Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
As a suggestion, how about installing a powered gable vent for your airflow?
From what I saw, this unit was about $85.
From what I saw, this unit was about $85.
Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT The **** Shack
- Thread starter bdbecker
- Start date
Workspaces between 485 and 705 squarefeet.
oldironfarmer
Well-known member
You could also look around for a used squirrel cage blower from a defunct furnace. They can be pretty cheap and really move the air.
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
^^^^^^^^
What Andy said!
What Andy said!
Wife and I worked on a project together this weekend. We upgraded to a king size bed last winter, but we couldn't afford a new bedroom set so we've just been using the basic metal frame. She's wanted a headboard to spruce up the room and I was sick of my pillow falling down along the wall, win-win.
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It's just a simple 2x4 and plywood box skinned with hardwood pallet boards (Lincoln weld wire pallets to be exact) and 1x6. Wife did all the staining and whitewashing, I did the building. The "rustic" look actually takes more work than you'd think, but honestly, it turned out better than I expected. While there were a few tense moments along the way, we do work well together. I couldn't have gotten this done without her help.
Also, I got the double-bit hung, just putting the finishing touches on both of them over the next few days.
View media item 69156
It's just a simple 2x4 and plywood box skinned with hardwood pallet boards (Lincoln weld wire pallets to be exact) and 1x6. Wife did all the staining and whitewashing, I did the building. The "rustic" look actually takes more work than you'd think, but honestly, it turned out better than I expected. While there were a few tense moments along the way, we do work well together. I couldn't have gotten this done without her help.
Also, I got the double-bit hung, just putting the finishing touches on both of them over the next few days.
oldironfarmer
Well-known member
Nice job on the headboard.
Wonderful that it was a family effort. Wives greatly appreciate that.
Wonderful that it was a family effort. Wives greatly appreciate that.
As a suggestion, how about installing a powered gable vent for your airflow?
From what I saw, this unit was about $85.
Thanks for the suggestion, however, I'm not sure if I can use one of those since I installed ridge vent. Apparently they can create a vacuum and cause air/moisture to be pulled in through the ridge.
Thanks Andy, this might be the ticket. I was also looking at inline duct fans, but the ones in my budget just don't seem to move a lot of air. All I want is to be able to create a negative air pressure in the building to pull out all the hot air that builds up during the day and **** in the cooler air at night. I'm thinking I could rig an intake or two in the ceiling and then duct it directly to the outside, this way I won't be messing with the passive air flow between the soffits and ridge. I'd wire it on a timer switch so if I do want to go out there at night, I can just crack the overhead door open and let it run for a few minutes - I bet with one of those fans I could have the space cooled off in a matter of minutes.
Also, since I mentioned the budget, I had to laugh a little at one of the links I had bookmarked from back in my "dreaming days" when I was thinking about how to do this.
http://www.tamtech.com/Infinity-2200-Ducted-Whole-House-Ventilation-System_p_99.html
A very nice system indeed, but there are a lot of other places where $590 could be better spent in my space. Heck, I think I only spent a little over $600 on my new roof.
Look what showed up in the mail...
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It's official, I am now "in business". Well, technically, I can now give the government the legally required portion of any income that may result from my hard work (remember, no politics on GJ), but for a sole proprietorship, that's all that is required in Iowa.
Every time Wife shares some of my projects on social media, there always seems to be a number of people who ask if I'm taking orders. That headboard is a perfect example - within a day of posting that picture, we had almost 200 "likes", a couple of "shares", and four people who asked if I'd be willing to build them something similar. I figure now is as good as time as any to start capitalizing on that interest. I don't intend on making this a big deal right now because I love spending time with my family and I really like my day job, so I don't want to over-do it. However, if I can sell something here and there and make a few extra bucks to help pay for some new tools or improvements to The Shack, then I might as well give it shot.
View media item 69250
It's official, I am now "in business". Well, technically, I can now give the government the legally required portion of any income that may result from my hard work (remember, no politics on GJ), but for a sole proprietorship, that's all that is required in Iowa.
Every time Wife shares some of my projects on social media, there always seems to be a number of people who ask if I'm taking orders. That headboard is a perfect example - within a day of posting that picture, we had almost 200 "likes", a couple of "shares", and four people who asked if I'd be willing to build them something similar. I figure now is as good as time as any to start capitalizing on that interest. I don't intend on making this a big deal right now because I love spending time with my family and I really like my day job, so I don't want to over-do it. However, if I can sell something here and there and make a few extra bucks to help pay for some new tools or improvements to The Shack, then I might as well give it shot.
