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

[53PontiacSD]

That's a nice garden there, Dan. Great color. I wish I had your gardening expertise.

Billy

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Billy but any "expertise" I have belongs to my brother-in-law who has taught me all I know about gardening and still helps me out by answering questions. He was the Director of Parks & Recreation in the town I grew up in before he retired.

When I bought my first house back in 1978 - an ex rental that was BADLY in need of well, everything - he showed me how to cut and roll up decades worth of ivy in the front yard. Rototill the yard, apply something called "Vapam" - which I think is illegal now but it killed the decades old ivy in one try. We installed St. Augustine, he helped me pick out plants and flowers, taught me their botanical names, taught me the correct way to prune trees, etc. Now I know lots more because he sort of "wet my whistle" for gardening and I've enjoyed it ever since.

Thanks for the kinds words, Dan

 

[Blsmith]

Your landscaping and roses look great. Out your way I enjoyed going to the
arboretum and to the Huntington library, I'm going to the arboretum at the end of
April.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks!

I haven't been to the Arboretum or Huntington Library in quite awhile. And of course not since the COVID quarantine. Speaking of the arboretum, we took a walk last night just before dark and found a local pine tree with over 20 peacocks getting ready to roost in it for the night.

I read online that they pre-date the Arboretum. I always thought they came from there! Anyway, apparently Lucky Baldwin brought them from India in 1878 to "decorate" his property - the present day city of Arcadia. When LA County bought 200+ acres from him the peacocks came along.

 

[53PontiacSD]

Now you see why I put Glendora Garage in the top ten list for information. But every thread has good info.

Billy

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Billy.

I bought this small welding and "persuasion" table years ago off Craigslist and never "got around to it" - you know. It's little small but fine for the few times I never need either anymore. The welding by whoever built it is a bit crude but this thing is VERY heavy and the casters work great. Needs stripping, grinding & paint to make it presentable.

BEFORE picture.




Forgot an in-process picture but used two flap discs, 35 & 60 grit to shine up the top a bit and strip off all the flaking green paint. The lower shelf was filthy. I used Purple Power & ScotchBrite pad and got most of whatever it was off. Threw some primer on just to keep flash rust off but it needs more detailed stripping, & filling of some small holes - pics of that soon.

PS: Shop Foreman, Joey resting in the shade and supervising.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Also on today's hit list was cleaning under my lawn mower deck. Man, I couldn't believe the build up of grass under there. A putty knife and small wire brush got 90% of it off.

I meant to sharpen the blade in place but of course couldn't find the sharpener I bought for this. Didn't have time to take the blade off and use the 4" grinder on it, so mañana! When I get back to it I'll pull the blade off and use the power washer under there - I hope that works!

Should I coat under there with something like WD40, Gibb's oil, PAM cooking spray, etc to keep grass from friggin bonding onto the metal like it did?

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

And last for today was shearing the rosemary bushes in the front yard. These are just the six of them on one side. There are six more not in this picture. Those big Lavender bushes at the end of the line need trimming too but they're already putting out blooms and the bees love them so I'll leave it for another day.



FYI - Milwaukee's long hedge trimmer attachment for their string trimmer works truly GREAT! Compared to the crappy, vibrating short hedge trimmers I've had in the past...well, there IS no comparison! Takes SO much longer picking up all the cuttings than doing the trimming.

 

[Blsmith]

That table looks heavy duty, how thick is the top?

I could use a table of that size in my backyard forge.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

The top is actually fairly thin but it's screwed to 5/8" plywood. I'm guessing something like 12 gauge. It CAN be dented but it takes a helluva hit.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

This is a repeat of a new thread I started looking for a push button replacement switch. Behind the push buttons its just wide toggle switch more or less:

Yes, I did a search and found ONE thread about this name tool:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=431009

I was given this bench grinder by an employee years ago:





He'd acquired it when a relative passed and is NOT a tool guy/DIY'er at all. It has sat unused for years. He finally just gave this to me along with a Taiwan-made combination belt/disc sander. The sander is ok-ish. But this Van Dorn is a really nice heavy duty American made tool. Label says a division of Black & Decker in tiny font. Online indicates B&D bought VanDorn in 1928 and THIS link:

http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=1746&tab=4

...shows an 8" model very similar in appearance to mine with same push button On/Off switch and similar tool rest to the ONE mine has. It's missing the other tool rest and the end covers and the push button power switch doesn't work. BUT, when plugged in it starts immediately and runs smooth as can be. I want to find a replacement switch but there are no numbers, nothing to identify what I'm looking for.

