Closed Tuesday the 19th. Looks like I acquired a parts washer and tranny jack with the sale. :lol:
(https://s31.postimg.org/gx0inwnjv/20171219_105057.jpg)
(https://s31.postimg.org/ba45qankb/20171219_104305.jpg)
(https://s31.postimg.org/839m6uiln/20171219_104337.jpg)
Aside: Thank you all for the kind words, advice, and support. Closing Tuesday. Thousands of ideas in my head. Progress to be posted here.
Awesome man! You will do great.
Pops said that putting the building in my name (was planning to anyways) and charging the LLC itself rent would be a good structure. The "rent" can basically be my personal income from the business, while the rent paid will be an easy tax write-off for the business itself...win-win. He said it's a common practice for real estate. So good to have a banker for a dad. :lol:
An up and coming entrepreneur. Good stuff.
Congratulations! :cheers: .
Lots of benefits to forming an LLC (wife & I each have one) & good tax advantages - especially with the Repubs' new changes to the tax code.
I suggest you talk to an accountant; it's worth paying for an hour of do's & don't's advice before you get rolling, & be anal about bookkeeping (we use FreshBooks, but anything is better than nothing)
Congrats, looking forward to details..... :tounge:
So, is the deed done?
Congratulations. That looks perfect for detailing.
Congratulations!!! What do you plan on doing with the building?
Quote from: Submariner on December 19, 2017, 02:25:29 PM
Congratulations!!! What do you plan on doing with the building?
Probably detail in it. :lol:
Or do you mean modz? Plumbing, update electrical, water heater are top priority to get to work. Then finishing the walls (insulating), new lights, perhaps a new furnace, a wood stove would be nice. Outside could use fresh paint, but it's not a high priority.
Shop Modz Pt 1: Xmas Lights
(https://s31.postimg.org/6vmy6lmyj/20171219_173514.jpg)
You need a 6 foot tall motorized hula girl with your brand name on the top. Something to draw people in.
Damn, now it's real. Going to be fun.
I'd look into getting some help for all the administrative stuff. Buddy of mine has a thriving woodworking business and taking care of all the back end stuff was killing him. And yea be anal-retentive about bookkeeping.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on December 19, 2017, 04:26:36 PM
Damn, now it's real. Going to be fun.
I'd look into getting some help for all the administrative stuff. Buddy of mine has a thriving woodworking business and taking care of all the back end stuff was killing him. And yea be anal-retentive about bookkeeping.
Administrative stuff like scheduling and phone calls and shit? Yeah, that's been getting more and more annoying for me over the years as I've gotten busier and busier. Not quite to the point where I need to hire somebody, but having an actual shop downtown may require me to look into it.
I guarantee my mom would volunteer to be my secretary, but she's in her 60s now. She's got better shit to do than deal with customers.
DOPE!
Wow. Over 2,000 people have seen my business' Facebook post about the shop. That's a lot for me around here...my town is ~4500. The love is real. #blessed
Dreams do come true.
(https://s31.postimg.org/6prmmarvf/20171220_013235.jpg)
Enjoy.
What does the office part of the building look like?
Quote from: shp4man on December 20, 2017, 01:04:46 PM
What does the office part of the building look like?
It's a strange triangle shape, but it works, decent size. A new floor would make it quite nice.
(https://s31.postimg.org/t9dzexs3v/20171220_223203.jpg)
Snowblowed tonight...pretty big space to snowblow so it was weird deciding where to throw it, but it didn't take too long.
(https://s31.postimg.org/swml8tmpn/20171220_214315.jpg)
Snagged this on sale at Tractor Supply last night. Enough to run an air impact, fill some tires, blow a little air if I need to. My 6-gal pancake doesn't have the CFM to run an impact.
(https://images.homedepot-static.com/productImages/0511ce58-2519-4158-ba86-b511b01216a5/svn/dewalt-portable-air-compressors-d55167-64_1000.jpg)
Got a couple warm white LED bulbs for the random sconces on the wall and two, connectable 4' sections of LED light tube for under the shelf along the back wall, which is where I plan to have my main workbench/shelving area.. Now I can light the shop for "hanging out" with a combined ~65W instead of 240 or 480W (the two rows of fluorescent fixtures are on separate switches). Nice to have warm light instead of being under the fluorescents all the time.
(https://s9.postimg.org/luv79er7j/20171226_204304.jpg)
(https://s14.postimg.org/cljpkpd8h/20171226_204320.jpg)
Plumber coming Thursday to check the place out for me and get the ball rolling on actual necessities to start working.
How have you constituted the business? (The new tax bill makes pass-throughs even more attractive)
https://www.patriotsoftware.com/accounting/training/blog/what-is-pass-through-taxation-entity-benefits/
Quote from: Morris Minor on December 27, 2017, 05:49:43 AM
How have you constituted the business? (The new tax bill makes pass-throughs even more attractive)
https://www.patriotsoftware.com/accounting/training/blog/what-is-pass-through-taxation-entity-benefits/
LLC, file as self-employed. I write off everything possible from my cell phone bill to my driving to my shoes.
Quote from: giant_mtb on December 27, 2017, 11:00:47 AM
LLC, file as self-employed. I write off everything possible from my cell phone bill to my driving to my shoes.
