Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT The "Glendora Garage"

[ll1l2l1l2lll]

Very beautiful home and garage. I grew up in the San Gabriel area and was always enjoyed the peacocks.

 

[PugetDude]

And y’all got those posts anchored into the concrete patio, right? Right? Oh….

No, but he does have the CA Proposition 65 warning about concrete anchors causing childhood cancer, peridontitus, male pattern baldness, scurvy, and erectile dysfunction prominently displayed as required by state law.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

And y’all got those posts anchored into the concrete patio, right? Right? Oh….

Still only one. I think I'm gonna leave it that way permanently. Give the trolls something consistent to comment about! Lol

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Back to the plastic repair and welder from posts 2,070 & 2,072. This Chinese plastic welder tool really DOES work great! Once you put the little wires in the tool and pull the trigger the wire embeds itself in the plastic immediately. I pressed them in as deep as I could then cut off the "tails". The welder comes with 2 "smoothing". Smoothing wasn't truly necessary as the repair is entirely unseen.

I'd highly recommend this tool for only $30. Sorry the photos are a little out of focus but at least in the after you can see it came out pretty smooth.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I bought this Keter table very cheap at an outlet place out of the box thinking it wasn't all that stout. It claims to be able to support 1000 lbs. I've had it now probably 8-10 years and it has been very useful. Another "thumbs up" product. The repaired leg is the front right one.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I now have the same welder. I recently chucked some stuff that would have benefitted from it. I'm ready for next time.

 

[rharman]

I have two of the Keter tables and use them constantly. They're way up on the list of best purchases I've made.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Very beautiful home and garage. I grew up in the San Gabriel area and was always enjoyed the peacocks.

Thank you for the kind words. We were very blessed to get this house when we did - after retiring and right when the COVID-19 pandemic was happening. We couldn't buy it back from ourselves at this point.

Some people really get mad about the peacocks screeches and their poop. I get it. The birds live about 2 blocks west of us and haven't made it to our street.....yet. Maybe I'll be upset if they get here but seeing such beauty casually walking through suburban yards is truly amazing. I think people forget just how unique and special that is.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I now have the same welder. I recently chucked some stuff that would have benefitted from it. I'm ready for next time.

Just the one use so far but I'm impressed something so cheap and Chinesey works so well! Maybe it'll fall apart but even if it does the $30 to fix the table leg was cheaper than ordering a replacement leg. Any use I get out of it after this is a bonus.

rharman, I hadn't thought of a 2nd Keter table but that's a good idea. Much less utility provided by sawhorses and the Keters fold up so neatly too.

 

[rharman]

Just the one use so far but I'm impressed something so cheap and Chinesey works so well! Maybe it'll fall apart but even if it does the $30 to fix the table leg was cheaper than ordering a replacement leg. Any use I get out of it after this is a bonus.

rharman, I hadn't thought of a 2nd Keter table but that's a good idea. Much less utility provided by sawhorses and the Keters fold up so neatly too.

I almost always setup both of them. Came in handy when edge banding 8' long melamine pieces. I could clamp them across both tables on edge and they were rock solid.

Also, more flat surfaces is always handy!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Did the first hard shearing of the front yard lantana hedges today.

A tough job because I strained my back pretty badly on the gazebo side roof above. Had to wait a few days until I got a day without back spasms. But 3 aspirin, my back brace, plus a "slow & easy" approach got 'er done.

Before:


and AFTER: (Yeah, cut them back pretty hard but they will fill out quickly)

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Our front walk roses are putting on a show this year. The last couple they were not so great. Guess the Bayer Rose Fertilizer I used really worked. I hope the show lasts through the summer.

 

[PugetDude]

Our front walk roses are putting on a show this year. The last couple they were not so great. Guess the Bayer Rose Fertilizer I used really worked. I hope the show lasts through the summer.

Better living through chemistry.

 

[LeonardY]

On a different subject, I posted THIS on an older thread about plastic repair:

I searched for "Plastic Repairs" and plastic "welders" came up. I was hoping to find info/advice on Super Glue + baking soda repairs. I have a Keter folding work table leg that broke. The legs are aluminum but slide into a plastic sleeve that mounts and is the pivot on the table. The plastic broke RIGHT AT the joint between sleeve and pivot portion.

But metal + plastic weld fixes look superior to an epoxy or a cyanoacrylate/baking soda fix. Any experiences to relate? Here's a close up picture of the break and the type of work table this is part of.