Should I just remove it and make the rounds of local electrical shops? Any ideas guys?

 

[Stuart in MN]

I doubt you'll be able to find a new switch like that - there may be a used one on eBay but the trick would being able to track it down. What's wrong with the switch? Often they can be taken apart and cleaned up; if the switching action is still okay it may just need the contacts cleaned up.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I doubt you'll be able to find a new switch like that - there may be a used one on eBay but the trick would being able to track it down. What's wrong with the switch? Often they can be taken apart and cleaned up; if the switching action is still okay it may just need the contacts cleaned up.

Thanks. I suppose that's my next option - disconnecting the old wires and seeing if the switch can be disassembled.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I saw your picture in the other post of the back side of the switch - the C H marking means it's a Cutler-Hammer switch, so that at least narrows your search down to the brand (the company is Eaton Cutler-Hammer today.)

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I saw your picture in the other post of the back side of the switch - the C H marking means it's a Cutler-Hammer switch, so that at least narrows your search down to the brand (the company is Eaton Cutler-Hammer today.)

Thanks Stuart. I JUST asked Tommy on the other thread how he knew it was Cutler-Hammer? Obviously I know nothing about electronics.

I'll do a search online. The only things I have to go by is the physical size of the existing switch and the location of the contacts on it. Oh, and that it has a threaded escutcheon where the toggle accepts the gizmo that makes it work with the push buttons. I'll post a picture of it later.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Didn't have much free time today - had company in the afternoon - but I did manage to

Disassemble, sand, prime, painted & re-assemble my ancient Dodgers wall clock. It was a sort of gold-ish plastic chrome. It didn't "go" with my garage and of course red doesn't go with the Dodgers, but I did it anyway!






The "After" picture came out sorta dark.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I recently did a search and found GJ'er, KMScott that USED TO make replacement jaws for old vises. He's retired so he referred me to GJ'er, autopts who sells them on eBay. Ordered replacement jaws for the Columbia D45 M5 vise I've had for years and never used.

Took apart the vise and getting the big snap ring off the drive screw was a complete pain in my, well you know!

This will not be a "restoration" but a clean up & refresh. I hope to sand/polish part of the drive screw & handle - are those the right names?

You can see the broken original & replacement jaws on the right. NOT cheap but excellent quality.

 

[53PontiacSD]

Polished drive screw and handle and painted red of course. The clock looks great with the red. But it's yours so do what you want. Better than gold anyway. JMHO

Billy

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hi Billy,

I suppose my choice of red is a bit tiring to others but of course I like it. I can consider painting this vise light or dark gray to go with my walls or cabinets. I still need to sand it thoroughly and smooth off some of the factory casting flash. My other 3-1/2" Craftsman vise is already red so at least it would be different. Pics to come in the next few days.

I've never progressively sanded steel to the point of polishing it. Not sure I have the patience for it so we'll see.

 

[53PontiacSD]

A lot of the things in my shop blue, or at least I think they are. Haven't been in there in a while. So I think the red theme is just fine. Seems like we all kind of pick color schemes for our shops. I don't think you will have to sand the drive screw or the handle. Just polish them on a buffer. They didn't look that bad.

Billy

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

....I don't think you will have to sand the drive screw or the handle. Just polish them on a buffer. They didn't look that bad.

Billy

That's because I already ran them across by bench grinder-mounted wire wheel. They'll still need work if I want them to look polished. My usual is to quit and say, "good enough" - and it will be for me. But not up to the "Tool Polisher's" standards.

 

[53PontiacSD]

yeah I see what you mean

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

A couple weeks ago (Post #349) I reworked two garden planting beds and planted day lilies surrounded with a border of dianthus flowers for the summer. I only intended to do the flowers around the dayllies but they've bloomed really nicely already so I've been thinking of adding more as a border around the entire lawn.

Today, I passed the wholesale nursery and pulled in to see if they had more? I ended up leaving with three more flats and planted them in this afternoon. I think they'll catch up with the others quickly.

In the 2nd picture you can see the ones already blooming and the new ones I added today:

 

[kaymccampbell]

Pretty flowers. I miss the year round flowers I had when living in Sux Diego. All I have right now is a few crocuses, and the expectation of at least 1 more snowstorm between now n early May.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hi Kay and thanks.

Wow, San Diego to upstate New York is about as different as can be. EVERYTHING grows in San Diego, even more than here in L.A. where nearly everything grows year around.

My daughter's mother-in-law comes out about twice a year for extended visits with the grand daughters from Minneapolis. We were all in the pool on Easter and even though she's been here many times she marvels at the weather compared to Minnesota in March.

