Above 1200 Sq/FT The Salvage Garage

[Strouty]

Had to go up one of our towers to test fit and measure a few things.

 

[xtremek]

Glad you got it done today? Isn't tomorrow supposed to be nasty in your neck of the woods? How far up this time?

 

[Strouty]

Yes, tomorrow will be a bad day for tower work. My Brother and I were looking at a job, trying to decide if we want to do it or not, looks like the consensus is yep, we are doing it! I enjoy working with him, so it should be a good time as well as a greatly profitable one. We are trying to figure out how to do things so we streamline the labor and parts as much as possible. In actuality, it is two jobs, but similar enough that it makes sense to do both of them. The money is just too good to pass up.

On the shop side, the Procon pump did not show up, so hopefully it will arrive Monday. The drive couplers did show up, so I should be ready to fix the Coolmate, then I can test out the welders, well, figure out how to use them.

 

[ttpete]

Yes, tomorrow will be a bad day for tower work. My Brother and I were looking at a job, trying to decide if we want to do it or not, looks like the consensus is yep, we are doing it! I enjoy working with him, so it should be a good time as well as a greatly profitable one. We are trying to figure out how to do things so we streamline the labor and parts as much as possible. In actuality, it is two jobs, but similar enough that it makes sense to do both of them. The money is just too good to pass up.

On the shop side, the Procon pump did not show up, so hopefully, it will arrive Monday. The drive couplers did show up, so I should be ready to fix the Coolmate, then I can test out the welders, well, figure out how to use them.

When you plumb the cooler, don't use the solenoid water valve on the welder. It's for use only with plumbing systems that use city or well water that's always pressurized. If you do, you'll deadhead the pump and burst a torch line.

 

[Strouty]

Good to know, I only have one welder that has that and I was curious how it was supposed to work with an external cooler. I still need to order some new fittings and hoses, but I know I can test things out, just wouldn't want to go into production welding with my temporary setup. I will probably order all the quick connects and hoses on Monday.

 

[Strouty]

My Dad gave me another truck project, not sure what I am going to do with it yet, I may sell it or use the cab. The truck is a 1956 chevy pickup, but he has sold the original drivetrain and started mounting it onto a newer chevy frame with a duramax setup. The cab has been hacked up a bit, I don't know if all the parts are there to actually build the truck, it may be missing glass, as well as interior parts. From what I can remember it is pretty solid with minimal rust issues, he had it sandblasted and then they coated it with WD-40 so it wouldn't rust. Access to it is limited right now due to the storage location, so probably won't even know what I am doing for a few weeks or more. I have been seeing a lot of cool flatbed trucks with older cabs lately and this would be a nice style for that purpose.



This is what it looked like before he removed the running gear.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Just what you need another project, taking up your time and space. Rich

 

[Strouty]

I know, exactly what I was thinking. Most likely it would replace another project, at least that is my thought process.

 

[xtremek]

If you shipped it here, I'd take it off of your hands.

 

[casmurbax]

xtremek wants you to ship it to Michigan, I will save you the hassle and cost, I will be happy to come up there and take it off your hands. Gives me a great reason to go up north.

You are going to be busy with that tower.

Seriously I like those styles of trucks.

 

[RacerRick]

My Dad gave me another truck project, not sure what I am going to do with it yet, I may sell it or use the cab. The truck is a 1956 chevy pickup, but he has sold the original drivetrain and started mounting it onto a newer chevy frame with a duramax setup. The cab has been hacked up a bit, I don't know if all the parts are there to actually build the truck, it may be missing glass, as well as interior parts. From what I can remember it is pretty solid with minimal rust issues, he had it sandblasted and then they coated it with WD-40 so it wouldn't rust. Access to it is limited right now due to the storage location, so probably won't even know what I am doing for a few weeks or more. I have been seeing a lot of cool flatbed trucks with older cabs lately and this would be a nice style for that purpose.



This is what it looked like before he removed the running gear.

I am doing a similar swap. but you need to use the earlier frames as they 99 up are just too wide for the vehicle. Square bodies fit the best, with and 87-98's fitting also, but a bit on the wide site.

You may want to sell that. If you don't, I do have a 91' C1500 frame setup for the 55-59 cab. It has been shortend and the wheelbase seems off though. It will be just a bare frame. but would be free.

 

[Strouty]

Thanks for the offer Rick, at this point I have no clue what I am doing, once I get it back to the shop, I can assess things and then decide. I am guessing mid April for that, but could be sooner, all depends on the weather.

I hope to have my parts delivered today for the cooler, I am dragging my feet at the house doing some paperwork, but I really need to get going as I have to go to the office and then do some errands before heading to the shop. Tomorrow and Wednesday are both going to be primarily office days, but Thursday I should be able to take more time for the shop.

 

[Strouty]

My pump hasn't even left California yet, they tell me it is shipping today.

I guess I will adjust my plans again. I am beginning to think I should say that I will have the welder ready by May as we are getting really close to April. I also think I am starting to feel "older" as time really doesn't slow down, it is marching forward, stomping all over everything I have planned!

 

[86turbodsl]

My pump hasn't even left California yet, they tell me it is shipping today.

I guess I will adjust my plans again. I am beginning to think I should say that I will have the welder ready by May as we are getting really close to April. I also think I am starting to feel "older" as time really doesn't slow down, it is marching forward, stomping all over everything I have planned!

It doesn't slow down any. Prepare thyself!

 

[Strouty]

I guess I am getting ready for it to feel faster. I think in reality you just forget what you have done easier and things take longer so time seems to move quicker.

