[dbhost]

Moving the table saw, and sticking the bench top tools to the wall...

Just a short note about the progress on my shop made today…

#1. The lumber for the fence got stacked more neatly to the side, in a much taller stack. This proved to be a less than brilliant idea, but it is what it is…

#2. The table saw, and workbench got moved into their almost final positions in this workshop. Which means bench behind table saw to act as outfeed support, and both rotated 90 degrees so that oufeed from the bench can get picked up by the craft bench.

#3.The outfeed support capacity got tested by ripping a 6' x 36" piece of plywood into 24" x 18" sections for my wall mount system. I got the idea for the wall mount system from BT3Central user DonHo, he is working out of a 10×12 shed. While my plans are for a larger shed, it's still a small space, and I needed to think 3D.

(The inspiration setup). I am simply planning on clamping my mount boards to my workbench when I need to use the specific tool. The tools being stacked are…
- Oscillating Spindle / Belt sander.
- Bench Top Jointer.
- 13" planer.
- 6" Bench Grinder / Sharpening station.

I had SERIOUSLY considered racking my compound miter saw, but use it too often to want to rack and unrack it all the time…

So far the rack is in place, just simple Rubbermaid closet system, not sure the nomenclature here, but brackets and rails. The part that mounts to the wall, and the part that clicks in and supports the shelf… The tools are all mounted on 24" b 18" 3/4 sheathing grade plywood (I had it already)

The planer and bench grinder are all that is left to dismount from where they are, and mount to where they will go… At that point, I disassemble the HF mobile base, and tool stands and see if I can sell them to somebody that needs them more than me…

Well, time to remove the sawdust, sweat, and whatever else is stuck to me, and get a good night's sleep before I get after it all over again…

 

[dbhost]

Moving the table saw, and sticking the bench top tools to the wall...

Just a short note about the progress on my shop made today…

#1. The lumber for the fence got stacked more neatly to the side, in a much taller stack. This proved to be a less than brilliant idea, but it is what it is…

#2. The table saw, and workbench got moved into their almost final positions in this workshop. Which means bench behind table saw to act as outfeed support, and both rotated 90 degrees so that oufeed from the bench can get picked up by the craft bench.

#3.The outfeed support capacity got tested by ripping a 6' x 36" piece of plywood into 24" x 18" sections for my wall mount system. I got the idea for the wall mount system from BT3Central user DonHo, he is working out of a 10×12 shed. While my plans are for a larger shed, it's still a small space, and I needed to think 3D.

(The inspiration setup). I am simply planning on clamping my mount boards to my workbench when I need to use the specific tool. The tools being stacked are…
- Oscillating Spindle / Belt sander.
- Bench Top Jointer.
- 13" planer.
- 6" Bench Grinder / Sharpening station.

I had SERIOUSLY considered racking my compound miter saw, but use it too often to want to rack and unrack it all the time…

So far the rack is in place, just simple Rubbermaid closet system, not sure the nomenclature here, but brackets and rails. The part that mounts to the wall, and the part that clicks in and supports the shelf… The tools are all mounted on 24" b 18" 3/4 sheathing grade plywood (I had it already)

The planer and bench grinder are all that is left to dismount from where they are, and mount to where they will go… At that point, I disassemble the HF mobile base, and tool stands and see if I can sell them to somebody that needs them more than me…

Well, time to remove the sawdust, sweat, and whatever else is stuck to me, and get a good night's sleep before I get after it all over again…

Yes. I can see the pic. What do you see?

 

[dbhost]

Moving the table saw, and sticking the bench top tools to the wall...

Just a short note about the progress on my shop made today…

#1. The lumber for the fence got stacked more neatly to the side, in a much taller stack. This proved to be a less than brilliant idea, but it is what it is…

#2. The table saw, and workbench got moved into their almost final positions in this workshop. Which means bench behind table saw to act as outfeed support, and both rotated 90 degrees so that oufeed from the bench can get picked up by the craft bench.

#3.The outfeed support capacity got tested by ripping a 6' x 36" piece of plywood into 24" x 18" sections for my wall mount system. I got the idea for the wall mount system from BT3Central user DonHo, he is working out of a 10×12 shed. While my plans are for a larger shed, it's still a small space, and I needed to think 3D.

(The inspiration setup). I am simply planning on clamping my mount boards to my workbench when I need to use the specific tool. The tools being stacked are…
- Oscillating Spindle / Belt sander.
- Bench Top Jointer.
- 13" planer.
- 6" Bench Grinder / Sharpening station.

I had SERIOUSLY considered racking my compound miter saw, but use it too often to want to rack and unrack it all the time…

So far the rack is in place, just simple Rubbermaid closet system, not sure the nomenclature here, but brackets and rails. The part that mounts to the wall, and the part that clicks in and supports the shelf… The tools are all mounted on 24" b 18" 3/4 sheathing grade plywood (I had it already)

The planer and bench grinder are all that is left to dismount from where they are, and mount to where they will go… At that point, I disassemble the HF mobile base, and tool stands and see if I can sell them to somebody that needs them more than me…

Well, time to remove the sawdust, sweat, and whatever else is stuck to me, and get a good night's sleep before I get after it all over again…

Hopefully it is visible now…

 

[dbhost]

Got the tool stacking system in place.

