Above 1200 Sq/FT The Salvage Garage

[Strouty]

It is warming up nicely, we may even see 20 degrees.....

The good news is that the waste oil furnace at the Hill reset and started without an issue after the power failure. I do need to fill the waste oil tank, but I really wanted to install the metal one before transferring the oil, might just put a small amount in the current tank, I won't be able to pump all of it out of the transfer tank anyways, there is too much. I am saving this for tomorrow.

As for the computer problem, late last night it actually acted like it was going to install the new software, but when it rebooted, it just went back to the same screen. I am going to get a long ethernet cord so that I can try and eliminate the possibility that the wireless card is causing the problem, I am also trying another keyboard. I plugged the Blurb in so it will be ready when I need it, I need to do the same over at the SG, the plow isn't plugged in, I think I need to make myself a circuit that powers up when temps dip below 30, that way it is automatic, but not on all the time.

 

[bimmer1980]

There are a couple of "off the shelf" remote power options available. For a couple of hundred bucks, plug it in and it activates by a text message. Has multiple channels built in.

I'm sure there are other internet based relay and switch based solutions as well.
Even a baseboard heater style thermostat inline to an outlet might work.... (I haven't looked at the specs for this..)

Just don't try to engineer a NASA style solution....

 

[FullRaceMerc]

I think I need to make myself a circuit that powers up when temps dip below 30, that way it is automatic, but not on all the time.

I used a couple of these for progressive heat in my pumphouse up at the retirement place. Not the permanent solution, but a quick easy solve when time was short. The price sure has gone up since I bought them.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MZB9JR2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[86turbodsl]

There are a couple of "off the shelf" remote power options available. For a couple of hundred bucks, plug it in and it activates by a text message. Has multiple channels built in.

I'm sure there are other internet based relay and switch based solutions as well.
Even a baseboard heater style thermostat inline to an outlet might work.... (I haven't looked at the specs for this..)

Just don't try to engineer a NASA style solution....

There's always wake on lan too... send the magic packet.

 

[Strouty]

I have been eyeballing things like this, I really want something that runs off cellular. The ones that I like the most are all app based, I think I would prefer to have them work off direct SMS, if the app goes bad, you are stuck with expensive hardware. I have to do some more research for sure.

 

[legenddc]

Couldn't you just get a wifi-outlet? I have some Belkin Wemo outlets and a light switch. They turn on our front porch light and walkway lights year round at Sunset and off at 10. Can trigger them from your phone too.

 

[Strouty]

I am not always parked in a WiFi covered area, but yes some plugs could be setup like that. To me the thermostat control would be better than anything, I usually only have two things plugged in, but I could use the same control setup for the battery tenders on the equipment in the Quonset hut.

 

[legenddc]

I didn't even think about that. Was thinking if you had power you'd have WiFi. Shame it can't be that easy but the thermostat control might work too and be just as easy.

 

[Strouty]

I am planning on creating a mesh system so I have WiFi pretty much everywhere, just another thing on my long list.

Local TV Broadcaster contacted me about the 40th anniversary of their 1200' tower collapsing, they would like to interview my Dad, his company cleaned up the mess and built them a temporary tower so they could be operational again. I know we have some pictures, but not sure I am going to be able to find them. I was only 6, so I don't really remember it, just remember the pictures and the stories. If I find the images, I will post some here as well, it was a mess.

 

[walrus]

What station? Love to see the pics

 

[jack stand]

Gotta be 6.

 

[Honch]

I am planning on creating a mesh system so I have WiFi pretty much everywhere, just another thing on my long list.

Local TV Broadcaster contacted me about the 40th anniversary of their 1200' tower collapsing, they would like to interview my Dad, his company cleaned up the mess and built them a temporary tower so they could be operational again. I know we have some pictures, but not sure I am going to be able to find them. I was only 6, so I don't really remember it, just remember the pictures and the stories. If I find the images, I will post some here as well, it was a mess.

I have from my younger years over 1200 hours climbing time on communications towers. At that age I was invincible and had little fear of a collapse even though I had seen a few. The highest tower I worked on and free climbed was 650', but weekly we would drive past this tower, at 1,965' one of the tallest in the world at the time. I spent some time working under it but never had the opportunity to climb it. They always thought it would fall due to the design of the base, instead it fell during modification for HDTV.

 

[Strouty]

Live tower mods are always fun, people will test the limit, then when that works, they will test the limit again, I prefer to keep things safe and under control. Not saying I haven't done my fair share of stupid, but I learned early on that towers command respect, fack around and find out was always in the back of my head.