I spent some time tonight with my Snap On guy, he sold me too much stuff, but there were some great rebates and special financing for "shop owners", so I took advantage of them taking advantage of me. Anyways now I have some more shiny things and a big dent in my budget. I did not have enough time to order any more parts, so I am sure my projects will be at a stand still for another week. At least I am resigned to the fact that things are not going to go the way I would like them, plus I am making good money avoiding doing my non paying projects. Today I got to pretend I was a lawyer and battle back and forth with a representative from T-Mobile, these guys can be pretty dumb, but I like this guy, he is a subcontractor that handles site acquisitions and leasing, so I have dealt with him for years. He was trying to tell me that they wouldn't agree to this and that, but I showed him that they are agreeing to it at another site as we speak, so he had to kind of eat his words. I actually enjoy this type of stuff and I am pretty good at it.

 

[86turbodsl]

I have used T-mobile for quite a few years as my carrier, my impression is they are VERY aggressively building out their infrastructure. They weren't putting anything into it back when they were trying to get bought by AT&T, but since that died, it's been balls to the wall. What do you think ?

 

[Strouty]

I bought a cheap top for the new table I got, I have to trim and seal it, but it looks like it will work well. It is actually about an eighth inch too short on both sides, but I am not buying the really expensive top just to hack off a bit less than 24” to make it fit perfectly.

eBay is having a 15% off sale, so I am ordering a couple things, one thing is the carb, mixer, and valve for the propane F-700 truck.

 

[Strouty]

I have used T-mobile for quite a few years as my carrier, my impression is they are VERY aggressively building out their infrastructure. They weren't putting anything into it back when they were trying to get bought by AT&T, but since that died, it's been balls to the wall. What do you think ?

T-Mobile is looking to directly compete with AT&T and Verizon, so they are definitely stepping things up. They are doing more upgrades in our towers than anyone else.

 

[Strouty]

I used my kreg accu-cut for the first time, thanks to Alex for the recommendation on it. I need more extension pieces, but, holy **** does it work well. Much cheaper than a track saw, since I don’t do a lot of long cuts, this will be a great asset for me.

 

[86turbodsl]

I love kreg stuff. Use them often for pocket screws.

Sent from my LG-TP450 using Tapatalk

 

[Strouty]

I haven’t done as much with pocket screws, but I do have one of those kits too.

Too is going to look great, once it dries, I can bolt it down.

 

[86turbodsl]

I agree. Looks great. Looking into that Trac saw.

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[Strouty]

They sell the one I bought and then the extended version, buy the longer one.

 

[xtremek]

While you're busy shipping the truck, you can throw a table like in the box Seriously, it looks really nice.

 

[Strouty]

I had to use the excavator, but I got the 56 to fit in a large flat rate box.

I am going to mount the top later this week, I have a ton of stuff that is more important than the shop, so I can only steal time here and there. Today was a fluke, got to do some errands and some work at the shop. Tonight I need to do some office work, then tomorrow I have meetings almost all day. Thursday may offer some time in the afternoon though, fingers crossed.

 

[Craptain]

I have used T-mobile for quite a few years as my carrier, my impression is they are VERY aggressively building out their infrastructure. They weren't putting anything into it back when they were trying to get bought by AT&T, but since that died, it's been balls to the wall. What do you think ?

I'm a tmobile customer too. They are really kicking *** to upgrade their service. Still got big gaps in the Carolina's but they have a plan. They bought up a lot of the TV frequencies that are now available for cell service. That will extend the coverage greatly.

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[86turbodsl]

Yeah, coverage is getting better all the time. I get crazy fast speeds and having all the streaming services not count against my data, i use it constantly. On it right now on pandora.

 

[Strouty]

My afternoon meeting got canceled, so I am going to head to the shop for a while, I am working from the house right now, waiting for a couple deliveries. In theory my pump and parts for the coolmate are arriving, would be nice to have them at the shop and be able to do something with them.

 

[rmalkow2]

Nice job on the table and wood top. Looks great and will make a good mobile work surface.

 

[Strouty]

Thanks RM

Glad I did that the other day, I didn’t even make it to the shop today.

 

[86turbodsl]

Did your cooler stuff show up yet? Inquiring minds want to know.... ;P

 

[Strouty]

Almost everything showed up yesterday, will try and piece it together today. I still don’t have all the fittings and hose, but I have enough to figure out what I need and then I can order things.

 

[jack stand]

Did your cooler stuff show up yet? Inquiring minds want to know.... ;P

Man, all of Strouty's stuff is cooler than mine

 

[Strouty]

Only when my heat is off.

 

[xtremek]

 

[Strouty]

Yesterday I tried to get a free belt grinder. I saw it on Craigslist and it had been posted for 38 minutes. I drove over to where it was and got to help a guy I know through an acquaintance load it into the back of HIS truck. He beat me to it by about 10 minutes. At least it is going to someone that isn’t going to scrap it. No pictures, but it was a big girl, double belts.

 

[86turbodsl]

Wow. Early bird gets the worm. Always.

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[Strouty]

I hesitated and that was the difference between it being in my truck and his.

 

[86turbodsl]

Yep. Live and learn. I've had a few of those, but now usually when i see a good deal, i pull the trigger HARD. Did the stuff show up? Sorry, being pushy. Want to see you tiggin'.

 

[Strouty]

Everything I need, or at least I think I need, is here, just need to find the time to "have at it". I am waiting on my Brother right now, we are loading up a couple tower sections to bring to my shop so we can start figuring out the plan of attack on the tower upgrades. I would like to get that figured out by next week. I have already gone through a ton of ideas with the engineer, so now I think I can get tot the fabrication process, at least to make my mock ups and get those approved. This is the kind of stuff I like to do, so it will be better than regular work.