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The Shop
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firedome
Posted 2014-12-19 10:38 AM (#465206 - in reply to #465114)
Subject: Re: The Shop



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Posts: 3153
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Location: NY & VT
It's all sort of back again with the young folk in the form of Steam Punk, interesting Back to the Future trend, maybe a reaction to too much technology.
Particularly love big tube amplifiers with large coke bottle transmitting tubes etc., have an RCA monitor amp out of a '40s recording studio.
For old lamps we put away a stash of big 300 and 200 W clear incandescent bulbs for when they get thin on the ground.
Would love a old pole type '20s/30s traffic signal but they're out of my price range now, should have picked one up 30 yrs ago.
Let me know what you find out - thanks!!
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2014-12-19 2:34 PM (#465225 - in reply to #465206)
Subject: Re: The Shop



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Location: Parts Unknown
I have always been into a thing people are now calling "steam punk", but on a full 12"-to-the-foot
scale. Did model railroad stuff as a kid, but that quickly fell off the radar in favor of playing with the
real stuff. I was blessed to have always had an environment nearby that was a well preserved scene
a la Norman Rockwell to cause my discretionary senses to compare and contrast against. I always
referred to it as "life size Rube Goldberg" stuff. Whether it is the exposed cleat type wiring on the
front porch to the iron gate to the old truck the weathered barn.

I am currently working out the science for building an air system on my truck to run a steam whistle.
I am rebuilding a 1910 vintage riveted boiler to use as an air tank and going over different options for
the actual air pump. One avenue being explored is a "windmill" placed above the cab with a 4-6 inch
blade spread (again, utilizing an ancient blade set), coupled to a gear reduction set stolen out of a die
grinder, that will generate compression at any forward speed of the vehicle over 4mph. The objective
is a high volume, low pressure system similar to that run on an old locomotive. Fun stuff.





(26 field.jpg)



(GN palisades mansfield branch.jpg)



Attachments
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Attachments 26 field.jpg (53KB - 306 downloads)
Attachments GN palisades mansfield branch.jpg (78KB - 299 downloads)
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firedome
Posted 2014-12-21 1:29 PM (#465431 - in reply to #465225)
Subject: Re: The Shop



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Posts: 3153
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Location: NY & VT
Great pics! ... living in the Northeast one advantage is living in the oldest part of the country, old bldgs and infrastructure everywhere. You can see in the pics Sgt Joe posted, almost all of them in New England and NY, where every town large or small has at it's core buildings that are 150 to 100 yrs old. Old infrastructure beside old RR stations and ag bldgs in most towns, the whole length of the RR line that parallels I-88, the old Delaware and Hudson line, are the old wood crossbar power line supports in various states, most still having much of their old blue-green glass insulators. Thousands of them just sitting there on the rotting supports. Lots of old steel girder or older stone bridges, field stone walls, 150 yr old barns, Indian path roads. A Doc friend of ours in St Johnsbury VT has over a mile of RR track on his farm, a 0-4-0 steam switcher and 8-9 cars, plus a building full of old semaphores, signals, signs, and ass't railroadania. Another friend, retired machinist, is into steam, has his boiler license and rebuilt a '30s steam-shovel, along with a '32 V-12 Cadillac sedan (long sold). Has a CNC in his garage, my go-to guy for auto part reproduction, does a lot of stuff for Packard folks. Old stuff is fun stuff!

Mentioned I've been looking for a '30s/40s vintage 4 way traffic signal for a long time... coincidentally I just got lucky and just found one that I can make into a pole signal, they are nutty $$$ to buy as pole type, but this kind came both ways and it was originally drab green so I can repaint it to original color add pole and base,and end up with what I want without spending 5 grand: Crouse-Hinds DT-1 4-way with original"smiley" lenses, originally came as a hung or pole mount, will post pic, next post:


Whistle on the truck - fun project!
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firedome
Posted 2014-12-21 1:30 PM (#465432 - in reply to #149629)
Subject: RE: The Shop



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Posts: 3153
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Location: NY & VT
"Art Deco" Crouse Hinds DT-1 (came drab green but has been repainted yellow, most towns did that for visibility reasons):



(s-l140.jpg)



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Attachments s-l140.jpg (5KB - 316 downloads)
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2015-01-25 1:12 AM (#468530 - in reply to #465432)
Subject: RE: The Shop



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Location: Parts Unknown
Been a while since an update ...

Finally got the walls completely sheeted and doors built and hung. I am "kitty free" !
.... (no more neighborhood kitties can get in to walk all over the cars, piss on stuff, etc.
I swear, it only happens IF you care .... park an old beater in the open and nothing happens.
Park a nice car and every POS animal for miles feels the need to try and destroy it. What's
up with that ???

Tonight I dug through my junk pile and put together enough insulators to run wire to
the front for lighting. Pulled a bunch of still-in-the-box shop fixtures out of the upstairs
storage. Maybe get that operational tomorrow ?

