neohic Posted April 11, 2022 Author Share Posted April 11, 2022 STILL WAITING ON THE UTILITY COMPANY!!! My main line is for sure too small but the engineer (that came out to look at things two months ago ) says that the transformer that’s shared between me and one other neighbor should be fine. While things are down will be my opportunity to swap out the existing main panel with the new 200 amp unit. While I’d rather use a more common Square D panel, I figure that I’ll be reusing the majority of the breakers and only buying one new 100 amp… and those are expensive regardless with who manufactured it. As for things at the shop end, I’m as far as I can get with everything electrical related minus two exterior lights and a heater. Yup… I’m using a giant, meter spinning hair dryer for heat. Hear me out! My reasoning behind it is the ease of use. Sure, I could use the wood stove that just happens to be living under my carport, but then I’ll always have it on the floor along with needing to keep wood inside and dry which also takes up space. Then I thought about hanging a propane unit but then you know EXACTLY when I’ll be running out of fuel and it’ll be a real trick to get a vehicle down and up my hill. What about running a gas line down to it? I’ve got zero interest in trenching all the way down a hard packed hillside again. So what’s left?… electric. I’ve got tons of insulation though and I’ve priced out a good estimate on what it’ll cost per day to keep things warm. As for the panel and remaining conduit… … the hanging pigtail will go to the heater. So nice to work down there with decent lighting! Speaking of which… … I think they’ll look stunning to finally wrap up the exterior of my little shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiNi Beast Posted April 11, 2022 Share Posted April 11, 2022 Going to look real nice them lights. Very nice work shop build. Put it in a magazine 😂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted April 12, 2022 Share Posted April 12, 2022 our whole house runs on a heater like that (inside the heatpump furnace) anytime the temps drop too low. it'll suit your needs perfectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted May 7, 2022 Author Share Posted May 7, 2022 I’m getting overwhelmed with needing to clean up to keep moving forward. Quick cabinet hardware project today to easily start using them as storage. Two worn out leather belts and some brass machine screws later and my cabinets are actually functional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsalagi Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted May 9, 2022 Author Share Posted May 9, 2022 More lights added over the weekend. Haven’t turned them on in the dark yet. I’ll admit that they look a bit small but they’re 16” round anyhow. I’m not expecting them to light up the whole neighborhood. These are more so here because I really wanted gooseneck lights outside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimiGibbs Posted May 9, 2022 Share Posted May 9, 2022 Very nice build..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted July 2, 2022 Author Share Posted July 2, 2022 I am a chump for never having an overhead fan in my previous shops! I spent most of today trying to organize things and getting rid of bins on the floor. A friend of mine helped me finally bring home my welding table too. I knew the size of it but, boy, is it cozy in there with the truck parked and the doors all shut. In the spirit of getting rid of bins, I’ve had one labeled “garage art” that’s been accumulating for the past ten years or so. It’s mostly vintage Volkswagen and a few late ‘80s Jeep ads… no, I won’t call those “vintage”. Also in the bin was a pile of welding helmets I’ve used, painted, or been gifted. Not all of them went up either. Some even went into the trash. It’s nice seeing familiar things again. Feels like home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted July 10, 2022 Author Share Posted July 10, 2022 Trying to tackle storage and get rid of more bins. I would imagine a drill press and some other tools will end up getting mounted on here in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 12, 2022 Share Posted July 12, 2022 well done. what goes on the backside? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted July 12, 2022 Author Share Posted July 12, 2022 4 minutes ago, Pete M said: well done. what goes on the backside? Probably chargers? It was space that I had available when measuring for the hardware bins. I’ll probably leave it open until I’m done reorganizing tools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted July 18, 2022 Author Share Posted July 18, 2022 So… I did a thing the other day. I’ve been trying to figure a good time to do this but there never is so I just went for it with completely backing from my wife… I quit my job. There’s a bunch of facets to it but so much of it came down to the industry, long term health concerns, and a lack of personal growth opportunities. It’s been time for a change for a long while now. Do I have a plan?