Insane projects that take WAY to long

[BlackdogGS]

After installing an irrigation system I ended up with an extra valve box cover. My wife likes to reuse/recycle everything and she asked if I could make a stool out of it. I said sure.

After looking at it for a day I came up with a plan. Than the work came. I spent all day building this stupid thing. I had to stop several times to question my sanity after all I could have bought a new stool anywhere for 5-10 bucks. The base is made from 20 separate pieces that were carefully measured, cut, drilled, ground, welded and painted.

I have to admit the end project is pretty nice and the wife loves it but for what it is it wasn't time well spent. I'll never embark on an ensane project like this again....intill next time.

 

[graffix000]

Looks good and you kept the wifey happy. Agree with you though on the time spent.

 

[AZ Pete]

Looks nice and sturdy. Let's see the under side.

 

[sublimate]

>"Insane projects that take WAY to long"

Kids. 18+ years until you're done with them and get them out of the house.

 

[ddawg16]

Blackdog.....yea, you could have bought a step stool for $10......

But....

We would have laughed at you if you posted a pic of it.....the above lets you keep your man card....actually, I think it's pretty neat..

Now....if you want to see an insane project....click on the "2-Story Addition Link" in my signature....

 

[Falcon67]

Ah, you're not the first to spend 200 hours engineering a $2 fix. Thats the fun of it!

 

[luvit]

having unique items involves time.. i looks great..
hopefully people will do a double take at it to make it feel more time-worthy.

.

 

[Sick Puppy]

I've had heaps of projects that just aren't worth the time... thank god I'm not self employed!

* E34 535 that I was going to restore (earthquakes, kids... [sigh]) - sold when we moved over to UK (only so we can move right back again lol)
* Bedside tables that I stripped and sanded, only to find they were split in five places; Earthquakes totalled them anyway.
* Philips discoverer TV that I was going to turn into a media centre with tablet controller - again, sold as it was dead space in storage (it also worked, which made gutting it seem kinda stink).
* Commercial grade desk that was damaged in quake - I was going to modify the legs just like in your project to turn it into a garage workbench, possibly with height-adjustable legs. Cost and time would have meant that there are projects on here that are waaaaay more cost effective...

I'm now entertaining the notion of converting an old 80's stereo / boom box to play SD cards instead of tapes. I need to have a project that I actually finish sometime!

 

[Shoottx]

Yeah well here is another outrageous solution to a $2 problem. SWMBO wants a rack for the pantry to store wax paper, foil etc. So off to the shop for a simple little project, well it went awry some place.

Remember this is in the pantry full of

 

[Big-Foot]

I seem to have this 100 year old house that I wanted to just fix up a little and then sell. 2 years later I am just about done with the total (and I mean total) renovation of the place..

When I'm done with that SLJ (short for ****** little job), i seem to have a GT40 that's been in the works now for 4 years.. Then a 69 Trans Am race car to build and a new shop to build etc...

 

[milner351]

We all suffer from a little tinker-itus from time to time - well done - she's happy - mission accomplished!

 

[Jack Olsen]

I've got a small project going hat kind of fits this category. I haven't sunk too much time and/or energy in it yet. But what's important to note is that I really have no use for the thing I'm working on.

Somewhere on the internet, I saw a video where a guy had shot some car footage using a little dolly track device that let him move the camera steadily along for less of a boring car shot. He posted the name of the piece of equipment with this video, and I remember being shocked at how much that stuff costs.

Then I saw a video about how to make your own track using PVC and conduit. The notable thing about it was that at the end, it didn't really work (too much friction sliding a plastic sleeve over a pipe) and they had to come up with a workaround (stuffing a rag in between the two) to get the thing to move smoothly enough.

Then I was working on something else, and it struck me that L-stock might be a better track, if you could roll wheels with an inverted V shape on top of it. I had some aluminum L stock and also a cheap grocery-store mini skateboard that I sometimes used to move heavy stuff. My thinking was this: why not cut a groove in the middle of the skateboard wheel, so it could straddle some inverted L stock and roll smoothly over anything the L stock spanned?

