My back yard fab shop

[NASTYZEN]

I have a deal going with my friend the local metal scrapper.I let him have all my scrap metal for free.In exchange, when I spot something I can use in his yard I can have it for a reasonable price or in this case for free.18 gauge Brown and Boggs 8ft. break.He was going to break it up for scrap!After dragging her in I noticed there was not even one nick on the blades!I took out all the shims(nails) and replaced all the ancient hardware with new and voila!
Haven't decided on a color for it yet.

 

[NASTYZEN]

Here's more of the stuff down there.
I have rails every 16 in.I can hang the chain block from.
Some day I,ll get around to painting it all.So many projects so little time.

 

[NASTYZEN]

My winter config.
Go ahead winter,make my day!

 

[Mark H]

Great workshop!
Great use of old railway track.Pretty strong stuff.
Whilst renovating our farm house,we found that a couple of the fire places had sections of track used as lintels.I'm using as much reclaimed material in my garage as I can too.Not because of green issues,more because I'm tighter than a ducks **** in water!
Plenty of snow here too.The whole country has come to a standstill!3-4ft in my yard at the moment.Temp due to drop between -10 and -14 degrees c. tonight.
Nice score on the 8ft break.

 

[NASTYZEN]

Great workshop!
Great use of old railway track.Pretty strong stuff.
Whilst renovating our farm house,we found that a couple of the fire places had sections of track used as lintels.I'm using as much reclaimed material in my garage as I can too.Not because of green issues,more because I'm tighter than a ducks **** in water!
Plenty of snow here too.The whole country has come to a standstill!3-4ft in my yard at the moment.Temp due to drop between -10 and -14 degrees c. tonight.
Nice score on the 8ft break.

Thank's Mark,It's been a long road to get this far.$$$I hear ya about being tight with this darn recession going on forever...
I went and took at look your project,You are a brave man indeed!Will definitely keep an eye on the progress.Looking good.
The snow here this morning is only a dusting,it'll get a lot colder and deeper,But unlike you guys across the pond, we are used to this weather and are fully prepared for it.2 snow blowers and half a dozen shovels on standby and a little rum to boot.

 

[Mark H]

Thank's Mark,It's been a long road to get this far.$$$I hear ya about being tight with this darn recession going on forever...
I went and took at look your project,You are a brave man indeed!Will definitely keep an eye on the progress.Looking good.
The snow here this morning is only a dusting,it'll get a lot colder and deeper,But unlike you guys across the pond, we are used to this weather and are fully prepared for it.2 snow blowers and half a dozen shovels on standby and a little rum to boot.

Thanks!Though I wonder if instead of brave,I'm plain stupid!LOL
Snow's hit us harder than usual this year.So much for global warming!

 

[cyclopsblown34]

Excellent build. I like your use of reclaimed materials and items.

 

[NASTYZEN]

Excellent build. I like your use of reclaimed materials and items.

Thank's cyclopsblown34,you may like this also then.
Built the stairs with freebee alu. tubing and left over checker plate bits.Alu. mig welded all of it,that's why the welds are black.When I'm done building things I'll shine em up with a wire brush.The hand rails are removable for bringing big stuff upstairs.I do have a large door built in to the front of the shop to bring stuff up with the fork lift, but I still have to build proper hinges for it....besides there's a tempo in the way for winter now.
Before starting the build I scored a truck full of laminated 2 inch support beams for $300.00 bucks witch I used as forms for the main floor,then later as scaffold boards and finally as the floor boards and support beams for the second floor.
I screwed three of them together to make the two central beams,drilled 3 holes at each end to pass re bar thru and poured concrete to lock them in the walls.Screwed two by tens to the walls and laid the rest on top of them to create the floor and finished it off with 5/8 plywood.I scored some various sized metal tubing,also free and left over from jobs,for the cross beams and locked em into the block walls with concrete as well.The mezzanine is one of three I had built from the last shop I was renting.

