Above 1200 Sq/FT Plugger Workshop

[Prospecter]

I am over due for an update. The shower project has been slow and steady, though interrupted by other obligations and travels. Next time we are home, I only need to hook up the valve and shower head, and install the last panel. Of course we are now into a bathroom upgrade all around, so that will be an ongoing project.

We are done sailing for this year. Mast is hanging on the wall, and the boat is resting in its winter berth.


In order to level the shower base, I used the planer (thicknesser) to make sure the boards were uniformly flat. It was nice enough that I could just shoot the shavings out the door and clean up with a leaf blower. Handy! Then I shimmed the boards in place, and we were back to a level floor. (Old houses. )
hickhe e
The base almost fit. The stack was a little proud of the wall. A combination of shimming the stack to the left, nudging the base to the right, and sanding a smidge off the stack made for a tight, but acceptable fit.

My reward was an apple pie. These are made with a mix of 17 different varieties of apples, and spiced with nutmeg instead of cinnamon. A family favorite.

 

[Prospecter]

I reinforced the grab rail with backer plates. Framing is somewhat random in this part of the house, so nothing to screw into. Bolting with backers like I do on the boat seemed a good alternative. I used the butyl tape I use for waterproofing hardware on the boat.

Time to prepare for first frost. All the squash and pumpkins came in. The Brugmansia is almost ready to bloom, so it is visiting the shop for a bit.

A nice fall day with a view of Katahdin. Not our house, but on the way to the house up north.

 

[jon72vega]

Absolutely gorgeous!

 

[Jacko264]

I read something about bath room but all I saw was a fantastic looking apple pie is it custard or icecream Or cream

 

[Prospecter]

I read something about bath room but all I saw was a fantastic looking apple pie is it custard or icecream Or cream

Just pie.

 

[Prospecter]

ust seems like a bunch of projects, both here and in Benedicta, interrupted by appointments. (Routine stuff.) Finally finished up all the siding trim and foundation repairs. I don't love the aluminum foundation skirt, but repaired it by folding patches on the siding brake and using self-tapping screws to cover tears in the skirt.

Surrendered to the popular mini tool chests at Harbor Freight when they were on sale. They contain drill bits, saw blades, and Dremel accessories. I have one more, but have not decided what to put in it yet.

The shower project is meandering slowly to completion. Supply lines and drain are all hooked up, so the thing works. We have a temporary shower curtain while I contemplate how to install the shower doors. The doors are wider and taller than the stall, so I need to make that all work.

 

[Prospecter]

We keep working around the road crews resurfacing in front of the house. The pavement eater munched up everything down to the gravel and mixed the tailings in with the gravel. There is a new base layer on top, so just needs a top layer of asphalt to finish.

Meanwhile, the bulbs for forcing are in their pots. They stay outdoors until freezing temps, when they move into an unheated garage.

Rockland Harbor, with the Vinalhaven ferry. Lots of empty moorings. Idealy all the mooring balls will be replaced with winter sticks so the mooring chains can be lowered into the mud for the winter.

Many errands and little car emptying resulted in a mess. I brought home a lot of stuff from up north, and picked up some stuff from Harbor Freight.

 

[Prospecter]

The pics jump around a little.

As I bring stuff home from up north, every flat surface in the shop is covered.

Some fall color in our back yard.

The laundry room light was periodically inoperative, probably due to the switch. Light and switch probably went in with the rag wire that supply them. I put shrink tubing over the wires, tried to not jiggle them any more than necessary, replaced the light and switch, and got everything back together without issue. That rag wire is some of the last in the house, but replacement will be pretty involved, so a project for another day. (North)

Replaced the flooring in the upstairs bathroom. (North)

I also picked up an old Walker Turner drill press. I will use this one for parts for the one I am fixing up.

 

[Prospecter]

I managed to sort the wires on the old motor. Its original to the drill press and can be converted from 110 to 220. No labels and no diagram, so with some luck and a VOM meter I was able to guess the correct wiring. Got it first try. Sometimes better to be lucky than smart. The motor was not grounded. When I hooked up the ground, it kept tripping the GFCI, so probably some leaky wiring inside. I will use the motor from the donor DP for the time being.

The donor motor is worth more than I paid for the whole donor machine. I am pleased to get an original switch and feed handle.

 

[drivesitfar]

Great work on the bathroom and I hope you find a good solution to the door problem.

