Working Alone? Tips to maybe make your things easier.

[peter halle]

Cool video Peter!  I can see lots of uses for a vac clamp now.

Watch out Paul Marcel! [wink]

I don't think that Paul Marcel has anything to worry about!  I bought a whole bunch of other parts to do another series of clamps, but due to my organizational methods  [scared] they are temporarily unavailable for use.

Peter

 

[harry_]

From what I've heard and read, no.  Can't pass U.L. approval is the talk.  Too high a suction risk if your face or bottom got stuck and you can't reach the shut off.  [big grin]

I know, would've been perfect for the "Halloweenex".

Ya know, considering all the outright crap available @ The Borg, the U.L. excuse is wearing real thin..... Just sayin

 

[pugilato]

sometimes I feel like I walk around wrapped up in bubble wrap, what with UL and OSHA and all of the government regulations (saw stop on all table saws) that make everything perfectly safe.  I just wonder how I got to the ripe old age of 59 before all of these rules were in place.  I'm pretty sure that when I was a baby, there were no car seats and my mom just carried me on her lap.  No seat belts for sure.  One has to wonder how many people attach a circular saw to a piece of plywood and make a workable table saw.

am I the only one who feels this way?

 

[JLB builders LLC]

sometimes I feel like I walk around wrapped up in bubble wrap, what with UL and OSHA and all of the government regulations (saw stop on all table saws) that make everything perfectly safe.  I just wonder how I got to the ripe old age of 59 before all of these rules were in place.  I'm pretty sure that when I was a baby, there were no car seats and my mom just carried me on her lap.  No seat belts for sure.  One has to wonder how many people attach a circular saw to a piece of plywood and make a workable table saw.

am I the only one who feels this way?

Im with ya. Its all part of Natural Selection. [big grin]

 

[nydesign]

Peter, thanks for the video and vacuum ideas.
I had a project this summer I could have made great use of this.
Routing for hinges on door jamb pieces (before installing), the clamps were always in the way on the ends.
2 or 3 vacuums would have cut the time in half!

 

[semenza]

Get a hand truck, large dolly, small dolly (ie ?), ratchet straps, and ramps. It is surprising what you can move by yourself with a little planning.  Seems like a no brainer, but  I see people struggling to move stuff all the time.

Seth

 

[nydesign]

Reading what Seth suggested reminds me, I got one of these carts this year

http://www.handtrucksrus.com/crashdetail.aspx?id=219&cx=rock

they are the perfect size and shape to carry quite a few systainers!
make sure to use straps, having all your tools crash onto the sidewalk is not so fun  [unsure]

 

[peter halle]

Here is an image of a cart I bought about 9 years ago.  I was using it again today.  Aluminum, weighs 35 pounds, folds flat, holds 330 pounds, rolls easily over all terrain. Cost - about $230 US.

[attachimg=#]

Peter

 

[Brice Burrell]

Here is an image of a cart I bought about 9 years ago.  I was using it again today.  Aluminum, weighs 35 pounds, folds flat, holds 330 pounds, rolls easily over all terrain. Cost - about $230 US.

Peter

Peter, what do you do with that, hook it up to your mule? [tongue]

 

[Ken Nagrod]

He uses a duck, silly!

[attachimg=1]

 

[peter halle]

Here is an image of a cart I bought about 9 years ago.  I was using it again today.  Aluminum, weighs 35 pounds, folds flat, holds 330 pounds, rolls easily over all terrain. Cost - about $230 US.

Peter

Peter, what do you do with that, hook it up to your mule? [tongue]

I wish.  But my favorite mule decided to move to the land of nuts and berries.  Just me to push or pull.  It really isn't that bad.  The large wheels enable it to roll easily.

Ken, ducks defecate too often, and I am not about to use my CT-22 to clean up.

Peter

 

[Brice Burrell]

Here is an image of a cart I bought about 9 years ago.  I was using it again today.  Aluminum, weighs 35 pounds, folds flat, holds 330 pounds, rolls easily over all terrain. Cost - about $230 US.

Peter

Peter, what do you do with that, hook it up to your mule? [tongue]

I wish.  But my favorite mule decided to move to the land of nuts and berries.  Just me to push or pull.  It really isn't that bad.  The large wheels enable it to roll easily.

Ken, ducks defecate too often, and I am not about to use my CT-22 to clean up.

Peter

Ohh, a reply inside the quote, you're slipping buddy. [tongue]

 

[peter halle]

Brice,

Sorry.  I will correct.

I admit I am beat and my mind is not working on all 16 cylinders.  It is funny how sitting on your butt waiting for business will affect you once it ramps back up.

I would have used the word marshmallow but that would have only fueled you know who.

Peter

 

[Brice Burrell]

I couldn't resist. [tongue]

 

[peter halle]

[big grin] [big grin] [big grin] [big grin]

Peter

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I have been moving 2000 lb + machinery by myself for the last year. 

Take advantage of levers, fulcrums, center of gravity, pulleys and all that stuff they taught you in like what 5th grade?

Although getting 3/4" ply on a roof today and trying to nail it in place on the edge is still a little testy.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Brice,

Sorry.  I will correct.

I admit I am beat and my mind is not working on all 16 cylinders.  It is funny how sitting on your butt waiting for business will affect you once it ramps back up.

I would have used the word marshmallow but that would have only fueled you know who.

Peter

Oh, I see!  Brice is someone and now I'm "you know who".  Just for the record, I had no plans of doing anything with the marshmallow, but it's good to see someone is on top of things in my absence.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Oh, I see!  Brice is someone and now I'm "you know who".  Just for the record, I had no plans of doing anything with the marshmallow, but it's good to see someone is on top of things in my absence.

So you think Peter was referring to you, guilty conscience I suppose. [tongue]

 

[billg71]

For most of the last decade I have made a living as a contractor.  Most of the time I have had to work alone.  Many others here do the same.  My hope is that this thread can become a place to share tips and ideas.  Please share you experiences and knowledge.  Any tip shared might make someone's project easier.

Peter

Wow, brings to mind a quote: "... We have done so much for so long with so little we are now qualified to do anything with nothing." or something like that....

Back to the spirit of the original post, here are a couple for you:

Nailing crown: Bed a scrap in the miter saw, cut yourself a block to the height and use it to scribe a line down from the ceiling. You can do another block for the aprons in an apron/crown/apron setup, keeps the reveals consistent no matter how crooked the wall or ceiling is.

Nailing crown: To hold up the far end of long pieces, drive a short finish nail into the top plate, cut a piece of chalkline and make yourself a loop. Stick the far end of the crown in it and you have a temporary support while you nail down to it using the scribed line you already made(see above). When you get to the end, just use your razor knife to cut off the string and abandon the nail.

Coping crown: The most visible cut is the little square cut at the bottom so after the 45 cut swing the saw back to 0 and make a little nibble at the bottom perfectly square. Cutting baseboard, cut it upside down and you can swing a slight backcut on the saw to saw down the long face. Saves a lot of coping...

Setting upper cabinets: Sorry Peter, but did you ever think of building a couple of tees at the appropriate height above the base cabs to set the uppers on? The vac pump thing looks really neat but since you set your base cabs level you can just lay a board across them to support your tees and set the uppers directly on them. No waiting for the vac to pump up.... Or better yet, make yourself a box that's the most used distance on one side and use it to carry nails and tools in. That way you always have it, no time needed to set up and it's consistent.

Best,
Bill

 

[SteveC]

I have one of these for cabinet installs.
http://www.e-zspreadnlift.com/details.htm