Something just clicked…..

[drivesitfar]

Strouty: one of my clients has a 4 bay commercial auto repair shop and maybe a 40 x 50 shop for his stuff and both are heated with recycled oil. since you are talking about making an investment in the tank have you heard of this heating system?

I think he mentioned the heating systems cost about $5,000 each and he has to spend one day a year cleaning them. he's been using the one in his auto repair shop for maybe close to 7 years now and they are usually toasty inside and only close the doors when it gets below 40 degrees outside.

 

[Strouty]

Then I would go with the 660 gal. One of our building would go through about 700 gal a year, so we would watch the price and pre-buy 750 gal when the price was lowest and then have it delivered as needed. I don't know if your oil company does that or not.

They seem to want to lock you in on a price rather than a pre pay. Last winter it was sooooo cold, yet the price of heating oil went down. I think I filled up in September and it was like $2.30 a gallon, then in January it was only $2.00 a gallon. To me I would rather make it through in one fill up if possible. The 500 gallon has a bit of rust, but the tank is 10 gauge so it is thicker than most newer tanks. I may end up buying it to store waste oil if I can get it for $250 it seems like it would be worth it. It has two heaters in the bottom of it along with a large drain and then regular bungs at the top. I think I have a picture of it, if I do I will post it.

Here is the tank:

 

[Strouty]

Strouty: one of my clients has a 4 bay commercial auto repair shop and maybe a 40 x 50 shop for his stuff and both are heated with recycled oil. since you are talking about making an investment in the tank have you heard of this heating system?

I think he mentioned the heating systems cost about $5,000 each and he has to spend one day a year cleaning them. he's been using the one in his auto repair shop for maybe close to 7 years now and they are usually toasty inside and only close the doors when it gets below 40 degrees outside.

My Father has a couple and he has trouble finding enough oil. They run heating oil, but when you switch they tend to need adjusting. If I was actually doing oil changes it would be the perfect solution. My buddy does service generators and he told me he can get me oil if I want it, but I am not sure I want to spend the effort and money. If I am working at the shop all winter, I generally go through about 600 gallons a season, maybe a bit more. If I am not around one tank usually keeps things from freezing. If I tighten up those overhead doors and add a bit more insulation I may be able to keep it down a bit. Until heating oil hits $4.00 a gallon I probably won't invest in a new system, at that point it would be worth it.

On a side note some shops have so much extra oil that they will turn the heat way up and leave the doors open just to get it burnt up.

 

[Strouty]

Today my GF asked me to make up a wood piece to put some house numbers on, this was not the first time she had asked. I figured I would make it the last time, so I buried her out back in a shallow……… No I just made her what she wanted. I will post a picture of it when she paints it. All I did was cut a 2x10 down and scalloped the corners, then hit it with the router so it looked nice. Then we had to go buy stainless screws to hold the numbers on. She is a very patient woman, I tweaked my back today moving that damn red head that I had to put on a pallet and I was in such a bad mood, I had to ask her to leave so I wouldn't get too short with her. I could tell she was ready to leave and anything she was trying to do to help pick up was one step too fast for my back and I just wanted to take a break.

So for getting to the shop at about 10:00 AM I don't think I did too bad. I got the fork pockets welded and primed on the tank (I do need to paint the underside), then I got the oil mist collector pulled apart and loaded onto the pallet with the red head (internal grinder head), then I got it all banded down. I also put my old tires and rims on her car. After lunch I got the GF's project done, then we went to get ice cream and I got lemon sorbet (Drives should be proud!) and only a medium. I did not get to loading up the tool box or digging out my label maker and magnetic tape. I don't have much planned for this week other than a bit of paper work and some wood working in the office. I figure I should be able to get the toolbox loaded up when I start my tool collection.

 

[drivesitfar]

Strouty: do you make your own pallets or do you just use what parts and other stuff is coming to your shop on. i like the way that pallet is built that you have banded your collection unit on. looks like plywood and 2 x 4's?

do you own an inversion table? if not why not? i started using mine maybe 7 years ago because i was tired of getting the same adjustments at my chiropractor every week or two. i like him to and when i hadn't showed up in a few weeks he called me to say hi. i mentioned i felt great and that i was using an inversion table i bought at Costco (tried out several before choosing this one). he said not to hang more than 5 minutes at time or it might hurt my tendons and ligaments. so a year later i called him up to take him to lunch and the year after that he called me to do the same. i haven't had an adjustment in 7 years now and a bottle of Advil expired half full and i used to buy 100 gel bottle every 2 weeks or month. if you do own one use it and if not ask questions and i'll help because I've probably sold 5 of mine out of my living room and maybe another 50 used ones to new gym owners. it really helps fight the effects of gravity and our constant bad moves with heavy items in our hands.

my big step son uses mine every time he comes over and he's 6'5" and has been up to 325 and my inversion table barely breaths hard with him using it.

also nice selection on the Sorbet. it's got a fair amount of sugar just so you know but a conscious good choice all the same.

