jack stand
Well-known member
You ought to see it in person. 
Above 1200 Sq/FT The Salvage Garage
- Thread starter Strouty
- Start date
Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
jack stand
Well-known member
A always tell Strouty that one day in the far off future some next generation "pickers" are going to come across his "honey hole"!
Today we spent some time with the Matsuura, we had never really checked if it was actually worth repairing. After a bit of relearning how to use the software, we were able to check the travel and backlash. The worst axis was Z, it had .002 of backlash and it looks like the ball screw is adjustable, so we might be able to get that figured out. The Y axis was less than .00030 and Z was off a bit, but we suspect that is something that would be adjusted by changing the ratio of steps to the travel so it reads properly, even if it was out, it was .00050, so the unit would make parts that will easily be "perfect" for my purposes. I am not sure if it is going to stay inside the shop or if it will get mothballed in a conex, but for now I am still planning on keeping it.
The power hacksaw is getting mothballed to make some space, as well as a few other things that are currently inside the shop. I am going to be moving some things around this weekend and I expect to see a dent in things. I have to start putting things into the Lista cabinets, I have been dragging my feet for far too long.
The power hacksaw is getting mothballed to make some space, as well as a few other things that are currently inside the shop. I am going to be moving some things around this weekend and I expect to see a dent in things. I have to start putting things into the Lista cabinets, I have been dragging my feet for far too long.
Have another Dad meeting, he did agree to let me record the meetings, so that is at least a bit of backup for me when it comes to him flip flopping with his decisions and then acting like he never said anything different. After that I am going to the Salvage Garage to work on making space, I would like to be ready for next week, so I can use my help to the fullest.
jack stand
Well-known member
The last few weeks seems like I'm just running or searching for a/c or a cool place!
86turbodsl
Well-known member
This ^^^
Luckily today isn't too hot, I am at the Hill waiting for both Dad and the HVAC repair tech. Hopefully after today I will have a cool office so I can actually get some stuff done. I have been avoiding it for the last couple weeks, it has just been an oven.
We went through a lot of bins while sorting the Lista drawers, I only need about double the drawers that I currently have. I swapped a bunch of drawers for pull out shelves, but now I am thinking that I want to put the drawers back even though you need a step ladder to get things out of them. Going to see what happens when I get things fully laid out, right now I still have several drawers to sort and consolidate, then there are a bunch of drawers that are just too deep for the items in them, I need to swap things around and play the space game. I also have two gang boxes full of hardware and supplies that I was trying to put away, that might be a bit of a stretch, but I know there is a bunch of wasted space, so if I can consolidate things down, maybe, just maybe. The good thing is that at least this won't be a total waste, all this effort will just make the new stockroom much easier to organize.
We went through a lot of bins while sorting the Lista drawers, I only need about double the drawers that I currently have. I swapped a bunch of drawers for pull out shelves, but now I am thinking that I want to put the drawers back even though you need a step ladder to get things out of them. Going to see what happens when I get things fully laid out, right now I still have several drawers to sort and consolidate, then there are a bunch of drawers that are just too deep for the items in them, I need to swap things around and play the space game. I also have two gang boxes full of hardware and supplies that I was trying to put away, that might be a bit of a stretch, but I know there is a bunch of wasted space, so if I can consolidate things down, maybe, just maybe. The good thing is that at least this won't be a total waste, all this effort will just make the new stockroom much easier to organize.
Prospecter
Well-known member
Glad you are getting the ac fixed. I find when I sort, I also toss and consolidate. ymmv
Dad has complicated things a lot, he made it sound like he hadn't bought much of anything on his personal credit card, but now it looks like there are hundreds of transactions and only a handful of receipts. He is using credit cards at places we have charge accounts making that difficult for no reason. I can't figure out any good way to move forward, he just forgets what card to use and then puts it on whatever is in the front of his wallet. I am seriously thinking it would be easier to consolidate all his cards and just have one card.
AC is almost functional, so that is a huge plus.
AC is almost functional, so that is a huge plus.
AC is working, I totally expected it to be more expensive, but I could not believe what they charged to replace the valve core, that was $245. I can't complain as the guy told me that he wasn't charging me for any refrigerant and I know it was low and I know that he lost some changing the core, all in was under $500.
