Something just clicked…..

[Strouty]

Ray,

You make great points, I am learning most of them the hard way. I am going to try and rebuild medium duty trucks with a side of flipping large tools and machinery as my long term goal. I have been slowly getting rid of things that I definitely do not need, at this point I have several things that I am not sure about yet, so they are in a holding pattern. I keep saying if I can just get organized then I will have enough space, but I think what I am actually looking for is the ability to find things when I need them. Once I get to that point, I think things will truly click and become more fluid for me. I can't lie, I like the stuff that is around me, it is like a safety blanket of sorts. I also know this is a long journey, thanks for joining me, even if it is for a quick ride.

 

[Strouty]

You did it and it can't be undone.

Did you send those lobsters yet?

 

[Cave Creek Ray]

Strouty,

No doubt, having stuff around is comforting... until it becomes unmanageable. Everyone has a different limit. I realized during the two-year remodel on this place that I was very very close to my limit but I had to compartmentalize concerns and worries to focus on the task at hand. Now, its coming together.

My dad was a depression era kid. EVERYTHING had value. Nearly everything could be re-built or re-used. Cleaning out his final garage was really emotional for my brother and I. We had to throw away a lot of really good stuff due to time constraints with their move -and his illness.

You have a plan. That gives you focus on what you'll need to accomplish it. Stick with it. Be flexible. Above all, be committed to doing it right. Half-assing will get you right back into the insanity of too much stuff and not enough space. Commit to putting equipment for sale in a special location (container) separate from your business stuff. That'll help your sanity.

 

[Strouty]

Most of the equipment I sell is too heavy or too big to get into my shop.

I have a goal for the shop that it pay for itself. I don't care if I do consulting work, sell some equipment, refurbish something, sell stuff on ebay, or just store something for people. I figure if the shop can make $1000 a month, I am not going backwards and that would essentially be moving forward.

Long term goal is to be able to make money using the shop, just have not figured out exactly what I am going to be doing yet. I figure the shop is like a kid that doesn't know what it wants to do when it grows up. So far I have set a goal for myself of making $1000 a week, this has been doable, but only after averaging the money made over the month. I have consistently made $1000 or more for the last 5 months. The last few months the expenses have been hefty as well, so I have not put as much money into the shop as I would have liked to. Eventually I will have a dedicated savings account just for the shop and my future plans.

 

[dlcwent]

Did you send those lobsters yet?

Where's the 200% deposit cheapskate?

 

[drivesitfar]

Strouty: i'm trying to do a similar thing and hopefully one day it will be paying towards equity instead of rent while i'm still here in the city.

isn't it a bit hard to overcome a $6,000 toolbox or did you get that much from the boat?

did you drink lots of water today? i'm getting ready to make 3 gallons of green tea and if you can pick up a case of Zen green tea it makes great ice tea for your fridge.

cheers

 

[Strouty]

Where's the 200% deposit cheapskate?

I sent you 10 lobsters, I only wanted 5.

 

[timdp]

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.

So you seem to be straining and there is possible damage from your work.
I see a pallet jack and I assume you have hand trucks and moving dollies? So is it a case of not using the right equipment to move stuff or not concentrating on what you are doing?

Are you doing any walking? Once you get back to functional try doing some walking (a mile or two 2-3 times a week to start). Walking can reset your muscles and get them back to doing what they should be doing.

Tim

 

[Strouty]

Drives, the toolbox doesn't count! I have until October 27th to pay for it interest free, so I usually wait a while and let their money work for me.

No more iced tea for me, my type of kidney stones are created by some of the stuff in tea. I will save it as a treat when I go out to dinner. I only drank about 3/4 of a gallon today, but I am still drinking now.

One of my customers emailed me tonight asking about putting up a second tower at the same time as the first one, so there could be some delays, but it means more money.

 

[Strouty]

So you seem to be straining and there is possible damage from your work.
I see a pallet jack and I assume you have hand trucks and moving dollies? So is it a case of not using the right equipment to move stuff or not concentrating on what you are doing?

Are you doing any walking? Once you get back to functional try doing some walking (a mile or two 2-3 times a week to start). Walking can reset your muscles and get them back to doing what they should be doing.

