Posts by Gadgeteer

  • es-designworks.com

    Quote from Ross

    I didn't want to be the one to say this but I noticed you only have one ball hanging by a string - shouldn't you at least have one more ..... for the Slingshot

    It's not the number of balls the man has which matters, it's what he does with them.

  • es-designworks.com

    Quote from sideslinger

    @Gadgeteer Wow! Great shop! You got a little bit of everything in there. More impressive is how you worked it all in there and can still walk around. I like the idea of storing extra lumber toward the ceiling. I do plan on making my dust collector 2 stage, I just need to settle on the location. So many great ideas! :thumbup:

    Thanks and glad you found it interesting! One other trick worth pointing out is the lighting under the garage door. That was one of my own ideas. Whenever the door is up it casts a big shadow, so I mounted 36" under-cabinet fixtures to the tracks to compensate. Works great and leaves the space between the wall, track, and ceiling free of additional obstructions. :thumbup:


  • es-designworks.com

    Quote from FunCycle

    @Gadgeteer has mo shi/stuff than I do, I do have a table saw that is moving to a new home. It takes up to much floor space for how often that I use it.

    Actually, I've got more shi/ stuff than I know what to do with and I'm struggling to find places to put it away, hence the messiness. I've still got stuff in a rental storage space that I need to bring in too. It's getting to a point that I'm starting to forget what I have and/or where it is. :S

  • helmets - do you use one? and if yes what do you use?

    Quote from WrongWheelDrive

    You can def tell Scorpion is making it and HD is stamping their name on it. Like I said it cost me nothing so thats why I ordered from HD. Having 2 Harleys in the garage it will get duel use between the SS and them.

    Yeah, most of my gear has the HD logo on it too but it hasn't been getting much dual use since I got the SS. After collecting dust for two years, I finally faced the hard truth last summer and returned the plates on my 03' Fatboy to the DMV so I could cancel the insurance. I miss the 2-wheeled experience from time to time but have no regrets about getting the SS. The Fatboy accrued 13k miles between Aug. 2004 and Aug.2015. My previous SS (wrecked) accrued 9k between August 2015 and May 2016 and my current SS has accrued 19k miles since May 2016. So, averaging ~1100 miles/yr with the HD vs. ~10,000 miles/yr. with the SS; the choice was pretty clear. :D


    Harley- Davidson makes motorcycles, not apparel, so of course Scorpion is making it for them. However, HD doesn't put it's name on something and sell it through the dealerships unless it's of good (or better) quality. Therefore, the Scorpion model is probably a great buy but when the time comes, I'll probably pay the extra few bucks and get the HD version too. I like their mask design better and I'm still a proud Harley Owner.

  • es-designworks.com

    Quote from ericastar76

    Now my wife can put up those French cleats/tool hangers she's promised to make me... all my stuff is either on the floor or plastic pallet racks!

    Quote from MACAWS

    When are you going to paint
    some nice bright white on those walls would brighten up the place

    Quote from sideslinger

    Unfortunately, it’s easy to let the garage get out of hand.


    I was going to suggest both the cleats and the white walls, dang it. Too late to the party, as usual. Don't forget the ceiling either. And, before you get too much more stuff crammed in there, you might want to consider an epoxy floor coating. Usually, I'm not one to toot my own horn (at least, not in public :whistling: ) but here's a few pics from my place. Sorry for the messiness; too many things "in progress" at once. As noted above, it's easy to let things get out of hand, especially for us ADD folks...




    Light colors on the walls, floor, and ceiling, make all the difference!




    Despite the mess, if needed, I could have both vehicles parked in the garage in less than 15 minutes. The top of the cluttered table, in front of the Harley (under the blue cover), folds down and the whole thing rolls up under the heavy bench along the back wall. (source: The Family Handyman magazine)



    The contractor table saw folds up and hangs on the wall (French cleats!) under the bandsaw and router table. The hanging rack (for the saw and my big x-cut sled) pivots the whole thing off the floor and against the wall, leaving the floor clear. (my own design)



    My crazy dust collector. Harbor Freight single stage collector pre-filtered via Thien cyclone that I built. (source: www.jpthien.com/cy.htm)



    Hanging cabinet keeps spare tables and chairs relatively dust free. Helmets... not so much. Also a great place to prominently display my slingshotinfo.com calendar! :thumbup:



    Maximize use of wall space by hanging crap from French cleats or hanging from other crap that is hanging from French cleats!



    All my sheet goods (long stuff standing upright since I have the clearance) on a rolling rack. Base is about 24x36 and fits neatly in this corner.



    Unless you need it always at the ready, mount table top stuff (grinder/buffer, router, bandsaw, vises, etc.) to a base that can be quickly clamped wherever and whenever you need it, then squirrel it away on a shelf when you don't.



    And don't let the ceiling go to waste, especially above the garage door.


    The roof carrier, the extension ladder, and the bundle of PVC pipe (7'x7'x7' knock-down paint booth) are each hoisted up on pulleys. The roof carrier (with trailer packed inside) weighs close to 150 lbs, so it's attached to a winch in the opposite corner. In case you were counting, yes, I have 5 ladders (4ft., 6ft. 8ft., 17ft. multi, & 28ft. ext. At 5' 6", I need then all. Hey! I'm not short, I'm fun-size!


