Reorganization, it's like a renovation.

[Shoottx]

Look at a cable tie gun, if you start with a loop they pull them tight and then cut to length, not expensive and handy for wiring.

Shoottx

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Girl,
I was out in the garage this evening and was zip tying a rat's nest of wires. It reminded me of you post. Zip ties seem pretty easy to use with two hands and at ground level they aren't too bad to use one-handed. You did those overhead and one-handed. Any tricks or special techniques? When I use them, it's like making an invisible meatball with one hand until the end engages in the gripper. By the time I did six zip ties overhead, there would be no blood in my hand and I'd have to take a break. Then again my exercise is moving a mouse or turning a wrench.

Bob, no special tricks really. The basic philosophy is tie down what isn't suppose to move. Leave loose what is.

Position your ladder in a position that makes standing on it a comfortable reach. It's easy to get contorted but position it where its best for you. I realized when I got tired it was because I had my ladder in the wrong spot in relation to the work. And then there are some positions that will just tire you out. The angles you might be fighting against with the work may not be the strongest anatomical I position for your arm or body. So that can make the job tedious and very hard. I went through this in the porton of the outlets where I had to pull the Romex overhead out to the new hole. THe biggest challenge was pulling a staple holding the romex from the stud. I was working blind, about a foot into the access hole behind the drywall Took all my patience not to knock a hole in the ceiling.



Working on the ladder overhead is pretty tough for extended periods of time. I think I have just become conditioned to the endurance work. I realized this one evening that I had my husband out there with me and I asked him to hold the box in place while I marked something or other (I can't remember what it was now). But he was up there grunting and shaking, to the point he kept moving the box from where I needed it. Almost started an argument I asked him what the problem was and he said his arms were burning trying to hold the box up. It wasn't even longer than a minute. I asked if he was serious..."Yes!" lol "Ok, I see. I'll try to work faster, you try to hold it steady." It was then that I realized that my shoulder/arm is very well conditioned for long work. Similar to when you use a hacksaw and you have to take a break because your arm gets tired after so many strokes and the muscles burns. I can work much past that.

I do a lot of manual labor and even my work is skilled, weight train and jog a lot. I think that helps my body do what it does, or at least keep the pace at which I push it.

Hang in there

Edit: I was thinking you were in the area and I was gonna offer to go help out...you hold this, I'll tie this lol But I just realized you are in FL. Not a very quick drive.

 

[Bob Heine]

Bob, no special tricks really.

I do a lot of manual labor and even my work is skilled, weight train and jog a lot. I think that helps my body do what it does, or at least keep the pace at which I push it.

Hang in there

Edit: I was thinking you were in the area and I was gonna offer to go help out...you hold this, I'll tie this lol But I just realized you are in FL. Not a very quick drive.

Thanks Girl,

I think I already knew your secret. Shortly after I lost my arm I took up water skiing and did that for 10 years (fractured elbow trying to skateboard made skiing a lot harder). I kept pretty active but when they promoted me into middle management at 37 my free time disappeared.

If I got off my **** and lost the 30 retirement pounds I've accumulated, I'd regain some of the stamina I used to have. Of course nothing changes the abuse I've put my body through for 67 years.

I think two one-armed people who are easily annoyed by well-meaning "helpers" would be awesome! Reminds me of the sign I had on my desk at work:

Hire the Handicapped
They're Fun to Watch​

I'm in the midst of an A/C repair on the family car (PT Cruiser Turbo). Just a compressor replacement but ...while I'm at it, condenser, receiver/dryer and hoses are going in. Intake manifold was kinda in the way so it and the intake pipe, intercooler pipe are being upgraded. Exhaust side was fine but a 3" stainless down pipe and high performance 4" catalytic converter were just begging to be adopted.

Used a zip tie to hold the injector plumbing out of the way and because it was one of my longer ties, another brainstorm hit me -- I need re-useable cable ties. The home improvement stores charge about $8 for a 100-pack of the 14-inch size. I seem to go through a lot of them for exactly what you use them for -- temporary clamping and an extra hand or three.

Here's a site that sells releasable cable ties for a little more than the regular ones at Lowes:
http://www.cabletiesandmore.com/cableties.php

 

[Kenwc]

I've had a cable tie gun for as long as I can remember. It has adjustable tensioning for the different tie's you might use and at the end of the stroke it cuts the tail clean near the head. Would be perfect for single handed use.

