Dang it... brushed tools... I got excited there for a minute. I don't really want to compromise on that feature.
Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT The **** Shack
- Thread starter bdbecker
- Start date
Workspaces between 485 and 705 squarefeet.
Dang it... brushed tools... I got excited there for a minute. I don't really want to compromise on that feature.
Bob Heine
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Brad, I know. Once you use the brushless [Fuel] tools the brushed ones aren't attractive. I bought the brushed ones to start just so I could get away from the discontinued battery mess. I have Porter Cable and Craftsman Nextec 12v tools, which are no longer sold, as well as a couple of Flex 10v tools, also no longer sold or supported. Unless it's unavailable in Fuel, all my Milwaukee battery tools are Fuel
amkluttz
Well-known member
Bob,@amkluttz, their website has a crazy deal right now, not $499 but $299 ($500 off).
Milwaukee M18 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Tool Kit (5-Tool) with 3.0 Ah and 1.5 Ah Batteries, Charger and Tool Bag 2691-25MT - The Home Depot
MILWAUKEE M18 5 Piece Combo Kit features an M18 ½ in. Drill Driver, the most compact in its class to access the tightest work spaces while delivering users 500 in-lbs of torque and up to 1,800 RPM. Thewww.homedepot.com
That's a pretty great deal as well. The exact one I saw in the store I can't find on their website but had the circular saw, reciprocating saw and a grinder. This kit had two 3.0 ah batteries plus the "free" 5.0. It was one of the kits on the big poster of "Buy this, get this free". I just remembered thinking that for $499 that wasn't a terrible deal. Then an hour later I'm catching up here on The **** Shack so thought I would pass the info along.
amkluttz
Well-known member
I didn't think about that. I ended up going brushed (non-Fuel) tools on my kit and haven't been disappointed so far. When you start getting into the Fuel tools the $$$ start adding up. I tried to see if I could go with fewer Fuel tools while still spending the same amount of money but just couldn't turn down the deal I got. All of my Milwaukee stuff, save the M12, is used as a home gamer setup so I don't think I stress the brushed tools too badly.
That is certainly a fair point. My current tools were the budget models at the time and have had no issues (other than batteries) over the last 8-9 years. Brushed tools would probably serve me just fine. But at the same time the brushless tools are so much nicer to use and are worth the added expense to me, at least when it comes to the drill and impact. I could certainly see mixing in a few brushed tools along the way.
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Mini update on the goings on...
Main focus as been on the bathroom lately. Lighting has been sorted out. Skim coating is done (Wife did a fantastic job!). I got everything primed and the ceiling painted over the weekend. Hope to have the wall paint wrapped up, the lights re-installed (removed for painting), and maybe even get started on the trim next weekend. As much as I want to be done, I'm trying not to rush the finishing details.
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
An unhappy update... Norma Jean passed away Monday night. She's been by my side for nearly 13 years - longer than I've known Wife. She was 50% Newfoundland, 50% Labrador, and 100% love. I couldn't have asked for a better dog. I'm sure going to miss her, but I'll never forget her.
nicholam77
Well-known member
Very sorry to hear that, Brad. I can tell she was a sweet dog just by the pic.
racer-john
Well-known member
Sorry to hear that your best four legged friend has past on.
wreckdiver1321
Well-known member
Sorry to hear about Norma Jean Brad, that's always really hard. I've seen the passing of a few dogs in my life, and it's never easy, but there's something special about the time they do have with you.
My old boy is getting up there too, he's 9. Hopefully he's got plenty of years left in him for my kids to chase him around.
My old boy is getting up there too, he's 9. Hopefully he's got plenty of years left in him for my kids to chase him around.
Thanks for the kind words fellas. Last week was rough, but focusing on the good memories instead of dwelling on the fact that she's gone makes it a little easier.
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Another mini update... still focused on getting the bathroom done. I'm purposely not posting pics because I don't think anyone will find them all that interesting. Besides one corner that needs a little touch up, the paint is done. We decided at the last minute to do an accent color on the wall behind the toilet, which meant I didn't really have time to start on the trim and casing. Speaking of trim, I was happy to find that the measurements worked out well enough with the stock lengths at the store that I should have a nice amount of wiggle room without creating a bunch of drop/waste.
My 'measure twice, cut once' story...
Thinking about having just the perfect amount of trim boards has me reliving a mistake I made ten years ago at my old house. I had a few odds and ends that needed to be ******* before putting the house on the market, including replacing the window casing in the bedrooms (to match the rest of the house). I had already moved out, so I had to make a four hour trip (one way) to button everything up. Things were going well on Saturday and I got it in my head that if I stayed on task, I could get everything wrapped up and leave that night. I'd get home late, but it'd be better than spending another night on a blow up camping mattress in an empty house.
