My Southeast Ohio 30 by 40

[jp828108]

That should be a solid addition to the shop, I say clean it enough to make it usable then put it to work, no need to polish it for hours on end. I have done that and then used them only to destory the fine finish.
JB

JB
That is a solid idea. Considering this is my first big vice, and it isn't in the "best" shape it will not be a show piece. Have to make a new mounting plate for the welding table. I have a few more plates, but this will be my last piece of hitch receiver square tube.

Has anyone ever used weld nuts? the square hitch tubing is a pretty sloppy fit. I was thinking about trying a couple weld nuts on the receivers on the bench to put bolts to tighten down and remove the slop. I currently just have hitch pins to make sure whatever I have installed can't come out.

 

[jbmatth]

I have used the idea of weld nuts, there are at least two ways I know of to accomplish this with a standard nut. One is to drill the hole full size or slightly oversize for the bolt, weld the nut on as close as you can to centered and it'll be fine. Or you could weld the nut on first then drill it out and tap the tube. Hopefully that is easy enough to understand but has worked for me in the past.
JB

 

[jp828108]

I was going to use something like these (not necessarily this size)

https://www.grainger.com/product/GRAINGER-APPROVED-Steel-Weld-Nut-with-1-2-13-1LAK3?s_pp=false&picUrl=//static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/1LAJ7_AS01?$smthumb$

Those are probably a little over kill on size, but I saw them sold by the piece for like 40 to 50 cents for a smaller size. Figured drill the hole, line it up and lay down some beads. I saw another post where someone used some type of bolt with a T handle so I may still that idea as well.

 

[jbmatth]

That would also work fine and probably be less intrusive and look better than using standard nuts welded on.
JB

 

[1Garageman]

Awesome thread. I was browsing and just happened to find yours.

I am also from Southern Ohio. Jackson County is where I grew up for 21 years!

 

[jp828108]

That would also work fine and probably be less intrusive and look better than using standard nuts welded on.
JB

JB,

That's what I was thinking. One of these days I will get a few ordered and get busy.

Awesome thread. I was browsing and just happened to find yours.

I am also from Southern Ohio. Jackson County is where I grew up for 21 years!

Garageman,

Thanks for stopping in, and checking out my thread. I live in Meigs county, so just a couple counties over from where you grew up. My brother's law firm does a bit of work over in Jackson. There used to be a stereo install shop over there (I assume they are probably still there). Back in high school I was in to putting loud systems in cars. I used the guys in Athens, but the place in Jackson had the line on vinyl for the box and amp rack so I ventured over there a time or two.

 

[jp828108]

Went to an auction this weekend. Not that I really needed to haul more stuff into the shop, but I couldn't pass up checking out a local hardware store that was shutting down after 30 plus years. Auctioning off EVERYTHING. I was really in the market for some type of bolt bin, and they had lots of bins, and bolts. Got there and registered before any bidding began, and looked things over. Didn't see anything I HAD to have, saw lots I wanted, and the bolt bins were plastic or wooden built with no good way to move. There were a couple hoarders, a couple re-sellers, and quite a few regular folks like me. Prices were not out of hand. One of the hoarders was an older guy with a younger guy. I assume his grandson. They must have dropped 3 or 4 grand maybe more. Bought lot after lot of nails, screws, random stuff, just because the price was decent They had far more coin to drop than I did so I didn't bother bidding on much. I ended up getting some screws, nails, hose clamps, various wire, big lot of bulbs, taps, and direct burial patches. I didn't get a chance to take any photos of the haul yet. It was late by the time I got home, and had family obligations with Easter today.

 

[jp828108]

Pictures from the hardware store auction.

