The Gray Garage

[Dan in Pasadena]

Maybe I need to spice this thread up a bit. Maybe THIS will interest someone. A Bonney tool board my son-in-law found for me today at the Pasadena City College Flea Market:

This is after I wiped it off and used some steel wool on the perimeter frame. As you can see it has some damage - missing a few pegs.

I originally intended to buy a Craftsman sticker to put over the Bonney name but after a quick search, the Bonney Tool Company was once a proud company so maybe I won't.

I still intend to cut the pegs off shorter to mount my own tools on it. Of course the problem with that is where do you find (for example) a double box end six point wrench? Oh well, even if I don't put my own tools on it, it's kind of a neat art piece for a garage, at least I think so.

 

[Bib Overalls]

I think those shadow boards were included with a starter set of wrenches to encourage the purchase of more tools to complete a full set.

When I was about 15 my dad bought me a basic set of New Briton end wrenches at the NAPA store near the San Gabriel Mission (long gone). The wrenches came with a shadow board. That would have been 1957. I never purchased additional wrenches and the ones I had went to my brother when I went in the Army. Where they, and the shadow board are now is anyone's guess.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hmmm, interesting but I'm not sure that applies to this shadow board because of the length of the individual pegs and the fact that the wrenches original part numbers are stenciled next to the size in a smaller font. I THINK this was a display board in an auto parts store (would be my guess). Probably one of a set with the other Bonney tools they offered.

Before this, I'd never heard of Bonney tools, but THIS tells me they were considered a decent, affordable U.S. made tool at one time:
http://junkyardtools.com/tool_history/bonney

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Okay, so I've been chipping away at the reset bit by bit, but I got off track for a week or so by a minor medical test that involves drinking some GODAWFUL stuff and dealing with what comes after.

On to GJ stuff: I redid the one long wall in the shop using 1/8" tempered pegboard because it matches whats already in there.

I also took an old kitchen cabinet I'd already had in the garage and re-oriented it from THIS photo (long cabinet on the right):

...to long cabinet on the left. I removed the doors, put plywood over the old face frame and mounted it on the wall so I could paint the interior white. I've bought the 1x2's for a new face frame but I've procrastinated building it so far.

The stuff on the wall will likely change. Frankly, I don't have a "good eye" for this kind of thing. I've gotta see it, maybe even photograph it, and then move it to where it pleases me. I've PROBABLY got enough toolbox space to put all my hand tools away so this stuff is just for looks or for immediate convenience. Feel free to offer organizing ideas.

You can barely see the reoriented kitchen cabinet at the back of this photo:

Last, I found what I think is a great deal on a Bissell Garage Pro wall mount vacuum. Prices range online from about $175 to $239. I paid $79.99 at an outlet place. It was out of its box.
"Sooner" approves:

I doubt this is the final location; it just doesn't "feel" right but its hung and connected and works fantastic.

All comments appreciated.

 

[don long]

Hey Dan
those clear plastic boxes in the cuboard I used them in the bodyshop for about two years I would buy them from home depot by the case then one day they were all gone never to find them again.

What a transformation from the start to now "Kudos to you"
and the back yard would keep me from working in the garage
Very nice.

So whats next?
Don

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hi Don. Thanks for commenting.

The boxes are Plano boxes. They've held up 7-8 years now (incredibly). They're scarred up, yellowed with age but hanging in there. They're still available at Frye's Electronics out here in SoCal, last I looked for them.

Next? I plan to put doors on the cabinet the Plano boxes are in. I've got another old 2x4 vertical kitchen cabinet I plan to cut down shallower and mod for all spray can storage.

THESE old cabinets:

...the old owner left in the house were moved to the garage way back when. I've moved them several times and now I'm going to make panelized doors for them and paint the interiors white.

The backyard is getting some work too. Overhead fans on the patio, patching some grass that Sooner burns with his tendency for peeing in one spot over and over, lol.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Over on the, "What Did You Do In Your Garage Today?" thread someone asked about the capacity of the Garage Pro central vac. They also asked an opinion about using it to control sandblaster dust (uh....NO!) or using it for occasional vac'ing of radial arm sawdust (I think it'd be ok for intermittent use).

Anyway, for anyone interested here's a photo of the Garage Vac dust bin. 1 ft. diameter, 10" deep. No filter cartridge:

I had wanted the 50' hose of the Vacumaid:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003XRWSD4/?tag=atomicindus08-20
...but look at the price!

