Did my Easter shopping at Harbor Freight

[navycop]

I went there to use the coupon for a 1/2 arbor press (saved 10.00). Then I picked up a little kit with two buffing wheels and some compund also a drill press locking plier to hold my pen vise...

 

[hanau]

I went and picked up 10x20 car canopy with the 25% off coupon.
Got the canopy, 4 anchors and tie down straps for $152 out the door.

And help sell one of their 900 watt generator for them.

 

[frank123]

Good choices.

You'll find more and more users for that arbor press (everything from setting rivets to pressing bearings in and out to precision assembly of pens or any other press fit parts you decide to make).

You can never have too many buffing wheels, one for each abrasive you use.

That locking plier clamp is one of the better things to have handy, makes it easy to hold about anything down and avoid the temptation to hold it by hand.

 

[Chatham PenWorks]

Just got back from there. Picked up one of the wood tool chests with the 25% off coupon. There was a thread about a month or so ago, where someone converted one into a pen cas, and I really liked the idea. With a little work, the drawers could even be used in a table display.

 

[PTsideshow]

I went and picked up 10x20 car canopy with the 25% off coupon.
Got the canopy, 4 anchors and tie down straps for $152 out the door.

And help sell one of their 900 watt generator for them.

A word about those canopies I have had one for going on three years.
The tarp is crap lasted a little over a year, I got some replacement trap for the canopy at HF on sale one lasted only 4 months. I will be replacing it with a heavy weight vinyl billboard tarp, this summer a 20 by 48 or so will get two of the out of it. Will just have to put grommets in them. No biggy.
A word of caution on those bungy cord with the ball on them they don't contain UV stabilizers, they rotted apart in about 15 months

After replacing them with better ones, we have had more winds this year then any other.

these started to snap as the winds and snow got going last winter

I replaced those with 24" heavy duty trucker trap bungy cords from Tractor Supply, the cord dia is about 3 times as thick. You can see how I wrapped them then hooked them haven't had and problems so far and we have had some gusting wings to 55 mph. The whole trap can move as one motion.

The anchors are for squat too.

One holds 80 pound bag ready mix.

I made up some aircraft cable loops to attach the ratchet ties down straps to at the top and long u bolt with hitch pins at the weight.

Here is the bottom one I need to make 4 more of the wheel ones to replace the old 25 block ones

Here is the hardware I used to lock the straps to the weights and frame.

I also used foam pipe insulation to cover all the joints that wore out on the other two traps zip ties work great.

And finally I mounted a two 500 watt halogen light head for the night
work.

I have to say that I am pleased with the frame and the way it has held up. I move it so the wife can park under it when it snows. and the move it back too the front of the shop garage doors for the other three season so I can have shade when working on stuff. Hope this may save you some PIA, if you know about it ahead of time.

Here are two of the places that recycle the vinyl billboard traps.
Billboard Tarps, Tarps, Discount Tarps, Used Billboard Vinyl, Hay Tarps, Pond Liners -- Billboard Tarp Warehouse | tarps

Home | Repurposed Materials This place may have them or not but lots of great ideas.
:clown:

 

[SloLouie]

It looks like the canopy was the the cheapest part. Seriously though, very nice upgrades!

 

[hanau]

Thanks for the link to the tarps, got to figure out which one to order.
I figure the tarp would last thru the summer and I will have to replace it.

I ended up putting self tapping screws at all joints.

I also used the anchors that screw into the ground and conneted them to the frame with a ratchet straps.

 

[JamesB]

Just got back from there. Picked up one of the wood tool chests with the 25% off coupon. There was a thread about a month or so ago, where someone converted one into a pen cas, and I really liked the idea. With a little work, the drawers could even be used in a table display.

I have one of those too, I'll have to search out that thread. Right now I'm just storing blanks in the drawers.