I wish I had the wire lot when I was putting the outdoor wood burner in. I bought thermostat wire on two difference occasions. I have a wire started in the hallway where the thermostat will eventually go, but then went and bought some more so I didn't have to pull this wire I had already fished into the attic out to temp in a thermostat in a different location. So I am set on a few different types of wire for a little while.
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Now I have a need for some new staple guns.
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Some dies and a couple taps. Not sure they are sizes I will ever use, but all made in the USA stuff.
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Fuses and direct burial splices. The fuses I honestly didn't pay attention and was thinking automotive fuses, but when I won these for $2.50 I wasn't complaining. I'm sure I will run into someone that can use them, and if not I'm not out much.
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Some wood shims, and tool handle shims. Why not? Gave a few packages of each away to my dad and brother.
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Also took Monday off from work. Cleaned up the garage, and did some work to the lawnmower trailer. I didn't get any pictures, but will grab a few next time it is out here. Put a new wooden deck on it, and fixed up the tail lights. My dad keeps busting them out. I wanted to build a cage out of some 16 gauge or heavier, but didn't have any handy. So just used some thin stuff for the time being. Menards has R19 insulation on sale. My dad, brother, and I all figured up how much we needed to do our buildings, and my dad went and picked it up yesterday for all of us. So now I need to get to clearing of walls, and studding it up to insulate. I know I will still lose a ton out the ceiling, but the r19 in the walls was stupid cheap not to pick it up and work on getting that done until I can afford metal for a ceiling and blown in insulation.

I didn't grab a picture on my way in from work tonight, but the insulation is taking up all the space I cleaned up on Monday, but its for a good reason.

 

[jp828108]

Spotted some pallets on my way to and from work this week. I have a buddy who loves to build stuff out of pallets. I mentioned that there were quite a few at a local place, and he was instantly on board with getting them. We each ended up with about 20 or so pallets. I haven't decided if I will try to accomplish any of the Girlfriends Pinterest ideas or not. But we made what I felt like was a decent haul. If I decide not to use them I know my buddy will take them.

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Threw a couple pallets down to keep the insulation up off the concrete since it is sitting close to the garage door. I need to buy a things for the grinder to grind concrete, and make sure from the garage door away from the building slopes down, as well as invest in some of the Tsunami garage door things to help ensure no water makes it in under the door. Until then the insulation is up and safe.

View media item 79171Got some shop time in Sunday afternoon on this thing.
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It is my girlfriends car and it needed struts REALLY BAD. I asked my cousin who has a little repair shop to get me prices on loaded struts. He came back quite a bit higher than loaded Gabriels from Autozone. He had one of his guys price them for me, and the guy quoted me labor as well. My jaw dropped when he told me 8 hours to do all four loaded struts, plus an alignment somewhere else because they don't have an alignment rack. I ended up ordering them online for a bit less than autozone.
I did the passenger side first, and it took me about two hours. The rear being the time consuming of the two. For some reason chevrolet/toyota decided it would be a good idea to make you have to remove the brake hose from the hard line to get the strut out. The fronts you just have to remove a bolt and the hose comes right off. There is also just a small access panel to get the nuts on the top mount on the rears. Since I had all the tools out and now knew what I needed to do I was able to knock the drivers side out in about one and a half hours. So in my little home shop, with no lift I beat the guys quoted time by over four hours. I did get lucky that the hard line didn't break when I disconnected it from the hose, and the bleeders didn't break sine I had to bleed the rears.

I have to get better at remembering to photograph the projects along the way. This is my first time ever posting about a garage and the stuff happening in it. I have enjoyed reading so many of the threads that I decided to give it a shot for my own. So hopefully as it progresses I will do better.
Here is the garage after all the tools were put up and the car pulled out. I had the floor nice and clean, but it needs swept up again.
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[jbmatth]

Nice job on the strut replacement, 8 hours seems crazy for that job and 4-6 is probably what it would have taken me. I seem to be able to get an 8 hour job quote and knock it out in about 12 if all goes well. LOL
JB

 

[jp828108]

Nice job on the strut replacement, 8 hours seems crazy for that job and 4-6 is probably what it would have taken me. I seem to be able to get an 8 hour job quote and knock it out in about 12 if all goes well. LOL
JB

I know that feeling. If it were a true 8 hour job I am sure it would have taken me every bit of 12, even if only a few things went wrong along the way. I am sure you could have finished it quicker than me especially with that lift of yours. I am happy overall. Saved a bunch of money over having someone else do it. Was never planning on having my cousin's shop change them out was just going to see if his prices (whether he wanted to give them to me at cost or make a few dollars I didn't care) were close to what I could get them for. His guy just also quoted labor. Doing everything on the ground is no fun. Makes me really wish I had a lift, but I only have 10 foot ceilings, and will probably never pop the top to put in a vaulted ceiling (probably never be in the budget or I of course would).

