Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT Made By Miller Studios
- Thread starter MadeByMiller
- Start date
Workspaces sized between 265 and 485 squarefeet.
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
Thank you! I appreciate all of your help with the tire situation.
Sometimes also referred to as a semaphore. It's my understanding that this Spearhead model was an aftermarket piece, probably from the '30s or '40s. My friend Tom is planning on putting it on his 1917 International slope hood truck, similar to this one:I had to look up what a trafficator was
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
Now that spring is officially here I've been trying to keep up with yardwork. Because I'm not smart and complete the task in the fall, the first thing I had to do was tune up the riding mower, clean the deck, sharpen the blades, and put a fresh coat of paint and Fluid Film under the deck to try to cut down on corrosion and mulch buildup under the deck.
My in-laws gifted us some flowers, but we didn't have a great place to put them. I decided to make a new flower bed along the south side of the driveway retaining wall. I picked up a cool edging tool to cut in the edges of the new bed - it worked great! I had just recently seen a landscaper on Instagram using pine needles (he called it "pine straw") to mulch flower beds, so I decided to give it a try since we have no shortage of pine needles here.
Before:
After:
My in-laws gifted us some flowers, but we didn't have a great place to put them. I decided to make a new flower bed along the south side of the driveway retaining wall. I picked up a cool edging tool to cut in the edges of the new bed - it worked great! I had just recently seen a landscaper on Instagram using pine needles (he called it "pine straw") to mulch flower beds, so I decided to give it a try since we have no shortage of pine needles here.
Before:
After:
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
I got the tires (Yokohama G015's) that I ordered from Amazon.
DOT date code of 1023:
And the wheels have been refinished using the Polished Aluminum powder coat. They turned out great, I'm excited to see them in the sun.
I scheduled a local mobile tire service to mount and balance them Friday morning.
Lastly, shout out to member @D.F.B for being a bad influence to my bank account! I purchased the EGO LB765 blower at my local Ace Hardware this weekend. They were having a $30 off sale on them, so I took it as a sign to finally pick one up.
It's totally awesome! It exceeded my expectations in both power and battery life. I used it extensively while grooming the pine needles for my new flower bed, but I also plan on using it for drying vehicles. I just ordered the EGO stubby nozzle to use for said drying.
@D.F.B also influenced me to pick up THIS Armour Detail Supply wheel coating kit from Obsessed Garage. I'll be applying it after the tires have been mounted.
Hope you're all doing well!
DOT date code of 1023:
And the wheels have been refinished using the Polished Aluminum powder coat. They turned out great, I'm excited to see them in the sun.
I scheduled a local mobile tire service to mount and balance them Friday morning.
Lastly, shout out to member @D.F.B for being a bad influence to my bank account! I purchased the EGO LB765 blower at my local Ace Hardware this weekend. They were having a $30 off sale on them, so I took it as a sign to finally pick one up.
It's totally awesome! It exceeded my expectations in both power and battery life. I used it extensively while grooming the pine needles for my new flower bed, but I also plan on using it for drying vehicles. I just ordered the EGO stubby nozzle to use for said drying.
@D.F.B also influenced me to pick up THIS Armour Detail Supply wheel coating kit from Obsessed Garage. I'll be applying it after the tires have been mounted.
Hope you're all doing well!
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
1023 date code is good! Means they've had time to off-gas and will wear better.
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
Good! Thank you for the info, I wasn't aware that there was an off-gassing period for tires.
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
There is a Good Year tire plant (mostly heavy equipment tires to my knowledge) in Topeka. I've spoken with a few employees and they have all told me that. There is also a tire shop up in Falls City Nebraska that pushes "seasoned"(tires approx 6mo old).
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XJSuperman
Well-known member
Late to the party, as usual, but I finally stumbled upon this thread. Tires and wheels look pretty good!
Uofime
Well-known member
As long as you stay off the turbo button the battery consumption is OK on that blower. If you abuse it, then your batteries will be dead in shockingly short order, but maaaan is it handy…
Nicely done!I got the tires (Yokohama G015's) that I ordered from Amazon.
DOT date code of 1023:
And the wheels have been refinished using the Polished Aluminum powder coat. They turned out great, I'm excited to see them in the sun.
