rattle_snake's random shop projects v0.1

[rattle_snake]

Mag drill, I like how you think.

I need one of those. Well, I just don't have one yet.

 

[rattle_snake]

For tractor parking, I can use one of the covered stalls for now. I was wanting to build a lean-to on the back side of the barn near the block wall to park it, but not really going to work with boat there now.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

I would suggest avoiding the second set of holes. I too curl the bucket down to back-drag material, pitch down of the leading edge dependent on how aggressive I need to move material while leveling.

Based on the pic shown, when you roll the bucket down it will do exactly what you are asking of it. At max lift height, with a full bucket of material, does it dump over the back/top edge of the bucket with it curled all the way up/back?

 

[rattle_snake]

Marc,
Yes trying to think before buying a mag drill.
I can back drag now with the tip down as you mention, but not push forward with the bottom of the bucket.
I have not tired to lift a full bucket all the way up. Moving the pin would limit lift height.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

Marc,
Yes trying to think before buying a mag drill.
I can back drag now with the tip down as you mention, but not push forward with the bottom of the bucket.
I have not tired to lift a full bucket all the way up. Moving the pin would limit lift height.

I missed the "push" part of the discussion, "reading comprehension"....

Does your loader have a float position with the joystick?

 

[rattle_snake]

Yes it has the float feature which I use a fair amount. Never got any good with a 3-pt box. Maybe I need to figure that one out.

Scored this bucket tooth bar from a friend with a green machine. Wasn't the width ordered and vendor sent another. I was able to cut one tooth off the end and it's the right size for my 50" bucket.


So tractor accessorizing has begun.

 

[ntsqd]

I'd be more inclined to move the bucket down on its back-frame than go about drilling new holes. I'm doubting doing that is anywhere near as easy as drilling new holes, but I think it's the better approach.

ETA: I realize that this also costs you a perfectly valid reason to buy a mag base drill. I'm sympathetic as I've been looking for one of those valid reasons for several years.

 

[rattle_snake]

would have to get a set of annular cutters too.

 

[ntsqd]

Of course! A mag drill would be nearly useless without them!

 

[PugetDude]

That is strange, I've always seen buckets lay flat also.

I like your additional hole idea, good reason to buy a mag drill!

I have a Hougen mag drill if you need one, Justin.
And a set of Weldon shank annular cutters.

 

[M.Brane]

If you get a clam bucket you can doze with the inner blade.

 

[bugnut]

Plan B is just accept, and buy a 3-pt box blade/gannon/scraper thing for the rear.
Thoughts?

Even though my skidsteer will lay flat, if I’m back dragging I fill the bucket and tip forward a bit lifting the from slightly and go to town. That way I’m dragging on my blade and not the back of the bucket. I don’t see that being an issue for you Justin. Just a thought.

Problem with plan b is no down power on 3pt rear blade and then you have to add weight. My $.02

 

[ntsqd]

The very first iron block big block Chevy block to go 200 MPH in a 1/4 mile is now a weight on a old friend's gravel driveway leveling rear blade. The give-a-way that it might be something special was the pair of wire o-rings in the decks around each bore.

 

[rattle_snake]

Made some adapters to secure the dash switches.




Test fit the tooth bar




Parking spot for now and someone to watch over it. and perhaps eat the seat or anything else.

 

[Jgaz]

Eat the seat was the first thing I thought of when I saw your last picture

 

[M.Brane]

1K# dogs that don't fetch.

 

[rattle_snake]

Our 1k# 'baby' pictured above is 5 yrs now. He has been getting lessons and ridden frequently. He will become a solid horse we can put beginners and little kids on, like his mother.

The owner of the one horse we board had some custom metal license plates made with the horses names. They chewed them up. all of them.

 

[M.Brane]

I miss the horsies, but don't miss cleaning the corral.

 

[PhantomEB]

Just how big is your shop? I am assuming 3 bay eh?

 

[rattle_snake]

It's 34 W by 40 D -> 1300 sq tf. So three 11' wide bays

 

[zmotorsports]

It's 34 W by 40 D -> 1300 sq tf. So three 11' wide bays

Justin, I don't think I ever knew what your shop layout was, but it is very similar to my old shop which was 34' x 34', approx. 1150 square feet. I worked for about 25 years and ran my business as well as campaigned our racing out of that shop. It shrunk a bit as I added larger machining equipment, but it worked for what it was.