Good stuff. Check with an accountant but it looks like the new tax bill allows you to 100% expense capital items up front (rather than expensing a portion of the cost each year using some IRS depreciation schedule.) So if you have an expensive productivity-enhancing bit of gear you need... (vapor/steam cleaner?)
Steam cleaner is on the list. :lol:
Got my insurance quote. $150k building replacement coverage, $40k garage keepers insurance (in case something happens to customer vehicle), and full coverage for my truck including coverage for driving others' vehicles...~$2,750 annually. Seems pretty reasonable.
Quote from: giant_mtb on December 28, 2017, 11:35:38 AM
Got my insurance quote. $150k building replacement coverage, $40k garage keepers insurance (in case something happens to customer vehicle), and full coverage for my truck including coverage for driving others' vehicles...~$2,750 annually. Seems pretty reasonable.
That's not bad at all.
Worth a read. I'm guessing burglary/theft & water damage would be your main risks.
http://honigconte.com/5-common-business-insurance-claims/ (http://honigconte.com/5-common-business-insurance-claims/)
We got warm fluorescent tubes for the house. Makes a huge difference. I got 3000K but I'd go down to 2700K if they made them.
What are you doing for HVAC in the space?
HVAC is going to stay as is for now, but an upgrade would be nice. Furnace is 40-50 years old. Gonna have the HVAC/plumber guy take a look at it and make sure it's clean and tuned up and run it through this winter. I'll replace it eventually. It's a monster! Might ask the HVAC guy for a quote on what a new system would cost. Don't need AC. Just heat.
Maybe there's grant money or something for small businesses for that kind of stuff.
You can probably get some utility money if it's connected to their gas. But there is something cool about old cast iron stuff that still works :lol:
My first gas bill is going to be brutal. $180 deposit to get the utilities in my name and it's been nice and frackin' cold lately... :cry: :lol:
BUT, I'm simply glad the furnace works and the building holds temperature (have it set at 50F) well enough. I put some foam weather stripping around one of the garage doors to keep some cold air out, and just sealed up the man door in the garage yesterday. Crazy what a difference filling in a few cracks can make.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on December 30, 2017, 11:14:33 AM
You can probably get some utility money if it's connected to their gas. But there is something cool about old cast iron stuff that still works :lol:
I'd really like a cast iron wood stove in there. Just a simple one with an adjustable choke for efficiency.
I'm looking at this photo...
(https://s31.postimg.org/839m6uiln/20171219_104337.jpg)
Does the furnace heat the office space too?
Yes, there's a duct that shoots off the side to the office area.
You can see it in the picture.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on December 30, 2017, 06:44:42 AM
We got warm fluorescent tubes for the house. Makes a huge difference. I got 3000K but I'd go down to 2700K if they made them.
What are you doing for HVAC in the space?
Warm is great for living areas but for a work area / detailing wouldn't a cooler color temp be better? I've always gotten cooler temp for the garage.
Quote from: Lebowski on December 31, 2017, 09:07:48 AM
Warm is great for living areas but for a work area / detailing wouldn't a cooler color temp be better? I've always gotten cooler temp for the garage.
Yes. Nice, crisp white is ideal for detailing. Soft white is good for hangout light.
Quote from: giant_mtb on December 31, 2017, 12:06:58 AM
Yes, there's a duct that shoots off the side to the office area.
You can see it in the picture.
😬
That would be a building code violation here, because your return is in the garage bay. Your furnace could distribute carbon monoxide fumes to the office as a result, if you had a vehicle running in there.
That may complicate getting the furnace simply replaced: you might not be allowed...
Yeah, the inspector said it could be an issue.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on December 30, 2017, 06:44:42 AM
We got warm fluorescent tubes for the house. Makes a huge difference. I got 3000K but I'd go down to 2700K if they made them.
What are you doing for HVAC in the space?
For the shop area don't dismiss 5000K daylight LEDs - they'll provide a truer rendering of vehicle colors etc. Also better for photography if you going to be snapping pics. 2700-3000K is def better for the office though.
http://www.westinghouselighting.com/color-temperature.aspx (http://www.westinghouselighting.com/color-temperature.aspx)
Y'all are preachin to the choir... :lol:
We're spicing up our sad, purposeless, meaningless lives by living vicariously through you.
Quote from: giant_mtb on December 31, 2017, 10:41:45 AM
Yeah, the inspector said it could be an issue.
Depending on how big the office space is you might consider replacing the old furnace and modifying the ductwork to serve
just the office, and using a unit heater (e.g. (http://www.modinehvac.com/web/products/residential-gashydronic-unit-heaters-hotdawg/hot-dawg-power-vented-hd.htm)) in the garage. Splitting the two, you can keep the spaces at whatever's comfortable for you; 70 °F in the office, 55 °F in the garage for example. And it would be code-compliant. ;)
Quote from: Morris Minor on December 31, 2017, 03:09:04 PM
We're spicing up our sad, purposeless, meaningless lives by living vicariously through you.
Speak for yourself, pops! I plan on (
finally) building a garage this summer.
