, please tell me how this works out, I have been looking at those cyclones for a while and just...undecided.
My best secret for welding the perfect pattern in the beads, Is from gripping the handset tightly and then my natural shaking starts and we get a perfect weave. I cant help it, it is a muscle condition in my forearm, that is sometimes
very annoying, like hitting your funny bone.

So far I like the DD - see post below when I type it shortly.

Seems everyone has their own way of doing beads, circles, V's, W's etc. The instructor said he does little circles to keep from getting bored

Rod

Did you get that here? I was wondering about the availability of those out here.....

Yep - from Carba-tec.

And I recognise the floor of your office behind the box - see you still haven't cleaned up in there......

It's taken way longer than I expected to get my new found GJ organization into the office unfortunately - apart from that people keep dumping their **** there for me to fix

Does Dave still work with you??

Yep

Lyndon
Beavering away in the corner at work.....

 

[Grumblebum]

I shouldn't chime in here as GB is the one taking the welding lessons. But I'm a big mouth and love to give my opinion (rather right or wrong)( and usually wrong) The only lessons I've gotten are from my neighbor that is a professional welder(30 years working as a welder for a company that builds ships for the US Navy) The "shake" is per say a technique that incorporates the "stitching" that should be used when one is welding. Am I right about this GB? And PLEASE don't hesitate to tell me I'm wrong.(As I've said before, I am not a welder)

As long as his "shake" and "stitch" has appropriate fusion and no pitting then I guess it will work

WOW I probably just sounded like a complete ****. waiting for a correction and will apologize for "thread Jumping"

30 years vs 5 minutes - I'm sure he wins.

And G'day 1/2 cup. why are you even bothering to check in here to see what the rest of us are up to? This is the start of your holiday and you should be having a 1/2 cup moment and not checking into what the rest of us are doing for the next few weeks.

Best thing with 5 minutes to yourself is get a coffee and have a late start after catching up on some of the longer threads.

Okay not following some very good advice..............Don't post after a few beers. "You're not making any sense"..............Dan heading off to bed. The "big" auction starts in 14 hours.

Awaiting your auction report over on your thread. How many beers is a few ? I think you are ok - unless you have magical autocorrect your typing seems coherent.

 

[Grumblebum]

Strewth my friend. We need you here to keep us on the up and up.

Did I use that properly?

 

[Grumblebum]

You'll be quite happy with it G I did a few mods on the intake side (where dust enters the cyclone) to cut it back, and shape it for better flow. Depending on your tube size, (if it fits over the intake, rather than into it) you may find that spot may be a clog site. I'll take a pic or two. I just mod'd the pipe edges a bit so that there were no internal edges for debris to catch on.

Thanks Dennis, today I just did a quick and dirty to get it going - some pics in next post.

I will need to now work out appropriate hoses etc and maybe a kit like you purchased.

Thanks for dropping in.

GB.

 

[Grumblebum]

So today I was madly working away building some outdoor art mural frames for wifie that she has been wanting for ages to hang on the back fence behind each of the vege plots. So I figured that was a good mothers day thing to do as I prefer to make something myself it time permits.

Anyway before you continue you should visit Denwood's thread from post #1030 and read about his dust extraction setup using the Dust Deputy.

This link shoud goto the start of it.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5705603#post5705603

I picked up mine from Carbatec here:

https://www.carbatec.com.au/dust-control/accessories/dust-deputy-deluxe-1-c-6kg-35-35-49-cm

My shop vac is basically a domestic vac. It's an old VAX 2000 1200W wet & dry vac. I purchased this back in 2003 and it's proceeded to do the first renovation on the house (pre-extension) and every workshop type job since. It's even vacuumed the roof out after the freckle heads I paid to do it properly didn't ...so it's done some work, however it's hose is only 1.5" - so getting a bit small for this job.

I needed to get into it today so I just wipped out the old grey duct tape and got the hoses going. Will need to work out some proper hosing and work out what fittings I need but it worked a treat.

View media item 60424
View media item 60425
This is what was left after ripping a few old lengths of 4"x2" cedar and oregon down. Most of this is pretty much what chips out the top of the cut as the table saw blade comes over.