I had plenty of casing for the windows, but made a bad cut early on. I checked all my measurements against what I still had and found that I still had just enough to get by as long as I didn't screw up again. I thought for a moment about going to the store to get one more board just to be sure, but that would have added an hour and a half delay (nearest Menards was 45 minutes away). Going to the store would mean that I wouldn't be leaving that night, so I told myself to just stay focused and it'll be okay. Sure enough, on the last cut for the last board, I screwed up again. Not a "that can be filled with a little caulk mistake". I measured to the inside of the miter, but used that measurement to cut the outside, leaving me a few inches short. Once I realized my mistake, I looked at my watch. 8:30pm. The store closed in 30 minutes. No way in hell I was going to make it in time.
The next morning, I head over to Menards bright and early to be there at 6am when they opened. I walk up to the door only to find it locked. Then I see the hours - they don't open until 8am on Sundays. Trying to find a silver lining, I decide to head over to my favorite breakfast spot, but they're closed as well. I gas up the truck and head back to Menards to wait. I tried to take a nap, but ended up just laying there thinking about the old adage 'measure twice, cut once'. After the store opened and I got my board and headed back to the house. Once I got to the house, I finished up and was on the road less than a half hour later, which was almost exactly 12 hours later than what I would have liked.
Now that I have five Menards stores within a 20 minute drive from my house, I'm sure every cut I make on this project will be perfect.
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Another mini update... still focused on getting the bathroom done. I'm purposely not posting pics because I don't think anyone will find them all that interesting. Besides one corner that needs a little touch up, the paint is done. We decided at the last minute to do an accent color on the wall behind the toilet, which meant I didn't really have time to start on the trim and casing. Speaking of trim, I was happy to find that the measurements worked out well enough with the stock lengths at the store that I should have a nice amount of wiggle room without creating a bunch of drop/waste.
My 'measure twice, cut once' story...
Thinking about having just the perfect amount of trim boards has me reliving a mistake I made ten years ago at my old house. I had a few odds and ends that needed to be ******* before putting the house on the market, including replacing the window casing in the bedrooms (to match the rest of the house). I had already moved out, so I had to make a four hour trip (one way) to button everything up. Things were going well on Saturday and I got it in my head that if I stayed on task, I could get everything wrapped up and leave that night. I'd get home late, but it'd be better than spending another night on a blow up camping mattress in an empty house.
I had plenty of casing for the windows, but made a bad cut early on. I checked all my measurements against what I still had and found that I still had just enough to get by as long as I didn't screw up again. I thought for a moment about going to the store to get one more board just to be sure, but that would have added an hour and a half delay (nearest Menards was 45 minutes away). Going to the store would mean that I wouldn't be leaving that night, so I told myself to just stay focused and it'll be okay. Sure enough, on the last cut for the last board, I screwed up again. Not a "that can be filled with a little caulk mistake". I measured to the inside of the miter, but used that measurement to cut the outside, leaving me a few inches short. Once I realized my mistake, I looked at my watch. 8:30pm. The store closed in 30 minutes. No way in hell I was going to make it in time.
The next morning, I head over to Menards bright and early to be there at 6am when they opened. I walk up to the door only to find it locked. Then I see the hours - they don't open until 8am on Sundays. Trying to find a silver lining, I decide to head over to my favorite breakfast spot, but they're closed as well. I gas up the truck and head back to Menards to wait. I tried to take a nap, but ended up just laying there thinking about the old adage 'measure twice, cut once'. After the store opened and I got my board and headed back to the house. Once I got to the house, I finished up and was on the road less than a half hour later, which was almost exactly 12 hours later than what I would have liked.
Now that I have five Menards stores within a 20 minute drive from my house, I'm sure every cut I make on this project will be perfect.
Thanks to this thread I finally cleaned my garage up and got stuff put away. Hoping to start my own thread about my garage. But yours really inspired me because we have damn near the same garage, only difference is I have a 2-3 foot overhang above the garage door. Same dimensions, door and windows in the same place, (well before you added the windows anyway 
probably the same kit is my guess. seeing where you started and the mess you cleaned up was a huge help, so thank you I really appreciate it!
Mark
probably the same kit is my guess. seeing where you started and the mess you cleaned up was a huge help, so thank you I really appreciate it! Mark
I often wonder if I would have every gotten my shop in shape if I hadn't found GJ. Maybe... probably... but it may have taken a few more years without the inspiration I've found here as well. Thank you for the kind words Mark! Please post a link when you get your build thread going. I'd love to see how you've done things, especially since we share a common starting point.
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This past weekend was spent on my parent's farm, so no progress to report. I'll just leave this pic Wife took Sunday morning. A fall sunrise over the pond... it doesn't get much better than this.
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This past weekend was spent on my parent's farm, so no progress to report. I'll just leave this pic Wife took Sunday morning. A fall sunrise over the pond... it doesn't get much better than this.
wreckdiver1321
Well-known member
Hard to beat a view like that in the morning. Beautiful place. Just needs a hot cup of coffee and a nicely-sized whitetail 
GeddyT
ALLIANCE MEMBER
That sunrise shot is absolutely amazing. Looks like there's fish in that there pond?
