Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Welcome......To Odd Acres

[zmotorsports]

Thanks Mike! I do have some projects in queue.

Oh, BTW, I ordered a new lathe!

Awesome Dan. Looking forward to seeing it setup and chips flying.

 

[rmack898]

You can’t say “BTW I ordered a new lathe”
And leave it at that.

 

[zmotorsports]

You can’t say “BTW I ordered a new lathe”
And leave it at that.

^^Agreed. We need details Dan. Come on, don't you know the Garage Journal rules?

 

[Finallygotit]

You can’t say “BTW I ordered a new lathe”
And leave it at that.

Actually, i can........and did! Hahahahahahahaha...........

^^Agreed. We need details Dan. Come on, don't you know the Garage Journal rules?

Rules, schmules........

It's supposed to arrive on Monday. It's nothing special but a definite upgrade to what I had. The lathe I really wanted was too big for the shop. But, as soon as it arrives, I will post pictures.

 

[rmack898]

Actually, i can........and did! Hahahahahahahaha...........


Rules, schmules........

It's supposed to arrive on Monday. It's nothing special but a definite upgrade to what I had. The lathe I really wanted was too big for the shop. But, as soon as it arrives, I will post pictures.

I won't tell you what I just called you.

 

[Finallygotit]

I won't tell you what I just called you.

Mac, I can accept that.

But I will tell you this, this new lathe will not hold a candle to any of yours.

 

[RickP]

Mac, I can accept that.

But I will tell you this, this new lathe will not hold a candle to any of yours.

Lathe? Did I hear you mention a new lathe?
I can't wait to see what you ended up getting.

Did you buy a new one? I've looked at new prices and they can get crazy-high pretty quickly, especially with tooling added in, but that is a huge savings. I've thought about buying used, but the time to search, move, and refurb a used one starts to really add up quickly.

 

[Finallygotit]

So I have been plugging away at things and one of them was framing in the windows. This is a before pic.


And here's the after.


Granted it's not the same window but you get the idea.

I also installed a couple of LED lights in the corner with the mill. It was kinda dark. Here is the corner with the lights off.



And here is the corner with the lights on.


The picture does not really show how well the corner is lit up. The wiring is temporary but will be addressed shortly.

Still waiting patiently for the new lathe. New estimate has delivery still today but between the hours of 7 - 10 PM.

 

[Finallygotit]

Lathe? Did I hear you mention a new lathe?
I can't wait to see what you ended up getting.

Did you buy a new one? I've looked at new prices and they can get crazy-high pretty quickly, especially with tooling added in, but that is a huge savings. I've thought about buying used, but the time to search, move, and refurb a used one starts to really add up quickly.

Hi Rick, yes, I bought a new Grizzly 11" x 26" bench lathe (P/N G9972Z) with a stand (P/N T27839 ). The whole shebang cost $3,800 with tax and lift gate service. The lathe comes with quite a few accessories and I already have some tooling from when I was workng on the bench as a mold maker. I will add a DRO in the not too distant future.

 

[zmotorsports]

Milling corner looks great Dan. Can you remind me of the table dimensions of your Bridgeport? Is that a 9x32 or 9x36 table?

Love the framed Starrett wall chart as well. Wish mine was framed like that.

 

[Finallygotit]

Hi Mike, mill table is 9" x 32".

 

[Finallygotit]

OK, so the new lathe is assembled to its base in its home ; no thanks to the trucking company.





I also installed these wheels which will help me move the lathe around, should the need arise. Here they are in the up position letting the base sit on the concrete.


Here they are lifting the lathe off the ground by about 3/4".


Each wheel will support 200 pounds which is enough to hold this machine up for transport. The whole machine weighs about 700 pounds. It's a good thing I have an engine hoist otherwise this would have been a lot more complicated to pull out of the crate and onto the base.

Now the cleanup begins. Lots of oil and grease to remove. But at least it arrived in one piece with no dings or dents.

