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January 17, 2016 at 7:03 pm #236002
Finally broke down and bought a compressor yesterday.
Figured I might as well take the ball to the end zone. That’s a 60-gallon tank with a claimed 3.7hp motor. Supposed to give 11.5 cfm at 90 psi, which means I should have enough air to run anything short of an industrial jackhammer….Wrestled it into the spot the previous owner had his compressor. Drilled a couple new holes in the floor for studs to hold it down (The old one was apparently 3-legged; this one is 4). Epoxied them in.Toward the day when I’ll have drops with quick-connects in every corner of the garage, including at both doors, I bought a sh*t-ton of 1/2-inch copper pipe and elbows and T-fittings and driers and regulators and reducers and nonsense–but not quite enough, as it turns out.Extended the drain plug out to where a human being can actually reach it. Twisted in a 3/8-inch shut-off valve. Wired it to the 220-volt 12-gauge wire that was waiting there for it. Put a little oil in, since some leaked out when I laid the thing down in the truck bed to back it into the garage….And ran the 20-minute break-in.Then I shut the valves and let it pump up to 155 psi.So far, so good.edsnova 2016-01-17 19:06:12 January 18, 2016 at 2:24 pm #267008Nice!
Kudos Ed!
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
January 18, 2016 at 6:22 pm #267009Must admit I’m a bit jealous. I have a 2hp, 30 gallon horizontal and it won’t keep up with my pad sander. Handles air tools and such OK – even painted a 64 Beetle with it- but it is certainly limited. I’ve drooled over big verticals, but haven’t pulled the trigger. There just have always been higher priorities, since this 30+ year old one still works…
Early FF TDr on 69 VW pan
Slowly coming back from the ashes...January 18, 2016 at 7:01 pm #267010About 4 years ago, my wife had finally “had it”. My garage is attached to the house and my old oil-less smaller air compressor which shared a wall with the living room had just cycled on. Anyone who had had or heard a so-called oil free air compressor will attest to their loud and incredibly abrasive sound. I had explained to her that belt driven ones (which almost universally have an oil sump) were very much quieter.
So, Julie said “so why don’t you go get one”. With my “green light” I rushed out the door without doing enough research. It’s quiet, but I should have gotten a bigger one. Had I been smart, I would have cycled my old noisy one a few more times and gotten one big enough to supply all the air tools I had from many years (and compressors) prior.Bought a 20gal 1.6hp Industrial Air machine. Not enough guts.
My advice, if it runs on 110vac, it’s probably not big enough to do sustained (like grinding or sanding or buffing) work. Certainly not big enough for a sandblaster.
I too, have compressor envy Ed. (Shoula cycled my oil-free one at least 3hp’s worth.)
January 18, 2016 at 8:17 pm #267011Very nice, Ed!
Vicenç - (bee sense)
Pembroke Pines, FL
1986 Aston - BCW Model 52 - "Montse II"(1983 FiberFab MiGi II - "Montse")
January 18, 2016 at 9:31 pm #267012Next up: heat. Hopefully by next fall.
January 19, 2016 at 12:16 am #267013Ed this may sound crazy, but when I work in the garage on a cold day, I put a fan in the garage window, open up the addict access stairs, and suck all of the warm addict air into the garage. If you currently use a propane fired heater, remember to have a fresh air inlet, and monitor carbon monoxide levels. (I am just looking out for your greater good) LOL 😉 I also enjoy reading your posts, you sure do know your stuff, I learn something new every time.
Regards
Dave
Dave
Lakeland, Florida, where we drive Topless every dayJanuary 19, 2016 at 7:16 am #267014I carry the Eden Pure style heater from my basement room to the garage when I work there in the winter. Heats that space wonderfully.
Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"January 19, 2016 at 8:54 am #267015I’ll probably do a little propane burning and a little electric heating out there before the winter is through. But I’ll need close to 50,000 btu to get that place warm enough to work when it’s 20 degrees outside–10 of these. It is 1000-1100 square feet with 9-foot ceilings, and only about 20 percent of it is attached to the house. Well insulated–though the windows aren’t all that.
This is the sort of thing I’ll be going for.I’d have one already if running gas lines out there were not such a hassle. It’s doable, for sure…just not clear how. Most direct line would mean cracking up tiles in the kitchen and/or my office to feed the line under the floor. Can’t see any other way that makes sense.Had a plumber in here a few weeks back who said to expect a $1,000 bill, just off hand.We’ll get ‘er done, sure. Just not right off.January 19, 2016 at 9:55 am #267016You might want to check out hot air gas furnaces like used in older mobile homes. They are compact small units that easily hook up and supply quick heat. You likely could get a used one cheaply at a mobile home supplier.
