Making Changes

I am slowly getting my home office going.  I found a desk a few weeks back.  Found it online and Candy I went and checked it out.  This is what I was looking for as it has the industrial steampunk look that I am going for.  Not a fan of the blue drawers and may change out the color in the near future.  Love the polished metal look and that fact that it is all metal.  It was a challenge for Candy and me to move and to get it up the stairs and situated where we wanted it.

Then I found the style of chair that I wanted.  Again found it online and went and checked it out and bought it.  Found both the desk and chair using the facebook marketplace.  Pretty excited to now have a place to work at when I work from home. 

Once the desk and chair were in place I started working on my equipment.  I am going for a steampunk look and you can see what I did to my monitor.   I painted the base of the monitor and then used gold duct tape around the screen.  Had some old gauges at the shop and added them to the top of the monitor.   Used e6k to glue the gauges to the monitor.  

Added a strip of tape to my laptop as well as my keyboard.  While I was at it, I also made some changes to the paper shredder.  You can see what the shredder looked like when I started.  Also in the picture is the base of my monitor.  I taped off the top and the plastic window and then applied a couple coats of paint.   I added some handles on each side, just to give it a different look.   It came out really nice.  I was able to do this project in an afternoon, with most of the time waiting for the paint to dry.

Next on the list is to do something with the back wall.  I have been looking at removable wallpaper.  Candy turned me on to the idea and after doing some looking around I think we are going to go with a brick.  This may be a Christmas break project.

Steampunk

Candy embroidered me up a new sweat shirt this weekend.   It goes with my hat.  Man I am lucky.  I have picked out a couple of other steampunk patterns and if I can will have her add them as well.

Stuff

On Sunday afternoon I headed over to the shop for a bit.  Originally the plan was to clean and put things back in there place.   Well I got a little side tracked.   As I was sorting through the parts pile I started to set a few items to the side for what I thought I could make a bird out of.   I had an S wrench for the body, some tines for the head, smaller S wrenches for legs and a couple of gears and old nuts and bolts.

I tried several different variations on what it could be. Well it didn't really come out as a bird, but more like a chameleon.

Punked

We got up early this morning.  I sat in the hot-tub and caught up on the news.   Wow, can't believe the shootings in FL. over the weekend.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the friends and families.

I finally got a little time and ran over to the shop to work on another rotary hoe tiller will yard art piece. From previous posts you had seen the wheels I painted.  I put it all together today.  Welded the base to a round tiller disk.  Screwed all the pipe together. Then welded base plates to the back of each wheel and then screwed everything together.  

I put it in the backyard next to our old cement wheel barrow.  I think it looks pretty cool and should hold up for years to come.

I spent most of the afternoon working on the yard.  I worked on our front garden and cut out all the starter scrub oak trees.  Crap chokes out all the other plants that I wan't to grow.  worked on the back garden and put new mulch around the raspberry plants.  I can hardly wait, as we are going to have a bumper crop.

Being at the Renaissance Festival yesterday gave us some idea's.  They were selling these wrap around ear pieces. I found a pair of steampunk ear pieces and purchased them.  Originally I was wearing them on my hat.  Today I took one and cut off the wrap around piece and then glued the gears to my wireless headset.  I think it looks pretty cool and am sure I will get some comments on it. 

Keep on Trukin!

I guess it has been a couple of weeks since my last post.  Last week I was pretty much a loser as it
relates to getting my distance in.  I came up with an excuse every morning on why I couldn't walk to work.  We have been super busy at work as well as dealing with some growing pains from our most recent acquisition.  I can understand the frustration and at the end of the day, we may have moved a little quick.

I have to say I have a blast out of making stuff.   It is easy to do and the end results are so cool.  From the penny ball I made with Candy's Mom's bowling ball, to the latest piece of yard art or my latest creation.  This project was actually a request.  Eric asked me if I would make him a steam-punk bookshelf for his Birthday.

I had been cruising on Pinterest looking at ways to refinish old dressers.  I don't know why, but that is what I was doing and found some cool ideas.  When Eric asked me for a bookshelf it got me started on some ideas.

In the shed we had an old dresser for one of the boys.  It used to be full of books but Eric came and got them about a year ago, probably longer than that.  When he mentioned what he wanted, I finally noticed/remembered that is what out there.  I got home of Friday evening from work.  I walked in the house and directly to the shed.  I pulled it out and took out all the drawers.  I got Candy to help me carry it all around to the truck, in front of the house.

I drove it over the shop and unloaded.   I started out by working on the top shelf and removing all the screws holding it in place.  Took my wooden mallet and knocked it off.  Then I measure all around from the bottom to just above the top drawer.  Took my saw and followed my lines.   Then I placed the top on shelf on the bottom drawer.  It fit great! I was so happy.

