Above 1200 Sq/FT Garage Refurb®

NUTTSGT · Apr 10, 2026

NUTTSGT said:
This is a basic box, put together with extras gathered over the years. It's on the side where I do woodworking and home maintenance stuff so it's not an all out tool box. Mostly to save footsteps.

I also want to further add the future of this box. When we buy my parents home, I will be building a new shop, I have mentioned it before. However, they built a 24x32 post frame a few years back. This will be the wife's "she shed" ....as she calls it.

So while I stock this box, might seem pointless, I do have a future placement for it.

That being said....

NUTTSGT · Apr 10, 2026

Jungle Truck dropped off these this morning.

Filling up the empty pegs

Most of the 1/4" & 3/8" drive is either here or on order.

NUTTSGT · Apr 10, 2026

Next up on the list is something for the John Deere. I want to fabricate a chain holder in the FEL.

A what ??

A sliding tube that holds a chain.. basically a tube inside the factory tube between the FEL arms

Maybe this makes more sense.

LXCam · Apr 10, 2026

Eric are you going to drill a hole then slot it for the chain or?

NUTTSGT · Apr 10, 2026

Needed to grab a couple of pieces this morning..of course, some green paint of the proper shade. The eye bolt is going to be the handle.

Still putting a smile on my face using the horizontal band saw. I bought a piece 6'7" long but only needed 46". This was in the steel rack at the machine shop, they treat me good so I try to just buy stuff already cut for less waste.

I laid out a centerline, along the weld seam and marked where the tube is getting cut

NUTTSGT · Apr 10, 2026

LXCam said:
Eric are you going to drill a hole then slot it for the chain or?

In my last post, you can see the lines where I am cutting... basically going to "banana boat" the tube. Guessing the top third of the tubing will be open.

NUTTSGT · Apr 10, 2026

Using the plasma cutter and my piss poor free hand skills, I cut out a couple of circles from some 10ga. I think that is how thick it is. Notice the small tube and pin ?

Test fitting the smaller disc.

Then it came time to drill the holes for the pin.. first, center drill, then 9/32". Once I had both sides done, I moved to the drill press for the larger 5/8" bit. I was a little leery about this....

NUTTSGT · Apr 10, 2026

The small tube pictured above will be welded inside the tubing. Hard to see but it fit better than I was expecting.

The larger disc is getting welded on the opposite end. That will provide a stop and and the pin provides a stop on the other...the pin length, top and bottom sticking out of the tube should prevent movement.

Having a selection of hardware on hand helped, as I have a 5/8 nut/bolt holding the pin tube in place. Beats running to town for something so simple.

I might add the tube is 2 1/2" ID with 3/16" wall.

Prospecter · Apr 10, 2026

NUTTSGT said:
Next up on the list is something for the John Deere. I want to fabricate a chain holder in the FEL.

A what ??

A sliding tube that holds a chain.. basically a tube inside the factory tube between the FEL arms

Maybe this makes more sense.

That's where I keep my rake/shovel.

NUTTSGT · Apr 10, 2026

Prospecter said:
That's where I keep my rake/shovel.

Never thought about that. Does it stay put ?

I'd like to build a chainsaw carrier for the back but not sure with the backhoe.... Future shop projects.

NUTTSGT · Apr 11, 2026

I've contemplated some ventilation when welding and grinding for a while. Probably since I decided to do all the metal work on this side.

Before I welded this chain holder together, I decided to build a little fan assembly. I grabbed this little squirrel cage fan from my parents house. I bent up some duct sheet metal and riveted it together. Then a stand to hold it in place.

This will sit on the floor with the duct running out underneath the O/H door. Testing it out tomorrow.

NUTTSGT · Apr 11, 2026

Also had a few pieces arrive for filling up the new box.

NUTTSGT · Apr 12, 2026

Back on the chain holder this morning. Time to cut the tube into a banana boat.

Once it was opened up, I test fit a chain inside. Granted it's only a 5/16" chain 8' long.

zanyad · Apr 13, 2026

NUTTSGT said:
Back on the chain holder this morning. Time to cut the tube into a banana boat.

