Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT Grumblebums Corner

[Grumblebum]

With the extra information I will add the best option would be to trick the charger into thinking the battery has some charge. Jump start the vehicle and let it build up some charge then switch off and hook up your tender charger. Many people forget they can do that. If it does not come good then the battery has expired. The other way you can do this is hook up a good battery to the flat battery and hook up the charger then after a short time disconnect the good battery and then see how the battery charges.

Sorry mate, I sort of follow that . The old battery still charges fine it's just that it's capacity has degraded. The indicator on the top still has the green 'ok' glow to it. It might be useful for my dad to use up at his place for starting bits of odd machinery still. I was going to run a recond charge on it over the weekend and then run the conductance test on it again with the tester to see if it makes any change to the CCA value...hope that makes some sense.

Cheers GB.

 

[Grumblebum]

Friday evenings thought process has now gone like this...

If I put the air compressor back where it was...

View media item 62992
And get a half decent air coil hose thingy and mount it up here...

View media item 62993
Then move the twins over here allowing me to keep the vise and drill press permanently mounted...

View media item 62994
Then there is room down here for at least 3 x 3 draw lateral file cabinets...

View media item 62995
Protrusion to the font of the vise handle is 22".

What does the consensus think ?

 

[rmalkow2]

Sounds like quality chess board planning to me. Thinking ahead at least 3 more moves. I love using a hose reel for most daily air needs. So much easier than messing with loose hose and having a place to store it the the job is done. I think you'll be glad for the upgrade.

 

[1/2 Cup]

GB, the consensus is

Are you going to buy a retractable hose reel?

I have a similar issue with my air hoses and long extension leads and I really need to find a better storage solution for them as well.

Looking forward to seeing what you end up doing..

Have a great weekend...

 

[dlcwent]

GB, I'm thinking you and Gerard have been trading secretes. I must confer with both of you as a little more careful planning on my part would make my shop a little bigger. At least give me more usable space. I'll be anxious to see the finished project also.

 

[taumac]

GB, I'm thinking you and Gerard have been trading secretes. I must confer with both of you as a little more careful planning on my part would make my shop a little bigger. At least give me more usable space. I'll be anxious to see the finished project also.

I wish.... Me and GB need to have a beer and trade secrets but I will say great minds think alike. [emoji482]

 

[taumac]

GB, I just caught up on your thread and has to back and review some things you done. I must admit I'm really impressed with your garage. [emoji482]

Ok now I'm thinking the twins should go back to there original location near the garage door. They just fit better there and easier to roll outside when needed and also remove the white shelf so then can have vise and drill press mounted all the time. I think if put compressor up front then it gives you more room around front of car. If needed to can nest a small work table above it for added surface. Now my opinion is I hate hose reels especially when that close to a compressor. It's better to just loop hose over the handle. Now I will say this. If you put your compressor in front of the garage THEN mount the hose reel up next to the garage door. I would add a manifold to your compressor with multiple quick connects. That way you can run a air hose from reel to compressor and keep one near compressor. I like running air hose instead of hard line incase you choose to change things around. I can post manifold I have on mine later.

 

[HOTFR8]

With the extra information I will add the best option would be to trick the charger into thinking the battery has some charge. Jump start the vehicle and let it build up some charge then switch off and hook up your tender charger. Many people forget they can do that. If it does not come good then the battery has expired. The other way you can do this is hook up a good battery to the flat battery and hook up the charger to both of them then after a short time disconnect the good battery and then see how the battery charges.

Sorry mate, I sort of follow that . The old battery still charges fine it's just that it's capacity has degraded. The indicator on the top still has the green 'ok' glow to it. It might be useful for my dad to use up at his place for starting bits of odd machinery still. I was going to run a recond charge on it over the weekend and then run the conductance test on it again with the tester to see if it makes any change to the CCA value...hope that makes some sense.

Cheers GB.

OK.... try charging two batteries at the same time. One must be better than the one down on charge. After a time disconnect the good one and let the charger run on the one that needs the most charge. I have tried to clarify what I posted earlier.