Tim

The problem is there just was not any safe way to pick it and I needed to get it done. I am not usually this bull headed, but I wanted the thing strapped down. If I could have positioned it a bit better it would not have been so bad. I used poor form when I turned, had I stepped instead of twisting I would have been fine. I may be underestimating how much the thing ways as well. I just went by the weight that was given by the customer. It is essentially a chunk of steel that is 6" in diameter by 2' long. When I did the math that is closer to 200 pounds, so that is probably why I am feeling it.

 

[Strouty]

This is the item in question, I still can't find a weight on it.

 

[nine4gmc]

Strouty, I throw my back out sometimes by twisting to pick something up/set something down, no matter the weight or if I'm even holding it. Hope you get well soon!

 

[drivesitfar]

Nines: when you do that what do you do to fix it? Chiropractor? if you don't own or cant find a great inversion table just hang for a few minutes from a 2 x 4 in the shop or a chin up bar to just stretch it out. if you can do that for 5 minutes a day and maybe 2 times AM and PM on the really bad days i bet you'll feel better.

Strouty: is see cement floor so you are doing pretty good. congrats. what the heck is that 200 pound part you mess up your back with?

 

[Strouty]

That part is for an internal grinder. It is a big machine that I bought and sold, but never even brought it to my shop. The problem was the company I bought it from took it off, and I didn't notice. Luckily I had the mist collector that I offered them for free if they paid shipping. So I guess I am still in their good graces.

The floor comes and goes, most days it is visible and I have quite a bit of room to work in, just can't seem to find anything when I need it. I will have to take some overall pictures so you guys can see how well things are coming along.

 

[timdp]

Use a cherry picker type engine hoist to lift it? Even a good hand truck would work.

Another good back exercise is to lie on your back and pull your knees up towards your chest with your arms and hold for a bit, then repeat. This is what worked best for me when I was having problems.

And walk..........!

This is the item in question, I still can't find a weight on it.

 

[Strouty]

The problem was it tries to roll when you pick it up with straps. All I did was grab it and put it to my chest , then turn, then set it down. All at chest height. I never even bent my back. I had the forklift with the pallet at the same level as the cart was. I did the same thing last week when I took it off a different pallet and put it on the cart. I guess I didn't learn. I only had an issue for a day, then everything was fine. I don't usually have things like that in the shop, I was concerned that I may damage it and then the customer would be really upset. Instead I damaged me and now I am upset, good trade off I guess.

I do my back exercises daily, I stretch in the morning and if needed mid day and before bed. I do plenty of walking, but not in this heat.

 

[bczygan]

This is the item in question, I still can't find a weight on it.

You wouldn't think that wrench weighed THAT much!

And you're using the wrong technique for lifting heavy things.

I always give my wife the heavy end!

 

[bczygan]

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

Drives,
Actually, the inversion table has been giving me a problem. I've had a pain in my lower right abdomen/side right at the top of my hip. I think it is hip problems, but not sure. Sometimes when I hang, it makes it worse. But it still helps my spine.

And I came here, to this thread, because of some loose talk about lobsters.

Where's mine?

Bill

 

[dlcwent]

Good morning Bill.

No lose talk about lobsters. I would gladly get and ship to anyone that wants them.

Sorry to hear about your hip.

 

[nine4gmc]

Good night DLC, hold it down for me while I catch some shut eye

 

[dlcwent]

Well at least you made it until after 6:00. I'll carry the torch for awhile.

 

[drivesitfar]

Strouty: we're all pulling for you. i'm hoping to start sorting out my space because i expanded and leased another 400 foot storage about 6 months ago so i'd have a staging unit and it's now full and busting at the seams. granted i have some cool and valuable things, but they are taking over my life which wasn't the plan.

I'm still waiting to hear why GJ deleted my (our) diet thread. you hear anything yet? anybody else know a mod to find out because I had no warning and I've never even had a warning or a post deleted since i joined a couple years ago.

i wonder if a poster made a crappy post that triggered deletion at that time of night, but still haven't got a response to my PM's.

BCZ: I made a post on your inversion thread and maybe a little walking, running or some treadmill workouts will help build up the muscles in your hip.

 

[dlcwent]

^^I for one will like to know what happened.