 

[Strouty]

Drives the inversion table was something I owned, but I do not have enough room for one at the house and it would get destroyed at the shop. Someday when I get to my second floor office at the shop, I should have enough room to once again own one. I see my Chiropractor about every 5 weeks, sometimes more, sometimes less. With my insurance it is only $15 and I can go 30 times a year with no referral. Usually all I need to do is get off my feet and take a couple advil, then things loosen up and I can self adjust my lower back.

The pallet was the one my Snap On cart came on, I have made pallets in the past, but I generally have some floating around and if I don't have one, I can get one for free. Making them would be for something special that needs it for either structural reasons or protection from damage.

As for the sorbet, I figured it was high in sugar, but no fat. The other ice cream has lots of sugar and lots of fat. I figure it is a start, next time I may try a small.

 

[drivesitfar]

Strouty: first off a medium sorbet was a good choice. As you reduce your daily calories making better choices your weight will come down and if you do it with choices you can make the rest of your life you won't be the up and down weight guys. you are doing great with the better decisions and the snacks in the fridge so i commend you. don't starve yourself or you'll feel like you are in prison. did you see i had a huge bowl of popcorn last night? maybe a little less butter and salt but about the same size i normally have.

do you have a 2 x 4 you can hang from or even a gantry crane and if you can just hang for a few minutes that will help and maybe reduce your Advil until you find a spot for the inversion table.

i usually get free pallets too and none usually built as nice as the one you had your Snap on cabinet shipped on. i usually have to make my pallets more stout when shipping heavy items.

cheers and hope you are not too sore tomorrow, but try to hang tonight even if only for a couple minutes.

 

[Strouty]

Once I get into bed, it will most likely be fine. I remembered that I also moved some 42" forklift forks and a few coolant pumps, then there was changing the tires and the red head. I know I over did it, the redhead must weigh 125 pounds or more. The forks were not too bad, but put everything together and this is what I get!

 

[Strouty]

I want to get back to riding my bike, that will help for sure, it was buried in the shed, but a few weeks ago I cleaned it out. Now that I can get to it, I have been using the heat as an excuse.



I did take a bit of time to assemble the eley portable reel I bought a few weeks ago. The damn tires still smell like harbor freight, I left them outside for a few weeks thinking it would kill the smell, but no luck. Now I have one mounted out back on the deck and a portable one for out front. I just need to install the new water spigot, the old one froze last year and I never replaced it.

 

[Strouty]

This week I would like to clean up my steel rack. I bought a bunch of material to make trays that would go in the space that the vertical pipes create. It would allow me to place shorter pieces in the tray, and not waste space like I am now. I also want to clean off my big welding table, that is going to be a project in itself.

 

[Strouty]

Then I have all these tools that came from my utility truck that need to be sorted out, plus I can get the compressor parts down. I figure I can put some more items back up on the rack after I take these down. That should help overall, I keep worrying that I am working on too many things, but I so far things are still moving forward. I know that if I could stick with one project and just finish it, that would be the fastest way to complete it. Of course my shop is not in the right mindset to let me just work on one project without tripping over or moving another one out of the way. I guess that is one of my goals, to get so I can start and finish a project without being interrupted by another one!

 

[rmalkow2]

The damn tires still smell like harbor freight, I left them outside for a few weeks thinking it would kill the smell, but no luck.

Oh yes, that HF smell we affectionately call the "China Funk". All their rubber has that weird smell. I'm not sure I even want to know what they use in it. It's so bad at my local HF store the smell extends well out into the parking lot.

 

[Strouty]

Oh yes, that HF smell we affectionately call the "China Funk". All their rubber has that weird smell. I'm not sure I even want to know what they use in it. It's so bad at my local HF store the smell extends well out into the parking lot.

Does it ever subside?

 

[drivesitfar]

Strouty: the bike and the fresh air will help your health and your mind so go for it when you have a few minutes to spare.

still would like to hear you hung from a 2 x 4 or rafter for a few minutes. i'm heading to my inversion table now because i fell asleep in my chair last night for a couple hours and haven't made time to hang yet today.

also you seem to be making great progress in the shop and with your rigs.

cheers

 

[Strouty]

Thanks Drives, I hope to continue this trend all through the fall and winter as well.

