Above 1200 Sq/FT The Salvage Garage

[Strouty]

Thanks guys, now I have to impatiently wait the 24 hour cure time. I guess tomorrow I will work on bench tops, I figure I can move the clamps around in order to get started on the sanding. I wish I could have it all finished for tomorrow, but probably won’t be ready for another week or so.

 

[cbacres]

Nothing like good clamps and a BFH

Like the wood top.

 

[Strouty]

Nothing like good clamps and a BFH

Like the wood top.

That wasn't even the big one!

 

[Orionrising]

I thinks those plastic feet are meant to go the other side, to stabilize the clamps when used upright on a bench. I think. not sure, one brand of mine came with em other didnt.

 

[Strouty]

I bet they can be used either way, when I tightened the clamps without them, there was a bit of a bow, once I put them in there, no issues at all.

 

[PelicanPines]

Yea.. to prevent bowing ... I do the over under clamp arrangement... every other one...

 

[Strouty]

I thought the idea behind parallel clamps was you didn’t need to do that? If I had just pipe clamps I would have alternated them for sure.

Trying to get the top sanded, will take a bit of work, but I am on it. Just broke the belt on the belt sander and not sure if I have any more. Probably have to go out and get one, just one more thing to do, but I want this project done sooner rather than later if possible.

 

[legenddc]

In theory that works, but they seem to have some more pressure at the end of the clamps. Could be that the biscuit jointer was slight off or maybe the top was originally off some? Either way, looks like it won't be too hard to straighten it out.

Nice progress with everything!

 

[Strouty]

Thanks!

It was the top pieces being off that made the biscuit off. To be clear when I was talking about bowing, I meant the long part of the clamps, I had them raised up a bit and until I added those plastic pieces, the clamps were bowed, not the wood.

 

[PelicanPines]

I had a girlfriend in HS that was bow legged. No matter what I did... she walked funny too. Probably why I asked her out.

 

[Strouty]

I just got done telling my Father that Monday’s and Friday’s were mine and I would not be doing any of his work, well been on the phone for over an hour and have several emails and things that need to be done today, all for him. I really hate dealing with family when business is involved. The issue is, this will probably be my future, so I have to take things as they come.

 

[jakemac]

As a virgin butcher block gluer back togetherer, I would say do not use biscuits to help join it. The wood had a couple funky spots and I couldn’t line things up due to the biscuits, so now I will need to sand the top because of a high spot on one end. I was trying to leave the character of the wood, but looks like it will need to create its own charm over the years. There are a few deep marks that will survive. I had to buy new glue as my stuff looked like tapioca padding and I didn’t want to chance having an issue with that. I should have bought a roller or silicon brush. I guess I will have to invest in some more tools next time. The new clamps are great, hopefully I didn’t squeeze all the glue out, guess I will know tomorrow evening.

I see usable workspace in that shop, good job.

 

[Strouty]

Thanks Jake, this top is from Alex, so it is a cool addition.

 

[Strouty]

Just got done with my other job, getting dinner, then need to get some supplies and place a couple orders on amazon. Tomorrow I have to meet with a few people and go through more paperwork at the new office, old paperwork, but it needs to be gone through before we put it in the new file cabinets. Then I have to get to the bank and the post office to send out some money orders so I can have another GJ member pay for and pick up those axles for me. I think it will work out well for us both, he will get some extra money and I don’t have to spend 13 hours in a truck.

 

[cbacres]

Are you sealing the wood? Or just sanding down and letting it eat? I was all geared up to build a sled and rails to plane it down using a router, but now I'm at the point I'm just going to give it a good sanding and will seal with a product Craptain recommended , I just can't remember what it is
I'll pass it once I remember.

 

[Strouty]

I am going to seal it, I want to try a recommendation by another member, but I may also use waterlox so I can see what it looks like when finished. We just did a counter top for my GF's craft room and used waterlox, it turned out very nice.

 

[cbacres]

Here’s the sealer I was referring to. I like that it seals but doesn’t build up on the surface.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Strouty]

I will have to look into it, but I owe it to myself to try the custom blend recommended to me.

 

[BoilermakerFan]

I'm assuming you will, but remember to seal all sides of the top or it will split again.

 

[Strouty]

I'm assuming you will, but remember to seal all sides of the top or it will split again.

Unfortunately I do know that, it will only take more time! I don't think I will even be at the shop until Friday at this point.

 

[BoilermakerFan]

Unfortunately I do know that, it will only take more time! I don't think I will even be at the shop until Friday at this point.

It only adds a little more time since it doesn't have to be as smoothly sanded or take as many coats with all the sanding in between.

When I was framing my big basement workbench I sealed EVERYTHING, including the inside framework. I'm really glad I did too since it has been out in my garage for so long. The T&G hickory on top only shrank a little bit, but it would have been enough to really cause problems if I hadn't sealed all sides of the wood frames, sub-base plywood on both sides, and the bottom plywood on both sides...


And my bookcase shelves are primer sealed on all sides too.