FSD is everywhere I look here so don’t feel like the Lone Ranger. I actually am attempting to find the tops of my 3 work benches by Christmas so wish me luck cause they are all stacked high with stuff from my parents remodeling I did last year.

It’s hard to believe another summer has come snd gone but if we are lucky (and maybe smart) we’ll see more than a few more.

 

[Prospecter]

Great work on the bathroom and I hope you find a good solution to the door problem.

FSD is everywhere I look here so don’t feel like the Lone Ranger. I actually am attempting to find the tops of my 3 work benches by Christmas so wish me luck cause they are all stacked high with stuff from my parents remodeling I did last year.

It’s hard to believe another summer has come snd gone but if we are lucky (and maybe smart) we’ll see more than a few more.

Thanks.

Definitely better sometimes to be lucky rather than smart.

Projects do seem to pile up on one another.

 

[Jayman17]

You have plenty of company, FSD sufferer here as well!

 

[M.Brane]

My girl has a bad case of FSD. I have a bit myself. Thanks Dad.

I always say I'd rather be lucky than good.

 

[drivesitfar]

I’ve heard the saying that if you pay attention and do stuff to your best ability one tends to get luckier.

Still a bit of luck never hurts.

I can’t imagine owning 35 acres and maintaining it as well as a second property but you sir have skills. Also with that much property you can let your FSD go crazy and still have some to clean surfaces to use.

Keep up the good work!!

 

[Prospecter]

I’ve heard the saying that if you pay attention and do stuff to your best ability one tends to get luckier.

Still a bit of luck never hurts.

I can’t imagine owning 35 acres and maintaining it as well as a second property but you sir have skills. Also with that much property you can let your FSD go crazy and still have some to clean surfaces to use.

Keep up the good work!!

Thanks! I try not to let FSD get ahead of me, because projects get frustrating and I end up taking a lot of time putting things right. I'm not obsessive about it, and I don't pick up everything every night, but life is easier if I don't let things get out of hand.

 

[Prospecter]

Forward progress. RAV emptied, and then loaded up for the ReStore. The out feed table is starting to reappear. Buffed out the bathroom floor, and painted the mud room.

 

[Prospecter]

The annual pumpkin carving event. We worked off the bucket forks and a plank so the leavings could all be left in the garden. I used a sheetrock jab saw, which works better than a knife, or even the power tools I often use.
The annual pumpkin carving event. We worked off the bucket forks and a plank so the leavings could all be left in the garden. I used a sheetrock jab saw, which works better than a knife, or even the power tools I often use.

 

[Prospecter]

The transition piece for the new bathroom floor up north. Commercial tile is very forgiving in an old house. Amazingly, the transition had enough clearance for the sliding door, and even fit first try! Win!

Snow on Katahdin. Mia is glad wood stove season has returned. I am still mowing to chop up leaves. I am done everywhere except the front. Once or twice more to get all the leaves. My grounds crew is taking care of the apple drops.

 

[Prospecter]

The brugmansia is blooming with gusto in the west window of the shop. The blooms are generally face down, so we keep them propped up in a vase. The Christmas Cacti are in bloom.

Inspired by Ask This Old House, we checked our radon. Maine is a hot spot for radon. We tested at 3-4 bits. That's the "Not an emergency, but remediate" range. The first spot is where the firewood will be stored, so yet another delay in getting in the wood. In a turn of good fortune, Harbor Freight had a sale on an electric demolition hammer. I also purchased the dust sucker upper, and an electric caulking gun. (I am finally surrendering to arthritus.) The dust sucker upper works surprisingly well at collecting airborne dust, especially on the horizontal surfaces. The demo hammer is quite heavy for this old guy's shoulder, but I was generally able to prop one end on my leg, elbow, creeper seat.

New thread checkers. Now that I have them, I wonder why I waited so long.

 

[Prospecter]

I used Sika products to fill the cracks. Patch (more viscous) for walls, and self-leveling for the floor.
Our 4th frost finally did in the last plants.
In a new vein. . . we went dumpster diving for cardboard. After weeding/burning around we want to keep, we put down cardboard and cover it with mulch. The cardboard suppresses weeds and eventually breaks down.

 

[Prospecter]

A long postponed project. My Harbor Freight metal brake produced disappointing results. It was difficult to get the bar to line up with the base properly, and difficult to clamp it in place. I read on Garage Journal a while back that I could drill the base and bar to install split pin registration pins that would make set up simpler, and keep the bar in place while bending. This was far above any metal working I've tried before, but with nothing to lose, I gave it a try. Lined up the bar, clamped it in place, and drilled holes a size down from the split pin. Just right. Then I redrilled the holes in the top bar a size up to accommodate removal. . . just right. Heady stuff for a newbie! With new confidence, I drilled and tapped holes in the top bar so I could install handles. I still need to find a more convenient clamping arrangement.