I had to replace the alternator in my work truck today (removed from the underside)
and it was such a pleasure to be able to use my floor jack and creeper. Just add lights
and heat and I will create the illusion of having a real shop !
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mikes2nd
Posted 2015-01-25 11:26 AM (#468566 - in reply to #149629)
Subject: Re: The Shop


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Cats are truly a**holes.
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2015-01-25 2:12 PM (#468578 - in reply to #468566)
Subject: Re: The Shop



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Location: Parts Unknown
I have three cats of my own. I will never find them on cars, or pissing on them. I do see one
of the males spraying the bushes around the property, but not the #@! cars ! Other cats from
around the neighborhood seem to subscribe to a different ideal.

What is it with these mysterious creatures that make delicious sand-covered treats for dogs ?

My dog on the other hand, insists on wallowing through EVERY POSSIBLE bit of mud, muck, and
otherwise before coming in the house. I have tested this many times ..... if there was a fresh,
grassy strip running in direct parallel between points A and B, she will slop out the mud strip
EVERY #@! TIME and leave that pretty grass unfettered.

No amount of coaching has instilled a sense of change on this subject for her. At 14, she'll soon
be "one" with the mud. I suppose a cosmic end to a lifelong desire to be in the mud.
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Gidman
Posted 2015-01-25 5:55 PM (#468596 - in reply to #468578)
Subject: Re: The Shop



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Location: Southern California
Doc, you're a true artist and a fine writer. Have you ever read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"? I think you would enjoy it!

My Beast is sitting in the driveway with a busted power steering hose. Will replace as soon as I can find a new one. Found a big pool of fluid under the car a while ago. Checked the resevoir and it's empty. What the heck?

Have a good day!

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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2015-01-26 12:38 AM (#468619 - in reply to #468596)
Subject: Re: The Shop



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Location: Parts Unknown
Pirsig is "core values". Add in The Old Patagonian Express and you have my baseline.

I am overdue for a reread on both.

Writing and communication/s have always been a passion. Nothing like a good storyteller
to pull one into another space.

As for The Beast, we have a place here in town that makes those hoses to spec. I would
think L.A. would certainly have something to offer (?). If it's on the return side, it is not under
pressure and does not require the high pressure hose and fittings. If you cannot find an
adequate supplier, let me know.
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ttotired
Posted 2015-01-26 1:28 AM (#468624 - in reply to #149629)
Subject: Re: The Shop



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Gidman
Any hydraulic hose maker can re make your hose

The return hose has no pressure and is relatively cheap, the high pressure hose will cost a bit though

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firedome
Posted 2015-01-26 10:36 AM (#468642 - in reply to #468624)
Subject: Re: The Shop



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Posts: 3153
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Location: NY & VT
Glad the shop is coming along, a spacious heated shop would be Nirvana for any gear head, a lift, icing on the cake. Even as I'm less able to work on things, a shop to just hang out in with cars is Priority 1 soon as we move back to VT. I like the vintage stuff you're doing, great inspiration.

Also a Pirsig fan, read back in the '70s when I was riding a Trident as much as driving my car, something which quickly came to an end when kiddies came along. His later work "Lila" is also interesting.
If you haven't read Saul Bellow, "Herzog" is a must starter. He and Updike are probably my favorite 20th cent writers.

Edited by firedome 2015-01-26 10:44 AM
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2015-01-26 11:59 PM (#468702 - in reply to #468642)
Subject: Re: The Shop



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Location: Parts Unknown
Last night I strung wire and moved the old street light from the front of the older part
of the building to make three running down the side. Tonight I assembled and hung five
very uncool, but bright "shop lights" down the main parking area and put up insulators
to string wire on tomorrow. Lit up a couple on temporary feeds. 2 seemed "adequate".
Five should be quite bright and good for underhood work.
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Gidman
Posted 2015-03-17 1:29 PM (#472683 - in reply to #468702)
Subject: Re: The Shop



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Posts: 452
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Location: Southern California
Just to let you know I finally replaced that power steering hose. Found a used one that fit, dug in to the beast and replaced it! Thanks.
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Doctor DeSoto
Posted 2015-04-10 10:43 AM (#474965 - in reply to #472683)
Subject: Re: The Shop



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Location: Parts Unknown
Been moving my work area to the front of the shop to clear the floor for
new concrete in the back this summer.

Reconditioned the radiator for my 26 truck and got it painted.



(shop setting cabinets.jpg)



(TT radiator paint.jpg)



Attachments
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Attachments shop setting cabinets.jpg (39KB - 318 downloads)
Attachments TT radiator paint.jpg (51KB - 276 downloads)
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big m
Posted 2015-04-10 1:35 PM (#474991 - in reply to #149629)
Subject: Re: The Shop



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Lookin' Good, Doc!!
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