There are fish in there, but what you are seeing are the aerators. Even though the pond is fed by a natural spring, algae has always been an issue. Over the years we've tried all sorts of mitigation measures, but its a losing battle because we never wanted to use chemicals to treat it. While supposedly safe if done correctly, it just didn't seem like a good idea since we eat the fish and swim in the water. The aeration system ended up being the key to success. The only downside is that it keeps the pond from freezing over in the winter, so we can't have any more broom ball games or go ice fishing. A small price to pay for not having to rake out mountains of algae in the summer. The aerators also help increase the oxygen levels in the water, so the fish are happier.
XJSuperman
Well-known member
Without any understanding of how your aerators work.......can you just shut them off in the winter and allow it to freeze over?
Honestly, I don't know for sure. Dad likes to keep it running so he doesn't have to worry about having a winter kill during the harder winters. It's not an especially deep pond and even though it is spring fed, it does freeze over nearly completely.
I posted my garage up, I wish I would have taken more beginning pics but for whatever reason I didn’t. But I will definitely be posting more as I change things and make them better. I’m probably going to steal your bench ideas, with tweaks to make them more manageable for the **** I do lol!
I finally made time to dig into the bathroom trim Sunday. I ran out of time to get the quarter-round installed, but overall, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I would have had it done, but I burned up several hours chasing down a roof leak on Saturday (good thing I've lost a few pounds this summer, I don't know that I would have been able to fit into the attic hatch otherwise). I believe the leak was coming from around the plumbing vent boot, so hopefully its fixed now.
Back to the trim. I do have a few small gaps, but nothing you can see unless you're specifically looking with a flashlight, so I'll call it a win. And just as I predicted, I didn't have to make a trip to the store for more material. I ended up with an 8" chunk of trim and a handful of small drop pieces. I did completely screw my math up for the window and door trim and ended up with a 10' stick that I didn't need, but I guess if I'm going to make a mistake, I made it in the right direction. Shouldn't be too difficult to return that to the store.
Not a lot else going on lately. Just trying to keep up with the leaves and enjoy the wonderful weather we've been having this fall. Pheasant opener was a bust (for me) last weekend. We ended up with six birds out of our group of four guys, but I only took one shot the whole day. Still, it beats working!
Until next time...
Back to the trim. I do have a few small gaps, but nothing you can see unless you're specifically looking with a flashlight, so I'll call it a win. And just as I predicted, I didn't have to make a trip to the store for more material. I ended up with an 8" chunk of trim and a handful of small drop pieces. I did completely screw my math up for the window and door trim and ended up with a 10' stick that I didn't need, but I guess if I'm going to make a mistake, I made it in the right direction. Shouldn't be too difficult to return that to the store.
Not a lot else going on lately. Just trying to keep up with the leaves and enjoy the wonderful weather we've been having this fall. Pheasant opener was a bust (for me) last weekend. We ended up with six birds out of our group of four guys, but I only took one shot the whole day. Still, it beats working!
Until next time...
We were originally going to head up to Minnesota for Thanksgiving with the in-laws this weekend, but plans fell through, and Wife ended up making a solo trip. I had Friday off work originally so we could have an extra travel day, but with the change of plans, that turned into the ‘get the damn bathroom finished’ day instead. While I made good progress on Friday, I ended up needing a few hours on Saturday to get everything buttoned up, and got everything cleaned up on Sunday (thankfully the kids were very well behaved over the weekend and I was able get some good time in on the project).
This project technically started a few years ago when I had an issue with the toilet leaking. Long time readers of this thread will know that the previous owner of the house was a bit of a hack. Very much the definition of ‘knowing just enough to be dangerous’. Without going into details, suffice it to say we ended up having to rip up the tile/floor to access the toilet waste line and repair it correctly. How this ties into the project is that I could not find any replacement tiles for what had been removed during the toilet repair. That was when we decided to start saving to remodel the bathroom.
This spring, we finally had built up enough savings to cover the project. The tipping point was when the GFCI outlet near the sink wouldn’t reset. When I removed the cover to replace the outlet, I discovered that the lower mounting screw for the outlet was blocked by the rear lip on the vanity and could not be accessed. Time to dig into this once and for all.
Here’s where we started. Wainscotting on the walls, trim that doesn’t match any other room of the house, and an oversized vanity for the space.
Here’s where we ended up.
The only surfaces we didn’t touch were the tub and surround, which we replaced a few years ago. Walls were all re-mudded and sanded for a smooth finish. Wife insisted on doing this part of the project. I did not argue. She now understands why I do not particularly enjoy doing drywall work (I’ll still do it, it’s just not my favorite way to spend my leisure time). The walls and ceiling were all primed and painted. The accent wall behind the toilet is a dark olive green (“Black Bamboo” by Behr). The white wall paint is a few shades off pure white. New flooring is a dark gray porcelain tile (discontinued, so I caught a heck of a deal on it). New low profile smart LED light on the ceiling that lets me setup a custom light level and temperature depending on the time of day - programmed to be 5% output at 2800k for middle of the night bathroom trips, 100% output at 3500K for regular hours. A couple of funky pendant lights above the sink along with an asymmetrical mirror (wasn’t sure about either at first, but Wife was right, it ended up looking pretty cool). All new trim in the correct profile and color for the house.
