Saturday, November 28, 2020

PIC DUMP! PIC DUMP! PARTY TIME! EXCELLENT! (guitar noises)

A brief overview of the “work” (I say this word like Fonzie says “sorry”) I’ve (we’ve) gotten done over the last few weeks or months or however time is measured in this inescapable hellhole. 



https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1vLmecY9ZA-eLieUW-MUJvBqBLdRxms9V
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1CvmEbGdQlbhJK7NQ8RzA_DW4n8_bkQWc
The key was forever stuck in the ignition until I boldly ripped the steering column apart with my bare teeth (and a bunch of tools and no teeth, but still).
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1sSEog8d3rso3U9cvLEAGIy6-MitZC0t3
Removed all the seats and tattered carpeting and got the rat nest interior (judging by the size of the turds we found it may have been a Rottweiler nest) to go from this:
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1bTp4CANG6hz5gY3DzAj8wgq5fk7vyjDg
To this:
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1zE1X0OMk-cq9MG875R-HCbqsG7yc6rNU
Not pictured is removing and replacing the rusted out gas tank. 
Then it was on to the engine bay. 
A lot has and will go on in here. Stuff I don’t know enough about to explain anyways, so I’ll keep this brief and boring. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=18zcxNDSWYFrT3w6aKo_A7jxSUxK8VGDx
All this junk on the left side of the above picture is 1970’s last minute slap dash emissions technology. It essentially does nothing to save the earth, but is really good at sucking horsepower out of an engine and spitting out engine bay fires. Luckily in good ole red state Ohio, a 42 year old car doesn’t need to pass echeck (not that this crap would help), and I can just get rid of it. Much less cluttered engine pictured below. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=19Ajxl7ZWaXxNBM3LF0YNPABMX60f5chFhttps://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1UOvfoL3sGmFtGDw_BUGV6Xb1ZQ2wLRow
Next and most recently were on to updating the ignition system by switching the distributor from points to an electric style system. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1dLB6R90x5fJrjdd0GmZJ3hke3Nchh8BV
And finally today I upgraded the coil from 28000 volts to a “sports” 40000 volt coil. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=18h_IseB9MC5QNaDrcTV20L8snsz1n0So
Still needs a bunch of work before I can find out if this engine is even any good. 

I hate working this hard. 

Thursday, September 3, 2020

New Project!



Meet my “new” 1978 MGB Roadster!






She could use a little TLC after sitting under a ratty tarp for 12 years. 



So I got together a workable garage tool kit, invited my buddy over for day one of what is sure to be a couple years of weekend headaches, busted knuckles, and hopefully a little fun.



Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Friday, January 16, 2015

Catching Up

Trip Home for Christmas
Here is our beautiful tree, decorations courtesy of Ithaca's forests.

 My nephew, Kemper, looking dapper in his winter hat

 Me, looking slightly less dapper

Quality time selfie!

 Nap time selfie!

 One of the cooler gifts I received was a hard cider brew kit. Thanks to my brother and sister-in-law.

 Day one. My first batch is a cherry/apple cider.

Day three, blow off tube soon to be removed and replaced with a breather

A Few Projects
                                   
 I bought a wine barrel.  

 I designed this bench to be made from barrel staves. one day I will probably build it too.

 I got as far as selecting my lumber and beginning to lay it out but time and Marjie put the project on hold for the time being.

I did find other creative uses for the extra staves

I sanded them down, and drilled flat bottomed holes into them to make candle holders. Not pictured are the coat hangers I also made, but didn't photograph.

A finished product.

Keith and I started an etsy store, selling axes and the like. This was my idea for a logo.

Sold this axe a few days after it went up in the store. Note the beautiful leather mask that Keith made.

Bye bye, axe. Hope you have fun at you're new home.

Picked up some new stock for the store

This is a "Black Raven" axe. the are hard to find, and highly sought after. should sell quickly once I finish cleaning her up

Vinegar bath to loosen up the rust 

 Then it's just a whole bunch o' sanding by hand.


The hammer turned out so nice, I decided to keep it.

I did all these projects on this tiny makeshift table. Note the cinder blocks, its only about 2 1/2 feet tall.
I got so sick of it, that one weekend morning I drove to Harbor Freight and got myself a nearly proper workbench. It's alright, worth the price is how I would describe it. It was a bitch to put together.


Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Wood workings

 Meet my nephew, Kemper Patrick Bernel. I made him a growth chart for his 1st Birthday.

 6' by 10" poplar.

 At first I used my table saw to rip this angle into the face all the way down, to mimic a ruler, but i was unhappy with it and cut it off.

 Marking out the inch and foot marks.

 Always happy when I can use my spokeshave. Works wonders on rounding over edges.



 Spent several hours painstakingly burning every line and number into the wood.


 Finished her up with a couple coats of cherry stain that I thinned out with turpentine to give it a worn look.


My favorite tool, looking awesome with some facial hair,

 On a sadder note, my best buddy of 11 years, Carl, passed away. I took a slab of cherry and hand drew his portrait onto it.


 Used the wood burner again to immortalize him.


A lot of beeswax and linseed oil later. A grave marker for a damn good dog.

Miss you, buddy.