 

[Lyndon]

GB, I just caught up on your thread and has to back and review some things you done. I must admit I'm really impressed with your garage. [emoji482]

Ok now I'm thinking the twins should go back to there original location near the garage door. They just fit better there and easier to roll outside when needed and also remove the white shelf so then can have vise and drill press mounted all the time. I think if put compressor up front then it gives you more room around front of car. If needed to can nest a small work table above it for added surface. Now my opinion is I hate hose reels especially when that close to a compressor. It's better to just loop hose over the handle. Now I will say this. If you put your compressor in front of the garage THEN mount the hose reel up next to the garage door. I would add a manifold to your compressor with multiple quick connects. That way you can run a air hose from reel to compressor and keep one near compressor. I like running air hose instead of hard line in case you choose to change things around. I can post manifold I have on mine later. . . . . . . .

Rod

^^^^^

What Gerard said.....

Lyndon
Going back to my hole now!

P.S. Have you heard from Hewey?

 

[taumac]

GB here's how my compressor is set up. Forgive picture quality.

Ok I found the rotating 90 off old piece of equipment. It's meant to rotate while holding air pressure. I quick connection to the manifold. Then have 3 quick connects on manifold. At one point a hold 2 lines running off this. One to the bench and other is the hose I have looped on handle. If have a leaking leg just unhook in so compressor doesnt lose air. Right now I have no leaks and it can go weeks like that.

I have somewhere between 100 and 150 foot of air hose here. I had a hose reel by garage opener but here's the issue. I use my compressor to paint and do remodel in house. I have a smaller compressor but I can run this hose to anywhere in the house from the garage. If need to air out tires on the street or use impact on drive and especially when using a texture gun inside the house. Don't get me wrong hose reels have there place but in my space found I can wrap a lot of airline on the handle it easier. I like the quick at manifold and at outlet cause I can remove as needed to replace couplers as needed.

 

[taumac]

Rod



^^^^^



What Gerard said.....



Lyndon

Going back to my hole now!



P.S. Have you heard from Hewey?

LOL, that's funny.

 

[Grumblebum]

ALL thanks for the commentary and thoughts. It's great to have input from around the world on such things.

1/2 Cup, retractable hose reel is what I was trying to describe

Gerard, yep I have twin outlets on the tank, so I could run one up to a retractable reel and leave one for running out a manual hose. So that is a good way to do it. I remember reading about your dislike for hose reels. I used both outlets for a while building the house extension running 2 framing guns.

View media item 63002
The other thing is the 15 Amp socket for the air compressor and my welder is just above that white top too, so I'd have to move the compressor around each time to plug it in, but there is another 15 Amp socket near the back currently hidden in one of the chalkboard cupboards, I could pickup that circuit with a bit of fiddling to get the feed to the back wall in front of the cars too. Each one is a dedicated circuit over 4mm2 with one outlet each currently.

I think I've talked myself out of mounting the A/C in the little plant room under the house idea and running hard lines as there is a lot of work to make that happen and as it's 90+ kilos then I can't easily pull it out if I ever want to take the A/C somewhere to do a job or something.

45-50' of hose would meet all my needs to cover the garage and driveway to reach cars etc.

HOTFR8, I have the CTEK charger running on the old century battery in 'recond' mode at the moment so will see how that goes. I follow what you were saying now after reading a couple of times. You do need to be careful when hooking a new battery to a failing battery for too long as from what I understand the the failing battery can damage the good one as it tries to equalize with it.

Lyndon, yep heard from Hewey, we are good at the moment but he is just confirming a few things.

 

[HOTFR8]

HOTFR8, I have the CTEK charger running on the old century battery in 'recond' mode at the moment so will see how that goes. I follow what you were saying now after reading a couple of times. You do need to be careful when hooking a new battery to a failing battery for too long as from what I understand the the failing battery can damage the good one as it tries to equalize with it.

Good to know you follow. Post how the Recon mode works for you as that may be all you need to do.

 

[BBChevro]

Hey GB, while we're all throwing in our 2 cent's worth - I may as well open up a fresh can of worms...

I noticed that you have your pressure regulator/ water trap attached to the compressor (I did the same when I first bought my compressor) - the regulator/trap needs to be as far away from the compressor as practical (a lot of condensation will form in the hose near the compressor - and the regulator will be more accurate being closer to the working end too).