Simply put, I took sheathing grade ply, cut it into 18×24" panels, drilled holes and counterbores for mounting hardware for my bench top tools, and mounted that all up on Rubbermaid adjustable closet shelf hardware… The panels are sized so that I can simply clamp them down to my workbench and get to work, which is awfully handy since that is where the dust collector is plumbed near…

Now to dismount the old mounting boards from the tool stands, and get ready to throw them on Craigslist…

Oh and FWIW, the shelves are level, my garage door tracks lean toward the back…

 

[dbhost]

Got the tool stacking system in place.

Simply put, I took sheathing grade ply, cut it into 18×24" panels, drilled holes and counterbores for mounting hardware for my bench top tools, and mounted that all up on Rubbermaid adjustable closet shelf hardware… The panels are sized so that I can simply clamp them down to my workbench and get to work, which is awfully handy since that is where the dust collector is plumbed near…

Now to dismount the old mounting boards from the tool stands, and get ready to throw them on Craigslist…

Oh and FWIW, the shelves are level, my garage door tracks lean toward the back…

I stole it to share it… Hope it works well for you too!

 

[dbhost]

Got the tool stacking system in place.

Simply put, I took sheathing grade ply, cut it into 18×24" panels, drilled holes and counterbores for mounting hardware for my bench top tools, and mounted that all up on Rubbermaid adjustable closet shelf hardware… The panels are sized so that I can simply clamp them down to my workbench and get to work, which is awfully handy since that is where the dust collector is plumbed near…

Now to dismount the old mounting boards from the tool stands, and get ready to throw them on Craigslist…

Oh and FWIW, the shelves are level, my garage door tracks lean toward the back…

ROFLOL! Yeah… I saw another user with the setup in a teeny tiny shed and thought… Now THERE is a good, fast, easy, and easy to deal with idea…

 

[dbhost]

Mail ordering shop projects...

Anyone that has tensioned and de-tensioned the blade on a Harbor Freight, or Ridgid 14" band saw has had the experience of trying to turn the tension knob while it is right next to the back side of the upper wheel guard. Not much of a problem for someone with dainty hands, but if you are built with beefy paws like some of us… getting the knob turned while trying to keep from trapping your fingers between the knob and the wheel guard.

While there are aftermarket products, specifically the Carter Accuright Ratchet Rod, that replaces the OEM tension rod, knob, and nut assembly with a taller assembly, there are other factors to consider…

Like what do you do when you set your band saw tension and like it right there, and want to be able to quickly and easily get to and from the tension you set?

Carter again has a solution to the problem in the form of the Carter Quick Release Bandsaw Tension Toggle…

Now at $49.00 and $179.00 respectively, a prudent shopper might notice that the cost of these two upgrades is reaching the cost of a Central Machinery 14" Band Saw when you hit the sales and coupons just right…

What other options are there?

Have you noticed that the majority of the 14" band saws are almost identical, at least frame / table wise? Well this is far from coincidental… And while not intended for this purpose, the fine folks at Grizzly offer the replacement components to build the entire tension / lever assembly which can, with some very rudimentary mechanical ability, be adapted to the Central Machinery 32208 bandsaw…

The necessary parts for my conversion have been ordered, and will be installed when they come in…

The items ordered were…

Part#, Quantity, Description
P0555033A 1 Blade Adj. Screw Assy 7"
P0555133 1 Lever Rod
P0555135 1 Bushing
P0555137 1 Bracket
P0555140 2 Support Plate
P0555141 1 Fixed Base

Parts to be sourced from my local Ace Hardware are…
QTY, Description
2) 5/16-18 bolts 1 1/2"
2) 5/15-18 bolts 3/4"
1) 5/16-18 button cap screw 3/4"
7) 5/16 flat washers
2) 5/16 lock washers
2) 5/16-18 nylon locking nuts
1) 10 mm flat washer or what ever fits

I would suggest though that if you do not already have a tap & die set, steer clear of the ones Harbor Freight sells. Tap & Dies sets are pretty useless when they cannot cut metal…

Tools you will need for the conversion.
#1. Center Punch.
#2. Hammer to drive center punch.
#3. 17/64" Ti twist drill bit
#4. Accurate measuring device. Tape, ruler, caliper, whatever…
#5. Fine Point Sharpie.
#6. Hand held power drill.
#7. Safety Glasses.
#8. 5/16-18 tap & tap handle.
#9. 3/8" drive ratchet.
#10. 1/2" 3/8" drive socket.
#11. #2 Phillips head screwdriver.

The project procedure I will be going through is documented in this photo album / slide show…

Wish me luck! The results should be pretty cool…

What can I say? I'm really a Hot Rodder at heart…

 

[dbhost]

More storage improvements.

I have had a reasonably busy weekend of restructuring my storage in the garage workshop. I am finally getting around to removing the mistakes I made a couple of years ago by purchasing some very LIGHT duty undersized storage shelves with a usable shelf size of 12" deep x 24" wide. These are being replaced slowly but surely by a heavy duty (as much as common plastic shelving can be) "24" deep x 36 wide shelving units from Lowes.

While both units appear to be made of ABS plastic, there is a readily apparent difference in the thickness of the plastic in use. The new ones are substantially thicker, with molded in ribbing for stiffening. The support columns are substantially thicker, and the completed assembly is noticably sturdier.

