The 30 year garage

[Olinrj]

Thanks JB! In this case, stronger is definitely better. The last time I split firewood the double bit axe was slipping about a half inch up the end of the head.
I continued on the lathe, took off the caps on the head bearings and discovered they are not roller bearings. The shaft and bearing surfaces are in great shape so a clean and reassembly is to follow.

It appears the capacitor on the 1x30 belt sander is shot, going to have to make a few calls tomorrow to source a new one. It is labeled 12 uf and 250 vac. Nothing promising came up on a google search.

 

[1953mercury]

Handles look good and a little extra weight on rear of any tractor is usually a good thing. I used my first fiberglass replacement handle on sledge this year. So far so good. Seems like you should never have to worry about them loosening up with the epoxy installation. Looks like your going to want to fab up some kind of table for the disc portion of your sander. Mike

 

[Olinrj]

Thanks for the compliments Mike. I would have had no problem using the fiberglass handle for the sledge but the original epoxy never set up and I was afraid of using another epoxy that wasn't specified for use in this application, so I fell back on the tried and true wood handle.
The table at the belt portion is attached with a shaft that can be mounted at the disc as well. I just need to find a small miter gauge to fit the table and I'll be set!

 

[Olinrj]

Well, after taking time for the Christmas season, I have renewed my efforts both in the garage and basement. I had a good discussion with my wife about how we both foresee the basement being utilized, and firgured out the best game plan. There is an area about 9' x 20' that is adjacent to the stairs leading to the basement that I will wall off and use as dry storage and a small workshop. Next to that we will build an office for my wife to move her Wildtree operation into after the boys grow out of sharing the 2nd bedroom and want separate rooms.
I finally got a move on adding the two 20 amp circuits for the garage. I used a gift card and returned some unused materials to buy 100 feet of white 12 ga and 100 feet of black 12 ga wire to get me from the main panel to within 10 feet of the garage in a 3/4" conduit that the electrician ran when we had him clean up some of the wiring after we bought the house. I also bought a 250' roll of 12-2 romex and started pulling wire into the garage. Working out of sequence has bit me in the *** a bit as I will have to pull some paneling but I am over it already. It's time to stop short-changing myself. Once the two circuits are live I will separate the existing lighting and outlets from the circuit they are on (which feeds the living room, one bedroom, and the bathroom) and put on it's own 15 amp breaker.
I'm also in the middle of acquiring some new tooling and accessories which I hope to have in hand in a couple weeks. Once I do it should make things much more interesting in the garage. No details yet as I want to put together a big reveal for those that are checking in.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Olinrj]

Finished wiring one circuit. Tied in the two outlets I installed a few months back, finally, and added one at the radial arm saw. Now on to the second circuit.

 

[Olinrj]

It's here! I only got to unwrap the packaging and look everything over but my new toys arrived this morning. I recently joined the Atlas / Craftsman yahoo group and spent time lurking in my spare time. Early last week someone posted that they were parting out a lathe and had a toolpost and rocker. I immediately contacted him and also mentioned interest in the milling attachment. While we traded emails and pictures he also mentioned having the collet and drawbar that would work with the milling attachment. Although I am now in a little hot water with my wife, I couldn't pass up the asking price. I was able to get everything in the picture for under $300, shipped. I'm pretty pleased with that.

We also made a little progress in the basement. I framed and set the door today before I had to get ready for work. This will be the entrance to my basement workshop. Still need to finish trimming it out but now the youngest boy won't wander into the mess.

 

[Gotcha640]

I'm just here to say I hope I'm never in one house for 10 years, let alone 30.

 

[Olinrj]

Gotcha640, can't say I blame you, but I am working to make this the house my boys grow up in and can come back to (to visit) after they leave. If we end up not staying here it will be bittersweet but no one can know what life has in store for us. Either way it is our house now and I plan on making plenty of good memories here. Thanks for stopping in and I hope to see you drop in again.