View media item 60426
View media item 60427
There was a good couple of inches in the bottom of the bucket. The vac still had an old bag and filters due for a clean in it so I am pretty happy so far. Once I get the hoses and fittings sorted this makes for a very lightweight and portable dust extraction system.

View media item 60428
I will also do a couple of the mods I found on you tube to reinforce the lid with ply bracing - just type "dust deputy" into you tube if you are interested a number of relevant videos come up.

Likely I'll setup some blast gates like Denwood has along the back wall so that I can hook on a few hoses for either general vacuuming, cleaning cars, one of the saws or power tools.

A few more bits of todays happenings to post tomorrow once I can take some pics in the daylight.

Thanks for reading.

GB.

 

[Grumblebum]

Hey Rod

How did that auction go up near Wilton that happened while I was away. I heard from someone else (that had a sausage sizzle fund raiser at the place) that it was huge.

Did you get anything (the old E-Type say).....?

Lyndon
Just wondering?

Lyndon I didn't go, reports from the guys that went said there were lot of people that turned up (hundreds) and wanted to pay above retail for junk.

So I don't think you missed anything.

Cheers GB.

 

[rmalkow2]

Thanks for the pics and progress report on the dust collector. It seems like a pretty good but simple system. Looking at what was caught in the bucket and then thinking about that much being thrown about the shop if no collection system was used. What a difference.

 

[Grumblebum]

Thanks for the pics and progress report on the dust collector. It seems like a pretty good but simple system. Looking at what was caught in the bucket and then thinking about that much being thrown about the shop if no collection system was used. What a difference.

Thanks RM. Definitely an improvement. Before I just cut outside, but it made a heck of a mess.

 

[Grumblebum]

So following on from yesterday I was making some mural frames for the back garden...

In true irony to the Dust Deputy I had to use my router to rebate out a groove for 9mm ply to fit into those lengths I ripped down on the table saw - so no dust extraction here.

View media item 60434
Pre-drilled, glued, clamped and screwed...

View media item 60435
And after a late night last night, painted in the colours that match the kids cubby house...and they went down a hit this morning for mothers day.

View media item 60436
Now Drives you will be pleased to know that today I used my vise break finally. Had to make up some brackets that can be rivited to the colorbond back fence and allow the frames to sit in (also want them a bit harder to remove so the kids don't knock them down running around the yard). I had to use the 7" wood vise to hold the brake as the 4" vise did not have enough depth to allow me to work on the size of the galvanised sheet. (does this mean I need an engineers vise now ?)

As the sheet was wider than 4" I had to work it along the seam back and forward to get the bend.

View media item 60437
It was a bit of a work out and by the 3rd bracket I needed some more leverage.

View media item 60438
And I ended up with these...they will span 2 ridges in the colorbond fence panels.

View media item 60439
To mount them to the frames I used a strip of timber that I ripped down yesterday. (It will be sealed prior to installation outside). The flat part of the sheet you see there gets rivited to the fence.

View media item 60440
And another little side project was making up a small chicken tractor (without the wheels) for the growing little chicks if you remember we picked up around 6 weeks back.

I used leftover stud wall bracing and covered it with 1/2" wire mesh. Still needs a few tie downs and trimming but it's pegged down and they survived their first night outside quite safely.

View media item 60441
Living quarters at the moment is the lawn mower catcher They will spend probably about 6 weeks here before joining the other 2 hens.

View media item 60442
Drats - back to work tomorrow. Cheers GB

 

[dlcwent]

That is a great idea for a dust collection system Rod. I think I can duplicate it and put it to good use when I need to. And no doubt, you need an engineers brake. Not because the vise brake didn't do a fantastic job, but because, well just because you need one.

Still got to get through Mother's day before the work week starts for us. Thanks for posting up the dust collection system. And I'll check out Dennis's also.

 

[drivesitfar]

GB: WOW that vise break can even do a decent job making bends using a small wood vise. imagine how it will work with my 190 pound REED 4C. OMG I need to find one of those. I wonder if they made any old Vintage ones? or if not even if I have to walk into a HF (our store for all MADE IN CHINA STUFF) i'm going to get one.

we've been talking about making chicken pens and almost HOTELS for the them over on the PNW thread last week and here's the link.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=314689

in any case one thing I heard was that the critters that EAT chicken besides us of course can burrow under pens that are not wired at least a foot under ground or that have cement or rock foundations.

