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- Thread starter Strouty
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Awesome Strouty, I'm happy for you and jealous all at the same time!! 
There was a tower guy that rented a warehouse in the sale facility as my old shop. Cool dude, always making/building something between jobs. Here is a tracked Segway thingy he made a couple years ago. :scary:
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There was a tower guy that rented a warehouse in the sale facility as my old shop. Cool dude, always making/building something between jobs. Here is a tracked Segway thingy he made a couple years ago. :scary:
Sent from my iThingy using Tapatalk
That is kind of cool, I like tracks. I have a link that is frozen on my excavator that I need to get freed up. It makes some awful noises when it gets to the sprocket, plus the track is more apt to come off when it is turning. I am figuring it will be a big battle, heat, penetrating oil, big hammer, repeat.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Strouty: in case you want an alternative to BFH and some PB blaster there are a few other options on the vise repair 101 thread for loosening up rusted or seized parts. Electrolysis could work if you can take the track off the machine and make a tank big enough. some guys use kiddie pools or dig a hole and put in pond liner then water, a little chemicals, steel anodes and let it de rust. soaking in vinegar works too but you need to make sure you rinse off and dry all the vinegar so it doesn't keep eating the cast iron or steel.
i like the idea about the tower income and if I was your age without all the bills of 5 kids like when i was i would do my best to own a few more. not sure what the permitting is in Maine, but i'm sure you do so best of luck with that.
i'm guessing the guy selling you the lista cabs that didn't work with your old drawers figured out a deal with you that was a good compromise? they look great and even though i like vintage cabinets I do like a wall of new cabinets of that quality.
cheers
i like the idea about the tower income and if I was your age without all the bills of 5 kids like when i was i would do my best to own a few more. not sure what the permitting is in Maine, but i'm sure you do so best of luck with that.
i'm guessing the guy selling you the lista cabs that didn't work with your old drawers figured out a deal with you that was a good compromise? they look great and even though i like vintage cabinets I do like a wall of new cabinets of that quality.
cheers
dlcwent
Member Emeritus
I'm glad you finally got your cabinets back to the shop. Now you can spend the weekend stressing yourself out as to what goes where. Good luck.
I spent some quality time with the Lista drawers, I had to adjust them a few times before getting them so they look good (my OCD). I think I am going to order a few more drawers to fill it out, I could move the fixed shelves down a bit, but height wise I think the extra drawers will look better. Unfortunately the old cabinets do not work with the fixed shelves from the storage wall unit, so I don't get any use out of them.
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
Your drawers look fantastic Strouty..
bczygan
Well-known member
Still got that new paint smell?
rmalkow2
Well-known member
Wow! that whole wall looks great. Looks much easier to find items this way. A good investment to make your shop time efficient.
damiansd
Well-known member
Niiiice.
dlcwent
Member Emeritus
Real nice Strouty. Don't spend the whole weekend working. Save some time for some fun.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Strouty: while i like the look of your vintage cabinets more that are across the aisle from your new Lista cabs i'm impressed. nice work putting them together and filling them up.
i think i like the open pull out drawers the best since you and i have a ton of nuts and bolts bins.
Have a great weekend.
i think i like the open pull out drawers the best since you and i have a ton of nuts and bolts bins.
Have a great weekend.
Between my tennis elbow and the fact that I am just plain worn out, I had very little ambition. I pushed through and got some stuff done, but I still have a lot to do. I have given myself Monday to work on the shop, then Tuesday I need to prep everything for the tower extension job that we are supposed to do on Thursday, I still need to make a couple brackets out of aluminum, should be relatively painless, but I want it all done before Wednesday night, so I can get home and get some rest.
When I went to the shop today, the plan was to get the two cabinets that I am selling emptied out, but I decided to do a few other things, the weather was nice and I new pressure washing the compressor air tank was not going to be easy after it gets cold, so.........
