Below 265 SQ/FT Nobody’s tool storage, maintenance & recreation lair.

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Ollie - are you on your own boiler setup for steam generation or do you get steam from a central plant?

Wondering if poor water quality played a part in the demise of your radiators.

Hi Larry!

No steam, hot water. Always personally owned setup through the lifespan of the house. Coal -> Oil -> Gas (since 2021). I don’t know if the radiators were renewed when the original owners went from coal and a gravity based water pressure system to oil with a pressurized water system. To us they have always been here, and we have replaced all of them - except for those two in the living & dining room. “Worst case” those are original from the late sixties. In which case it’s pretty remarkable I think that this is the first “defect” in any of them. All of the ones we replaced, were replaced for style & convenience - not because they had problems/defects.

I think the problem is that the whole setup has been re-filled with fresh water time and time again and that probably lead to this with to much “oxygen” in the water. My HVAC guy has a setup through which the tap water has to go before it goes into the system. I think it de-mineralizes, filters, get’s the “oxygen” out. Of course that didn’t help all the times before it wasn’t done that way. …

We kept those in the living room because of the stone windowsills on top. When I painted them, I took them off for access, babied them while handling as to not break them, and re-installed them after the paint job. They are massive, as are the cast iron floor stands to support all that. We knew, we would never get the same capacity when replacing the radiators. As windowsill brackets for these new radiators are not compatible with stuff like the old stone windowsills. So we will also have to get new windowsills.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[drivesitfar]

My parents bought a house in 1963 that was built in 1928 and when I updated it in 2025 to sell it still had original radiators. The old coal burning furnace had a bit newer oil burner and this system worked fairly well but guessing their oil bill wouldn’t be something to write home about.

They also had a few cast iron tops you could almost cook on that looked great.

Best of luck figuring out the repair or replacement.

 

[larry4406]

Our house on base at Edward’s Housing Area (Frankfurt AM 1970-75 Edward’s Kaserne) had a central heating plant for all the apartments and houses. Burned coal.

Loved the radiators under the deep window sills. Also the special dual action casement windows which could swing like a door or top tilt in while hinged off the bottom. Lever in bottom corner swung 90 degrees to change hinge pin directions between modes.

 

[zanyad]

(both shirt and padlock)

Also the special dual action casement windows which could swing like a door or top tilt in while hinged off the bottom. Lever in bottom corner swung 90 degrees to change hinge pin directions between modes.

Those are great! I dislike casement windows except for that style.

 

[larry4406]

(both shirt and padlock)

Those are great! I dislike casement windows except for that style.

Agreed. US needs to get on the band wagon and make these more prevalent.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

#RealtimeUpdate

Phone went nuts about 3 hrs ago, a British WW2 bomb (500lbs, long-period delay detonator) was found while prepping/exploring/canvassing a new construction site - about 1.2km/ 0.75mi from where we are. So we can stay where we are.

They’re evacuating a 600m/ 0.37mi radius around the location and prep to detonate it on site later tonight - deemed to risky/dangerous to defuse.

Close proximity to the Rhine and an old oil/fuel depot/transfer point make this a reality even in 2026.

Here’s a picture the city used in it’s communications.

NOT my picture! Picture copyright by Pia Mahr



NOT my picture! Picture copyright by Pia Mahr

Gotta love the can of WD-40, even EOD specialists use it apparently. And the German made “Ideal” spade is a nice touch as well.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[four.cycle]

and they made that discovery with the excavator?

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

and they made that discovery with the excavator?

Well I can’t speak for what happened on that particular site today, as I have no knowledge/ I was not there.

But it is my understanding they did the usual exploring/canvassing using radar and other technology.

The excavator marks are most likely from after the discovery, knowing the depth and careful removing of the overburden.

EDIT: “We” have a pretty good idea today of places that will most likely have unexploded ordnance in the ground as the former Allied forces handed over documents to help identify former targets, routes, … Basically every “city” that got hit during WW2 has some sort of archive and will order a ground exploration/survey before any ground breaking on major construction projects in zones known to have been hit. Lot of specialized companies.

Six days ago they found one sticking out of the Rhine (because of the devastatingly low, low, low water levels …) by Cologne. Also 500lbs but “easier” to defuse impact-fuse, American bomb. Was successfully defused by specialists within 30 minutes, after prior evacuation of a 0.3km/ 0.19mi radius.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[drivesitfar]

Very interesting for certain.

We were in Rome last September and they have ongoing sewer and tunneling projects there that were started 100 years ago and longer cause they keep running into artifacts to slow down or completely stop the project.

Interesting that almost 100 years after your wars over there in Germany that ammo and war stuff is still being found.

I heard the rivers are at an all time low and sounds like it’s true.

Stay safe!!

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

@drivesitfar

That’s the beautiful side of things when you find actual artifacts, that happens here as well, as we have remains of a historic roman castle more or less “around the corner” as well. https://hausbuergel.de/english/roman-museum/

That particular area where the bomb was found today is said to have been hit with approx. 2600 bombs - alone - during WW2. It’s the former “Rhenania Ossag Oil”

A picture from a massive attack (supposedly October 15th, 1944) made it onto the front page of the New York Times on October 25th, 1944:

(Not my pictures (obviously…) ! Pictures copyright by their respective owners!)