Aside from removal of rickety storage units, the bigger part of the reason behind this was to have a more efficient system for storing my stuff. I have so far tranferred the contents of all 5 shelves of my first unit, and am taking up only 2 of the 5 shelves on the new unit. I have a total of 5 shelving units to replace. I figure 2 of these will do the trick…

The organization kick is partially due to wanting to get my camping gear out of the garage and into totes up in the attic (mostly toted up now) AND to better organize lawn & garden while it is in the garage…

I hope and pray I am making progress, because right now, I can't even see the top of the table saw, or either workbench…

 

[dbhost]

More storage improvements.

I have had a reasonably busy weekend of restructuring my storage in the garage workshop. I am finally getting around to removing the mistakes I made a couple of years ago by purchasing some very LIGHT duty undersized storage shelves with a usable shelf size of 12" deep x 24" wide. These are being replaced slowly but surely by a heavy duty (as much as common plastic shelving can be) "24" deep x 36 wide shelving units from Lowes.

While both units appear to be made of ABS plastic, there is a readily apparent difference in the thickness of the plastic in use. The new ones are substantially thicker, with molded in ribbing for stiffening. The support columns are substantially thicker, and the completed assembly is noticably sturdier.

Aside from removal of rickety storage units, the bigger part of the reason behind this was to have a more efficient system for storing my stuff. I have so far tranferred the contents of all 5 shelves of my first unit, and am taking up only 2 of the 5 shelves on the new unit. I have a total of 5 shelving units to replace. I figure 2 of these will do the trick…

The organization kick is partially due to wanting to get my camping gear out of the garage and into totes up in the attic (mostly toted up now) AND to better organize lawn & garden while it is in the garage…

I hope and pray I am making progress, because right now, I can't even see the top of the table saw, or either workbench…

Quite well… Yeah, I got the message. Haven't had much time to look into the link you sent though…

Plastic was chosen due to cost factors… I do plan on wood in other areas though…

 

[dbhost]

Being there for one of my best friends... I NEED TO VENT. NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED!!!

I sat in my shop, more or less leaning on the bench, kind of staring at the mess, and the equipment, not really getting anything done…

I had just gotten off the phone with one of my best friends from high school. The guy that was the best man at my wedding, and has been there for me through thick and thin… And I'd like to think I have been likewise… But the news last night was a bit much to take. I am pretty sure I sounded like a fool on the phone, but what can you say?

This friend was one of the guys I was in high school wood shop with. I remember the Oak kitchen table he built way back when, out of white oak and oak veneer ply. It was gorgeous.

This friend lived across the street from me back in my home town through Junior High and High School, to say the least, we knew the family, and we knew his dad was a violent man. Never fully able to blend back in with society after coming back from Vietnam.

There was a history there, going back as long as I can remember, of violence, death threats etc… That led to the divorce of this friends parents, and several slap on the wrist prison terms (less than a year at a time) for the father. To say the city, county, and state had to have a dedicated file cabinet or two just for his files is probably an understatement. There is NO WAY that they can claim they didn't see this coming. We all did…

About 10 years ago, the dad in question threatened a small town grocery store checker with a kitchen knife, and was interred into the state mental hospital, and granted 100% disability for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Now I am no psychotherapist or qualified to make a medical judgement in any way, shape or form, but my spider senses detect pure Barbara Streisand on that one… The history of violent behavior, and run ins with the law for things like assault and battery predate his military service.

Now my friend, when he found his dad was to be released from the state mental hospital earlier this yearl, well he had gotten married, and had children of his own during the time his father was in the mental hospital, had a mortgage on a nice home, had a nice car for his wife, and was driving his dream car. He was living the middle class dream. Well to protect his family, has walked away from that mortgage, that home, those cars, etc… and is now in hiding.

His younger brother has literally tried disappearing into the woods, living in a small trailer, and working cash jobs so he can "stay off the grid" to stay away from Psycho dad…. His sister has married, and moved quite far away, and remains out of sight for good reason… While still in high school, this same younger brother, after taking a particularly vicious beating from the hands of his father had been arrested, tried, and acquitted of attempting to solicit murder to finally rid the family of the long standing violence of this man. I am NOT saying that choice was right, but you must understand, the police, the courts, the state did NOTHING to stop this man from physically, and mentally abusing his family for DECADES. This was the desperate act, of a desperate young man that got tired of pleading for help and being ignored by those with power and authority.

So now that the history of fear and violence has been laid out for you…

Toward late July, my friend's dad came back into town, and assaulted his ex wife, my friend's mom (one of countless arrests for this…), he was arrested, and she went into hiding… The local police QUICKLY released him from jail.

Then two weeks later

An elderly woman, wheelchair bound, and stricken with Parkinsons disease, the best friend of my best friend's mother was found dead in her apartment in my home town. Bludgeoned to death with a ball peen hammer. She was found by a cable repairman who had actually been let into the wrong apartment by the apartment management. Police have tied blood, DNA, and fingerprint evidence to my friends father. Including the murder weapon. He has been arraigned on charges of aggravated murder.

I know this has to bring a LOT of emotional baggage up for my friend and his family. I am not sure how I can be the most supportive friend I can be. Should I express my anger at the city police that repeatedly failed to protect the citizens? The courts? The State? The Veterans Administration?

As much shock as has been expressed to the incompetent news media in that small town, nobody that knows the family is shocked at all. Disgusted that the state would let such a known violent man back out of the mental hospital,

So now, here I sit, the next day, not really able to work, or think of much at all, I want to cry for that old woman's family, but I cannot. I am simply too angry to cry… I am tired of my home town, well actually, my home state coming off looking like Hazard County when it comes to law enforcement, and protection of the citizens. What's worse is that I am almost afraid I might recieve a subpeona to appear before a court halfway across the country. I would LOVE to cooperate with the state and get this man off the streets, and away from where he can do any harm, but I have no faith that the particular state is actually compentent to do the right thing… Decades of experience tell me that.