 

[Finallygotit]

Love the framed Starrett wall chart as well. Wish mine was framed like that.

Mike, I bought a poster frame for the Starrett chart. I'm sure you could do the same. I wanted to make sure that chart was protected from any slop I could sling around.

 

[zmotorsports]

Mike, I bought a poster frame for the Starrett chart. I'm sure you could do the same. I wanted to make sure that chart was protected from any slop I could sling around.

I may have to do that as well Dan. Thanks for the tip. The lathe looks right at home in your new shop. Looking forward to seeing chips fly.

 

[Finallygotit]

Well, after waiting for six months for the base cabinets to show up that were going to match the uppers (they never did) I decided to pay a visit to my local Harbor Freight store. My lovely wife suggested this and I'm glad she did. I have a heck of a lot more storage capacity.

Before..........


Today.........


To get these installed was just a matter of jacking the benchtop up a tad, sliding the old base cabinets out and sliding new the tool boxes in.

As Rian would say, "I am quite chuffed!"

 

[rmack898]

Looking good Dan.
Lathe tooling storage for one and mill tooling storage for the other.

 

[sawduststeve]

Dan,
I’m chuffed that your chuffed, the shop looks sweeeet, real good.
Now you just need to find a project

steve

 

[Finallygotit]

Looking good Dan.
Lathe tooling storage for one and mill tooling storage for the other.

Thanks Mac! I do need storage, lots of storage.

First, I need to finish cleaning out the three car garage and put down the epoxy.

Dan,
I’m chuffed that your chuffed, the shop looks sweeeet, real good.
Now you just need to find a project

steve

Hi Steve! I really do have a project or two that I need to start cutting chips with.

I am getting tired of working on the shop and want to work in the shop.

 

[tj675]

The shop is really coming together. The bench looks great!

 

[madison069]

I am getting tired of working on the shop and want to work in the shop.

Well I will say the shop is looking great! I know how you feel about wanting to work in the shop and not on the shop. I'm tired of the home projects and want to get back on the camaro project!!!!

 

[jar944]

I was going to comment that I also had a foredom flex motor sitting on/next to my lathe (for no good reason). But when I looked I had a motorcycle on it instead.

 

[sawduststeve]

I am getting tired of working on the shop and want to work in the shop.

Dan,

we’ve been in the same workshop since about ‘85/86. Two years till I retire then I hope to stop working in the shop and spend time on the shop.
A ****** great tidy up.

steve

 

[Finallygotit]

Dan,

we’ve been in the same workshop since about ‘85/86. Two years till I retire then I hope to stop working in the shop and spend time on the shop.
A ****** great tidy up.

steve

Thanks Steve, hang in there. Two years will go by incredibly fast. This is my third week of retirement and I'm loving it. Been super busy too. It's nice to know I don't have to wait until the weekend to do things.

 

[56vette461]

The nice things about retirement. As Don Long says, every day is a Saturday except Sunday. Things to look forward to:
1. I assure you that you win discover that you become so busy in retirement that you wonder how you had time to work at your old job.
2. The honey-do list grows longer daily.
3. you will hear more of "Now that your not working .... "
4. You will learn to shutter when your significant other says, "I was just thinking". Those words are usually followed by a new plan that takes time and money.
5. And then there is the famous "Ask (say your name) to do it. He isn't working!"

But most important, after 21 years of retirement I find I can pick and choose what I want to do. I can make most of my schedule around my projects and shop needs. And we can travel to do things that do not include visiting relatives. And the Honey-do list is manageable.

Retirement is not all they say it is. IT IS So much more. Just something to look forward to.

 

[racer-john]

"Retirement is not all they say it is. IT IS So much more. Just something to look forward to."
Only if you have a hobby, otherwise you are down 6 feet. Please don't ask me how I know.

 

[zmotorsports]

"Retirement is not all they say it is. IT IS So much more. Just something to look forward to."
Only if you have a hobby, otherwise you are down 6 feet. Please don't ask me how I know.