The raw materials:

I cut the grooves in a not-very-smart way, using a table saw. The problem was, these wheels had a thin hard layer over a much chewier type of filler. The table saw did not make a clean cut. Rough edges on the sides of the cut ruin everything, since they're the contact point with the track.

So plan B. What if I just cut some small pieces of the same L stock, and used some stick-on felt as a way to smooth out the contact points? I could glue them to some PVC...

My first thought was just to use the PVC as little shoes for the legs at the end of the tripod. But that didn't work. So I adhered them to a piece of scrap wood.

Well, it kind of works.

Here's a video showing my test of the tracks.

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5-WvchMtLZg?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

But the foot pieces of L stock aren't perfectly lined up because I cut the PVC kind of unevenly. So my next thought was 'wheels.' And today, I bought a pair of inline skates on Ebay for .99 (and another $5 for shipping). So now I'm $6 into a project that I really don't have a use for -- and I'm still going to work out some kind of axle system for the wheels.

But...

Why?

 

[kursplat]

i like the stool. you should think of doing a group buy

Jack has definitely upped the ante though...

but you guy's aren't even in the ball park yet

 

[kvom]

Think great wall of China.

 

[kursplat]

Think great wall of China.

better than a virtural fence...

 

[Norcal]

Any kind of a renovation,remodel,repair can go off the deep end, this week tore off a roof on a outbuilding planning to just reroof w/ rolled roofing, ended up demoing the whole roof structure & replacing the rafters & roof sheathing.

 

[Dustin Echoes]

You know guys, I love it when some 2 minute project takes me all day to get done. The whole "while I'm at it, I might as well..." Doesn't bother me at all. Besides, I generally get left alone when I'm working on something! If anyone comes too close, I might get them to do something. Keeps them away!

 

[darkk]

A miscalculation of biblical proportions.... My son and I had the bright idea of adding a garage onto the existing house. Well that garage turned into a 30x30x13 garage with a full usable second story including a full 2 story connector. Ended up being a 2400 sq ft addition. It will be 3 years this month. Still needs some interior finishing....

 

[Steevo]

Yeah well here is another outrageous solution to a $2 problem. SWMBO wants a rack for the pantry to store wax paper, foil etc. So off to the shop for a simple little project, well it went awry some place.

Remember this is in the pantry full of

Good idea. I may copy.

 

[Steevo]

I've got a small project going hat kind of fits this category. I haven't sunk too much time and/or energy in it yet. But what's important to note is that I really have no use for the thing I'm working on.

Somewhere on the internet, I saw a video where a guy had shot some car footage using a little dolly track device that let him move the camera steadily along for less of a boring car shot. He posted the name of the piece of equipment with this video, and I remember being shocked at how much that stuff costs.

Then I saw a video about how to make your own track using PVC and conduit. The notable thing about it was that at the end, it didn't really work (too much friction sliding a plastic sleeve over a pipe) and they had to come up with a workaround (stuffing a rag in between the two) to get the thing to move smoothly enough.

Then I was working on something else, and it struck me that L-stock might be a better track, if you could roll wheels with an inverted V shape on top of it. I had some aluminum L stock and also a cheap grocery-store mini skateboard that I sometimes used to move heavy stuff. My thinking was this: why not cut a groove in the middle of the skateboard wheel, so it could straddle some inverted L stock and roll smoothly over anything the L stock spanned?

. . . . .

But the foot pieces of L stock aren't perfectly lined up because I cut the PVC kind of unevenly. So my next thought was 'wheels.' And today, I bought a pair of inline skates on Ebay for .99 (and another $5 for shipping). So now I'm $6 into a project that I really don't have a use for -- and I'm still going to work out some kind of axle system for the wheels.

But...

Why?

Jack,

I once rigged up a similar dolly track using aluminum angle, for a stop-motion video animation project.

