What's On Your Workbench?

[JIO]

Well, my weekend at the wood shop hasn't gone terribly well.

I got home from work to find my kitty laying next to a pile of poo, apparently something was bothering her enough that she couldn't make it to the litter box so she gave up. I decided that we were not going and we would stay home to get the kitty seen by a vet. Apparently the COVID shortage has also impacted vets too because the soonest anyone would see her was the 20th. Yeah, not gonna work.
I'm also trying to sell one of my race cars and needed to head to the race shop to show a potential buyer. So I sent my wife with the kitty to an emergency pet clinic while I headed to meet "dude" at the race shop. The emergency clinic is so overwhelmed with people who can't get an appointment at a regular vet clinic, so they are using the emergency clinic for literally everything, that they had an 8 hour wait list. They put my wife on the wait list and sent her home, they would call her when it was her turn and she could come back.
In the mean time, I expected "dude" to just be looking, kicking tires. He showed up with a trailer. Seems like something I'd be excited about, except for the part where my brother had 3 vehicles parked between this car and the shop door and they are all out of town and I have no clue where the keys are. So I sent him home empty handed and we agreed to rerack and try again at a later date.

The wife got the call from the vet clinic at 1am, so off she went. She got back home at about 3am. It seems kitty had a nail that had grown so long it was stabbing her own foot. I've never had a cat this large and everything about her is large. I feel like an a$& for not keeping them trimmed, but I've never had a cat that needed the nails trimmed.

So, after a groggy morning, we decided "okay, maybe we can go." We take our kitty with us anyways and she seemed to be doing good. So we threw everything in the RV had headed out. We were almost there, maybe another 10 miles to go, when I felt like my truck sounded wrong. Something was different. Sure enough.....
View attachment 4396127

Nothing like losing a tire while you have a 14,000 pound RV hooked up.
Small two lane country road, no shoulders. Luckily it happened on a very flat straight section where oncoming motorists would see me with plenty of time. I called my boss and told him to bring a floor jack, then started assessing damage, when a passing truck stopped and the driver said "Hey, we live up the road the bit, you want me to haul it for ya?" Umm, yes please! We dropped the trailer right there in the middle of the road, I limped my truck out from under it and the guy hooked his truck to it. My wife jumped in their truck and away they went. A farmer who lived about a 1/4 mile up the road had seen us and came down on his atv. He said "Just limp it up to my field there and pull in that open gate, you can change it off the road there." I'm telling you, this kind of stuff doesn't happen in the city. Country folks know how to take care of each other. I'm thankful it happened where it did. My spare was already in the truck, so the tire on the spare carrier was low due to a slow leak. But luckily it had enough air to get the truck to my boss's house.
So the truck needs tires, but it's a holiday weekend. I'll limp it home on Monday and we will leave the RV here, then I'll find tires next week.

So, setting aside all that excitement, we decided to just act like normal and enjoy our weekend. I had planned on working on the Diva build, but somehow I forgot the neck blank in all that "are we going? are we not going?" mess. So that's put that one hold. I figured I'd route the Co troll cover cavity for Lucifer, but I forgot my CA glue to do "the trick", so I cant affix my routing template to it. So now actual bass building is getting done here.
I did tape the feed belt on the drum sander back together using masking tape. It actually worked a bit....
View attachment 4396136
....until it ripped the tape apart. I expected it. But man was it enough to tell me how badly I need one of these drum sander things! I gotta get this beast running, we are for sure buying a new drive belt!

Okay, I've had enough fun for one weekend. I give up.

Some days feel like it would have been better just to stay in bed... sorry to hear the cascading issues. I guess the take-away is that you won't get another day like that for many, many years - if ever.

 

[dwizum]

Wow, that sounds like a crazy weekend. That tire is toast!

 

[postalflunkie]

Sounds like time for a cold beer

 

[Gilmourisgod]

If you have to blow a tire, you might as well do it with Authority like that! Well, at least the Universe now owes you some good Karma. Hope Kitty pulls through, ours is 1/2 Maine Coon Cat, and she's a big girl. We saw a purebread cooncat, looked like a Bobcat. Our Kitty will shred any fabric surface within reach, and look at you while she does it, like "what?"

 

[RichterScale]

I had a weekend like that a while back.
It lasted for about 2 yrs. No joke.
If I didn't have such a strong aversion for booze, I'm confident I woulda quit life and became a full-time drunk.
I'm still pretty much burned out and haven't picked back up in about a year now.
Getting into bass building gave me something constructive to focus on so I don't turn into a vegetable while i work up the gumption to give it another go.
And money is nice, but doesn't always help. We had a nice little chunk for a while and the wheels still fell off, no matter how hard I worked, how well I planned/managed and no matter how well intentioned I was.
The moral? Sometimes the universe just wants to see what it takes to break you.

 

[Jon Clegg]

Our Kitty will shred any fabric surface within reach, and look at you while she does it, like "what?"

 

[TerribleTim68]

Yeah, it's been an adventure. Sometimes it's best to just ride it out. I know I have a breaking point, but in the heat of it I tend to get very "matter of fact". I remember watching "American Sniper" and those guys getting very calm and somewhat weird in the thick of it and my wife said "that's exactly how you are." I'm not sure if that was a good thing or not.