HCNDM
Well-known member
Good on you! I've been considering getting a business license for side projects so I can legally add them to my income!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
rattle_snake
Well-known member
For garage ventilation I suggest a thru wall fan and some type of intake vent. They come in all sizes and prices. The intake can be blocked off during the cold months. I use them in conjunction with a timer and run the fan 3-5am to pull in cool air, with all doors closed and locked.
http://www.canarm.com/Agriculture/Ventilation/Exhaust_Fans/SD_Standard_Exhaust_Fans
http://www.broan.com/products/product/e3a047d6-b275-4242-8723-96e1133ef400
http://www.canarm.com/Agriculture/Ventilation/Exhaust_Fans/SD_Standard_Exhaust_Fans
http://www.broan.com/products/product/e3a047d6-b275-4242-8723-96e1133ef400
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I suppose if anyone would know how to keep a garage cool, it would be the guy who lives in the desert! I really like that timer idea... just set it and forget it.
FWIW, I'm back on the inline duct fan option now because, in my quest to track down a squirrel cage fan, I stumbled upon a plethora of affordable, high volume in-line duct fans online, much nicer than the ones I originally saw at Home Depot. Apparently people are using these to ventilate "grow rooms", I guess folks must really like having fresh "herbs" available for "cooking" year round!
Using two of these fans (one set to exhaust and one set to intake) I could change all the air in my space in about 10 minutes. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009LCEUEK/?tag=atomicindus08-20
oldironfarmer
Well-known member
Those blowers look good. Unless you find a squirrel cage blower for free. Look in old furnaces at the dump.
Went back to the farm again this weekend - had to get our taxes done. Our accountant is a guy I grew up with, it's a lot easier to trust him than some random person in a pop-up office. Besides, he charges less than half of what I would have to pay in the city.
Anyway, I mentioned to my Dad about how I'm restoring a couple of axes and asked him to keep his eye out at farm sales for me, and asked if he had anything that needs work so I can practice. Within a half hour of asking, this is what he came up with.
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He said he has a few more floating around, but he wasn't exactly sure where they were, but that he'd keep his eye out for them. Be careful of what you wish for I suppose! Speaking of the two axes...
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I'll probably get flamed by the "purists" for staining and painting the handles, but I figured what the heck, I'm just playing around with them. If it wears off, who cares, at least I'll be able to find them back if I lean it against a tree. I still need to sharpen them and I might play around with making some leather sheaths for them, we'll see.
Anyway, I mentioned to my Dad about how I'm restoring a couple of axes and asked him to keep his eye out at farm sales for me, and asked if he had anything that needs work so I can practice. Within a half hour of asking, this is what he came up with.
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He said he has a few more floating around, but he wasn't exactly sure where they were, but that he'd keep his eye out for them. Be careful of what you wish for I suppose! Speaking of the two axes...
View media item 69409
I'll probably get flamed by the "purists" for staining and painting the handles, but I figured what the heck, I'm just playing around with them. If it wears off, who cares, at least I'll be able to find them back if I lean it against a tree. I still need to sharpen them and I might play around with making some leather sheaths for them, we'll see.
breeaad
Well-known member
I like the axes - they look great!!
oldironfarmer
Well-known member
Handles look GREAT!! They look like they're yours!
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Thanks guys... I originally wasn't going to paint the handles, but as I was researching axe restoration on some of the axe and blade forums, there were a few guys who had done some interesting staining and paint jobs on their handles and I really liked how they turned out, so figured I'd give it a shot.
As is the case with anything of this nature, there are a few things I'll do differently on the next one. One example is that I started with the white paint and used it as my base layer/primer on the entire painted area. Then, I masked off the last few inches of white and did the coats of red. Next, I masked off the red and added the black lines. When I removed all the masking, I realized that I'd built of layers of paint on top of the white and you can feel them when you run your hand across the different colors, even though I put several coats of satin clear over top of everything. Also, if you look closely in person, you can actually see the white paint under the layer of black paint at the edge where the wood and paint meet. None of these issues bother me all that much because handles on axes are a wear item that will eventually need to be replaced. I look at all of this as good practice for when I get around to painting my motorcycle.