 

[NASTYZEN]

So here is the rest of the upstairs part.Had to work around all the junk to finish the floor and drywall.Finally got rid of most of the junk when I build the back shed this summer.
Built her a work bench out of that freebie 2x2 square aluminum tubing and cut out the top out of alu.sandwitch plate that was lying around.Gonna build some doors for it at some point.I still have to finish the electrical and trim this winter,then she should be all set for her projects.No excuses to keep her junk in my part of the shop anymore.hehe.
The last picture is a view from the upstairs window looking at the house.What a god awful color for a house,it reminds me of what I used to find in my kids diapers.lol

 

[NASTYZEN]

Merry X-Mass everyone.Peace

 

[NASTYZEN]

This is the main floor as it sits today.Over the holidays I spent 4 days cleaning up the shops witch is why it's so clean.
I plan to build a narrow work bench along the South wall below the peg board.I will make up some drawers to store my mill cutters and holders so as to loose the small rolling cart.The bending die rack is also going to disappear on shelves under the bench.

 

[Dead Skunk]

NASTYZEN,
Nice shop build. As a former road racer I'm curious as to what kinds of cars you've built. I also happen to know where St-Columban is,too...grew up in Brownsburg.

 

[Roodwerks]

Great shop, it would be a dream come true for me. Great snag on the break too, I'm stuck with my 24" bench mount one.

-Jon

 

[NASTYZEN]

NASTYZEN,
Nice shop build. As a former road racer I'm curious as to what kinds of cars you've built. I also happen to know where St-Columban is,too...grew up in Brownsburg.

That's funny,I was just in Brownsberg yesterday to pick up one of my teenagers.Small world...
Over the years I have been involved with mainly FF-Fords,Vintage cars of all categories and rally cars.I'm restoring 3 1973 Lola T-360 Formula Atlantic tubs at the moment for an Ontario customer.I used to build and repair the 30+ Mont Tremblant Jim Russel FF t'ill Stroll bought the track and kicked everyone out.Thank God for racing,when the economy is bad and production is scarce,the racing guys still have projects for me.
What type of road racing were you involved in?

 

[NASTYZEN]

Great shop, it would be a dream come true for me.
-Jon

Thank's Jon,It is my dream shop!
In the 15 years I've been moving dirt n rocks n stuff around here,I've lost nearly an inch.
It was and is an ongoing thing,but there's nothing like walking 47 steps to go to work in the morning.

 

[NASTYZEN]

Re: My back yard Recession shed

Being the recycler that I am and not having to much loose cash to throw at a shed this year.I decided to clean up the yard and use what I had on hand to get er done.At first it was going to be a metal frame with a tarp over it but it sort of got out of hand.I'm fortunate to have a scrapyard buddy who let me have the remains of 3 above ground swimming pools to tin it all.Took me 5 weekends to complete.Final cost was some welding wire n gas and 5 boxes of self tapping screws.
It has two levels with a door at each end and one access door for the upper level.I made a ladder inside with an access hole to be able to get stuff up there without having to break out the ladder each time I need to get something.
So with this shed(witch is filled to the brim with stuff)I was able to clear the house's junk,the front shop's junk , the back shop's junk and most of the stuff in the yard including the lawn tractor.
I know,it looks a little rough.I fortunately don't have any neighbors close by .Ultimately I will cap it off with wood planks like the building,but will paint it in spring in the mean time.T'ill the cash flow resumes.

 

[Dead Skunk]

I ran a couple of Volkswagen GTIs, prepped to SCCA rules for Improved Touring B, and then I switched to a Spec Miata. Sold that 4 years ago and didn't replace it. One of these days I might give vintage racing a try. I fell in love with the old Alfa Romeos in the Trans-Am ,after watching them at Mont Tremblant in 1969 ,or 1970. Sounds like you've got some neat work.