It was Channel 6

 

[83VillageRepair]

That was why I liked Mac so much, I will not deny it is expensive, but I have only bought new ones for business write offs, most was still used stuff that I upgraded back when you could still upgrade them. Now if you want to upgrade, you have to spend $6k and even then it isn't as upgradable as most people like. As I get more into the CAD software, I will have to play with Windows a lot more. I have just made a crappy drawing in Draftsight, it is a pain on a laptop without a mouse, but I did it, now I have to keep playing around with it. My feet are now frozen solid from sitting, below the desk is the coldest spot in the shop right now. I need to walk around a bit, but I want to get accustomed to the software since my Dad is determined to use it ever since he watched one youtube video that said it was easy to use.......

Draftsite is a good 2d Cad program. It was even better when it was free. But it is aimed at Autocad users with the exact same commands. If you aren't proficient in Autocad it kind of misses the mark. I have only used on PC but I found it extremely easy to use. All my 2letter hotkeys commands work.

Wow just noticed I replied to something about 3 pages back. I didn't realize I was so far behind in Strouty World.

 

[Strouty]

Pumping waste oil now, I think I need to build my new waste oil setup, I want to have a drain area for larger things, also want it up off the ground enough so I can put my rolling drain pan under it, that stupid thing is an awful POS to store. I found a really nice one that tilts up when you are done, but it is almost $2k. That is a bit much even for me.

I am not motivated at all tonight, I ate too much for lunch, I didn’t get enough sleep, my elbow hurts and Chuck is way too cute to not socialize with.


Chuck knows the sound of paper towels being torn off the roll, he loves them. Three at a time stuffed in his mouth, then back to the nest to make it larger and warmer. I used more than half a roll today, it was great exercise for him, had him running all over the place, even left some in hiding spots for later.

 

[walrus]

Did they interview your Dad? I generally watch channel 6 so I'd see it. Be cool to see some wreckage

 

[Strouty]

Not yet, not sure if he is willing, he just had hernia surgery.

 

[walrus]

Not yet, not sure if he is willing, he just had hernia surgery.

That would be a cool story, hope he feels well enough to tell it.

 

[bimmer1980]

Were you able to get some good paperwork signed after the anesthetic??? Deed to the hill, etc...

Just kidding... Sort of...

Onward and upward.

 

[Strouty]

I don't think I have completed anything in the last six weeks, literally, just started one thing, then had to stop for one reason or another, then started another thing, only to have that get messed up. Everyone in my life seems fed up, I am beginning to think I am going to become a professional failure.....

 

[xtremek]

Spread too thin. I think you really need to start looking at thinning the herd, ditching some projects, and farming stuff out. And if you farm it out, it needs to come with a warranty/guarnatee. And know that I have 3 fingers pointing back at me.

Trying to figure out how I'm going to fix/replace the Chevy Sonic. Motor is showing signs of a blown head gasket, with almost 190,000 miles of hard driving, do we replace it or fix it. If we fix it, who does the repair? I'm not taking this one on.

Going to build a shop crane and I'm going to pay someone to weld it up. My time is worth a ton, time to divest myself of current projects.

Got a neat little Honda CL 350 and would love to make a cafe bike out of it. Nope. Just going to ride it as is, not even going to repaint it to get rid of the nasty, brown paint job. Cut back, cut the check.

 

[bimmer1980]

Eh, it's that time of year where it seems tough to get traction (literally and figuratively..) Try to look back at the small (and large) wins where you have accomplished something. What were the key items that contributed to make it a win? i.e. progress.

Then try to put into place similar steps to make for some small wins (progress). The small wins will eventually add up to greater gains in the totality.

For what it's worth, failures build learning experiences that can be applied to future challenges (opportunities!!) Altho in the middle of the ****, it's hard to look at it that way....

FYI--For me it was an uphill battle to figure out all the hydraulic hoses to order for the excavator... They showed up this weekend (Sunday mid-day). Have I started putting them on? Nope..... Opened the box, but haven't started. I had intended to work on it after work yesterday or early this morning.... nope, not yet.... LOL

The main thing, keep trying!!

Xtremek makes some great points about thinning the herd and focusing on things that matter (to you!).....

 

[walrus]

Take one project and follow it all the way thru and finish it. You go in too many directions, with too much stuff. Finish one and you will feel better. Plus the winter is long, I start getting depressed but now the suns up almost 12 hrs a day again and it helps . Don't think Seasonal affected disorder isn't real, the winter gets people down.

 

[Mark_17]

Fellas, this is known as the "Strouty Cycle".

Once the weather clears up, he'll be really productive, knock out a few projects, and be right back on track.