 

[rattle_snake]

So I need larger machining equipment?

Went to ride my dirt bike a month or so ago and ran into some problems. Bike is a 05, so 21 years old. Previously I had installed a new fuel tank, as the aftermarket oversized tank had cracked and was leaking. Aired up tires, put some fuel into the new tank and it promptly leaked all over. Leak at bottom of tank, petcock and the carb. Petcock still flowing fuel on 'off'.
I pulled the tank and replaced o-ring on the pickup tube. Petcock isn't serviceable, can't buy seals, but I replaced the face o-ring anyway. Put tank back on, minimal fuel in it. Carb fuel inlet leaking, so pulled the fitting and sourced some tiny o-rings to fix. Now it holds fuel. went to crank, dead battery. Fine, buy new cheap battery. Last one made it 3 years which is better than average Won't start not even a fart.

Knowing the petcock couldn't shut fuel off (even though I run it until out of fuel for storage) I suspected the pilot jet was clogged. Ordered a petcock and a jet, installed them. Still no fire not even a pop. Pulled tank again to check spark. Plug wet, no sparky. Found coil wire not seated on the prong. Not the first time, when removing the tank the petcock and tubing can pop the wire off. Connected and it fired.


Went for a quick victory lap. Now I have an extra pilot jet to go with my stash. Could use a filter service. About to be too hot to ride.

 

[OutlawDrifter]

So I need larger machining equipment?

Went to ride my dirt bike a month or so ago and ran into some problems. Bike is a 05, so 21 years old. Previously I had installed a new fuel tank, as the aftermarket oversized tank had cracked and was leaking. Aired up tires, put some fuel into the new tank and it promptly leaked all over. Leak at bottom of tank, petcock and the carb. Petcock still flowing fuel on 'off'.
I pulled the tank and replaced o-ring on the pickup tube. Petcock isn't serviceable, can't buy seals, but I replaced the face o-ring anyway. Put tank back on, minimal fuel in it. Carb fuel inlet leaking, so pulled the fitting and sourced some tiny o-rings to fix. Now it holds fuel. went to crank, dead battery. Fine, buy new cheap battery. Last one made it 3 years which is better than average Won't start not even a fart.

Knowing the petcock couldn't shut fuel off (even though I run it until out of fuel for storage) I suspected the pilot jet was clogged. Ordered a petcock and a jet, installed them. Still no fire not even a pop. Pulled tank again to check spark. Plug wet, no sparky. Found coil wire not seated on the prong. Not the first time, when removing the tank the petcock and tubing can pop the wire off. Connected and it fired.


Went for a quick victory lap. Now I have an extra pilot jet to go with my stash. Could use a filter service. About to be too hot to ride.

Frustrating when you have to work on them to enjoy them...the worst part of letting them sit unused.

 

[rattle_snake]

Yes that is toy ownership. I'm lucky to have all my junk but it comes with a price, time. With today's ethanol fuel can't leave bowl full, even treated. So gotta have functional petcock and run it dry.
I considered selling the bike to fund the tractor, but it wouldn't have made much difference.


Made some progress on my friends BBC. Blasted and sanded the valve covers. Test fit the exhaust and alternator.


Ready to have this thing gone but not my project.

 

[Bodj Built]

So I need larger machining equipment?

Went to ride my dirt bike a month or so ago and ran into some problems. Bike is a 05, so 21 years old. Previously I had installed a new fuel tank, as the aftermarket oversized tank had cracked and was leaking. Aired up tires, put some fuel into the new tank and it promptly leaked all over. Leak at bottom of tank, petcock and the carb. Petcock still flowing fuel on 'off'.
I pulled the tank and replaced o-ring on the pickup tube. Petcock isn't serviceable, can't buy seals, but I replaced the face o-ring anyway. Put tank back on, minimal fuel in it. Carb fuel inlet leaking, so pulled the fitting and sourced some tiny o-rings to fix. Now it holds fuel. went to crank, dead battery. Fine, buy new cheap battery. Last one made it 3 years which is better than average Won't start not even a fart.

