senlow
Well-known member
What is your process for prepping aluminum parts for powder? A chromate conversion coating right after media blasting will dramatically increase adhesion of the powder.
Typically I just blast and coat. If there’s going to be a lot of outdoor exposure (like salt) then I may use a primer.What is your process for prepping aluminum parts for powder? A chromate conversion coating right after media blasting will dramatically increase adhesion of the powder.
It only seems like it. Reality is, I screw up all the time but figure out how to make it work (and/or deal with it). I’ll bet nothing I’ve built was exactly what I intended.You would know, harshest critic ever.
Now let's be fair, they never are. Are they? Sometimes you fix, sometimes you replace, and sometimes the unplanned expedition results in something better than planned. Don't ask me how I know!It only seems like it. Reality is, I screw up all the time but figure out how to make it work (and/or deal with it). I’ll bet nothing I’ve built was exactly what I intended.
I mean like I kinda know what I want the finished product to look like. And sometimes I do the math to figure out the angles and such. In the end tho. The mis-cut ends up more perfect than where I should have and the new angle fits better…can’t be luck if it happens nearly every time right? Is it skill?!Now let's be fair, they never are. Are they? Sometimes you fix, sometimes you replace, and sometimes the unplanned expedition results in something better than planned. Don't ask me how I know!Harry
Yeah, I think I'd go with that assessment.…can’t be luck if it happens nearly every time right? Is it skill?!






I try not to cremate anything.Typically, I just blast and coat. If there’s going to be a lot of outdoor exposure (like salt) then I may use a primer.
tell be about cremate conversion coatings? I don’t have adhesion issues (or don’t think I do). Admittedly I’m learning and only following recommendations of others who coat. I’m not even sure what an expert looks like.![]()













Polished aluminum is awesome. We plan to powder coat all of it the semi-flat black when we get to it. Kinda want it muted out a bit so it’s a little more subtle when the hood is open…but the polished aluminum is growing on us so maybe we’ll just leave it as is.
Another long time lurker here. Glad you’re back. Thanks for this link! Please share any other links to options you consider useful.Doing a little utube surfing and stumbled across this idea which utilizes plastic fence post material for drawer organizers. It would be super easy with minimal tools and likely inexpensive as well.
Best part is now I can tear into the JK. Just re-read your clock spring write up last night. Clock spring is first, then the super charger, then steering upgrade, then it’s back to fine tuning the suspension. Plenty to do!Jeep looks great Matt. Glad to hear you were able to get some more ponies in her and make it fun to drive again.
Looking forward to hearing about the trail performance.
I saw the pictures of the Jeep on the Dyno all strapped down, Did they not give you any #s ? I did see any posted ??Best part is now I can tear into the JK. Just re-read your clock spring write up last night. Clock spring is first, then the super charger, then steering upgrade, then it’s back to fine tuning the suspension. Plenty to do!
Thank you!Nice job on the Jeep build!
Can’t believe I missed that. Think it was 190HP, 235 lb of torque. We were bummed a bit until he reminded us ours is an auto (~30% loss) at altitude (3% per thousand feet, we’re at 5280), and the motor has to overcome those monster 40” tires. If I do the reverse math the at the crank numbers are more respectable (though a little hard to believe)I saw the pictures of the Jeep on the Dyno all strapped down, Did they not give you any #s ? I did see any posted ??