 

[Strouty]

I bought some new belts for the belt sander, not sure I will get to the shop today at all. My office is more of a priority at this point and yesterday I made good progress. Still have a ton to do and it is supposed to rain tomorrow, so I want to get as much done as possible.

I did go to the shop last night, but only to bring some trash to the dumpster so it can be picked up today. I am going to start some new lists, lists of important and unimportant things, I really need to understand why I keep doing the unimportant things. I think actually seeing them in list form may help me. I will have to see what things can be done by others and what things I am really wasting my time and skills on. There are several time wasters that I enjoy doing, but I still need to evaluate everything.

I am not looking forward to this process as it will most likely dredge up some unwanted feelings and thoughts. At this point, I don’t see any other way to really make a good assessment of my mess I call life.

 

[Craptain]

I can totally understand your situation with important vs unimportant things. I am really bad at that myself. A fact often pointed out by my gf. What it really comes down to, is that I do what is more fun and put off the other jobs till "later" which often doesn't come. This in turn costs me money as I end up paying for work that I could have done myself. Case in point, I just paid to get the house painted when I have pressure washer and painting equipment. The worst of it is that I can always find a justification for it. In this case, they did a better job, and quicker.

Good luck with the lists. I hope it works.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[FarmerWill]

Seeing threads like this gives me inspiration for my poor old hovel of a garage.. lol... that's a helluva job.
I like the cabinets, the storage and ORGANIZATION...

 

[Strouty]

Thanks Farmerwill, this has been one heck of a journey and it is not even close to over yet. I hope that the rest of this year will really kick things into overdrive, only time will tell.

Craptain, I too am a master at rationalizing things. It is a huge negative in my book and I have been working on it, but not across the board. I really need to live the way I want in all aspects rather than just trying to do it in one or two places. I am thinking long and hard to come up with the answers and I know that selling, scrapping, donating, and trashing things will be a big part of getting me there.

 

[FarmerWill]

Wishing you the best of luck.
Starting to work on mine.
I have big plans... no budget (HAHAHA!) and no time!
Figured if I started now, by the time I am ready to retire... I might be getting close...lol... all those side projects, motorcycles and toys to work on.

 

[Strouty]

Most of us have too many projects, myself included. Someday I would like to say that I don't have too many projects.

 

[dkmc]

I'm glad I don't have too many projects, only a couple hundred or so.
Not including the 2-3 more I drag home each month.
No idea how to stop.

 

[southalabama]

Don't spend a whole lot of time making lists. Just make it of the most pressing items.

One New Years I started making a list of all the projects that I was working on or I wanted to do. At a point I stopped and realized that I would never live long enough, never have enough time nor have enough money. After that I just did those that I could easily accomplish or the most pressing.

Sometimes finishing something no matter how small gives me a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.

I've followed the thread. You have done wonders with the shop.

 

[Strouty]

Thanks southalabama, taking too much time for the lists is a bad idea, I just want to see what I can come up with for things that I feel are important to me and things that are unimportant, especially the things I am currently doing that are just wasting my time, effort, and sanity. The trouble I am having right now is that the things that I used to "love" to do, are no longer even fun and I just need to understand if they are that way because of the current stressors or if I am just not interested anymore. Tough choices are ahead, over the last year, I have made substantially less money than normal and have worked substantially more time than normal. This has all been to help out with my Father's business and he is looking for me to take more of a role, except right now I don't see any upside to doing it. I have discussed things with him, but I am not sure we can get to a point where I am comfortable with the financial side, let alone the seemingly endless hours. On paper, the hours are no where near as bad as they seem, but when you look at what is actually happening, I am getting screwed. Basically, I work 4 to 5 hours a day on his stuff, except it is an hour here, an hour there, 30 minutes, 15 minutes, 2 hours.............. In the end, I feel like I get nothing done because all that is left is the between time. I need to be available to answer calls and emails as some things just can't wait or the people are really hard to get ahold of. Especially when dealing with the government entities and the engineers.

We thought we had a solution, I was to work Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for his stuff and Monday and Friday for mine. Sounded great, but Monday rolled around and I get six important emails by 10 AM, another ten by noon. At this point I have been on the phone for over two hours and looks like I will have to go to one of our sites to take pictures in the afternoon. In the end, I spent about 45 minutes working on what I came to my shop to do, got nothing done, hardly got anything started. Friday rolls around and I had to finish cleaning up the mess we made in the office on Wednesday and Thursday, take the recycling away, then go to the scrap yard to get rid of all the old file cabinets/desks. By the time I was done, it was 2 o'clock, I ended up stopping in to see how my Brother was doing on his truck project and drop off some things he needed that had been in my truck for about a week. At this point, my day was over, my back had decided it had enough carrying things up and down the stairs at the new office. So even though I can only bill for half a day, my day "off" was totally unproductive.