Knowing the petcock couldn't shut fuel off (even though I run it until out of fuel for storage) I suspected the pilot jet was clogged. Ordered a petcock and a jet, installed them. Still no fire not even a pop. Pulled tank again to check spark. Plug wet, no sparky. Found coil wire not seated on the prong. Not the first time, when removing the tank the petcock and tubing can pop the wire off. Connected and it fired.


Went for a quick victory lap. Now I have an extra pilot jet to go with my stash. Could use a filter service. About to be too hot to ride.

When we pull up to unload our bikes we always sneakily pull the cap off someone's spark plug. It's always funny watching them kick kick kick and their heart drops lower and lower.

 

[WoodsTruck]

When we pull up to unload our bikes we always sneakily pull the cap off someone's spark plug. It's always funny watching them kick kick kick and their heart drops lower and lower.

I used to like you...

 

[zmotorsports]

Frustrating when you have to work on them to enjoy them...the worst part of letting them sit unused.

Agreed Marc. It starts out fun, but over many years it becomes almost resentful. At least that's the way it got with me.

Yes that is toy ownership. I'm lucky to have all my junk but it comes with a price, time. With today's ethanol fuel can't leave bowl full, even treated. So gotta have functional petcock and run it dry.
I considered selling the bike to fund the tractor, but it wouldn't have made much difference.

Justin, I completely understand toy ownership and respect your acknowledgement of it. I loved having all of the powersports toys when I was younger and my family was young and enjoying them quite a lot, but the time and money being spent on them started to become a drain on me mentally as well as financially.

Early on I saw people I looked up to having all these toys and they seemed happy, so I thought in order to be happy I needed to have the toys as well. I built up quite a stable of toys and as a family we enjoyed sledding, sand duning and dirt bike/quad riding in the mountains. However, over the course of about 15+ years it really started taking its toll on me and I had to do some re-prioritizing my life. Fortunately for me, I learned that I could be happier with less, especially as we started using the toys less frequently as my son got older. Once he got his driver's license our interests started shifting and I was getting tired of dealing with the powersports clients at my shop, especially the side by side owners so it was easy for me to give up. I look back now and have fond memories of the trips we took as a family to the dunes or snowmobiling, but I don't miss the toys one bit. My bank account is much happier as well.

When we pull up to unload our bikes we always sneakily pull the cap off someone's spark plug. It's always funny watching them kick kick kick and their heart drops lower and lower.

My cousin used to give me **** about my sleds because I had custom paint, chrome and polished aluminum all over them. He'd tell me "well, it don't go, chrome it". It used to piss me off because my stuff ran top notch, but I was always "tweaking" the carbs or clutches to ride that fine line so he'd get his digs in while I was fine-tuning on the side of the trail. Quite a few times when we'd stop for lunch or a break, I'd walk past his sled while he was talking with someone else and pull a spark plug wire to mess with him. While he was yanking on it I'd tell him evidently my chromed machine is making it back to the trailer under it's own power.............then I'd walk over and snap the plug wire back on for him. You'd think he would have figured it out after the first few times I did it.

 

[rattle_snake]

With more shop space I was considering building some type of outfeed table for my table saw. Make it into some type of storage. I've always had it on wheels and when working with a whole sheet could roll it outside for plenty of space. Decided to keep it small and mobile for now, but address the crooked base and small worn casters. So up on the lift for chassis upgrades.


The issue with the base was the single piece of all thread that attempted to keep the angles upright. But casters operate on a off-center design and eventually they were leaning the same direction and a single link isn't effective. The fix is to weld in some spreaders that hold the pieces solid and allow the casters to do there thing.


Instead of bolting the new casters on, which needed drilling due to narrow mount, I welded them on instead. Much quicker.


Touched up the paint in the booth.


Lowered the saw down onto the updated chassis.




Now I'm rollin' on 5s. Moves easy and smoothly. Might have to use the brakes to push material through.

 

[SilverJimmy]

I also added casters to my old craftsman table saw, but I wish I would have put non-swivel wheels on the left side. It would have made the saw more controllable as I could then be able to steer it where I wanted it to go and then the fixed wheels on the one side would have made feeding material thru the saw a lot easier.

 

[rattle_snake]

You could modify two of the casters to not swivel fairly easily.