...and it has a replaceable filter you have to deal with. Plus its made of metal that I'd guess will eventually rust if used for wet stuff. All in all, I'm very happy with the Garage Pro for $80.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Okay, hijacking my own thread for a couple fun photos for car guys.
I happened onto this beauty at El Pollo Loco last night, of all places. In truth, the owner was at the sushi place next door, but oh well.

I know a lot about old cars but nothing in particular about Cobras. This APPEARED to be the real thing and not a reproduction or clone. If it wasn't (and yeah, I DO know they're worth an absolute fortune so why would it be street driven?) then it is a decades-old clone cause it has a lot of real patina.

Anyway, enjoy:

From Rear:

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programlol::

I've been busy but today I cleaned up/partially painted my Rigid vac. No "Before" photo but it had paint spatter and drywall compound all over it. The orange parts had faded into a lousy dark gold. I used a cheapo generic flat black and Rustoleum plastic paint on the orange. In hindsight I wish I'd painted it red as it doesn't match the original Rigid orange but at least it's neat and all one color.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Another little project I've only put off since 1990!

After my Dad passed I found his old air horns in a box in the garage. He'd had them on each truck he owned when I was a kid. They're nothing to look at, a bit bent (as you can see) but they're ridiculously loud and he'd announce arriving home with a short double toot each night. I'm going to scare my sister to death by surprising her with the same double toot the next time I visit her; she'll think it's Dad back from the grave.

They use an old hospital oxygen tank (oblong, about a foot long) and a manual spring loaded brass valve to actuate. He'd fill the tank at the gas station. I MAY leave it like that as a reminder, or I may update to an onboard compressor and electronic air valve (anyone know a good source for those?). Enough blah, blah. It's Rustoleum Hammertone gray:

 

[e-tek]

Loverly - meaning your shop, the Cobra, your Dog AND the air horns!

The Cobra sure looks real - but I don't know anyone with one and certainly not someone who drives one for Sushi!

Don't you just love Hammertone? I've been using it in some restoration pieces and love the mottled metal look it gives.

I'd keep the air tank as original. Easy enough to use and a tribute to your Dad. I gotta start announcing my arrival like that.....

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

E-tek,
Thank you for the kind words. You've got some air horns? I recall my Dad blowing them at some punks fooling around playing grab *** & taking forever in the crosswalk one time. Probably illegal, but those guys about uh..."shat" themselves. We laughed all the way home we scared them so bad - one of them squealed like a girl and ran! I'm gonna use the tank as is - its ugly yellow but I remember seeing it in the engine compartment of my Dad's '47, '52, '59 & '66 Chevy trucks over the years. Gonna put the horns under the bed. If I use a manual spring loaded valve I'll put a cable up through the floor just ahead of the bench seat - whaddaya think? Your opinion especially appreciated.

I saw a '46 Chevy truck frame painted with hammertone black back when I had mine. I swear I thought it was powder coated! Now maybe I don't know what powder coat looks like but the owner told me the more coats he put on it, the better it masked minor imperfections - just like a 60-some year old frame has. I intend to use it on my '55. Tempted to use silver, but I'll probably go with black.

 

[HOTFR8]

Google Train Horns and see what you come up with. You should be able to find an onboard compressor from many suppliers and even those that supply air bag suspension systems etc. and still use the horns and tank you have. I would also set them up so you can fill the tank the same as you would with your tyres as well as the onboard compressor.

A couple I found with a quick GOOGLE search >

http://www.trainhornexpress.com/?gclid=CO-M4IWbyLECFeiUpgodRGoApg

http://www.hornblasters.com/

I have multiple Truck style Air Horns on the F4 (HOTFR8) and it is great fun with them as I can change tones by switching one set off or even change them to dual tones. They are just air horns and not overly loud.

 

[e-tek]

Oh yeah - I'd go "old school", just for the effect and memories. I don't have any but have always wanted a to mount a pair on any car/truck I've had.....I just meant it's a great way to make memories - kudo's to your Dad.

 

[HOTFR8]

I agree with Ed. Put the air horns in as your Dad had them but add the onboard compressor. Toot Toot as a tribute to your Dad.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Hotfr8 - Thanks for the links.

E - These two horns were in kinda rough cosmetic shape, didn't match so I decided to wire wheel and paint them. In doing so I found one (the shorter one) had had a section cut out for some reason. It was put back together with....wait for it....yup, you guessed it, JB Weld! This HAD to be my dad's work. He JB'd a soft plug that sprung a leak on a vacation once and that stupid thing held for probably 10 years, ha ha.