NUTTSGT · Apr 13, 2026

While I was cutting and welding yesterday, I put the new "fan" in place under the O/H door. I'm happy with how well it worked.

Before I started welding, I decided to add a few drain holes, just in case.

NUTTSGT · Apr 13, 2026

The first thing to get welded in was the spacer tube for the pin. My first thought as I lifted my hood was that welded like ****.

I looked at the gauge on the 75/25 and it was near zero. Huh ??? Can't be... after some trouble shooting, I figured out the regulator had gotten moved. Not sure if this will help but a grabbed a miniature bungee cord.

After I adjusted the regulator, all was fine.
Welding done, assembly wiped down and ready for primer.

NUTTSGT · Apr 13, 2026

A coat of black primer and ready for the JD green. You can see the eye bolt I'm using as a pull handle.

NUTTSGT · Apr 13, 2026

The little fan even worked good for evacuating paint over spray.

You can see the green on the blade. I think I should have done this years ago.

NUTTSGT · Apr 13, 2026

Later it was time to get back on the hydraulic bottle jack for the press. All I wanted to do is put this handle on the release valve.

I unscrewed it about as far as I could without it leaking... Then I tried to drive the pin out of it...this is when I realized that I done did F'up.

NUTTSGT · Apr 13, 2026

I never considered what I was doing to the pin.

Oops

NUTTSGT · Apr 13, 2026

I dug out the manual and found that I could order a replacement release valve. However, being Sunday, that wasn't going to happen nor would Monday as I'm at work.

Then it hit me, the old bottle jack.

Fortunately, the threads were fine and I could continue on

NUTTSGT · Apr 13, 2026

Being it's a metric size or NPT that I don't have, I went simple. Cleaning the paint off and clamping it with a bar clamp.

A little tacking and ready for some clean up.

The bolt is 5/16" and will get a jam nut and some loctite. I'm not sure how well it will work but we're going to try it. I will still order a replacement release valve...or two.

NUTTSGT · Apr 13, 2026

Found these on Amazon and placed my order. We'll see what happens.

SilverJimmy · Apr 13, 2026

Have you seen these?

SWAG Machined Thumb Knob For (Round) Hydraulic Bottle Jack Release Val

Machined Thumb Knob For Bottle Jacks (Round) Open/Close Valves We save you the hassle of using the 18" long handle to open and close the pressure release valve on any of your bottle jacks or long rams. It is fully machined out of aluminum and built to last. The inside diameter of the thumb knob...

www.swagoffroad.com

I have a couple, they’re really nice and not a bunch of loot.

M.Brane · Apr 13, 2026

My ABBA lift came with a nicely machined knob for the jack release.

NUTTSGT · Apr 14, 2026

SilverJimmy said:
Have you seen these?

SWAG Machined Thumb Knob For (Round) Hydraulic Bottle Jack Release Val

Machined Thumb Knob For Bottle Jacks (Round) Open/Close Valves We save you the hassle of using the 18" long handle to open and close the pressure release valve on any of your bottle jacks or long rams. It is fully machined out of aluminum and built to last. The inside diameter of the thumb knob...

www.swagoffroad.com

I have a couple, they’re really nice and not a bunch of loot.

Saw them and prompted me to think about making one...saw the Amazon one when looking for release valves and just said to myself, try it.

NUTTSGT · Apr 14, 2026

FEL chain holder done.

I may be greasing the tube in the future. We'll see how it works.

NUTTSGT · Apr 14, 2026

While working on the chain holder, I had a couple of shorter pieces of steel to put on the steel rack.... keep in mind, I have not moved anything off the top of the pallet racking to the steel rack yet.

These pieces were too short for the rack arms. Needless to say, I cut out the chain holder ends from the a sheet of 10 or 11 ga. The left over piece was perfect for a steel rack shelf.

$5 for a bend on hydraulic press at the machine shop and cutting a couple of locating notches, we have a shelf.

Now that it's done, I think I might have them shear and brake a couple more shelves for higher up.

NUTTSGT · Apr 15, 2026

So the Jungle truck dropped a few things this afternoon, including an unexpected order for the wife. These are the last of the sockets I needed for the new trays in the new 27" USG box.