I am now headed to do some errands, I wanted to spend some time at the Salvage Garage, but it is almost 2PM now, might just wait until tomorrow. Things will go one of two ways, either I waste a drive and only spend a couple hours or I go over there and end up getting home at 10PM because I got too involved in something.
I am now headed to do some errands, I wanted to spend some time at the Salvage Garage, but it is almost 2PM now, might just wait until tomorrow. Things will go one of two ways, either I waste a drive and only spend a couple hours or I go over there and end up getting home at 10PM because I got too involved in something.
I have one Mastercard I use for business. but I have accts at all the wholesale places I use. Never use card at those places. I'm sure your dad spends way more then I do 
Thinking about it, I have HD and Lowes also.
Thinking about it, I have HD and Lowes also.goldtang
Well-known member
was in business for about 7 years then went and worked for the government before I retired , we used two Visa cards on separate Accounts one for the business and one person, made it easy to keep track of spending , use to like the accounts at suppliers, grab Now pay later,I have one Mastercard I use for business. but I have accts at all the wholesale places I use. Never use card at those places. I'm sure your dad spends way more then I do
xtremek
Well-known member
From the lack of an update, I'm guessing you fell down a rabbit hole.
I did not make it to the Salvage Garage yesterday, I am there now, just ate lunch, getting ready to move on to the "next step", just not sure what it is. I am going to start cleaning a bit, then move some stuff out of the shop. I need to get my "office" area cleaned up, it is piled pretty high right now. I have also been trying to figure out what is going to stay in the shop and what needs to go into one of the storage containers or just leave totally. Everything is heavy, most totes are full, and I really don't have a place to put them yet as I still haven't implemented the QR codes. I haven't given up on them, but I got slightly frustrated when I had a bunch printed out and they were all the same QR code (still not sure how that happened). I think part of my issue is that on one hand I want to clean up and organize a bunch of areas, but on the other hand, the shop will be torn down and rebuilt sooner, rather than later. I have to look at it like prep for the new space and stop worrying about the "wasted" effort.
It’s funny how you can forget about things, but not forget about them. I am out in the trailer that has the rotating storage units and there are 80 drawers and 32 shelves, all but one shelf is empty. Then there are two card file units that are empty as well, realistically, this trailer has almost nothing in it and it is the driest of all my boxes, it doesn’t create condensation like the conex boxes do. I guess I am doing to have to be brutal and start moving stuff out here, there is so much that really doesn’t belong in the shop, some of it will have to stay as the temperature swings won’t be good. I suspect that only a fraction of things that I am tripping over will fall into that category though, now I have to print some QR codes. Ultimately the plan is to empty a couple other storage boxes and consolidate things even more. I just have to start doing it.
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bowtiguy
Well-known member
Forget QR codes, at this point painters tape & a sharpie will get you from A to B;
I just did this when I sold my parents place In Illinois. I had 6 years to fix up the house, sell off 8 cars, 2400 sq ft of parts and completely restore my 67’ vette, ( I flew in from Colorado 18 times)
once the house was renovated and we had a closing date, everything went into totes, labeled and into the new 24‘ enclosed trailer for the haul back.I’ll get to it later.
your “agreed upon” time line is only as good as your fathers memory.
it doesnt have to be perfect, just functional
I just did this when I sold my parents place In Illinois. I had 6 years to fix up the house, sell off 8 cars, 2400 sq ft of parts and completely restore my 67’ vette, ( I flew in from Colorado 18 times)
once the house was renovated and we had a closing date, everything went into totes, labeled and into the new 24‘ enclosed trailer for the haul back.I’ll get to it later.
your “agreed upon” time line is only as good as your fathers memory.
it doesnt have to be perfect, just functional
I am not aiming for perfection, but I know that the painters tape labels will not help me find anything in the future. I have such a large amount of stuff that I can't remember all of it and having the QR codes will allow me to make a database that is searchable in the future. This will allow me to find things that I "forgot" I had, rather than stumbling on them years after buying replacements. I know it seems like too much for most people following along, but I have to do what I have to do.
jack stand
Well-known member
You do you!
Allenw
Well-known member
Never made it to what I intended to do today but I did get some suspect electric lines down before something went wrong. Still some more to get disconnected but they don't run through a tree and held off the barn by a board.