 

[Bob Heine]

Suggestion taken -- I ordered a cheap cable tie gun yesterday. Should come in handy but it doesn't actually overcome the challenge.

Here's the deal -- pick up a cable tie in your dominant hand (put your other hand in your pocket) and insert the tail of the cable tie into the ratchet slot. To simulate what GirlinAgarage was doing, put the tail through a hole in something overhead before you thread in into the ratchet slot. Having a gun attached to the cable tie might not make it easier. I'll let you know when my gun comes in the mail.

And Kenwc -- you have my admiration for living on wheels. One-handedness is an inconvenience and I feel very fortunate to have what I have. Old age is slowing me down more than the arm but just like the arm it's the reality you live with. Beats the alternative by a country mile

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Hey Bob, love the sign. I think that if people saw the way I work on some things that I'd soon be recruited by the circus.


For the zip ties, takes some dexterity to get the end of the tie looped through where it needs to loop then go into the tie hole. I've never tried a zip tie gun.

I'm kinda just flying through right now. Will have some more thoughts later

 

[Kenwc]

Suggestion taken -- I ordered a cheap cable tie gun yesterday. Should come in handy but it doesn't actually overcome the challenge.

Here's the deal -- pick up a cable tie in your dominant hand (put your other hand in your pocket) and insert the tail of the cable tie into the ratchet slot. To simulate what GirlinAgarage was doing, put the tail through a hole in something overhead before you thread in into the ratchet slot. Having a gun attached to the cable tie might not make it easier. I'll let you know when my gun comes in the mail.

And Kenwc -- you have my admiration for living on wheels. One-handedness is an inconvenience and I feel very fortunate to have what I have. Old age is slowing me down more than the arm but just like the arm it's the reality you live with. Beats the alternative by a country mile

Thanks Bob..."it ain't no thang" as the Vegas commercial says....it's all in the attitude....life is only 10% about what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.

 

[onething]

I just reread the last few pages. I've been running some new light wiring and I am humbled. I dropped more stuff than I can count and I have two reasonably good hands.

I think I'd pay to see you work.

 

[Bob Heine]

I think that if people saw the way I work on some things that I'd soon be recruited by the circus.

I hear you! If it doesn't involve the welder or a chainsaw I work barefoot.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I just reread the last few pages. I've been running some new light wiring and I am humbled. I dropped more stuff than I can count and I have two reasonably good hands.

I think I'd pay to see you work.

I hear you! If it doesn't involve the welder or a chainsaw I work barefoot.

Definitely. I'm a flip flop/barefoot girl in the summer. I tried welding in one of my sleeveless cutoff shirts one day. My welders tan look awesome




Maybe one of these days when I work on something I'll have the cam rolling to capture the magic of how I work.

 

[BeachBum2012]

Yup.


I'm also looking around for miter saw bench ideas which is how I ran across that site too. I've got a saw that needs somewhere to be besides the floor. These woodworking sites have some pretty good ideas I can kill a couple birds with one stone.

I first found that bench when looking for a miter saw bench as well. My plan there has morphed into a miter saw/router table combo where each will mount into slots in the lower part of the bench and a flat top can be inserted when not working with either to make a flat 12' bench.

Thinks look like they're moving right along in your shop. I envy your dedication.

 

[onething]

Maybe one of these days when I work on something I'll have the cam rolling to capture the magic of how I work.

Whew

When you didn't reply to my comment for several days I thought you'd misunderstood me or were offended.

You rock, Girl

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Whew

When you didn't reply to my comment for several days I thought you'd misunderstood me or were offended.

You rock, Girl

lol not at all, I just hadn't checked back to the thread. I noticed recently that I'm not receiving an email alert for every reply to the threads I'm subscribed to. Not just this forum but others as well. Wonder what it could be?

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I first found that bench when looking for a miter saw bench as well. My plan there has morphed into a miter saw/router table combo where each will mount into slots in the lower part of the bench and a flat top can be inserted when not working with either to make a flat 12' bench.

Thinks look like they're moving right along in your shop. I envy your dedication.

Any pics of your bench build? The slot idea is creative. I saw something similar and sorta wished I had seen it before I finished my workbench top. Now that it's glued up and one piece screwed in (I intended for it to be big and heavy for the log haul) I won't be cutting it apart.

