Things to do during a pandemic shutdown...

Joined
Dec 13, 2010
Messages
2,185
Location
Troy, OH
Bike
2010 Silver NT700V/ABS
I made mention of my workbench redo on the NT Gathering post but didn't want to high jack that topic since I was the original poster so I've started a completely different one where everyone can talk about what they've done during the shutdown. :)

I built this workbench in the mid-90s and never intended it to be a showpiece, just a functional bench that would provide lots of storage and adequate work surfaces on top. Having separate drawers for each category has helped a lot and the sliding doors below have large items: circular saw, paint trays, etc. After 25+ years, the 3/4" particleboard top was pretty dinged-up and had plenty of craters and scars. It took me a while to cut all the nails/screws holding it down then I flipped it over and secured it. Wow, a new top again! I resealed it with 2 coats of polyurethane the same as I did the original and also sanded & stained the raw edge facing the garage. The long 12" 2 x 4 on the facing edge of the bench was painted and was just construction grade, raw wood for all these years. On the far right is one of my favorite
creations - a vertical garage for plastic Plano boxes to organize small bits.

workbench finished!.JPG




This is an older photo so you can see the raw edge of the particle board top and the unpainted 2 x 4 below it. Anyhow, with all this small stuff storage capability, the SAE hardware has its own box/w dividers as does Metric so I don't have to wonder why a #%$%@! nut won't thread onto a bolt. And I can remember spending what seemed like an entire day sorting that stuff a long time ago! I liked the original version of this garage so much that I ended up adding 3 more levels so you can see a step where the vertical sides become thinner.

plano boxes.JPG


It's not a showplace garage by any means but it works fine for me. Anyone else have non-motorcycle projects they want to show us? :)
 

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I wish I had additional time for projects but my company has me working from home so other than my shorter commute time nothing has really changed. In fact since I am no longer commuting I have hardly had a chance to ride in the last 5 weeks. 75% of the mileage on my NT was from daily commuting. I am retiring later this year so that should open up some time slots for projects unless my wife gets to me first :)
 
With the recent easing of the boating rules here in Michigan I can get my summertime distraction back in the water. Hard to believe, but Erin has been interfering with my motorcycling for the last couple of years.
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With the recent easing of the boating rules here in Michigan I can get my summertime distraction back in the water. Hard to believe, but Erin has been interfering with my motorcycling for the last couple of years.View attachment 15566
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With a rig like that, you can be expecting a visit from Phil sometime VERY soon.

:p

Mike
 
One other key thing I've tried to do during this shutdown is identify stuff I don't need and either make a pile for my next run to the Salvation Army Thrift Store or toss it into the trash. When you can't recognize things you find in your closet or garage, it's time to get rid of it!
 
Once this pandemic has calmed down I’ll be happy to show off Erin and take you for a day on the big lake. Getting rocked to sleep in the marina or at anchor is heavenly. I got a great deal on her and have added a lot of updates on top of what the previous owner did. She’s almost 40 years old but hides it well; she spent some time as a club racer out of Chicago, has upgraded rigging, new canvas and sails like a witch.
 
Of course your boat is cooler yet but what makes mine unusual is that while it’s a hard shell it comes apart and and nest together like a Russian doll. It’s 14’ that packs down to 42” and it goes right in your car. Google Pakayak -
 
One other key thing I've tried to do during this shutdown is identify stuff I don't need and either make a pile for my next run to the Salvation Army Thrift Store or toss it into the trash. When you can't recognize things you find in your closet or garage, it's time to get rid of it!
Would you try telling that to my wife? Have your affairs in order.... :LOL:
 
Once this pandemic has calmed down I’ll be happy to show off Erin and take you for a day on the big lake. Getting rocked to sleep in the marina or at anchor is heavenly. I got a great deal on her and have added a lot of updates on top of what the previous owner did. She’s almost 40 years old but hides it well; she spent some time as a club racer out of Chicago, has upgraded rigging, new canvas and sails like a witch.
Frosty is coming over!
 
My work never ends....I have no idea what bordom is. I have been getting the gardens ready and planting. And also mowing. My next project is more path maintenance...digging out 5 stumps tomorrow. Got caught up on lots of reloading but not too much smokeless powder stuff. Cleaned up my reloading bench and found a half dollar! In March and early April I hauled lots of wood around and shreded the branches, then stacked the good stuff. Just finished rebuilding the pistol range. Now at least I can allow myself some time to ride and do fun things.

Reloaded about 500 black powder rounds. Didnt get to many smokeless rounds at all. No time.

G ammo.jpg

Promised myself to start using my deck for a happy hour every day.

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I drill out about 130 dandylions every day for about 10 days and that takes care of the left overs from last year...now waiting for the second wave to come in from the neightbors.

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Chris, my wife thinks that with that much grass and time to reload ammo you need some horses.
By the way, in my case it isn't negotiable.
 
One other key thing I've tried to do during this shutdown is identify stuff I don't need and either make a pile for my next run to the Salvation Army Thrift Store or toss it into the trash. When you can't recognize things you find in your closet or garage, it's time to get rid of it!
+1 But unfortunately the Salvation Army stores here are all closed. So now I have bags sitting all over waiting to go. :rolleyes:
 
+1 But unfortunately the Salvation Army stores here are all closed. So now I have bags sitting all over waiting to go. :rolleyes:
You should see my recycling containers....! Hopefully they open up in a month do I can make some runs.
 
One thing I do is keep track of the great experiments going on around the world. Sweden has decided to spend lives for bucks. This is the month if we see if their experiment works. IF if does,, they will only have 8 times the death rate of the US. (Way too much to make up for any herd immunity benefit down the road). But the zone of uncertanty is large and only goes up. Stay tuned.
IIRC only 20 percent of their population is old...but if this gets into their old folks homes, that dotted line will go much higher.
sweden may 1.jpg
 
I've been tracking the Covid case and death rates in WA state and the counties I live and work daily. I'm committed to not get gas or groceries near work in Tacoma area now because that's a hotter area by about 5X.

I thought replacing a head gasket on my 85 Toyota would be a good distraction from watching the world melt. Who knew head gaskets only last 35 years or 366,000, whichever comes first. It developed a coolant leak from gasket to atmosphere which is the best-case head gasket failure. I caught it early and it never over heated so I thought there would be a good chance of no warpage or machining needed, so I can handle this.
It's all disassembled and head measures within flatness specs. Breaking studs (not the head... little stuff) and old coolant hoses, plus the cleaning of old gasket material has me frustrated. Old eyes, old back, old feet, not to mention old injuries being aggravated. Not enough motrin. I should have taken it to a shop, or sold it. It's not an essential vehicle, just that I've driven it for 30 years, it's kinda part of me. My first and last car engine head gasket replacement.
 
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