Kitty is at least part Maine Coon. I'm not sure if she is pure breed or not, we rescued her. She's not as big as some I've seen, but at 20 pounds, she's no joke.

 

[dwizum]

Soon to be on my workbench,

My father in law has COPD and several other health issues, so my wife and I make a couple trips a year to his house to do cleaning and and errand running. He's a retired welder and used to have a pretty glorious workshop, which unfortunately was in a non-climate-controlled outbuilding, so everything kind of went to heck when he stopped using it a decade or two ago. He overheard me make a comment about wanting a new drill press and insisted that I take his. It's a "Justen" brand, made in 1980. Born in the same year I was. I had a similar Taiwanese drill press years ago and it was really good, so I have high hopes for this one. The bearings are tight and the chuck is in good shape - it doesn't look like it was used all that much. It's really, really dirty though. Oh, and the motor is packed with what appears to be the remnants of a decades-old mouse nest. I popped the motor off and opened it up, vacuumed it out, and discovered that the windings are broken in several places (not to mention it's filthy and full of mouse poop). I had half a thought to try to rebuild it, but it's time to go hunting for a new motor I think. It looks like a standard issue 56 frame 1/2 hp 1725 rpm motor so it should be easy to find a replacement.

This thing is HEAVY. Me and my (probably stronger than me) teenage son were barely able to carry it 10 feet from the car to the garage before depositing it where it's sitting now. My current drill press is a tiny craftsman tabletop model that I just put on my bench when I need it and stow away when I don't. That isn't gonna work with this! I'll probably have to build a stand and wedge it in somewhere.

 

[RichterScale]

Nice score.
Stick a magnet under the top cover and you can keep the chuck key right on top.

 

[dwizum]

That's a good trick. I lost the key on my current drill press twice!

 

[RichterScale]

There, after 7 mo, I finally contributed something useful.
I fully intend to ride that out for at least another 6-7 mo.

 

[Gary Sutter]

I thought I'd share a few photos of work that has come my way..
1st Up was my Sons Newly acquired Steinberger XP-2
It got a D string Jaw + a new Leg Rest & a Set of LaBella Flat Wounds.. Fixed Now..

2nd Up I Paid $30 for this Pre Refined Parker Fly Classic that had a HUGE Tremolo Problem..
All the trem parts are missing so I just started to think of something to replace it with..
They want $200 for a .010" trem spring on eBay?? What??
I stuck a syringe with a spring inside it & cut it for length, I have a hardtail piece already made
Thinking a Steinberger Trans Trem Spring on a threaded adjustable piece of thread all????

Will Need to Rout down & make a piece of wood for the top & fiberglass or get a scrap of carbon Fiber
Very Soft Wood on these guitars.. Stainless Frets & fingerboard are 100% & the glued on frets are holding on. Also has a Piezo Bridge & Two DiMarzio Pickups, Note: No pickup Ears, They screw in under two of the poles that need removed to do so.. Very Different..

Check Out my Syringe Spring Temporary Fix for the trem spring, Exact opposite of a Fender Type..

Needs one locking piece for the E String Sperzel Tuner, Sperzel Told Me $10 + S&H

This Poor Guitar has been threw Hell.. It was found hanging out of a Garbage Can in Clarksville..
Ordered a Trem Arm, Adjusting Bolt & T part for the trem.. Just can spend $200 on that spring..
Steinberger Trans Trem Spring is $10..
The electronics appear OK BUT? I found a picture of where on the board to solder the 9 Volt battery up & have it's battery box & wires + backplate minus all the screws..
This WAS once a $2500 Guitar..
I saw this fix & saved the picture of a Hard Tail FIX for the Parker Fly..

3rd Up is a Takamine EG416S VS New Yorker that has/had a broken headstock..
I glued it up months back with Titebond.. This one also cost me $30..
It'll need a Nut & Headstock Overlay & Logo.. + Refinish the break on the backside..
It was also hanging out of a Garbage can in Clarksville.. I know the Garbage Men & they bring me goodies & I pretty much buy their lunch.. Great Guys!! Lots of new Toys for me to fix..

4th Up is a Japanese Jackson DK2M.. I bought this body with it's Chrome Trem for $75 from one of the Louisville Crashers = Maxwell's House of Music.. My Wife bought Me a Neck online for Christmas a few years back & I assembled it but never got around to wiring it up..
It's Tone Control is from a Early Fender Bass = Stacked 250k/500k pot, I cut down two knobs both ways & made a super clean looking knobs for it.. It now has two Fender Noiseless pickups in the neck & middle & a Gibson 490T in the bridge which has the correct pole spacing for a trem Guitar, That Pickup came out of a Gibson "The Hawk"

Note: The Shielding, Stacked Tone Pot & Home Made trem stop, That's a Tele Bridge Upside Down with one Saddle.. Adjustable with a single threaded screw with lock nut on piece of velcro..
Had to rout the body thinner for that Fender stacked pot to get the nut + washer on.. Just a couple MMs