I wish that he lived closer, not that I want to be any closer to his maniac dad than I am, but rather, offer up some shop time for him to get his mind on something other than that situation…

Thanks for understanding folks, I just needed to vent. I hope and pray I didn't violate any LJ rules. Wasn't my intention. Just sometimes you need to vent you know?

 

[dbhost]

Being there for one of my best friends... I NEED TO VENT. NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED!!!

I sat in my shop, more or less leaning on the bench, kind of staring at the mess, and the equipment, not really getting anything done…

I had just gotten off the phone with one of my best friends from high school. The guy that was the best man at my wedding, and has been there for me through thick and thin… And I'd like to think I have been likewise… But the news last night was a bit much to take. I am pretty sure I sounded like a fool on the phone, but what can you say?

This friend was one of the guys I was in high school wood shop with. I remember the Oak kitchen table he built way back when, out of white oak and oak veneer ply. It was gorgeous.

This friend lived across the street from me back in my home town through Junior High and High School, to say the least, we knew the family, and we knew his dad was a violent man. Never fully able to blend back in with society after coming back from Vietnam.

There was a history there, going back as long as I can remember, of violence, death threats etc… That led to the divorce of this friends parents, and several slap on the wrist prison terms (less than a year at a time) for the father. To say the city, county, and state had to have a dedicated file cabinet or two just for his files is probably an understatement. There is NO WAY that they can claim they didn't see this coming. We all did…

About 10 years ago, the dad in question threatened a small town grocery store checker with a kitchen knife, and was interred into the state mental hospital, and granted 100% disability for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Now I am no psychotherapist or qualified to make a medical judgement in any way, shape or form, but my spider senses detect pure Barbara Streisand on that one… The history of violent behavior, and run ins with the law for things like assault and battery predate his military service.

Now my friend, when he found his dad was to be released from the state mental hospital earlier this yearl, well he had gotten married, and had children of his own during the time his father was in the mental hospital, had a mortgage on a nice home, had a nice car for his wife, and was driving his dream car. He was living the middle class dream. Well to protect his family, has walked away from that mortgage, that home, those cars, etc… and is now in hiding.

His younger brother has literally tried disappearing into the woods, living in a small trailer, and working cash jobs so he can "stay off the grid" to stay away from Psycho dad…. His sister has married, and moved quite far away, and remains out of sight for good reason… While still in high school, this same younger brother, after taking a particularly vicious beating from the hands of his father had been arrested, tried, and acquitted of attempting to solicit murder to finally rid the family of the long standing violence of this man. I am NOT saying that choice was right, but you must understand, the police, the courts, the state did NOTHING to stop this man from physically, and mentally abusing his family for DECADES. This was the desperate act, of a desperate young man that got tired of pleading for help and being ignored by those with power and authority.

So now that the history of fear and violence has been laid out for you…

Toward late July, my friend's dad came back into town, and assaulted his ex wife, my friend's mom (one of countless arrests for this…), he was arrested, and she went into hiding… The local police QUICKLY released him from jail.

Then two weeks later

An elderly woman, wheelchair bound, and stricken with Parkinsons disease, the best friend of my best friend's mother was found dead in her apartment in my home town. Bludgeoned to death with a ball peen hammer. She was found by a cable repairman who had actually been let into the wrong apartment by the apartment management. Police have tied blood, DNA, and fingerprint evidence to my friends father. Including the murder weapon. He has been arraigned on charges of aggravated murder.

I know this has to bring a LOT of emotional baggage up for my friend and his family. I am not sure how I can be the most supportive friend I can be. Should I express my anger at the city police that repeatedly failed to protect the citizens? The courts? The State? The Veterans Administration?

As much shock as has been expressed to the incompetent news media in that small town, nobody that knows the family is shocked at all. Disgusted that the state would let such a known violent man back out of the mental hospital,

So now, here I sit, the next day, not really able to work, or think of much at all, I want to cry for that old woman's family, but I cannot. I am simply too angry to cry… I am tired of my home town, well actually, my home state coming off looking like Hazard County when it comes to law enforcement, and protection of the citizens. What's worse is that I am almost afraid I might recieve a subpeona to appear before a court halfway across the country. I would LOVE to cooperate with the state and get this man off the streets, and away from where he can do any harm, but I have no faith that the particular state is actually compentent to do the right thing… Decades of experience tell me that.

I wish that he lived closer, not that I want to be any closer to his maniac dad than I am, but rather, offer up some shop time for him to get his mind on something other than that situation…

Thanks for understanding folks, I just needed to vent. I hope and pray I didn't violate any LJ rules. Wasn't my intention. Just sometimes you need to vent you know?

Thanks… Honestly it was a bit heart wrenching to write. Sometimes you just need to let some things out. I hate that I had to pick here. But I felt that since this was something that impacted my woodworking (as well as other work) that this was probably the right place to vent…

 

[dbhost]

Being there for one of my best friends... I NEED TO VENT. NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED!!!

I sat in my shop, more or less leaning on the bench, kind of staring at the mess, and the equipment, not really getting anything done…

I had just gotten off the phone with one of my best friends from high school. The guy that was the best man at my wedding, and has been there for me through thick and thin… And I'd like to think I have been likewise… But the news last night was a bit much to take. I am pretty sure I sounded like a fool on the phone, but what can you say?