I scheduled a local mobile tire service to mount and balance them Friday morning.
Lastly, shout out to member @D.F.B for being a bad influence to my bank account! I purchased the EGO LB765 blower at my local Ace Hardware this weekend. They were having a $30 off sale on them, so I took it as a sign to finally pick one up.
It's totally awesome! It exceeded my expectations in both power and battery life. I used it extensively while grooming the pine needles for my new flower bed, but I also plan on using it for drying vehicles. I just ordered the EGO stubby nozzle to use for said drying.
@D.F.B also influenced me to pick up THIS Armour Detail Supply wheel coating kit from Obsessed Garage. I'll be applying it after the tires have been mounted.
Hope you're all doing well!
A college buddy worked at that plant for several years. I think they made/make some light truck tires as well. I know they also made HMMWV tires for the government in addition to heavy equipment tires. He left there shortly after the pandemic (bitcoin took off) so the product line could very well be different these days.
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
Welcome! Thanks for stopping by.
I used the blower on with turbo constant for probably ten minutes and it shocked me that it lasted that long. Battery technology has gotten so good.
I appreciate all that you share in your thread - it's inspiring!Nicely done!
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
Got the tires mounted this morning. I hired a mobile company to come to my house to mount and balance them. They did a good job, but it was significantly more expensive than I was expecting. I didn't realize that they have a $75 charge for mobile work on top of the $27.50/wheel for mounting and balancing, so with a 20% tip (the guy was friendly and very careful) the total ended up being $240...
The technician said that the tires balanced fairly well for being 22", one wheel only required half an ounce of weight!
I rolled one of the wheels outside to get some pictures in the sunlight - looks great! Next I will ceramic coat them so I can mount them on the Expedition.
The technician said that the tires balanced fairly well for being 22", one wheel only required half an ounce of weight!
I rolled one of the wheels outside to get some pictures in the sunlight - looks great! Next I will ceramic coat them so I can mount them on the Expedition.
nicholam77
Well-known member
Wheels look good!
I'd happily pay that to have a mobile guy mount tires at home rather than running the gauntlet at a shop.Got the tires mounted this morning. I hired a mobile company to come to my house to mount and balance them. They did a good job, but it was significantly more expensive than I was expecting. I didn't realize that they have a $75 charge for mobile work on top of the $27.50/wheel for mounting and balancing, so with a 20% tip (the guy was friendly and very careful) the total ended up being $240...
The technician said that the tires balanced fairly well for being 22", one wheel only required half an ounce of weight!
I rolled one of the wheels outside to get some pictures in the sunlight - looks great! Next I will ceramic coat them so I can mount them on the Expedition.
A few notes on the Armour coating -
- Wear gloves!
- I would swap out the applicator after doing the second wheel, this coating hardens in the applicator quite quickly.
- The initial wipes will be quite grabby, but the follow up (final) wipes will transform to a slick finish. I find the coating becomes slicker after the initial cure period.
- A second coat can be applied after two hours, but I have only applied the single layer and its fine.
- Don't drive the car for at least 12 hours, 24 hours ideally. Also keep them dry during that time.
- Avoid washing for 7 days after application, especially the use of wheel cleaners. A mild rinse-less wash would be fine.
It's a brilliant coating, couldn't be happier with it.
cccoltsicehockey
Well-known member
Congrats on the EGO 765. I recently picked one up as well that I will mainly use for car drying but man is it handy to have around when you need to grab something quick and I don't want to start up the gas one. It is also a good bit quieter so if you want to blow the back porch off late or something for last minute friends coming over or something it isn't that annoying to the neighbors.
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
Thank you! I'll have to pick up more applicators then, I just have the one that came with the kit. Are you saying you've only ever applied a single coat, or that you've done one coat before and it's fine?
The main reason I picked it up is for vehicle drying too, but I've been so happy with how it performs for various yard work tasks too!
The kit you bought has a stack of Carpro suede applicators, so you will be all good.
I only apply one layer of the coating, the second coat is only to ensure complete coverage. If you apply it correctly, then a single layer is fine. Having said that, these coatings don't store well once opened, so there is no harm in using up the bottle with a second coat. If you have painted brake calipers or dust shields, I would apply it to those as well.