As you can see see, the fit is tight. Almost unnoticeable when I hold the parts together. I'm thinking maybe use super glue or two part epoxy between the two parts, then after it dries plastic weld the joint with metal mesh or staples to reinforce the repaired joint.

Cyanoacrylate is brittle and will break again. I would use something like this which is a structural adhesive like

Plexus® MA310 Adhesive | U.S. Plastic Corp.

The solvent is a two-part methacrylate adhesive designed for structural bonding of thermoplastic, metal, and composite assemblies. It is ...

www.usplastic.com

or

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Cyanoacrylate is brittle and will break again. I would use something like this which is a structural adhesive like

Plexus® MA310 Adhesive | U.S. Plastic Corp.

The solvent is a two-part methacrylate adhesive designed for structural bonding of thermoplastic, metal, and composite assemblies. It is ...

www.usplastic.com

or

I used a JB Weld clear two part epoxy to initially hold the two parts together but it isn't labeled "Plastic Bonder". Then the plastic welder to embed metal staples to physically reinforce the joint. I cut off the stubs and sanded a little.
I didn't use cyanoacrylate - that's "Super Glue" right? Thank you for the advice though I THINK it will hold. Time will tell!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Found this online. Pretty much right on the money in my house.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

We have a trip upcoming and I'm trying to "proof" the house for the house/dog sitter. I need to flush tankless water heaters, add some way to water a few pots not on our irrigation system. But checking/repairing all the sprinklers & drip irrigation lines was today, well the front yard was.

I found a gusher but natch, it was under one of the lantana hedges. I wanted to replace the line without having to remove the plant. Careful pruning, digging through the mud I was able to track the tubing path and replace from one T fitting to the next. PITA muddy job but it's fixed now. Lousy picture but you can see it was REALLY gushing.

As the truism goes, "The only thing worse than not having a sprinkler system is HAVING a sprinkler system!"

Also mowed lawns, put down Weed 'n Feed where I'd run out last week.

Lots of work to prep for an out of town trip!

 

[xtremek]

So I'm getting that you're now an expert on sprinkler systems. Seeing as I need to redo all of my front lawn, how much will you charge to come here and do a system?

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

So I'm getting that you're now an expert on sprinkler systems. Seeing as I need to redo all of my front lawn, how much will you charge to come here and do a system?

Ha! Hardly "expert". I hope my posts haven't conveyed that I think I am! (Apologies in advance for the long post - old man talk!)

When I bought my first house almost 50 years ago (Yikes) my now-retired brother-in-law who was a Landscape Architect & Director of Parks for the city taught me everything. That house had been a long time rental and had HUGE common ivy knee deep in the front yard and everything was TERRIBLY overgrown. I wanted nice landscaping - perfect grass, attractive plants, hedges, etc but I knew nothing at all. Plus I had about 5 cents in my pocket in those days so he showed me everything - eradicating that ivy (a story unto itself!) planting grass, gardening, pruning, roto-tilling, and yes, sprinklers.

I needed to use Schedule 125 PVC because it was cheap (is it still made?). He taught me how I did NOT want to use that stuff and even "acquired" some Schedule 40, "street L's" and fittings for me - probably from the City's stock. I think he felt sorry for me. If there were drip irrigation systems in 1978 I'd not heard of them. It wasn't til I moved into this house 5 years ago that I first experienced thin wall perforated tubing that is in all my flower beds. I have used that to parasitically add "spaghetti" lines running to individual potted plants and in a few case to plants I have added.

But if you're offering airfare and hotel to Michigan, I'm retired. I've got nothing else to do!! Ha ha.

 

[xtremek]

Ha! Hardly "expert". I hope my posts haven't conveyed that I think I am! (Apologies in advance for the long post - old man talk!)


But if you're offering airfare and hotel to Michigan, I'm retired. I've got nothing else to do!! Ha ha.

The last line lets me know you got the intent of my poke.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ordered some Hydrangea fertilizer yesterday for the poor, sun burnt bushes I transplanted back in February. Back then they had very little foliage left and some stalks were dead. I pruned those off and used MiracleGro planting soil.
Now they've come back strong. Loaded with leaves and are showing some flower buds. Hoping they put on a big show and the fertilizer is supposed to make blue flowers - fingers crossed.