You can do the same thing with a paint pin and a number. You want a database. You can easily make a database with bin one has xxxx, bin 2 has swinging widgets, bin three has whatever. Easier than QR codes. You would have to manually type the number into your phone instead of scan, but it’s super easy.
I have found that writing "Business" in sharpie across the face of the business card helps make sure I am charging to the correct card. My business card looks just like my Costco card, and I screwed up a couple of times before I sharpied it.
Prospecter
Well-known member
Just so impressed with your progress. It's almost like you are accelerating. Stay the course. You have a vision for those QR codes. With all your stuff, I can see you need a more sophisticated system than what I get away with in my little shop.
goldtang
Well-known member
I was lucky the two card were different colours
.Ron, it is a bit complicated and some of it is hard to wrap your head around, some of it is downright maddening if you have OCD. Basically every drawer, tote, shelf, box, or container is what I consider a "bin", a unique QR code is associated with each bin. The bins will also have a unique number that is used to differentiate one bin from another digitally and visually, but not to use as any sort of order or location (this was something I struggled with). The QR code is scanned and the linked file name will describe the location. I am still working on the exact way to label location, I think I have it figured out, if not, it can easily be modified later on and won't effect the QR codes that I print. I am using Dropbox to host the folders, this way they are available on all my devices and can be modified as I am working. These folders are linked to the QR codes, so if you scan a code it will bring up a folder with the appropriate bin number, this would be done when you put things into an empty bin, once the contents are input you are kind of done with the QR code until you either change the contents, remove something, add something, or move the bin to a new location. The QR code acts as a serial number for the bin, it stays with the bin forever, no matter what is in it or where you move it to.
Creating the QR code is relatively easy, of course I made things a bit more complicated by using my own hosting and a URL shortener to take the Dropbox link (address) and make it into something that looks a bit nicer. This also creates a "dynamic" QR code that I control and can modify in the future without breaking it. Most people use a "static" QR code, this means if you change the link (or address) the code is useless and you would have to print a new code any time you modify the link. I did this more to protect myself from Dropbox, so if they change something or go out of business, I can still rebuild my system and things will still work. Eventually I want to have things self hosted with my own private database so I don't need Dropbox, but that will be a bunch of learning and new skills.
An example of my use is I have a drawer with miscellaneous tools in it, I scan the QR code, add a list of tools directly from my phone, I can name the folder with additional language to designate the location. Say the bin is a drawer in one of my storage trailers, the folder name would start out already labeled as "Bin-A001", I would add Trailer 1, Row 1, Bay 5, @3. This means Trailer 1, Row 1 (Left side), Bay 5 would be the fifth spot from the door, could be shelves, drawers, whatever, and the @3 is about 3 feet off the floor. This gives you a quick way to locate things later. Once I have things in the bins, I search Dropbox for an item and it will pull up all folders with that search term, from there I may have to look at the folders to see what is in them, when I find what I want, I just go to the location that the folder name designates. Currently I am playing the "I think it is in here" game, spend 20 minutes to find out what I am looking for is not in here, then I go order it or buy it. It is easy to spend more than an hour a day looking for something, then more money and time ordering or going to buy something. I feel that this will save me tons of time in the long term. Is it going to be work, of course, but nothing I have tried has worked for me yet. I have wasted months, if not years of my life searching, not to mention huge amounts of money rebuying things that I already had.
Here is a QR code showing an empty folder:
and if you want to click on a link rather than using your camera: https://lok8bin.com/qr/test-a001
This is a sample one that I added some info.
Link: https://lok8bin.com/qr/test-a002
kent_323is
Well-known member
@Strouty That was a good summary of your QR code journey. Seems like you're close or ready to try it? Can you print out 5 to start with and just start using it?
Don't let perfect get in the way of good enough!
The other suggestion...reduce the amount of stuff!!! I know, I know, that's not the game we're playing here! I'm as guilty as the next guy for acquiring stuff! I did, however, sell 1 forklift a few weeks ago.
Don't let perfect get in the way of good enough!
The other suggestion...reduce the amount of stuff!!! I know, I know, that's not the game we're playing here! I'm as guilty as the next guy for acquiring stuff! I did, however, sell 1 forklift a few weeks ago.