I know its meaningless to anyone else but I saw the JB and it instantly put me back in the garage of the hous I grew up in with Dad. He was an impatient old coot - but he was my old coot.

Thanks for giving a rip, you guys. Only guys like us could relate to this stuff.

 

[HOTFR8]

Hotfr8 - Thanks for the links.
Thanks for giving a rip, you guys. Only guys like us could relate to this stuff.

Do not just go on the links I posted as you may find better.

Good luck and keep us posted as to how it works.

I have been watching this on You tube >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=icnRMW6P9nc&NR=1

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Pretty funny. Horse's *** to do it to people just for your own entertainment, but funny nonetheless.

Mine aren't "train horns". They're actually old '50's semi truck horns but they are VERY loud. I imagine the cops would give you a ticket for using them? I'll only use them as a novelty...ok, and for the occasional A-HOLE that crosses my path!

 

[Gigem]

Hotfr8 - Thanks for the links.

E - These two horns were in kinda rough cosmetic shape, didn't match so I decided to wire wheel and paint them. In doing so I found one (the shorter one) had had a section cut out for some reason. It was put back together with....wait for it....yup, you guessed it, JB Weld! This HAD to be my dad's work. He JB'd a soft plug that sprung a leak on a vacation once and that stupid thing held for probably 10 years, ha ha.

I know its meaningless to anyone else but I saw the JB and it instantly put me back in the garage of the hous I grew up in with Dad. He was an impatient old coot - but he was my old coot.

Thanks for giving a rip, you guys. Only guys like us could relate to this stuff.

This made me laugh. My old man was a 2-part epoxy guy. I swear he could have fixed the Titanic with that stuff...

 

[e-tek]

This made me laugh. My old man was a 2-part epoxy guy. I swear he could have fixed the Titanic with that stuff...

Sometimes I long for the simplicity - and the characters - of the old days.....

 

[Bustedwheel]

Okay, hijacking my own thread for a couple fun photos for car guys.
I happened onto this beauty at El Pollo Loco last night, of all places. In truth, the owner was at the sushi place next door, but oh well.

I know a lot about old cars but nothing in particular about Cobras. This APPEARED to be the real thing and not a reproduction or clone. If it wasn't (and yeah, I DO know they're worth an absolute fortune so why would it be street driven?) then it is a decades-old clone cause it has a lot or real patina.

I think this is the car you saw. It's a Super Performance car, but a cool story about rebuilding it after it was under 12 Ft of water in Katrina!
http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/sup...-coupe-build-thread-aka-car-54-where-you.html


The Garage is looking awesome! I love builds of making the most with limited space. Definitely going to follow this.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

This made me laugh. My old man was a 2-part epoxy guy. I swear he could have fixed the Titanic with that stuff...

Sometimes I long for the simplicity - and the characters - of the old days.....

My Dad was a Depression era kid with immigrant parents growing up with horses in what was then the hills around Los Angeles (City Terrace for locals). He told me many times about building his first bicycle out of a box of parts his Dad brought home and said, "You wanted a bike, here!" That was in Spanish of course and not very nicely said. It meant, "...quit yer whining, shut up, here's the **** you wanted". That's the upside of being a fixer.

On the flip side, my Dad would spend untold HOURS "fixing" something instead of going to the hardware store for a 79 cent part (in those days)

I think this is the car you saw. It's a Super Performance car, but a cool story about rebuilding it after it was under 12 Ft of water in Katrina!

The Garage is looking awesome! I love builds of making the most with limited space. Definitely going to follow this.

Thanks for the car info but I'm going to ask to drop discussion on that because one of the mods over on the HAMB shut down a thread I posted about it. I thought it was a little OT; not a 30's-50's hotrod, but I felt (still do) it cetainly IS a '60's hotrod (afterall, what's a race car but a sanctioned hotrod?) But I guess it pissed him off even though there was a lot of response to it. - Enough, I want to keep my garage thread going.

Thanks for the encouraging words on my shop. I have finally realized I have about the equivalent of a deep one car garage (13'x28') with no overhead.


Back on Subject:What do you guys do to keep yourselves "on task"? I'm just terrible about doing 90% of a project and taking f o r e v e r to finish the other 10% and I feel myself doing that now. I need to get the face frame built and mounted for the red cabinet in post #44. I need to make some doors for my large storage cabinets, etc. Instead I'm off painting shop vacs and posting Cobra pic's!

