The Wretched Mess Garage

[rubberrodder]

Wow. I can't believe I havent been on the board for almost 2 months. No wonder I was going through withdrawl symptoms!
Wife and grandkid and I went for a week to the ocean. while there, we ran across a gentleman who was emptying out the old auto shop he had been using for a storage unit. "Gotta make room for more junk!" he says.(I liked him emediatley) I scored these old Niehoff parts cabs for $25 each. Some sanding, lots of primer, and a coat of paint...good to go!
Better go get started on them.

 

[rubberrodder]

Finally found some time to get back to the garage. I have made progress on the metal tune up parts cabinets. The outsides of 2 of them are finished, and new locks installed. The insides will get painted white so I can better see what **** I've shoved in them.

 

[rubberrodder]

Another project I had put off way to long was to close up the stairwell wall into the loft. I loose a lot of heat to the loft through that monster opening. But, not any more! A drop down curtain or a light weight door of some kind will finish it off.
The first pic is the inside of the stairwell. Just a sheet of 3/8 plywood and a small piece of left over 3/8 and it was already a noticeable difference in work space temperature. The second picture is looking from the garage area. On the left is the opening for the steps. This is where some kind of closure will go. Sorry folks, no "before" pics.

 

[Terrick down Under]

Got to keep in the heat, try a door at the top for safety and one of those heavy plastic curtains at the bottom as a heat stop??
Yes it is amazing how time flies by and before you know it that Silly fella with the red suit will be pestering the kids again.

 

[rubberrodder]

Good to hear from you Terrick.
Yeah. I know what you mean. ****! I got less than barely 2 weeks to get a months worth of sh*t done! I am SO screwed!

 

[rubberrodder]

YESS!!!
I managed to get all my stuff done before Christmas!
Now to sleep though and miss the whole damn thing!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

 

[Terrick down Under]

I feel your pain. With the GC coming early, I was not prepared. Cots to be assembled, blankets and bedding to be washed, a pile of new clothes to be washed and folded. And push all the top coat of the driveway back to where it should be after 3" of rain in 5 hours. I am very lucky that my wife does the shopping.
Anyhoo, Have a Great Christmas with your family and loved ones from us down here.

 

[Bob Heine]

Dave, I don't have the heat loss problem now but I remember it well when we lived up north. The door to our attic wasn't sealed or insulated and you could feel the cold coming through (maybe it was the heat going up).

Just wanted to stop by and wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

 

[rubberrodder]

Now that it's over with I can laugh about this Christmas. 2 years in a row, Krampas, {Santa's opposite number, Or "Anti-Santa" if you will. Look him up} sneaked up and hit me with a doozy.
Last year, it was a nasty cold. This year, I would have taken the cold!
Christmas day dawned normal. At 4:00 am, my granddaughter got up and opened presents with her mom, then went her dads house at 7:00am to open more presents there. I went to pick her up at 1:00 o'clock and on the way home,lost a hubcap. I stopped to pick it up and on the way back to the car, shop boss, rolls down the window to talk to me. And it falls all the way down to the bottom of the door! Took the car home and tarped it up till next day off!
The family party is going along well until my sister-in-law disappears into the house saying she doesn't feel well. We check on her a few minutes later and she's doubled up in pain on the couch! Call the 24 hour nurses hotline and she says "Go to urgent care! Now!" My sis says they live in Olympia{30 miles south of us} The nurse says go to the one in Tacoma{where we live} because the Olympia one is closed! I load them into the car and head down town. That was 4:00 pm... I got back home at 10:30 pm! She had her gall bladder out the next day!
Thankfully, my other brother in law Gil, the sawzall King, was here to take brother in law, Isreal, home to Olympia. Isreal doesn't drive as he has a condition called "essential tremor". But every one is back to what passes for normal around here.
For now!

 

[Terrick down Under]

G’day mate, first thing I would do is go and buy a lottery ticket. To stop the bad luck, and keep the good Karma growing.
Concentrate on a happy new year.

 

[rubberrodder]

Dave, I don't have the heat loss problem now but I remember it well when we lived up north. The door to our attic wasn't sealed or insulated and you could feel the cold coming through (maybe it was the heat going up).

