Cheapskate at work

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2008: Cheapskate at work
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 11:14 pm:

I was raised by people who came through the Depression, and they were raised by nineteenth century farmers, so I have an aversion to parting with dollars unnecessarily. I wanted a respirator to use when sandblasting, but hated the idea of spending hundreds on it. The solution was this setup. The hood is made from a piece of old tarp, using a scrap of clear Duralar I salvaged from the trash at work as a window. The hood fastens to the straps of my overalls with a couple of clothes pins. The blower is a shop vac. The money I spent was $53.19 for twenty feet of vacuum hose which is coupled to the shop vac hose with duct tape. The arrangement is cheap and functional. Here I'm blasting half the rear axle housing from my TT.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By DaGunny on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 11:35 pm:

How do you keep that blaster from clogging?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By EDWARD R LEVY on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 11:53 pm:

Steve,
it looks like thar VW needs your TLC. I always loved my late 50's & early 60's VWs. Under $2500.00, run forever, easy to work on & except for strong cross winds reasobably well handling. My first was a 1956& my last was a 73 Super Beetle. Only serious complaint was the poor heater!!
Edward R. Levy


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 11:54 pm:

Fine sand. In fact, though it's labeled "fine", it sometimes clogs, and I have to shut off the air and poke a piece of welding rod in the nozzle to unstick it. I collect the sand off the tarp and put it through a screen. It doesn't clog after it's been used once.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf on Thursday, July 03, 2008 - 11:59 pm:

The VW is for parts. I still have the 1968 beetle I bought new, and it's on my list of future projects. I always thought it was ironic that a country that gets as cold as Germany could come up with such a sorry excuse for a heater.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ray Elkins on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 12:39 am:

Steve, it caught my attention as well since my 59 Beetle convertible is the same color. As yours is, mine is sitting patiently awaiting my attention (taking a back seat to TT and stationary engine projects at the present)

Good job on the hood. I'm with you...no reason to spend just to be spending, and money saved there will go a long way when you MUST spend it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dexter Doucet on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 02:01 am:

Mr. Jelf How did you fasten/Glue the tarp material
to make the hood? I've thought about making a make-
shift car cover out of tarp material and was wondering what worked well with glueing such material. I must say sincerly that the first sentence in your post I found to be a bit touching. I'm in my early thirties to hear stuff like that is
"really cool" if you will, also reminds me to always
consider being more frugal as well as resourceful.
Respectfully, Dex


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les Von Nordheim on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 03:17 am:

Steve,
I also like your EPA certified sand blast booth. Love your complete set up! Great lighting, no dark area's. Having a good moisture trap in line before the sand hopper helps reduce the blaster from clogging.
Good job on the hood.....everything matches. I am not poking fun at you.....most of us would love to have the set up you have. Only thing missing is a wanted poster (Dead) for EPA inspectors.
Les Von Nordheim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Adrian Whiteman on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 03:41 am:

Now that is a real mechanic at work, with proper problem solving. seems today that if it doesn't work you call the Microsoft hopeline... closest many will come to 'blasting is with "Killemallwivlotsablood IV" or similar new x-box release!

(Love your web site as well Steve - keep it up).


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 07:40 am:

Dex, the hood is sewed. I did it on a regular home sewing machine, with no special thread or anything out of the ordinary. Since it was made from trash, I figure if it falls apart I can easily make another one. So far it's holding up OK.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Les Schubert on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 01:12 pm:

Steve
Another option for the breathing air blower is a bathroom fan. We have used also for painting with these new toxic paints. Sump pump hose works really well and is very reasonably priced (cheap). With the large air hose you need very little pressure. A cheap bathroom fan will do the job and you won't be wearing out you shop vac and running up your power bill either.
For painting we use the throw away tyvec coveralls and run a second fan into the coveralls to keep the toxins away from the skin. Tape the cuffs and legs and let it vent around your neack.
You kind of ressemble the Michelin man though when you are doing this.
Les


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