    Anyway, just thought I'd share some tips to help you make the most of the space you have. And, if you don't mind some shameless self-promotion, my own site (Made4Madilyn) will be official as soon as I've linked it to my domain (made4madilyn.com).


    BTW, noticeably absent from my shop is computerization (no CNC or 3D printer...yet), so all my forms and jigs are made the old-fashioned way. It's good enough for now but I'm getting frustrated with the process. Until I have the time and money to tinker with that stuff, I might have to partner with someone that has the high tech tools to speed up the tooling and prototype process. So, if you happen to know anyone like that... :D


    You two are off to a great start (in fact, I'm a bit jealous) and I have no doubt you're going to wow us all with some really awesome stuff! :thumbsup:

  • helmets - do you use one? and if yes what do you use?

    Quote from Tripod

    HD stands for Hundred Dollars. If you buy ANYTHING at a Harley dealer, it seems it’s at least a hundred dollars... :D

    Perhaps but on the flip side, what can you buy for less than $100 that you would actually want to put on a Harley? :D


    BTW, I looked up the helmet and the the H-D list price is about $16 higher. Not totally ridiculous and I like the H-D's slotted mask better than the Scorpion's.

  • I'm entertaining to do installation of the sequential blinkers to the "fenders" splash guards in exchange of YOURS

    I think he's saying that he is thinking of offering the sequential blinkers as a DIY install or, for an EXTRA $100, you could swap your stock fenders for a "pre-owned" pair (from the a previous swap) with the kit pre-installed. That way, you get everything pre-assembled and only have to drill one hole on each side for the wiring that carries power and taps the blinkers. Almost a turn-key arrangement.


    It's an interesting idea, but there is one complication that jumps out at me and that would be the condition of the swapped fenders. Will the condition of the pre-assembled fenders be comparable to the fenders that you send in? That's a bit of a risk for both seller and buyer. If I sent in a pair of fenders that I kept really clean and maintained, would I get an assembled pair back in similar condition? Or, on the other hand, can I send in a set with some gunk that I couldn't remove, I could get a different pair with the preassembly and the stubborn gunk is now someone else's problem. It's a dick move, but you know some will try it.

    Another potential liability is shipping costs and damage. Sure, can insure the package against damage but shipping would already be at a premium because it would be charged as a "large" package, each way. I wouldn't be surprised if that pushed cost up another $100 or more. At $200, a local shop could do the install for the buyer for less, the seller doesn't take unnecessary risks with damaged shipments, and it reduces buyer/seller disputes over damaged shipments and/or the previously mentioned issue of differences in the condition of the swapped fenders.


    Again, it is an interesting idea, but I'm not sure the additional cost would be worth the potential hassles for either the buyer or seller. Just my 2 cents.

  • helmets - do you use one? and if yes what do you use?

    Quote from SlingLow

    Abate has worked Washington since the early 70's. No change in effective law. Sad but true.

    To be fair, that's statement should only apply to changing helmet regs. ABATE has made effective changes in legislation on behalf of motorcyclist, just not in regard to repealing or loosening helmet requirements. In fact, I doubt they ever will. More likely, helmet regs will loosen up on autocycles because of their appeal to so many non-motorcyclists.


    I've actually had people say the the helmet requirement was only thing keeping them from getting a SS. Maybe it was bullshit but based on their sneering contempt and thinking the SS isn't worthy of them because of a helmet, my thought at those times was, "Good! I don't want you to get one either. The 3-wheel community is doesn't need you or your self-important attitude!" :thumbsup:

  • helmets - do you use one? and if yes what do you use?

    Quote from ericastar76

    Yeah... doesn’t always work. But you’re right on the “try” part!

    Yeah, ABATE of Maryland has been trying for more than 20 yrs to repeal helmet regs. This is from the 2017...



    ******** HB 1410-Vehicle Laws-Protective Headgear Requirement for Motorcycle Riders-Exception




    This bill allows helmet choice to riders over 21 who have two years riding experience or have completed an authorized safety course. If the passenger is over 21 they may have choice if the operator qualifies for choice. ABATE requested this bill.




    The hearing is March 9th at 1PM in the House Environment and Transportation Committee


    Status: In the House - Unfavorable Report by Environment and Transportation



    In other words... not likely. ||


    Oh well. The fact is, and all the statistics agree,... helmets help more often than they harm.

  • helmets - do you use one? and if yes what do you use?

    Quote from MiM

    Did someone say catwoman?



    If only... (wistful sigh) :00009069:


    My wife is cute and all, but... M.P. she is not. Not sure she could pull off the latex outfit either. Still, "a bird in the hand..." as the saying goes. 8)
    Fortunately, she's not on the forums and will probably never see this. If she did, I'd probably be inviting folks over to my NEW place for beers...


  • helmets - do you use one? and if yes what do you use?