Here's how they looked back in Feb and how they look now. Guessing there may be a good show by Fourth of July.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Blossoms just starting to show. I think it's safe to say I'm a better gardener than I am a carpenter, fabricator, welder, or installer!

 

[rharman]

@Dan in Pasadena - This popped up in an email I received today. Might be helpful to you.

7 Mistakes That Are Keeping Your Hydrangeas From Thriving

Hydrangeas are a pretty hardy garden shrub, but a few common mistakes in hydrangea care can lead to stunted growth or a lack of blooms. Encourage your hydrangea bush to thrive by avoiding these common issues.

www.realsimple.com

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

@Dan in Pasadena - This popped up in an email I received today. Might be helpful to you.

7 Mistakes That Are Keeping Your Hydrangeas From Thriving

Hydrangeas are a pretty hardy garden shrub, but a few common mistakes in hydrangea care can lead to stunted growth or a lack of blooms. Encourage your hydrangea bush to thrive by avoiding these common issues.

www.realsimple.com

Thanks!

Yeah, stuff has been popping up to me too. Probably because the computer (?) "hears me" posting about them, etc? I never knew there are certain plants that are bad to be near others. Fortunately I don't have any of THOSE plant though I was considering planting some Sunflowers in a row in front of one of our backyard ficus hedges.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Mowed & edged the yards today - nothing to see. I mowed them two "clicks" higher than before and they look so much better. I put Weed 'n Feed on the front awhile ago.

But washed our Fiat 500 "toad" today. Installed new wipers and refinished the very cloudy headlights and signal lights. They looked BAAD but I forgot to take "Before" pics. Trust me this "After" pic is remarkable. I'm also thinking about putting some brighter lights on it but I am clueless. Hoping for some kind of plug 'n play replacement bulbs so no relays, additional wiring, etc. Recommendations anyone? YouTube to the rescue I suppose.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I like the Morimoto that I get from

The Retrofit Source | The Best Brands in Automotive Lighting

The Worlds Biggest Supplier of High-Performance Lighting Upgrades for Cars & Trucks |HID | LED |Bulbs & Complete Kits | Projector Headlights | Fog / Tail Lights | Halos

www.theretrofitsource.com

I loved the HIDs that I did massive refit for the Journey. I did that to get projectors. I also love the LEDs that I swapped in for the halogens on the Burg. Pop out pop in. Amazing difference. I have yet to care enough to figure out what lights the Escape has. They're plenty bright. Moreso since I turned down the dash lights.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I'm trying to get all the yard irrigation working, there are leaks left and right. I fix a leak, it puts a bit more pressure into these lines and causes somewhere else to leak a bit more!

This house was gutted/remodeled by prior owner in 2015. They landscaped they installed all these 1/2" (+/-) drip lines. It seems to harden-off and sprout leaks. I'm pretty sure we're past their useable life at about 10 years. Anyway, spent several hours fixing, re-fixing, and re-re-fixing. Scabbed in some new black line that doesn't have drip holes so I installed "spaghetti" lines with tiny sprinklers at each plant - which actually works better.

After our vacation I'm thinking of yanking all this **** and replacing with regular Schedule 40 PVC; buried of course.

PS: To save time I just copied what was already there - an abomination of a "design". 2nd pic is where all this stuff connect to conventional piping. I put new a slide-on pipe there but it leaked just as badly. The automotive hose clamp did NOT work - I'll go looking for a replacement tomorrow.

 

[kaymccampbell]

They sell these little stainless wire clamps for funny pipe and other drip water spaghetti lines. It's amazing how well they work.
These particular ones are for 1/4 inch but there are plenty of similar ones in different sizes.

Amazon.com

 

[rharman]

Or, a light smear of silicone on the barb before sliding the pipe on. Let it cure a bit after clamping and before applying pressure.

Hmmm.... I wonder if RectorSeal #5 would work for that?

 

[kaymccampbell]

Hmmm.... I wonder if RectorSeal #5 would work for that?

That's pretty slow set, like decades. It's more a thread lube and thread gap filler under high clamping pressure kind of thing.

 

[gilr]

Does the pipe to the drip irrigation have a pressure reducing valve in the line? If not, you may never get the leaks fixed. Search for drip irrigation PRVs to find what is needed to reduce pressure to the drip system, should help greatly if they aren't already there. Drip systems use a lower pressure than typical sprinklers.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

They sell these little stainless wire clamps for funny pipe and other drip water spaghetti lines. It's amazing how well they work.
These particular ones are for 1/4 inch but there are plenty of similar ones in different sizes.