Probably the most controversial decision is that the vanity is from IKEA. While not my first choice of places to purchase a vanity from, there was simply nothing else available that fit both the style we wanted and the budget we had. I wanted to build something myself, but Wife talked me out of it. I am very happy with the fit and finish. Once installed, it seems very sturdy. One nice surprise is that the kit came with Blum soft close slides for the drawers. I did have to do a little of my own problem solving to get it mounted as the brackets did not line up with my wall studs. When I was installing the brackets, I noticed there were two sets of holes. Thinking I was clever (or that IKEA knew alignment was an issue) I installed some ½” ply mounting strips onto the wall that the cabinet could mount to. As it turns out, that second set of holes is more than likely there by happenstance (bracket is probably used on dozens of products). Using the mounting strips created an interference issue with the upper drawer slides. Too deep into the project to start over, I decided to cut down the slides.
After I figured out what I needed to do, it only took a couple minutes on the portaband table to make the necessary modifications. Getting the plumbing connected ended up being a non-issue. This is the main complaint about this vanity is that there is very little room behind the drawers for the drain pipe. I ended up only needing $5 in fittings and ended up with 2-3mm to spare. I’ll call that a win! The smaller footprint of the vanity is a game changer for the room. There used to be only 2-3' between the door and the side of the vanity, which killed the flow when entering the room and immediately having to dodge a piece of furniture. Now it feels much less crowded.
Admittedly, the room looks a bit spartan in those pics. We still need to add some towel rails and some art to personalize the space, but that will come in time. We’re really happy with how it turned out, and I’m extremely happy to finally have this project crossed off the list. Now I can get back to what really matters, garage stuff…
This project technically started a few years ago when I had an issue with the toilet leaking. Long time readers of this thread will know that the previous owner of the house was a bit of a hack. Very much the definition of ‘knowing just enough to be dangerous’. Without going into details, suffice it to say we ended up having to rip up the tile/floor to access the toilet waste line and repair it correctly. How this ties into the project is that I could not find any replacement tiles for what had been removed during the toilet repair. That was when we decided to start saving to remodel the bathroom.
This spring, we finally had built up enough savings to cover the project. The tipping point was when the GFCI outlet near the sink wouldn’t reset. When I removed the cover to replace the outlet, I discovered that the lower mounting screw for the outlet was blocked by the rear lip on the vanity and could not be accessed. Time to dig into this once and for all.
Here’s where we started. Wainscotting on the walls, trim that doesn’t match any other room of the house, and an oversized vanity for the space.
Here’s where we ended up.
The only surfaces we didn’t touch were the tub and surround, which we replaced a few years ago. Walls were all re-mudded and sanded for a smooth finish. Wife insisted on doing this part of the project. I did not argue. She now understands why I do not particularly enjoy doing drywall work (I’ll still do it, it’s just not my favorite way to spend my leisure time). The walls and ceiling were all primed and painted. The accent wall behind the toilet is a dark olive green (“Black Bamboo” by Behr). The white wall paint is a few shades off pure white. New flooring is a dark gray porcelain tile (discontinued, so I caught a heck of a deal on it). New low profile smart LED light on the ceiling that lets me setup a custom light level and temperature depending on the time of day - programmed to be 5% output at 2800k for middle of the night bathroom trips, 100% output at 3500K for regular hours. A couple of funky pendant lights above the sink along with an asymmetrical mirror (wasn’t sure about either at first, but Wife was right, it ended up looking pretty cool). All new trim in the correct profile and color for the house.
Probably the most controversial decision is that the vanity is from IKEA. While not my first choice of places to purchase a vanity from, there was simply nothing else available that fit both the style we wanted and the budget we had. I wanted to build something myself, but Wife talked me out of it. I am very happy with the fit and finish. Once installed, it seems very sturdy. One nice surprise is that the kit came with Blum soft close slides for the drawers. I did have to do a little of my own problem solving to get it mounted as the brackets did not line up with my wall studs. When I was installing the brackets, I noticed there were two sets of holes. Thinking I was clever (or that IKEA knew alignment was an issue) I installed some ½” ply mounting strips onto the wall that the cabinet could mount to. As it turns out, that second set of holes is more than likely there by happenstance (bracket is probably used on dozens of products). Using the mounting strips created an interference issue with the upper drawer slides. Too deep into the project to start over, I decided to cut down the slides.