My wife and I have had this conversation repeatedly lately. I have become so obsessed with building wealth and preparing for retirement and my wife has to bring me down to earth at times. We met with our financial advisor a few weeks back and she expressed her concern and our advisor helped to ease my concern somewhat by where we are at, but he also said something that struck a cord with me. He said, "you can have all of this money and be more than ready for retirement but if you are so stressed about retirement now you may be cutting years off your life and not even know it." I reflected back to my dad who worked hard his entire life and finally started to have a little money and passed at the young age of 73. I wish I could have had more time with him and gotten to do more fun things with him because most of my memories of my dad were of working on the farm side by side with him and his worrying about how he was going to make ends meet. I don't want my son and wife to have to go through that experience.

My wife confirmed that concern and also added that she wants to continue to enjoy life now, not just focus solely on retirement. I thought I had a decent balance of work/life but it appears I have some things to work on obviously because I don't want to wish my life away waiting for retirement. We have a good life now, have our health and are doing well so I don't want to jeopardize that but I'm not going to lie, I am looking forward to retirement.

 

[Finallygotit]

The nice things about retirement. As Don Long says, every day is a Saturday except Sunday. Things to look forward to:
1. I assure you that you win discover that you become so busy in retirement that you wonder how you had time to work at your old job.
2. The honey-do list grows longer daily.
3. you will hear more of "Now that your not working .... "
4. You will learn to shutter when your significant other says, "I was just thinking". Those words are usually followed by a new plan that takes time and money.
5. And then there is the famous "Ask (say your name) to do it. He isn't working!"

But most important, after 21 years of retirement I find I can pick and choose what I want to do. I can make most of my schedule around my projects and shop needs. And we can travel to do things that do not include visiting relatives. And the Honey-do list is manageable.

Retirement is not all they say it is. IT IS So much more. Just something to look forward to.

I really appreciate you stopping by and commenting about retirement; very true words. Although, your #4 made me laugh out loud. My wife has been doing that for a few years now and when she does it I do shudder and put my face in my hands. I do love her so much.

"Retirement is not all they say it is. IT IS So much more. Just something to look forward to."
Only if you have a hobby, otherwise you are down 6 feet. Please don't ask me how I know.

John, I have heard, on more than one occasion, that I better have an outside interest in retirement. Those that really know me know that that won't be a problem; I can't sit still for long. This shop that we have created is to that end and then some. But I also know when to sit back and take a breather and enjoy what we have invested in and created.

My wife and I have had this conversation repeatedly lately. I have become so obsessed with building wealth and preparing for retirement and my wife has to bring me down to earth at times. We met with our financial advisor a few weeks back and she expressed her concern and our advisor helped to ease my concern somewhat by where we are at, but he also said something that struck a cord with me. He said, "you can have all of this money and be more than ready for retirement but if you are so stressed about retirement now you may be cutting years off your life and not even know it." I reflected back to my dad who worked hard his entire life and finally started to have a little money and passed at the young age of 73. I wish I could have had more time with him and gotten to do more fun things with him because most of my memories of my dad were of working on the farm side by side with him and his worrying about how he was going to make ends meet. I don't want my son and wife to have to go through that experience.

My wife confirmed that concern and also added that she wants to continue to enjoy life now, not just focus solely on retirement. I thought I had a decent balance of work/life but it appears I have some things to work on obviously because I don't want to wish my life away waiting for retirement. We have a good life now, have our health and are doing well so I don't want to jeopardize that but I'm not going to lie, I am looking forward to retirement.

Mike, your scenario is much like ours but with the roles reversed. Through dealing with friends and family through the years and learning financially what to do and what not to do, we have saved and invested to the point where we will live very comfortable with no debt. It also helped to have a very good financial planner in our back pocket. We got to know her through one of our good friends.