At the risk of running up a large tab, I have another 2 cents...
I would be hesitant to tailor the space too closely to the Hilux - unless you plan to keep it forever.

JMHO

Cheers

 

[Grumblebum]

Hey GB, while we're all throwing in our 2 cent's worth - I may as well open up a fresh can of worms...

I noticed that you have your pressure regulator/ water trap attached to the compressor (I did the same when I first bought my compressor) - the regulator/trap needs to be as far away from the compressor as practical (a lot of condensation will form in the hose near the compressor - and the regulator will be more accurate being closer to the working end too).

At the risk of running up a large tab, I have another 2 cents...
I would be hesitant to tailor the space too closely to the Hilux - unless you plan to keep it forever.

JMHO

Cheers

Thanks Mark, yeah there still needs to be some pondering before much else happens. The regulator is just where is was when I got the compressor so I've naturally given no thought to it's location. I guess I could mount it off the unit if I do the hose reel thing but I don't know that it would really be much further away though, maybe a foot or two ?

The main reason that nothing was ever really in front of the cars was so that I had plenty of space for them, and I don't really want wifie stressing out about hitting things either (I was planning some bump stop things on the floor also). I figured the French cleat system would let me hang a few things only sticking out 6 to 8 inches at most and that would be fine and still have plenty of space.

So maybe I go measure a few things like taumac suggested and maybe stick the A/C on my parking side with a small bench over it or maybe I make a custom bench on castors integrating the A/C and hose reel, hmm I like that idea too now.

But you are also right I need to make sure there is room for my future 76 series landcruiser wagon that is my planned upgrade from the Hilux in a few years time.

Thanks for the 2 cents, might sneak out for a quick session with the tape.

GB

 

[Grumblebum]

Well I'm officially off on 2 weeks of long service leave. And long overdue too I dare feel.

After a flat out day I have managed to run off with the family for a camping trip down the coast a bit about an hour away at Shoalhaven Heads. Got setup just on dark so will check out where we are when I can see in the am. We have what they call an ensuite camping site so you get your own private amenities which is a winner for those with hesitant or inexperienced at camping other halves.

I snuck in my iPad just so I can keep up on the GJ, if you miss even a night now it takes forever to catchup. Not telling the kids as I didn't let them bring theirs

Anyway a few beers have gone down so now that I'm all warm and cosy I need to break the seal again. ****** - it's 7.2 C.

Have a good weekend. GB.

 

[1/2 Cup]

GB, enjoy your time away from work..

 

[dlcwent]

Well I'm officially off on 2 weeks of long service leave. And long overdue too I dare feel.

After a flat out day I have managed to run off with the family for a camping trip down the coast a bit about an hour away at Shoalhaven Heads. Got setup just on dark so will check out where we are when I can see in the am. We have what they call an ensuite camping site so you get your own private amenities which is a winner for those with hesitant or inexperienced at camping other halves.

I snuck in my iPad just so I can keep up on the GJ, if you miss even a night now it takes forever to catchup. Not telling the kids as I didn't let them bring theirs

Anyway a few beers have gone down so now that I'm all warm and cosy I need to break the seal again. ****** - it's 7.2 C.

Have a good weekend. GB.

I hear you loud and clear on that statement. Enjoy your long overdue downtime.

 

[BBChevro]

Have a good holiday GB.

 

[Grumblebum]

Thanks guys. Back from a great little camping trip. Cold Friday night, windy Saturday night - but two perfect sunny days. Wifie and kids had a great time and the ensuite site was a definite winner.

Had the measuring tape out last night before bed and pondered a few ideas with a cold one. Going to change the kitchen setup a bit which should make things a bit more efficient.

Made a bit of a list before of what I'd like to get done over the next two weeks. Might be a bit ambitious but we shall see.

Cheers GB.

 

[dlcwent]

Glad to hear you had a good time Rod(or at least the DW and kids did)

I'll be waiting for your kitchen project if you decide to go with it.

 

[hewey]

Enjoy your time off mate.

 

[1/2 Cup]

GB, great to read that you all had a great time away, now that you are back from your trip I think all of us are just waiting to see what you get up to.

What ever that is, enjoy.

Regards

 

[Grumblebum]

Glad to hear you had a good time Rod(or at least the DW and kids did)

I'll be waiting for your kitchen project if you decide to go with it.

