six-point socket's tidbits of Home Improvement, small projects and other stuff.

[Rob Z]

Oliver, go for it man.  I rented one of those dumpers  years ago for a job where we couldn't get the concrete truck close and I didn't want to deal with a concrete pumper. So we ran a whole truck load of concrete in to the site and it was a blast.  [big grin]

 

[Gregor]

Oliver,

till I read that the old one is out of stone (not wood) I had an excellent plan for easy and convenient removal of the old one, would have combined nicely with you liking for barbecue:

(lifted from redd.it)

[big grin]

Looking forward for what beautiful things you'll do this time. Regarding small gaps to have no look-through onto the old one: You wrote that it's under a roof... if rain wouldn't be an issue, what about groove and tongue for the decking? Should be straightforward to rip one/some of the floor boards into tongues and manually route matching grooves into the rest, possibly just pushing them upright through a CMS-TS or a TKS (which I could, given the stars line up right date wise, borrow for some days as you're en route to friends of mine which are in need for a visit or two this year) for a shallow hidden cut that does that particular trick?

 

[six-point socket II]

[scared] [big grin] Demolition by fire.

Thanks for the offer Gregor, but I do have all the tools I need to do something like that. I got recommended tongue & groove before, but I'm not sure it's what we're going with.

Right now we're exploring the wpc/composite route, there are aluminum frames/substructure available and lips to close gaps. And it's low maintenance once installed.

But nothing is said and done yet. I have a quote coming my way, so lets see waht figure we're talking about when buying a complete system.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[Cheese]

And demolishing the old patio, transporting & dumping the stuff, then transporting materials for the new patio ... All over that dirt track. That is not for me anymore.

So I always said, half jokingly, I'll do it when I get one of these small track dumpers:
mosthttps://www.wackerneuson.de/en/products/dumpers/track-dumpers/

FWIW...Oliver...in the US this is a pretty common piece of equipment for small landscape projects. Very similar to the Wacker as it's also a walk-behind machine. Also being only 34" wide, it can pass through most every fence gate/opening. Because it is a tracked vehicle the footprint it places on the ground is only about 5 psi.

I rented one with a bucket when I put in the patio to move dirt, class-5, sand & pea gravel and also rented the forks to move pallets of brick and blue stone. There are so many things you can use these things for. Here is a link to all of the options that will fit the Toro Dingo. The rental price was cheap considering the amount of work this little beast can do.
https://www.toro.com/en/professional-contractor/compact-utility-attachments

[attachimg=1]

 

[six-point socket II]

Terrific machine [member=44099]Cheese[/member] ! Thanks for sharing!

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[six-point socket II]

Hi!

Today I put a new top on top of my old workshop desk.

I used the leftover from the 40mm MPX bought for the pedestal. Since I didn't know I would use it for this, it wasn't observed when the pedestal top was cut, so the scraps weren't an exact fit. I needed 1300x660 but the biggest scrap piece was only 1250x"larger than 660". So I had to add a 50mm strip.

Using the TSC to cut both pieces to size. I'm always pleased with the results of the TSC with the installed 48 tooth saw blade.

Perfect fit.

Cut the strip to length.

Now into the workshop.

The strip is 50mm wide, I decided to drill 20mm deep blind holes with 8mm diameter (approx. head size of Spax universal screw with T25 drive) and then use 50mm long screws to butt joint the two pieces.

Add adhesive/glue and screw down.

Since the blind holes are 8mm in diameter, I decided, on the fly, to close them with common/readily available wood dowels.

Last chance to get a "before" picture.

And then all that was left to do is layout and marking the positions of the screws, drill pilot hole and counter sink.

I decided to add a little edge strip, I used the amazing GRK FinTrim for this - but I have to say that they work a lot better in MPX and hard wood. Then they pull much more cleanly into the wood, than with this soft wood strip. I only had experience with them in hardwood/MPX so far, that's why I used them - and didn't countersink the holes for them.

Then it's all said and done. Finished.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[sancho57]

Looking good Oliver

 

[six-point socket II]

Thank you very much [member=10147]jobsworth[/member] All the little things that have to get squared away ...

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[six-point socket II]

Hi!

So I used the cool morning time to evaluate if the MMS+ concrete bolts/anchors from Heco would work with my old patio, in terms of bolting/anchoring a substructure to it.

Mark and drill.

Of course with dust extraction and additionally I blew out the holes, and then used my inspection camera. As you can see, the changeover from actual stone plate/tile to foundation is clearly visible - but there is no topsoil, gravel or whatever. That made me very happy, as it was the first indication that it might actually work. (Could have been very different, only a thin layer of adhesive followed by gravel or the like ...)

So lets try to bolt/anchor a scrap piece down.

First with the cordless 1/2" impact wrench.

Then with the cordless 3/8" impact wrench.

Amazing - that is bolted/anchored down, bomb proof!

Then the removal, to make sure the stone plates/tiles did not split or get damaged otherwise that would impair the bolts/anchors ability to hold the substructure.