 

[cbacres]

Well guys, got to enjoy life along the way, we're likley not going to everything done that we set out to do, I'm just as guilty on bringing home projects and making plans. The things we buy for our shops are not everyday items, got to seize them when they come up, fix up later for use if needed, at least this is what I'm living by right now. Yes, it creates a over packed shop for me, but my plan is slowly coming together, even the major revision I brought on myself earlier this year ( it started with the wife saying something about I should get a small shed for some of my stuff ).

I too end up paying for things that I can do, and that I geared up in tools for, but unfortunately the time thing gets me. For once in my life I can afford to spend a little paying for these things to be done, life's getting shorter and I'm not really worried about leaving a big bank account for the kids, they'll have a lot of nice stuff in the shop to remember me by , and in the very end, have our property to cash in on.

It's cool that we can share our thoughts on here, cause for me, there's not a lot of people close by me that get it other than my son and in part my wife. You're moving along great Strouty, I think you mentally beat your self up too much. I have some of the same thinking, just stays in my head more.

 

[jack stand]

I have made substantially less money than normal and have worked substantially more time than normal. This has all been to help out with my Father's business and he is looking for me to take more of a role, except right now I don't see any upside to doing it.

Strouty I was under the impression you worked with your Dad in the tower business, were you previously working out of your garage and just helping your Dad here & there? If this is "prodding" too much or I missed it, my apologies.

 

[Strouty]

Strouty I was under the impression you worked with your Dad in the tower business, were you previously working out of your garage and just helping your Dad here & there? If this is "prodding" too much or I missed it, my apologies.

I am totally independent of him, other than the fact that he hires me as a consultant type to do leasing and handle permitting. I do share equipment back and forth, but his company is totally separate from me and my company. Right now he is looking to have me take over various portions of his company, but my concern is that if I short change myself and just do his stuff, my future could be not so bright as I will lose the connections that I have developed over the years forever. All I really want is to manage the tower sites he owns, I am a part owner of one and I have shared revenue from some customers that I brought to the table, plus I have one that is my tower. He wants to just pay me a few hours here and there and I want some sort of commitment due to the fact that when things happen, they tend to be time consuming. The tower that I started permitting on last March has not even been started yet and there are still negotiations that need to be done. He has no interest in any of this and would have to pay a lawyer to do the majority of it, he pays me substantially less, and takes up a lot of my time.

 

[Strouty]

When I am not doing my tower jobs, I buy and sell stuff, it is a fun thing and I have not been able to do it for more than a year due to all the meetings and coordinating I have had to do. Don’t get me wrong, I have free time, but it doesn’t flow very well making it difficult to get my stuff done. I also make half what I would normally make per hour when working for Dad, I am hoping that we can get some sort of an agreement together so I feel that there is a future for me, then I will gladly work hard at a discounted rate knowing that it will offset in the future, the only way I see that working is some sort of revenue sharing deal.

 

[Seagoon]

Strouty
I only know what you have put on here, so I may be wrong, but it sounds like your Dad is taking advantage of you, and it has sounded like that right from the start.
You might need to get firm and tell him that either he pays you enough or you walk. That is maybe the only language he will understand.

 

[Strouty]

You are not the only one that thinks that. Since his parents passed away I have been involved in that mess, but only in a minor way, even then I can see the huge problems that they have had to overcome. His parents both had trusts setup and it has still been a chore. My father has no will and is in his early 70s, his estate would probably be valued somewhere around 10 million, possibly more as we keep unearthing weird assets that he has. His attorney is very concerned and we are all trying to get him moving on it. He is just now starting to realize that if something were to happen to him, his company would probably fail in short order. I am trying to get things in order so that the accounting is understandable, rather than the current cryptic state. He owns 10 towers and each tower has multiple tenants, not one tenant pays the same, hardly any of the leases are the same, and most have varying percentages that they increase each year. We are not able to locate 3/4 of the leases, so I am working on finding or acquiring them, just to find out where we stand. It is basically like a forensic accounting process and it takes some serious time, especially with the bigger tenants.

My brother has no interest in the company, not one bit, my Father’s wife wants the revenue stream to keep going, but wants me to help manage it in case he passes, I am more concerned that he is going to become incompetent due to his memory, we are already having small issues about the direction of things that he forgot he directed in the first place. I look at this as helping the family for the future generations, he has done an unbelievable job getting to where he is today, but he has lost connection with the reality of the future and what it holds.

 

[Strouty]

Not nearly as hot, but it sure is sticky. Wish I was in my air conditioned shop, but instead I am sweating my **** off lugging file cabinets up two flights of stairs to the office. Better luck next week, maybe.

 

[jack stand]

Tough family situation there buddy, I'm "butting out" of any suggestions in another's family concerns. Just follow your heart, you'll do what's best.

 

[Strouty]

It is a tough one. No need to be shy, I can take good and bad advice equally.

 

[Orionrising]

https://www.proxibid.com/aspr/PUTNA...-440V-3PH/42576381/LotDetail.asp?lid=42576381

here I found you a lathe in Bath to match the scale of your drill press... current bid 8 bucks closing tomorrow.