And another picture:



(Not my pictures (obviously…) ! Pictures copyright by their respective owners!)

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[drivesitfar]

I read somewhere that Germany has more castles (approximately 20,000) than USA has McDonald’s if that’s even possible. One day I hope to see a few in person.

Great pics and history and thanks for sharing.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

All said and done. 60 (metric) tons of sand on top + 25 cubic-meters of water in big bags. 2kg of explosives & good riddance old bomb.

Didn’t even hear a thing, but the phone went nuts again with the all-clear. I did hear one all-clear from the speakers of an emergency service vehicle far away and the choppers circling our airspace. But besides that, crickets. Which probably is a good thing.

Not much to see, but to finish this:

Not my pictures. Pictures copyright by Pia Mahr.

Ready for detonation.



Aftermath.



Not my pictures. Pictures copyright by Pia Mahr.


Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Kurt V]

Just today I came across your build thread. Really enjoyed reading it and look forward to your future posts!

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Let’s continue with a #FrenchKangarooStory

I posted this yesterday in another thread, as I had just bought/paid for the emissions test.

Mandatory emissions test for the French Kangaroo. Which it passed with no problems as expected.

Not expected was the cancelation of all other planned services, including the mandatory roadworthiness check, because it would fail that.

The issue is the ignition key/lock assembly and it letting the steering wheel lock engage prematurely/early with the key still in OFF/zero position. This is not supposed to happen and apparently considered a “significant deficiency“ that leads to immediate failure of the roadworthiness check.

As has been determined before, the shop we frequent is a really good one so they found that during pre-check and cancelled everything else - so up to this point it cost us nothing.

The only issue now is, since it’s an independent shop, they need to figure out if they can do the programming/coding that is needed for the whole shebang of keys/ lock assembly & immobilizer - and they rely on a third party for that. Once they know if they/ their third party can do it, we will re-schedule, do the repair, service & check. Or it needs to go to a dealership for the actual repair and then back to our independent shop for everything else.

Good thing, current check is still valid for a bit so it’s not that time sensitive.

I did a search on the issue out of interest, and apparently it’s a known issue with Renault ignition key/lock assemblies. Who would have thought.

We’ll see how this one goes.

Kind regards,
Olli

Today I talked to our shop, they said they/ their third party can’t do the programming/coding.

So I called the nearest dealership and they say they will need me to come over with car & registration, they will check the VIN and use that to order an ignition key/lock assembly directly from Renault, France. Which will then be made/programmed/coded to vehicle spec. Apparently it’s a couple of days turnaround and once they have that in hand, it’s a 1hr swap - which I can wait for at their location. Looking at 450 bucks all in, not yet sure if it includes VAT or not.

So that’s probably what is going to happen next week.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

First, and I apologize I haven’t reacted sooner: Thank you very much for your kind words @Kurt V !!!


0. Miscellaneous Stuff

0.14 The strip.

I had leftover paint from the basement staircase project, and since the city does no longer offer to recycle paint (because of budget constraints) we’re supposed to let it dry now & then dispose it through the trash bin. …

Yesterday, Friday, I had a time window that allowed for a quick project at the main property, so I re-painted the concrete strip.

Setting up shop.



Obligatory “Hello from your friendly Binford Tools rep”-selfie after removing a support bracket from the flexible side “window” so I could stick the sander & later paint roller through - without taking out the full ”window”.



Then a quick once-over with my trusty Festool DTS 400 sander.



Masking and temporarily moving the flood light out the way.





Stirring up the paint.



Then it was just a matter of up and down the ladder & swinging the paint brush & roller. I don’t think more pictures of me doing that are needed.

At some point I got the concrete part in front of the rolling shutter, so some more masking. And here is where that fold-out masking tape & foil is really cool, do it at a comfortable height:



Then just drive the roller shutter back up.



After that had been painted, all said and done. Bracket back in, flood light moved back. All masking tape removed.







I think it looks a lot better painted in gray, and although that was not a consideration when we bought the paint, it looks quite nice against the darker gray of the rolling shutter housing covers as well. Next job will be to give the rolling shutter a good pressure/ or steam clean.

Thank you very much for the continued interest in my projects and have a great weekend everyone!

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[drivesitfar]

Your tools and quick projects are always top notch.

How’s the little grass (sod) project looking and has it had its first haircut yet?

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Your tools and quick projects are always top notch.

How’s the little grass (sod) project looking and has it had its first haircut yet?

Hey drives,

thank you very much! Grass has been growing pretty rapido, so yeah, first haircut done. Everything settled in/down nicely and the sods have all “interlocked” as far as I can tell. Viewing rom the side you can’t tell it’s rolled sods anymore. From above still a few lines visible.