I first cleaned it while it was horizontal, then tipped it up and with the crane, we washed it until there was no more rust particles coming out. It worked very well and when I was done, I left the tank hanging the rest of the afternoon and it was dry when I took it inside. Also spent a bit of time cleaning it up and painting the frame that I added to the base. I actually had Ben helping me, so it made things go a bit better. He did a lot of the running around while I did the important stuff. I also busted out the anti vibration feet and bolted them on. They look great and should work very well.
In between all of this I made the frame for the big vidmar, then we installed the drawers and I loaded a couple of them, testing out what I want in them, still have to play around with the layouts, but these are some big, deep drawers.
I also added a bit of an extension to another table so I can get the pallet jack under it, the thing is ridiculously heavy, not even sure that I want to keep it as it does not work well for anything and it was made by a crazy person that did not know how to make things square.
When I went to the shop today, the plan was to get the two cabinets that I am selling emptied out, but I decided to do a few other things, the weather was nice and I new pressure washing the compressor air tank was not going to be easy after it gets cold, so.........
I first cleaned it while it was horizontal, then tipped it up and with the crane, we washed it until there was no more rust particles coming out. It worked very well and when I was done, I left the tank hanging the rest of the afternoon and it was dry when I took it inside. Also spent a bit of time cleaning it up and painting the frame that I added to the base. I actually had Ben helping me, so it made things go a bit better. He did a lot of the running around while I did the important stuff. I also busted out the anti vibration feet and bolted them on. They look great and should work very well.
In between all of this I made the frame for the big vidmar, then we installed the drawers and I loaded a couple of them, testing out what I want in them, still have to play around with the layouts, but these are some big, deep drawers.
I also added a bit of an extension to another table so I can get the pallet jack under it, the thing is ridiculously heavy, not even sure that I want to keep it as it does not work well for anything and it was made by a crazy person that did not know how to make things square.
dlcwent
Member Emeritus
I guess you didn't let your weekend go by without making the most of it. Looking real good. Where's the compressor?
I hope to have the pumps on the tank today, it will be nice to get them off the pallet, then I have the motor to mount and test them out. My goal is to mount the pumps and get the pulleys off the old motors. Anything more than that will be extra, I have so many loose ends right now that I am forgetting how to tie the knots.
bczygan
Well-known member
Strouty,
There are two things in your thread that I like seeing.
The first is the thinking I see going on. There is at least short term planning.
You are thinking about what you will be doing tomorrow and the next day, and making choices based on present realities.
This shows you are in the game. And the fact that you modify your plans based on what happens in the moment, shows you are flexible and can change with circumstances without giving up. This bodes well for the future. Because as you have probably found out, this project of de-cluttering and organizing isn't a one shot thing. It's a change in the way of living and being. Which means the project never ends. You just think and act differently from now on.
The second thing is how you plan for rest. We're not automatons, and need our rejuvenation time. Burnout is counterproductive. And while these tasks are hard, they should also be enjoyable, not permanent drudgery. I like seeing you plan for resting up.
We're all in a rush to button up for winter, but there is only so much one person can do, so it's good to see you got help.
As you rush towards winter, it might be a good idea to think about where you were, at this time last year. I see a sea change in your physical circumstances, and even more important, your mental processes.
Do you feel more in control of your life? Do you feel more satisfied and less harried?
Bill
There are two things in your thread that I like seeing.
The first is the thinking I see going on. There is at least short term planning.
You are thinking about what you will be doing tomorrow and the next day, and making choices based on present realities.
This shows you are in the game. And the fact that you modify your plans based on what happens in the moment, shows you are flexible and can change with circumstances without giving up. This bodes well for the future. Because as you have probably found out, this project of de-cluttering and organizing isn't a one shot thing. It's a change in the way of living and being. Which means the project never ends. You just think and act differently from now on.
The second thing is how you plan for rest. We're not automatons, and need our rejuvenation time. Burnout is counterproductive. And while these tasks are hard, they should also be enjoyable, not permanent drudgery. I like seeing you plan for resting up.
We're all in a rush to button up for winter, but there is only so much one person can do, so it's good to see you got help.