Gotta bow out for a while, see you guys later.

 

[nine4gmc]

Where you running off to DLC? I'm just checking in to catch up before getting back to work so I won't be around long either.

 

[drivesitfar]

Strouty: you up to anything today?

DLC: no word yet. i'm still on the weight loss program i started and my first weigh in is tomorrow AM. if they don't restore it maybe i'll have to start a blog on my web site i haven't used in years.

cheers all

 

[Strouty]

Drives, nothing good today. I did a bit of paperwork, tomorrow should be a better day. My back is feeling better, so that is a good thing.

 

[drivesitfar]

Strouty: back should be even better once you get to hang on your new inversion table.

ALL: thanks for all the support and the weight loss thread is back online. any of you that want to post and tell what the thread means to you it might help keep it on the forum. weight loss didn't seem appropriate subject matter, but the thread is more about good health.

cheers.

 

[dlcwent]

Glad you're still with us Strouty.

And nines. I've got this thing called a wife that demands some of my time. And I don't mind giving it to her. She's actually come in handy in the past.

 

[Strouty]

Today I got to check off a few things from my never ending list. I dropped off the pallet with the mist collector and the red head grinder to the shipper and I think I have found a home for my dreaded boat. I played around with the pressure washer and I need to up the flow of my water to be able to keep up with it, so my friend has an inline pump I may try out. I really would like to just plumb the tank like a house on a well, then I can have an actual sink, a outdoor spigot, and maybe a totally illegal urinal. I have some water pumps and pressure an accumulator that may work, I just need to dig them out.

 

[rmalkow2]

Illegal urinal???
Isn't that what all those tall wooden things with green leaves around your property are for?

 

[Strouty]

Trees would work, but I am surrounded by other people's houses. There are very few locations that can't be seen and following Murphy's Law, anytime I have attempted it has always ended badly. I just use my Porta Potty, but I would prefer not to have to take a hike just for a leak.

I am working on goals for the shop as well as for myself. Also looking at my current schedule and trying to make it more realistic. I have too many projects going at the same time (I know, unbelievable right?) and I now have too many jobs that need to be done in the same timeframe. I am going to prioritize projects and budget time and money accordingly. I also would like to take the weekends to do more of the "fun" projects that I never seem to get to. My hobbies have suffered over the years, so rekindling a couple of them would be nice. The mental break would be welcomed as well.

Right now the air compressor is what I am tripping over and having it working would make the most sense, so it is my top priority right now. I have other priorities that make money, so I do have to pay attention to them, but I need to concentrate more of my time and effort on the air compressor for sure. I figure I should also dedicate one hour every day to filing paperwork in my office, it is starting to get overrun again. I had a panic the other day because I could not find some important paperwork in my "new" pile.

The way I am seeing the project is that there are certain steps and sub projects that need to be done in order to accomplish the big project. With the compressor I need to pressure wash the tank, so I am currently getting things together so I can use the pressure washer. I know I don't have enough flow to just use my water tank, so I am going to setup a pump and accumulator so I won't damage the pressure washer. I think that will be this weekends project, then I can get the tank cleaned and start moving forward with things. I can also investigate the pumps so I can repair them if needed, in order to do this, I need to clean off my table and figure out how to pick the heads up. So my goal for the weekend is to clean off the table (in an orderly fashion) and get the pressure washer running correctly.

Sorry to drag this out, but I am working things out for myself and this helps. I will update with some pictures later on.

 

[drivesitfar]

Strouty: i lease a shop that doesn't have a bathroom so on those occasions when i can't make it or don't want to drive 5 minutes home i have one of those plastic urinals i can just fill up and then go dump out in the gravel or weeds. i also have a few at my storage unit and sometimes after being on the road all day drinking tea i get out of my Honda and it hits me. i don't have time to drive to the entrance to the bathroom so I've almost over filled it a couple times. just go in the back of the unit for privacy and then go dump in a drain. i'll take a picture of one of the plastic urinals if you haven't seen one because they have a handle that makes them easy to use.

did you adjust the inversion table or understand what i was talking about on the side adjustments up where the hooks attach to the frame?

i'm heading to a friend's daughter's wedding and hoping not to eat too much.

take care

 

[rmalkow2]

I didn't realize you were so close to neighbors. I thought maybe your shop was further out in the sticks. Drives probably has the right idea for an inside "can't wait" pit stop.