 

[Growlertdi]

You could keep an eye out for one of these low rise lifts. I have a similiar pole barn (28x32) and have had all my VWs, my Sienna, even lifted the F150 and the Eurovan inside this Garage. the eurovan and the Sienna both had to have the garage door closed, but it got them off the ground just fine for oil changes, brakes, suspension work and the like.

Heres a photo of my low rise lift like you see in Tire shops. best $400 I ever spent.

 

[jp828108]

You could keep an eye out for one of these low rise lifts. I have a similiar pole barn (28x32) and have had all my VWs, my Sienna, even lifted the F150 and the Eurovan inside this Garage. the eurovan and the Sienna both had to have the garage door closed, but it got them off the ground just fine for oil changes, brakes, suspension work and the like.

Heres a photo of my low rise lift like you see in Tire shops. best $400 I ever spent.

Nice looking little lift. How do you like it compared to just jacking up a vehicle and using jack stands? does it get a lot higher than that?

 

[Growlertdi]

Nice looking little lift. How do you like it compared to just jacking up a vehicle and using jack stands? does it get a lot higher than that?

It will get a few inches taller than what is shown. It is typically used in tire shops so is only designed to get a car or small truck off the ground.

It's much easier to place the boards under the pinch rails and flip a switch, run it up till it locks and it's good to go to do most anything on. Exhaust work need not apply, it's doable but not easily.

Sent from my Farnsworth using Tapatalk

 

[jbmatth]

I was going to suggest something similar to what Growlertdi mentioned or a max jax type lift. Just not having to drag out the jack and stands seams to make things much easier and inevitability I have to take it up and down a few times when working on something like that for one reason or another.
JB

 

[cros13]

Just read through your whole build. love the wood burning stove you have in the garage. I plan on getting one myself for my shed, they are ****** expensive, even a tiny pot belly stove, people are asking $300 for them! i might go snoop around a scrap metal yard one day and see what they have laying about.

Really like the cutty too. I have a soft spot for the old american muscle cars. Here in Australia, all our old 2 door "muscle cars" cost upwards of 50k now days, they didn't make many, and there arn't many left. I am actually thinking of importing something like a duster or a chevelle when my Datsun is done.

Rudi.

 

[jp828108]

I was going to suggest something similar to what Growlertdi mentioned or a max jax type lift. Just not having to drag out the jack and stands seams to make things much easier and inevitability I have to take it up and down a few times when working on something like that for one reason or another.
JB

JB,

My cousin's shop has something similar. I helped him out for a week before Christmas. It was great for removing tires, and getting a vehicle up to work on. I could see adding one to my garage if I ever come across a good deal.

Just read through your whole build. love the wood burning stove you have in the garage. I plan on getting one myself for my shed, they are ****** expensive, even a tiny pot belly stove, people are asking $300 for them! i might go snoop around a scrap metal yard one day and see what they have laying about.

Really like the cutty too. I have a soft spot for the old american muscle cars. Here in Australia, all our old 2 door "muscle cars" cost upwards of 50k now days, they didn't make many, and there arn't many left. I am actually thinking of importing something like a duster or a chevelle when my Datsun is done.

Rudi.

Rudi,

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. There are a ton of awesome threads out there. I appreciate you taking the time to check mine out. I found mine used on Facebook. They seem to pop up quite often here in the states. I know it has it's dangers, but I enjoy "heating" the shop with it. With no insulation I don't really heat much, but once I get the walls, and ceiling done I imagine I will find it will do an alright job. I also live in a rural wooded area, so firewood is easy to come by.

Good luck with importing one. Hopefully it is easy. I have never tried to import anything, but I had a cousin import a smart car from Canada.