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
Think of the years of extra time you would have saved by just buying something when you needed it, instead of trying to have everything. Think of what you’ve gone through, and the money you’ve spent just to store so much.
I know I’ve said it before, you do have some really cool ****, but it owns you.
No need to reply, I just needed to say it again, sorry. lol
Just_Steve
Well-known member
The plan is to start with the "bins" in the trailer, I want to put a lot of things out there and I have 80 drawers to start with. I also need to figure out how to print with my smaller labels so I can make them for the Lista drawers and smaller bins. I hope tomorrow will be the first batch of them, we are almost done with the throttle pedal and cable for the Yard Donkey, once that is done I am going to move some trailers around, plan is to bring the trailer that I am going to start loading to the front of the shop so I can just walk into it rather than adding extra steps of loading things into a truck or on a pallet.
Man, last night turned into a long one, I didn't get home until almost 1 AM, then I was wide awake thinking about shop layout and rebuilding things. I got two or so hours of broken sleep, feeling it now, I just hope I sleep tonight!
Today's goals are to get the throttle pedal done on the Yard Donkey, also going to try and fix the second rear cab latch, I already screwed up and forgot to bring the easy outs, so that might end up being a no go. I know we can deal with part of the fix, but honestly if I can't get the fitting out, the rest of the process is a waste. Just one more reason why having two shop spaces is no good.
Today's goals are to get the throttle pedal done on the Yard Donkey, also going to try and fix the second rear cab latch, I already screwed up and forgot to bring the easy outs, so that might end up being a no go. I know we can deal with part of the fix, but honestly if I can't get the fitting out, the rest of the process is a waste. Just one more reason why having two shop spaces is no good.
Just_Steve
Well-known member
Got it. Definitely a cool project.
Jim_No_Garage
Well-known member
Strouty - thanks for sharing your vision on the bins/QR_codes . . . again.
The hardest part in my mind would be making your descriptions consistent or complete to enable search at a later date. I work around data so this subject hits close to home.
We have entire teams of people working on taxonomies to categorize products for searching. I've been in on some extremely heated meeting when it's "librarians vs the mongol hordes" over categorizing things.
Carry on and keep us apprised as you progress.
CheerS
Jim
The hardest part in my mind would be making your descriptions consistent or complete to enable search at a later date. I work around data so this subject hits close to home.
We have entire teams of people working on taxonomies to categorize products for searching. I've been in on some extremely heated meeting when it's "librarians vs the mongol hordes" over categorizing things.
Carry on and keep us apprised as you progress.
CheerS
Jim
Jim, my inner monologue will be fighting over this as well. I have many times where I add "tags" to files to facilitate easy access later only to find out my brain doesn't think the same on Tuesdays and none of the tags I used are what comes to mind when I am actually searching for the files.
I figure things will be broad and the photos will be part of the deciphering, it will still be quicker than searching through multiple bins in multiple locations and the end goal would be to move things into specific areas once I have a handle on the contents. My example would be having four drawers of miscellaneous tools in four different locations, I would have a better idea of how much space I need and they could all be consolidated, better yet, they would get broken down into misc sockets, misc wrenches, hammer, or whatever. Right now I couldn't even begin to guess at what I have and trying to recall where stuff is from memory actually hurts. It is definitely an endeavor that is not for the faint of heart...
I figure things will be broad and the photos will be part of the deciphering, it will still be quicker than searching through multiple bins in multiple locations and the end goal would be to move things into specific areas once I have a handle on the contents. My example would be having four drawers of miscellaneous tools in four different locations, I would have a better idea of how much space I need and they could all be consolidated, better yet, they would get broken down into misc sockets, misc wrenches, hammer, or whatever. Right now I couldn't even begin to guess at what I have and trying to recall where stuff is from memory actually hurts. It is definitely an endeavor that is not for the faint of heart...
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Firebrand
Well-known member
I gotta hand it to ya for designing a system that fits your needs and operating concept despite seeming complicated and over thought by everyone else and sticking with it. Peer pressure is a ***** and not really productive in this case. Encouraging support is good but not always forthcoming. Run with it! And of course we need pictures once you can showcase an item search and location.