… not exactly. I’ve got a pile “wants” and a short list of “needs” and that starts with no more physical jobs. Today was the first workday in a long while that I didn’t have a job to go to and I loved it! I spent most of it out in my shop organizing, going through boxes, and finding more things that I consider “therapeutic decorating”. Some of it was just signage and things that have been rattling together in the same tote… … while others were from an unearthed shoebox that was nothing but badges mostly being Jeep related. And then there’s this sweet piece. This came from the ceiling of a friend of mine that’s been trying to give me things for years now. Trying to be somewhat of a minimalist (shh… my shop is my cheat code for this ) I’ve never accepted anything. Last time I was at his place, this bright metal gas can caught my eye. See, his late father in law was an AMC guy and his whole garage is dripping in “old man cool”. I instantly fell in love with it and then my buddy very slowly took it down from the rafters. Out of respect, I decided to hang it near the same as the first time I laid eyes on it. Thanks, Jerry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMO413 Posted July 18, 2022 Share Posted July 18, 2022 Congratulations on taking the first step. A garage therapy day is always a good day. I doubt you will have a hard time finding a new job. Hope you can find something that fits you better. Shop is looking good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted July 18, 2022 Author Share Posted July 18, 2022 Thanks! Can’t believe I didn’t post this earlier either… I’ve got an electric heater to hang, but otherwise the last piece of the electrical puzzle was solved about a month ago. My final inspection was approved the day before I went on vacation which really kicked things off right. With a new main line run to the property and a new 200 amp main panel I now have full function to the shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 19, 2022 Share Posted July 19, 2022 here's to new and exciting job adventures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted July 19, 2022 Author Share Posted July 19, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted July 20, 2022 Author Share Posted July 20, 2022 Been feeling very accomplished with so many little things this week. I suppose not having a job to go to helps this. Yesterday I had every single tool I own spread out in my shop. It was time to go through the tool box and weed out the odd stuff and reorganize. What didn’t make sense to cram in there went elsewhere in either my fancy cabinets (that I can’t believe I’ve never had decent cabinets in a shop) or to another location. The new cart/table is now the drill and hardware cart. There’s room for a ton of stuff in here! The little roll out trays work nicely for separating drill bits into different categories and I cut apart an old utensil pull out for further separating small things. Then I wired in an outlet on an extension cord for the chargers and other future tools that’ll go on top. Got it all wrapped up neatly on an old winch hook. Then there’s sorting out drawers and what makes sense to me to put in them. This is still a work in progress as I’ve got small welding stuff to go through. Feels good to be getting to all of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 that drill drawer is awesome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted July 21, 2022 Author Share Posted July 21, 2022 Ahh… last drawer to get figured was welding stuff. Caught myself thinking about the future of the loft today. For a while now I’ve wanted to use it as an office space and I guess I always figured that there would just be a desk of sorts along the back wall. Well… that’s boring and while my white walls are nice, they’re also kind of boring when facing towards them at close distance. Here’s where I’m thinking now… Feels natural to overlook the kingdom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 21, 2022 Share Posted July 21, 2022 behold the mighty vistas... (the mountains are pretty cool too, but mountains don't build cool bumpers) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted July 26, 2022 Author Share Posted July 26, 2022 More stuff off the floor! My little hardware boxes got finished up for now. I’m not a fan of the blue tape but I’d like to sit with it for now and see if anything needs rearranging. Then there’s the heater which has also been in the way for much too long. I started with matching the angle of the ceiling to work with a level mount. Then I drilled straight up and sent a stick of 1/2” all thread up into the attic. Once up there, I dropped a 2x10 across four of the rafters, along with another 2x4, and then double nuts everywhere for good measure. … and then the long crawl back… Now confident that I could hang a swing on it, the heater went up. … then wired… Smells like a giant hair drier! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted July 26, 2022 Share Posted July 26, 2022 hopefully that smell will fade? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted July 26, 2022 Author Share Posted July 26, 2022 28 minutes ago, Pete M said: hopefully that smell will fade? I’m sure it will. It wasn’t left on long. Pretty much checked functions after a puff of dust from first startup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted July 26, 2022 Author Share Posted July 26, 2022 Yay!! A for real latch and a door handle! No more climbing a ladder to pull the janky block and screw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neohic Posted July 27, 2022 Author Share Posted July 27, 2022 I have a material rack! I’ve never had a material rack before. Anytime in the past where I’ve ran into storing material, things always end up getting piled up in a corner and all the small stuff ends up littering my welding table. Not in this shop! Plenty space between the new rack and the truck. The material rack and the door latch were the deciding factors for where the truck lives in the shop. Now with those figured, the MJ moved about a foot closer to the door since I don’t need space to get a ladder between it and the door to remove the old “latch”. That means I gained that foot under the loft. Trying to plan out winters already too for days that I’m out here and the truck stays in. Feels very comfortable. TIG welder found a new home too. Been using that a bunch this week on dumb little things to find water leaks from it sitting for over six years. Got that all sorted and even took care a couple “when I get to it” type projects for others. Everyday this week I’ve told myself that I’d get started on cleaning up the loft. Maybe tomorrow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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