So what are you working on that’s NOT your DSM?

[CrackedDSM]

I'm FINALLY getting to recovery mode after the last month plus.

About 2.5 weeks ago we got word the Sr. VP of our corporation was coming to our small facility in our tiny town for a visit. Most of the facilities in the company are HUGE places with multiple buildings. We occupy a total of about 16000 sq feet, and are prepping to move into a building next door that is 30,000 sq feet, and it still won't be big enough.

Anyway, at the time of the announcement my warehouse was in complete disarray due to several factors. My manager knows I'm not afraid of the OT, and she is not afraid of the cost. At the same time I had to burn PTO, and I took time off for the Shootout.

Last week without a Saturday of OT and a Monday with no OT (because I was on PTO) I had 17.9 hours of OT. This week (our weeks are Friday to Thursday) I had 21.8 hours of OT (that was with less than 2 hours of it between yesterday and today), so I have been working my butt off, while also having other obligations on Mondays and Fridays.

I ran myself into the ground, but I got it done. The visit went fantastic. The Sr. VP was super engaged and impressed by the organization of the warehouse considering some of our restrictions, my manager was ecstatic that things went well. I got kudos from multiple people about how well everything looked. And to top it off, I slept the best I have slept in months last night.

Next paycheck is going to be FAT. I've got my normal 80 hours, plus OT is of course time and a half. Anything past 12 hours of OT in a week is double time, so I've actually got 24 hours of OT and 15.7 hours of double time coming.

Maybe I'll spend some of that money on one of the cars.

Gotta give you the obligatory “don’t do this too much or you’ll work yourself into the grave” because of my profession.

With that said: DAY-UM son. You busted your ass!

 

[stealthee]

Gotta give you the obligatory “don’t do this too much or you’ll work yourself into the grave” because of my profession.

With that said: DAY-UM son. You busted your ass!

Yeah. Monday my manager looked at me and asked how I was holding up. People were genuinely concerned and checking in on me because they knew how hard I was working to not only get everything in order, but also keep the day to day things in check, as well as taking on other hurdles as they came.

After the whole show left yesterday my manager thanked me and said my efforts were greatly appreciated and comments were made that really showed it was all worth it.

I'm just glad I didn't "waste my time" We have had other times where some big shots were coming, and I put in extra effort to make things nice, and then they didn't even step.foot in the warehouse. I'm pretty sure I would have lost my mind if thar happened on this time around.

When I said something about leaving on time for the first time in a long time she just laughed and said "Run", so I did.

I took another PTO day tomorrow, mainly to get my DL renewed , but it will be a good day to recharge before going back at it next week.

 

[Dave_UK]

With the season drawing to a close here in the UK, my weekend's are finally free to get back working on the money pits!

So after about 100 million test fits and removals, I finally got my front mount and rad sitting just right.

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There is such a tiny amount of space between the engine and the slam panel & cross member, made even worse by my desire to retain the A/C!

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That gap between the cam cover and the slam panel is basically about the size of my fist! Needless to say, my knuckles are all grazed to sh*t! But nearly all the hoses are there now. Just need to reroute the bottom hose around the power steering and A/C lines, and wire up the new rad fans, then all of the front end refurb is done! Just in time for winter...

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Plan is to have all of the suspension and brakes done by end of October and then the G2 Eclipse goes on the ramp vacated by the cossie for a full tear down!

 

[jdxnc]

I needed a larger live center for my lathe so I just made one.

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[TerminalTalon]

2016 GLA 250 in for $$$$’s in work. Coolant bottle, hose, fittings, turbo feed oring that was pouring, the $1200+ intake with a core , sparkplugs, thermostat and misc stuff. This intake tube off the inlet goes across the valve cover and down behind the axle carrier for the attachments to it that look like PCV stuff. What a mess. This thing can’t be 2 pieces? Come on Mercedes.

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[BLACK'98DSM]

Took me a little while to figure this one out. I was given the machine with no backstory. Besides the 30A fuse constantly blowing. Had to poke and pull almost every wire. Boiled down to the purple wire sending 12v to ground. The stator has seen better days to say the least.

Here's the joy of working for yourself though. I charge $60/hr. And I get all of it, minus 1099 taxes early next year. Well, that and I can have a cold beer on my lunch break if I feel like it .

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[stealthee]

I'm just working on work.

Some days I honestly hate being so good at what I do. I was working some shipments today and the planner asked about doing an audit/reconcile on our finished goods since inventory is on the low end. Long story short I ended up finding a massive issue that I now have to unwrap. I put in another 12 hour day today and had to call is when I felt like my brain was going to fall out.

 

[Bigbeanbird]

I'm just working on work.

Some days I honestly hate being so good at what I do. I was working some shipments today and the planner asked about doing an audit/reconcile on our finished goods since inventory is on the low end. Long story short I ended up finding a massive issue that I now have to unwrap. I put in another 12 hour day today and had to call is when I felt like my brain was going to fall out.

Back when I was running rollform machines, there was one machine that installed adjustment brackets into the formed track.. would insert a screw also and tighten so things messed up here and there.. they needed product to move asap so they put me and another guy who could run the machine well on 12 hour shifts, so, when I went to work, I would relieve the guy who relieved me the day before.. really weird.. we did that for a week. Fun times

 

[steve]

The montage is largely self explanatory. Waiting on more parts and energy to attack the other side and then the rear. I don't think I could have gone another week on the pads.