After I figured out what I needed to do, it only took a couple minutes on the portaband table to make the necessary modifications. Getting the plumbing connected ended up being a non-issue. This is the main complaint about this vanity is that there is very little room behind the drawers for the drain pipe. I ended up only needing $5 in fittings and ended up with 2-3mm to spare. I’ll call that a win! The smaller footprint of the vanity is a game changer for the room. There used to be only 2-3' between the door and the side of the vanity, which killed the flow when entering the room and immediately having to dodge a piece of furniture. Now it feels much less crowded.
Admittedly, the room looks a bit spartan in those pics. We still need to add some towel rails and some art to personalize the space, but that will come in time. We’re really happy with how it turned out, and I’m extremely happy to finally have this project crossed off the list. Now I can get back to what really matters, garage stuff…
nicholam77
Well-known member
That turned out great!! Kudos for downsizing the vanity. Must feel good to get a big project like that finished.
What app/hub/hardware are you using to regulate the color temp and level of the smart light? I have my own workarounds for that sort of thing, but most smart lighting doesn't allow you to pre-set attributes without turning the light on, unless you use a separate device as a trigger (i.e. motion sensor). Just curious.
Where in MN are your in-laws?
What app/hub/hardware are you using to regulate the color temp and level of the smart light? I have my own workarounds for that sort of thing, but most smart lighting doesn't allow you to pre-set attributes without turning the light on, unless you use a separate device as a trigger (i.e. motion sensor). Just curious.
Where in MN are your in-laws?
Thanks Nick! I am glad to have it finished, but I think I'm more excited about not having to work on it, if that makes any sense.
Its a light from Home Depot that uses their proprietary Hubspace app. Your comment has me nervous. I just set up the schedule last night and haven't really tested it yet. I sure hope that it works like I think its supposed to, otherwise I'll be a little annoyed as I was originally planning on adding an outlet and some under cabinet lights to the vanity that would run off a motion sensor, but scrapped that idea once Wife found this light. I probably should have tested all this before closing everything up. I guess we'll just have to live in the stone age if not.
Wife's family is from SW Minnesota - mostly in that Worthington/Luverne/Pipestone/Slayton square.
nicholam77
Well-known member
Oh yeah, I can relate for sure
Hmmm gotcha, I hadn't heard of Hubspace. Who knows, it might work exactly how you're describing.
You are right, you need to keep the switch on the entire time or the schedule won't work. Kind of annoyed with myself for not catching this sooner. Oh well, life goes on. I think I've already figured out a solution anyway - there seem to be a fair amount of rechargeable motion sensor undercabinet lights out there. I'll just need to dig through the options to find the right size for my needs.
wreckdiver1321
Well-known member
Ha, that's fun. My family owns farmland near Slayton. We're Newpower Farms. Mostly use it for pheasant hunting but we do have someone who farms it for us.
Small world! My FIL sells seeds. He didn't recognize the Newpower name, but said he'd probably recognize the name of the person farming it for you. The rest of her family also farms, I'm sure there are some connections.
Totally random update... I had some snowshoes put on the Flex yesterday.
I caught a Marketplace deal on some used 18" Flex wheels this summer. I watched the price steadily drop from $400 to $200 over the course of a few months before I pounced. They're a little rough and dirty, but perfect for winter use. I considered giving them a black rattle can job, but ultimately decided it wasn't worth the time or effort. The tires are Falken Winterpeak F-Ice 1. Not a lot of reviews out there on them, but I was very impressed with the Wildpeak AT3W tires on my Jeep that I was willing to give them a shot. Now I just need some snow, or an empty pasture to do some unsanctioned rallycross racing.
I caught a Marketplace deal on some used 18" Flex wheels this summer. I watched the price steadily drop from $400 to $200 over the course of a few months before I pounced. They're a little rough and dirty, but perfect for winter use. I considered giving them a black rattle can job, but ultimately decided it wasn't worth the time or effort. The tires are Falken Winterpeak F-Ice 1. Not a lot of reviews out there on them, but I was very impressed with the Wildpeak AT3W tires on my Jeep that I was willing to give them a shot. Now I just need some snow, or an empty pasture to do some unsanctioned rallycross racing.
wreckdiver1321
Well-known member
I'll have to ask our farmer's name.
harley jim
Well-known member
Happy Thanksgiving Brad
Hello Brad,
1. Winter tires rock. I’ve had them on three vehicles now. If you gotta get somewhere in the snow, I’d rather have winter tires than AWD/4WD. I’ve never had AWD/4WD and winter tires at the same time but I’m pretty sure that’s it.
2. Your bathroom looks great! Smart choices all around! Squeezing around the oversized vanity must’ve sucked. I know what you mean about flow.
3. I have such mixed experience with smart switches and lights. The TP Link Kasa stuff has been golden. The CREE bulbs that I thought would be awesome… not so much. I wanted to go all in on the smart bulbs and switches but now I’m waiting until better technology comes out.
1. Winter tires rock. I’ve had them on three vehicles now. If you gotta get somewhere in the snow, I’d rather have winter tires than AWD/4WD. I’ve never had AWD/4WD and winter tires at the same time but I’m pretty sure that’s it.