I'm sure I have used up all the photos I can post for one reply..
I'll start another & finish this HUGE post of Finds.. No More Basses.. Only 6 String Guitars..
Gary

 

[Gary Sutter]

There's also that Stratocoustic that needs a neck which I have plus another early 60s Strat Copy that also needs a neck which I also have somewhere?
Then there's another acoustic that needs very little, It's a Gremlin that was a buddies who passed away.
Then there's the Hondo II that my Oldest Son Bought for $10 minus the tailpiece & bridge which I picked up + it needs something electronic?? Switch or Wiring?? Unsure Yet??
Then another FREE 60s strat copy that needs a nut fit & filed..
They sure try an keep Ole Dad Busy..
Plus there's a Fender Swinger sitting on the bench now.. Needs a New Output Jack Pronto..
It's Next Up!!
Gary

This Banjo was also brought to me FREE, Headstock break & needs 5th Tuner & Bridge

Hey there's that drill I was gonna make a belt sander out of!!
Also made a 30 Degree fret end file from scraps & a old broken file of Grandpa's

 

[Gary Sutter]

JFYI There has never been a Bass Guitar Found in the trash in our area. YET!!
There is a Warwick Corvette @ The Local Pawn Shop BUT They want $1000 for it..
Told the Lady there when it's $500 I MIGHT BE Interested.. Maybe?

 

[Gary Sutter]

Had forgotten about that Blue Tele Body
It was found in the water in Rough River, The neck didn't make it, It was destroyed & went into the trash
The body has been drying for about two years now..
The tuners were salvageable after soaking in Sili-Kroil for a month or two..

Here's what that "Fender Swinger" looks like, The single coil Blue one..
It's getting a New Switchcraft Output Jack..
Crazy body shape that came from someone in the 60s Using a Bass Body for a Guitar, They cut away were the string farrells went thru the body & also cut off the headstock too..
This is a Japanese Only Guitar my Son paid big money on S&H for it..
Plays Better than His Mexican Fender Mustang

Here's were I came up with the Band Name "Angry Gary & The Piss Soaked Socks"
My Son stepped in Dog Piss with His Bob Ross Socks Out in the Kitchen & Then walked outside in the Dirt
"Happy Little Accident" Note the Socks.. That Could Be an Album Cover

Here's that Jackson DK2M Pile-O-Skulls
I have a Jackson/Charvel catalog from the Mid/Late 90s & this Paint Job was an extra $300 on top of the guitars price back Then..

This Guitar Plays Like Butta, Action So Close without any buzz..
I compound radiused the fretboard.. It's Lightning Quick..
NOTE: MY Double Stacked Knob on the Tone..
Duncan Pickup is now a Gibson 490T

I also have a Gibson "The Hawk" that needs a neck pickup, Which I have..

 

[TerribleTim68]

So the only real thing I managed to get done this weekend was some Christmas gifts my wife wanted to make. Has nothing at all to do with bass building, so my apologies. But she wanted to make some serving trays. For those who recall, I typically do smoked cheeses and meats for Christmas, kind of my own home-made Hickory Farms deal. Last year we did small cutting boards to put those cheeses/meats on, this year she wants to do serving trays. So we started gluing up some cedar I had laying around to form the bottoms. Each of these are basically a half-lap joint. Then into the clamps -

Of course, this took most of the clamps in the shop, which hindered my bass building some. But considering how much stuff I forgot to bring, whatever.
Then we started making sides. Rip down some cedar so it is "shorter". Same half-lap joint at the bottom, mitered corners -

Having those box clamps came in handy! so yeah, at least "something" productive got done. We'll sand these down some more and then apply finish of some sort. She wants to put a handle on the sides too, probably just a small screw-fastened deal like a cabinet pull or something. It's gonna work good, just been a process to get there.

 

[Oig]

Got a partscaster in the works. Squier body I picked up in the classifieds, Allparts Jazz neck, Gotoh Resolites, Hipshot Badass clone and some Alnico 5 pickups I also got from Allparts. Hoping to finish it up in the next few weeks between work, family, etc…

 

[TerribleTim68]

So I went ahead and ordered the new feed belt for the Supermax 25x2 drum sander. Found a supplier at $32, but shipping was another $21. So I'm in this thing about $58 after taxes. I'm trying to tell myself it'll really be worth it, but there's also that part of me that keeps going "it's not your drum sander" too. So now I've got almost $60 wrapped up in someone else's drum sander, that I have to drive an hour and a half to use. Ugh.

 

[Fat Freddy]

So I went ahead and ordered the new feed belt for the Supermax 25x2 drum sander. Found a supplier at $32, but shipping was another $21. So I'm in this thing about $58 after taxes. I'm trying to tell myself it'll really be worth it, but there's also that part of me that keeps going "it's not your drum sander" too. So now I've got almost $60 wrapped up in someone else's drum sander, that I have to drive an hour and a half to use. Ugh.

Steal it.....

 

[Jon Clegg]

"No sir, I don't know what happened to that drum sander... Raccoons maybe?"