Bob

 

[jbmatth]

If you go into a house thinking you will stay there forever you will probably make more long term decision on maintenance and upgrade that will pay dividends in the future, but if you go into it thinking, "I can put that off and let the next owner worry about that." and you end up staying for 30 years you've shot yourself in the foot. JMHO

I've lived in 12 homes in my 29 years and would love to never have to move again. I have one grandmother that moved into her current home in 1959 and still lives there to this day but my other grandparents have moved 4 times that I can remember, go figure.

I think you are going a great job and taking your time to fix and upgrade things appropriately with your end goal in mind, keep it up.
JB

 

[Olinrj]

Jbmatth, we think alike in this aspect.

I am continuing the basement work, trying to get through the toughest part today, removing the tile adhesive from the basement floor. It has taken about 2 hours so far, may have about 10 to go. I'm using a product called Sentinel 747 to help soften the black adhesive, then scraping and using oil dry to clean it up. May take two applications to get the floor clean enough to lay new vinyl flooring. I'll continue to document the process.

Thanks for stopping by,
Bob

 

[Olinrj]

Well, I got about halfway done with the adhesive. My cousin came over and lent a hand for a few hours which definitely helped. I'm moving a bit slow this morning as I'm not used to hands and knees scrubbing. Overall the process is simple but labor intensive. I used a hudson sprayer to apply the liquid. Aafter letting it soak in for about 10 minutes I used a stiff brush to agitate it and work it into the adhesive. Another few minutes of setting then used a 4" scraper to get most of the glue off. Next I used oil dry to help soak everything up and used a wire brush to work it into the floor. The final cleanup is done with Zep purple degreaser. More progress today, hopefully

 

[xtremek]

Would a 6"-8" scraper with a long handle work better for your body and still be effective? Something like this, https://jet.com/product/detail/0c9c...d=403-175741&gclid=CI_uivHKz8oCFQMJaQodFJQAPQ

 

[Olinrj]

It might, but the scraper I am using has removable blades, specifically made for flooring prep. Home Depot didn't have a stand-up version. The toughest thing is using the wire brush to work in the oil dry. We are changing focus today, picked up lumber to frame the walls and are removing all the random electrical that the previous owner installed to run new.

 

[Olinrj]

We were able to get one wall framed. Got the other wall's studs cut and ready. I was able to identify two circuits that can be re-run to eliminate some of the conduit and junction boxes. They are sll ready for tomorrow or the next day.

 

[Olinrj]

A few more steps in the right direction. I had to take a few days off from everything because the family caught a bug that's been going around. Today I finished the framing for the guest room and was able to get the wall electrical roughed in. From my pile of outlets I was able to scavenge 8 matching outlets and 6 single plates. A trip to the store got me everything else I needed, including the connectore for the new garage heater. I picked up the profusion 5Kw model from northern tool for $99 on sale and found I have a couple lengths of 8/3 nm wire which should be enough for me to extend the old, abandoned stove cir uit into the garage and to a location that will give me enough circulation. Now just need to find $1200 to finish insulating the rafters. I also picked up 4 4 lamp and 2 2 lamp fluorescent fixtures. Planning to take down the two I have in the garage and put 4 2 lamp fixtures in the basement workshop and use the 4 4 lamp fixtures in the garage. I need to research changing out the ballasts as the 4 lamp fixtures use the large bulbs. If I remember, I'll take some progress pictures before work tomorrow. Time for a shower and some sleep.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[jbmatth]

Bob,
If you need any help on the T12 to T8 conversion of your lights take a look at my "Warthog Hidey Hole" thread (Link Below). I did a decent job of explaining what I had to do to convert all 36 of mine I think it started around page 3 or 4.
JB

 

[Olinrj]

Thanks JB. I'll take a look tonight and let you know if I have any questions.