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[CrackedDSM]

The montage is largely self explanatory. Waiting on more parts and energy to attack the other side and then the rear. I don't think I could have gone another week on the pads.

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I’m envious of your quickjacks.

 

[steve]

I finally broke down early this year and picked them up. Wish I had done so when they were less than a grand and you could order them from Costco. Too many projects weren't getting done because I didn't want to crawl on the concrete floor placing jack stands.

Still a pain to get down onto the creeper or get up but with the jacks full up everything in a wheel well can be done on a seat. In the picture they are on the low position and there is plenty of room to change the oil or roll around and not have my belly rubbing the car.

If I build a next house the garage will have a two post lift and a floor drain so I can wash the car indoors.

 

[pauleyman]

Surely we have some woodworking folks in here. I've got something I want to treat with kid gloves. I have a wooden cutting board that my father made and it's at least 50 years old. It's only about the size of a sheet of paper and it's warped slightly. I'd like to "restore" this thing somewhat even if I don't use it. It's an heirloom to me as thousands of my childhood meals were prepared on it. Any tips? I've got all the time in the world to soak, wet, weight, clamp etc. If I can get it flat I'll probably sand it a little and just leave the edges as they are. I wouldn't mind using it. I'm fairly certain he never did anything but wash it. No oiling etc etc. I'm shocked it isn't cracked. I have no idea what kind of wood it is.

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[DreamChaser7]

I finally broke down early this year and picked them up. Wish I had done so when they were less than a grand and you could order them from Costco. Too many projects weren't getting done because I didn't want to crawl on the concrete floor placing jack stands.

Still a pain to get down onto the creeper or get up but with the jacks full up everything in a wheel well can be done on a seat. In the picture they are on the low position and there is plenty of room to change the oil or roll around and not have my belly rubbing the car.

If I build a next house the garage will have a two post lift and a floor drain so I can wash the car indoors.

Heard that chef. Facts!

 

[BTKai]

I changed the valve cover gaskets along with the plenum gasket in my 370z.

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[pauleyman]

I needed something practical to daily drive. I've got other subaru cars and I like them.

I cannot catch a break. Backed into my own trash can. Creased the rear quarter. Had it all of 2 mos.

 

[Dericsh]

I cannot catch a break. Backed into my own trash can. Creased the rear quarter. Had it all of 2 mos.

Nooo. Hope your luck turns around soon, Paul.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Well, my son had a lady pull out in front of him on our 60mph road a few days ago when he was in the I30 Infiniti. If not for his super quick reaction, at highway speed with the cruise set, I would be talking about her passing away, as he would have hit her square in the drivers door but he snapped the wheel to the right (he was on the INSIDE lane of a 4 lane) and just caught the rear of her Toyota Avalon. I'm pretty sure that saved her life. We ended up with a smashed in drivers fender and once he shut the car off (it was still purring away), it wouldn't restart, no starter signal (but many crushed wires). I found a newer I35 for a good deal but 2 hours away, so I went and grabbed it with my truck and trailer and we will see why it was having intermittent starting/running issues and have a car with MUCH less mileage (126k vs 404k).
More to come as we get a battery into the new car, as it was dead from the brake lights being on all the time (brake rubber stopper plug was gone so the lights stayed on, typical issue on these cars).
Marty

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[BLACK'98DSM]

For brake pedals and clutch pedals both, we used to super glue a penny to it. That was the cheapest fix we could come up with.

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

That's the "CHEAPEST".fix I can come up with, thank you @BLACK'98DSM

 

[steve]

I'd never make a living as a mechanic cause I'm so slow. One corner done.

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[Capt Obvious]

I've been getting some misfire codes when I go above about 75% throttle in my 996 Turbo, so it was time for new plugs and coils. These cars are pretty easy to work on, but there's a lot of things that take a lot of time just because of the tight packaging. Case in point: spark plugs are a 6 hour job if you know what you're doing. Also, my filters are supposed to be light blue so those got a thorough cleaning as well.

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[SixBolt_16G]

I'd never make a living as a mechanic cause I'm so slow. One corner done.

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Ha.. Me too... On top of that, while im very laid back 95% of the time, the issues i encounter while working on cars causes my blood to boil uncontrollably and another 95% of the time, its my own fault by putting a tool down somewhere other than where i shouldve. Admittedly, watching me work on cars is a hot mess

 

[curt-s]

Built a shed of my own design. First time I've shingled or done vinyl siding
.. or a roof (ridge board, rafters, outriggers)
.. or soffits
.. or fascia

so, yeah, it was a new adventure. And I hope I'll never have to do it again. I shouldn't have to, I followed most standard building practices (tyvek behind the siding, ice & water shield covering the entire roof, starter shingles where and how they usually go, drip edge, etc.) but we don't have much in the way for code for outbuildings. Normal framing stuff, proper setbacks, but I went overboard in most regards.

Next year, proper doors and eavestroughing so I can collect rain water. Which reminds me, I need to trim the tyvek at the bottom there..

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[1990TSIAWDTALON]

You do know Curt, they are never BIG enough. I thought my 30x40 shop was plenty.
Looks fantastic, and you did it. That puts "pride" in the work and lord knows that is something that seems to be lacking now days.

 

[jdxnc]

I needed a slitting saw for my mill but all the sub $100 arbors I could find online seem to have terrible reviews for quality and runout, so I took a stab at making my own and am very happy with the results.

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Here's the kicker....it's made from a broken DSM axle

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