Aug 20, 2010 – Sealed Deck

Got the deck sealed.  Should be good for a year now until I decide if I am going to paint it or not.  Took me three hours for the railings & spindles and an hour for the main deck.  I just had enough for the job (2 Gallons) with hardly a drop to spare left over!

Aug 19, 2012 Jig Update

Drilled the holes for the set screws this weekend.  Used the new drill press – I’m happy with it so far!  Also got the clamps on sale from Harbor Freight!

There is a hole on 2 sides of each 6″ piece of 2.5×2.5’s

These are now all done:

Need to drill a few more flat pieces:

I ordered a welding respirator for the fumes from welding.  I also ordered a portable welding table from Northern Tool – hope to have these be next weekend!

http://www.envirosafetyproducts.com/half-and-full-facepiece-welding-respirators.html

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200342949_200342949

 

Aug 13, 2012 Update

Done with the cutting unless I screw something up and need to re-cut something!  Next I can focus on drilling some holes with the new drill press!

Got some 6″ 2.5×2.5’s:

and a few 2×2’s, angle irons, plates, and misc pieces – I will post the guage and lengths as I start welding as a picture is worth a 1000 words (or so I hear!):

A few extra pieces:

About 150 Zinc plated nuts and bolts to use as set screws:

Also have a mess to clean up from all of my cutting – that dust went everywhere!  If I had it to do over again, I would use a band saw!:

Got the 2×2 plywood base on my drill press…  Need to go to Menards and get some cutting oil so I can start drilling!

Aug 13, 2012

A friend had sent me this e-mail…  Thought I would share!

He used to go to all the public functions…especially the picture theaters. And always carried a Sugar Bag to collect empty bottles and cans.

His name was… Albert (Tapper) Torney. Everyone thought he was a bit eccentric and kids would tease and hassle him. But it was discovered he was very talented and only sold the empty bottles and some of the cans.

After he died in 1998 (aged 86) His large collection of Model Cars he made from the Aluminum Cans was discovered.

This goes to prove…”You Shouldn’t Judge A Book by its Cover”, or a Sculptor by his sugar bag.

Some of his collection —-

 

Aug 8, 2012 Update

Got the 2×2 Base on the drill press last night.  Also re-did my air compressor fittings so they now bend out of the way instead of sticking straight out.  Also got all of my metal tubing cut that I need for the Jig!  I just have some angle iron and 4 plates to cut before drilling the holes for the set screws.  Then I can start welding!

Aug 5, 2012 Update

All of the 2.5×2.5 are cut into 6″ pieces.  Still need to cut the 2×2’s.  Bought a drill press for drilling holes for the set bolts:

Need to mount the bottom to the 2×2 board.  Has a laser sight, and a light bulb.  16 speed 260-4220 RPM.  Didn’t have much workbench space, so I went with the floor model from Menards.