rattle_snake's random shop projects v0.1

[Ohmthis]

Justin, I’m curious on why you are transitioning from a cross linked wire to silicone? I’ve used the silicone and like it a bunch in areas that you need the flexibility. I’m watching, as always on this fuse/relay box as I consider myself an amateur to your pro level. I’ve been in the electrical trade just over 25 years now, but always learning.

 

[plain2car]

Justin nice job on the safety equipment installs!! I was doing some X-mas light installs this past sunday & as I started pulling things out & laying everything out to see what worked & didn't work I could help but notice how "dirty" my garage is! now that the truck is in descent running order (still needs small items) I am seeing the aftermath of rebuilding it. mention this because your garage looks (always) very clean & not "dusty"!!! I am wondering what you do to keep it looking good for garage **** readiness!! ....!!! any insight on how/what you do to keep it "**** and span would be helpful...

 

[rattle_snake]

Why silicon jacket wire? No technical reason. It can be difficult to find decent quality wire online. There is a ton of cheap CCA wire, some doesn't really say what it is, suppliers & materials change. I found a decent product so expanding use. Price is about the same as PVC.

BNTECHGO

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FMF42VW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[rattle_snake]

...I am wondering what you do to keep it looking good for garage **** readiness!! ....!!! any insight on how/what you do to keep it "**** and span would be helpful...

I guess I'm a neat freak, and like things in order even if it has no value. Or maybe the shop and garage are the only spaces I can control...

• Finishing a project. Don't keep all the associated junk and scraps.
• Limiting number of concurrent projects and interleaved messes they create.
• Clean up as you go. Put tools away even if it will get used on the 'next step' (whatever day/week that ends up being).
• Have a dedicated 'triage' area to put things that can or have to wait for decision or something. In coming parts.
• Organize so everything has a home. In the way? well go put it away.

 

[PugetDude]

I started a habit of putting at least 4 things away everytime I walk into or through the garage. Sometimes it's more if I have been working and have a lot of tools or supplies scattered around. Sometimes I'm just putting pencils and markers into a can but it has definitely helped keep me more organized.
YMMV

 

[plain2car]

Justin, thanks for the insight... I "kinda" do all those except for (sometimes) the scraps part... I always lean towards the thought of... "oohh I can re-use this for a bracket or a patch", being a 3 car garage (actually used for parking the cars)... this is the hardest part for me.
Puget, thanks for your 2 cents... I tend to do that, but, I must admit, I usually plan a "time" (sunday afternoon or ??) to do all tool clean up & general "putting away" of big items after a completed task.
I guess I need to combine both your guys' suggestions & spend a day to just actually "clean" the garage walls, cabinets and floor!

THANKS A BUNCH!! guys!! ....

 

[rattle_snake]

Modified a cheap guitar/mic amp to add a switched power outlet for a mixer. Mixer allows more mic channels, but has it's own power supply.


Replaced short 3' power cord with a 6'.


Bent up a bracket to secure the mixer. Ran power wire inside cabinet with wall-wort.

 

[rattle_snake]

Further modified a pistol steel target, rev 1.1. I found this out bird hunting in a wash. It was not collapsible, I cut it up and made it so. Still took up too much space, heavy plate flopped around, had to many loose fasteners and needed tools to setup/break down.
Step one was to replace upper bolts with dowels, weld lower bolts captive. Made a pair of one-winged wingnuts so no tools are required.


Drilled a additional hole in risers mid way, so assembly can be more compact. Welded in a pair of bars to retain the plate. Broke all sharp edges. No more rattling and much easier to transport.


Ready for my buddies to shoot up the target frame again. It's been through some abuse.

 

[rattle_snake]

Finished out the lighting project on the old Ford. I wouldn't have necessarily chosen these specific models but 75% off I figured I give it a try. Can always modify, move, or use a different type of light. I did the project the opposite way most people would. Instead of installing using the supplied HW, I started disassembling the truck and removing functioning systems to not cobble another one in. Planned out an expandable relay & control system and put that in 1st. Pulled ashtray switch panel out and rewired for lights




Final box wiring. color coded in and out, and match sw LED. The 6 dedicated power wires go to one lug.


Reworked the wiring around the new box. Added a gnd stud for low current stuff. Had to put riv nuts in where I touched. Slippery slope on how far to go with that on rest of the truck.


Rewired most all of the rock lights. Instead of going in and out of cab, the system starts at the relay and then across the core to feed the rest.


Single harness over the core, connectorized so it can be removed next time engine comes out. haha.


Hidden under the fan cavitation seals


I mounted the amber flood pods behind the grill to keep the bumper area clean. Tight fit, no cutting. Swapped out all the grill sheet metal screws and old plastic inserts for riv-nuts and SS machine screws, because I was there. I would like to swap in the midnight series black reflector or get a tinted cover to blend in a bit more.


I didn't want the light bar to be the focus of the front of the truck either. Tucked it in close to sway bar and mounted to bottom of bumper. Exposed location but would rather have looks over protection. Will get some snap on covers for it.

