Page 1 of 1
Problem: Making the time for DIY
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 2:12 pm
by Radian
Where am I going wrong when during a three day weekend, I cannot find any time to bust out the tools and crank out another speaker cabinet?
Here's what I got on my plate in order of priority:
-another THT slim for the living room
-2 SLA Pro
-4 Titan 48 slims
-Table tuba for the bedroom
- TLAH and center for my parent's HT
....all this without a dedicated wood shop. I've thought about hitting up the local maker-space (Xerocraft), but it's a half-hour haul into town from my place and the hours don't align with my schedule.
Feeling a little overwhelmed here...
Re: Problem: Making the time for DIY
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 2:16 pm
by Bruce Weldy
Radian wrote:
....all this without a dedicated wood shop.
You've probably got a wood shop.....trouble is that it's dedicated as something else right now.
Pull out the car and re-dedicate it as a wood shop. We'll all lend moral support during the divorce.
Re: Problem: Making the time for DIY
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 2:18 pm
by Radian
Good point. Definitely time to sell the hangar queen.
...anyone interested in an older BMW?

Re: Problem: Making the time for DIY
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 10:57 pm
by KJ4BXT
I managed to pull off a DR250 on top of full time work and school, just go for whatever you can get, bit by bit.
One workbench. More is nice, but it doesn't take that much.
And yes, build subs early, they make building the rest more fun

Re: Problem: Making the time for DIY
Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2016 11:43 pm
by J_Dunavin
BMW?
dont temp me! Ive had the itch ever since i wrecked my 91 325is.
What BMW do you have?
Re: Problem: Making the time for DIY
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 12:41 am
by Charles Jenkinson
I have a mate who keeps his car in the garage over winter so he doesn't have to de-ice it in the morning. I couldn't make that sacrifice of garage space - it's just wrong. Scraping the windows is therapeutic anyway. The alternative is sheeting a car over with a tarp, particularly if "considering the semi-classic nature of the vehicle" (Bobby Bolivia) is important.
Re: Problem: Making the time for DIY
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 1:42 am
by Tom Smit
I've been to Tucson once, so, I've got an inkling of what the weather is like. Are you able to rig up a structure/lean-to under which to work under?
Is there dew there?
Would you be able to build a temporary locked storage box for tools, etc. ?
You don't seem to be the type to be over-whelmed.
Re: Problem: Making the time for DIY
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 2:29 am
by Radian
Tom, you're right. I've gotta get out of this funk. I keep forgetting I've got the entire back patio to use, which is also covered. Easily enough to fit a cab or two in-progress. At a minimum I can safely store wood out there. Dew is nonexistent here this time of year.
About having one work bench, I recall using my grandfather's clapped-out Workmate almost exclusively on the last build. Didn't even give it a second thought as my Dad simply said, "Here use this to work on." Think it's time to get my own. I've got horses, but they're not terribly convenient for clamping a sled to.
J, the car is a '91 535i 5-spd.
If you're truly interested, feel free to shoot me a PM.
Re: Problem: Making the time for DIY
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 7:59 am
by Bruce Weldy
The best thing I ever put in my shop was this......I don't know why I waited so long to build it. Now that I've had it for several years, I couldn't imagine not having it. Same height as the table saw, so I can use it as an outfeed. Power on both ends for plugging everything in. Replacable fiberboard top.
Re: Problem: Making the time for DIY
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 9:39 am
by Tom Smit
Radian wrote:Tom, you're right. I've gotta get out of this funk. I keep forgetting I've got the entire back patio to use, which is also covered. Easily enough to fit a cab or two in-progress. At a minimum I can safely store wood out there. Dew is nonexistent here this time of year.
It's amazing how much we are capable of if our head is in the right place.
Radian wrote:
About having one work bench, I recall using my grandfather's clapped-out Workmate almost exclusively on the last build. Didn't even give it a second thought as my Dad simply said, "Here use this to work on." Think it's time to get my own. I've got horses, but they're not terribly convenient for clamping a sled to.
Here is an inexpensive way to build a bench. You could leave the top off in order to have some clamping spots (such as in pic below #6), or you could make the top removeble so that the bench is dual purpose.
https://www.wilkerdos.com/2014/01/diy-workbench/