This friend was one of the guys I was in high school wood shop with. I remember the Oak kitchen table he built way back when, out of white oak and oak veneer ply. It was gorgeous.

This friend lived across the street from me back in my home town through Junior High and High School, to say the least, we knew the family, and we knew his dad was a violent man. Never fully able to blend back in with society after coming back from Vietnam.

There was a history there, going back as long as I can remember, of violence, death threats etc… That led to the divorce of this friends parents, and several slap on the wrist prison terms (less than a year at a time) for the father. To say the city, county, and state had to have a dedicated file cabinet or two just for his files is probably an understatement. There is NO WAY that they can claim they didn't see this coming. We all did…

About 10 years ago, the dad in question threatened a small town grocery store checker with a kitchen knife, and was interred into the state mental hospital, and granted 100% disability for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Now I am no psychotherapist or qualified to make a medical judgement in any way, shape or form, but my spider senses detect pure Barbara Streisand on that one… The history of violent behavior, and run ins with the law for things like assault and battery predate his military service.

Now my friend, when he found his dad was to be released from the state mental hospital earlier this yearl, well he had gotten married, and had children of his own during the time his father was in the mental hospital, had a mortgage on a nice home, had a nice car for his wife, and was driving his dream car. He was living the middle class dream. Well to protect his family, has walked away from that mortgage, that home, those cars, etc… and is now in hiding.

His younger brother has literally tried disappearing into the woods, living in a small trailer, and working cash jobs so he can "stay off the grid" to stay away from Psycho dad…. His sister has married, and moved quite far away, and remains out of sight for good reason… While still in high school, this same younger brother, after taking a particularly vicious beating from the hands of his father had been arrested, tried, and acquitted of attempting to solicit murder to finally rid the family of the long standing violence of this man. I am NOT saying that choice was right, but you must understand, the police, the courts, the state did NOTHING to stop this man from physically, and mentally abusing his family for DECADES. This was the desperate act, of a desperate young man that got tired of pleading for help and being ignored by those with power and authority.

So now that the history of fear and violence has been laid out for you…

Toward late July, my friend's dad came back into town, and assaulted his ex wife, my friend's mom (one of countless arrests for this…), he was arrested, and she went into hiding… The local police QUICKLY released him from jail.

Then two weeks later

An elderly woman, wheelchair bound, and stricken with Parkinsons disease, the best friend of my best friend's mother was found dead in her apartment in my home town. Bludgeoned to death with a ball peen hammer. She was found by a cable repairman who had actually been let into the wrong apartment by the apartment management. Police have tied blood, DNA, and fingerprint evidence to my friends father. Including the murder weapon. He has been arraigned on charges of aggravated murder.

I know this has to bring a LOT of emotional baggage up for my friend and his family. I am not sure how I can be the most supportive friend I can be. Should I express my anger at the city police that repeatedly failed to protect the citizens? The courts? The State? The Veterans Administration?

As much shock as has been expressed to the incompetent news media in that small town, nobody that knows the family is shocked at all. Disgusted that the state would let such a known violent man back out of the mental hospital,

So now, here I sit, the next day, not really able to work, or think of much at all, I want to cry for that old woman's family, but I cannot. I am simply too angry to cry… I am tired of my home town, well actually, my home state coming off looking like Hazard County when it comes to law enforcement, and protection of the citizens. What's worse is that I am almost afraid I might recieve a subpeona to appear before a court halfway across the country. I would LOVE to cooperate with the state and get this man off the streets, and away from where he can do any harm, but I have no faith that the particular state is actually compentent to do the right thing… Decades of experience tell me that.

I wish that he lived closer, not that I want to be any closer to his maniac dad than I am, but rather, offer up some shop time for him to get his mind on something other than that situation…

Thanks for understanding folks, I just needed to vent. I hope and pray I didn't violate any LJ rules. Wasn't my intention. Just sometimes you need to vent you know?

Mario,

I don't blame the mental health care workers in the slightest. Descisions were made by the empty suits at pay grades much higher than even the doctors to let this man back out on the streets…

I do also feel for the mental health care professionals. I am pretty sure they are going to take a beating over this, and the release was due to budget cuts…

Actually I have offered to put my friend and his family up where we are, half a country away now… That should be far enough. And I have far more faith in the law enforcement in Texas for sure. My home town PD is more interested in handing out speeding and parking tickets than solving and preventing crime…

 

[dbhost]

Being there for one of my best friends... I NEED TO VENT. NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED!!!

I sat in my shop, more or less leaning on the bench, kind of staring at the mess, and the equipment, not really getting anything done…

I had just gotten off the phone with one of my best friends from high school. The guy that was the best man at my wedding, and has been there for me through thick and thin… And I'd like to think I have been likewise… But the news last night was a bit much to take. I am pretty sure I sounded like a fool on the phone, but what can you say?

This friend was one of the guys I was in high school wood shop with. I remember the Oak kitchen table he built way back when, out of white oak and oak veneer ply. It was gorgeous.

This friend lived across the street from me back in my home town through Junior High and High School, to say the least, we knew the family, and we knew his dad was a violent man. Never fully able to blend back in with society after coming back from Vietnam.