Since these MMS+ bolts/anchors from Heco feature counter sink heads, let's see if they did. Oh, and how they did!

I'm very happy that this turned out to be a viable option now, it saves me a lot of headaches.

Actually, that scrap piece was bolted/anchored down that well, that I'm sure even if a bolt/anchor or two would not seat properly, or one of the stone plates/tiles would split - the others would still hold/lock the substructure safely to the old patio.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[sancho57]

Thank you very much [member=10147]jobsworth[/member] All the little things that have to get squared away ...

Kind regards,
Oliver

I have a lot to do to Oliver.

But dont have your motivation for getting them done  [big grin]

 

[grobkuschelig]

I have a lot to do to Oliver.

But dont have your motivation for getting them done  [big grin]

Couldn’t have said it better.
Oliver, you are always such a powerhouse and inspiration to get oneself off the couch and get going!

 

[six-point socket II]

You're giving me way too much credit here. I just do what I love.

Got a strong reminder that life can be damn short, last Thursday. Or better, on Monday when we heard about it: A neighbor from a couple of houses down the street wasn't feeling well, asked his wife to call an ambulance. Ambulance came, they administered/ hooked him up to an ECG, sure enough it was a mild cardiac infarction. The got him to the hospital alive, then out of sudden he went into cardiac arrest. Doctor & nurses got him back for a moment, then he got a full blown cardiac infarction and was pronounced dead. Turns out, he had an undiagnosed/hidden heart condition.  [crying]

All while his wife was waiting in the waiting area of the hospital, thinking they got there in time because he was alive when he was taken in. I can't begin to imagine how she feels right now.  [crying]

What I want to say, carpe diem/ seize the day. Do what you love, and surround yourself with the people you love. Tomorrow is promised to none of us.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[sancho57]

Yeah Oliver that certainly is a wake up call isnt it.

Ya got me motivated buddy, Ibeen milking this work so much its mooing at me :>D.

But I hit it hard today.

 

[six-point socket II]

Yeah, it certainly is.

Ya got me motivated buddy, Ibeen milking this work so much its mooing at me :>D.

lmao. That is a first one for me.

Back to our regular scheduled programming. I'm currently ordering stuff, will be picking up some paint on Monday or Tuesday. And then the two radiators in the living room will get a new coat of paint. That's the next "in between" project, while deciding on how to go about that built-in cabinet in the basement.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[six-point socket II]

Picked up some stuff for a quick, "in-between" project from the Honey-do list. Painting the living room radiators.  [scared]

Sadly, it seems that those professional points of sale have no honor left. I called last week to learn how much that paint is, went there today and they quoted me a totally different price. Asking about it, they claimed they would have never quoted me that price they gave over the phone last week. Sadly I only wrote down the price, not who I was talking to. Lesson learned. But as usual, I will never buy from them again.

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[semenza]

I'm not sure that painting radiators sounds like a quick in between job?  Sounds like tedium to me.

  And that paint store stuck you with bent brushes too  [eek]  Surprised you didn't notice that when you picked them up! [big grin]

Seth

 

[six-point socket II]

Compared to that basement built-in cabinet project, that paint job is a quick project. But since I will have to wait for the materials anyway, its good timing to do the radiators first.

And yes, it's not the most exciting project/work. Sanding two radiators, each 1900mm long and about 300mm wide and 300mm tall, by hand will get old in no time I guess. But it has to be done. I'm also going to take down the windowsill on both radiators, that's going to get interesting.

Oh snap, now that you mention it, yes they did sell me bent brushes. Scandalous!  [big grin] [big grin] [big grin]

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[AlexThePalex]

I'm not sure that painting radiators sounds like a quick in between job?  Sounds like tedium to me.

It is tedious indeed, I've done quite a few radiators by now, and it takes ages to paint them. In fact, I quit doing it with a brush and roller, I now just buy cans of spray paint, that makes it a lot quicker. You do have to mask all the surroundings of course, and live with a bad paint smell for a few hours.

By the way, those special "radiator" paints are a big scamm, they're just as heat resistant as any normal paint from a decent brand.

When you paint a radiator, make sure you sand it very well, by hand. The smoothness of the metal and the old coat can make sure your new coat sticks very badly if you don't sand properly.

 

[grobkuschelig]

What Alex said! Had great results using spray cans and if you use „Malervlies“ to cover the surroundings, it takes the overspray a little better out of the air, compared to foil...

No wonder the store ripped you off on pricing. The expensive mitered brushes... ;P

I hope your next purchasing experience turns out better.
I got lucky with a new wood supplier recently. 30mins more to drive but higher quality and lower price than the one I already purchased a ton of over the last year...

 

[Cheese]

When you paint a radiator, make sure you sand it very well, by hand. The smoothness of the metal and the old coat can make sure your new coat sticks very badly if you don't sand properly.

That’s the reason we bring them to a sand blaster. Drop them off one day and pick them up the next.  [big grin]