 

[jbmatth]

Just read through your whole build. love the wood burning stove you have in the garage. I plan on getting one myself for my shed, they are ****** expensive, even a tiny pot belly stove, people are asking $300 for them! i might go snoop around a scrap metal yard one day and see what they have laying about.

Rudi.

Sorry to hijack for a minute. Rudi, check out 1/2 Cup's thread on a brake drum stove (I think it was his), I think it would be cheaper to build one than buy one at that price, and you could build it a lot bigger too.
JB

 

[jp828108]

So quick update of what has been going on. I mowed the 3 lawns I mow in town on Tuesday. I'm not sure if I mentioned it, but I picked up another 1/2 of an acre or so to mow. My great uncle has been paying someone to do part of his yard a few times a month. He lives just up the road from my grandma's house. So since I am already driving right by I told him I could help him out and do it. With the zero turn it doesn't take long. It is mostly flat, and not a lot of obstacles. I knew the blades needed sharpened, but I pressed on trying to beat the rain that is coming. I also had my 1.5 acres to do. I mowed that yesterday.

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The grass is still a little patchy in the backyard, and the drainage isn't quite right. It stays pretty wet back there. So will probably be having the swale cut a little more when my cousin comes out to finish up the front. The mower was also really cutting like ****, but I got it knocked down and finished good enough before 4 or 5 days of rain.

I took today off to go to Beckley WV to get a practically brand new Tennsmith 4 foot box pan brake. So while I waited for it to be time to leave I decided I would work on the lawnmower.
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View media item 79176Looks like the deck needs a good cleaning too. I have been thinking about touching up the paint, and replacing a couple rollers. So I might just go ahead and pull the deck off to clean it, replace some parts, and try a little paint touch up.

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The blades are torn up a bit. I don't mow professionally, so I'm not sure if this is worse than normal, but to me these are in decent enough shape to get a lot more use out of after taking a flapper wheel to them.

 

[jp828108]

My dad and I took a 5 hour road trip today. Went to pick up a Tennsmith sheet metal brake from the same guy I got the stomp shear from. My dad and I both remembered it being brand new and rated for 16 gauge. Guess our memories are failing us. He is 65 and I am only 29 (imagine crying laughing emoji). When we arrived I walked into the shop and saw a very rough looking 22 gauge brake. So needless to say my thread about pricing my Enco is irrelevant for the time being. I don't actually have a Tennsmith to replace it currently.

 

[jp828108]

Saturday I helped my dad a little with some projects at his place, but of course forgot to take any photos. I'm working on remembering. I do have a small update on my garage though.

I think I upgraded my small air compressor a little bit. One of my parent's neighbors was selling his old "5 HP" Sanborn Black Max compressor. I found the owners manual with it, and it appears he got in in the early 90s. He never used it much. He used to own a gas station/repair shop. So he had a big compressor there, and that is where he did most of his work. It closed down years and years ago, but he took the compressor from there, and never really used the one I bought. I haven't gotten to fire it up yet. Had to do some research on wiring it up correctly. I also have to find a replacement air filter.

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The 5HP rating is obviously overinflated, but the owners manual states it is capable of 10 cfm. I'm guessing a fair amount better than the small compressor I have been using.

I spent quite a bit of time researching this evening on proper installation, and posted these plans in my build thread, and over in the electrical section. I am hoping to be able to run everything overkill on size. That way I could one day add a true 5hp compressor. The cost doesn't seem like much more to have the ability to easily upgrade. Here is what I came up with any input is greatly appreciated.

Planning on this 6/2 wire from the panel in the building to a 60 amp disconnect. Current location is only a few feet away from the panel. I hope to one day build a small addition/compressor room to free up floor space in main area, and keep the noise down (if and when that happens, it would be a roughly 40 to 60 foot run, would still plan on using 6/2 if possible) The wire and disconnect I am considering.
View media item 79181View media item 79182From the disconnect I think I want to use this 8 gauge AC whip
View media item 79183And use this 30 amp breaker in the panel for this particular compressor (with ability to expand it to a 50 amp breaker if/when I add a true 5hp compressor
View media item 79184Critiques, suggestions, or issues? I know this has been covered, and this is what my research has led me to believe is proper installation.