One last socket post to fill. I'll have to wait till SO gets their Blue Point sockets back in stock, 1/4" drive 5/8" chrome deepwell.

NUTTSGT · Apr 15, 2026

Here's the latest project for the parents. You might have seen a corner of it already stained in the above post. We bought my parents a new TV a month ago or so, a 65" ROKU TV now that they have fiber optic for internet. Their current stand is only like an inch wider than the base of the TV. We were worried about it possibly getting bumped or adjusted and falling off the stand. They really didn't want to buy a new TV stand (Mom is 87 & Step-dad is 78 w/ Alzheimer's) and no real need to do so. So I just whipped something up with what I had on hand.

Also in the package with the Dewalt stuff were the release valves for the bottle jacks.

NUTTSGT · Apr 15, 2026

Nothing fancy, just giving the TV a wider place to sit. I also put a trim edge to help prevent it from going off the side and cover the edge of the plywood. The stain is drying (sitting on blocks) and will get a couple of coats of polycrylic.

There's also a trim piece on the underside to side at the edge of the current stand.

zmotorsports · Apr 16, 2026

Thanks for the final pictures of the chain holder for your front end loader Eric. I was trying to envision what that would look like when you first mentioned it. Makes perfect sense now and great execution. :thumbup:

NUTTSGT · Apr 16, 2026

zmotorsports said:
Thanks for the final pictures of the chain holder for your front end loader Eric. I was trying to envision what that would look like when you first mentioned it. Makes perfect sense now and great execution.

Thanks Mike... I honestly have no idea how it will work out as time goes but wanted to try to build something. I already keep a strap in the mounted ammo can but there's times I want a chain.

I'm no fan of mixing chain/strap but when I'm in the woods, it's a matter of what is on hand.

I also want to look through the chains I have to see what others may or may not fit. Heck, I could end up with a couple of straps and small clevises.
:dunno:

For someone like you, it's a possible storage solution on your trail Jeep or even on the RV, being a tube inside another tube

SilverJimmy · Apr 16, 2026

I prefer to use a chain instead of a strap or steel cable when doing “questionable“ stuff because if the chain breaks under a heavy load it will pretty much just drop where as the cable or strap will whip and come towards the direction of force, sometimes with very bad results. YRMV!

STINEY · Apr 16, 2026

Neat solution for chain storage, real slick.

What machine shop is helping you out on these small jobs? Ever since Joe Roelle retired his shop I have been without facilities...

NUTTSGT · Apr 16, 2026

SilverJimmy said:
I prefer to use a chain instead of a strap or steel cable when doing “questionable“ stuff because if the chain breaks under a heavy load it will pretty much just drop where as the cable or strap will whip and come towards the direction of force, sometimes with very bad results. YRMV!

I get that train of thought. However, there are times back in the woods where I might need to pull a tree from a different direction. Doing so requires pull the strap across another tree. The strap slides across the bark better than a chain does and with less damage.

NUTTSGT · Apr 16, 2026

STINEY said:
Neat solution for chain storage, real slick.

What machine shop is helping you out on these small jobs? Ever since Joe Roelle retired his shop I have been without facilities...

Newswanger over in Shiloh. Right up the road from the Plankton Market

It's where I started buying all my steel. Nice, polite, helpful and cost effective.

NUTTSGT · Apr 16, 2026

OutlawDrifter · Apr 16, 2026

SilverJimmy said:
I prefer to use a chain instead of a strap or steel cable when doing “questionable“ stuff because if the chain breaks under a heavy load it will pretty much just drop where as the cable or strap will whip and come towards the direction of force, sometimes with very bad results. YRMV!

Agree to disagree Sterling...chains are "muy malo" when they break under tension.

I have personally watched one go through the back window of a tractor and out the front just over my head, for which I was very thankful!

Heavy ropes/straps when tugging on stuff!

NUTTSGT · Apr 18, 2026

Finished up the TV stand with coats 2&3 of polycyclic.

Also stained 3 packages worth beadboard for the house kitchen.

Above 1200 Sq/FT Garage Refurb®

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