When you get your skates, pull the bearings out of the wheels, and mount them in a fashion similar to this, on an inverted piece of the same angle material as your tracks. More washers between the angle and bearings will get them down lower on the track by widening their stance.

Oh, and I spent four weeks making a 5 minute video . . .

 

[JimVonBaden]

Jack,

I once rigged up a similar dolly track using aluminum angle, for a stop-motion video animation project.

When you get your skates, pull the bearings out of the wheels, and mount them in a fashion similar to this, on an inverted piece of the same angle material as your tracks. More washers between the angle and bearings will get them down lower on the track by widening their stance.

Oh, and I spent four weeks making a 5 minute video . . .

Damnit man, now I have another project!

At least, for me, it will be put to good use!

Jim

 

[D rock]

My projects always go something like this...

I dump parts out of the box, throw the directions in the trash, put it together. When I'm done, it looks like my dog put it together. Then I go looking for the directions to fix my mistakes.

If I would learn to read my projects would go a lot faster.

 

[luvit]

Here's a video showing my test of the tracks.

whoa, you get to post html!

.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Thanks, Steevo. That was my plan. I even ordered a set of skateboard bearings to do exactly what you've drawn, but then canceled it because I worried the metal on metal contact might make too much noise. My thinking was that the softer wheels would be quieter.

 

[Steevo]

Thanks, Steevo. That was my plan. I even ordered a set of skateboard bearings to do exactly what you've drawn, but then canceled it because I worried the metal on metal contact might make too much noise. My thinking was that the softer wheels would be quieter.

That's true. I didn't have sound in my stop-motion, so it didn't matter.
I guess that is why real camera dollies have ultra-quite bearings and soft neoprene wheels.

 

[jrod60]

My wife and I took a leisurely three years to complete our "library". Floor to ceiling built-ins in a 15x10x9 room. The garage and this room were a disaster pretty much the whole time. I really like it now, but that was an awful project to leave looming overhead for so long.

 

[Lippyp]

Our holiday home, a 900 mile drive away from where we live, bought as a derelict shell. just coming up on 10 years and counting!

 

[Kevin54]

I've got a small project going hat kind of fits this category. I haven't sunk too much time and/or energy in it yet. But what's important to note is that I really have no use for the thing I'm working on.

Somewhere on the internet, I saw a video where a guy had shot some car footage using a little dolly track device that let him move the camera steadily along for less of a boring car shot. He posted the name of the piece of equipment with this video, and I remember being shocked at how much that stuff costs.

QUOTE]

Sure you're not talking about XYcZ's latest pic that he took of his Camaro?

 

[racer8432955]

A miscalculation of biblical proportions.... My son and I had the bright idea of adding a garage onto the existing house. Well that garage turned into a 30x30x13 garage with a full usable second story including a full 2 story connector. Ended up being a 2400 sq ft addition. It will be 3 years this month. Still needs some interior finishing....

way too long mabey, but the end result is fantastic! very nice.

 

[Falcon67]

In the old house, the front bath took 5 years from waste pipe replacement to perfect. It was usable in a couple of weeks, but sat idle for 4 years just because. Bad on me. The back bath only took 30 days, but that was because as soon as I gutted the thing, the kids said "Sold our house, can we move in with you while they build the new one?".

I just put a light over the man door. Easy project. Found a neat 12" green barn light in great shape on eBay, had to have it. Removed the first OSB panel (yea OSB) - hey, WTF are you freeloading ants doing in my wall? Bug spray city, trip to store for ant bait, more bug killer. That cleaned that problem up. Then the next panel had to come off to run the switch leg. Had to cut through the caulk at the ceiling to get it loose. Have to move a bunch of stuff on that wall because now that the overhead door tracks are in the panel can't come out of that space. Can't find the NM staples, took a day to locate where I hid those. Oops, the motion sensor needs 14-3 wire - what did I do with that roll...another afternoon lost finding that. Got all my materials finally! Carefully measure where to locate the light mount, drill the hole from the inside - oop, off by 1". @!#@#$ Patch hole, re-do, better now.