January 19, 2016 at 10:25 am #267017Wish I had the option of natural gas, both for the house and garage. A big disadvantage of my more rural setting – that, and lack of cable TV/internet.
Early FF TDr on 69 VW pan
Slowly coming back from the ashes...April 22, 2016 at 7:44 am #267018OK,
so instead of heat I got the 4 post lift. I figured it would be the
hardest sell, but when I looked at a used one and told Karen she
agreed it was a good idea. I didn’t even have to lobby her.The used one appeared to have been in a flood, so I passed on it and ordered new.
It is a Pro Park 8 by Direct Lift. Well-reviewed, certified.
The
machine got here Monday morning with a load of slate for a new patio (I had the landscape company piggy-back it on the load).—and it was Tuesday night before I could
figure out how to push it into the garage using 4 furniture dollies
and the truck.Now I’m clearing out the back bay to make room. Took the cabinets off the wall last night. Found a poster behind them.
April 22, 2016 at 8:13 am #267019Ed, I’m electric green with envy. Enjoy. …..and buy Karen something nice – she’s a keeper.
April 22, 2016 at 8:59 am #267020Ditto what Roy said!
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
April 22, 2016 at 10:19 am #267021Thats one hell of a toaster!
April 22, 2016 at 10:22 am #267022Nice – wished you lived closer – I could lend a hand
Karen is a keeper!April 22, 2016 at 2:20 pm #267023Everyone’s invited to The Brass Hammer Workshop & Pub.
FYI, that mess of slate in the first pic is just the finishing touch for the three-tiered terrace garden I’ve been building since 2012. I think maybe I sort of earned this…
(But right, Karen is definitely a keeper).edsnova2016-04-22 22:12:35
April 23, 2016 at 6:13 am #267024Fantastic. Having access to a lift is the biggest thing I miss since leaving the car dealers. You’re gonna love it.
Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"April 23, 2016 at 9:50 pm #267025Unpacked it today. Damn that stuff is heavy. The jack tray alone probably weighs 70 pounds.
All the parts seem to be there. I could not unload the ramps because my engine hoist is kaput–seems to have leaked oil whilst stored up against the wall. I’ve got to buy a lot of hydraulic oil anyway, so i’ll try filling ‘er up tomorrow and see if she won’t pump up.Someone said these ramps weigh 300 pounds each but I’m thinking that’s a low estimate.I can lift every part except the ramps. My guys supposedly come next Saturday. Hopefully I’ll have everything set up for quick assembly then.edsnova2016-05-09 20:55:08
May 9, 2016 at 8:56 pm #267026Blog post. I have achieved lift.
May 9, 2016 at 9:30 pm #267027Ed, when I had my TF-1500 I attended occasional “tech sessions” in Virginia Beach with other T series owners. As I recall it was every other month and was at another owners house that had a lift in his garage. This guy also had more T-type spares than the biggest Foreign Parts Store in town. Lotsa fun and lotsa discoveries were made that made our rides safer. We each took turns of about 30 minutes on the lift and after a few hours, we went through all 6 or so cars that showed up. (Except for one time when an absolute drop dead gorgeous girl soloed in with her “new” TD and needed help with her…….well, it didn’t really matter what she needed help with. Her car got an incredible thorough going over during the next 3 hours and nobody complained about her “hogging” the ramp. We never saw her again. Karen’s a keeper.)
I’ve wanted a lift ever since, but alas, no lift here. (Julie is suggesting I should get a “tummy tuck” instead.)
Royal2016-05-09 21:43:25
May 10, 2016 at 3:52 am #267028Jealous, jealous, jealous.
Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy"May 10, 2016 at 9:51 pm #267029A few hours fettling after work and I loaded her up.
I can just about walk upright under Bridget when she’s up with the top up. If I put the windshield down I’ll for sure get one more notch of lift, and that’ll give me full stand. Also planning on getting a tough old office chair with wheels, so I’ll be able to slide under anything else…Very psyched.May 10, 2016 at 11:03 pm #267030Once again, garage envy. 😉
Vicenç - (bee sense)
Pembroke Pines, FL
1986 Aston - BCW Model 52 - "Montse II"(1983 FiberFab MiGi II - "Montse")
May 11, 2016 at 3:48 am #267031I repeat…”Jealous, jealous, jealous”
Bill Ascheman
Fiberfab Ford
Modified 5.0, 5sp., 4:11
Autocross & Hillclimb
"Drive Happy" -
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