As you rush towards winter, it might be a good idea to think about where you were, at this time last year. I see a sea change in your physical circumstances, and even more important, your mental processes.
Do you feel more in control of your life? Do you feel more satisfied and less harried?
Bill
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I definitely feel the shop is in a better place and I can see that this winter will be better overall, but right now I feel out of control and stressed to the max. I took on too much work for a one man show and now I am paying for it. I know that I can get things done with some help, but that has been hard to come by. If I get the tower extension done on Thursday, things will feel better, but then I am on to the two tower foundations that need to be done and the trip to Kentucky to pick up the towers steel with the truck that is not ready yet. I have always been fairly flexible, but lately it has been more fluid. If my elbow did not hurt so bad, I would probably be better off, but the only way that is getting better is to take time off that I can't afford to take right now.
It stinks having a really long list and not being able to do much about it. The list keeps getting longer and the more I organize, the more projects I find. Very few are projects that I dislike, just need to keep them accessible so I can cross them off the list this winter! I talked with Ben yesterday and we have setup tentative schedule of Tuesdays and Thursdays and every other Sunday, that should keep me going for a while and the more he sees the better off I am. He is actually interested in welding and fabricating things, so he is excited and that helps motivate me.
The really funny thing was on Saturday when I helped my brother, he did not want to be there at all, I kept him going and we got the maximum we could done. Well Sunday was like that for me and luckily Ben was the same way, he did have to listen to me ***** and moan, but he kept me going.
It stinks having a really long list and not being able to do much about it. The list keeps getting longer and the more I organize, the more projects I find. Very few are projects that I dislike, just need to keep them accessible so I can cross them off the list this winter! I talked with Ben yesterday and we have setup tentative schedule of Tuesdays and Thursdays and every other Sunday, that should keep me going for a while and the more he sees the better off I am. He is actually interested in welding and fabricating things, so he is excited and that helps motivate me.
The really funny thing was on Saturday when I helped my brother, he did not want to be there at all, I kept him going and we got the maximum we could done. Well Sunday was like that for me and luckily Ben was the same way, he did have to listen to me ***** and moan, but he kept me going.
That was part of my issue over the weekend, my son did not want to be at the shop (He met a new girl) and his motivation was lacking, I spent way to much time pushing him to help where I needed it which dragged me down. In the end the only thing that helped was telling him the sooner we get this stuff done the sooner you can leave.
I would love to have someone who was excited about the projects to keep me moving forward.
I am loading up drawers, but I am labelling them with painters tape and a sharpie. I figure it is better to try it out first, then I can print out permanent labels. It is much slower going, but I am excited to get the old cabinets out of the shop. At lunch I am going to run to NAPA and get the bolts that I need for the compressor pumps and a few things I need for the dump truck. I hope to have that all fixed so it will start without any issues. I may still need to replace the alternator, but we found a really big short that may have been causing all my issues. Fingers crossed!
Thumper, I think it is pretty rare today, also it is really sad that more young people don't want to learn. In the future skilled labor may be a really high paying job. There are a lot of things that you can't just program a machine to do, at least not yet. I think you still got a bunch done, but as for your Son, I remember when there was a new girl in the picture, nothing else mattered.
Thumper, I think it is pretty rare today, also it is really sad that more young people don't want to learn. In the future skilled labor may be a really high paying job. There are a lot of things that you can't just program a machine to do, at least not yet. I think you still got a bunch done, but as for your Son, I remember when there was a new girl in the picture, nothing else mattered.
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Why is it always the last bit of something that is the hardest to get done? I only have three more drawers to empty, I just want to put them in a box and stuff them on a shelf. I know I need to label a drawer and put stuff into it, but there is a little evil voice telling me not to label it. I want to empty the drawers so I can go to lunch, but I want to eat lunch so I can empty the drawers.
So far things have consolidated well, I have the big vidmar temporarily labeled and filled. I have about half the new drawers filled and need to decide what else is going in them. I also need to make labels for my snap on toolbox as I can never find anything, well a few drawers I know, but there are 26 of them and I don't get into the other drawers as often. It will also help Ben when I need him to get something for me.