    Dunno. I agree that the helmet adds weight and can lead to over extension, especially with a 4-point harness. Of course the lack of any impact energy abatement (bumpers, crumple-zones, etc.) transmits more of that energy through the seatbelt too. However, when we nailed that tree at 45-55 mph (head-on, dead-stop, no rebound) neither the Mrs. nor I suffered any neck strain. Bruised ribs from the stock 3-point harnesses (lots of impact energy), a sprained thumb for her, and a minor fracture in my foot, but no neck discomfort.


    I think this concern is mostly related to 4-point harnesses. The few times I've ridden with someone that had them, I did feel like my head was getting tossed more than usual. If I had to guess, it is the limited range of torso movement allowed by a 4-point that transmits significantly more momentum energy to the unrestrained parts of your body; your head and limbs. Kind of like a bullwhip, the momentum energy ripples through your restrained torso, amplifying the effect to your extremities. With a 3-point arrangement, your torso has greater range of motion and can absorb more energy, like a sandbag.


    Just my 2 cents.

  • helmets - do you use one? and if yes what do you use?

    Quote from Cowboy

    And I agree with wjfyfe....why would you laugh, or make fun of someone wearing a helmet?

    Only the ignorant (or cruel) would laugh at someone wearing a helmet. Now, laughing at someone that ISN'T wearing a helmet - that is much more understandable. :thumbup: Helmets have saved my bacon, more than once, yet I still take the calculated risk of going without. Queue the laughter and pass the DUNCE cap!


  • helmets - do you use one? and if yes what do you use?

    Quote from edwardaneal

    I live in California so I am required by law to wear a helmet. 95% of the time I use a very small 1/2 helmet but I also have a bell vortex for when its cold or raining. What do you use?

    Maryland also requires a helmet and if you know me, I'm a stickler for pointing out that the law is not "open to interpretation". That being said, as of this past summer, I rarely wear a helmet when driving around town. I know it is risky, both from a legal and safety perspective, and I accept that risk willingly. If I am cited for not wearing a helmet, I would deserve it. However, that has not happened yet (knock on wood).


    If I'm going to a different state, I obey their helmet laws more strictly and wear a helmet as required, especially on the highways. When I got pulled over last Fall in WV doing 83 in a 65 zone, the officer was a veteran motorcyclist and knew the regulations regarding three-wheelers VERY well. We had a nice chat, I learned a few things, popped the hood for him, answered the usual admirer questions, and he let me go with a warning. Thankfully, I was wearing a helmet when he spotted me. :D


    Foul/cold weather helmet: Nolan N44 Modular full-face (detachable chin bar) - a great helmet, IMHO, and relatively comfortable for all seasons, when necessary.


    Fair/warm weather helmet: No frills H-D half shell that I've had since I bought my 2003 Fatboy (15 yrs. ago). Considering replacing with H-D's new modular half shell (detachable collar and face mask) as a warm weather alternative to the Nolan. Looks bad-ass and packing two helmets (half and full) for long trips or the track is a PITA.


    Here's some pics of our riding headgear collection. Before the really cold weather forced me into the Nolan, I was favoring my modular ballcap (removable flap cap) for scooting around town. Seriously. :D




    In case you're wondering, the Mrs. loves the custom painted cat helmet I got her for her birthday a couple years ago. The only downside, as you can imagine, is the ears tend to increase wind buffeting, even though they are vented. I created the paint design on my computer, using Inkscape, then had the manufacturer's paint team lay it on during the assembly and finishing. As if the Slingshot didn't turn enough heads, driving around with Catwoman in the passenger seat definitely draws some additional attention. 8)

  • helmets - do you use one? and if yes what do you use?

    Quote from Boomer

    Wife and I wear helmets when on major highways cause on coms in Bluetooth sena, but looking for some coms for half helmets that work good, something small but works good on highway. Any suggestions

    Check out UCLEAR HBC200 Series boomless headset system. The comm mounts to the exterior while the headset (and charger) plugs in via a mini USB port on the comm. The boomless headsets come in different configurations for full face (speaker pods or earbuds) and half shells (earbuds). The Speaker pods have the mics built in and they work surprisingly well. Voice clarity with the boomless mics in our full face helmets is as good or better than our old wired boom mic system and I can have a clear phone conversation at highway speeds as long as the face shield is closed and my [removable] chin bar is in place.


    I haven't tried the earbuds yet (I plan on getting a couple sets this year, for our half shells) but I expect they are just as effective. The mics are located on the earbud cords, like your typical earbuds but they aren't hanging near your cheek, they are positioned inside the helmet above your brow. The only thing dangling out from the interior are the earbuds themselves and the connector to the comm module. All in all, it is a relatively discrete system and works very well.


    I almost forgot... a couple things I really like... you can buy extra pods/earbuds for each of your helmets then just switch the comm module to whichever helmet you are using. One system to rule them all. Also, the intercom can link with other non-UCLEAR systems for group intercom (up to 10 riders, I think). Music is also shareable with your passenger, but I haven't really tried to get that working yet. Since the SS system will only pipe music to one headset at a time, UCLEAR claims to be able to forward the input through the primary comm (driver headset) to the secondary comm (passenger headset) so you can listen to the same music source.