Quote from: 93JC on January 01, 2018, 08:30:15 PM
Depending on how big the office space is you might consider replacing the old furnace and modifying the ductwork to serve just the office, and using a unit heater (e.g. (http://www.modinehvac.com/web/products/residential-gashydronic-unit-heaters-hotdawg/hot-dawg-power-vented-hd.htm)) in the garage. Splitting the two, you can keep the spaces at whatever's comfortable for you; 70 °F in the office, 55 °F in the garage for example. And it would be code-compliant. ;)
Yeah, that was my thought as well. As long as the bathroom stays warm so the pipes don't freeze.
I like the unit heater idea too, especially since it will be a lot more efficient. You could tie it to an occupancy sensor and shit.
Quote from: Morris Minor on December 31, 2017, 03:09:04 PM
We're spicing up our sad, purposeless, meaningless lives by living vicariously through you.
Sounds like you need a little adventure in your life.
Quote from: 12,000 RPM on January 02, 2018, 10:27:31 AM
I like the unit heater idea too, especially since it will be a lot more efficient. You could tie it to an occupancy sensor and shit.
Another option, popular here, is a radiant tube heater; Re-verber-ray (https://www.reverberray.com/products/commercial-industrial/low-intensity-infrared-radiant-tube-heaters/det3-series/) for example is a product built in Warren. They're much quieter than a unit heater—no blower fan.
Quote from: 93JC on January 02, 2018, 04:43:24 PM
Another option, popular here, is a radiant tube heater; Re-verber-ray (https://www.reverberray.com/products/commercial-industrial/low-intensity-infrared-radiant-tube-heaters/det3-series/) for example is a product built in Warren. They're much quieter than a unit heater—no blower fan.
Weird you mentioned Warren, but yeah those work pretty well.
Built a work bench with my dad this evening. Fifteen 2x4s and a sheet of plywood. Didn't build the upper part for peg board yet. It's sturdy as frig. Would like to poly coat the top surface.
(https://s14.postimg.org/g2qep3bn5/20180102_222541.jpg)
Used these plans. Just modified the length a bit so I can have shelving units on either side of it.
https://www.familyhandyman.com/workshop/workbench/how-to-build-a-workbench-super-simple-50-bench/view-all/
Quote from: 93JC on January 02, 2018, 04:43:24 PM
Another option, popular here, is a radiant tube heater; Re-verber-ray (https://www.reverberray.com/products/commercial-industrial/low-intensity-infrared-radiant-tube-heaters/det3-series/) for example is a product built in Warren. They're much quieter than a unit heater—no blower fan.
Those are intriguing. One strip along the ceiling over each bay would be slick and keep the whole space more consistently heated.
What do you guys think about the walls? They're just bare brick/masonry, so they have very little insulative property. I'm wondering what my order of operations should be...if I'm going to insulate the walls (foam board), I need to make sure that any electrical/plumbing work I have done takes that into account. ie, Water line would need to be run like 3" off the wall so that once a wall is insulated/finished, the water line is still accessible. Same with electrical, so that the conduit/switches/outlets are accessible throughout...? I feel like the walls (at least gluing up insulation) is something I can do myself if I rent some scaffolding, but I'd like everything off the walls, first...which means plumbing and electrical stuff... such confus!
Is there a floor drain in that place?
Quote from: shp4man on January 03, 2018, 11:52:52 AM
Is there a floor drain in that place?
Yep! Wouldn't have bought it if there wasn't...otherwise my ability to do anything exterior-wise in the winter would be eliminated, which was half the point of buying the place. :lol:
Most of the detailers around here are mobile (truck with flatbed trailer). There's one guy down the street that has a building with prices on the windows for a hand wash and wax, other services.
Put together a nice, cheap sound system for the place on Parts Express. The old cheap-o PA I have in there now is fine, but it's slowly dying (losing the right channel). Considered putting my JBL L100s in there, but I don't want to subject them to that environment...they'll stay in my home.
Dayton B652s, Dayton SUB-800 8" sub, and a Yamaha R-S202 receiver with Blue teeth.
Receiver has A/B speaker outputs, so I can run two more speakers later on if I'd like and run all 4, either to the office or to the other side of the shop. 8" sub isn't going to rattle the place to the ground, but it's compact and will be plenty for easy shop listening to fill in the low end under the B652s.
Quote from: giant_mtb on January 03, 2018, 11:40:14 AM
Those are intriguing. One strip along the ceiling over each bay would be slick and keep the whole space more consistently heated.
Maybe a couple of big ceiling fans? Upward-blowing in the winter to bring warm air down from the ceiling, & down-blowing in the summer to keep you cool.
And yes I'd insulate the walls as a first priority and run all the other stuff where needed on top of that.
Yeah, I was thinking a ceiling fan over the middle of each bay would be good to have.
Quote from: Soup DeVille on January 02, 2018, 08:24:26 PM
Weird you mentioned Warren, but yeah those work pretty well.
The first manufacturer I thought of was Calcana, from these parts (
Calgary,
Canada...). I doubt they sell stuff down there, so I just started looking for American manufacturers of radiant heaters and Re-verber-ray was one of the first to come up. I figured surely they must have a lots of sales/support in the muthafuckin you-pee, even if they're made in North Windsor.
Quote from: giant_mtb on January 03, 2018, 02:35:25 PM
Yeah, I was thinking a ceiling fan over the middle of each bay would be good to have.
Keep in mind you'll have to stay clear of the overhead doors...