 

[rattle_snake]

Bought some storage/org stuff. More drawers. Move everything around until I can't find anything.
Found a used HF tool cart on fbmp for 1/2 price. Bought some cheap new basic tools for the cart. Wrenches, screwdivers. Moved some commonly used items to it as well.


Trolled used toolboxes for awhile. Use is material storage. Loom, shrink, wire, HW. Lots of junk priced near new. HF 44 base cab is $700. With top chest and tax about $1100. I found a similarly sized box at HD for half that. 42" x 24" deep.


Moved mill and put the new cabinet next to the others. Made a silly sticker.


Tried to get a used 46" workbench with drawers. Instead found a $50 36w 30t 18d metal cabinet with doors. Beat it back into shape and put rivets in key places to keep it sturdy. Added some angle iron in a few places and leftover casters.


Reinforced the top to mount the chop saw to.


Moved wood working tools into it that were scattered all over.


Rearranged the north bay with mill added. Decided to place the machinery in one long row, and be able to walk around both side. Infrequently used stuff in the center. Plugged in the equipment with existing cords and receptacles for now.

 

[rattle_snake]

Had one extra 'tooth' from the tractor bucket tooth bar I cut down. Welded a ball to it.

 

[rattle_snake]

Picked up a set of skid steer forks. I figured I would use them often and went with the quick connect deal over the clamp-on-bucket type. Also get full FEL lift capability with weight in closer.


Can remove the forks and use as a chain hoist, trailer ball, ect.


Something to trip over.

 

[ntsqd]

yeah, I was taught to never, ever leave the tips of the forklift tines up. Always slightly tilt the boom so that they touched down first, and then when they touched down to stop lowering.

You'll still trip over them on occasion, but its far less painful than when the tips are up.

 

[zanyad]

yeah, I was taught to never, ever leave the tips of the forklift tines up. Always slightly tilt the boom so that they touched down first, and then when they touched down to stop lowering.

You'll still trip over them on occasion, but its far less painful than when the tips are up.

One of my coworkers is notorious for leaving the fork tips up.

 

[LXCam]

Nice changes there Justin! I’ve had my skidsteer for a quarter century and I swear 90% of its life she wore the pallet forks, you’ll never regret that purchase.

 

[fouckhest]

You've been rather busy! Love the progress in the shop with the new benches and the "island" work area is great, I very much envy that setup

 

[M.Brane]

+1 looking great dude!

 

[rattle_snake]

Maybe a pallet on the forks would help the trip hazard? Need to acquire a pallet or two...

For some reason my wife tells the barn hand (aka poo scooper) to put all the bags of **** that don't fit in trash cans on my utility trailer. I think a pallet on the ground would work much better, no lifting on either end.

Nice changes there Justin! I’ve had my skidsteer for a quarter century and I swear 90% of its life she wore the pallet forks, you’ll never regret that purchase.

I've wanted fork lift capabilities for a long, long time. This will be a game changer for me.

You've been rather busy! Love the progress in the shop with the new benches and the "island" work area is great, I very much envy that setup

Thanks! I had originally set up tools in islands in short direction of space, and realized that the cross walk area was a a waste. So rotate 90*.
Been spending some time on the CNC router project I was given. It's just motors, controllers, jack screws and rails. If I want to move forward I have to buy the rest. Main concern is the controller software, there is a 'CD' in the box of stuff.
I think a 3'x4' cut area is the right size for my shop. The linear rails and jack screws are 1x 8', 2x 4'. To allow a whole sheet to be slid through the machine the gantry/bed has to be more than 49" wide, and would need the 8' piece. Probably cut it down to 60" to get bed of 52 and cut capacity of 49. Then the dual 4' would yield 3' or so of cut range in the other axis. Have to figure out the Z-axis first to understand the dimensional overhead of the machine. Then I can build a table on wheels.

+1 looking great dude!

Thanks! I've started to clean the rest of my tool chests, they are pretty dirty. Looking into doing drawer trim swap to black.

 

[SilverJimmy]

I use my small JD tractor all the time for moving stuff. Rigged up this jib boom with 2” square tube into my receiver hitch attachment and used a small come-a-long for a stiffener. Worked slick!

Made setting my bandsaw into a caster base simple and safe.