My floor mounted drill press is set up to run slowly for metal, but the bearings are loud. A project for another day. By lining up the tables for the two bench mount DPs, I had a support for the brake. The bench mount Craftsman 80 is my favorite. Least runout, quietest, and best Karma, but a little fast for metal. Still it worked out.

Mice have been nibbling on the Gladiola bulbs. Not good for the gladiolas, and not good to provide food for mice. Off to the hardware store and home to finish fabrication.

And last night was our first snow.

 

[Just Puttering]

Mice have been nibbling on the Gladiola bulbs. Not good for the gladiolas, and not good to provide food for mice. Off to the hardware store and home to finish fabrication.

Argh, darn rodents!

I did the same thing a couple days ago with 1”x 1” wire mesh cut in circles to cover the tulip bulbs in pots. The tulips grow up through the mesh. My issue isn’t mice, but rather an army of squirrels to battle with.

 

[Prospecter]

Argh, darn rodents!

I did the same thing a couple days ago with 1”x 1” wire mesh cut in circles to cover the tulip bulbs in pots. The tulips grow up through the mesh. My issue isn’t mice, but rather an army of squirrels to battle with.

Thanks for stopping by. I check your thread frequently.
Do you force the bulbs for a bit of color in January?

 

[Just Puttering]

Do you force the bulbs for a bit of color in January?

Haven’t tried that, but some years I do some pots in a 3 layer lasagna planting. The dwarf iris bulbs come out almost as early, followed by the mini daffs, and finally the tulips.

It’s great that you have the space to overwinter things like the brugmansia. A touch of the tropics…nice!

 

[Prospecter]

've been bouncing from job to job lately. Finished the last leaf mow. Made room in the shop to winterize equipment. I want to get ours in the garden shed while I can still get out there, and the northern stuff back home to make room in my shop.
I wanted a place for the mini tool boxes and the vacumm cleaner. Before and after.
Leaves are off the trees on Mack Mountain.
Snow gauge is placed. We had more flurries today, and it "felt" like snow.
I had a donation for the ReStore, so I made a day of it. Went to Liberty tool while I was out there. The salvaged railing parts are to try a tool organizer idea I heard about. Still deciding if I like it. The PVC dust sticks to everything and makes a big mess, even with dust collection.
Picked up a magazine rack for my sandpaper. I heard about people using literature racks on the wall, but I saw this and it works fine.
The trip to Liberty Tool was inspired by possible Makita corded tools and SnapOn tools. Even used, the SnapOn was too rich for me. The Makitas were also a little high for used corded tools, but it was a D Handle router and an angle drill, both the old school, heavier corded Makita tools, so I took the plunge.

 

[Prospecter]

I've been thinking about playing with whirligigs. I don't have room for a bandsaw, and don't want to spend that much. Not sure I want to fuss with scroll saws, either. This is a table for an upside down jig saw. Very cheap, even when it was new. I will give it a try. If I don't like it, I will re-donate it to the ReStore.

The towel racks will be used to store clamps. I picked up the racks and the clamps at the ReStore.

The sash weights and cable are to make counterweights for my drill press tables. My drill presses do not have the cranks to adjust height. One unclamps the table, hoists it into position, and re-clamps the table. I am not into the materials for much, so I will see what I come up with.

I have also wanted a "funnel tree" to drain funnels, oil bottles, and oil filters. I did not want to spend for new materials, so I never made one. Yesterday I realized that ReStores almost always have plumbing parts. The parts usually don't move, and often aren't even priced. Picked up a bunch of parts, and started my tree. I need to go back for more parts.

And I also picked up a jar of hinges for $1 just because.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I've been thinking about playing with whirligigs. I don't have room for a bandsaw, and don't want to spend that much. Not sure I want to fuss with scroll saws, either. This is a table for an upside down jig saw. Very cheap, even when it was new. I will give it a try. If I don't like it, I will re-donate it to the ReStore.

I think you'll like it, though it may be a bit rattly. It's not hard to upgrade the top to something more rigid. I make them up out of scrap when a project calls for one. I had one clamped in the jawhorse for cutting the heavy vinyl siding. It's nice to have a clear view of the line and what you're cutting.