 

[drivesitfar]

Strouty: i had a client "GIVE" me a set of rubber dumbbells he bought new for free because he was hoping they wouldn't keep stinking up his gym. he waited to long for a refund so i sold them cheap to another client that worked outside in his carport and didn't mind the smell. I'm sure China can make quality products because I've had some golf equipment from there that was high end. unfortunately most of the importers want the cheap stuff for our throw away society.

swap out the tires with a craigslist purchase or keep it outside.

as far as the healthy lifestyle 6 months is my goal to give me time and i'm hoping to keep up the thinking and workouts until i die. i'm tired of getting tired or out of breath with just a little bit of effort. good luck

 

[Thumper68]

Then I have all these tools that came from my utility truck that need to be sorted out, plus I can get the compressor parts down. I figure I can put some more items back up on the rack after I take these down. That should help overall, I keep worrying that I am working on too many things, but I so far things are still moving forward. I know that if I could stick with one project and just finish it, that would be the fastest way to complete it. Of course my shop is not in the right mindset to let me just work on one project without tripping over or moving another one out of the way. I guess that is one of my goals, to get so I can start and finish a project without being interrupted by another one!

Sorry my friend but that will never happen!

I think a more reasonable goal might be to be able to work on a project with out having to move **** out of the way.

It is the nature of projects that we find new projects inside the other project, be it making a specialized tool, or part or fixing something that we need to finish a project.

 

[Strouty]

I had someone make a comment that "they didn't want their thread to turn out like strouty's thread". I thought WTF, they seem to think that because I post what I am doing that it detracts from the thread. I post so that I can keep myself honest, I look at this as a long term endeavor. You guys keep me motivated and I enjoy using this as a sort of journal for anyone in a similar situation. It just made me think that I was doing something wrong, but I don't know if I care what other people think, I started this thread for me and I post for me. The conversations that come out of it are just that, conversations. Just thought it was a weird comment. I am off to bed so I can try and get my back in order for tomorrow. I need to meet some people at one of our towers to discuss a possible new installation.

 

[rob1200]

All this talk of bad backs and inversion tables, maybe the thread title should be changed to Something Just Cracked.....


It's been a while since we've seen any photos of this end of your shop. Do you still have the lathe and the Bridgeport?

 

[rob1200]

I had someone make a comment that "they didn't want their thread to turn out like strouty's thread". I thought WTF...

I was just reading that thread and had the same reaction at reader2580's remark. I think it was just a throwaway comment. Don't lose any sleep over it. His thread will die a quick death (not enough photos!) and your thread will live on.

 

[Strouty]

So I had to check one more time before bed.

Thanks for the pep talk rob.

Her you go rob, taken today. You can just see them behind all the other stuff. If I had only turned that boat down, they would most likely be in use, but it kind of ruined last winter for me. I have someone coming to look at the boat this week. Hopefully it will be gone soon, it pains me to look at it now.

 

[bczygan]

This is my kind of thread, with talk of organizing, photos of yummy racks full of steel, and discussions of inversion, which I do most every day, sometimes twice a day.

Bill

 

[drivesitfar]

Strouty: some guys just want the information and don't have any interest or time for people. some guys are just punks and bullies and think they are still in the 3rd grade or maybe they are posting from their prison cell.

i'm the opposite. i want to get to know the person that is giving me the information. i'm guessing you like the same as i or you wouldn't have been here as long and as active as you are.

have a good sleep

BCZ: right on and how's the back

 

[drivesitfar]

Strouty: or the poster could have been talking about your million members thread that took me a while to find out how to post on it.

you sir like me have more than one thread.


cheers buddy

 

[Strouty]

Maybe we will need to start a "show me your inversion table" thread. My back is better, but not perfect, the muscles around my hip get tight and yank on the lower back. Once I get it moving again, it seems fine. I will say it is going to slow me down a bit, If it is not better tomorrow I am going to see the Chiropractor. I have new insoles that should be in and I am sure looking forward to those. I got several years out of my current ones, they probably are doing more harm now than good.

I will add some overall pictures of the inside since I really haven't shown much since the boat was stuffed inside. I need to start drawing things out so I can plan the future of the shop. It would be nice to do things in a sort of progression rather than like a yo yo.

 

[dlcwent]

Yeah Drive. Start a thread on your inversion table, so when I get mine, I'll already be prepared to set it up and properly use it.