Quote from: 93JC on January 04, 2018, 12:52:11 AM
The first manufacturer I thought of was Calcana, from these parts (Calgary, Canada...). I doubt they sell stuff down there, so I just started looking for American manufacturers of radiant heaters and Re-verber-ray was one of the first to come up. I figured surely they must have a lots of sales/support in the muthafuckin you-pee, even if they're made in North Windsor.
Yeah, they're all over in shops around here. Can't say I've noticed another brand. Pretty much all I know about them is that if the idiot warehouse manager decides to stack pallets full of plastic parts all the way against the roof in a non-warehouse area right under one of the tubes, all the smoke will come out of the plastics.
Plumber should be able to stop by within a couple days...they've been really busy with the cold weather action.
Will be getting the leak at the inlet fixed so I can start using the bathroom (thank god), getting an estimate for a water heater, and getting the furnace cleaned/tuned.
Plan is to just have them install the water heater and do all the PEX stuff myself.
Getting Internet on Monday. Yay.
My buddy's dad is an electrician with the city. He swung by today to check it out. He said it's all good. Upgrade the lighting, get rid of all the junk wiring to nowhere, and run it.
He confirmed that the 240V outlet is not metered...he said "wow, you could hook up a really nice heater to this and heat this place for free...if you were making millions I might tell somebody." :lol:
Quote from: giant_mtb on January 04, 2018, 02:36:57 PM
My buddy's dad is an electrician with the city. He swung by today to check it out. He said it's all good. Upgrade the lighting, get rid of all the junk wiring to nowhere, and run it.
He confirmed that the 240V outlet is not metered...he said "wow, you could hook up a really nice heater to this and heat this place for free...if you were making millions I might tell somebody." :lol:
It bypasses the meter?
Quote from: giant_mtb on January 04, 2018, 02:36:57 PM
My buddy's dad is an electrician with the city. He swung by today to check it out. He said it's all good. Upgrade the lighting, get rid of all the junk wiring to nowhere, and run it.
He confirmed that the 240V outlet is not metered...he said "wow, you could hook up a really nice heater to this and heat this place for free...if you were making millions I might tell somebody." :lol:
Hahahahaha
Quote from: giant_mtb on January 04, 2018, 07:31:49 PM
It's before the meter, yeah.
Electronic meter or old school?
Quote from: Soup DeVille on January 04, 2018, 07:36:26 PM
Electronic meter or old school?
Electronic meter, but it's inside. So it's...old school enough. :lol:
I meant to ask- do you do any work for dealers/insurance claims? If not, would you consider it? I imagine that would help steady the workload if that's an issue. It sounds like you have a good client base but I figured I'd put that out there. My only fear is that they'd be a complete PITA to work with.
I've done work for a local dealership before. They were actually easy to deal with. They paid full price and didn't rush me.
But no, it's not high on my list of priorities. If they call and it fits in my schedule, they're simply another customer. I don't work for them, I work for me.
Quote from: 93JC on January 04, 2018, 12:53:39 AM
Keep in mind you'll have to stay clear of the overhead doors...
Of course. The doors are 11' tall, the shop is ~36' feet long, so the open doors don't quite reach the middle, so should be able to get pretty close to central mounting.
Got a 4-camera security system from my old boss at the bar. He was going through some stuff and found it...never used, never opened. Four wireless cameras (just have to run power), remote viewable with an app, and a 1TB hub for recording. Dunno what he paid for it, but probably more than the $125 I gave him. A similar system of the same brand is $190 on Amazon.
Nice that they transmit wirelessly...I can hide the brain box just about anywhere.
Electric tankless water heaters aren't as expensive as I thought...and I could run one off my un-metered 240V.............mount on the wall, plug it in, and run PEX.
https://www.menards.com/main/plumbing/water-heaters/residential-water-heaters/atmor-thermopro-3-7-gpm-multi-application-electric-tankless-water-heater/at-910-18tb/p-1513150062305-c-8690.htm?tid=-4339377294367853010&ipos=11
- Ripped down a bunch of coax that was run for security cameras. Learned a lot in the process about how the place is wired up and what I need/want to do...it's mostly just moving outlets and switches to where I want them and removing anything unnecessary.
- Got a basic "home wiring" book at Menards for $3 that has lots of rules/suggestions and diagrams about how to wire switches, outlets, junction boxes, etc. properly.
- Would like to rent some scaffolding when I do the lights...the old ones are pretty large (8' with big ol' ballasts), not something I want to do on a ladder.
Are you going to paint the walls and floor? Seems like it couldn't hurt for the detail shop to be shiny on the inside.
Quote from: giant_mtb on January 02, 2018, 08:34:15 PM
Built a work bench with my dad this evening. Fifteen 2x4s and a sheet of plywood. Didn't build the upper part for peg board yet. It's sturdy as frig. Would like to poly coat the top surface.
(https://s14.postimg.org/g2qep3bn5/20180102_222541.jpg)
Used these plans. Just modified the length a bit so I can have shelving units on either side of it.
https://www.familyhandyman.com/workshop/workbench/how-to-build-a-workbench-super-simple-50-bench/view-all/
Put a piece of MDF on top. Don't glue it on, then when it gets beat up over time, it's easy to replace the surface. I think it's better to start with a sacrificial surface than add one later once the original surface is uneven.