There was a history there, going back as long as I can remember, of violence, death threats etc… That led to the divorce of this friends parents, and several slap on the wrist prison terms (less than a year at a time) for the father. To say the city, county, and state had to have a dedicated file cabinet or two just for his files is probably an understatement. There is NO WAY that they can claim they didn't see this coming. We all did…

About 10 years ago, the dad in question threatened a small town grocery store checker with a kitchen knife, and was interred into the state mental hospital, and granted 100% disability for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Now I am no psychotherapist or qualified to make a medical judgement in any way, shape or form, but my spider senses detect pure Barbara Streisand on that one… The history of violent behavior, and run ins with the law for things like assault and battery predate his military service.

Now my friend, when he found his dad was to be released from the state mental hospital earlier this yearl, well he had gotten married, and had children of his own during the time his father was in the mental hospital, had a mortgage on a nice home, had a nice car for his wife, and was driving his dream car. He was living the middle class dream. Well to protect his family, has walked away from that mortgage, that home, those cars, etc… and is now in hiding.

His younger brother has literally tried disappearing into the woods, living in a small trailer, and working cash jobs so he can "stay off the grid" to stay away from Psycho dad…. His sister has married, and moved quite far away, and remains out of sight for good reason… While still in high school, this same younger brother, after taking a particularly vicious beating from the hands of his father had been arrested, tried, and acquitted of attempting to solicit murder to finally rid the family of the long standing violence of this man. I am NOT saying that choice was right, but you must understand, the police, the courts, the state did NOTHING to stop this man from physically, and mentally abusing his family for DECADES. This was the desperate act, of a desperate young man that got tired of pleading for help and being ignored by those with power and authority.

So now that the history of fear and violence has been laid out for you…

Toward late July, my friend's dad came back into town, and assaulted his ex wife, my friend's mom (one of countless arrests for this…), he was arrested, and she went into hiding… The local police QUICKLY released him from jail.

Then two weeks later

An elderly woman, wheelchair bound, and stricken with Parkinsons disease, the best friend of my best friend's mother was found dead in her apartment in my home town. Bludgeoned to death with a ball peen hammer. She was found by a cable repairman who had actually been let into the wrong apartment by the apartment management. Police have tied blood, DNA, and fingerprint evidence to my friends father. Including the murder weapon. He has been arraigned on charges of aggravated murder.

I know this has to bring a LOT of emotional baggage up for my friend and his family. I am not sure how I can be the most supportive friend I can be. Should I express my anger at the city police that repeatedly failed to protect the citizens? The courts? The State? The Veterans Administration?

As much shock as has been expressed to the incompetent news media in that small town, nobody that knows the family is shocked at all. Disgusted that the state would let such a known violent man back out of the mental hospital,

So now, here I sit, the next day, not really able to work, or think of much at all, I want to cry for that old woman's family, but I cannot. I am simply too angry to cry… I am tired of my home town, well actually, my home state coming off looking like Hazard County when it comes to law enforcement, and protection of the citizens. What's worse is that I am almost afraid I might recieve a subpeona to appear before a court halfway across the country. I would LOVE to cooperate with the state and get this man off the streets, and away from where he can do any harm, but I have no faith that the particular state is actually compentent to do the right thing… Decades of experience tell me that.

I wish that he lived closer, not that I want to be any closer to his maniac dad than I am, but rather, offer up some shop time for him to get his mind on something other than that situation…

Thanks for understanding folks, I just needed to vent. I hope and pray I didn't violate any LJ rules. Wasn't my intention. Just sometimes you need to vent you know?

Thanks Jim! This sort of hit at a funky time too. LOML and I are busy beyond belief with other issues… As soon as I get a chance I think I want to bounce this off of my pastor… I am not a person prone to angry responses, But I guess it is a natural thing…

Sometimes life slaps you upside the head with a 2×4 you know?

 

[dbhost]

Coming clean sure is dirty work! or. A little pictoral evidence for Jim..

Jim from Anchorage, you asked for photographic evidence of the mess, and what the heck. I'm not too proud… So this is what a shop looks like when you tear it from end to end to reorganize it, and are only about a quarter of the way through the project… (And I needed something to lighten up my day a bit!)

The current view from the entry door to the shop. Hey at least you can tell there is a workbench and a table saw in there, sort of…

Oh, the big green thing immediately above the workbench is my Pelican Excursion 146 DLX 14.5' plastic canoe. This thing is a beast. It handles great in the water, is danged near sink proof, but is a PAIN to portage!

The junk piled up on the drill press. No this is NOT the permanent location for this stuff!

The view from the roll up door point in. The big black thing is a New Braunfels Smoker Bandera Smoker. Char Broil has since bought out New Braunfels Smoker. IF you can find an NOS New Braunfels Bandera, GET IT. The Char Broil versions burn out and rust out too fast…

The new Heavy Duty 24 inch deep x 36 inch wide shelves. Lots of storage space, not a bunch of cash… Yes wood would certainly work, but adding up costs wasn't cost effective. I should have waited for these to go on sale though and bought 2 of them.

The row of old Plano shelves. These things are junque… Just because my Plano tackle boxes are well made does NOT mean all their stuff is worth a hoot…

 

[dbhost]

Coming clean sure is dirty work! or. A little pictoral evidence for Jim..

Jim from Anchorage, you asked for photographic evidence of the mess, and what the heck. I'm not too proud… So this is what a shop looks like when you tear it from end to end to reorganize it, and are only about a quarter of the way through the project… (And I needed something to lighten up my day a bit!)