Back to the grind, looking forward to this day being over, I have to deliver the cabinets tonight as well. At least they will be gone and I will have cleared up a lot of space.
So far things have consolidated well, I have the big vidmar temporarily labeled and filled. I have about half the new drawers filled and need to decide what else is going in them. I also need to make labels for my snap on toolbox as I can never find anything, well a few drawers I know, but there are 26 of them and I don't get into the other drawers as often. It will also help Ben when I need him to get something for me.
Back to the grind, looking forward to this day being over, I have to deliver the cabinets tonight as well. At least they will be gone and I will have cleared up a lot of space.
bczygan
Well-known member
The last 10% ALWAYS takes 50% of the effort.
Woke up today and realized I still hadn't gone through all my hanging clothes and put them properly away.
Found some more of the nice thick aluminum hangers and had to switch a bunch of shirts I had hung up yesterday on wooden hangers, to the aluminum ones.
Also decided to use the pants hangers instead of just looping pants over a bar type hanger. Now they hang full length. It helped make a little space, as everything is real tight.
Tossed all the odd wire and plastic hangers, but still have a stack of Hawaiian shirts to transfer to the wooden hangers, so I can toss the rest of the old wire and plastic ones.
Should be outside in the good weather, but wanted to finish this, once and for all.
Bill
Today is the same for me, nice weather, yet I am inside, but it needs to be done for my own sanity. I am sure I will end up working outside on one of the coldest nastiest days, but at least I will still be sane.
I got all of the drawers emptied, I did not take time to purge anything but obvious trash, I can clearly see that there is stuff that I do not need, nor will I ever use it. The real test is does it deserve a place in $100 drawer, as soon as I ask that, it becomes really clear. Some of the things are definitely not valuable, but the drawers will make them save me time and effort, so it is worth using the drawers, other things can either get trashed or put on the shelves in bins (with labels!).
Labeling is the key and I am still having a hard time deciding what the labels should say. I want them to be very descriptive, but I know I need more generalized labels, otherwise I will need another hundred drawers to put my next thousand bins in and each bin will have two things in it. This is one of those issues I have to work through in order to win this battle with myself. I also see I am going to need to start a thread asking what things are, I have a ton of items that I do not know what they are, but I have a general idea of what they are used for. This goes back to the "they are expensive and I can't toss them" mentality, that is a really tough one to overcome, my Father and Grandfather burned that into my brain so I see it when I close my eyes now.
I got all of the drawers emptied, I did not take time to purge anything but obvious trash, I can clearly see that there is stuff that I do not need, nor will I ever use it. The real test is does it deserve a place in $100 drawer, as soon as I ask that, it becomes really clear. Some of the things are definitely not valuable, but the drawers will make them save me time and effort, so it is worth using the drawers, other things can either get trashed or put on the shelves in bins (with labels!).
Labeling is the key and I am still having a hard time deciding what the labels should say. I want them to be very descriptive, but I know I need more generalized labels, otherwise I will need another hundred drawers to put my next thousand bins in and each bin will have two things in it. This is one of those issues I have to work through in order to win this battle with myself. I also see I am going to need to start a thread asking what things are, I have a ton of items that I do not know what they are, but I have a general idea of what they are used for. This goes back to the "they are expensive and I can't toss them" mentality, that is a really tough one to overcome, my Father and Grandfather burned that into my brain so I see it when I close my eyes now.
bczygan
Well-known member
Strouty,
I'm right there with you on the reasons we hold onto things. Some standard ones are:
It cost me a lot, way back when.
It's valuable, I could get a lot of money for it.
I might need it in the future.
I could fix this up and it would be worth a lot more.
This might go with something else I have, or could get.
And a dozen other reasons/excuses.
There are counters to these little pop up excuses that your mind trys to use to convince you to keep things.
The first one I use is, "How long have I had this without using it."
The second is, "When do I expect to reasonably use it."
Then I ask if I even like the item.