Have you seen the workbench idea that uses the flip top method? Where say a planer is bolted on one side of the work surface and a saw on the other side. Depending on which tool you need, you pull the holding pins and rotate the top then lock it in place again? I don't need two machines in one but I like the idea to flip the saw out of the way and have another work surface when the saw is rolled out of the way.

 

[BeachBum2012]

Any pics of your bench build? The slot idea is creative. I saw something similar and sorta wished I had seen it before I finished my workbench top. Now that it's glued up and one piece screwed in (I intended for it to be big and heavy for the log haul) I won't be cutting it apart.

Have you seen the workbench idea that uses the flip top method? Where say a planer is bolted on one side of the work surface and a saw on the other side. Depending on which tool you need, you pull the holding pins and rotate the top then lock it in place again? I don't need two machines in one but I like the idea to flip the saw out of the way and have another work surface when the saw is rolled out of the way.

I haven't started on the build as of yet. I've got it fairly well designed at this point but I have a few other projects and a move to complete first. If I can get my drawings scanned I'll see if I can post them up for you.

The rotating top sounds pretty cool too. I was leaning toward individual boards for each tool for ease of storage. Just pull the board and slide it into a slot in a cabinet under the bench. If I build each tool board right I should be able to put just about anything there. More thoughts on it were to integrate removable fence system onto either side of the tool slot as well.

I tend to design things for months before I ever start to build them. I seem to enjoy that part of the process.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I haven't started on the build as of yet. I've got it fairly well designed at this point but I have a few other projects and a move to complete first. If I can get my drawings scanned I'll see if I can post them up for you.

The rotating top sounds pretty cool too. I was leaning toward individual boards for each tool for ease of storage. Just pull the board and slide it into a slot in a cabinet under the bench. If I build each tool board right I should be able to put just about anything there. More thoughts on it were to integrate removable fence system onto either side of the tool slot as well.

I tend to design things for months before I ever start to build them. I seem to enjoy that part of the process.

I understand putting in time on the planning process. I'm a big program/process/evaluation type of doer. Otherwise I feel its a big waste of time and effort. And with effort being tedious and tricky, I want to do things as close to right the first time

Looking forward to your build





My garage-
I haven't worked ON anything in the garage. I've used my garage. My bench. Worked on replacing the weed eater head. Also been trying to kill a mole (in the yard, not in the garage). It feels weird to not have something in there that needs to get done. I can work on something, but I'm not feeling like I need to work on anything. Guess I'm mostly done until I feel like not being done.

 

[tinbender 66]

Guess I'm mostly done until I feel like not being done.

Well put.

 

[glsmaverick]

~ Girl

I have a question so bare with me on this one but I am looking into the same wiring idea for my garage.

Did you tap off of the ceiling plug to run the new system along the wall of the garage or did you have to run a dedicated new line to the ceiling plug? I ask because I have one outlet on each wall of my garage and I want to do the conduit idea like you have so I would like to bump out a box from the existing outlet then run one outlet to the left and one to the right in conduit and boxes but I do not want to run any new lines to my garage. Can I do this, just run extensions off of the existing circuit to two new boxes off of each one?

Any help would be awesome and I love the garage BTW. Those drawers are killer and I like the bench break idea.

 

[Kenwc]

Girl.....good luck with getting rid of that mole. They will drive you insane trying to get rid of em. I finally gave up and decided it was just free yard aeration...

 

[GirlnAgarage]

~ Girl

I have a question so bare with me on this one but I am looking into the same wiring idea for my garage.

Did you tap off of the ceiling plug to run the new system along the wall of the garage or did you have to run a dedicated new line to the ceiling plug? I ask because I have one outlet on each wall of my garage and I want to do the conduit idea like you have so I would like to bump out a box from the existing outlet then run one outlet to the left and one to the right in conduit and boxes but I do not want to run any new lines to my garage. Can I do this, just run extensions off of the existing circuit to two new boxes off of each one?

Any help would be awesome and I love the garage BTW. Those drawers are killer and I like the bench break idea.

Thanks

I did tap off the ceiling outlet to start the conduit run. That part was a little bit of a mudhole but once I figured it out the job went quickly.

You can tap off each outlet and make your runs. Before you get started it would be good for you to map out your circuits and double check what is on those circuits. This will help you know how much room you have and by extension how many extra outlets you can add. I lucked out a little bit in that the entire circuit only had one outlet and it was the one I was tapping from.

Keep us posted on your outlets. Looking back at the project it was very simple and it feels like it expanded my garage. I would do conduit in the future.