My wife would fret over the retirement spreadsheets she created weekly if not more. Probably more like daily. I would constantly reminder her that we will be just fine. "Honey, step away from the ledge." One day a while back, while she was reviewing those spreadsheets and worrying (worrying is something that comes quite naturally for her) I asked her if I could take over her computer chair so I could review them again. By her estimates we would live comfortably, snug but comfortably. I started reviewing her income streams and noticed something was missing.....my 401k. "Ummmm.....Honey is there a particular reason why my 401 isn't on this spreadsheet?" Suddenly you could hear crickets and this look came upon her face. I have been cranking away the max possible contribution to that 401k for YEARS. When she added the 401 to that spreadsheet you could hear angels singing. "See Honey, I told you we would be OK." She still worries....I think it's a disease.

Anyway Mike, it sounds like you have things well under control so it might be time to put your life on cruise control and enjoy each other and your family. Retirement will come soon enough. And as 56vette said earlier, you're gong to wonder how you got things done when you had a job because you're so busy.

Cheers!!

 

[zmotorsports]

Mike, your scenario is much like ours but with the roles reversed. Through dealing with friends and family through the years and learning financially what to do and what not to do, we have saved and invested to the point where we will live very comfortable with no debt. It also helped to have a very good financial planner in our back pocket. We got to know her through one of our good friends.

My wife would fret over the retirement spreadsheets she created weekly if not more. Probably more like daily. I would constantly reminder her that we will be just fine. "Honey, step away from the ledge." One day a while back, while she was reviewing those spreadsheets and worrying (worrying is something that comes quite naturally for her) I asked her if I could take over her computer chair so I could review them again. By her estimates we would live comfortably, snug but comfortably. I started reviewing her income streams and noticed something was missing.....my 401k. "Ummmm.....Honey is there a particular reason why my 401 isn't on this spreadsheet?" Suddenly you could hear crickets and this look came upon her face. I have been cranking away the max possible contribution to that 401k for YEARS. When she added the 401 to that spreadsheet you could hear angels singing. "See Honey, I told you we would be OK." She still worries....I think it's a disease.

Anyway Mike, it sounds like you have things well under control so it might be time to put your life on cruise control and enjoy each other and your family. Retirement will come soon enough. And as 56vette said earlier, you're gong to wonder how you got things done when you had a job because you're so busy.

Cheers!!

Thanks for the comments Dan.

I know I fret a bit too much. When she told our financial advisor, who is also one of our friends from years ago, that I will go in and check net worth weekly and see why we went down one week compared to the previous and what we need to do to address that, he simply told me I need to relax and we'll have more money than we realize. When I do our calculations I generally plug in worse case scenario numbers vs. best case. I simply can't let things go and if we're not going forward we're going backwards as far as I'm concerned.

But like you, we're maxing things out and have been for some time. Our home is our only debt and we're making extra payments to get that paid down as quickly as possible and we are dumping money into an RV fund to be able to purchase a newer coach hopefully just prior to retirement. Until then I need to relax and enjoy the coach we have, our home and our life and just put it on cruise control as you mention.

I seem to get more in-depth in this between about November and now each year. I think it has to do with the fact that we don't travel during these months and all I do is work and this past year I've buried myself with side jobs to bring as much money coming in as possible. Once we start RV'ing and Jeeping maybe I'll lighten up a bit and be able go get back to relaxing a bit.

 

[Bob Heine]

Dan and Mike, retirement is a wonderful thing and a goal for most of us. The only financial planner I had managed to lose a bunch of my money while doing quite well for himself. I ended up being my own financial advisor and happily kick myself in the *** when I make a mistake. Liane is the worrier but each year it takes me less and less time to bring her down off the ledge. It might have been different if we were a two-income household but she has a hard time believing we can live without a paycheck. My last W2 arrived in the mail in 1995.