 

[JoeMopar]

Nasty,

That's one nice build. I'm sure you were happy to finally finish the block / concrete portion of it. Like your part on thinking outside of the box in using unusual materials to accomplish your build. Enjoy it!

 

[NASTYZEN]

Nasty,

That's one nice build. I'm sure you were happy to finally finish the block / concrete portion of it. Like your part on thinking outside of the box in using unusual materials to accomplish your build. Enjoy it!

Thanks Joe.Yes I was more than happy to finish that part of it.The worst part of the build was the tin roof.Not the top of it but the nearly vertical sides were a real killer.The ground around the shop is so uneven I had to use the ol ladder instead of the scaffolding one sheet at a time.Up n down a zillion times and no leverage to push on the drill.I cried when I finished the last sheet.

I ran a couple of Volkswagen GTIs, prepped to SCCA rules for Improved Touring B, and then I switched to a Spec Miata. Sold that 4 years ago and didn't replace it. One of these days I might give vintage racing a try. I fell in love with the old Alfa Romeos in the Trans-Am ,after watching them at Mont Tremblant in 1969 ,or 1970. Sounds like you've got soe neatwork.

Vintage is so much more (fun) oriented.It's the only type of racing where I have seen such comradeship.Ie one competitor comes in from his race and half the paddock helps to remove a part from his car to graft to an other competitors ride so he can go participate in his race.
You will rarely see that in contemporary racing.

 

[drivercl]

Hello Nastyzen,

I've been thinking to buy a 3 phase mig welder and install a 3 phase converter like you did.
The thing is I am not sure if a Lincoln DC-600 can get the amount of Amps needed from such a converter.

Will be just a matter of properly 'sizing' the phase converter? I've found this DIY rotary three phase converter, and thought this might be the way:

http://www.metalwebnews.com/howto/phase-converter/phase-converter.html

The machine in question is this:
content.lincolnelectric.com/pdfs/products/literature/e540.pdf

So far, I have not started the electric installation in the place. The road will bring single phase 240V.

Cheers

 

[NASTYZEN]

Hi drivercl,
I just took a look at my T.I.G. machine and depending on how I hook it up it will draw different amps.Most machines are multi power input adjustable.
If you set it up for 240V it draws 96 amps.460V it draws 48 amps and finally 575V it will draw 39 amps.All this single phase.
The reason I have a rotary phase converter is for running my cnc machines and also my roll form.A lathe and such ,motor will change direction and three phase makes that easily possible without stopping the motor.If you reverse the direction of a single phase motor,you have to stop it before reversing it or it will continue to rotate in the initial direction it was turning.
So if you get a welder,make sure it will run on 230v and wire it with a BIG wire and fuse that will handle the amps.You don't need a rotary phase converter unless you need to run a 3 phase motor.
Good luck.

 

[Mark H]

Love the recycling aspect of this build.Nothing like getting a good deal on materials!
When driving home today,I noticed that the house at the end of our access road is due to get demolished.Fences and signs went up today.I'll visit them tomorrow and see if I can get a deal on the 6x2's from the roof.If they say no,I'll phone the cops and tell them the companies trucks are blocking my road.LOL

 

[NASTYZEN]

Thank's Mark,
Act quickly on that house!There's a lot of recyclers out there just waiting for a chance I'm sure.First come first served.The early bird gets the worm....LOLL
Good luck

 

[NASTYZEN]

At the same time I was building my recession shed I also built the temporary driveway retaining wall.I plan on re putting it up with mortar at a later date when I have fewer projects and more money to do it properly.
I am fortunate in that the whole town is built on rock around here and someone is always dynamiting somewhere.Stone is all free,just got to load and haul it here in my poor old 1989 Sierra work horse.
So that should cover the build of the 20 x 30 shop for now,till I make some more changes to it.

Anyone curious to see whats in the 20 x 40 shop?

