Another Fakery

[BirdsThaWord]

Hi all! Haven't been on here in a bit. Kinda lost interest due to another hobby. But, last might I was bored and had something I've been wanting to try. I had some cheap grips (1st pic, right side is a "before") that had goofy skulls printed/painted on them. I sanded them down to the bare/blonde wood. I then took an ink pen and drew in the heavy veins. I then rubbed and splattered instant coffee. Once dried, I lightly traced around the coffee with the ink pen. I sealed it all in with spray can eurethane for a Faux spalted maple look. Put them on my Tisas where I had deep etched the slide for a faux damascus look. I like how it came out and thought I'd share.
21725
21726
21727

[laserfish]

Love the look!

[Bawanna]

Super nice! Are the grips actually wood? They turned out really nice.
Things are slow around here, interest be damned. Get busy and stir the pot will ya?

[berettabone]

They turned out nice. The open areas look like aged bone......................

[dao]

Great job Bird, looks spalted to me. Good to hear from you! Pull up a chair and set a spell.

[BirdsThaWord]

Thanks guys! Good to drop in. Been toiling in the garage. Mostly cleaning and organizing (mounting racks and shelves, throwing years of useless stuff away) to have space to work on the Vette. Accomplished a few things on it, then got fed up with the lack of room to move around and get at it.
Colonel, yes sir, there was some kind of a blonde wood underneath all of the paint. That paint was thick and loaded up the sandpaper real quick. The wood is very hard. Not sure what kind. The grips were ultra cheap to start, so I thought it would be a soft wood under there.
Thanks dao! I’ll try to visit more often and good hearing from you.
Pulled the tank on the Vette. Got a new steering wheel. Opted for black spokes vs the original silver as I think it flows with the dash a bit better. Restored (sanded and painted) the horn button. Bought a new tank, sending unit and gas cap. Been up under the rear sanding away frame scale. Getting together enough spare dough for a rear wiring harness. Polished the rear sidemarker lights. That’s about it so far. Oh, mushed my thumb real good putting together a creeper. :yell: Hope all has been well with you guys!
21728
21729
21730
21731
21732

[BirdsThaWord]

21733

[dao]

Oh yeah, that hurt for sure. I can relate. I recently bought a new router and table. Was checking the way the router fit into the base and caught the pad of my ring finger between the sharp edges of the base and router. Tore the pad off, about a quarter inch wide and half an inch long. It bled much like your thumb.

I was in construction for many, many years sheetrocking houses and then going into the Carpenters and later the Lathing, Acoustical, and Drywallers Union. I worked on commercial buildings in Seattle for many years. In all that time I never hurt myself to the point of needing stitches. This didn't either but it was a bad as anything I did on the job. My hands have become soft.

Your vette's looking good! Is yours the last year for chrome bumpers front and back? Are you going to leave the vinyl on the roof? I hope you manage to get a lot done before skeeter season and the hot times!

[BirdsThaWord]

Oh yeah, that hurt for sure. I can relate. I recently bought a new router and table. Was checking the way the router fit into the base and caught the pad of my ring finger between the sharp edges of the base and router. Tore the pad off, about a quarter inch wide and half an inch long. It bled much like your thumb.

I was in construction for many, many years sheetrocking houses and then going into the Carpenters and later the Lathing, Acoustical, and Drywallers Union. I worked on commercial buildings in Seattle for many years. In all that time I never hurt myself to the point of needing stitches. This didn't either but it was a bad as anything I did on the job. My hands have become soft.

Your vette's looking good! Is yours the last year for chrome bumpers front and back? Are you going to leave the vinyl on the roof? I hope you manage to get a lot done before skeeter season and the hot times!
Sounds like you got it good with your finger as well. Hope you heal up quick. Sucks as we use ‘em every day. Yeah, the fingers do soften with age. That’s why I enjoy the calluses, etc when I work on guns and cars as they seem to toughen up a bit. I remember when I was heavy into lifting weights and a girl would grab my hands and comment on my “manly” hands. Oh well, I guess we all must age. Thanks for the comments on the Vette. It’s a 1971, so they made front & rear chrome bumpers for one more year. Had a 1972 that was just a quick flip investment, but looking back I reeeeeeeeally wish I still had it. I’ve invested in a fogger, serious chemicals, and found that mixing cheap lotion with tea tree oil, slathering on all exposed parts, works to keep them to a minimum when out there. But, cooler weather is coming. I’m looking forward to getting a lot done on it with the new, organized space and those little suckers (literally) dwindling down some.

[dao]

Hopefully they don't carry you away. Maybe some Citronella oil and hurricane lamps in a couple of places in your shop? Looking forward to seeing your car when you're mostly satisfied with it!