I ask myself if I want to go to the trouble of selling it, or donating it. Most times the answer is hell no. I want to get it out of my hands as quickly and easily as possible. Sometimes I put things on the curb, but it doesn't always work. Easier to just toss in the trash can. But them I have to wait until Thursday pickup, and the tension and threat of getting it back out, is unbearable. There is always relief when it goes, but usually some regret, especially if it isn't truly trash.
Each item must pass this gauntlet of questions to justify it's place with me.
You see, to be valuable enough to keep, an item must prove it's worth. I am going to have to house and protect and maintain it. It has to earn it's place.
Some of the sport coats I threw out still had price stickers on them from the resale shop. Some were too small. I'm not keeping them until an imaginary time when I lose weight. Some had a very small hounds tooth check pattern, that to my eye looks bad on a large guy like me. One was white. I don't like white.
I kept a navy one with brass buttons and a blue and grey flecked wool one that was more casual. Just kept the ties that would go with these.
Can I be as ruthless with my tools? Not sure.
Keep up the fight. The mind is a monkey, always taking you down dead alleys and creating chaos in your life. Take control of your thought processes, and control them with calm and deliberate decisions, to find peace and serenity.
Sometimes it takes me 3 or 4 times, handling an item, to finally decide to dispose of it.
As far as labeling is concerned, you are far ahead of me. I'm still assembling things by broad category, like woodworking tools, automotive tools, etc. The main thing is to always have a particular place for an item. That way, you always know where to look for it.
Bill
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I am trying to setup places that make sense for items, but it is hard, especially when it gets used for multiple types of projects. Today I decided to put hole saws, SDS bits, sawzall blades, and drill bits all in one drawer. I feel they are all similar enough for now, but eventually I would like to have a wall rack with my hole saws all laid out and I have some of those Huot cabinets for my drill bits. Still feeling things out, the big vidmar is full and I really wanted to put my 1" and 3/4" drive tools in it, but right now it won't work for me, I would like to have them inside instead of in one of the storage boxes outside, they tend to get some surface rust on them.
I am about ready to head home, I did not get the pump on the compressor tank, I got sidetracked a bit with a "quick fix" on the excavator. The replacement part is $225 and I thought I could fix it in an hour. I am about 3 hours in and probably $50 in damaged drill bits and I am no where hear done. I would like to setup the bridgeport and see if an end mill would just cut through the old bolts, seems like they have hardened, I did have to heat some things to get the piece straightened out, maybe I heat treated the remains of the broken bolts? I am going to spend a few more minutes trying to drill out the second bolt, but if it doesn't work, then I may take it to the local machine shop.
I am about ready to head home, I did not get the pump on the compressor tank, I got sidetracked a bit with a "quick fix" on the excavator. The replacement part is $225 and I thought I could fix it in an hour. I am about 3 hours in and probably $50 in damaged drill bits and I am no where hear done. I would like to setup the bridgeport and see if an end mill would just cut through the old bolts, seems like they have hardened, I did have to heat some things to get the piece straightened out, maybe I heat treated the remains of the broken bolts? I am going to spend a few more minutes trying to drill out the second bolt, but if it doesn't work, then I may take it to the local machine shop.
Draw a simple floor plan of the shop and section it off as you plan to use it. Each time you come along something that needs to be used in two or more areas, find a central location for them.
That will get you started organizing, don't spend too much time break in your own balls over it. Once everything is put up and you can actually work in there, you'll find what needs adjusting, otherwise you'll be chasing your tail and never have a place you can enjoy.
Now stop by my thread and give me your view on how I should set my place up, it's always easier on the outside looking in.
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That will get you started organizing, don't spend too much time break in your own balls over it. Once everything is put up and you can actually work in there, you'll find what needs adjusting, otherwise you'll be chasing your tail and never have a place you can enjoy.
Now stop by my thread and give me your view on how I should set my place up, it's always easier on the outside looking in.
Sent from my iThingy using Tapatalk
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Strouty: nice job fabbing the base with leveling feet and getting it painte and set up so you could set your bug vidmar on it. Just one of the projects ive seen you complete lately.