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
Ohh, okay. I thought the orange foam block was the applicator. What is it for then, I don't see it being used in the videos?The kit you bought has a stack of Carpro suede applicators, so you will be all good.
I only apply one layer of the coating, the second coat is only to ensure complete coverage. If you apply it correctly, then a single layer is fine. Having said that, these coatings don't store well once opened, so there is no harm in using up the bottle with a second coat. If you have painted brake calipers or dust shields, I would apply it to those as well.
For the orange Carpro block, you wrap the suede piece around the block and then wedge it into the slots on the side. This is/was the original way to apply ceramic coatings on body panels.Ohh, okay. I thought the orange foam block was the applicator. What is it for then, I don't see it being used in the videos?
Matt from OG prefers the old block and suede applicators, but its not very well suited to wheels, most have moved on to microfiber bricks instead. If you watch the videos, you'll notice that he used just the suede piece to coat the wheels. I find that cumbersome and lacking in control. The coating itself is supplied with a small microfiber applicator, which you can flip over half way through, or wrap one of the suedes around it.
If you are going to get into ceramic coatings in general, I would order a couple of different applicator sizes to see what you like and have them in stock. The little Carpro or Gyeon finger mitts would be excellent for wheels, I also use the TRC Pearl Applicator or the Gtechniq AP5.
CQUARTZ Microfiber Applicator (5 pack)
Sky’s the Limit Car Care provides high-quality car cleaning products to make your cars shine. We offer compounds, protectants, pro detailing products, and more.
www.carpro-us.com
Q²M Microfiber Applicator EVO 2-Pack
Q²M MF Applicator EVO has an improved fabric, providing a more plush feel and smooth use. Perfect size and ergonomic shape allow quick and even application of coatings, sealants, or trim/leather conditioners.
gyeonusa.com
Also worth noting that applicator and towel used to apply a ceramic coating should be thrown away or put into the dirty rag pile, dried coating is basically glass, you don't want to scratch up you hard work.
Microfiber Pearl Weave Applicator Sponge | The Rag Company
A Perfect Applicator for Applying Ceramic Coatings Can be Used for Exterior and Interior Product Applications Features a Soap Bar Shape Designed to Fit Comfortably in Your Hands Extremely Durable - Able to Withstand Numerous Uses
theragcompany.com
AP5 Microfibre Applicator Pad - Gtechniq Australia
Quick Overview Machine washable Ultra soft microfibre, foam-filled The ultimate applicator for applying Gtechniq coatings
gtechniq.com.au
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
Ahh, that makes perfect sense. Can't thank you enough for your advice and detailed explanations!For the orange Carpro block, you wrap the suede piece around the block and then wedge it into the slots on the side. This is/was the original way to apply ceramic coatings on body panels.
Matt from OG prefers the old block and suede applicators, but its not very well suited to wheels, most have moved on to microfiber bricks instead. If you watch the videos, you'll notice that he used just the suede piece to coat the wheels. I find that cumbersome and lacking in control. The coating itself is supplied with a small microfiber applicator, which you can flip over half way through, or wrap one of the suedes around it.
If you are going to get into ceramic coatings in general, I would order a couple of different applicator sizes to see what you like and have them in stock. The little Carpro or Gyeon finger mitts would be excellent for wheels, I also use the TRC Pearl Applicator or the Gtechniq AP5.
CQUARTZ Microfiber Applicator (5 pack)
Sky’s the Limit Car Care provides high-quality car cleaning products to make your cars shine. We offer compounds, protectants, pro detailing products, and more.Q²M Microfiber Applicator EVO 2-Pack
Q²M MF Applicator EVO has an improved fabric, providing a more plush feel and smooth use. Perfect size and ergonomic shape allow quick and even application of coatings, sealants, or trim/leather conditioners.
Also worth noting that applicator and towel used to apply a ceramic coating should be thrown away or put into the dirty rag pile, dried coating is basically glass, you don't want to scratch up you hard work.