Strouty, Are you really going to take the time to organize your organization?

 

[Strouty]

I don't know if I have a choice. Still can't find things, still walking too far for common things, still not wanting to put away things because they do not have a home.

I really do think that I enjoy organizing my mess way more than I let on.

I bought some string beans, any words of caution?

 

[dlcwent]

I do believe that you do enjoy it more than you let on.

As for green beans, stick to shelled peas. Or cook them mothers until they turn to mush.

 

[drivesitfar]

DLC & Strouty: BCZ started a thread after he bought his inversion table. i think he bought it because i mentioned it would help or maybe he bought it on his own. either way he owns one and he uses it and likes it. I made some pretty good posts on that thread so check them out. ask questions if you have any and if i don't see the thread just PM me and i'll post answers if i know them. i'm heading to use mine in a few minutes so i'll be good for he day.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=293736&highlight=BCZ+upside

Strouty: i have to tell you that my wife thinks ORGANIZE is a swear word because I've been doing it for 30 years in the small spaces i have. if it wasn't for me leasing 2000 sq. ft. more space i'm sure i'd be divorced years ago.

cheers and best of luck with those green beans. have a BBall handy in case you need to do a selfie Heimlich.

 

[dlcwent]

DLC & Strouty: BCZ started a thread after he bought his inversion table. i think he bought it because i mentioned it would help or maybe he bought it on his own. either way he owns one and he uses it and likes it. I made some pretty good posts on that thread so check them out. ask questions if you have any and if i don't see the thread just PM me and i'll post answers if i know them. i'm heading to use mine in a few minutes so i'll be good for he day.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=293736&highlight=BCZ+upside

Strouty: i have to tell you that my wife thinks ORGANIZE is a swear word because I've been doing it for 30 years in the small spaces i have. if it wasn't for me leasing 2000 sq. ft. more space i'm sure i'd be divorced years ago.

cheers and best of luck with those green beans. have a BBall handy in case you need to do a selfie Heimlich.

Drives, maybe he already ate some and that's why he's not posting right now. He didn't have a BBall with him and did not take my words of caution to heart.

 

[drivesitfar]

DLC: or he's at the store picking up his new inversion table. did i mention that you might find an old like new inversion table on Craigs for $100-150? look for invertalign and they are similar to the new Teeter ups and I've used them and they are great quality.

cheers and again happy to have you around so bee careful would you.

 

[dlcwent]

Thanks Drives. I'm waiting for Kevin to talk to me about hi new one that's supposed to be there Friday. He said he'd fill me in on it. So another few days of waiting won't be too bad.

I'll be chewing a little more before swallowing. And not walk and eat at the same time, as I'm obviously am not that talented.

 

[drivesitfar]

DLC: good plan and i'm having a harder time doing a couple things at once too.

 

[Strouty]

I am sweating my *** off here, it is way too humid right now. I am completely soaked and when I was working it was just running off my forehead. I thought it would be better if I opened the overhead door, but I was wrong, a wall of hot air tried to enter the shop. I need to get a ceiling fan hooked up, at least it will feel cooler.

As far as my back, it is just as bad as it was yesterday afternoon, so I am going to the chiropractor tomorrow. I am also going to order my inversion table either tonight or tomorrow. I am just waiting for the snap on guy to show up, then I am leaving the shop. Hopefully tomorrow will be a little cooler.

 

[timdp]

Regarding the back problems issue, I have found that weak gut muscles = back problems (assuming you are not completely over doing it to the point of a strain). Start working on those stomach muscles and the back problems should go away.

Tim

 

[Strouty]

Regarding the back problems issue, I have found that weak gut muscles = back problems (assuming you are not completely over doing it to the point of a strain). Start working on those stomach muscles and the back problems should go away.

Tim

Surprisingly my stomach muscles are really good. It is probably from climbing towers. I have issues with twisting with too much weight or too quickly. The part that I moved weighs around 125 pounds and I had to twist a bit, so I am sure that was overdoing it. I have some muscles that are just cranked tight and won't let the joint move smooth, so it is pinching. I may try some heat tonight as well as a muscle relaxer. I can usually get myself out of it, but when I let it linger, it tends to pull other things out of whack with it.

 

[Thumper68]

I feel ya on the back and the heat/humidity issues. Lifting and twisting at the same time gets me at least once a year real fun on top of the herniated disks.

It isn't to hot here in Sioux Falls today 80*F but the humidity is nasty and I/we are on our second loading of the U-Haul trailer, filled it once with items to donate and now it is all the **** the wife is bringing home. At least I was smart this time and bought rubber maid bins, so much nicer for stacking, all one size.