Just wanted to stop by and wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Thanks for stopping by Bob. I'm up to page 20 on your thread, ONLY 164 more to go!

 

[rubberrodder]

We got a nice break in the weather,so I finally got the last 2 storms worth of blow down picked up and gone. 2 full pickup loads my first day off, 2 more my second. Glad to go back to the day job so I could rest up for this last week end.
One of the bigger branches came down and broke a section of the gutter loose from the house. I didn't like the way they were put on the house originally, so I got carried away as usual.
The first pic is the goofy, open topped "box" that was attached to the side of the house. Pic #2 is what the box was full of. In pic #3 you have a better look a what held the gutters. It's a wonder the wall behind this wasn't rotting away. I must have made a hundred spiders homeless too.

 

[rubberrodder]

This house is from the mid 1930's and there was just a little overhang on the roof. No soffits, no facia boards, just the shingles hanging over the edge about 6 inches for a drip edge. In the first shot, you can see the gutters were attached as an after thought. The same with the second pic. The 3rd pic is one of the gutter brackets. You can see the drip edge of the shingles is out past the gutter. That's where the crappy "box" spacer/**** catcher/spider haven came in. I had already started adding a new way to re-mount the gutters. In the 4th shot, you can see the pressure treated 1 x 4 and the p.t. 2 x 4 I used for a solid , "no-****-catching" mounting.

 

[rubberrodder]

Now the brackets and troughs will stick out far enough to work and I still can clean them out easy. Remember I said i get carried away? Does scrubbing your gutters this way count as o.c.d.? In the last 2 pics the scrubbed and cleaned old gutters are going back on. The final picture is a little dark, but, it's the poor-mans awning {big assed tarp} over the deck and tethered to the pergola. one of the reasons for wanting a really solid mount is the tarp attaches to the bottom of the pressure treated spacer with eye-bolts a "s" hooks. The other side is tethered to the pergola with good old bungie cords. Barring branches falling through or other holes getting poked in them, this set up has been lasting about 5 years between tarp replacements. This is the 4th new tarp since I built the deck 20 years ago. A bit red-neck-ish, but comfortable. It looks a lot better since the wife put some fresh winter color foliage in the planters

 

[Bob Heine]

Dave, they advertise Sunsetter Awnings on TV. Their website hints at the price: "Prices start as low as $599, with an average price of about $2,500" so I'm thinking you're solution has saved you around $10,000. Nothing redneck about that, far as I'm concerned. Most of our patio is under the roof overhang but not by the master bedroom door so we have the 11-foot "market" umbrella there, more for shade than keeping us dry.

 

[rubberrodder]

Thanks for dropping back in Bob.
I have another project in the works for a nice garden tool shed on the side of the garage. I haven't gotten around around to telling the wife about it... yet. It's going to be a simple 4x8 structure and have a sloped shed roof with the same siding and shingles as the rest of the garage. Painted to match of course. I can build the basic walls and roof inside the garage and then put it up in one day while she's at work. Two 4 ft. walls, six ft. high, and one wall 8 ft. long by six ft. high{with a door} and a roof. Then I don't have to look at rakes, shovels, wheel barrows and dog poop-scooping supplies.

 

[rubberrodder]

LUUKE !! I am your grandaughter!

 

[rubberrodder]

I started on my "coolest truck at the dump" project. I had primered the passenger side earlier this year and needed to get the rest done. At least now, most of it's a nice even shade of poop.
I still need to fix the rust in the drivers door. And the bed. And the battery box. And the roof. And the... aw... you get the idea. It's got issues. As for the diamond plate, The idea is to make copies of the original side trim after giving it a decent paint job, Maybe next spring I will whack the top off of it and make it a roadster pic-up.

 

[rubberrodder]

Way back in time. Like 6 months ago, I started on a garden shed/garage extension for the wifely unit. I think it came out nicely if I do say so Myself. That's our golden retriever{Charli} staring blankly through the gate. She was a rescue dog from a friend. Lets just say it's a good thing she's cute and sweet.