Pulled it off and sanded around the top to clean it up.  Ran a bead of glue around the drawer base and then put the top on and then clamped it down and let it set for the night.  the whole process took me about 45 minutes.

On Saturday, Candy and I went and picked it up.  Candy had suggested that I decoupage it with cloth.

  I had never used cloth before, but I didn't see why not.  I was hoping to find some cloth with gears or clocks, but ended up with a world map fabric.   Candy cut the fabric and ironed it.  I covered the top with decoupage and then we applied it.  Pushed out any bubbles and let it sit for about 30 minutes.  I then applied three coats over the top with my last coat going on at 1:30 AM in the morning.

Sunday morning we ran out to Lowes and picked up some steel pipe and fittings.  I also grabbed the wood I will be using for the shelves.  Brought it home and put it together and then placed it atop of the drawer to see what it would look like.

I still have work to do.  I need to stain the shelves and clean up the pipe.  I still have a few items for finally assembly to ensure it will hold together and hold the weight.

After I took it apart, I sprayed a coat of sealer on the top and drawer face.  I used a whole can and I could still use some more.   As it was drying it looked like it might rain,  I carried it in the house and once dried I added the drawer handles.  Guess it will sit there until next weekend and I will try to get back at it and finish it up.

Monkey Wrench

I have enjoyed the last couple of days off work.   Yesterday we focused on getting the outside of the house decorated for Christmas.  I got up in the attic and Candy took the rake to the flower garden and cleaned it all up.      We did about the same set up as last year.   Candy did make use of the sleds we had bought.   She placed them on the front porch, one with a snowman and another with garland.   I will get you pictures tomorrow.  I mowed up leaves so the front yards looks pretty good, (again).    Between Candy and I, we had another 5 large trash bags full.

Once the outside was done we turned our attentions to the inside.   We have scaled back this year.   We scaled back on the inside.   Instead of the big tree, we did a small table top tree.    We went with a Simpich Santa Christmas and left the Nativity scene in the curio cabinet in the basement.

We did a nice walk on Friday and I need to get out tomorrow and do the same.   The weather has been really nice, so it makes it enjoyable to be outside.   We took Mable and I know she was glad to get out.

I did get a couple of small projects completed.   I was over at the shop this morning cleaning. I    had to move my box of sprockets and I barely could so I figured I need to use a few up.   I dug out some various sizes, found some screws and went to work.    I added the wrench and wow this is done.   I have a few other pieces to use, but less is more.  This is on the backside of our storage shed at the shop.

When I got home I had shown Candy what I created.   She went and got my gold wrench and start placing it around the two sprockets we already had on the wall.   When she held like it is in the picture it looked to me like a bicycle or motorcycle.   So we went ahead and hung it up.  Looks pretty cool!

La Junta

On Saturday I made a run down to La Junta, CO. and I am glad I did.   I needed to help my Dad pick-up some items that he had purchased and while I was in town I picked up a few items as well.   Not sure what I am going to do with the stuff I got, but I am sure I can find a use.

I bought three Model A transmissions and three Model A motors, and old AT&SF oil can and a wheel for a Model A.   Like I said not sure what I will do with them yet, but I am sure I can find something, plus wouldn't hurt to have a few extra parts around should I need them when the Zombie apocalypse takes place.   I wasn't able to bring the motors home yet, as they are heavy and we didn't have a way to load them.  I will have to head back down in a few months when I figure out what I am going to do to load them.

I also hauled back a bunch of stuff for my dad.   I got back late in the afternoon and spent the rest of the day unloading and cleaning up all the mice shit.   Most of this stuff had been sitting in a barn for years.

I also picked up some old tools that my Dad brought with him.  Most I believe are from his days at the Railroad.   I do have some ideas on what I am going to be able to do with them.   I struggle on if I want to leave them rusty or clean them up.  

After I finished up with my Dad and he headed home, I did a drive through my old hometown and look around.   I stopped by the only motor cycle shop in town.  It was there when I was a kid and it is still there today.   I inquired with the owner to see if he had a scrap pile.  At first he was a little stand offish, but then I introduced myself and he remembered me and parents from back in the day.   He pointed me at the junk pile and I loaded up.   I got a bunch of sprockets, piston heads, chains, starters, etc.   All the stuff I need to get me started with my Steampunk projects.

After catching up and leaving the cycle shop, I stopped into a small antique shop and did some looking around.   I found a few more old wrenches and some electrical insulators.   All good stuff that I can use.