The current view from the entry door to the shop. Hey at least you can tell there is a workbench and a table saw in there, sort of…

Oh, the big green thing immediately above the workbench is my Pelican Excursion 146 DLX 14.5' plastic canoe. This thing is a beast. It handles great in the water, is danged near sink proof, but is a PAIN to portage!

The junk piled up on the drill press. No this is NOT the permanent location for this stuff!

The view from the roll up door point in. The big black thing is a New Braunfels Smoker Bandera Smoker. Char Broil has since bought out New Braunfels Smoker. IF you can find an NOS New Braunfels Bandera, GET IT. The Char Broil versions burn out and rust out too fast…

The new Heavy Duty 24 inch deep x 36 inch wide shelves. Lots of storage space, not a bunch of cash… Yes wood would certainly work, but adding up costs wasn't cost effective. I should have waited for these to go on sale though and bought 2 of them.

The row of old Plano shelves. These things are junque… Just because my Plano tackle boxes are well made does NOT mean all their stuff is worth a hoot…

Just got back in from there, unloaded the new shelf, spun it sideways, takes more wall space, but easier to get to now…

 

[dbhost]

Coming clean sure is dirty work! or. A little pictoral evidence for Jim..

Jim from Anchorage, you asked for photographic evidence of the mess, and what the heck. I'm not too proud… So this is what a shop looks like when you tear it from end to end to reorganize it, and are only about a quarter of the way through the project… (And I needed something to lighten up my day a bit!)

The current view from the entry door to the shop. Hey at least you can tell there is a workbench and a table saw in there, sort of…

Oh, the big green thing immediately above the workbench is my Pelican Excursion 146 DLX 14.5' plastic canoe. This thing is a beast. It handles great in the water, is danged near sink proof, but is a PAIN to portage!

The junk piled up on the drill press. No this is NOT the permanent location for this stuff!

The view from the roll up door point in. The big black thing is a New Braunfels Smoker Bandera Smoker. Char Broil has since bought out New Braunfels Smoker. IF you can find an NOS New Braunfels Bandera, GET IT. The Char Broil versions burn out and rust out too fast…

The new Heavy Duty 24 inch deep x 36 inch wide shelves. Lots of storage space, not a bunch of cash… Yes wood would certainly work, but adding up costs wasn't cost effective. I should have waited for these to go on sale though and bought 2 of them.

The row of old Plano shelves. These things are junque… Just because my Plano tackle boxes are well made does NOT mean all their stuff is worth a hoot…

LOL…. Nothing is plugged in right now so it's reasonably safe…

Have I mentioned I need a dedicated workshop to get away from all the other junk?

Good grief I need to get rid of some of this junk. I see the box for my rifle scope (been mounted for 6 years) a flat basketball, and MY old skateboard from high school. To say the least I am multiples of age past high school now…

I am honestly not sure what to do with the 20# propane cylinder. It is for camping fuel, but all my camping appliances except my deer blind heater use white gas…. (Yeah I am pretty old school that way…)

The cutoff bin has WAY too many little cutoff pieces of pine 2×4s and plywood. I might just move out the BBQ and burn them off in the upcoming weekend… Keep the hardwood, and the bigger pieces.

 

[dbhost]

The flimsy shelves are GONE... And I HURT...

Well, I managed to pull my stacks of old construction grade 2x material, and BORG S4S pine and oak out, not to mention the stacks of cedar, and other misc sawdust waiting to be made. I also yanked out probably a quarter of a yard of various plywood, pine, and other misc cutoffs…

And when I finally got to the wall, I managed to pull what little remained of the material that was on them, and removed the bad shelving units (woo hoo!).

I have taken the drill press, and band saw and moved them into their final destination spots, which is good, and put in another one of the large black plastic heavy duty shelving units from Lowes, and rearranged the wall mount hooks for my lawn and garden tools. I now have for the most part, lawn and garden compressed into a 4' wide x 6' deep niche in the garage, small enough of a space that I feel comfortable keeping all of that material in my shop. Yes the extra space would be nice, but I can live with it like this…

Next up on the agenda, is to move the remaining lumber scrap SOMEWHERE for safe keeping. Since I need to move it out of the shop for a while, I was considering talking some of those construction grade 2×4s, and building a lumber rack, that I can store my material on, and cover with a tarp…

I guess the big question is, what do I need to make sure of when I set this up? What do I need to be careful of when I set this up? How to best protect my lumber while it is outside?

FWIW, moving all that lumber, lawn equipment and whatnot has got my muscles good and sore, yet again… I have several days off ahead of me as it is, and have much more to do. God willing and the creek don't rise as it were…

 

[dbhost]

The flimsy shelves are GONE... And I HURT...

Well, I managed to pull my stacks of old construction grade 2x material, and BORG S4S pine and oak out, not to mention the stacks of cedar, and other misc sawdust waiting to be made. I also yanked out probably a quarter of a yard of various plywood, pine, and other misc cutoffs…

And when I finally got to the wall, I managed to pull what little remained of the material that was on them, and removed the bad shelving units (woo hoo!).

I have taken the drill press, and band saw and moved them into their final destination spots, which is good, and put in another one of the large black plastic heavy duty shelving units from Lowes, and rearranged the wall mount hooks for my lawn and garden tools. I now have for the most part, lawn and garden compressed into a 4' wide x 6' deep niche in the garage, small enough of a space that I feel comfortable keeping all of that material in my shop. Yes the extra space would be nice, but I can live with it like this…

Next up on the agenda, is to move the remaining lumber scrap SOMEWHERE for safe keeping. Since I need to move it out of the shop for a while, I was considering talking some of those construction grade 2×4s, and building a lumber rack, that I can store my material on, and cover with a tarp…

I guess the big question is, what do I need to make sure of when I set this up? What do I need to be careful of when I set this up? How to best protect my lumber while it is outside?