 

[ntsqd]

looks like that light bar is just about the same elevation as a Miata center mirror. Just an observation, not suggesting anything.

 

[Bob Heine]

Justin, thanks for showing how it's supposed to be done. Absolutely amazing truck!

 

[Ohmthis]

Justin, nice work on the wiring. I appreciate the pictures of the relay/fuse box. Did you take all of the power wires and terminate in one terminal or multiple? Are you finding good AND inexpensive terminals? I have a good stash, but want to get my buddy some for Christmas.

 

[Boosted1]

Now we need a pic of the lights on / in action.

 

[plain2car]

MAN!!... Justin that front looks really nice.... even though it is a blue oval!...... your for-thought and workmanship is always impressive. nice work! Now! if only "a guy" could get a chance to see it in person.....

 

[rattle_snake]

looks like that light bar is just about the same elevation as a Miata center mirror. Just an observation, not suggesting anything.

Interesting. 'Offroad use only'?

Justin, thanks for showing how it's supposed to be done. Absolutely amazing truck!

Thanks Bob!

Justin, nice work on the wiring. I appreciate the pictures of the relay/fuse box. Did you take all of the power wires and terminate in one terminal or multiple? Are you finding good AND inexpensive terminals? I have a good stash, but want to get my buddy some for Christmas.

I used one lug to terminate the 6 individual wires. Not necessarily the best theoretical way but good physically given the pin wire size limit. One big wire and a buss bar with a lug would be better.

I use 'SELTERM' brand lugs from amazon.

Now we need a pic of the lights on / in action.

MAN!!... Justin that front looks really nice.... even though it is a blue oval!...... your for-thought and workmanship is always impressive. nice work! Now! if only "a guy" could get a chance to see it in person.....

Thank you. I try to do the best work I'm capable of. Sometimes that takes coming back to 'turd polish' after getting basic functionality working. I'll make it to one of the car-n-coffee this season.

 

[rattle_snake]

Played around with the nitrous system last weekend. Working properly and even with cold bottle delivered decent power increase. When going WOT from a stop the converter stalls at about 2200 RPM, front end lifts, and tires break loose until weight is transferred. Then window switch activates nitrous at 3000 and it pulls front up a bit more. Not bad for a 6000# beast on 40s.

 

[rattle_snake]

My wife's side of bathroom countertop is a disaster of clutter, especially in comparison to my side, sterile. She insists that she 'needs every item every day' and therefore should not put anything away. Hmmm. Also blames lack of vanity cabinet on her side, even though she has taken possession of all the other storage as they do.

So... I built a simple shelf to relocate majority of her critical lotions and potions. Glued up a blank of resawn oak fence planks, and resawed some oak and maple 2x4s into thinner shelves.


couple screws at bottom to hang corded items and a coat of water based clear.


Then I moved her stuff to the shelves, showed it to her as one of her Christmas presents, and admitted it was really for me.

 

[Jgaz]

Nice!
Love the piston and con. rod pen holder

 

[rattle_snake]

Thanks, I tapped one wrist pin oiling hole for a set screw to hold the assembly solid.

 

[rattle_snake]

Found this DXF file while looking for Christmas stuff, so burned one out as a gift for my wife. Clear coated the bare metal. Wrapped base with red leather.


Made a frame out of a piece of oak 2x4. The frame was more work than the rest.

 

[burger]

Frame looks excellent. Was it rough cut wood that you made into the frame?

 

[rattle_snake]

Yes a real 2"x4", red oak. 'barn wood' from back east.

 

[rattle_snake]

Some random plasma cutout gifts I made this year.








Made a handful more for my kids and neighbors. Probably 20+ total.

 

[rattle_snake]

I've been cleaning out and reorganizing my attached garage cabinets. 'While I was there' I was somehow forced to turd polish a few things.....

Rebuilt a paper target setup I threw together 25+ years ago. Old was crude and shot up badly, ended up trashing all of it and starting over. I've learned a few things over that time.




Folds down fairly compact. No tools needed. flush mount SS hardware

 

[rattle_snake]

My large steel target setup was also pretty beat down (Did I mention my 'friends' aren't all necessarily marksmen) so I gave it some TLC. All the legs were bent and had ragged bullet holes, so smoothed and straightened them out. Now can handle safely and they stack tight.


Welded on some round stock to make the 2 fasteners tool free.

 

[rattle_snake]

Put a new body on my RC crawler, 67 F100. Went red this time. Nothing fancy will get all beat up in the rocks.

 

[plain2car]

uuhhh ooohhh... I see paint work in your future young son!.... that is a SCX-10 II? I have been out of the crawler seen a few years, but getting wild hairs to get back into it. hope Santa left a pair of skidmarks on the roof this year...
happy new year sir!

 

[rattle_snake]

Thanks, HNY to you as well.