 

[Jacko264]

Absolutely loving what you are doing
Graham

 

[Prospecter]

I think you'll like it, though it may be a bit rattly. It's not hard to upgrade the top to something more rigid. I make them up out of scrap when a project calls for one. I had one clamped in the jawhorse for cutting the heavy vinyl siding. It's nice to have a clear view of the line and what you're cutting.

You're encouraging. I was thinking about a top upgrade, too. Guess that will be a winter diversion.

 

[sawduststeve]

The funnel tree looks interesting, what a great idea.
Good use of the sash weights, I must have thrown away tons of them over the years. All small cast iron single glazed ones when we were putting back in large lead weights for double glazing.

Always interested to see what you’re up to.
Steve

 

[Prospecter]

The funnel tree looks interesting, what a great idea.
Good use of the sash weights, I must have thrown away tons of them over the years. All small cast iron single glazed ones when we were putting back in large lead weights for double glazing.

Always interested to see what you’re up to.
Steve

High praise from one with so many skills. The funnel tree and drill press weights are both inspired by GJ, and "designed" based on available materials. I remember my father replacing many sash cords over the years. Oddly, this is the first house I've lived in without them. (Too old.)

 

[Prospecter]

Lots of little stuff. I've been putting away "stuff" in preparation for winter. Mostly flurries so far, but winter is on its way. A friend stopped by to pick up my scrap. I'm glad to see it go.

As I was putting stuff away, I noticed that that I had everything on hand except a cover plate to finish a project that has been on my list for a long time. My compressor is in the addition, due to the noise. Easy to forget it's on unless it is running. I put in a switched outlet with an indicator light.

Put up the towel racks for my clamps. Those racks hold a lot of clamps, and even have room for more.

The funnel tree is done and mounted, except that I need 3 small sections of pipe, which I will pick up when I next go to town. Hopefully I can get some at the ReStore in Bangor, rather than pay full price at Lowes.
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[Prospecter]

Not sure why the pictures did not post before, but these are the pics from the previous post.

 

[Prospecter]

My photos are a little out of order. The wood in the window is from a much loved family tree. It's spalted (fancy name for partially rotted), and I am slowly milling it into something I can use for some projects. I joint one side on the table saw, plane the opposite side in the planer (aka thicknesser), back to the table saw to join the other two faces.

In a break from tradition, we had sawdust bricks delivered. Like wood pellets, but bigger. We are behind on firewood for various reasons, so moving three pallets of bricks in three hours was an efficient alternative.

That's one pallet stacked in the corner. Equivalent to a cord of firewood.

 

[Prospecter]

Some more pics of the sawdust blocks. Much as I like doing firewood (since sixth grade, when I was big enough to swing a sledge hammer at wedges, and used them to work off frustrations with a difficult teacher), 3 hours to put up a season's worth of firewood is kinda nice.

I needed a few more plow stakes to finish. At $0.79 each for 100, Amazon was a no brainer. Even came with a drill bit (more work than a hammer unless the ground is frozen), and gloves (useless). So that job is done.

Today's project is to finish fall service for a bunch of equipment. Push mower and one Troybilt tiller done. Another tiller, splitter, and two zero turns to go.

Also to split some more spalted maple for projects. I will use the engine lift to put the logs on the splitter until I get them down to size.

Shop is crowded and messy, so difficult to move around in. It will be nice to move some finished stuff out.

 

[Prospecter]

My "sewing machine" lights arrived. Their magnets are quite strong, so easily placed on the various drill presses.

The road project left chunks of asphalt along the edge, which makes mowing challenging. We wanted to get those picked up before winter plowing spreads them around more. I inched along in low range first gear while Mrs. P tossed them in the bucket. Altogether we gathered three buckets.

4pm and the sun is almost down.

Two Meyers Lemons from the lemon tree.

I made some progress on equipment. Moved the splitter out. That just needed an oil change and the hydraulic fluid topped off. Our Toro is almost set. I just need to replace the blades and belt. The Northern Toro was beating me up at 5 last night. Finally found the new oil filter after a long search. Got the oil drained, with much of it landing on the floor. Couldn't get any of my spark plug sockets to engage, so I guess I will need to remove some panels to get to the plugs.

The shop is still a mess, but I need to move some equipment along before I can address that.

Today I get my stitches out, and we go to the Botanical Garden to see "Gardens Aglow." Boothbay has an annual lights show, and the BG lights up their gardens.

 

[Prospecter]

Some photos from Gardens Aglow.

 

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[Prospecter]