Amazon.com

Those look promising BUT I wonder how effective they would be on tubing that’s been out there for years and does have much elasticity anymore?

 

[gilr]

The tubing may well be beyond its use by date, but the video I saw recently implied the drip system needs the PRV to prevent drip-line blow- outs from too high pressures. My own irrigation system runs about 60 to 80 PSI from a submerged pump in the lake and even the sprinkler heads fail after a few years of high pressure.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Does the pipe to the drip irrigation have a pressure reducing valve in the line? If not, you may never get the leaks fixed. Search for drip irrigation PRVs to find what is needed to reduce pressure to the drip system, should help greatly if they aren't already there. Drip systems use a lower pressure than typical sprinklers.

No pressure reduction valve. In the pic above it’s connected directly to a 1/2” Schedule 40 pvc elbow. That pipe goes back to the manifold.

Mostly the system has worked it’s just these leaks that are popping up more and more. Also, some of the tiny spaced-out factory holes seem to enlarge after while and instead of a small steady stream they emit a hard jet of water. But not all of them. One here and there and you don’t know because the hole is pointed down to the soil. It’s only after the jet has eroded a hole in the dirt that it becomes noticeable. And of course the system runs early AM so I don’t notice all this **** until I test it.

I’m growing tired of dealing with the entire damn “system”

 

[PugetDude]

Dan, I just had all my irrigation lines replaced here at my house in Gold Canyon (20 years old). They used a new version of black poly pipe that has the same wall thickness as S40 PVC, but is a lot easier to work with.
You might want to look into that.

 

[rharman]

Or, a light smear of silicone on the barb before sliding the pipe on. Let it cure a bit after clamping and before applying pressure.

Hmmm.... I wonder if RectorSeal #5 would work for that?

That's pretty slow set, like decades. It's more a thread lube and thread gap filler under high clamping pressure kind of thing.

Yeah, I know it's slow setting. That's why my question was more of a musing than a recommendation.

For what little plumbing I do these days, I have had good success with it.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Yeah, I know it's slow setting. That's why my question was more of a musing than a recommendation.

For what little plumbing I do these days, I have had good success with it.

I'll agree there. Anything taper threaded, it rocks. Hoses ain't real plumbing.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

......Hoses ain't real plumbing.

^^^^ The most pertinent statement of all the talk we've been having.

I spent another full day on it today....and another $80+ for assorted additional tubing, fittings, adapters, etc. It works.....for now. Leaks are gone but frankly I don't expect that to last. But it SHOULD get us through the next few months of a couple vacations.

Bottomline is I'll re-evaluate later in the summer. But I'm really leaning toward removing ALL of this tubing and replacing with old fashioned buried Schedule 40 PVC with conventional sprinkler heads. Some of the turf heads in the lawn next to the flower/shrub borders may provide coverage if I change them from 1/4 & 1/2 pattern heads to full 360* heads. That might make the change a lot easier.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

On the road for the weekend helping an adult niece move into her first brand new house in the small central California town of Tulare. Her story of getting out of a long marriage after she found out her husband had been cheating on her all through the marriage reminded me of PD's story about his sister's 1st husband. We yakked about it here back about Christmas time. Yikes, I'm grateful I never went through either of those situations. Yeah, my high school sweetheart girlfriend/wife of 20+ years "suddenly" wanted out for no real reason but that has (unbeliveablyly!) now been 25 years ago and I'm long since healed. My girlfriend of now those many years has put up with me this long - maybe we'll make it for the duration!

Anyway, pulled the "toad" up here. It's amazing that a full size crewcab pickup loaded with tools can tow a 2400 lb car with a straight six engine and get 22+ mpg. It's the 3.0 Duramax. Guys online b!tch about theirs but it's been problem free for me. Taking it in for oil/filter & fuel filter change when I get home. I can easily do these things myself but I want the maintenance to be on the dealer database so there's never (theoretically) a claim I didn't maintain it properly. Repairs on turbo diesels get REALLY pricey quick. Pricier than the maintenance.

 

[Bodj Built]

My cousin had nothing but problems with his. He's currently dealing with lemon law-ing it. Beautiful truck and drove awesome, but he had a terrible experience with it. I wish they could figure it out, because I'd definitely be looking at them