 

[Mark H]

Nice job on the retaining wall.I tried building a dry stone wall a couple of years ago.I made an **** of it!
Spoke to the demolision guys today,they're keeping all the 6x2's for me.No price yet but should get a good deal.The house is only around 10 years old(!) so the timber is apparently in good condition.It's coming down to make way for a larger road junction.Shame as it's quite a nice house.
And stop teasing!What's in the 20x40 shop?

 

[dsan]

Very nice build. BTW my brother lives in Wakefield Quebec. Is that close to you?

 

[Bib Overalls]

Curious? Not me. I just want to see pictures. Lots of pictures.

 

[NASTYZEN]

Nice job on the retaining wall.I tried building a dry stone wall a couple of years ago.I made an **** of it!

Thank you but I lied,I just got the rocks, the wife did most of the work.LOL

Very nice build. BTW my brother lives in Wakefield Quebec. Is that close to you?

Thank you.yes Wakefeild is about 40min away

Curious? Not me. I just want to see pictures. Lots of pictures.

Working on it.

 

[NASTYZEN]

Sneek peek.

 

[twinturbosupra123]

more pics of the girl nice build so far man

 

[NASTYZEN]

more pics of the girl nice build so far man

Thank's.Here's another of the girl.

 

[twinturbosupra123]

not bad at all man keep them comeing and us updated on the build

 

[NASTYZEN]

This is my front shop.The shell was built by a contractor in 1996.I did all the work inside with the help of two good friends.It is 20 x 40 and 25 ft. at the tip.It was built on a slab.I chose French style trusses to have a maximum of space upstairs.10ft6. ceiling downstairs, 7ft headroom upstairs.200 amp service,water,sewer,100,000btu propane heater.This shop is where I do most of my welding and fabrication work.
I built up that stone retaining wall over the years.At first it was a temporary piled up stone construction till I had time to take it all down and rebuild it properly with mortar and proper draining.

 

[NASTYZEN]

This is my sliding 30ft wide door.It's great for privacy,yet slides 30ft.into the woods for easy access and maneuvering.I turned a radius in some uhmw plastic to fit the top tube and inserted some sealed bearings to make guide wheels,framed it with Alu.channel to make a trolley type carrier.
The door hangs off of s/s drop tubes witch I bent some offsets into to keep the door directly under the top main tube.The main top tube is held up with two 4.0in galvanized posts anchored in concrete.I anchored a steel cable to the garage roof going to the top of the second post and then on to the end of the top main tube in the woods in cantilever fashion to support the weight of the door when opened.<
The door frame is made of Alu.square tubing and angle to keep the weight down a little.

 

[NASTYZEN]

OK,now I present to you the inside of my modest metal working shop.

 

[NASTYZEN]

Some of my equipment.I try to have everything on wheels to keep the shop as modular as possible.

 

[Holedgr]

Holy ****!!! That's one helluva anvil!!

 

[OccupantRJ]

Nastyzen, nice job on everything, and you and your wife are one hell-of-a-hardworking pair!

 

[NASTYZEN]

Nastyzen, nice job on everything, and you and your wife are one hell-of-a-hardworking pair!

Thank you Occupant.She is truly my little Kubota.I wonder how much of this I would of accomplished had we never met?

This is my P&H Tig welder setup.Space is tight in these parts and this is where the monster ended up.The original smoke evacuation system hung from that boom.It was a hood connected to the extraction fan via an 8'' duct and never worked worth a f"%?!One day I tore it all down except for the fan.When you weld 1/4''plate to the bottom of rally cars you fill the shop with smoke bigtime.This thing EXTRACTS...but I have to open the garage door about an inch.Not fun in Feb.
Anyway I now hang the wires and pedal on the boom witch is handy at times.I don't know what year the P&H is but it must be real old because when I've replaced parts in it before, the newer parts were a fraction of the size of the old components.Must be from the late 50ies.

 

[Call me the Breeze]

I really dig it Nastzen!