 

[rubberrodder]

I got tired of looking at all the cans of spray paint, varnish, whitewall tire cleaner, etc. I remember Bob Hiene saying something about cupboard doors being the difference between hoarders and just to much junk.
A couple hinges from the junk drawer, a slab of left over siding from the shed extension... and I had a place to put a new Rat Fink poster!

 

[Bob Heine]

Dave, the she-shed looks great. I also like your use of leftovers to hide the micro-hoard.

 

[DynoDave]

Extension looks nice. The door does wonders for hiding a "busy" looking space.

 

[rubberrodder]

Dave, the she-shed looks great. I also like your use of leftovers to hide the micro-hoard.

Thanks Bob. I had this thing planned out about six months after the new garage was built. And the "micro-hoard" was not going to be so "micro" very much longer.

 

[rubberrodder]

Extension looks nice. The door does wonders for hiding a "busy" looking space.

Thanks for Stopping in DynoDave. It was rapidly changing from "busy" to "frantic".

 

[rubberrodder]

I went to purchase some replacement florescent tubes at the local box store and was surprised to find out there is now a separate "environmental surcharge" on them. The 12-pack of tubes was $29.99. The surcharge was another $10.00! So it's basically 30% extra to keep you from tossing them in the trash. Too bad the box store DOESN'T take the old ones back for recycling and give your "surcharge" back.
What does this disgruntled rant boil down to? A FUTURE LIGHTING UPGRADE!!!
I can get a 12-pac of SUNCO, l.e.d.,4 footers from Amazon for $250. They are rated at 50K hours average life span. I figured out that's leaving them on 24/7, for almost 6 years. They also have a 4.5 star rating with over 530 POSITIVE reviews. And only 11 negative ones. Those were related to damaged in shipping issues mostly.
I will find out in couple more paydays! Wish me luck.

 

[rubberrodder]

Hello world! I have been busy the last few months. I have helped my daughter move...twice! Once into the rental house. And once after her landlord blamed the flooded basement and the broken pipe that caused it on them.
On to better things!
We had our big annual Christmas party in the garage again. I grumble and ***** about it, but, it does make me clean up the place once a year whether it needs it or not. Aww.. Who am I kidding...It ALWAYS needs it.
I also bought my self the Christmas present I knew nobody else would. 3 roll-away, 5 drawer bottom chests to build a Steve-o inspired storage/work bench.
In the second pic. you can see how the upper edges were rolled and I used that feature to mate them together. Since there were a bunch of casters under this thing, I removed all but 2 of the ones that didn't swivel. This will allow me to move it around in the shop as a mobile work bench. The third picture is what was replaced by the fourth picture. I used 2x4s to make a top until next payday. I will buy a sheet of plywood to cut and make a one piece top a surround to finish it off real pretty.

 

[rubberrodder]

It's been a while since I've had a chance to post anything here. As of January 8th, my stores manager was fired for treating the female and non-hispanic employees like ****. Even if it's true, you can't call out an employee{in front of customers and other employees}as a "fat,mouthy,ignorant OOMPA-LOOMPA". Yes! he actually called her an "OOMPA-LOOMPA. He also demanded a doctors note from another employee who took her kid to the urgent care and wasn't able to come to work when he called her on her day off.
Sure glad that ones gone.
Anyway...a few months and posts back, I was whining about flouro-tube lights and how there is an "environmental surcharge" on them now and I {am too "f"ing cheap} not going to pay it.
Well, tonight my long suffering, ever patient, eye-rolling until my rants are over,loving, wife ordered up a 12 pack of 4 ft. led industrial garage lights! They should be here Monday.
We have been together for 32 years and I think I found a "KEEPER".

 

[Terrick down Under]

Glad to see you are keeping busy, can totally relate to "moving daughter", I think we are up to 6 moves so far.
Very busy here, but not the stuff I want to do.

 

[rubberrodder]

WooHoo! I actually got my lights a full day early. After finishing up some promised,long over due, yard work, I started installing them. They have a nice "diamond plate" look to them. Although, you can't really see it after installation. They are supposed to hang by chains, but, I couldn't leave well enough alone and emediately voided my warrentee. I drilled a screw hole into the back of the frame andI mounted them directly to the rafters with a couple of construction screws. You can really see the difference by the glare coming off the back wall to the left of the last picture.

