A journey with my boys- The Elf Barn as I call it. (1 Viewer)

[ceylonfj40nut]

Also finished up the air system for the shop. Went with PEX piping. Have a 50’ hose real for each of the 4 bays, air at the welding table, and another 50’ reel at the lift area. Together with the 70’ zero gauge welding extension we can now weld and use the plasma cutter anywhere in the shop.

I made simple blow offs for moisture on low drop legs and have them discharging into a vented plastic bucket. Plumbing is not not gnats ass straight but works with the old barn feel. Tried to minimize fittings where I could bend the PEX to work. Main header is 3/4”. Necks down to 1/2” at point of use with 3/8” couplings and fittings to reduce pressure losses. Works well. PEX is shatter resistant and safe. Cheap.

Shop is ready.

I am the resident janitor, custodian, adviser, and cheap labor, and parts run guy. Trying to get the boys to learn about being good janitors. Hard to keep it well organized as Elves get into things. Work in progress.

 

[4Cruisers]

Also finished up the air system for the shop. Went with PEX piping. Have a 50’ hose real for each of the 4 bays, air at the welding table, and another 50’ reel at the lift area. Together with the 70’ zero gauge welding extension for we can weld and use the plasma cutter anywhere in the shop.

I made simple blow offs for moisture on low drop legs and have them discharging into a vented plastic bucket. Plumbing is not not gnats ass straight but works with the old barn feel. Tried to minimize fittings where I could bend the PEX to work. Main header is 3/4”. Necks down to 1/2” at point of use with 3/8 couplings and fittings to reduce pressure losses. Works well. PEX is shatter resistant and safe. Cheap.

Shop is ready.

I am the resident janitor, custodian, adviser, and cheap labor, and parts run guy. Trying to get the boys to learn about being good janitors. Hard to keep it well organized as Elves get into things. Work in progress.

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My oldest son and I re-plumbed his entire house in West Seattle using PEX. I helped him on the supply, distribution manifold, and quite a few of the runs, but he did most of the remaining work in the following months. It's a really simple and efficient way to plumb a house, in his case made easier with a full basement for under the floor access.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

My oldest son and I re-plumbed his entire house in West Seattle using PEX. I helped him on the supply, distribution manifold, and quite a few of the runs, but he did most of the remaining work in the following months. It's a really simple and efficient way to plumb a house, in his case made easier with a full basement for under the floor access.

Yea. Beats PVC on ease of install. Rats don’t bite it because is APEX. The bitter kind. Otherwise homes usually have to install a rodent control system (high frequency audible siren).

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

We also took a day trip to meet up with @1911 and his wife. Finally got to see the cool house build I have been tracking for a while. Amazing!!! Lot of creative thought and awesomeness. Not to mention his cool 40. Their property is real neat as well. It was really great to connect finally. A friendship indeed.

We had lunch together. The elves did the obligatory happy face mean face with @1911 before we headed out.

 

[waiting for time]

If you get a lot of water in your system it might be an idea to add a condensor and separator between the compressor and the tank. Keeping water from your tank increases the lifetime of your setup And tools.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

The ordered 6CY of organic soil for some planting beds. Motivated me to get the hard start issues on Orange Peel, our 1986 Allis Chalmers (Japanese Drive train) mini tractor. Hinomoto CS100 4wd with 3 cylinder Toyosha Diesel. Thought corrosion on leads was causing issues. By passed leads and hot wired the starter with jumper cables. Same issue. Pulled starter and bench tested it. Slow action. Found a great small business that refurbishes original starters and alternators. He does 12v and 24v. Great small business. The guys dad started it 60 years ago. A family thang. Good price. He sourced all new bearings, contacts, bushings, brushes.

Put it back on Orange Peel and it fired up on first start after a year being idle.

it will make quick work of the 6 CY and my back will thank me.

Good to have Orange Peel in action once again.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Lifted the bucket. Pinhole leak in high pressure hydraulic line Most are brittle. Ripped em all out to get new ones made at local hose shop. Mission creep.

 

[Dunbar]

On the tractor forums I keep reading that pinhole leaks in a tractor hydraulic system can shoot a fine stream with enough pressure to not only pierce skin but to do significant damage to bio forms like us. Glad your getting the leaks fixed.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Replaced. 13 hoses. Old ones were pretty bad. Local shop did a fantastic job. Good for another 15 years.

Took great care to number the old hoses and connections on Orange Peel. Hose company was nice enough to zip tie the existing hoses with the new counterparts. Made putting it back better.

 

[waiting for time]

It might be good practice to create a binder with the MSDS sheets of the particular stuff you are using in the shop Like hydraulic oil.
If something happens you can bring it to the doctor so he knows what to do. Might seem overkill but it is a good experience for the future too. Maybe teach them risk assessments as a standard shop procedure.
Hydraulic oil is dangerous stuff, if you get pinched ALWAYS see a doctor and bring the MSDS. It can Save your life.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Good advice. I am from the “pinch it, let it ooze, suck it dry and move on” era. Need to mend my ways.

 

[waiting for time]

Good advice. I am from the “pinch it, let it ooze, suck it dry and move on” era. Need to mend my ways.

Not wise to neglect a hydraulic pinch, people loose limbs or worse if not attended. In the future these rules and regulations will be much worse it helps if you are used to working with them.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Baselined Orange Peel with new fluids and filters and fired it up. Kicked up instantly. Tightened a couple of loose fittings on the hydraulics and is good to go. One project done. 999,999 left. Progress. . While mowing, I found an old oil can. Same color as Orange Peel.

Also ran 200’ of water line from one end of the barn to the other so the missus could get water for her planting beds and compost operation. Managed to add a few drop legs for garage use. One in the main 4 bay section and another by the lift area where we will add a sink to scrub....after surgery.

Adding the new water line meant it also had to be insulated. So chasing the pipe with insulation before I clamp/ strap it in place.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

Also scored this yesterday for $25. Guy was asleep at the wheel. 3 ton Dresser Hoist. Contemplating making a pivoted A frame for the outside crane, perhaps add an I beam on the loose end to drop down to a swivel steel caster wheel. Existing crane pivots. Might need a stronger horizontal section as well. Or mobile A frame.

 

[pigmony]

You need a sign for that Elf Barn.

 

[Broski]

You have my dream shop, Wife keeps telling me be happy with what I got

Very happy for you the Boys and the misses !!!

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

You have my dream shop, Wife keep telling me be happy with what I got

Very happy for you the Boys and the misses !!!

I thought my driveway at my old place was fine until I met @CenTXFJ60 at his barn. I have to curse or thank him for this blessing.

 

[waiting for time]

I thought my driveway at my old place was fine until I met @CenTXFJ60 at his barn. I have to curse or thank him for this blessing.

You only live once, better make the most of it.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

^^^☝☝. Wired this way.

 

[ceylonfj40nut]

We had some site regrading done a while back. Disturbed a fair bit of the back of the house. Had it hydro seeded to get grass a good jump start. Cool technology.