 

[jbmatth]

Depending on the run length I think 6 ga. could be overkill. Here is a link to help give an idea on what is actually needed for a given current draw. Wire Gauge Table

 

[jp828108]

Depending on the run length I think 6 ga. could be overkill. Here is a link to help give an idea on what is actually needed for a given current draw. Wire Gauge Table

JB,

I figure go bigger than needed while everything is open, and it is easy to run. It sounds like the 6 romex with the 8 ac whip would set me up to expand to up to a 7.5 HP compressor, if I ever found a deal on one. Only really ever plan on maybe getting a true 5hp, but I am always watching for deals on used equipment. Hopefully can get to the hardware store one day after work this week. I want to get the stuff to hook up the compressor, and hope to find something that can be used as an air gasket.

 

[jp828108]

So I didn't get a ton of feedback regarding the electrical, but I am pretty sure I have it correct. I took a trip to Lowes in Athens, Ohio today. Their website said they had everything I needed other than the breaker in stock. They should have had over 400 feet of 6/2, and had none. They showed 5 AC whips, and had none. I ended up having to go to another town about 45 minutes away to get everything I needed. I was working by myself, and didn't get a lot of pictures along the way, but here are a few of it finished up.

I ended up using a 10 gauge AC whip so I should be good to upgrade to a true 5HP in the future. They didn't have 6/2 in stock so I ended up using 8/2, so I should also be good there. One day I hope to get the compressor moved to a compressor shack off the side of the building. I will wire 6/2 before I finish out any walls to where I plan for that to be. For the time being I am set for one inside the building.

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Now I am going to research air distribution. I think I want to get most of my air hoses converted over to 1/2 inch. I need to add a regulator, hose reel, and want to eventually build a drier.

 

[jbmatth]

Looks good to me and you should have plenty of wire for most reasonable sized compressors. Also that is the same compressor I have as my backup, it kept up decently well when using my blast cabinet but I didn't feel comfortable with it running as often as it needed to.
JB

 

[jp828108]

JB thanks for continuing to check in. Glad to hear it did decent. I don't really plan on running a blast cabinet, but I guess you never know. I hope to one day add a bigger one, but for now the price was right, and its quite a bit larger than my small compressor that sits under my bench. I think I will end up giving that one to my dad since he technically bought the 60 gallon one to have at my shop. We do most of our repair work here. My brother bought a small 110 one from lowes, and it is large enough to run his spray guns for cabinet finishing and air nailers, but my small one can help supplement his.

 

[jp828108]

I started a new thread looking for info about a vise. It looks like the Wilton Bullet vise, but has no markings. It was for sale nearby, and they only wanted 50 bucks for it. I was hoping for some quick input because I didn't have the time to do much research. I managed to be first in line and got it. Still don't know a lot about it, but seems like it just needs cleaned up, and feels well made. I will be researching the vises of garage journal thread, and seeing what I can find out.

But here it is once I got it home.
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[jp828108]

No major progress since the last update. I spent the last 10 days on vacation. My girlfriend, brother, sister in law, niece, nephew, and mom went out to Colorado for a vacation, and wedding. I have picked up a couple of tool additions some from here and one from amazon. When the next couple of packages come later this week I will get some photos. Until then I will be playing catch up with work, and lawn mowing. I have some weeds at least a foot tall growing. Tomorrow makes 14 days since I last mowed my house. Hopefully will also make some progress on garage projects. I also have promised to help a buddy snd his girlfriend paint their new house. They are closed and set to move in this weekend. So my projects my go on hold again.

 

[jp828108]

Some photos from Vacation. These were taken from a park near Boulder, Colorado. It was a nice drive up a mountain to multiple pull offs for scenic views.

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Those photos were on a Wednesday afternoon. When the girlfriend and I left boulder around 7pm for a 1 and a half hour drive back to Monument Colorado where my family out there lives it began to hail and we drove through and extremely nasty storm. Took us much longer than if the weather were nice. I thought about trying to pull over, but wasn't sure where to go that would protect the rental from hail, so we just powered on.