Thanks mate, my camper kitchen dream at the moment is a modified version of this:

http://www.drifta.com.au/swing-out-camper-trailer-kitchen/

Might see if they can make me a slightly shorter version but free standing as I have room inside the camper internal storage for it, but will modify to suit my sink setup with the water pump etc. I've got a some of the drifta canvas bags already and they are a fantastic product.

Enjoy your time off mate.

Thanks Hewey, let us know if your plans change for the 24th. Should be good to get a couple of beers in and maybe mess up Lyndon's garage a bit

GB, great to read that you all had a great time away, now that you are back from your trip I think all of us are just waiting to see what you get up to.

What ever that is, enjoy.

Regards

Thanks 1/2 Cup.

Well today went like this....

Kids dropped off - check.

Mobile diverted and no work calls - awesome.

Tea and choccy fudge sitting out in the morning sun - check.

View media item 63330
Today I got an interior detail done on the Hilux. Spent almost 4 hours on it (although I was taking care of some domestic duties today also), found that my drivers side floor mat has had it's day (worn out with a hole through it) and my seat covers have had it too (they have lasted 16 years so not bad). I notice that Aldi this week conveniently have 4x4 floor mats and seat covers so I might try to check them out.

Tomorrow will be a domestic duties day I think but will see what I can sneak in.

Cheers GB.

 

[Grumblebum]

Well so far the week has gone more in the way of domestic duties and such, so not much time for any projects I had planned.

However today I did at least get the lawns done and this afternoon took the top frame off the camper as I'd like to do a couple of changes to it before the next trip. Apart from that it has been bodged up a bit in it's past life.

It was all held on with just 4 roofing tek screws, probably a bit less than it needs really - I'll have to improve on that when I put it back on. I can't tell if they just screwed in through the aluminium angle on the top and just into the internal plywood floor or if they have gone through an inner steel structure so will have to sus that out for appropriate reattachment.

View media item 63470
Tomorrow I should be able to clean off all the crud and start stripping down the frame. I thought about powder coat, but I might just go with the hammertone paint I've used on the trailer and other things so far as it holds up well and is easy to touch up if needed.

View media item 63471
I'm going to add on some mesh sections so that I can install a roof-top-bag on one side for the canvas awning sections and other items, and the other side will have the spare. Will also weld on some chain links so I have something to tie straps etc to.

Also need to fab up a "puller bracket" to get one of the bearing housings off the chop so I can finish it off. Need to use it and now and it's in bits

Anyway have a good end to the week. Gee it has gone fast.

Cheers GB.

 

[1/2 Cup]

GB, sounds like your time off is going well so far..

Take time to smell the roses..

Cheers

 

[dlcwent]

GB, it seems as we get older time does speed up. But it's never as obvious as to how fast it goes until you go on vacation (holiday). Waiting for an update on the camper.

 

[hewey]

Thanks Hewey, let us know if your plans change for the 24th. Should be good to get a couple of beers in and maybe mess up Lyndon's garage a bit

You distract him, and when he's not looking I'll swap all his tools around in his toolbox. We then have to set up a camera to see his reaction

 

[Lyndon]

Hewey

You know you said that out loud, don't you????

Where is Rod BTW...?

Lyndon
I'm watching. . . .

 

[oldironfarmer]

You distract him, and when he's not looking I'll swap all his tools around in his toolbox. We then have to set up a camera to see his reaction

I like the way you think!!!

You don't know where I live, do you?

 

[HOTFR8]

choccy fudge

View media item 63330

Now every time I check in here I feel hungry.

 

[taumac]

You distract him, and when he's not looking I'll swap all his tools around in his toolbox. We then have to set up a camera to see his reaction

The guys did that to me at gathering at my place.

 

[Duker]

GB, With the rainy weather here I planted myself inside today and finally got a chance to read through the thread. Nice work on the garage and also you are doing great on the welding. I still suffer on overhead beads and I have run quite a few. As everyone will tell you... the only way to get better is time under the hood!

If you ever send that Apple cider across the pond put me down for some!

Regards,

Duke

*

 

[Lyndon]

. . . . . . . .

You don't know where I live, do you?

