cheap seat

Once in a great while I won't finish a project.

In a conversation the other day,

we were talking how it's human nature to not let people down.

There is a breaking point!

This could have been a fun project.

The idea was scratched out,

and it was obvious the guy was clueless how to make it real.

Micromanaged and hovered over every step,

the product seemed never up to his standards.

After getting shortchanged at the midpoint,

my interest slowly fizzled out.

I can handle being the trained monkey,

but give me the candy not the wrapper!

On the plus side,

this little project got me back into fiberglassing!

TP

Big 3 - 2015 - the prep

The Big 3 Parts Exchange has become the annual spring clean decluttering event.

This year we had a coincidental problem,

that seemed like a preplanned occurrence.

What we thought was a washing machine blowout,

gave the kids a fun dismantling project.

At this point they didn't know why the heck they were doing this.

Weeks later the reason was apparent.

Jake loved it.

You bet we brought our new fire pit home.

The day before the swap was crazy.

This disheveled shed held long forgotten treasures.

I should have started the decluttering earlier then the evening before.

Sad when a heavy large box sells for $20.

Even sadder when there are 4 of them.

That's a lot of dead weight taking up space.

The biggest disappointment was the one thing on top of the list.

Jaxon spent a Presidents' Day vacation prepping the Cradle Robber roadster pickup.

Now he has a better understanding of mechanical drum brakes!

No go though,

a logistics nightmare.

Next year...

His consolation prize was a student driver lesson.

What better car to learn burnouts.

Holey chit!!

Thanks cousin Brandon!

This looks like a hangover,

but far from it.

I stuck with the Polish vodka.

Thanks Rodney for the tip!

All in all a good time.

Brought 2 can loads,

came back with barely a half.

Next post will be the scores and missed deals...

TP

56 shades of gray

One thing college teaches is how to procrastinate.

A skill mastered through years of practice.

Some procrastinators are busy screwing off,

putting fun before work,

then finding themselves scrambling to meet a deadline.

Many fall flat on there face.

A conscious procrastinator is a little different.

A game plan is formed with the deadline as a goal,

work starts at the exact last moment needed for completion,

with very little time for wild cards.

The difference is the weeks prior to liftoff,

the project seed is planted,

queued up for it's turn.

Subconsciously each step is mentally mapped out.

Momentum is built up,

winding tight like a spring.

With such meticulous planning,

of course there's time to finish a couple unrelated projects.

A boat...

a bike...

With little room for error,

the trigger is pulled.

Oh holey chit.

What the frick is this?

This is not what I signed up for.

Plan A - boom...

Plan B - boom...

Now we're working on the fly.

Oh jeez...when's the deadline?

Time to get out the 34 watt bulb.

Ok no problem.

The other side looks way easier.

Maybe there's time for a bike ride.

Yeah that'll help clear my head a little.

OMFG.

This side is even worse.

Holey chit...

Let's do this.

Same as before only opposite.

Well that took a little longer than I thought.

What day is it again? 

Monday?

Oh no.

Tuesday?

When's the deadline?

Uh Yeah yeah no problem ,Mario.

The truck will be done tomorrow...

Now the last part.

This was plan A.

Easy.

Oh Hey Mike! 

Hey Uncle Steve! 

Hey Dino!

Hey Dad!

Hey Honey!

Yeah Mario's sposta pick up the truck at 4.

What time is it?

Uh oh...

Hammer hammer file file...

Hate to do it,

but this things gotta be smooth.

Only a skim coat...

Ahhh...

Just enough time to seal up the inside.

I love ospho on my fingers.

Let's go cruising!

Blow all this dust out on the road.

Where's my glasses?

Hey Mario,

Oh you won't be here til 7?

Good,

the paint fumes won't be so strong.

Tequila shot time...

Hey Mario!

Nah it was easy...

How to - shaving drip rails on a1956 Ford F100...

Or how to - make a ford look like a chevy.

TP

1949 holdsworth cyclone deluxe

Back in November,

an old bike frame made it's way home.

At the time it was not the wisest choice.

Money was tight as usual,

and did I really need another rusty project?

On top of that,

my stash of worthy vintage road bike parts 

had already been used up.

I've fallen into the eBay search frenzy,

only online poker is more addicting.

Ahh I'll just clean up the frame a little,

later on throw together a cool beater...

Yeah right...

If you're the project ADD type,

there's a little trick I've learned over the years.

Sure you may be overwhelmed with multiple long term projects,

all the more reason to get a quick win.

There's that satisfaction of completion,

a treat when other projects seem so distant.

Would focusing that energy been better towards the hot rods?

In this case not really,

most of the tinkering was done in the sleepless nights.

A side benefit was the decluttering,

as pieces of partial projects gave way to the missing links.

There's no way I could have completed this 

without sacrificing a few hoarded jewels.

Over the long weekend I realized the last part not collected was the chain,

the only thing bought new!

A Saturday night was spent fitting the cables,

adjusting the brakes and shifters.

All this stuff had been lying around for weeks!

Notice the suicide shift Simplex front derailleur,

similar era as the frame and fork.

The other parts are mainly beat up 70's European brands,

polished or drilliumed to look presentable.

Campagnolo, Roto, Brooks, Ava, Balilla...

I did concede to Shimano for the brakes,

as the again 70's dura-ace calipers,

were a knockoff of the weinmann style,

with a bit more precision.

Definitely a budget build other than the wheels.

Today was the first long ride for this frame.

Solid, smooth and quiet.

I loved the front shifter mechanism

and the cut-down Brooks saddle was more comfortable than it looks!

The fork rake definitely makes for a stable ride,

and at 21 lbs the Reynolds 531 tubing did not feel 66 years old.

Now time to button up the hack-work,

swap out some of the incorrect parts,

and put some miles on it.

Maybe take to the L'eroica California ride this April.

Now go find yourself a little project!

TP