On Thursday morning we woke up to this loveliness.
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My Aunt and Uncle work at a camp near Monument, and the camp sits in an area prone to get very nasty weather. It went from 60 plus degrees on Wednesday to 30 degrees on Thursday and 10 to 12 inches of snow. Denver had a hail storm that allegedly wiped out the rental fleet. So when we arrived the rental company didn't have any rental cars, despite having reserved two. We had to wait for a rental car to be returned to get ours. Fortunately by the time paperwork was completed a couple cars came in. They were MAJOR upgrades. One was an all wheel drive escape, and the other a 4 wheel drive Expedition for the price of a little sedan.

While out there I found some deals on used tools, and despite lack of reliable internet, the seller worked with me and I am the proud owner of some nice looking tools.

Got some long chrome 3/8 extensions. I would have preferred impact extensions so I could use them with a ratchet or impact driver, but the price was right for some quality snap on stuff. Also picked up a couple snap on 1/2 drive impact extensions.
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Picked up some more snap on goodies
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Got a punch and chisel set. I know snap on isn't necessarily the "preferred" brand, but once again the prices were right
View media item 79195The seller even tossed in some extra goodies the 1/2 inch is a duplicate, but the 3/4 size isn't in the set.
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I know this is supposed to be a garage build thread, but not much has been happening inside the garage. I keep finding good deals on tools and adding to the tool collection. It cuts into the garage upgrade budget, but I'm not paying retail for anything I'm getting so it's hard to pass up a good used deal.

Hoping within the next month to buy some 2x4 or 2x6 and start framing and insulating walls. I probably won't be able to swing adding metal or drywall for awhile, but I can at least get the walls framed and insulated. Since all the insulation for the walls have already been purchased, and is just sitting in the way. I'm going to lose some floor space since a lot of stuff is set inside the posts, but in the end i'm sure it will be well worth it.

 

[jp828108]

Not much on the garage front planned for the weekend. Friday night I cleared put a bunch of weeds from overgrown flower beds. Gotta get something to kill some poison ivy, and cut down some small sappling that started to grow. Will probably spray it all, and put down weed barrier. Thinking about some landscape timbers for edging, and maybe even splirging on rubber mulch as a one and done.

Mowed a couple yards this morning, then helped a buddy and his girlfriend move into their new house. Previous owners left a lot of nice stuff. I might end up with a nice cabinet that i will make dividers for the drawers and use a a bolt bin. He hasnt decided for sure if he is gonna use it or get rid of it yet. Probably end up over there tomorrow helping him and cooking out. He is an insulator, and is going to insulate my ductwork for my outdoor wood burner, and help me stud and insulate my building when I can afford to buy the lumber.

 

[Grumblebum]

Thanks for the updates JP. Some nice little tool scores there. What are those plier things used for ?

Cheers GB

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Thanks for the updates JP. Some nice little tool scores there. What are those plier things used for ?

Cheers GB

Looks like "drum brake pliers" to me.

 

[pitterpat]

Here goes, I have been encouraged by a fellow member to start a thread of my garage. I am originally from Southeast Ohio. I spent 6 years living in Indianapolis and moved back to my hometown in 2015. I lived in the suburbs in Indy and had a small two car attached. Not much to say about it, but I dug up a couple photos from when I first moved in to the old place. Haven't posted much so lets see if this works.

Looks like you lived near my old neighborhood...near 71st and Zionsville Rd. Also, I bet you went to Lincoln Tech?

Nice job on all the work! Yes, it is good to have family an friends that like that kind of work close to help; I've lived in Indy over 30 years an grew up in Columbus, OH.

 

[pitterpat]

Big trip to town!

Hate going there any more. Grew up in/around Columbus.

Now live south of Zanesville.
Wife and I joke about any big trip to "town" to visit family.

Why do you hate going to Columbus? I live in Indy and don't like going either....but that's because it's 2.5 - 3 hours for me.

 

[jp828108]

Thanks for the updates JP. Some nice little tool scores there. What are those plier things used for ?

