3.7.2019

Jim continued making pieces for the wood rack - including these cross braces that will have a turnbuckle in the middle for adjustment.  The turnbuckle is threaded so that when you turn it, it tightens or loosens both sides at the same time for adjustment.

Jim was demonstrating how they will go together...

He also designed and cut these pieces that he welded onto the post ties - these are what the cross braces will connect to...  This is a different type of weld than the button welds but they turned out great.  Jim got the last one done after I took this picture - and he said the welds on it were the best ones!

Unfortunately, while he was cutting pieces, a bearing went out on the metal bandsaw.  Jim will order the piece tonight (and a spare!) so no more cutting until that comes in.

Jim still has drilling to do - he was working on drilling holes for the bottom plates of the work bench where he will attach feet.

 

High 22/Low 4

3.6.2018

We had a sad moment today so I had to include it in today's post.  Jim has had this coffee mug forever - probably at least 25 years!  He recently found seals to replace the old ones on the cover but he dropped it yesterday and when I took the cap off last night, the plastic liner broke.  He's already found a replacement to order but it won't be quite the same without this mug!

So Jim recovered and drank his coffee from one of our other mugs and headed downstairs to the metal shop.  He welded clip angles on the post ties, which will be part of the bracing system for the wood rack.

He had to make more of these clip angles and get them drilled...

He has to use his grinder to grind down both areas where he's going to weld...

Then measuring the angles to make sure everything will be nice and flush when it's assembled...

Welding time...

All 4 post ties are now made!

We had Ash Wednesday services this evening - hard to believe it's Lent already.  Wasn't it just Christmas?

High 20/Low 3 - brr...

3.5.2019

Jim continued to work on cutting pieces for the wood rack and workbench today.  He cut these connection angles that will be used to connect the corner posts to the horizontal frame pieces.

He was also pleasantly surprised that his spool of wire for the welder came in around noon so he was able to get that loaded and spent time welding this afternoon.  He got all of the clip angles button welded onto the support arms!  He said the welding is the quickest part of this - he had to straighten each piece of angle to make sure everything was lined up perfectly so that things would fit tight and flush when he puts them together.

High 22/Low 7

3.4.2019

We ended up just getting a couple of inches of snow last night.  But check out these tracks at the front of the picture...look how far apart they are!  I think it was Bigfoot.  Jim said it was a rabbit but I'm sticking with Bigfoot.

This was a metal fabrication day for Jim.  He's continued fab'ing pieces for the lateral support substructure.  The lateral support consists of horizontal ties (2 inch square tubing), and adjustable cross bracing used to plumb the posts and hold them stable.  Below are some of the cross brace pieces...

He also started cutting pieces for his work bench for the wood shop!

 The metal bandsaw is hard at work...

High 33/Low 8

3.3.2019

Jim went back to welding today - has two of the support arms with clip angles attached.  However, he was quite disappointed to realize that his spool of welding wire is now empty!  He ordered a new spool at lunchtime and it will be in Wednesday.  It's not that he doesn't have other things to do, but he was having fun doing the welding and wanted to keep going.

So then he was back to drilling, working on more clip angles.  Stopping to sharpen his bit...

 Getting it all attached to the drill press again...

Then lining up his scored mark with the tip of the drill bit...

He also worked on some of the plumbing for the air compressor at the end of the day.

High 35/Low 24

3.2.2019

Jim spent a little time this morning taking our mountain of cardboard to the recycling center.  I had broken everything down the other day and stashed it in the back of his 4Runner because it was threatening to overrun the metal shop - amazing how much cardboard we accumulate.  While he was out, he stocked up on diesel fuel in case we get the bad weather that is predicted for the next couple of days.

Then it was a welding day!  The first task was to weld the pads onto the bottom of the base.

 Once the pads were on, he had to exactly line up the drill with the already-drilled hole in the pad and then continue drilling through the base.  He said that the new drill press made that job easy.

Once the holes were all drilled, he then had to tap them to make those holes threaded...

That way he can screw the feet onto the bottom!

All three of the base pieces now have the pads welded on, drilled and tapped.

His next welding job is to weld the clip angles to the support arms.  First one done!

A shorter day - we're off to church.

High 34/Low 20

3.1.2019

I think this old saying may come true - it looks like we are in for a very snowy, wintry weekend.  They are forecasting 1-3" of snow on Saturday and 6-10" on Sunday.  Whew!  Given all that, I did errands today while the sun was out and temperatures were above freezing.

Meanwhile, Jim continued working in the metal shop.  He did a lot of cleaning and rearranging in order to prepare for the next steps on his wood rack project - welding.  He moved the lawn mower over to a spot in between the first two bays.

That allowed him to move his tig welder underneath his steel table where it will reside.  That way, he can access it and work on the steel table without it taking up any floor space.  

Now that he cleared some floor space, his mig welder has a spot where he will have room to work.

He finished cutting all of the ends of the support arms and then started working on drilling holes in the posts.  He had to make sure everything was supported and level because he had to drill through both sides of the post.

Drilling...

Jim was explaining to me how the support arms will attach to the post with all the clip angles...

This picture shows the smaller clip angles as well...

First set of holes done in all the posts...

High 33/Low 18