Girl.....good luck with getting rid of that mole. They will drive you insane trying to get rid of em. I finally gave up and decided it was just free yard aeration...

Oh they are a challenge alright. I've almost had this one guy twice, but he slips through my setups. I have one mole who is wrecking several yards. He's got trails across my yard to the neighbors to the other neighbors. I know they're pretty territorial and if I can get this guy then our yards will be clear, at least for a little bit. Game on mole!

Well put.

 

[Kenwc]

Quote of the day:

"Game on mole..."!

 

[onething]

Why did I think of Whack a mole ?

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Why did I think of Whack a mole ?

If only he would show himself. I was good at that game

 

[Kenwc]

Not exactly the most attractive creatures on earth either...

 

[Outlawmws]

SNIP

Oh they are a challenge alright. I've almost had this one guy twice, but he slips through my setups. I have one mole who is wrecking several yards. He's got trails across my yard to the neighbors to the other neighbors. I know they're pretty territorial and if I can get this guy then our yards will be clear, at least for a little bit. Game on mole!

This makes me think of those "Whack a Mole!" arcade games...

 

[GirlnAgarage]

One of the tools in my arsenal that I'm not afraid to pull out in a moments notice is the Ridgid Fuego One Handed Reciprocating Saw.

I've used it to cut 2x4s, trees, tree limbs, 1/4" thick metal, pvc and whatever else got in the way. All done with the proper blade of course. This weekend it gave me my first trouble as I was cutting down mesquite pieces.

Looks like I wore out one of the brushes. Not bad for the amount of use I got out of it. Between the work load and the really hot environment it has held up. I usually need a break by the time the saw starts getting too hot to handle (gloves have helped extend that work time). But it's kept on.

Glad to see it. I really like this tool. I ordered a handful of brushes to get it going and supplied.

Well, nothing real exciting. Just wanted to give a little status update on a reliable tool. Being that tools I can safely use and are up to the jobs I do are hard to find, I wanted to give credit where credit is due.

 

[Kenwc]

Thanks for posting that. You may have pushed me over the edge to get one. That would make short work of trimming the pesky Crape Myrtles..

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Thanks for posting that. You may have pushed me over the edge to get one. That would make short work of trimming the pesky Crape Myrtles..

They wouldn't stand a chance The key is good blades. I use Milwaukee pruning blades for tree/yard cutting. For metal work I use Lenox (gold) blades. Then of course there are general wood and demo blades you can have your pick of.


I've been tempted for a while to find a real small small chainsaw. But that's starting to teeter on the edge of 'probably shouldn't' for one hand.


Oh on the saw I believe Ridgid makes a cordless version but I use the corded. I have never trusted cordless anything, well except cordless phones. I'd rather deal with extension cords and get the job done.


You can see I don't treat mine very well as far as cleaning it up when I'm done. It got drt, sap and who knows what else. I know better.

 

[Outlawmws]

They wouldn't stand a chance The key is good blades. I use Milwaukee pruning blades for tree/yard cutting. For metal work I use Lenox (gold) blades. Then of course there are general wood and demo blades you can have your pick of.


I've been tempted for a while to find a real small small chainsaw. But that's starting to teeter on the edge of 'probably shouldn't' for one hand.


Oh on the saw I believe Ridgid makes a cordless version but I use the corded. I have never trusted cordless anything, well except cordless phones. I'd rather deal with extension cords and get the job done.

I'd class all chainsaws as "two handed use only"; heck even with two hands I would guess chain saw injuries are at or near the top of the list for hand held tool major injuries..)

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I'd class all chainsaws as "two handed use only"; heck even with two hands I would guess chain saw injuries are at or near the top of the list for hand held tool major injuries..)

Yeah, my luck I'd lop off my good arm

It's aggravating I can't do all the firewood work though. Have to depend on someone else cutting it. Most good free wood is 'bring your chainsaw' which I grew up doing with dad.

 

[Bob Heine]

I've been tempted for a while to find a real small small chainsaw. But that's starting to teeter on the edge of 'probably shouldn't' for one hand.

Girl,

Chainsaws should be on my 'probably shouldn't' list but I haven't found a reasonable substitute. My collection has grown to five chainsaws over the past two decades. I started with an 18" electric Chinese chainsaw (POS brand) that I still use on really big stubborn roots. My Remington 18" electric is a decent saw that I like because parts are readily available.