Quote from: Rupert on January 08, 2018, 02:36:48 PM
Put a piece of MDF on top. Don't glue it on, then when it gets beat up over time, it's easy to replace the surface. I think it's better to start with a sacrificial surface than add one later once the original surface is uneven.
lol no...MDF is hella porous... It's a perfectly fine piece of 1/2" veneered plywood. It's a detail shop, not a grease pit. I'll replace it if I need to. It's level enough for my purposes. That picture makes it look worse than it is. Nothing moves.
Edit: if anything I'm going to poly coat the surface.
Quote from: Rupert on January 08, 2018, 02:32:32 PM
Are you going to paint the walls and floor? Seems like it couldn't hurt for the detail shop to be shiny on the inside.
Starting insulating tonight. Then white corrugated metal for the first 6-8' for splash-proof-ability and then whatever I decide above that later on.
Floor has other needs before I bother with what color it is. Remnants of old hoists/lifts will need to be taken care of first, and that's it's own big project, though it doesn't impact the ability to have vehicles in the shop.
Quote from: giant_mtb on January 08, 2018, 03:41:26 PM
Starting insulating tonight. Then white corrugated metal for the first 6-8' for splash-proof-ability and then whatever I decide above that later on.
Do you need a vapor barrier because it's brick? Or not because it's a vertical wall as opposed to a floor? I don't know how that's supposed to work.
Quote from: giant_mtb on January 08, 2018, 03:39:56 PM
lol no...MDF is hella porous... It's a perfectly fine piece of 1/2" veneered plywood. It's a detail shop, not a grease pit. I'll replace it if I need to. It's level enough for my purposes. That picture makes it look worse than it is. Nothing moves.
Edit: if anything I'm going to poly coat the surface.
The bench looks great, it's just easier to replace the top if it's on top of another top.
I've built a few of these. Generally the top is secured pretty well (IMO it should be glued and screwed) because it's part of the structure (even if there is lots of 2x4 structure under it). You can skip the glue and use smaller shorter screws that don't need to be an any specific locations (i.e. the screws don't have to line up with the 2x4s underneath) with a top on the top. Doesn't have to be MDF, I like that because it's massive, it responds well to beatings, and I don't care what it looks like (so it being porous isn't a problem unless you're spilling a lot of nasty shit all over it); also all softwood is hella porous. Quarter inch ply would work just fine.
IMO, coating the surface will make the bench top resist fluids and look good, but it might be a bit too smooth. Roughness helps to keep things in place.
Quote from: Rupert on January 08, 2018, 08:00:55 PM
Do you need a vapor barrier because it's brick? Or not because it's a vertical wall as opposed to a floor? I don't know how that's supposed to work.
Don't need a vapor barrier with the insulation I'm using. Foil-faced polyiso foam board. If it were fiberglass...probably, yeah. But to use fiberglass/other soft stuff, I'd have to frame the walls, so nailing foam to the walls is a much simpler solution. Not getting as good of insulation (R6 to R10 depending on the spot) with the foam, but it's a shop kept at 50F, so anything is way better than nothing. Those brick walls are collllllld.
Don't know why I didn't think to rent a big nail gun...hand-pounding masonry nails is slow work. Might pick up one of those .22 powder-charged concrete nailers if they have one cheap enough for a one-time use. Not sure if my local Menards rents pneumatic concrete nailers.
Quote from: Rupert on January 08, 2018, 08:12:44 PM
The bench looks great, it's just easier to replace the top if it's on top of another top.
I've built a few of these. Generally the top is secured pretty well (IMO it should be glued and screwed) because it's part of the structure (even if there is lots of 2x4 structure under it). You can skip the glue and use smaller shorter screws that don't need to be an any specific locations (i.e. the screws don't have to line up with the 2x4s underneath) with a top on the top. Doesn't have to be MDF, I like that because it's massive, it responds well to beatings, and I don't care what it looks like (so it being porous isn't a problem unless you're spilling a lot of nasty shit all over it); also all softwood is hella porous. Quarter inch ply would work just fine.
IMO, coating the surface will make the bench top resist fluids and look good, but it might be a bit too smooth. Roughness helps to keep things in place.
Meh, we'll see. IME, one or two brushed-on coats of poly doesn't make for a very slippery surface, especially for something that isn't all that smooth to begin with like plywood veneer.
Honestly I'm probably just going to leave it as is. If it gets messed up, it gets messed up...character!
Here it is after I finished it the other night, already cluttered :lol: :
(https://s14.postimg.org/q0nj5cdbl/20180104_121949.jpg)
Mounted a nice long power strip at the bottom of the backboard.
Got about this much done on each sidewall. Was getting late so I didn't want to be hammering anymore. Ended up just doing one nail per board to hold them 'til I get a power tool to nail into the masonry.
(https://s14.postimg.org/dokmrupgx/20180108_225322.jpg)
The puzzle-piece aspect of cutting around stuff is fun, if a bit of a mess. Avoiding certain areas for now where I know I'll be needing to do electrical things (like the very right edge of this photo).
Quote from: Rupert on January 08, 2018, 08:12:44 PM
The bench looks great, it's just easier to replace the top if it's on top of another top.