Bought some plants for the other side - probably planting tomorrow. Then I might update with a full front view picture. Still need to get the edging done - but that will have to wait until the French Kangaroo is sorted as I need to be as flexible as possible schedule wise for that. Autumn will offer plenty of nice days I’m sure, so not worried about that time wise.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

0. Miscellaneous Stuff

0.13 Front garden transformation

0.13.1 Front garden transformation, new tools & a bit show & tell.

0.13.2 Front garden leveled, rolled sod ordered.

0.13.3 Rolled sod delivered & installed.

0.13.4 Getting rid of the stockpiled soil by the gate to the back garden. Small repair on the “small shed” & cleaning a makeshift pallet to repurpose & use.

0.13.5 Interim status picture for @drivesitfar

Here’s a full frontal view picture after planting and laying mulch/ pine bark shavings on the right-side flower bed.



New plants: Echinacea, Edelweiss, and a plant which name I forgot. (In front of the little frog)

And close up of the funny little guy.




Kind regards,
Olli

 

[captain14]

Olli,

Your front yard looks great.

How long is the season for your planting in your area?

 

[drivesitfar]

Lawn is looking great. You’re plants are very similar and in some cases the same as the ones we’ve spent years finding and maintaining in our yard.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

@captain14 Thank you very much! Typically we won’t go past October for planting. So there is at least one full month with typically no frost (November) before we start maybe seeing frost in December. And then it starts again in very late March to mid April … depending on how crazy the weather plays in more recent years. (Years ago, we had a “white Easter” with frost & ice, actually fell on my bum getting a snow shovel from the shed …)

@drivesitfar Thank you very much! Plants make a garden a home, right?

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[drivesitfar]

Ollie: you bet plants, gardens, trees, and shrubs sure do help make a house a home!!!

I recall 40 years ago when we were first married and bought a house a year prior to marriage. My bride would spend $100 on plants that went on the credit cards cause money was tight and I’d shake my head but let it happen. Eventually I began to enjoy going to nurseries and buying landscaping supplies because it sure makes a difference.

Keep up the great work and progress.

I have seen more than a few videos and pics of some of your big rivers being at an all time low and uncovering not only WW2 ships and items but also a few 1000 year old structures and critters. From the pics it looks like you can almost cross some rivers on foot where the riverboat cruises usually go.

 

[Xti04]

0. Miscellaneous Stuff

0.13 Front garden transformation

0.13.1 Front garden transformation, new tools & a bit show & tell.

0.13.2 Front garden leveled, rolled sod ordered.

0.13.3 Rolled sod delivered & installed.

0.13.4 Getting rid of the stockpiled soil by the gate to the back garden. Small repair on the “small shed” & cleaning a makeshift pallet to repurpose & use.

0.13.5 Interim status picture for @drivesitfar

Here’s a full frontal view picture after planting and laying mulch/ pine bark shavings on the right-side flower bed.



New plants: Echinacea, Edelweiss, and a plant which name I forgot. (In front of the little frog)

And close up of the funny little guy.




Kind regards,
Olli

Hydrangea?

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Hydrangea?

Yes, that’s the one behind it/ in the background and very old. The three new ones are the smaller plants in the front. I’ll check the receipt for the third I still can’t remember.

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Tommo3]

Is it perhaps a Japanese Anemone?

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Is it perhaps a Japanese Anemone?

And we have a winner!

Just went looking at the receipt to confirm. (As much as I enjoy plants, flowers … I’m really bad when it comes to naming most of them … And the garden centers are sensory overload for me …)

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

0. Miscellaneous Stuff

0.15 ‘Tiffany’ style outdoor lamp repair.

0.15.1 Part 1

Although made from aluminum, the spike of the lamp has ‘rotted’ away over time, this made it difficult to properly place and adjust the lamp. Since it’s a keeper, it was on the ‘honey-do’ list for a bit to get it sorted - that’s what I started on yesterday (Wednesday).

First, steam clean - especially the shades. - Nice and colorful/shiny again.



Found a terra cotta pot with the perfect height in our stash, blocked the drain hole & mixed some cement.



Filled.



Found a stable position to adjust/level and let it cure.



In the evening we had a the new foot bonded with the lamp. I decided to let it sit until the next morning.



This morning (Thursday), while my better half went to the deli to stock up, I decided to stay home and finish this.

Bringing it into the lair.



Getting everything set up.



Cut former shenanigans out, cut to desired length & clean cable.



Prepping the splice.



The splice. (Disclaimer, I didn’t expect this much oxidation on the short end. If this was 240V, it would have been the end of that cable and I would have started to look into replacing it/ opening the lamp. Since this is 12VAC behind a transformer, I decided to leave it as is - I did go over the fine stranded wire with some abrasive mesh, but that didn’t do much as expected. The possible higher resistance is a non issue in this use case.)



Double shrink tubes on & soldered.



Testing. Works.



Shrink tubes over.



I finished the shrinking process later, as I had to let the butane soldering iron cool down before I could change the tip.

Singles shrinked.



Double shrinked.



Will continue in 0.15.2