Believe me you are not alone with having too many projects stacked up and waiting for time. It seems I keep accumulating cool projects but never have enough time to finish them all. You are right-on to prioritize and make sense of what you need most. The air compressor when completed will be a very valuable addition to your shop.
Definitely do one or two fun projects as you can to lift your spirits and focus on something you like. Even small projects can help the feeling of accomplishment. Like the project recently for your girlfriend. That was cool because it was not a long one, it was different working with wood and, it was giving to someone else who also benefitted.

One thing I'm trying is to keep a list of every project big or small that I complete in the garage or around the house. I tend to lose sight of what I have done because I look only at the mountain of projects still sitting there unfinished. It helps to look back at the "accomplished" list once in awhile and realize I did not waste the entire summer but rather made a little progress each week.

Keep it up.

 

[mdbeck1]

Right now the air compressor is what I am tripping over and having it working would make the most sense, so it is my top priority right now.

The way I am seeing the project is that there are certain steps and sub projects that need to be done in order to accomplish the big project. With the compressor I need to pressure wash the tank, so I am currently getting things together so I can use the pressure washer. I know I don't have enough flow to just use my water tank, so I am going to setup a pump and accumulator so I won't damage the pressure washer. I think that will be this weekends project, then I can get the tank cleaned and start moving forward with things. I can also investigate the pumps so I can repair them if needed, in order to do this, I need to clean off my table and figure out how to pick the heads up. So my goal for the weekend is to clean off the table (in an orderly fashion) and get the pressure washer running correctly.

There are times that it makes more sense to either Borrow, Rent, or scrap a project. If I have to fix a tool to fix another tool it's getting too deep. I'd clean that tank up the best I could then load it into the truck and finish cleaning it at the local car wash (or at the house).

Fixing all of the tools to fix other tools will take you a week or more. Taking it somewhere else to do/finish the job will be done in a couple of hours. Then you can get the "Main" project DONE. That keeps me on course. You can fix the other stuff later.

 

[Strouty]

Drives, good luck at the wedding and no need for pictures of the plastic jug, I know what you are talking about. I have tweaked the inversion table, but the problem ends up being that after I have settled into it from being inverted it is harder to get back upright. I am now adjusted to 6' 3" and on setting B (middle hole) on the parts you are talking about. It is close, but I am going to try one more adjustment.

RM, the list sounds like a good idea, it is definitely easy to forget about the completed tasks. My GF was really happy and once the wood shop (portable office trailer) is set up, she will actually have some space to do her own projects. I look forward to her coming over, she is my rock and having her around is almost always beneficial.

MB, I thought long and hard about doing exactly what you said, but there is no easy way to do this. I need to suspend it from my crane so I can get all the sediment out, if I bring it to a car wash, I can't even move the tank or tilt it because it weighs over 400 pounds. I am using this "project" to get myself motivated. I need to wash some engines and other stuff that is not easy to haul to the car wash, so once I have everything working, it will be used for other projects. I am looking big picture and having pressurized water should have been higher on my list of to do's.

 

[Strouty]

Here is what I have to work with, I am hoping I can learn a thing or two and possibly save some money. If I can't make what I have work this weekend, I will buy a new pump and pressure tank next week. I don't want this to drag on for very long.

 

[drivesitfar]

Strouty: you are on the right track for adjustments and as you get used to using the table it gets easier to get back up. if i haven't used mine for a few days i actually stand there for about a minute before stepping off the machine.

all that other stuff sounds good. if you have room for a white board it might help if you can see the TO DO list and maybe a few items checked off.

have a great weekend

 

[Strouty]

I guess my pump won't be pumping anything in the near future. I am glad I took it apart, it was educational and interesting. I probably spent a bit more time messing with it than I should have. Now I need to figure out what I should get for a replacement pump.

 

[dlcwent]

Nope , I'd say that pump has done its last bit of pumping. Good luck.

 

[Strouty]

I am going to try out a HF special. They have an entire system for $120. I figure I have nothing to lose, except my dignity.