I've built a few of these. Generally the top is secured pretty well (IMO it should be glued and screwed)
C-clamps!
A friend of my dad's just called to see if he could pay me to store his 24' Sprinter RV in the shop. Definitely can't now what with all the remodel projects happening, and I think it would take up too much space anyways...wouldn't leave me a whole lot of room for detailing methinks.
Cool thought, though. I could store a few toys (quads/dirtbikes) no problem. But not a 24' van. :lol:
Quote from: Laconian on January 09, 2018, 12:21:10 AM
C-clamps!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km_1NMUHjfA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km_1NMUHjfA)
Quote from: giant_mtb on January 09, 2018, 10:31:19 AM
A friend of my dad's just called to see if he could pay me to store his 24' Sprinter RV in the shop. Definitely can't now what with all the remodel projects happening, and I think it would take up too much space anyways...wouldn't leave me a whole lot of room for detailing methinks.
Cool thought, though. I could store a few toys (quads/dirtbikes) no problem. But not a 24' van. :lol:
And so it begins. No, fuck that. I have son's friend's motorcycle in my garage and I can't access my bench now. You're now the guy with awesome great winter storage space, with 11' doors. They want to take up half your revenue space, because you're a swell guy? A hard fuck no.
I would tell him "let's see... my business plan forecasts a weekly revenue of $1000. So that's $4000 a month. You want to take up half my space, so that's $2000 a month, for 6 months. Will that $12,000 be cash or cheque?"
Quote from: giant_mtb on January 06, 2018, 12:46:46 PM
Got a 4-camera security system from my old boss at the bar. He was going through some stuff and found it...never used, never opened. Four wireless cameras (just have to run power), remote viewable with an app, and a 1TB hub for recording. Dunno what he paid for it, but probably more than the $125 I gave him. A similar system of the same brand is $190 on Amazon.
Nice that they transmit wirelessly...I can hide the brain box just about anywhere.
A cop friend of mine told me that any resolution lower than 1080p is fairly worthless for evidence purposes. Wireless cameras also suffer from radio interference, frequent loss of picture, etc. POE (power over ethernet) cameras are far more reliable.
I'm working on a project now with a 1440p security camera setup. 1440p cameras and the requisite storage have come down quite a bit in price in just the past year, and can actually provide detail down to eye color at 50+/- feet, etc.
You can get a decent DVR setup, with eight 1080p cameras, for $299. You'd want to throw in a 8TB drive for another $250 or so, which would allow for 7 days of 1920x1080 recording @ 16FPS. Look for a setup with a highly rated app, which will allow for remote viewing, motion detection and cloud backup.
^ Security system fetishist
:lol:
Yeah. I foolishly allowed my in-laws to store their shit in my garage when they sold their house.
3 years later, they agreed to let me sell their shit to pay for the storage thereof. Meanwhile, my garage is still fucked.
Quote from: Submariner on January 09, 2018, 05:53:29 PM
A cop friend of mine told me that any resolution lower than 1080p is fairly worthless for evidence purposes. Wireless cameras also suffer from radio interference, frequent loss of picture, etc. POE (power over ethernet) cameras are far more reliable.
I'm working on a project now with a 1440p security camera setup. 1440p cameras and the requisite storage have come down quite a bit in price in just the past year, and can actually provide detail down to eye color at 50+/- feet, etc.
You can get a decent DVR setup, with eight 1080p cameras, for $299. You'd want to throw in a 8TB drive for another $250 or so, which would allow for 7 days of 1920x1080 recording @ 16FPS. Look for a setup with a highly rated app, which will allow for remote viewing, motion detection and cloud backup.
lol I love when you tell somebody "I just bought this" and they're like "no, spend several times that on this instead."
It's really more for "dashcam" style reasons than catching the face of thieves.
Quote from: Rockraven on January 09, 2018, 05:15:25 PM
And so it begins. No, fuck that. I have son's friend's motorcycle in my garage and I can't access my bench now. You're now the guy with awesome great winter storage space, with 11' doors. They want to take up half your revenue space, because you're a swell guy? A hard fuck no.
Yeah, a 24' van RV would essentially turn my beautiful 2-stall garage into a barely workable 1-stall. Noooo thank you.
I did, however, tell him he'll have to bring it by some time just so I can see how something of that size feels in the shop. For detailing purposes.
Might be able to finish the insulation today save for a few spots where electrical needs to be done.
Went around with the infrared thermometer. Difference is certainly notable. When it was ~20F outside, the inside of the bare walls were ~36 while the insulation was sitting at 50-55 depending on location (warmest where the furnace blows on it). :rockon:
The furnace hasn't been kicking on as much, but it's also been in the low 30s the last two days, so... :lol: Back to single digits this weekend, the real test.
I like the idea of those radiant tube heaters. Do want. Getting tired of the furnace fan. Granted, this one is pretty old and loud, but still, it's an echo chamber in there.
Also, some ceiling fans would really help. I can tell it's much warmer up top when I'm on the ladder, and as soon as the furnace fan turns off, it instantly feels colder in there. Gonna get a cheap box fan for now and stick it in a corner until I get a fan(s) up on the ceiling.