I also really like your angle iron and old wood bench. easy to pop a steel top on that frame if you might need it to weld on later or look at all the welding table threads in fabrication. I have a few pictures of ideas for welding tables that i'm going to make and here's the link to get you started if you want to take a look.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=280441&highlight=welding

great stuff as per the usual and hope you had a great MOM'S day Down under.

 

[1/2 Cup]

GB Well done and great to see the vise break has come in handy for you.

Regards

 

[Grumblebum]

That is a great idea for a dust collection system Rod. I think I can duplicate it and put it to good use when I need to. And no doubt, you need an engineers brake. Not because the vise brake didn't do a fantastic job, but because, well just because you need one.

Still got to get through Mother's day before the work week starts for us. Thanks for posting up the dust collection system. And I'll check out Dennis's also.

Thanks Dan, although I had seen the Dust Deputy some time ago pre-GJ days, it is only recently I've had more of a requirement for it. Once I saw denwood's setup that was motivation enough for me

And like everything else once you have it you don't know how you did without it before.

 

[Grumblebum]

GB: WOW that vise break can even do a decent job making bends using a small wood vise. imagine how it will work with my 190 pound REED 4C. OMG I need to find one of those. I wonder if they made any old Vintage ones? or if not even if I have to walk into a HF (our store for all MADE IN CHINA STUFF) i'm going to get one.

we've been talking about making chicken pens and almost HOTELS for the them over on the PNW thread last week and here's the link.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=314689

in any case one thing I heard was that the critters that EAT chicken besides us of course can burrow under pens that are not wired at least a foot under ground or that have cement or rock foundations.

I also really like your angle iron and old wood bench. easy to pop a steel top on that frame if you might need it to weld on later or look at all the welding table threads in fabrication. I have a few pictures of ideas for welding tables that i'm going to make and here's the link to get you started if you want to take a look.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=280441&highlight=welding

great stuff as per the usual and hope you had a great MOM'S day Down under.

Drives thanks for keeping tabs over here. I was bending sheet that was 1.1mm thick. The brake is supposed to do up to 2mm however I think that will be a workout - maybe a bigger vise would help. Once some of the other guys try theirs out we'll have an idea. But for small stuff it works great.

I had a quick look in the Dawn range of offset engineers vises over a cup of tea today - man are they pricey, so it will just be keeping an eye out for an old restoration 4" or 5" opportunity in the sub $100 range I think.

Yep we have foxes and chicken Hawks here that will enjoy your flock if you don't keep them secure. Bush rats and cats will have a go too on the smaller ones. I lost 3 hens to a fox a bit over a year ago in a dawn raid so I'm more vigilant to make sure they are locked in at night now. All part of owning poultry.

If you nip back to Page 7 post #126, you will see the start of my welding bench twins that I made. The large bench you are referring to I try very hard to keep clutter free so that it always at the ready to wheel around to use during projects. I've been thinking of making a modification to the top to insert a sheet of ply that matches the other counter tops as I find too much debris gets stuck between the planks as it is now. The original design on that bench I had fold up wings on each end so that you could work with longer materials, so one day I might get around to that too.

I'll be sure to look at those threads - I have spent a little time reading in the fab thread.

Cheers GB.

 

[dlcwent]

A few weeks back I went and looked at a Jet system that was for sale. As little as I do wood work, I decided not to spend the money on it. Mostly because of the size it was. I don't want that much space being used up in my shop. But the set up you have is definitely something I can live with. And I'm quite sure that once I get it set up and am using it, I'll agree that I'll be saying how did I get by without one.

 

[Grumblebum]

GB Well done and great to see the vise break has come in handy for you.

Regards

Thanks, it's a great little tool. Just the right time for that little project too.

GB.

 

[Grumblebum]

Welding course week 12

More overhead practice last night. Managed to keep the spatter under control better so I didn't get a heap of slag burns through my sleeve.

(sorry photos are not real good)

One of the root runs...

View media item 60529
And after 3 passes...

View media item 60530
We are working upto overhead **** welds which I think might be next week.

Back on my little Dust Deputy project, I found that my shop vac actually had an optional HEPA filter available so I picked one up online.