Then he'll buy another basket case suburban, or find a "too good to pass up deal" at an auction, and the cycle will continue.

 

[bulletpruf]

When I get a bit overwhelmed and need a win or two, I really try to focus on the "have to" items on my list of things to do and do my best to cut out all the other distractions. In the past, distractions for me tended to be new projects because I get frustrated with the one that I was working on. That's how I ended up with 100+ collectible vintage chainsaws when we were living in Italy; it all started when I got frustrated working on the 72 Alfa GTV.

Bottom line - keep swinging, but don't take on anything new unless/until some of the current projects are done.

 

[Strouty]

I think I have slowed the cycle a bit, there have been far fewer projects that I brought in last year than the year before. A big part of the way I am feeling is that the winter really didn't start until January. Also there have been a lot of outside influences (Dad, the GF and the car, computers, new software, effed right elbow), I don't have a lot of control over those things and with the weather not being great, most of that stuff is hijacking any time that I thought I would have. Right now it is a beautiful day, what am I doing? Wasting the day away, been playing insanity, I have been removing snow for several hours now, almost done at the Hill, got one tower site done and my house, next is to go and finish the other tower site, then I have to go to the Salvage Garage. It is going to be a late night, no question about it, then we get some rain, then more snow. My vicious cycle right now is rest my arm, hurt my arm, rest my arm, hurt my arm........

 

[Strouty]

I am back to the Hill, had to get the Blurb with the snowblower for the Salvage Garage, that is all I have left to do. Of course traffic is going to be annoying since it is 5. I was hoping Chuck would come out and play, but not so much, that would have been a nice distraction.

Worst part so far is that one of my boots sprung a leak so one foot is cold and wet. I guess I need some new boots.

 

[Strouty]

First round of plowing done, now I get to shovel and use the snow blower for the rest. At least it isn't too cold outside. I wish I had more daylight, but I didn't start as early as I should have. Oh Well, at least it will be done.

 

[Strouty]

Done with the shoveling, I didn't even use the snowblower, it was going to be too much of a PITA, I think next time it would be better to start with the snowblower, learning as I go, this is only the second time I have had the snowblower available. I do think that I need a dedicated one for the Hill, would make things much, much easier. One foot is frozen, the other is cold, I am going home.

 

[xtremek]

Sounds like an unsatisfying, but productive day.

 

[Strouty]

It was productive, at a steep cost, my back and my elbow were so sore, I took a shower got ready to leave, then went back to bed.

I feel a lot better today, but I have reversed my sleep schedule, my GF has her schedule that I hate, so it makes me sleep in, then I stay up late, then it just keeps getting worse. I need a second bathroom and a larger water heater. I lose the bathroom from 6:15 to 7:30, sounds reasonable, but if I get in the bathroom at 5:30 (I shower almost last in my process) she runs out of hot water, so I have to about 4:45 and if I don't have anything planned or the weather is bad, it is pretty hard to get motivated that early, especially this time of year.

It is what it is, a big nasty, vicious, self created cycle.

 

[xtremek]

Is getting a bigger hot water heater a problem you can throw some money at? It sounds like a necessary upgrade to make your life much more efficient.

 

[FullRaceMerc]

Is getting a bigger hot water heater a problem you can throw some money at? It sounds like a necessary upgrade to make your life much more efficient.

Or maybe a tankless?

 

[xtremek]

BUt either way, throw some money at it, instead of doing it yourself. And make it with a guarantee.

 

[Strouty]

I don't think the tankless would help, we have heating oil and electricity, no propane or natural gas.

A bigger water heater may help, but the GF basically takes insanely hot showers, pretty much until the water starts to get cold.

 

[Ralf99]

Two hot water systems and a diversion valve?

 

[Strouty]

My electric rate just doubled (seriously) in January, I would prefer not using anymore than needed. They make oil fired stuff, but it ain't cheap.

 

[Ralf99]

Down here my water heater, house heating and cooking are all natural gas - the cost of natural gas has near doubled over the past 6 months - to the point that it will likely be cheaper to heat the house with reverse cycle air conditioning this coming winter. Similar problems the world over.

 

[FullRaceMerc]

My electric rate just doubled (seriously) in January, I would prefer not using anymore than needed. They make oil fired stuff, but it ain't cheap.

Makes sense. They claim tankless costs less, since you're not paying to heat stored water. But in practice everyone uses more when it's available, so the operating costs always go up.

I've seen situations where they used 2 tank types in series. So the 1st mostly heats the water & the 2nd doesn't do much but maintain the heat. But any increase in volume allows more to be used in total, still driving up the cost.

 

[legenddc]

Maybe a smaller water heater so she has to take shorter showers?