I also have many drawers full of WTF tools abd thinking of starting a thread. Id like to know what they are so i can either use them or ship them to a member that can and quit storing them. Look for it in general tools soon and post yours on it or if you start one would it be ok if i posted mine on your thread?
Happy to hear you have some help. Can you hire subcontractors for a few days when you need help with the tower work?
Cheers
I also have many drawers full of WTF tools abd thinking of starting a thread. Id like to know what they are so i can either use them or ship them to a member that can and quit storing them. Look for it in general tools soon and post yours on it or if you start one would it be ok if i posted mine on your thread?
Happy to hear you have some help. Can you hire subcontractors for a few days when you need help with the tower work?
Cheers
Nines, you are right about it being easier form the outside. I have an overall plan in my head and I adjust it as things change. So far I am liking how it is unfolding and I can still see a clear path to the finish line.
Drives, hiring subs is a touch and go thing this time of year, everyone is swamped because we are all trying to beat the snow. I think I will be OK, I just need to break things up into manageable chunks and keep at it. I know that I will have a bit of help here and there and I just need to make the most of it. As for the WTF tools, my stuff is more supplies than tools, but you are free to post i any thread I start.
I spent another hour and a half at the shop trying to get the "quick fix" done. I did it, but man it was a chore. It is not perfect, but I can make it work, it will be ten times better than before. I must have hardened the steel, because it ate drill bits and took about an hour to drill one 7/16" hole through the old bolt. I ended up off center and it made a bit of a mess, but it took threads, I will also weld a nut to it to add some more threads. I still need to either fix the computer at the shop or buy a new one, I am going to open it up and take the hard drive out, then I can see if that is the only issue. So much fun stuff, I just won't know what to do with myself.
This is the piece that I needed to fix, it is bent and had two half inch bolts broken off (they put pressure not he bucket so it would not slide backwards). The connection is a wedge and can be removed quickly if you need to swap buckets or in my case lift something heavy.
After a bit of heat and some persuasion from a little hammer.
This was the end I had trouble with, it ate a few drill bits and wore down the side of one of my super special bits.
This was the "easy" hole, It did not thread completely, the hole was a bit oval so I am going to weld a not there to add more threads.
This is one of the drill bits that I ruined, it actually tapered the bit, I saw metal pieces coming out of the hole, but apparently they were pieces of the drill bit not the old bolt.
Drives, hiring subs is a touch and go thing this time of year, everyone is swamped because we are all trying to beat the snow. I think I will be OK, I just need to break things up into manageable chunks and keep at it. I know that I will have a bit of help here and there and I just need to make the most of it. As for the WTF tools, my stuff is more supplies than tools, but you are free to post i any thread I start.
I spent another hour and a half at the shop trying to get the "quick fix" done. I did it, but man it was a chore. It is not perfect, but I can make it work, it will be ten times better than before. I must have hardened the steel, because it ate drill bits and took about an hour to drill one 7/16" hole through the old bolt. I ended up off center and it made a bit of a mess, but it took threads, I will also weld a nut to it to add some more threads. I still need to either fix the computer at the shop or buy a new one, I am going to open it up and take the hard drive out, then I can see if that is the only issue. So much fun stuff, I just won't know what to do with myself.
This is the piece that I needed to fix, it is bent and had two half inch bolts broken off (they put pressure not he bucket so it would not slide backwards). The connection is a wedge and can be removed quickly if you need to swap buckets or in my case lift something heavy.
After a bit of heat and some persuasion from a little hammer.
This was the end I had trouble with, it ate a few drill bits and wore down the side of one of my super special bits.
This was the "easy" hole, It did not thread completely, the hole was a bit oval so I am going to weld a not there to add more threads.
This is one of the drill bits that I ruined, it actually tapered the bit, I saw metal pieces coming out of the hole, but apparently they were pieces of the drill bit not the old bolt.
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Wanna Ride
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2010
- Messages
- 2,790
You're a better man than me. I wouldn't have been able to sleep until all the cabinets were the same color. Stupid, right?