View media item 60528
I think now that with the DD doing all the grunt work the old vac will have an easier life. If time permits on the weekend I'll give it a bit of a tear down clean and see how it fairs.

Cheers GB

 

[1/2 Cup]

Your welds are looking better all the time GB.

Regards

 

[dlcwent]

Just checking in to see what's new here. Come on Rod, we know you haven't been sitting around doing nothing. Find some time for an update.

 

[BBChevro]

Your welds are looking better all the time GB.

Regards

I totally agree.

 

[Grumblebum]

Thanks guys, here is where I am at.

Last weekend all I did at home was hang the painting murals on the back fence behind the vegetable plots. Wifie and the kids have started planning their paintings and may start on them this weekend. The pic below is them hung using those brackets I made previously with the vise brake. The rest of last weekend was family time and helping my dad and brother with respective things on the Sunday.

View media item 60662
In true irony Dan, I've buggered up my sciatic nerve in my left leg a bit it seems (thought I'd just pulled a muscle or something the first couple of weeks) so after a few physio sessions it's a rest weekend this weekend unfortunately (I've already lost most of the week). Likely to take a couple of weeks to get it sorted, trying to do anything on it will just make it worse again. It's a pain in the a#%e (literally).

But, the next project I think for the garage is going to be French cleating the back wall as I'm sick of all the stuff that gets leaned up against it or that can't fit on there in the current configuration. Also have to move everything out of the way to clean, and really I want to get the vehicles back in the garage which is what I built it for. So the back wall currently looks like this...

View media item 60663
I've been thinking about what to do here for a while and I figured I would get some slat wall panels or something. But then came onto French cleats and they will work perfectly. After googling the french cleating pictures I ended back up in GJ territory on a cool thread by lilscorpion who has done a heap of cool french cleating amongst other pretty cool feats of organisation, check out his thread here if you haven't already. I've just spent most of the last few nights reading it. http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=174553&highlight=lilscorpion

To cleat the wall I will use what my brother has just removed as skirting and architrave from his new place. The PO for what ever reason decided to use 3/4" x 6" pine boards with three 4" nails in each piece holding it to the wall. Looked horrible. So I will have some nice long lengths of that to use. I hope to be able to rip a 45 angle exactly in half on them with the table saw and be in business. I know a lot of guys prefer to use ply for the cleats, but the pine I think will be fine once sanded and coated in poly, apart from that the price is right

The air compressor still needs to be relocated to the "plant" room under the house, but I need a good couple of days to dedicate to that as I need to fab up some brackets for the base and plumb in the hard lines to where I want them.

Still lots to do, thanks for checking in.

Cheers GB

 

[1/2 Cup]

GB, you are doing my head in looking at your setup well done.

Your murals look fantastic.

Take good care and be easy on yourself. One thing Mrs 1/2 Cup says to me all the time is "listen to what your body is telling you" and as usual she is on the money.

Regards

 

[taumac]

GB, you are doing my head in looking at your setup well done.



Your murals look fantastic.



Take good care and be easy on yourself. One thing Mrs 1/2 Cup says to me all the time is "listen to what your body is telling you" and as usual she is on the money.



Regards

1/2 said it. Your body will tell you it's just up to us to listen. I can't say I always listen. I still think I'm 20 and body yells WTF!!!! That will teach ya! LOL I gonna out cleat system.

 

[Grumblebum]

Yep I think the days of "**** it up princess" are done for me.

Thanks fellas.

 

[Strouty]

The french cleat works well, for sure, the things that lilscorpion has done far exceed my abilities. Looking good overall, now I am interested in one of those vise brakes, I keep seeing them pop up in threads.

 

[Terrick down Under]

"says to me all the time is "listen to what your body is telling you""
When my body says something to me and I mention it to DW, she says she has a headache!!!.....go figure.

 

[drivesitfar]

GB: great idea with the murals.

i'm planning on hanging a fairly heavy cabinet above my workbench with French cleats after hearing from a few members that is the best way. there are a few posts about it on the metal cabinets thread over in vintage section if you have time to take a peek.

your garage looks great and would love to see it on my NEW ORGANIZING 101 thread that won't be just about my STUFF.

cheers and always fun to see what you are up to.