Puget Dude’s creations and fabrications (Random project thread.)
- Thread starter PugetDude
- Start date
Had a tile crew out here today replacing the tile on the pool spillway- posted about the shoddy installation here. previously. We have been losing tiles one by one over the last year, the pool contractor kept sending the same tile guy out to replace them one by one. I am pretty sure he was using toothpaste to put them back...
I finally had enough, had a somewhat heated exchange with the pool contractor, told him I was sick of him nickel and diming me and wanted it all replaced under warranty. He wasn't happy, but eventually agreed.
We purchased new tile, he sent a different crew out yesterday to demo the old tile. The tile guy commented that it came off really easy...too easy.
He finished up the install this afternoon, it looks great. Pool is filling back up tonight, pictures tomorrow.
I finally had enough, had a somewhat heated exchange with the pool contractor, told him I was sick of him nickel and diming me and wanted it all replaced under warranty. He wasn't happy, but eventually agreed.
We purchased new tile, he sent a different crew out yesterday to demo the old tile. The tile guy commented that it came off really easy...too easy.
He finished up the install this afternoon, it looks great. Pool is filling back up tonight, pictures tomorrow.
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Spent a little time finalizing placement of the Texaco graphics above the facade wall. I was happy with position of the big TEXACO letters with the way they ended up centered above the red Fire Chief pump, but ended up reducing the angle on the "Scott's" text until my bride OK'd the placement. When we were both finally satisfied with them, I hit each letter twice with my 2" 18 gauge brad nailer to secure them before they moved (the double sided tape was only temporary, actually had two letters fall off last night, lucky they weren't damaged.)
Will touch up the wall paint tomorrow, I made a mess out of the wall removing double sided tape residue when I was moving the letters around. I am ready to quit climbing up and down the 10' aluminum stepladder and move on to something else...still lots of other details to wrap up.
More to come
Will touch up the wall paint tomorrow, I made a mess out of the wall removing double sided tape residue when I was moving the letters around. I am ready to quit climbing up and down the 10' aluminum stepladder and move on to something else...still lots of other details to wrap up.
More to come
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Tile looks a lot better this time around. I may change the grout line at the bottom to a dark gray so it isn't such a contrast with the Pebbletech.
Better make that decision before the water line gets back up that high... (the pool has been re-filling since Friday PM)...
Better make that decision before the water line gets back up that high... (the pool has been re-filling since Friday PM)...Spent a hour this AM with a roll of masking tape, a couple of cut-up Amazon boxes, a 1" HF chip brush with the bristles cut off to 1/2" long, a small kitchen sponge, and got two shades of gray grout around the perimeter of the new tile. Looks a lot better, according to my bride. I wisely concurred.
Pool still filling back up...the auto fill spigot is pretty small.
Now, back to my long-overdue memorial bench welding project...
More to come.
Pool still filling back up...the auto fill spigot is pretty small.
Now, back to my long-overdue memorial bench welding project...
More to come.
Finally caught up on the new garage the point where I could spend some time on a welding project i have been putting off for far too long- memorial bench for my friend that died last summer. This is shaping up to be the most complex bench build yet. By far.
Previously posted a picture of the Standard Oil torch that is going to be one of the bench legs, but will re-post a couple of fab pictures again here for context.
Had to modify it a bit today. It wasn't tall enough when I started mocking up the bench itself.
I started working on the 2" square tube frame members, had to do a cutout on the right rear corner for the 1.5" pipe leg. It measures 1.900" so I used a wobbly 1.75" hole saw
, it worked out well. Cut the excess material to slot the hole with my Ryobi 18V cutoff tool. It was perfect for this job. I really like this tool, it definitely has more ooomph than my M12 cutoff.
More to come.
Previously posted a picture of the Standard Oil torch that is going to be one of the bench legs, but will re-post a couple of fab pictures again here for context.
Had to modify it a bit today. It wasn't tall enough when I started mocking up the bench itself.
I started working on the 2" square tube frame members, had to do a cutout on the right rear corner for the 1.5" pipe leg. It measures 1.900" so I used a wobbly 1.75" hole saw
, it worked out well. Cut the excess material to slot the hole with my Ryobi 18V cutoff tool. It was perfect for this job. I really like this tool, it definitely has more ooomph than my M12 cutoff.More to come.zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Scott, I love the courtyard as well as the Texaco facade in the shop. Amazing place you've created. 