 

[HOTFR8]

I would not worry about your sidetrack here as this is not like the HAMB.
Back to work on that building.

 

[Jack Olsen]

That Cobra was cool, though.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

That Cobra was cool, though.

Yeah, it really was. I'd love to see what a guy like yourself with significant track time could make it do. I assume the experience applies even though the 911 is rear weight biased and the "Cobra" is a front engine monster?

 

[m5hor]

i like your doing with your garage. keep up the great work

 

[ed_v]

I would not worry about your sidetrack here as this is not like the HAMB.

Thank goodness for that!!!!

Ed

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

i like your doing with your garage. keep up the great work

Oh, thank you very much.

I'm trying, I really am. I know I've lost a little steam the last 2 weeks. I just have to fight my procrastination tendency.

I REALLY need to get my cabinet face frame built this weekend. Already have the wood. I'm setting a goal of posting photos of it by Sunday night. You guys can rag on me if I don't make it!!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Well, it's Sunday night and I did NOT get the face frame built - DOH.

Really, the only GJ-worthy (barely) thing I did this weekend was reassemble by old Rigid shop vac that I previously posted about. The orange is too yellow compared to the original orange, but I don't care. It'll get scarred up soon enough and at least looks better than the paint spattered and faded mess it was.

Now the body and casters looks crappier. Oh well.

 

[Kiwi Kev]

Garage is really looking good Dan! I'm sure you are having fun and I bet the result is very rewarding. Your yard is awesome, I won't be showing those pics to my wife.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ha ha, Kev. Thanks but I'd trade the yard in a heart beat for a garage like yours.

Never heard the outcome: How did your surgery go? I hope you're doing well and able to get out there and do all you want soon (because selfishly, I love to see what you're working on!). Best, Dan

 

[BHR4CE1]

You garage is coming along well. Good luck with it!

 

[427cobra]

The car you saw is a Factory Five repo kit of a Shelby Daytona Coupe. Trust me on this one!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

The car you saw is a Factory Five repo kit of a Shelby Daytona Coupe. Trust me on this one!

Oh, well cool. Good to know. It looks great and I'm reasonably sure it still goes like stink no matter what (likely) big block it has in it. Thanks for the info. I didn't think a real one would be street driven to a strip mall for sushi!! But then again I thought a real one was worth $1 million, not TEN million, yikes!!

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Somebody here posted a photo of an old mag wheel used as a reel for their hoses or extension cords (I can't remember which).

Quite awhile ago I bought three U.S. Daisy type mags from Craigslist. One of the deep ones is badly damaged though it would be useable for this purpose (but I won't). Seller would only sell all three together but I think I only paid $40 for all.
Here's a BEFORE of the best of them. Dull, center is corroded. Generally neglected looking:

Here's a couple AFTER photos:

I sanded the lip with 1500 wet paper then used metal polish. It polished up fast that way. I'd painted the centers with silver paint but didn't like it so I repainted with gray primer. The jury is out on whether I actually "like" it but I wanted a contrast with the center cap. Speaking of which it was plastic chrome and turning green. The old "U.S." logo was faded metal tape so I pulled it off, gave the whole thing a quick sanding and used the same gray primer, then Rustoleum mettalic silver on it. I'm surprised it came out pretty good. Tomorrow this one will get installed and my air hoses stored on it.

 

[HOTFR8]

Nicely done. What will you hang on it ? I also like the tool (tape truck) in the photo.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

....I also like the tool (tape truck) in the photo.

Ha ha, I actually have a sorta "rack" made for my tapes:

But when I tore out that wall to expand my garage I had to remove it. My brother-in-law bought that truck at a garage sale thinking I collect them - I don't. I only put the tapes on it because it was sitting there, but its kinda growing on me! (Of course I will eventually restore it, thus "ruining" the "patina" for those that care about that stuff)

I forgot to mention that the rim will hang on a Harbor Freight trailer spare tire mount. I'll just lag bolt it to a stud. Maybe I'll dummy up all five lugs, I don't know.

 

[HOTFR8]

But the little truck is so cool.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

You mean the way it is? Ha ha, ok maybe I should just "detail" it! Now where did I leave my itty bitty polisher?

 

[don long]

Hey Dan
I agree with hotfr8 the tape truck caught my eye
that is very clever even if it was not intended, its cool

I like the rim idea for hose reels gonna borrow it for sure and put it in my 1926 texaco station Yours looks real fine!!!
Don