Hammer drill was the key to drilling into the masonry. $12 base rental plus $1 per hour from Menards. So much faster. Have about 75% done. Need to remove the lights from the remaining wall. Big ol' fuckers. 8' lights, magnetic ballasts. Should be fun.
Was thinking I'd like to do white painted corrugated metal for the walls, but the more I think about it, the less I want that. Will be a relative PITA to install and although it's not impossible to attach stuff (hose/cord reel, etc) to it, it'll be more difficult/annoying. I'm thinking some basic, matte white paneling like you see in bathrooms and stuff might be the ticket. Easy to install, replace, and attach stuff to, waterproof.
Plumber finally had a chance to stop by...they've been swamped with pipe freezes and out furnaces with all the cold. Looks like I'll need to get the city to shut off my water main completely so the plumber can replace the main inlet valve, which is where the leak is.
He also cleaned/tuned the furnace. There was a lot of dust in there (whole shop reeks of dust now) as there was no air filter on the intake before. I put one in shortly after getting the place. Cleaned the flame sensor and noticed a small crack in the heat exchanger.
Quoted me about $2k for a hot water heater installed. But a tank one. I asked about tankless, and he said I'd have to put in a water softener system as well since our city water is really hard. Would be fine with me, as I'd rather have tankless anyways.
I was thinking back to a buddy of mine who worked for a mom & pop independent car repair place before he quit to start his own shop. The poor physical working conditions were a factor in his decision to leave. So I think your upgrades will be good for you personally and anyone you might hire down the road.
(His main gripe though was the shitty way the mom & pop managed the place)
I'm excited to be able to open the doors up and air the place out. hah
Quote from: Morris Minor on January 20, 2018, 03:49:24 PM
I was thinking back to a buddy of mine who worked for a mom & pop independent car repair place before he quit to start his own shop. The poor physical working conditions were a factor in his decision to leave. So I think your upgrades will be good for you personally and anyone you might hire down the road.
(His main gripe though was the shitty way the mom & pop managed the place)
Better air quality when I can get rid of the ol' furnace will be nice. I wouldn't mind a small gas fireplace to heat the office area.
Got my tax assessment from the city in the mail. Taxable value went up by 65%. lol. Reading the fine print, it looks like they just take the market value (ie, what I paid) and cut it in half.
Quote from: giant_mtb on January 20, 2018, 04:51:25 PM
Better air quality when I can get rid of the ol' furnace will be nice. I wouldn't mind a small gas fireplace to heat the office area.
Are you on utility gas or propane?
It's in town, so utility. SEMCO.
Had to have my water line thawed out again today 'cause it froze over the weekend. Got put on a let-run to prevent future freezes until spring actually arrives, so another month or so.
(posted this pic in chat thread, but am putting it here as well for archival purposes)
Old (left) light fixture using ~260W vs the new (right) LED light fixture using ~94W. Bought five more yesterday. ~$600 in lights...woof! But they're very bright, way brighter than the old fluorescents. Gonna need scaffolding to get at the center fixtures...could reach them with the ladder, but I'd feel a lot safer with scaffolding, and it will make installing the new ones a LOT easier/safer.
(https://i.imgur.com/VyYvcaB.jpg)
Got this outdoor hot tub panel box for the water heater. I'm thinking I'll just delete the old school 240V switchbox and put this in its place, then it'll be on a breaker and be switchable in one box...no need for the old switch and fuses. Right? :lol:
(https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41QDc3%2B1FdL._SX342_.jpg)
There's an old gas station in my town that I really want to buy. The pumps are gone, but the concrete bases are still there. It's just begging for old school pumps to be installed and some cool hot rods to be parked in the garage. Idk what else I'd do with it other than maybe start a cars & coffee thing.
https://goo.gl/maps/uNoTo6cy44U2
Quote from: CaminoRacer on May 22, 2018, 01:07:09 PM
There's an old gas station in my town that I really want to buy. The pumps are gone, but the concrete bases are still there. It's just begging for old school pumps to be installed and some cool hot rods to be parked in the garage. Idk what else I'd do with it other than maybe start a cars & coffee thing.
https://goo.gl/maps/uNoTo6cy44U2
Unless it has a current environmental impact survey done and no issues were found, don't touch it with a 10 foot pole.
Yeah, if it hasn't been torn up, that means the tanks are still down there. Large headaches and $$$$.
If you can buy it cash, you can get by. But a bank won't touch it without enviro testing and remediation.
Yeah, no, your ten-foot pole shouldn't even touch it with a ten-foot pole. Gas station = underground storage tanks = probable contamination = years and years of remediation, potentially.
Debbie downers.
It's not even for sale, which is the first thing stopping me. :lol:
Quote from: CaminoRacer on May 22, 2018, 03:33:04 PM
Debbie downers.
It's not even for sale, which is the first thing stopping me. :lol:
:lol:
When I was buying my shop (which I did confirm is environmentally clear, no tanks), my realtor was telling me about a shop in the next town over that they basically haven't been able to give away because of the underground tanks.
Quote from: CaminoRacer on May 22, 2018, 03:33:04 PM
Debbie downers.
It's not even for sale, which is the first thing stopping me. :lol:
Don't get me wrong. I love seeing old architecture repurposed, but there are sometimes insurmountable obstacles.
IMO, things like old gas tanks are dangerous no matter who owns he property, so there should be a fund for remediating smaller things like that, and not requiring superfund levels of funding.