Microfiber Pearl Weave Applicator Sponge | The Rag Company
A Perfect Applicator for Applying Ceramic Coatings Can be Used for Exterior and Interior Product Applications Features a Soap Bar Shape Designed to Fit Comfortably in Your Hands Extremely Durable - Able to Withstand Numerous UsesAP5 Microfibre Applicator Pad - Gtechniq Australia
Quick Overview Machine washable Ultra soft microfibre, foam-filled The ultimate applicator for applying Gtechniq coatings
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
Some Dakota updates:
I bought another topper. You'll remember, I purchased the first topper I found for my truck back in February and I was pretty happy with it. Last week though, another rare first gen Dakota topper showed up on Marketplace for cheap. This one has a flat top, which I prefer aesthetically over the bubble top that my red one has. It also appeared to be in better condition, and the hatch/door was intact. I got it for $80.
A reminder of what the old topper looked like:
And here's the new:
Excited by the new topper, I felt inspired to do some photo editing of how I want the truck to look. The following edits are with the factory 15" steel wheels I picked up a while ago and 31x10.50 tires. I'm going to upload them in my current ranked preference of wheel color. It's a very hard decision for me between white, bronze, and silver.
I am shocked at how much I like the white wheels. I think they give the truck a utilitarian feel, but I also get a '90s vibe from the white wheels that I quite like. I'm going to guess that the majority of people will prefer the silver wheels, and I also really like that look. The bronze is different and very attractive, but modernizes the look a bit.
The tires I'm almost certain I'll be going with are probably going to be controversial. They are Treadwright Warden's. They are a remold tire - technically different from a retread, but most people interchange the term. For the mileage I put on (easily less than 5,000 miles yearly) and the very infrequent interstate travel I do, I think they will be great. They are $75/tire cheaper than my next choice, Grabber A/TX's, and I think they are by far the most attractive AT tires on the market. Treadwright apparently uses the OG BFG A/T molds, so the tread performance is proven and solid, and they don't have the overly aggressive, gaudy sidewall patterns that every other manufacturer is putting out now.
If only the rust repair and paint/body work was as quick and easy in real life as it is on my computer...
I bought another topper. You'll remember, I purchased the first topper I found for my truck back in February and I was pretty happy with it. Last week though, another rare first gen Dakota topper showed up on Marketplace for cheap. This one has a flat top, which I prefer aesthetically over the bubble top that my red one has. It also appeared to be in better condition, and the hatch/door was intact. I got it for $80.
A reminder of what the old topper looked like:
And here's the new:
Excited by the new topper, I felt inspired to do some photo editing of how I want the truck to look. The following edits are with the factory 15" steel wheels I picked up a while ago and 31x10.50 tires. I'm going to upload them in my current ranked preference of wheel color. It's a very hard decision for me between white, bronze, and silver.
I am shocked at how much I like the white wheels. I think they give the truck a utilitarian feel, but I also get a '90s vibe from the white wheels that I quite like. I'm going to guess that the majority of people will prefer the silver wheels, and I also really like that look. The bronze is different and very attractive, but modernizes the look a bit.
The tires I'm almost certain I'll be going with are probably going to be controversial. They are Treadwright Warden's. They are a remold tire - technically different from a retread, but most people interchange the term. For the mileage I put on (easily less than 5,000 miles yearly) and the very infrequent interstate travel I do, I think they will be great. They are $75/tire cheaper than my next choice, Grabber A/TX's, and I think they are by far the most attractive AT tires on the market. Treadwright apparently uses the OG BFG A/T molds, so the tread performance is proven and solid, and they don't have the overly aggressive, gaudy sidewall patterns that every other manufacturer is putting out now.
If only the rust repair and paint/body work was as quick and easy in real life as it is on my computer...
OutlawDrifter
Well-known member
Great find Austin!
White, bronze, and green...in that order for me. 100% white if you intend to run any kind of hub cap.
White, bronze, and green...in that order for me. 100% white if you intend to run any kind of hub cap.
SilverJimmy
Well-known member
Keep the topper black and go with black wheels. Black and White are natural complementary colors. Then get some of these lug nuts.
I have them on my 83 Chevy 1 Ton K30 with factory Kelsey wheels and Hummer 37” BFG 16.5 tires.
The color contrast works and being yellow chromate they don’t rust.