[getsome]

Good to hear from you Bird, sorry about the thumb, I did something like that myself once taking down a folding table, made up new cuss words never heard before…….You’ve done great work on the Vette, looks like it’s coming along nicely…..Since you’re a car guy you probably have heard of “Painless Wiring Company” they make pre fab wiring kits for almost every vintage hotrod or classic car out there…..Their stuff is first rate and will save you so much time and frustration trying to rewire an older vehicle which is the most difficult part if you try and do it yourself with auto parts store off the shelf stuff, Painless kits are labeled the entire length of every wire so it’s so much easier to figure out where all those things go…….Nice job on the grips and good luck bringing the Vette back to life again!…..

[jeepster09]

You DO KNOW that you are going to NEED that useless stuff you threw away probably in the next week or so! :ohmy:

[Bawanna]

^^^^He's right you know?

[BirdsThaWord]

Hopefully they don't carry you away. Maybe some Citronella oil and hurricane lamps in a couple of places in your shop? Looking forward to seeing your car when you're mostly satisfied with it!
I’ve tried pretty much everything over the years. I have 4 bucket citronella candles that each have 3 wicks… getting ready to throw them out. These skeeters are a different breed! Seriously though, until I sweat it off, the tea tree oil mixed into lotion is the bees knees. Best thing I ever used!

[BirdsThaWord]

Good to hear from you Bird, sorry about the thumb, I did something like that myself once taking down a folding table, made up new cuss words never heard before…….You’ve done great work on the Vette, looks like it’s coming along nicely…..Since you’re a car guy you probably have heard of “Painless Wiring Company” they make pre fab wiring kits for almost every vintage hotrod or classic car out there…..Their stuff is first rate and will save you so much time and frustration trying to rewire an older vehicle which is the most difficult part if you try and do it yourself with auto parts store off the shelf stuff, Painless kits are labeled the entire length of every wire so it’s so much easier to figure out where all those things go…….Nice job on the grips and good luck bringing the Vette back to life again!…..
The folding part got you to!?!? The creeper is the kind that converts into a seat. I had 3 of the 4 bolts loosely in place. Went to install the 4th and as I flipped it around the head/seat portion folded with my thumb in between. Yes, some cussing took place. Lol! I have used Painless stuff in the past, on the 1969 Vette I had. I have all of the rest of the wiring for this one (came with it), but that rear harness. Everything it came with is from Lectric Limited. If not for all of that stuff already being that brand, I'd definitely get the Painless stuff, for exactly the reasons you mentioned. Also, the rear harness is rather simple, 4 tail lights, side markers, tag light and the alarm & alarm horn. I bought a label maker that also prints on heat shrink. Anything I run in more complicated areas, such as under the dash, will get that treatment. Thanks for the kudos and hope all is well with you!

[BirdsThaWord]

You DO KNOW that you are going to NEED that useless stuff you threw away probably in the next week or so! :ohmy:
You know that has happened plenty of times in the past. Go to look for something I know I have, then remembered throwing it out. But, this is a collection of 20 years of stuff sitting there just in case I need it. Spray paint cans with just a tad in them, rusty sockets that I have 3 or 4 of the same size, rusty this and that, pieces of leftover wood just in case, etc. etc. But, I bet there is something in there that I’ll have to go buy again once thrown out. You are correct sir!

[BirdsThaWord]

^^^^He's right you know?
Well he is the Jeepster! ;)

[dao]

I believe we've all thrown stuff out or given it away only to realize two weeks later that we need it now. Part of being a packrat I guess. And that's probably why packing up my garage has always taken the longest in those times that I've moved in my adult life.

[Bawanna]

I shudder to even think about moving. Last move was 35 years ago. Can't imagine packing it all up. I'd actually love to move and start fresh with a bigger man cave and a bigger shop, guess we all dream of that, but the move would be a nightmare.

[berettabone]

Having moved as recently as 4 yrs. ago, you are correct. It was a nightmare. Moved 160 miles to a place with the same sq. footage but with a large garage/pole barn. Things moved fast. Put house up for sale on a Monday, sold it by Wednesday. Quick rummage sale. Major downsize on belongings. Movers are animals. Some damage and a few small things missing. The wife worked her tail off. I'll never do it again. Almost killed us.................sure glad to be out of the city with some land. Able to shoot some. Lots of critters. Away from the libs. Looking back, it was worth it, but if you would have asked me at the time, I would have told you that I'd rather eat glass........................

[jeepster09]

I always figured if I move again I would sell/throw most and buy new stuff [house hold stuff] when I get there. Years ago on move from Wyoming to Minnesota almost everything got scratched/dinged up. It would be easier/cheaper/better to just get new stuff. It would also save money on moving expenses.