 

[rubberrodder]

Years ago, I built a brick patio and fire pit area in the side yard. And it was really a nice spot for entertaining and roasting marshmellows. It was also great for my cast iron dutch oven and camp cooking.
But, over the years tree roots had pushed up the brick work and made it actually unsafe to walk around on. Sorry, no before pictures accept way back on page 8 #149. In the first pic, this is where there was a rotting deck I tore out to make the area larger. I reused the bricks to make the edging. 2nd pic, Charli, the were-golden retriever, is "helping". 3rd pic, still got more bricks to take up.

 

[rubberrodder]

Remember I said I used the old brick pavers for edging? I edged the walk way{both sides!} from the front deck to the side yard gate. I edged the flower bed around the other side of the house. And one other flower bed I didn't get a picture of. I even put bricks under the garbage and recycle bins!

 

[rubberrodder]

I was actually able to use up all but 2 of the old bricks.
Then it was time for 3/4" crushed rock. LOTS of it. Now to rebuild the fire pit, get out the lawn chairs, and sit my tired old **** down for a while.

 

[rubberrodder]

Hi all!
I finally have a project worth posting about! In pic. #1 , here's the problem. I have to reach in BEHIND the fridge to turn on the lights. In pic. #2, Every good monster/steampunk/junk builder shop needs a cool looking "Frankenstein" type switch to throw. And this one's mine. It's just a simple lever and link set up. The short link has a square hole that fits over the regular switch toggle, a pivot in the center, and a peg on the other end. The main lever also has a hole in one end that fits over the peg on the link. It has a pivot as well. With this set up, UP is still on, and DOWN is still off.
I plan on doing some varnish and paint to hide the fact I made it out of paint sticks and junk.

 

[Terrick down Under]

Your fire pit has given me an idea for mine out here, thanks. Absolutely love the light switch, because they are paint sticks...why not paint them with night glow to make it easier to find??
The roll around bench is a great idea.

 

[rubberrodder]

Hey Terrick!
Good to hear from you! If you go back to page 8, post #152, there are better pictures of how I put it together.

 

[Terrick down Under]

thanks mate, gunna start looking for a big rim.

 

[rubberrodder]

I know this is a few days late for the subject matter, but, this is the first chance I have had to post up the pictures.
For the last 13 years, my wifes side of the family has taken part in our city museums celebration of the Mexican tradition,Dia de los Muertos. The shortest, best explanation is tell you watch the Disney movie"Coco". It takes place the 2 days after Halloween. November first and second.
Our families alter,called an "offrenda", has become kind of an anchor and focal point for the museum. My family being huge{wife is one of eleven kids} and being there so many years, we got a LARGE space for our offrenda alter.
This year,due to covid-19, The museum decided to put out its alter invitations to be done from home in a virtual format.
We were setting ours up in the garage to take the pictures. As we are doing the clean up and getting all the "stuff" out, Mrs.RR says "Instead of all these cardboard boxes to build the alter, how about we just use Daves car for the base?"

 

[Bob Heine]

Dave, sure looks like a lot of work but so wonderful that you are keeping traditions alive and flourishing.

 

[Terrick down Under]

RR, mate that is so great to see, traditions are a great way of teaching our kids about the history before them. Because it has a uplifting beat to it, then they are more likely to listen and remember the major points.
As we say down here, "****** ripper of an idea"

 

[rubberrodder]

Thanks for checking in guys.
Bob, Yes definitely a lot of work. But, the gathering of the family is the best part. Even if it was just a "social-distanced-drive-by-drop off" of pictures and other decorations.
Terrick, It is a great way to share the history with all the nieces and nephews and grand-kids. We put up a picture of my grandfather and MY granddaughter wanted to know who the people in the picture with me were. I was NOT in the picture. The look on her face as I told her it was her great-grandpaw{at age 10} and her great-great-grandpaw{at about 40} was priceless.