I have them on my 83 Chevy 1 Ton K30 with factory Kelsey wheels and Hummer 37” BFG 16.5 tires.
The color contrast works and being yellow chromate they don’t rust.
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
The wheels came with caps and beauty rings, but I'm not big on the look. Here's what they look like:
Side note, I really like these sealed beam headlights, I'm strongly considering converting mine.
What I would really like to try is a set of these poverty caps that also came on the early first gen Dakota's. Unfortunately, the 5 spoke style steelies don't have the right geometry to accept them.
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
The topper is currently a dark green. I have a version with a black topper and wheels that I edited, too. It looks good, but not as good as the white in my opinion.Keep the topper black and go with black wheels. Black and White are natural complementary colors. Then get some of these lug nuts.
I have them on my 83 Chevy 1 Ton K30 with factory Kelsey wheels and Hummer 37” BFG 16.5 tires.
The color contrast works and being yellow chromate they don’t rust.
I just realized that the wheels in my edit are 5 lug. In reality, they are/will be 6 lug. Same wheel otherwise though.
I like those lug nuts, good idea!
SilverJimmy
Well-known member
Get some cheap black semi gloss spray paint. Paint two wheels black, stand back and see what you think. If you don’t like it, a can of brake clean will quickly undo it.
SilverJimmy
Well-known member
And you do know about the playing card trick for painting wheels, right?
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
The photo editing will have to do in terms of mock up. I don't have any tires on the new wheels, so it would be hard to get a true picture. I'm not a huge fan of black wheels on more modern vehicles ('95 is modern, right??)
Yes, but as I said above, no tires. The wheels will be powder coated with whatever color I decide to go with, then tires mounted.
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
I do have black wheels on my '72 K10 though, and love the look for that vintage.
SilverJimmy
Well-known member
My concern with white is your environment. My wheels were powder coated by a very competent shop, but there are still some spots not completely covered. Like between the inner hub and the rim where the spot welds are. I’d be worried that up there in your area with as much salt used in the winter, you’ll get rust stains in the white that won’t come out. Black, not gonna be seen. But, it’s your truck, and I’m here to cheer you on! I really like your shop, that’s how I ended up here in the first place.
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
That's a good point. I'll bring it up with my powder coat guy and see what he thinks. He does a lot of wheels, so he should know.
Thank you for the kind words! At one of my last jobs we had a Snap-On truck come by weekly. Always looked forward to that, and I can look back on it fondly now since I paid off my debt to them years ago. I thought back then that having a tool truck might be the ultimate career. Sure sounded fun, anyways!
The only controversy is from people who don't have first hand experience with them. I ran through two sets of Treadwright Wardens on my F150 and have nothing but good things to say about them. They are a solid tire for a solid price.
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
Great to hear! A local buddy of mine had the same experience. Interestingly enough, Treadwright used to be based just south of me in Edgemont. I guess they moved to Texas now.
XJSuperman
Well-known member
I vote a normal silver. Itll look nice and clean and still have some contrast. I like white but in a dusty gravel road environment its a lot of work to keep them clean. Black is pretty bland and I've got black on my jeep so I can say that.
Green if you match to the topper sounds fun.
Green if you match to the topper sounds fun.
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
Silver is a classic look and hard to beat! I hear you on the keeping them clean part. Ceramic coating should help, and I rarely drive on gravel besides my driveway. I'm drawn to white over silver because it is so different. Aside from trailers and the classic 8 spoke aftermarket steelies, you don't see white wheels often. I like different.
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
Well, terrible news! I just got off the phone with Treadwright to see when the 31x10.50r15's will be back in stock, and they said never! They stopped making 15" tires. What a bummer.
XJSuperman
Well-known member
I hate finding out a choice piece for a project is discontinued. You can now start combing the internet and tire shops for a set that may be left, or move to a new option. Bummer of a deal man.
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MadeByMiller
Well-known member
Exactly what I'm doing now...The fallback choice is still the General Grabber A/TX, so at least I don't have to research another tire option.
That is a bummer. I imagine they ran out of a steady supply of 15" cores. That was a very popular size for a long time, but those days are gone. They really should pull them off the website if they aren't going to be selling them anymore.