The busy times continue- Hooray expansion time!

[Brucker]

Life has certainly been entertaining the last couple of weeks/months. And it really doesn't seem to be letting yet anytime soon. On top of our already demanding schedule of regular client work and still dealing with last week's fab shop buy out, we also decided to start our expansion, and have multiple installations of new equipment going on. Needless to say it is really getting cramped around here. And the noise levels are kinda impressive.

Desperately needing more room, we decided to enclose the lean to next to our shop. It will be getting fully insulated, wired, and have heating ducts plumbed in. And even with all that we won't be using the area for actual work space. Our main goal is good, clean, dry storage. The addition will gain us about 180 sq ft. Hoping that we will be able to put the majority of the clutter from the shop into there, which should free up enough room for another project or two, as well as let us easily use some of our new equipment.

We made a supply run last night. Nothing like 36 sheets plus 60 or so 2x4's to let you know there is work to be done:

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/1962743_756761267667595_280567844_n.jpg

Got the first half of the new wall built this morning:

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/t1.0-9/1970549_756910357652686_1806382258_n.jpg

And then got the other half of the wall built. The old posts got removed and then anchored the entire new wall to the floor and to the roof. Then started on the double doors for each side:

https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/1979522_756974560979599_185226735_n.jpg

After the doors come the insulation, interior wall and ceiling coverings, then paint, wiring and ducting and we will be finished! Thinking it may be a long weekend once again.

[The StRanger]

180 Sq ft dont sound like much, but if it get things out of your way, Its a lot !!

[Brucker]

180 Sq ft dont sound like much, but if it get things out of your way, Its a lot !!

I know, right? But it is technically 20 sq ft more than a 20' connex/cargo container holds. And with floor to ceiling shelving on both sides of the wall, it will hold a BUNCH. Can not to be able to easily walk through my shop again.

[dscowell]

Well if you have been jam packed with business lately you must be doing something right. Keep it up!

[Brucker]

Well if you have been jam packed with business lately you must be doing something right. Keep it up!

Don't know about that, just know we have been swamped since I started this adventure a few years back. You know the saying, when it rains, it pours? Well, we have been flooding since about 2008. Not complaining, VERY happy to have the work, just feel tired sometimes.

[Brucker]

Got the new outer wall insulated:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/1972412_757080960968959_2126436172_n.jpg

Then got the interior wall paneling hung:

https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/1896888_757081307635591_780368080_n.jpg

And before we called in a day, we got the doors made and hung. Even installed the latch and other hardware. Just need to attach siding to the outside of the doors to match the rest of the shop and this side will be complete. Then it will be insulation and paneling for the roof, the other side doors, and paint. Thinking we might actually get this done before the weekend is over! Love it when a plan comes together.

https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/1908244_757081464302242_518532414_n.jpg

[Brucker]

Side note, did you all know that they made special impact bits for your impact driver? I have always just used the normal bits that every company and manufacturer sells. Ans I always had problems with breaking or rounding the heads of the bits when I used them in any of my impact drivers. Well this morning after having gone through a dozen bits, I had to head to the store to get some more. Low and behold, I found the special impact bits. Asked an employee about them, and he told me that only Milwaukee was making them, or at least that is the only brand they carried. He raved on about how much longer they lasted or the normal ones. Well he was right. We were able to finish out the day on one bit. And it still looks to be new.

Any way I am sure you all knew about them. But just in case, I thought I'd pass the information on in hopes it may help someone else out.

[Funrover]

Nice!

[glacierpaul]

X2! On The Milwuakee Impact Bits, Only Ones To Use! Good Job Aaron!

[Brucker]

Nice!


X2! On The Milwuakee Impact Bits, Only Ones To Use! Good Job Aaron!

Thanks for the kind words. Didn't get a chance to actually work on the addition today. Spent the day working on a client's brewery project since the snow decided to start falling. Hope to pick up on it again tomorrow. Should be able to get it wrapped up tomorrow. Hope to anyways.

[The StRanger]

sometimes its nice to work on something other than steel..

[Brucker]

Made a good amount of progress. Everything is sheeted and has at least one coat of paint. Still need to run electrical and put a hole in the wall for a door into the shop. But it will probably get filled sooner than later.

Crappy cell phone photo after the first coat:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/1972542_758429410834114_670397379_n.jpg

[Brucker]

Well it took longer than expected but the new addition is done, for now. After stalling out waiting on inspections and the like, we decided to finish everything but the electrical work. We will get back on it once things quiet down around here enough to let us get back at it. We also ran out of time to actually hang siding, so I threw a quick paint job on the OSB and attached the door hardware. Doesn't look to bad for painted OSB, though the paint needs to fad in order to match the rest of the shop:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/t1.0-9/1947813_759085894101799_241070898_n.jpg

So how long do you all think it will take me to fill it up with stuff?

[Haku]

I'm guessing as long as it takes you to carry the stuff in there if it isn't already :P

[Brucker]

I'm guessing as long as it takes you to carry the stuff in there if it isn't already :P

Wow, you all know me too well.

The paint wasn't even dry yet. Took less than an hour. We just threw all the extra tooling and equipment from the recent fab shop content buy out into it so we could free up some more working space. The area will get cleaned out and shelving put up and then organized when we get a chance.

https://scontent-b-sjc.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/1004868_759086430768412_1372329933_n.jpg

[Brucker]

Well after getting back from Cali and filming our episode for a new show coming out, I got right back to work on the addition. We got the electrical run, the lights hung, and the shelving and cabinets put up and mostly filled in. Also got a new doorway from the shop into the area cut and framed out so we don't have to go outside to access the area anymore.

https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/1926811_773111669365888_3790974601029635480_n.jpg

New doorway:

https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/10155626_773113199365735_4083177324403649140_n.jpg

The shop is already feeling less cramped. So nice. Now if only I could get everything to organize itself....

[Cr33p3r]

Nice job Aaron, what show was you filming?

[Brucker]

Nice job Aaron, what show was you filming?

Thanks for the kind words.

We (a buddy and me) filmed an episode for a new show coming out on BBC America. It will air in the time slot immediately after Top Gear, starting this next new season. It is called "Mud, Sweat, and Gears". There is a little more info here: http://www.frontrange4x4.com/forums/showthread.php?21037-Hmmm-this-looks-like-it-might-be-entertaining It was an absolute blast to be a part of, and should be entertaining to watch. Hope the show does well and gets picked up for more than just the one season.