So a 4 hour project to hang a light took 3 days.

 

[Jack Olsen]

whoa, you get to post html!

You mean the video? I think I've got the same posting abilities as everyone else, but there are differences in the different discussion areas on the site. I can post video like that in the 'General Garage Discussion' area, but not in the 'Garage Gallery' section. I have no idea why this is, but it's been that way for a long time.

I've got a small project going hat kind of fits this category. I haven't sunk too much time and/or energy in it yet. But what's important to note is that I really have no use for the thing I'm working on.

Somewhere on the internet, I saw a video where a guy had shot some car footage using a little dolly track device that let him move the camera steadily along for less of a boring car shot. He posted the name of the piece of equipment with this video, and I remember being shocked at how much that stuff costs.

QUOTE]

Sure you're not talking about XYcZ's latest pic that he took of his Camaro?

No, it wasn't that. I haven't seen his version of it, but I don't think there's any way to make his Camaro (or his garage) look boring.

 

[JC23]

I live in an 1870 house. EVERYTHING takes longer to do!

 

[rj440]

this

 

[JamieK]

Thanks, Steevo. That was my plan. I even ordered a set of skateboard bearings to do exactly what you've drawn, but then canceled it because I worried the metal on metal contact might make too much noise. My thinking was that the softer wheels would be quieter.

What about scrounging up some old model railroad stuff. Attach two sets of rails to a piece of plywood the same distance apart as the tripod feet, and then set the tripod on a couple of flat cars.

 

[Lippyp]

I live in an 1870 house. EVERYTHING takes longer to do!

I know what you mean, my French house is probably at least that old, maybe older and my house in the UK was built in 1630!

 

[Lotek]

Just finished replacing all the galvanized pipe in the house with shiny new copper on Sunday. Ripped out all the old galv Saturday with a sawzall, no water all weekend. Sounds like a quick job, right?... I had to remove a kitchen cabinet last fall to repair a leaking drain under the slab, figured, before I rebuilt the cabinets, I'll open up the walls and repipe... I think if I have the new cabinets built by spring, I'll be ahead of the game.

 

[Old Moparz]

Insane projects that take WAY to long


Yes, my roof.

After 4 estimates ranging from $7000 to $10,000 without any "extras" I decided to do it myself. I figured I'd use my 2 weeks vacation & get it done. That was October of 2011. I started it & found a few issues ranging from rotted plywood to ridge vents that were like having a Fisher Price steering wheel that did nothing. If you don't cut the plywood back, why put ridge vents on wrong that leak & cause problems?

I used up my 2 weeks & temporarily covered the ridge until this past October when I took my vacation again to finish the back half of the roof. Of course I ran into more problems when & removed the gutters & soffit vents to discover that the plywood sheathing on the walls didn't go all the way up, it stopped 6 inches from the top leaving the fiberglass insulation & wall cavity exposed. So after rebuilding that, I finally tore off the shingles & re-roofed the rest.

I guess 4 weeks total isn't bad considering I'm 49 & working alone.

 

[c_mccann]

Jack- how about using a sailboat's traveller car?

Like this:

http://www.harken.com/traveler/Traveler_Track_Q-A.php

 

[KSwiss]

http://www.toddfun.com/2012/11/07/camera-gantry/

I like this system

 

[ddawg16]

Just finished replacing all the galvanized pipe in the house with shiny new copper on Sunday. Ripped out all the old galv Saturday with a sawzall, no water all weekend. Sounds like a quick job, right?... I had to remove a kitchen cabinet last fall to repair a leaking drain under the slab, figured, before I rebuilt the cabinets, I'll open up the walls and repipe... I think if I have the new cabinets built by spring, I'll be ahead of the game.

Don't forget that you have the truck sitting at work that needs to be finished......