The memorial bench is finally coming together, got stuck on how I was going to integrate the buffalo into the stretcher design (his widow took the steel buffalo cutout off the wall in his shop and dropped it off at my house when I told her I was doing a bench - which was well past the design stage at that point....) but finally figured it out and moved forward.... rolled a 12' long stick of 5/8" x.065" wall square tube with my little homemade ring roller, cut it into two arc segments and used them to support the 14 gauge buffalo cutout- which originally had a wide oval border all the way around it that just didn’t work for me. Zipped the border off with my trusty Ryobi 18V cutoff tool, and just used the buffalo...turned out to be a simple and unobtrusive solution...(IMHO) 
I still have to fit the Trex slats, drill the mounting holes in the slat supports, add a couple more small details and it's ready to go to powdercoat. Hopefully finish it up tomorrow.
More to come.
I still have to fit the Trex slats, drill the mounting holes in the slat supports, add a couple more small details and it's ready to go to powdercoat. Hopefully finish it up tomorrow.
More to come.
Jayman17
Well-known member
You are quite the artist with these custom benches, well done! 
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
You are quite the artist with these custom benches, well done!
^^Agreed. Pure artwork.
Finished up the bench this afternoon and got it dropped off at the powdercoater.
My friend was one of the smartest men I have ever known, he was a high level executive who spent most of a very successful career at Standard Oil, so the Standard Oil torch went on one end of the bench.
He was also an avid reader and well regarded academic, in fact he was on the Board of Regents for two major Midwestern Universities. So, I decided to have Academia support the other end of the bench. Fabricated a ballpoint pen out of 1-1/2" pipe and a stack of books out of 1/8" plate and 12 gauge sheet. I used diamond plate ( you knew that was coming) for the top book, sanded most of the raised diamonds off, left just enough to add some texture, and turned it into a Bible with a cross on the spline.
The books were a lot of work, they bolt together with hidden 1/4"-28 socket head cap screws and bolt to the bench with 3/8"-16 bolts through a steel strap underneath the Trex decking.
He had named his retirement wood shop the Buffalo Workshop (" We make chips" ) so I incorporated a buffalo into the stretcher design.
Lastly, he had a registered brand from his ranch in Idaho so I used it as his memorium instead of a separate plaque. Fabbed that out of 3/8" diameter cold rolled. That little brand took almost as long to make as the basic bench structure...
Seating surface is Trex, bolted down with 1/4" stainless carriage bolts through a continuous 1/8" x 1" strap that is stitch welded to the frame. I pre- drilled everything before sending it off to powdercoat, that's why the boards are all numbered with orange painters tape.
Now you know why this took so long. A lot of design decisions and detailed fabrication... right in the middle of building the new shop.
More to come.
My friend was one of the smartest men I have ever known, he was a high level executive who spent most of a very successful career at Standard Oil, so the Standard Oil torch went on one end of the bench.
He was also an avid reader and well regarded academic, in fact he was on the Board of Regents for two major Midwestern Universities. So, I decided to have Academia support the other end of the bench. Fabricated a ballpoint pen out of 1-1/2" pipe and a stack of books out of 1/8" plate and 12 gauge sheet. I used diamond plate ( you knew that was coming) for the top book, sanded most of the raised diamonds off, left just enough to add some texture, and turned it into a Bible with a cross on the spline.
The books were a lot of work, they bolt together with hidden 1/4"-28 socket head cap screws and bolt to the bench with 3/8"-16 bolts through a steel strap underneath the Trex decking.
He had named his retirement wood shop the Buffalo Workshop (" We make chips" ) so I incorporated a buffalo into the stretcher design.
Lastly, he had a registered brand from his ranch in Idaho so I used it as his memorium instead of a separate plaque. Fabbed that out of 3/8" diameter cold rolled. That little brand took almost as long to make as the basic bench structure...
Seating surface is Trex, bolted down with 1/4" stainless carriage bolts through a continuous 1/8" x 1" strap that is stitch welded to the frame. I pre- drilled everything before sending it off to powdercoat, that's why the boards are all numbered with orange painters tape.
Now you know why this took so long. A lot of design decisions and detailed fabrication... right in the middle of building the new shop.
More to come.
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steves_001
Well-known member
Simply amazing! That is pure art if I have ever seen it. I’d be honored to sit there.
bugnut
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Scott that looks great!
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Amazing workmanship and what a memorable tribute.
readhead
Well-known member
The fabrication is top notch and the thoughtful design is very impressive. You are a great friend.
manwithtools
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Bravo Scott! Super cool and full of remembrance...
stinkity stoink
Well-known member
Wow, I am blown away. The attention to detail and the design is simply incredible. I wish my brain could work like that.
larry4406
Well-known member
Very thoughtful remembrance for your friend and excellent craftsmanship as usual.
Finallygotit
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Scott......very well done! I'm somewhat at a loss for words. 