Cheers GB

Looks like "drum brake pliers" to me.

GB

I think Outlaw hit the nail on the head. Im not sure if there was another intended purpose, but I bought them to work on the few sets of drum brakes that are the fleet.

Looks like you lived near my old neighborhood...near 71st and Zionsville Rd. Also, I bet you went to Lincoln Tech?

Nice job on all the work! Yes, it is good to have family an friends that like that kind of work close to help; I've lived in Indy over 30 years an grew up in Columbus, OH.

Pat,

My old place in Indy was in Sunningdale Commons. It was between country club and tansel rd and just south of crawfordsville rd and Clermont Indiana. Being back is great. Lots of good friends in Indy, but so many more in a very diverse backgrounds here in Ohio.

Speaking of friends been helping one move into a new place all weekend. No major updates of my own. The girlfriend and I planted some flowers for my grandma abd mulched some flower beds. I will grab some photos of that as well as the clearing and small progress i made on my own flower beds on Friday and post them up.

 

[jp828108]

Looks like you lived near my old neighborhood...near 71st and Zionsville Rd. Also, I bet you went to Lincoln Tech?

Nice job on all the work! Yes, it is good to have family an friends that like that kind of work close to help; I've lived in Indy over 30 years an grew up in Columbus, OH.

Pat

I also forgot to mention where I went to school. I was originally enrolled in Wyotech in Pennsylvania. I ended up visiting some family in Indy. One of my family members introduced me to a service manager, at a dealership. He told me that he would hire people from Ivy Tech Community College, just the same as Lincoln Tech. Ended up touring both facilities. I abandoned PA and chose Indy because I had some connections there. I ended up going with Ivy Tech because of the price difference. Turned into some great opportunities. I worked with quite a few kids from Lincoln Tech at a dealership. Most of them were paying huge sums of money to learn the same things I was studying. I also was able to take some classes to learn fundamentals of high performance engine building, very very basic machining, basic automotive fabrication, entire classes dedicated to tig, and mig welding, all the normal ASE Technician stuff, and all for a fraction of the cost. I made connections and did a small amount of volunteer work for an Indy Lights team, and a small race shop that specialized in mini sprint cars. I purchased a house, and met a couple different women while out there. I planned to attempt to pursue some type of racing field, and had life plans not changed I was in a great area to accomplish that. I had a couple different people with awesome connections for Indy teams, and were willing to make introductions. I never ended up trying to get a foot in the door. Had too many commitments, and by the time I was finished with school didn't want to travel, and wasn't willing to take what I perceived would be a huge pay cut to leave the dealership I got on at to start trying to find a race car builder to hire me. Eventually decided that a dealership wasn't where I saw myself forever, and went back for my Bachelors degree.

 

[jp828108]

Here are a couple photos from this evening. I cleared out the flower beds around the two stands of persimmon trees on Friday evening. I still need to follow up with some weed killer to help try to wipe everything out. I also have some poison ivy to get out of there. Then lots of bagging of all the stuff I weedeated. I will follow that with some type of weed barrier, edging, and eventually mulch. I am also going to have a buddy's mom come out, and take a look. She used to have a greenhouse, and still gardens quite a bit. She is going to help me decide some plants that will look good.
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[jp828108]

Glad I searched first instead of starting a new thread. Took this pic on the truck yesterday.

Sent from my SM-G930P using Tapatalk

Saw this thread pop up about socket trays. Pretty neat idea, but I honestly sold the couple sets of mid length sockets I had. I couldn't see the point if I had shallow and deep well. Anyone following along have an opinion on mid length sockets?

 

[Growlertdi]

I have exactly one mid length 16mm socket that I bought special because it is invaluable to use when doing timing belts on MK4 Jettas & Golfs & Beetles, specifically the TDIs I like to play with.

 

[jp828108]

I have exactly one mid length 16mm socket that I bought special because it is invaluable to use when doing timing belts on MK4 Jettas & Golfs & Beetles, specifically the TDIs I like to play with.

Growler,

Thanks for the response. Is this because you need a socket deeper than a shallow, but no room to use a full on deep well socket?