[BirdsThaWord]

I believe we've all thrown stuff out or given it away only to realize two weeks later that we need it now. Part of being a packrat I guess. And that's probably why packing up my garage has always taken the longest in those times that I've moved in my adult life.
I once took a job over in Tampa. After living in a hotel for a few months, I convinced my wife that we needed to get an apartment over there and rent out our house as coming home just on Sundays was tearing my heart out. Had a big sell off and giveaway. That gig lasted 6 months. When I came home, must have been a gazillion times where I’d go look for a tool, a can of this, a tube of that, only to realize it was gone. That was a financial mistake I vowed to never make again. Since then, I’ve been offered 3 sales manager positions with a $100k base salary that would require a move. Passed on all 3.

[BirdsThaWord]

I shudder to even think about moving. Last move was 35 years ago. Can't imagine packing it all up. I'd actually love to move and start fresh with a bigger man cave and a bigger shop, guess we all dream of that, but the move would be a nightmare.
Remembering some of the pics you’ve shared, seeing the man cave stuff in the background, I totally understand. That would be an undertaking of all undertakings. Also, the pics I’ve seen of your property… hard to reproduce man. You seem to be living in a little slice of heaven on earth!

[BirdsThaWord]

Having moved as recently as 4 yrs. ago, you are correct. It was a nightmare. Moved 160 miles to a place with the same sq. footage but with a large garage/pole barn. Things moved fast. Put house up for sale on a Monday, sold it by Wednesday. Quick rummage sale. Major downsize on belongings. Movers are animals. Some damage and a few small things missing. The wife worked her tail off. I'll never do it again. Almost killed us.................sure glad to be out of the city with some land. Able to shoot some. Lots of critters. Away from the libs. Looking back, it was worth it, but if you would have asked me at the time, I would have told you that I'd rather eat glass........................
I would love to have what you and the Colonel have, for the same reasons you mentioned. But, I see another move just like you described, chewing on glass would be more palpable.

[BirdsThaWord]

I always figured if I move again I would sell/throw most and buy new stuff [house hold stuff] when I get there. Years ago on move from Wyoming to Minnesota almost everything got scratched/dinged up. It would be easier/cheaper/better to just get new stuff. It would also save money on moving expenses.
I agree on the household stuff. It’s all the small stuff that would break my back. My garage/storage room/tool room clean out shoulda/coulda taken just a few days. I’m now over a week into it. Work on it one day, let the back, knee, shoulder recoup 2 days. Then, the garbage bins only hold so much and gotta wait for them to be emptied. It’s a royal pain in the butt, neck, shoulders, etc.

[Bawanna]

I'm pretty ok with where I live except of course being Washington. Wish I had enough property to shoot and I'd be set. We live in a mobile home, which was intended as a steppingstone house until we got property and built our own. Then the wall happened and plans kind of changed. It's worked out fine. If I had an addition onto my man cave which was an addition itself, it would be finer. Oh well.

[berettabone]

You could always have a small outbuilding built. Doesn't have to be anything fancy. Run some juice to it. Portable heater. Anything that could go in there not affected by weather. Give you some breathing room. I'm hoping that the prices will come down on building materials. I need to get rid of a couple of decks and stairs and get new stairs and one deck. I'm glad I held off. Maybe they'll come down now? Mostly, everything thing is like taxes. Once they go up, they rarely come down again.........................

[dao]

bb has a good idea there Colonel. They're selling lost of tiny homes down this way, that you can delivered to your property. Nicer than a shed, being finished, plumbed, and electrical run inside. Build a pad or just make a gravel pad, have it dropped and away you go. Much cheaper and easier than moving. And two small shops are better than one small one.

[Bawanna]

I have a 12x16 shed I built myself 30 years ago when we moved in on account of no garage or outside storage. Got static for having lumber delivered before we moved in.
I thought about a shipping container for stuff I don't want to toss but rarely need. Kind of what the shed does now. Frankly if the shed burned to the ground I probably wouldn't miss much of the contents but wife don't let me toss the old junk to make room for new junk. Thought with a container I'd put shelves down both sides and have easy access. Could store wood and be able to get it when I want. Originally thought about putting my little 16' boat in the container and freeing up the third bay in the garage but think leaving it and doing the container would would work better. Ever evolving ya know?

[berettabone]

It's almost as much a PIA to sell your house. You have to keep leaving so the realtor can show the place. If you have pets, they have to come along. You always have to make sure that anything you don't want someone to know about is put away. They snoop through closets, drawers, medicine cabinets. The same day we put our place up for sale, we had to leave twice. Once in the middle of dinner. The second day, we had to leave 3 times. The third day, we left twice in the morning, someone came in the afternoon, and they didn't care whether we were there or not. I had already had enough. Those people fortunately offered us over asking price and bought the house. Of course, you have full control over when people view your house, but if you want to sell it, you have to be more flexible than the rubber man at the carnival...................