Headed home tomorrow it will be so nice to be back by the big lake and away from the heat.

 

[Strouty]

Good luck with all the new stuff. Hopefully it won't swallow up all your available space. I am guessing the wife is holding up all right? My GF lost her Father a few years ago and we are just now dealing with all of the stuff now that her Mother want to move.

I think they said it was about 70% humidity in the mid eighties, but I am not built for this heat. I prefer 55 degrees, I can work as hard as I want and barely break a sweat. I am looking forward to the fall, of course then comes the white ****. Sorry I mentioned it, the heat is fine.

 

[Cave Creek Ray]

HFS!

How are you gonna move all that stuff to epoxy your floor?

How did I miss this thread?

Strouty, I admire you and feel for you at the same time. This thread is like a therapist narrative running 70+ pages trying to help a guy who has been unlucky enough to be in the "right place at the right time" just a few times too many. I got 25 years on you so let me offer some old fart advice like Bill and others have.

1. Just because its available and you "could" use it, that doesn't mean you "should" grab it. If you want to flip it and make a little money off it, that's something altogether different. Is the trouble going to pay you for your considerable time and effort? Do you have a means to sell equipment? Is there a market in your area?

2. The key to guys like us is our appetite for projects exceeds the number of heartbeats left our body. The "capacity" to do something does not really mean we ever will. And that gets to number 3...

3. What do YOU want the ability to do? When the shop is all complete, what is the most likely use of that space going to accomplish? Would you rather have the comfort of space in your shop or would you rather cram in five more pieces of equipment you got for a steal that need work -or you'll probably use them very infrequently?

4. For anything you put outside in the weather, consider you are hosing it down and tossing salt on it. Hard to say but that is the reality of outside storage. Some things like trailers end up outside simply because its too expensive to store them inside unless you have a pole barn or equipment shed. I passed on a really nice tandem axle trailer to haul my tractor on simply because I didn't want to store it. Turns out my neighbor has one and offered it to me any time I need it. And if that's not possible, my service dealer picks up and delivers -for a charge. All good options much cheaper than buying and storing a trailer of my own.

I inherited all my fathers hand tools. In the 35 years I have been married, I have amassed the usual collection of three of everything. I have loads of wood working tools and a milling machine and a lathe (smaller models) that I picked up last year for cheap. I am now forced to make the very decisions you are starting to make.

I only have so much space. I want open space in my workshop for occasional auto repairs. I had a line on a near-mint four-post lift for $500 but passed because I knew I simply wouldn't use it enough. It would hog up the space in my shop just sitting there. Open space is cathartic and also means you can work inside in the winter because you have space. Space is flexibility.

My last house was custom built with a 1450 sq ft garage/shop and storage room with custom floor to ceiling shelving. Then, my wife decided to move. Now, I have a 2500 sq ft shop building I am trying to sort out. Like you, I ended up losing my job due to medical issues. In the scheme of things, they are minor issues and I can still enjoy a full life. But, it reminds me how precious health is and how quick things can change in life. First thing -GET HEALTHY and get your back taken care of. You will be a miserable 50 year-old if the issue doesn't get fixed -or improved.

Having "stuff" means "options." But stuff can also be a curse. You are at a crossroad right now after your "hand" issue. Focus on downsizing considerably and figuring out what you can comfortably use in your current shop space. Then as I have been forced to do, imagine NONE of the stuff in your shop is there. Imagine the best layout, drawing it out if necessary. If something doesn't fit, it may be time to turn it into cash to better your environment. Then, figure out a flow to get a space clear and then start installing what should go there and work your way to completion. That is what I am half way through in my shop. And if I have leftovers, they are going bye-bye. If you don't think you will have the physical capacity or time to do what is necessary, you might think of liquidation of 75% of what you have because its depreciating rapidly.

You can always go out and find another tool/machine should the need arise later.

Good luck man. Thanks for sharing.

Ray

 

[dlcwent]

Good luck with all the new stuff. Hopefully it won't swallow up all your available space. I am guessing the wife is holding up all right? My GF lost her Father a few years ago and we are just now dealing with all of the stuff now that her Mother want to move.

I think they said it was about 70% humidity in the mid eighties, but I am not built for this heat. I prefer 55 degrees, I can work as hard as I want and barely break a sweat. I am looking forward to the fall, of course then comes the white ****. Sorry I mentioned it, the heat is fine.

You did it and it can't be undone.