FWIW, moving all that lumber, lawn equipment and whatnot has got my muscles good and sore, yet again… I have several days off ahead of me as it is, and have much more to do. God willing and the creek don't rise as it were…

Who knows? I am enjoying progress, but nothing is totally complete. I am not sure if it's the heat, my weight, residual damage from car accidents, but I certainly end up feeling MUCH older than I ought to after a full day of hard physical labor… This coming from a guy that had his first career as a mechanic, which is a very physical job…

I need to figure out how to reinforce any uprights on the to be built lumber rack just so it doesn't simply slide apart when some pressure is put on it. I have plenty of 2×4 and 4×4 stock to do this, I basically just need to "git 'r done" as it were… Probably not going to happen today. (the whole Sunday thing….), Thank heavens I tacked comp time days to this holiday weekend, I can get through today, and still have a couple of days off left to get work around the house done. I might just have the gate, and outdoor lumber rack finished before I go back to work…

 

[dbhost]

The flimsy shelves are GONE... And I HURT...

Well, I managed to pull my stacks of old construction grade 2x material, and BORG S4S pine and oak out, not to mention the stacks of cedar, and other misc sawdust waiting to be made. I also yanked out probably a quarter of a yard of various plywood, pine, and other misc cutoffs…

And when I finally got to the wall, I managed to pull what little remained of the material that was on them, and removed the bad shelving units (woo hoo!).

I have taken the drill press, and band saw and moved them into their final destination spots, which is good, and put in another one of the large black plastic heavy duty shelving units from Lowes, and rearranged the wall mount hooks for my lawn and garden tools. I now have for the most part, lawn and garden compressed into a 4' wide x 6' deep niche in the garage, small enough of a space that I feel comfortable keeping all of that material in my shop. Yes the extra space would be nice, but I can live with it like this…

Next up on the agenda, is to move the remaining lumber scrap SOMEWHERE for safe keeping. Since I need to move it out of the shop for a while, I was considering talking some of those construction grade 2×4s, and building a lumber rack, that I can store my material on, and cover with a tarp…

I guess the big question is, what do I need to make sure of when I set this up? What do I need to be careful of when I set this up? How to best protect my lumber while it is outside?

FWIW, moving all that lumber, lawn equipment and whatnot has got my muscles good and sore, yet again… I have several days off ahead of me as it is, and have much more to do. God willing and the creek don't rise as it were…

We've been without power since early today, power company guys just left. Blew the heck out of the entire neighborhood… Nothing got done, HOWEVER…. I did get to enjoy Vampires Suck, which was a LOT of fun, and then The Other Guys, which was even funnier… All in all a good afternoon… However, no power, no crock pot, no crock pot, no pot roast like we had planned for dinner. I am thinking tonight might be a good night for tacos…

 

[dbhost]

The flimsy shelves are GONE... And I HURT...

Well, I managed to pull my stacks of old construction grade 2x material, and BORG S4S pine and oak out, not to mention the stacks of cedar, and other misc sawdust waiting to be made. I also yanked out probably a quarter of a yard of various plywood, pine, and other misc cutoffs…

And when I finally got to the wall, I managed to pull what little remained of the material that was on them, and removed the bad shelving units (woo hoo!).

I have taken the drill press, and band saw and moved them into their final destination spots, which is good, and put in another one of the large black plastic heavy duty shelving units from Lowes, and rearranged the wall mount hooks for my lawn and garden tools. I now have for the most part, lawn and garden compressed into a 4' wide x 6' deep niche in the garage, small enough of a space that I feel comfortable keeping all of that material in my shop. Yes the extra space would be nice, but I can live with it like this…

Next up on the agenda, is to move the remaining lumber scrap SOMEWHERE for safe keeping. Since I need to move it out of the shop for a while, I was considering talking some of those construction grade 2×4s, and building a lumber rack, that I can store my material on, and cover with a tarp…

I guess the big question is, what do I need to make sure of when I set this up? What do I need to be careful of when I set this up? How to best protect my lumber while it is outside?

FWIW, moving all that lumber, lawn equipment and whatnot has got my muscles good and sore, yet again… I have several days off ahead of me as it is, and have much more to do. God willing and the creek don't rise as it were…

I am so mad I could spit. I had planned to get that gate finished and up this weekend. That requires power tools in the back yard, no power yesterday, and now it's raining today and tomorrow! I did manage to get 4 of the stays for my lumber rack cut, and waiting for the other 4. I might have to go back to using a hand saw to finish this if it is going to happen today though…

The plan is to basically take 2 of the surplus 4×4x8 posts, lay them 18" apart, then 2' in from the ends attach basically a wooden square "hoop" of 2×4s, so that there is a slightly less than 4' spread between them. Once assembled, fill with surplus fence pickets, 2×4s, 2×8s and various trim and molding pieces, and worthy of saving cutoffs. Even my plywood cutoffs should fit in it… I can then cover that up with a tarp, and secure it down with the old 4×4s that are past protecting.

This will provide the access I need to the west wall. The long and quite anxiously awaited wall access…. Oh well, I guess I have waited this long to be able to get this far, I can be patient a little longer….