 

[turbowoodworker]

Dan that reminds me. Growing up in Arcadia, my dad always said the best commercial for the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce was seeing snow covered mountains behind the Rose Bowl or the parade on New Years Day. Probably responsible for more people moving to SoCal than WWII.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Dan that reminds me. Growing up in Arcadia, my dad always said the best commercial for the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce was seeing snow covered mountains behind the Rose Bowl or the parade on New Years Day. Probably responsible for more people moving to SoCal than WWII.

Until we moved here to Glendora in April 2020, we lived one street over from the end of the Rose Parade route. Each New Years morning when we heard the marching bands - it didn't arrive at our end until about 8:30 AM - we walked around the corner and sat right on the parade route with excellent "seats" - we brought our camp chairs.

I'll miss this next New Years as of course there was no parade in 2020 for the first time since WWII.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I thought I posted these pictures back a few pages but I couldn't find them. I have some of my dad in me (a LOT!) and "picked" this old school folding wood step stool from someone's trash awhile ago. It is wiggly and the multiple coats of paint are all alligatored but I like a challenge sometimes. Even when it's done and tight I'm not sure it'll be safe by today's standards, at least not for my weight but what the hell? Fun to bring it back from the dead. Disassembled it and started stripping the ancient paint.

I don't remember ever seeing a wood folding step stool so I figure it has to be 1950's?? Anyone old enough to remember?

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Disassembled it only looked worse!




I used my belt sander but it really only melted the paint more than sanded it:




Alternating between the belt sander and my palm sander I managed to strip the top only for today. I'll pick up some stripper tomorrow and continue. Not sure if I will paint or stain & poly it. Depend how badly the repairs will show I guess.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

This thing has little sheet metal angle brackets on it. Also loaded with decades of paint. Stripped them on the wire wheel and will paint them tomorrow.

BEFORE:



IN PROCESS:

 

[53PontiacSD]

I don't remember either, but I have a metal one from the fifties.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Yup, I remember our family had a folding step stool while I was growing up in the early-mid 1960's. It was metal and I thought it was old when I was a kid, lie the early 60's. It had a small curved back rest with two steps that folded out. Maybe this one is even older than the 1950's?

Anyone here old enough to remember one from the 1930's or 40's?

 

[kaymccampbell]

We had one from sometime before the depression that looked like that. Did the flip the steps upside down, too.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hi Kay,

Nosing around the internet I found a link to an identical wood step stool made by Amish craftsmen except it's made of oak. mine is definitely not oak but it's possible it is something like fir. Up close the flat upper step has a pattern that appears to be something other than pine.

https://www.lehmans.com/product/han...__i07VPpVdG3CT_bZm2gprfRQQfnStBoC3DcQAvD_BwE#

 

[kaymccampbell]

From the picture, it might be maple or ash.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Yeah, possibly maple. The. grain is pretty sub due compared to the ash I've ever seen. But the. ash I've seen didn't come from the 1930's, 40's or 50's. It sands as though it is reasonably hard too.

My girlfriend corralled me into trimming a couple olive trees in the front yard today. I don't mind the trimming with the pole saw, etc. It's cutting up all the stuff to fit in the trash can and sweeping/raking afterward. That is a tedious long job.

Anyway, the one thing I did manage to work on today was to FINALLY finish my dad's old masonry box for use as a quasi "tool box" (it'll only have a couple microfiber towels and some mag polish in it) for the '55 truck bed. Considering what I started with I think it finished out nicely. Before anyone asks, the Chevrolet script is from a 1954 Chevy car and is a repop from eBay. On to other stuff tomorrow.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Finished re-assembly, paint, & lube of the Columbia D45-M5 vise. I've had it so long I honestly don't remember where I got it anymore. I need to drill some holes into my little "persuasion table" to mount it.

If you look close (don't) you can see I kinda goobered the "L" when I painted the letters red.




PS: I found one like this one on eBay asking $450. Is this remotely an accurate price or is the seller dreaming? I THINK I paid about $50-60 for it from someone on Craigslist years ago.

https://www.ebay.com/p/1321393041

Does anyone know the significance of the numbers on the bottom?

 

[kaymccampbell]

Nice vise. Nice toolbox. Now crush something valuable in the vise, and then go get the parts to fix it in the shop truck.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Kay!

I actually wiped down the '55 today to take it for a ride but then got involved in another project I'm working on and never left. Tomorrow for sure. I'll even take a picture of it somewhere else than in my garage!

 

[Jayman17]

That vise looks great Dan and yes please take that awesome truck out for a drive.

Jay