2. Your bathroom looks great! Smart choices all around! Squeezing around the oversized vanity must’ve sucked. I know what you mean about flow.
3. I have such mixed experience with smart switches and lights. The TP Link Kasa stuff has been golden. The CREE bulbs that I thought would be awesome… not so much. I wanted to go all in on the smart bulbs and switches but now I’m waiting until better technology comes out.
Bruce 993 SEA
Well-known member
This describes the previous work done on our rental houses. It gives me the shudders to think of the **** work I had to undo.
Another nightmare was the story of sweating the last cut on the last board and then screwing it up and wasting a whole bunch of time.
Also, sleeping on a blow up mattress...erf!!!
The bathroom it looking good!
Cheers!
GeddyT
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Hey, we have the same wife! Congratulations on knocking that project out.
1. Good to hear... this is my first set of snow tires, so I'm not exactly sure what to expect. The Flex is AWD. It did okay with the regular tires during that system that came through a few weeks ago, but that was also a good reminder to actually get the snow tires purchased and installed instead of just thinking about it.
2. Wife gets credit for the design choices. While we have similar tastes, this was very much her vision.
3. I agree... while I like where things are headed with the smart home innovation, I want to let the market mature a little before jumping into a platform. It is nice that I can adjust our light's color temp to match the bulbs above the vanity, but other than that, a lot of the 'features' are pretty much useless on the light unless you leave it on all the time and only use your phone to control it. That just doesn't seem like a realistic solution to me.
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I sure as heck hope not!
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I finally committed…
While my DeWalt 18v stuff still has some life left in it, I was just getting a little worried that I might not make it another year. Figured I'd start off with the basics – an impact and a drill - and will add to the collection as projects and the budget allow. I got everything at Home Depot, but Acme Tools had the same pricing (actually today they have a 10% off Cyber Monday promo, so you can save even more). $99 got me the tool, 3.0 ah battery, and charger. There is a combo pack with these same tools priced at $149, but that kit comes with 1.5 ah batteries and only one charger. I opted to spend a little more and buy them individually to get the bigger batteries and to have an extra charger. I also got a two-pack of 4.0 ah batteries, which were also on sale. I halfway regret the extra batteries – I should have looked a little harder because I could have done the two-pack of 5.0 ah batteries for $60 more, which would have also gotten me a ‘free’ oscillating multi-tool. Still might have to make an order today… we’ll see.
Once the batteries were charged, I played around and drove a bunch of screws and drilled a bunch of random holes in some scrap boards. It was kind of fun to run the Makita side by side with the old DeWalt to really get a good idea of how well each perform. While I was surprised with how well the DeWalt stuff still runs, there is a noticeable improvement in the Makita. One thing I really like is that the impact at low speed seems to have a lot more torque, which allows for a screw to get started without the impact actually hitting.
As far as choosing Makita over a different platform, Milwaukee and DeWalt were right up there in contention, it literally just came down to the combination of price/features/battery size. I figured I couldn’t really go wrong with any of those platforms, it was really just a matter of picking one. Ridgid was a strong contender as well, but for some reason I just couldn’t get over having to be tied to Home Depot.
Dad was along for the ride when I went and bought these last Wednesday. He had some cash burning a hole in his pocket (money from selling walnuts) and as we were walking towards the register, spotted a 42” Husky tool chest he just couldn’t live without. The old Snap-on road box will finally have a proper home in his shop instead of sitting on an old table. In case anyone is wondering, the Husky H42MWC8RED will fit perfectly in the back of a 2019 Ford Flex – you just need to tip the middle seats forward a couple of inches.
Otherwise it was a relaxing, yet productive weekend. Friday I got the last of the leaves cleaned up for the year. Saturday we cut down our Christmas tree and got the inside of the house glittered up for the season. Sunday we got all of the exterior lights and decorations up. The extremely rare Stinker-squirrel was spotted in one of the pine trees while I was working outside on Friday.
I knew she was climbing around in the tree, but every time I looked over, she was maybe 2-3' up. Then all of the sudden he hollered "Dad, look at me!" and I turned around to find her 15' up the tree. This kid is going to kill me...
While my DeWalt 18v stuff still has some life left in it, I was just getting a little worried that I might not make it another year. Figured I'd start off with the basics – an impact and a drill - and will add to the collection as projects and the budget allow. I got everything at Home Depot, but Acme Tools had the same pricing (actually today they have a 10% off Cyber Monday promo, so you can save even more). $99 got me the tool, 3.0 ah battery, and charger. There is a combo pack with these same tools priced at $149, but that kit comes with 1.5 ah batteries and only one charger. I opted to spend a little more and buy them individually to get the bigger batteries and to have an extra charger. I also got a two-pack of 4.0 ah batteries, which were also on sale. I halfway regret the extra batteries – I should have looked a little harder because I could have done the two-pack of 5.0 ah batteries for $60 more, which would have also gotten me a ‘free’ oscillating multi-tool. Still might have to make an order today… we’ll see.