Speaking of good practice, I knocked the dirt off the two 3.5lb axe heads I got from my Dad and put them into the vinegar bath last night. Upon closer inspection, I see that both of them have been abused badly. One must have cracked sometime in its life and appears to have been stick welded back together. The other was used as a hammer and has a lot of mushrooming around the poll. Just to be clear, these heads are ones that my Dad has found on the farm over the years, so I can't give him a hard time about "axe abuse". I've named the welded one "Liberty Bell" because of the crack, and I think I'll call the other one "Thor" because it was used as a hammer. Thor might be salvageable, Liberty Bell will just be a wall hanger. The two smaller ones are in fantastic shape and should clean up very nicely.
As is the case with anything of this nature, there are a few things I'll do differently on the next one. One example is that I started with the white paint and used it as my base layer/primer on the entire painted area. Then, I masked off the last few inches of white and did the coats of red. Next, I masked off the red and added the black lines. When I removed all the masking, I realized that I'd built of layers of paint on top of the white and you can feel them when you run your hand across the different colors, even though I put several coats of satin clear over top of everything. Also, if you look closely in person, you can actually see the white paint under the layer of black paint at the edge where the wood and paint meet. None of these issues bother me all that much because handles on axes are a wear item that will eventually need to be replaced. I look at all of this as good practice for when I get around to painting my motorcycle.
Speaking of good practice, I knocked the dirt off the two 3.5lb axe heads I got from my Dad and put them into the vinegar bath last night. Upon closer inspection, I see that both of them have been abused badly. One must have cracked sometime in its life and appears to have been stick welded back together. The other was used as a hammer and has a lot of mushrooming around the poll. Just to be clear, these heads are ones that my Dad has found on the farm over the years, so I can't give him a hard time about "axe abuse". I've named the welded one "Liberty Bell" because of the crack, and I think I'll call the other one "Thor" because it was used as a hammer. Thor might be salvageable, Liberty Bell will just be a wall hanger. The two smaller ones are in fantastic shape and should clean up very nicely.
MRKerr
Well-known member
I literally have the same color sheet's and quilt blanket thing. Creepy
oldironfarmer
Well-known member
Are you his wife? Creepy
An interesting coincidence for sure, but I don't think its all that creepy. You wouldn't be following my thread if you didn't like some of the work I've done, so that tells me that we probably share similar tastes/preferences for things, and our significant others probably share those same general tastes/preferences (assuming you didn't pick out the bedding). Between that, the way we are constantly being bombarded by marketing and advertising, and the fact that there are only so many colors available for bedding, I'd be the odds are probably better than you'd think.
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If my wife created a profile and pretended to be a guy from Florida in order to spy on my GJ activities, that would in fact be creepy and would warrant further discussion. However, given her response when she asks what I'm reading so intently on my phone, and I tell her that I'm posting on GJ, I don't think she's all that interested in my activities here.
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Thanks Vieux! We don't really paint handles here either. From what I've read, the traditional reason behind why someone might have painted a handle was because sometimes forestry crews were issued their tools/gear and you would end up with a bunch of axes that were all the same. In order to keep it straight who used which axe, guys would paint the handles to tell them apart - George uses red, Mike uses blue, John is green, and so on. There really was no reason for me to paint the handles on my axes other than the fact that I thought it looked kind of neat wanted to try it out.
No real garage/project updates from this weekend. On Saturday, Wife and I took advantage of the break in the rain to do a bunch of yard work. I also got my truck all cleaned up and posted it for sale. I'm kind of sad about selling her, but she needs to go to someone who will use her instead of just sitting in my driveway.
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She's been a good truck over the last 10 years and we've had some good adventures together, but its time to move on. (Can you tell I get a little sentimental with vehicles?) Hopefully, besides making room in the driveway, selling the truck will also make some room in the budget to help tackle some projects around the house, and on the garage!
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She's been a good truck over the last 10 years and we've had some good adventures together, but its time to move on. (Can you tell I get a little sentimental with vehicles?) Hopefully, besides making room in the driveway, selling the truck will also make some room in the budget to help tackle some projects around the house, and on the garage!
That is a very valid question... I didn't trade my truck in when I got the Jeep a year ago for that exact reason. I figured I'd need it all the time, but that hasn't been the case at all. I've maybe used the truck a half-dozen times in the last year, and only one of those times did I really need a truck. I guess I'm more of a poser than I care to admit.