Yes SCX-10 II I picked up some time ago. I've got it figured out pretty well now. Considering a BLDC FOC motor/controller setup (brushless direct current field orientated control) now that they are inexpensive ($70)

QUICRUN Fusion SE (2-in-1 FOC system)

HOBBYWING Quicrun Fusion SE - 2in1 brushed ESC & Motor

www.hobbywingdirect.com

Some kids in the 'hood were trying to shove my crawler course rocks in irrigation grates, so pile got disrupted but created some new, better lines.

 

[plain2car]

WOW.. that is cool! .... grrreeeeaaaaaat! .... just what "a guy" needs.. to take truck project money away from!... LOL!!!

 

[rattle_snake]

Finished out the nitrous bottle heater project. My neighbor gave me a spare bottle heater that also has a handy 110v element in it. I put a 2 pin weatherpack on DC side to make it removable with the bottle.


The DC element consumes over 20A so I ended up removing the relay I had installed under dash and moved it to the larger 60A power supply of the audio/aux. bat/compressor. Tapped into the main distribution block in cab corner for a 30A auto reset breaker and Bosch relay. Ran 12 ga wire out bottom of cab to bed in same loom as the nitrous line.


Adjusted bottle mount for heater and put in a GND stud for the chassis side of the harness. Functioning as expected including indication light in instrument cluster.

 

[rattle_snake]

The Mrs' horse hauling 'Burb has had expired tags for a half a year or so. She is a board certified professional procrastinator, so I just go along to hang on to what sanity I have left. She finally took it to emissions with CEL on, wasted trip but a start.
I pull 0440, evap. check for loose cap.... not loose but not there either.

 

[rattle_snake]

In theme with my shop name I wanted a double bass drum pedal setup to further disturb the peace. Most everything on the market is backwards and the right setup is 2-3x the cost. Nothing used available. I bought a cheap ($80) pedal kit to reconfigure properly.


The 2nd pedal was easy enough, swap direction of axle, just needed a tension screw mount on other side. Tap one hole, attach bracket. Now driveshaft exits left for right foot use.


The main pedal assembly is more complicated with split axle for each whacker. The center bearing support was fastened with screws, so easy to move to other side with just a few holes drilled.


Swapped axles and HW side to side. Index everything correctly.


Assembly back together and ready to go. Double pedal functionality aside the new pedal is better and way easier to play than the old, even though it is the cheapest turd on amazon. The brutality of the double bass is fun.

 

[Mr.zippy]

In theme with my shop name I wanted a double bass drum pedal setup to further disturb the peace. Most everything on the market is backwards and the right setup is 2-3x the cost. Nothing used available. I bought a cheap ($80) pedal kit to reconfigure properly.


The 2nd pedal was easy enough, swap direction of axle, just needed a tension screw mount on other side. Tap one hole, attach bracket. Now driveshaft exits left for right foot use.


The main pedal assembly is more complicated with split axle for each whacker. The center bearing support was fastened with screws, so easy to move to other side with just a few holes drilled.


Swapped axles and HW side to side. Index everything correctly.


Assembly back together and ready to go. Double pedal functionality aside the new pedal is better and way easier to play than the old, even though it is the cheapest turd on amazon. The brutality of the double bass is fun.

Nice work! You bought an Audi pedal though. It may not start!

 

[Monza Harry]

Nice work! You bought an Audi pedal though. It may not start!

Or will not use signals and push through traffic like a horses @$$ while cutting off everyone in line and tailgating until he completes the cut offs! Harry

 

[rattle_snake]

Nice work! You bought an Audi pedal though. It may not start!

Audi pedal? please explain ?

Or will not use signals and push through traffic like a horses @$$ while cutting off everyone in line and tailgating until he completes the cut offs! Harry

This I get.

 

[ntsqd]

The circles in the middle of each foot pedal look like the Audi emblem.

Around these parts that driver description better fits the BMW stereotype than Audi stereotype, although the Audi stereotype is one of frustrated wannaB BMW owners in training.

 

[rattle_snake]

Ah OK. Thanks for explanation. Agree on driver assessment.

There seems to be a new type of vehicle stereotype, the Telsa people. Specifically model 3, in white. Oblivious and incompetent. I assume some percentage were Prius drivers. Might cut you off slowly, but didn't see you or do it on purpose. Can't go the speed limit like they are looking for a turn or address, then make a right from the left turn lane. They aren't even staring at the screen instead of the road, I don't understand. Technologies is making us dumber, I get that.

This is the vehicle to avoid on a motorcycle. Beware.

 

[rattle_snake]

Working on integrating the double bass pedal into the drum set. The slave pedal and high hat need to be in same area, but the legs of the high hat are in the way. Typically the HH pedal will rotate, but not on this entry level turd. I pulled the guts out and determined I could just not include the lower leg slider with the fastener. Then legs are not indexed to pedal.


Added a worm clamp above the leg slider to retain it's position and still fold up. Now the upper slider wing screw allows rotation of the pedal and can lock in place.

 

[LXCam]

We always knew you marched to the beat of a different drummer…


But you just had to go and prove it didn’t ya Justin

 

[rattle_snake]

Well ya Cam, what can I say? I'm as normal as you are bud!

Brain isn't working like it should anymore, nothing I can do.