Once the batteries were charged, I played around and drove a bunch of screws and drilled a bunch of random holes in some scrap boards. It was kind of fun to run the Makita side by side with the old DeWalt to really get a good idea of how well each perform. While I was surprised with how well the DeWalt stuff still runs, there is a noticeable improvement in the Makita. One thing I really like is that the impact at low speed seems to have a lot more torque, which allows for a screw to get started without the impact actually hitting.
As far as choosing Makita over a different platform, Milwaukee and DeWalt were right up there in contention, it literally just came down to the combination of price/features/battery size. I figured I couldn’t really go wrong with any of those platforms, it was really just a matter of picking one. Ridgid was a strong contender as well, but for some reason I just couldn’t get over having to be tied to Home Depot.
Dad was along for the ride when I went and bought these last Wednesday. He had some cash burning a hole in his pocket (money from selling walnuts) and as we were walking towards the register, spotted a 42” Husky tool chest he just couldn’t live without. The old Snap-on road box will finally have a proper home in his shop instead of sitting on an old table. In case anyone is wondering, the Husky H42MWC8RED will fit perfectly in the back of a 2019 Ford Flex – you just need to tip the middle seats forward a couple of inches.
Otherwise it was a relaxing, yet productive weekend. Friday I got the last of the leaves cleaned up for the year. Saturday we cut down our Christmas tree and got the inside of the house glittered up for the season. Sunday we got all of the exterior lights and decorations up. The extremely rare Stinker-squirrel was spotted in one of the pine trees while I was working outside on Friday.
I knew she was climbing around in the tree, but every time I looked over, she was maybe 2-3' up. Then all of the sudden he hollered "Dad, look at me!" and I turned around to find her 15' up the tree. This kid is going to kill me...
nicholam77
Well-known member
There are ways to achieve what you're wanting to do with smart lights, but it requires a 3rd party rules engine that can do conditional logic (like IF this THEN that, but more complex), and some creative thinking. If you're interested I can describe a couple solutions, but like I said it requires more equipment.
Sometimes the best solution is not a "smart" (IoT device) solution. For a "dumb" solution, I like these dusk-to-dawn nightlights. They are cheap and plug into an outlet, and come on when the photo sensor determines it's dark enough. I have them in my bathroom, kitchen, stairwell. Your under-cabinet motion lights would work as well.
The market will hopefully mature, but not anytime soon. Maybe 5 yrs. I wouldn't hold your breath for better technology. Even the new Matter standard, which is supposed to solve compatibility issues between brands and allow for a common "language" between devices, is built over the top of existing radio frequency signals like WiFi, Zigbee, and Thread. I don't see that changing any time soon.
But in my opinion the problem isn't really the technology, it's that the market is flooded with device manufacturers and they ALL have a mobile phone app and require a cloud integration. Because it's the easiest for them to set up and they want to mine your data. This often makes devices slow, unreliable, a security threat, and have poor longevity if the company goes in the toilet.
My advice if starting out, especially with lighting, is to choose the larger established brands that use a hub and operate locally, like Philips HUE and Lutron Caseta. They will be more expensive than the cheap Chinese bulbs, but they will work reliably, will work without internet, and can be controlled by remote wall switches. Also, Zwave or Zigbee hardwired in-wall switches controlling regular dumb lights is a good option, as they operate locally, and the physical switch relay can control the power regardless of internet or even connection to the hub. This is how I have my house set up, and every smart light can be controlled by a physical switch even when the internet is down. No phone app, no Alexa, none of that. In my opinion that's the only way to go for lighting.
Not a lot going on lately. I’ve been mostly just having fun being in the shop and puttering around on some odds and ends. Being the gift giving season, I’ve got a few projects coming through the shop that I’ll be sharing here.
The first is a white elephant gift for the upcoming Christmas party with my Dad’s side of the family. We have a $25-35 target for how much should be spent on the gifts. I’ve found that with a little time and effort on my end, I can put that money towards some materials and come up with a DIY a gift that goes over pretty well.
One thing to be wary of if you are considering doing this, eventually you paint yourself into a bit of a corner in that if you show up with a store-bought gift, you’ll catch some **** because you didn’t make something that year (it’s all in good fun). This year I was a little stumped as to what I should do until I stumbled across this at the local ReStore for the bargain price of $10.
I’ve considered bringing an axe before but am a little selfish when it comes to giving away anything I have in my current collection. If I knew it would be going to someone that would appreciate and take care of it, I wouldn’t have any issue, but I can’t be certain of that. This particular axe fits the bill perfectly. It’s a modern (probably made in the last 20-30 years) US made Razorback brand axe. It’s seen a little use but is in great shape other than being neglected.
The first order of business was to see if the handle could be saved since the head is still nice and tight on the handle. A little bit of sanding had it pretty well cleaned up (sorry, no pics). The next step was to get the rust off the head. Since I am going to keep the handle, I couldn’t use my electrolysis tank. I’ve always been curious about Evaporust and figured this project was the perfect test for it. After a few cycles of soaking and scrubbing with some steel wool, I was pleased with the result.