I didn't mention part of what makes it cool - my dad bought his second '68 Chevelle from that lot for $50 back in ~1980.
Can't they just pump the old tanks out then fill them up with concrete or something?
It's the pollution from a leaky tank that's the problem. If it leaches into groundwater... yikes.
Kinda looks like the tank has been removed. Not sure.
(https://i.imgur.com/zLLupwv.jpg)
There should be records available through the city/county indicating where all underground tanks are in your area.
Stop stays nice and cool. Was about 78F today. I didn't work as I had a surprise day off (cancellation due to mechanical issues), and when I got to the shop this evening to go for a spin on the pedal bike, it was only 65F in the garage. :rockon:
Quote from: Soup DeVille on May 22, 2018, 05:16:42 PM
IMO, things like old gas tanks are dangerous no matter who owns he property, so there should be a fund for remediating smaller things like that, and not requiring superfund levels of funding.
Would be useful for landowners with oil pumps where the oil company went under. The land owner is left with the liability of the oil pumps.
Nothing really new with the shop. Been so busy working that I've no time (or energy) for projects. That's okay, though, as it's fully functional. Most everything I want to do at this point is aesthetic.
Did some work for an insurance guy. So of course he asked about my business/building insurance. I gave him all my papers and he came back with a quote that's about 25% less than what I have now. Haven't seen the actual policy (he just called today), but if the coverage is equivalent or better, I'll probably go with that. ~$700 is $700.
When did you put the hanging plants out front? Looks good
Quote from: CaminoRacer on June 14, 2018, 02:26:27 PM
When did you put the hanging plants out front? Looks good
Thanks man. Couple weeks ago. Told my mom I wanted some plants out front and she came in clutch. Amazing the responses I've gotten...people are pleased that somebody is doing something with the building and I'm like bro all I did was hang some flowers. :lol:
But yeah, such a simple thing makes a nice difference.
Work has begun on the building behind mine, the potential future brewery/pub/whatever. Currently they're media blasting any paint covering the brick. They're working on the wall right next to my place at the moment. Kinda fun...looks like a job I would enjoy...tedious and detailed, but you get to spray shit with a hose. :rockon:
(https://scontent-ort2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/35271989_10156260375362211_609384554255351808_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=50fafe5deec45cba00f889c337b959e3&oe=5BCC6C84)
That back wall, there.
Hey what's the best cheap interior spray for cleaning dash/interior?
I never bother but wife wants to clean cars up. They're not dirty but dusty.
(https://d3d71ba2asa5oz.cloudfront.net/12019422/images/mg-g13616__1.jpg)
My favorite of the store-boughts. Cleans, smells good, doesn't leave greasy residue. Been buying it by the gallon for a number of years for my uses. A single spray bottle (Walmart, Advance Auto, wherever should have it) will last you a while.
Thanks!
Quote from: giant_mtb on October 12, 2018, 10:56:04 PM
My favorite of the store-boughts. Cleans, smells good, doesn't leave greasy residue. Been buying it by the gallon for a number of years for my uses. A single spray bottle (Walmart, Advance Auto, wherever should have it) will last you a while.
I've had bottles of cleaners last me for years. Could be because I hardly ever get around to using them. :(
Quote from: FoMoJo on October 13, 2018, 08:01:33 AM
I've had bottles of cleaners last me for years. Could be because I hardly ever get around to using them. :(
Oh yeah. Everybody has a stash of old cleaners. I don't so much these days, as I did a pretty solid purge when I got all my stuff into the shop, but there are still some products that I simply don't use all that often that gather dust.
What are your thoughts on Meguiars Ultimate Fast Finish?
My ML needs a paint correction, but in the meantime, I'm wondering if I can use this for my swirled paint.
I've never used it, but it looks like a decent spray-wax type product. Go for it! It'll definitely shine up dat Benz.
Quote from: giant_mtb on November 23, 2018, 11:50:18 AM
I've never used it, but it looks like a decent spray-wax type product. Go for it! It'll definitely shine up dat Benz.
Alright. Do I have to do anything besides give it a nice wash?
Quote from: Submariner on November 23, 2018, 02:52:14 PM
Alright. Do I have to do anything besides give it a nice wash?
Nope. A good washin' is all she needs.
What kind of wax should I use on single stage gloss white paint that was sprayed and never sanded? It attracts dirt like crazy.
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on November 30, 2018, 05:27:56 PM
What kind of wax should I use on single stage gloss white paint that was sprayed and never sanded? It attracts dirt like crazy.
Pam
Any kind will do.
,I have vaseline
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on December 02, 2018, 09:48:13 PM
So ..
bacon drippings?
Yeah, smear bacon drippings all over your car and then park it anywhere on earth where there are animals,
Quote from: Soup DeVille on December 03, 2018, 07:36:49 AM
Yeah, smear bacon drippings all over your car and then park it anywhere on earth where there are animals,
Is that considered poaching?
Quote from: Soup DeVille on December 03, 2018, 07:36:49 AM
Yeah, smear bacon drippings all over your car and then park it anywhere on earth where there are animals,
Are you implying that all those animals licking it with their soft tongues will polish it to a remarkable sheen? If so, it's a revolutionary idea.