Yeah, that's what I'm shooting for however I've already noticed that some of the smaller wrenches I have have (like my craftsman ratcheting wrenches 7/16 and smaller) have a thinner and narrower neck and don't sit in there like the rest. Can't yet decide if it's worth the time to fix or if I'll just deal with a few of them not laying in there nice.Nice looking rails, I have some plastic ones, but they don't have the correct angle, so some of my wrenches tip forward and look goofy, using your design that issue could be fixed.
It’s sad that Sears, like it was for us, is no longer a thing. I remember going there with my parents for household stuff and walking by the tool section. Somehow my fascination for tools in general started there and grew there. I wanted every set, the bigger the better. Fond memories browsing the isles. Bummed we can’t pass that experience along.Matt. sent chills down my spine when you mentioned drilling holes in the tool box drawers to mount the racks!
I too have a soft spot for the Craftsman USA tools and when out and about see them at a reasonable cost, I grab them. I think it is from my early years as my first tools were Penncraft and Sears Companion. I still have them but have upped my game to Craftsman. Extra tools are not a problem.
The plan for all of my previous organizers was to store them off so I have them when I get a bigger shop and have more space for more organization. If that never happens, the backup plan is to give them to my kids with my plan b tools when they have garages of their own to get them started.Matt,
Nice work as always. What's the plan for the EZ-Red wrench racks? I'll be happy to take them off our hands if you don't have "space" for them. Make me an offer I can't refuse.....![]()
Matt. sent chills down my spine when you mentioned drilling holes in the tool box drawers to mount the racks!
I do like their wrench racks and I think they're fairly common.There are a few things I will enter Harbor Freight for. Their wrench racks are pretty handy.
My family bought everything from Sears when I was a kid. Hand tools, power tools, tires, batteries, appliances, mom's vacuum, you name it. I remember wearing "Toughskins" jeans early in gradeschool. One of my dad's drugstores was in a stripmall with a Sears as the anchor store, so we were in there fairly frequently.
I still cuss some of the Craftsman power tools my dad uses. They weren't exactly the best.
forgot to comment: The bottoms aren’t metal I can’t use magnets to keep things where I want them. About the only way is to screw stuff down. Part of the design of these base cabinets was to have drawers with floating drawer bottoms that are fully replaceable in the event I need to. One reason I guess could be because they end up Swiss cheese from changing where things are screed internally over and over…
Couldn't agree more. It's so easy to just drill a hole and at the time it's "no biggie". Not quite as easy to undrill it and that's where regret forms...Okay I am relieved of my anxiety, as it is only plastic. I have a bottom roller that has a couple holes in the top surface because it logged a lot of miles in moving from building to building daily and the top stack was very shaky on the old floors. I cringe every time I change the cover. Oh the stupidity of our youth!![]()
This. My projects really went next level when i could do a quick **** bracket on cnc.I miss my CNC plasma. It truly was game changing. Never really liked how it cut aluminum but I also didn’t try hard to dial aluminum in.
each machine has a thing it shines at. I’ve found a CNC mill to be more game changing than a CNC lathe. That may be why I’ve not tried really hard to get a CNC lathe…most basic parts/ops are fairly repeatable on a lathe. Anyway…it’s when you have all your machines CNC that everything becomes possible. Someday.![]()
Yeah, agreed. It's a slippery slope tho. Soon as I could create a **** bracket repeatedly I wanted to make money doing so. I gotta job.This. My projects really went next level when i could do a quick **** bracket on cnc.
Thanks, the idea of adding washers to stiffen a spring that's too soft is what I'll have to do then, great idea. Wish I could make a stiff spring a scosh softer...could I make a spring shorter by taking a coil off the end maybe?Been a decade or so since I've messed with a BOV, but I think you have the gist of it - you need a spring strong enough to keep the BOV closed at idle, but weak enough to open when you shut the throttle. If you have a very fast responding boost gauge you could watch it to make sure the pressure isn't spiking when you close the throttle before the BOV opens (spring too stiff), and you can play around with the throttle a bit while feeling for boost leak past the BOV with your hand (undo the vent pipe and plug the end going into the intake if it's a recirculating BOV) if the turbo is small enough to spool easily without driving the vehicle - shouldn't vent anything until the throttle is closed significantly or rapidly.
Sounds like the 11-14 is closest, but you might need one very slightly softer if the turbo is fluttering. You can add shims to a soft spring to stiffen it up (slightly)