In the short term, if it won't fit in Wife's Grand Caravan (4x8 sheets lay flat when all the seats are folded down), there's a U-Haul rental place ~3 miles away from my house where I can rent a truck or cargo trailer for $20-30 a day. Long term, it's good incentive to get the '64 F100 on the road. Outside of that, my only real concern is when deer season rolls around, but I've been thinking about getting a hitch mounted cargo carrier anyway.
oldironfarmer
Well-known member
64 F100!
I saw a 57 Chevy 4wd pickup today and I think I'm in love. Wow!
I saw a 57 Chevy 4wd pickup today and I think I'm in love. Wow!
64 F100!
I saw a 57 Chevy 4wd pickup today and I think I'm in love. Wow!
I've always been a Ford guy ('65 F100 here), but I've always had a love for '55-'57 Chevy trucks. They have the best lines of probably any truck ever made.
oldironfarmer
Well-known member
This one was a junker but 4wd and high in front. It struck me how fine it would be with some really big tires coupled with a lift kit and a bit of paint. If I only knew someone who would actually work on one...
Grumblebum
Well-known member
I like how "revenue" is the large bold print on the paperwork. Lol.
Hope you end up with some change in your pocket though.
Headboard and axes looking good. Shame the F truck has to go but like you say if it's not being used...expensive also to maintain registration and insurance (at least here it is) if you don't use it much.
Have a good weekend
GB.
Hope you end up with some change in your pocket though.
Headboard and axes looking good. Shame the F truck has to go but like you say if it's not being used...expensive also to maintain registration and insurance (at least here it is) if you don't use it much.
Have a good weekend
GB.
Wow, a month goes by fast these days... Between traveling, family events, and getting the yard back in shape, I just haven't spent a lot of time in/on the garage this last month. This last weekend, I was actually home, and the weather was cold and rainy, so I figured it was a good time to burn up the last of the kerosene I had on hand and spend some time in the garage.
I got to work making a pair of end tables to sell - my first ever "for sale" item. The tops are made from rough cut hardwood that I salvaged off some Miller welder shipping pallets before they hit the dumpster at work. It took quite a bit of sanding to get them in presentable condition without taking away too much of the character. I then used the rusty vinegar from cleaning up axe heads to stain the boards. This is a fascinating process to watch. At first, you think you're just putting brownish vinegar on the wood. Then, it starts to turn colors. Once its dry, it looks terrible, but after hitting it with some wax, you're rewarded with a stunning finish that really highlights the character of the wood.
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This is by far my new favorite finish and solidifies vinegar's place as my new favorite chemical. Whats not to love? It makes pickles, cleans rust off axe heads, and now stains wood! This is just a sneak peak of one of the tops for now. The other is done, but with a more interesting result (more on that later). I still need to attach the legs - hopefully I can find time in the next few days to get that done and I'll post some pics of the finished product then.
I got to work making a pair of end tables to sell - my first ever "for sale" item. The tops are made from rough cut hardwood that I salvaged off some Miller welder shipping pallets before they hit the dumpster at work. It took quite a bit of sanding to get them in presentable condition without taking away too much of the character. I then used the rusty vinegar from cleaning up axe heads to stain the boards. This is a fascinating process to watch. At first, you think you're just putting brownish vinegar on the wood. Then, it starts to turn colors. Once its dry, it looks terrible, but after hitting it with some wax, you're rewarded with a stunning finish that really highlights the character of the wood.
View media item 70377
This is by far my new favorite finish and solidifies vinegar's place as my new favorite chemical. Whats not to love? It makes pickles, cleans rust off axe heads, and now stains wood! This is just a sneak peak of one of the tops for now. The other is done, but with a more interesting result (more on that later). I still need to attach the legs - hopefully I can find time in the next few days to get that done and I'll post some pics of the finished product then.
JustinS
Well-known member
Is that wood only stained with vinegar? Interesting!
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Vinegar you say......
oldironfarmer
Well-known member
Hmmm, I see a problem developing here.
Those tables will look nice enough your wife will want them.
Good job!
I'm assuming no long term issues with vinegar and wood.
Those tables will look nice enough your wife will want them.
Good job!
I'm assuming no long term issues with vinegar and wood.
goofiefoot
Well-known member
Glad to see an update! I like the direction these tables are heading. I may have to try that the next time I have some rusty vinegar (hopefully soon).
Finally subscribing to this thread.
Finally subscribing to this thread.
Vinegar you say......