Just like when I was working, we don't spend beyond our income in retirement and at the end of each year I put some of the surplus back into the investments (after helping the kids a bit). I realized after I retired that a lot of expenses went down. It was also easy to adjust because we put 25% of my income into retirement plans and investments when I was working. An old fashioned pension from IBM was a good base and before I turned 59.5 we drew on the pool of investments. With a father and grandfather dying in their 50s, I jumped on Social Security when I turned 62. I could have waited to collect but it takes almost 17 years to break even. Didn't expect to live to 77 so maybe I can give myself a gentle kick in the *** in two years.

 

[Finallygotit]

Bob, right now we're spending buckets of money to get this homestead fixed up to our liking. We're almost there and then we can sit back and relax. And like you said, we should see expenses go down, I hope. Seriously, I know those will go down. And like you said, as I am experiencing right now, retirement is a wonderful thing.

 

[harley jim]

Another retired guy,I'm just watching all of the good going on here.

 

[cros13]

Shops filling out great Dan! really coming together now!

Rudi.

 

[Finallygotit]

Hi Rudi and thank you! Although the shop is now filled to the brim because everything that was in the garage is now either in the shop or on the patio. My lovely wife and I refinished the floor in the three car garage.

I started with renting a floor scrubber to remove the dirt and oil that was on the previously sealed floor. (that baby has a mind of its own) Here we are just prior to scrubbing.


Then we put down a primer product from Rustoleum which does not require the concrete surface to be ground. This stuff better work.


Then we put down the base coat.



Then we put down the clear coat.


The final result looks really good. Now we have to start putting things back in the garage. I am so looking forward to having this project finished.

 

[Finallygotit]

And it's a good thing we finished the floor when we did. As we were about to enter the carwash with my wife's minivan, the window regulator mechanism exploded. It sounded like someone hit the side of the door with a high velocity rock. Waiting on parts to arrive.

My wife had this fixed once before so now I have to fix what the previous knucklehead fu-barred. I hate when "professionals" do such sub-par work.

 

[Mr.zippy]

Floor looks great! On the plus side, it looks like you have tons of area to fix that regulator that is unobstructed.....I've done a few that were brutal.

 

[Finallygotit]

Floor looks great! On the plus side, it looks like you have tons of area to fix that regulator that is unobstructed.....I've done a few that were brutal.

Thank you! Having all of that space right now is great! This repair isn't too bad. Chrysler designed this so that it's pretty modular. The freaking knucklehead that worked on this before obviously didn't have the right sized Torx bit and decided to use an Allen key instead. Then there is the two plastic modular pieces that he broke apart because he didn't know how to disassemble the unit. Luckily I have a shop where I can take those two pieces and clamp them in assembly so I can drill them then use nuts and bolts to hold them together.

(Breathe Dan.......breathe.........)

 

[RickP]

Floor looks great. That primer sounds like a great product -- I'll be interested in hearing how it works for you long-term.

Thank you! Having all of that space right now is great! This repair isn't too bad. Chrysler designed this so that it's pretty modular. The freaking knucklehead that worked on this before obviously didn't have the right sized Torx bit and decided to use an Allen key instead. Then there is the two plastic modular pieces that he broke apart because he didn't know how to disassemble the unit. Luckily I have a shop where I can take those two pieces and clamp them in assembly so I can drill them then use nuts and bolts to hold them together.

Sounds like you've got your hands full with that window. I've worked on a couple that were not as easy as yours, including one where the main upper piece was plastic (terrible design). But yours looks like a much better design -- too bad that knucklehead worked on it before. Aren't you glad you've got the time to do it yourself this time?

 

[Finallygotit]

Rick (Or anyone else that might be interested) this is the primer product I used. HTH

 

[RickP]

Thanks for the info on the primer. Eliminating all that sanding/grinding would definitely be worth it. Smart move building the shed and then emptying the house garage into it in order to paint. I would definitely be "challenged" with emptying out my garage these days, but that freshly painted floor looks so good, it might be worth tackling it.

 

[harley jim]

I like what you did with your floor. I'm going to paint the floor in my sun porch later this year and I'm trying to decide what to use so I'm taking notes, any thing you would have done different? Thanks, Jim.