I made it half-way up a ladder with the chainsaw in my hand when a voice deep inside my head called me some nasty names and forced me to the ground. Voice told me to get an electric polesaw (small chain on top) so a B&D 18v model with an 8" chain joined the family. If it's less than 6-inches in diameter and within 15-feet of the ground, the branch is coming down. Higher than that and a pro gets involved.

In 2005 hurricane Wilma turned our yard into a giant brush pile and knocked out the electricity for several weeks. Ended up with two Poulan gas-powered saws -- a 20" standard and a 12-foot pole. They take a lot of time to clean up and prep for storage so they only come out for the big jobs.

I have several rules regarding the use of a chainsaw. Aside from the safety glasses, gloves long pants and shirts, I:

• Never stand on ladders, stools or platforms
• Never end the workday with the chainsaw -- tired means trouble
• Never start the workday with the chainsaw if I don't feel good
• Never rush the cut - I always try to rotate the work or reverse the saw position for the final cut

I like your saw -- I'll be watching for a sale...

 

[Wingnut65]

Looks like the Ridgid Fuego is now on my wish list. I can see the potential that is has and all the cutting you do with it. Thanks Girl for spending my money.

As for the chainsaws, I teach chainsaw safety course for our disaster relief teams in Florida. They are dangerous tools, but are fine is used properly and understanding what is happening with the wood you cut. Like Bob mentioned, cleaning up after a disaster is not like falling a tree in your back yard. Wind-downed trees have tensions in the wood that have killed people when cut wrong. And Bob mentioned the right gear, but I'd add Chaps and a hard hat to the list.

I also have the B&D 18v Pole Saw with 14' pole and that is my limit at home for cutting our palms. Soon I will be going to the pro's for anything above that. On our team, we have a couple trained to climb, tie off and limb a tree, but I'm not there yet. I know my limits and I'm glad you do too.

Girl, nice work you've done in your shop. I wish I could be as far along as you are. I can't even find my workbench again.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Thanks for the thoughts about the chainsaw. For now I'll keep working around it like I am. I've been threatening DH that I'm going to buy a 18" and put him to work. That or I'm getting a hot yard guy, like a pool boy, except we have no pool.

If you guys get the Fuego recip saw, go ahead and preorder a handful of brushes from the ereplacement parts site. It seems those items are backordered anywhere from 5-9 days as they have to come from the manf. I checked at the HD to see if they had any (since they sell the saw) but they don't. So, just order some before you need them so you don't have down time.

The saw is smaller than a regular recip saw and it's got a little less power. But it will still give you the capability without being unruly. Like I said, buy the right blades and let it do the work instead of jamming down on it and burning it down. It'll get the work done.

 

[onething]

and you can stick the blade of a recip in the ground to remove roots. Don't try that with a chain saw.

Anybody wonder how I know that?

 

[GirlnAgarage]

and you can stick the blade of a recip in the ground to remove roots. Don't try that with a chain saw.

Anybody wonder how I know that?

Wonder why my saw is covered in dirt???

I have removed a few stumps by sticking that saw in the ground and cutting roots. Much easier than digging them out, especially where I can't get my truck in there to tug on them.

 

[onething]

Did anyone else think she was going back to the mole issue when she first posted the saw?

 

[98TJ]

Did anyone else think she was going back to the mole issue when she first posted the saw?

There's only one way to conquer the mole. You've got to get in the dude's pelt.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Did anyone else think she was going back to the mole issue when she first posted the saw?

I almost lost my coffee when I read that

I hadn't thought of that, but now that you mention it... Actually I deployed the tremors inspired trap today. I use a big coffee can that I just finished drinking all the coffee out of. I dug a hole the diameter of the can right inthe middle of his primary run. I stuck the can deep enough that the tunnel sit above the lip of the can. When the little guy runs through there he'll fall out and into the can. I'm taking this guy alive. I want the pleasure. Of course the easy way would be to fill the can with water.

I smushed the tunnel about a foot away in each direction. It's an easy tell for when the mole has run through. I don't have to go out there and check it, get my hopes up and nothing when I look. lol

 

[GirlnAgarage]

There's only one way to conquer the mole. You've got to get in the dude's pelt.

Sweet, I'll have a new coin purse by the time I'm done with him.

 

[machine_punk]

I definitely thought she was going for the mole with the saw (and was waiting to see what she came up with). The saw posts were interesting enough (looks like a saw I could use a lot...I often have quick cuts where I don't need a lot of accuracy).