Rusty vinegar... with the rust part being key. I'm not exactly sure how it works, but I suspect it has something to do with the tannins in the wood reacting with the acid in the vinegar, with the iron oxide acting as some sort of pigment. I've read that doesn't work so well with softwoods like pine unless you "paint" a coat of black tea or coffee on the wood first - there isn't enough naturally occurring tannin in the wood. With hardwoods, there is enough tannin and you don't have do do the tea/coffee coat unless you want to achieve a very dark finish.
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Your foresight is keen Andy. Yes, as soon as she saw them, she asked if we could keep them. I told her I'd be happy to keep them, but that if we did, I would get to go buy that Savage .17 HMR I've been wanting. I think she's waiting to see the finished product before she makes her decision.
I haven't read about any long term issues. I think once it dries, the reaction stops. Doing a second coat on a test piece didn't seem make any difference to the outcome. This makes it exceptionally easy to work with when compared to conventional stain because you don't have to worry about runs or uneven coating. The downside being that you are at the mercy of the wood, so if you are trying to achieve a certain look, there is not much you can do to control the outcome.
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Thanks Lefty! Glad to have you along for the ride!
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The vinegar finish really compliments the rough character of the dunnage wood! What type of wax did you use? Does the wax need to be reapplied as maintenance or is it a once and done process? Is the vinegar just common white vinegar like what you'd find at a grocer?
Thanks!
Ed
Thanks!
Ed
BoilermakerFan
Well-known member
I feel your pain BD! I'm also stuck polishing a turd. Except in my case, my floor isn't heaved, but we want to move out of Indiana within 2 years so I'm not spending a lot of money on a garage that I won't be keeping long term.
Here's a good summary of the process and a little bit of the science behind how it works:
http://www.leevalley.com/us/newsletters/Woodworking/7/4/article2.pdf
If you let the solution rest for a few weeks, you achieve a brown color. If you use it right away, you get a gray color. Might have to play around with that a little...
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I use a product called Howard's Feed-N-Wax on all my "bare wood". I really like this product and have been using it for a number of years now on everything from furniture to gun stocks. It leaves a nice satin finish on the wood and you just re-apply a couple times a year when it starts to get dull.
http://www.howardproducts.com/product/feed-n-wax-wood-polish-and-conditioner/
The vinegar is just the plain old white vinegar you can find at any grocery store. Instead of dissolving steel wool in the vinegar like a lot of the online recipes call for, I just re-used the vinegar I had been using to remove rust from some axe heads I restored, which in my mind, somehow makes it way more awesome.
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I seriously did consider tearing it down and starting over from scratch, but like I mentioned in my first post, I don't have the cash to pay for a whole new garage and I sure as heck wasn't going to finance it. That, and the fact that we'd like to eventually find an acreage out of town where I can hopefully build the garage of my dreams someday. I look at this build as good practice for the future. I know I've sure learned a lot so far and I'm less than 1 year into it!
http://www.leevalley.com/us/newsletters/Woodworking/7/4/article2.pdf
If you let the solution rest for a few weeks, you achieve a brown color. If you use it right away, you get a gray color. Might have to play around with that a little...
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I use a product called Howard's Feed-N-Wax on all my "bare wood". I really like this product and have been using it for a number of years now on everything from furniture to gun stocks. It leaves a nice satin finish on the wood and you just re-apply a couple times a year when it starts to get dull.
http://www.howardproducts.com/product/feed-n-wax-wood-polish-and-conditioner/
The vinegar is just the plain old white vinegar you can find at any grocery store. Instead of dissolving steel wool in the vinegar like a lot of the online recipes call for, I just re-used the vinegar I had been using to remove rust from some axe heads I restored, which in my mind, somehow makes it way more awesome.
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I seriously did consider tearing it down and starting over from scratch, but like I mentioned in my first post, I don't have the cash to pay for a whole new garage and I sure as heck wasn't going to finance it. That, and the fact that we'd like to eventually find an acreage out of town where I can hopefully build the garage of my dreams someday. I look at this build as good practice for the future. I know I've sure learned a lot so far and I'm less than 1 year into it!
BoilermakerFan
Well-known member
Oh yeah, I've been there... 3 times. And I'm in the exact same scenario as you. Waiting to move out of Indiana and buy a little land so we can build a small house with an attached garage, then build a big barn shop a short distance away from the house. Spending time on GJ helps and doesn't help. We gather so many great ideas and see so many great garages, but then we have to put ourselves in check... look at our turds, and remember the long term plan. The implementation of the really cool ideas has to wait.