Bob

 

[Olinrj]

I was able to install 2 of the four lights in the basement workshop tonight. I also did some clean up and ran the garage heater wire from the garage to the end of the previous run. I am only about 6 feet up on the wall with the length that the wire had, so I guess that is where the junction box will go. I still will need to get a final location and terminate everything. I think I have another hour or two in me tonight, hopefully more progress to come.

 

[Olinrj]

This weekend was fairly productive. I was able to get the other two lights up in the workshop. My cousin helped out on finishing the adhesive removal in the future guest room. Today while I slept, I work nights, my wife started on the vinyl plank flooring. She hopes to have it finished tomorrow.
The adhesive removal went quicker this time as I was more patient and let the chemicals soften it up more. There is a small bit to finish cleaning up near the laundry area but it wont hold up completion of the guest room, which is a priority for me and my wife.

 

[Olinrj]

Here's a photo of the new floor.

I was also able to get the lathe into the workshop, with my cousin's help. It feels good to have it in it's final spot.

The garage also got a little attention. I installed one of the 4 lamp fixtures and got the shelf extension back up. I was even able to get a couple boxes off the floor, temporarily. I still need to buy material for the basement shelves and move several boxes down there to open up more garage storage space. It is coming along rather nicely so far.

Thanks for stopping in,
Bob

 

[jbmatth]

Your basement project is really shaping up to be very nice.
JB

 

[xtremek]

Chipping away at it. Cool

 

[Olinrj]

Thanks guys. We only have three panels to go, but are taking the evening off to have a family night. Might do a little more after the boys go to bed. The goal is to have the room done by Wednesday night. Then I'll be able to focus on the workshop and garage for a few weeks before we start on our garden.

 

[Olinrj]

We were able to get all the paneling installed yesterday before my dad came over so I could help him replace the rear control arms on his car. We aren't going to install the trim or paint yet, as we want to get the furniture into the room and make more progress on organizing and cleaning the basement. Although the panels are cheap, they did the job.
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View media item 58582The dark paneling in the last two photos are the two cedar-lined closets that were in the house when we moved in. Rether than demolish them we set them up as the diving wall / doorway for the guest room. They stink like crazy but once we get rid of the smell I think we can put them to good use.

Thanks for stopping by,
Bob

 

[Olinrj]

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Aside from trim, the room is done. Now on to the real project. We tried to keep the room in a similar design as the house, mid-century modern, and were able to do so without spending too much.

Tomorrow I start my work week but hope to start plugging away on the garage.

 

[xtremek]

..........We tried to keep the room in a similar design as the house, mid-century modern, and were able to do so without spending too much........

Boy does that bring back memories. If that's what you were aiming for, I'd say you hit the mark dead center. Well done.

 

[Olinrj]

I'll admit, I'm not the design guy, just the labor. My wife handles the colors. I do like the style but might want to paint the paneling to lighten up the room a bit.

 

[Olinrj]

I only worked a 10 hour shift tonight and got home at 4:30 so was able to spend a little time in the garage. I put away a bunch of tools and set up the saw horses to rip some plywood into shelf material before the youngest son woke up. Hopefully tomorrow I can get it cut and start getting things off the floor. A little bit at a time, I guess.

 

[Olinrj]

The last week has been a whirlwind. Found out we have a 5 week shutdown at the power plant where I work so I am now laid off. I found some side work to avoid any financial issues in the interim. Today I spent a little time cleaning up and finally got the workbench cleared off. Also hung the heater. I still need to wire it but figured it would be smarter to put in a subpanel. Going to have to wait for the funds for that but now have a better long term plan. I guess I'm going to try to knock out any outstanding projects that don't require financial input and see where it gets me.

 

[jbmatth]

Sorry to hear about the lay off, is that common in the power industry? Do you work for the plant itself or for a contractor? Okay last question, what type of plant is it, coal, nuclear, or...?
JB

 

[xtremek]

The last week has been a whirlwind. Found out we have a 5 week shutdown at the power plant where I work so I am now laid off. I found some side work to avoid any financial issues in the interim. Today I spent a little time cleaning up and finally got the workbench cleared off. Also hung the heater. I still need to wire it but figured it would be smarter to put in a subpanel. Going to have to wait for the funds for that but now have a better long term plan. I guess I'm going to try to knock out any outstanding projects that don't require financial input and see where it gets me.