Andy

I do!!!!!

Lyndon
It'll just take me a while to get there

 

[Grumblebum]

GB, sounds like your time off is going well so far..

Take time to smell the roses..

Cheers

Thanks 1/2 Cup. Not as project productive as I'd hoped, but still beats being in the office

GB, it seems as we get older time does speed up. But it's never as obvious as to how fast it goes until you go on vacation (holiday). Waiting for an update on the camper.

Tell me about it, only the rest of the week to go and still much to try and pack in Small camper update next post

You distract him, and when he's not looking I'll swap all his tools around in his toolbox. We then have to set up a camera to see his reaction

We'll send him off to find the wine bottle opener

Hewey

You know you said that out loud, don't you????

Where is Rod BTW...?

Lyndon
I'm watching. . . .

Still here, just slack on the updates.

I like the way you think!!!

You don't know where I live, do you?

It seems that Lyndon is in on the info although it's a bit of preparation to get there

Forgot to take a pic the other day of the old JD backhoe become log splitter to pop in your thread too...

Now every time I check in here I feel hungry.

I have to admit that wifie made that quickly from a packet mix. Still tasty though. Did anyone have a go at the scones ?

The guys did that to me at gathering at my place.

Gerard it could have been worse if Aussies were involved

GB, With the rainy weather here I planted myself inside today and finally got a chance to read through the thread. Nice work on the garage and also you are doing great on the welding. I still suffer on overhead beads and I have run quite a few. As everyone will tell you... the only way to get better is time under the hood!

If you ever send that Apple cider across the pond put me down for some!

Regards,

Duke

*

Thanks for taking the time to read through Duker much appreciated. Hopefully I'll get some welding in the next day or so. Back to much thinner material to work on though.

I've been slowly going through the cider, but I think I treated the brewing of it like home brew beer instead of home brew cider, it's not quite right - probably bottled too soon. Will have another go at it some point and maybe read the label a bit better.

Andy

I do!!!!!

Lyndon
It'll just take me a while to get there

We need an aircraft icon thingy.

Thanks for keeping things ticking over fellas. GB.

 

[Terrick down Under]

GB, so where are you looking at mounting the camp kitchen?

 

[Grumblebum]

So not the masses of project updates that I had in my head I would be doing. Always seems to go that way.

Much time on parenting duty as wifie has been doing extra work hours while I've been on leave so there is a finite maybe 5 hours at best to get things done when they are at school - after the house chores are done too

Anyway had a good fathers day weekend, took the kids up to my parents and they had a good time and I helped dad on a few of his projects.

Just been fiddling with the camper, at the end of last week I had the top cleaned up of all the old silicone crud that had been used and it was looking a bit better.

View media item 63552
Yesterday I got the top all pressure cleaned, thought I had a pic, but don't so just imagine the above pic a bit cleaner again

Started on the top frame and have scraped off all the **** on it, so tomorrow I have a day to myself after the school drop-offs so the plan is to get into stripping the paint and getting it ready to weld up some holes and also to weld on the mesh I picked up from dad's on the weekend, it's just and old fence panel we cut up. For the far side I have a custom roof top bag being made up so that the awnings and other misc bits will live in, then near side will have the spare more permanently mounted so I don't need to remove it when opening up the camper. That's the plan will see how we go.

View media item 63553
Thanks for reading. GB.

 

[Grumblebum]

GB, so where are you looking at mounting the camp kitchen?

Inside there is a storage tray that sits low where all the chairs, table, kettle, sleeping bags etc live. I have room for a 900 long x 450 wide x say 400-450 high kitchen box, pretty much like this.

http://www.drifta.com.au/drifta-camping-kitchen/

So it will be a free standing kitchen opening up to around 1800 which is a perfect fit according to the measurements I did the other week when I was pondering the layout over a couple of beers.

 

[Terrick down Under]

That looks like a good project to get stuck into. I have a bad habit of making those folding sections out of cardboard to do a final check before cutting good stock. Don't forget to get DW's thoughts on what she would like.."happy wife, happy GB.

 

[Lyndon]

GB, so where are you looking at mounting the camp kitchen?

I reckon somewhere between Camden & Wollongong sounds good to me....

Lyndon
Just recharging the Ipasdf now...