Evaporust worked probably just as well as a vinegar bath, but without the worry of damaging the metal if I accidentally let it soak for too long. Electrolsys will still be my preferred method for really rusty stuff, but it’ll be nice having that gallon of Evaporust around for future projects.
So now that the rust has been addressed, I wanted to try and make the head shine. I’ve seen where guys will sand an axe head out to a mirror finish by sanding with finer and finer grits of sandpaper. That was the initial plan for this axe, but after spending some time with a 60 grit flap disc on the angle grinder, I knew that would end up being a lost cause. There are just too many casting voids and pits in the steel to get that perfect finish on this axe. Well, maybe I could have got them all out, but the axe would have ended up weighing 3lbs instead of 3.5lbs by the time I was done.
After the initial cleanup with the grinder and flap disc, I switched over to the orbital sander, stepping all the way up to 400 grit paper. Once that was done, I gave it a couple rounds of cold blue to give it a little more protection and to darken up the steel.
If you right click on that pic and open it in a separate tab, you can zoom in and see the extent of the pitting. What is left is much better than what I started with, but still far from perfect. I also ended up giving it a couple more rounds of cold blue after that pic was taken to get rid of some of the splotchiness that appeared later.
While I didn’t get the mirror finish I originally was hoping for, I am happy with how well it cleaned up. Next steps are to do a little more sanding on the handle, give it a good coat of BLO, and give it a good sharpening. I’ve got a leather sheath on order that should make for a nice presentation when its opened. Between the axe and the sheath, I’m a few dollars over budget, but I think it’ll be worth it.
The first is a white elephant gift for the upcoming Christmas party with my Dad’s side of the family. We have a $25-35 target for how much should be spent on the gifts. I’ve found that with a little time and effort on my end, I can put that money towards some materials and come up with a DIY a gift that goes over pretty well.
One thing to be wary of if you are considering doing this, eventually you paint yourself into a bit of a corner in that if you show up with a store-bought gift, you’ll catch some **** because you didn’t make something that year (it’s all in good fun). This year I was a little stumped as to what I should do until I stumbled across this at the local ReStore for the bargain price of $10.
I’ve considered bringing an axe before but am a little selfish when it comes to giving away anything I have in my current collection. If I knew it would be going to someone that would appreciate and take care of it, I wouldn’t have any issue, but I can’t be certain of that. This particular axe fits the bill perfectly. It’s a modern (probably made in the last 20-30 years) US made Razorback brand axe. It’s seen a little use but is in great shape other than being neglected.
The first order of business was to see if the handle could be saved since the head is still nice and tight on the handle. A little bit of sanding had it pretty well cleaned up (sorry, no pics). The next step was to get the rust off the head. Since I am going to keep the handle, I couldn’t use my electrolysis tank. I’ve always been curious about Evaporust and figured this project was the perfect test for it. After a few cycles of soaking and scrubbing with some steel wool, I was pleased with the result.
Evaporust worked probably just as well as a vinegar bath, but without the worry of damaging the metal if I accidentally let it soak for too long. Electrolsys will still be my preferred method for really rusty stuff, but it’ll be nice having that gallon of Evaporust around for future projects.
So now that the rust has been addressed, I wanted to try and make the head shine. I’ve seen where guys will sand an axe head out to a mirror finish by sanding with finer and finer grits of sandpaper. That was the initial plan for this axe, but after spending some time with a 60 grit flap disc on the angle grinder, I knew that would end up being a lost cause. There are just too many casting voids and pits in the steel to get that perfect finish on this axe. Well, maybe I could have got them all out, but the axe would have ended up weighing 3lbs instead of 3.5lbs by the time I was done.
After the initial cleanup with the grinder and flap disc, I switched over to the orbital sander, stepping all the way up to 400 grit paper. Once that was done, I gave it a couple rounds of cold blue to give it a little more protection and to darken up the steel.
If you right click on that pic and open it in a separate tab, you can zoom in and see the extent of the pitting. What is left is much better than what I started with, but still far from perfect. I also ended up giving it a couple more rounds of cold blue after that pic was taken to get rid of some of the splotchiness that appeared later.
While I didn’t get the mirror finish I originally was hoping for, I am happy with how well it cleaned up. Next steps are to do a little more sanding on the handle, give it a good coat of BLO, and give it a good sharpening. I’ve got a leather sheath on order that should make for a nice presentation when its opened. Between the axe and the sheath, I’m a few dollars over budget, but I think it’ll be worth it.
ricketycricket
Well-known member
That should be a fun gift to wrap 
That should be a fun gift to wrap
If I can't come up with a long box, I'll just stick the head into a small box and wrap paper around the handle. Funny/crappy wrapping jobs are par for the course. One of the first years we did the white elephant gift exchange, one of my uncles showed up with a pair of grapefruits and a 3lb summer sausage wrapped in a very specific arrangement.