Sorry to hear about the layoff. I feel your pain. Time to get really creative on the projects. Good luck.

 

[Olinrj]

Thanks guys. The layoff isn't a common thing. The plant is a coal fired power plant and i work for a company that is involved in an EPA program to reduce the emissions of the plant. We only operate when they are running so when they are down, so are we. There is typically a slowdown in the spring as demand is lower than normal. This allows the plant to bring down each unit for maintenance and repairs, but the unit that was running had a malfunction in the bearing oilers and they were forced to shut it down. The unit that is down for scheduled maintenance is going to be back up around the end of April, hopefully.
From what we hear, most power companies that have both coal and natural gas plants are running more on natural gas due to the historic low cost for gas. This also has an effect on our operations.

I did get some time in the garage today, sorted boxes of stuff and tried to get a little more organized. Going to take some pics to liven up the thread tonight.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Olinrj]

5 minutes here, 20 minutes there and I can see the end of the cleanup and re-re-organizing.
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I have about a dozen of the brown boxes on the upper shelf and between those and the diaper boxes, should be able to sort and store nearly everything.

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I also put up the second 2x4 light. Still need to wire it into the circuit, but it has a plug so if I need it before then it is available.

 

[taumac]

5 minutes here, 20 minutes there and I can see the end of the cleanup and re-re-organizing.
View media item 59002
I have about a dozen of the brown boxes on the upper shelf and between those and the diaper boxes, should be able to sort and store nearly everything.

View media item 59003
I also put up the second 2x4 light. Still need to wire it into the circuit, but it has a plug so if I need it before then it is available.

Do you get paid for a layoff like this? The garage... Those 20 mins sessions I seem to get more done then hours sometime. It's all counts in the end and sometimes small things make a big difference. That's why I tend to post everything and sometimes too much but all posts add up to a final end. Keep it up.

 

[Olinrj]

Unfortunately we do not get paid during the layoff. The millwrights are able to do other work through their union but us operating engineers are kind of stuck with an extended spring break. I have a few side jobs lined up to help supplement things and am trying to get a few days a week at the machine shop where I used to work, if they need a hand.
I'm trying to post more as I get things done to keep up my motivation.

 

[Olinrj]

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Progress at the end of last night. Enough room to work on something inside the garage. Still need to finish the left wall sort and clean, but feeling good

 

[xtremek]

The sweet smell or progress.

 

[Olinrj]

Well, now that my side is cleaned up, it's time to fill it back up. We brought my wife's grandfather's boat to our house to get it ready for fishing and summer storage. I can still work on the xs11 with the boat and my wife's car in the garage, which is a plus.
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I was able to start on the brakes, got the rear system cleaned and reassembled but still need to bleed and adjust it.

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We have a couple trees that are at the end of their life cycle and decided to bring them down. Now I've got about 2 cords of firewood for next year.

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I stopped by my grandmother's house to clear some branches off her roof after a windy storm and she offered me my grandfather's parts bin. Metal frame with plastic drawers. One is missing but I think its somewhere at her house. The bonus is it was full of hardware!

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Out of town this weekend but will be back at it next week.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[jbmatth]

Congrats on the parts/parts bin, they are handy to have and it is always welcome to have that one random thing to complete a project. Seeing that big tree go to firewood makes me a little sad. I keep my eyes open for big trees that are being cut up to hopefully have milled into rough cuts. No luck so far but I'm sure in time I'll find enough to make all of my woodworking dreams come true.
JB

 

[Olinrj]

Thanks, that makes 5 parts bins, hoping to pare it down and continue the organization. I hoped to save a 10 foot length of the tree but it was hollow the entire length. Definitely a bummer because the trunk was about 36" in diameter.