My man cave build - UK edition

[astrochex]

Congrats on the new employment Captain!

I’m also glad to see you get to add a significant toy to the build.

How do the neighbors like the beautiful “new” addition?

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Thanks Bill, this thread has a long way to go before I'm done

Thanks A930 Rocket!

Thanks Paul, I'm looking forward to going back to work, especially as this time I'll be in the same building as manufacturing so get to see my work being made into race car parts

Neighbours seem to like what we've done, hope so as since fitting the windows we've increased the value of the neighbour hood

On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is feet up drinking a beer, admiring our work and 10 is my body just can't take anymore punishment, Today was tough, close to a 9! Started late morning and finished early evening, Mrs Ahab helped a bit with shovelling, without this and the 30min lie down I had, I'm not sure I'd have finished this today.

First job was using this mighty beast, a petrol engined, water cooled 18"/450mm diamond blade floor saw, wasn't too frightening to use

Had a neat adjustable guide for following the edge of my painted lines, I added a 2"/50mm offset to make the hole slightly over sized

Top tip, make a light cut on all sides as the painted lines are quickly obscured by the cement slurry

Took 4 passes on each side, cutting down 1.5"/40mm at a time and taking things slowly. Listening to the engine note was a good indicator to check I wasn't moving too fast



That was the easy part, next job was breaking up the concrete, the electric breaker weighed a ton and got heavier with each impact. We didn't cut costs on the concrete slab as at the time I was unsure about car lift choice

The concrete came out in lots of itsy bitsy bits which made it difficult to break up, this was the 1st layer of steel reinforcing mesh



Getting down to the 2nd of layer mesh wasn't as hard as the 1st layer



Last bit of concrete was the easiest and came out easily, slab measured 6-7" thick, next job is to dig out enough space to pour another slab but that will have to wait for a while

[javadog]

It’s too late to mention this and for it to be useful but when we remove concrete like that, we saw it into chunks and then just lift it out.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by javadog

It’s too late to mention this and for it to be useful but when we remove concrete like that, we saw it into chunks and then just lift it out.

I did think of that but decided it was just to easy

Not really, I was concerned cutting through all the steel mesh might cost me a replacement diamond blade on top of the rental so took the slow, steady and cheap approach

Cutting was so much easier/quicker than the demolition so can see why you use this approach

[javadog]

Removing some thing that size would be about a 15 minute operation, in my world.

And electric jackhammers are just never used. 90 pound, pneumatic jackhammer, minimum. Not that we ever do that, anymore.

You live out in the boondocks, so you probably don’t have access to the concrete demolition contractors that I do. That are endless companies here that do just concrete sawing and/or removal and nothing else

[Captain Ahab Jr]

This Sat. Mrs Ahab accompanied me for a 'stressful' drive through the beautiful Cotswold countryside to pick up my car lift

She was my navigator and more importantly along for emotional support as normally I drive a desk instead of driving a 7 ton truck down narrow lanes and through villages built for horse and carts

Much to my relief we made it back safely and started the hard work of unloading it all. Even with 10 people we struggled, heaviest single piece was the ramp with the hydraulic cylinder weighing in at a hefty 530lbs/240kgs

How my garage looks now, 4400lbs/2000kgs of steel and I've no idea how it all goes together or how I'm going to do it



First impression is it's well made but proof will be if it all fits together easily and works, should look like this when done



It's big, hope I've measured everything correctly or I'm going to have to get my angle grinder out and do some chopping

[javadog]

A triple decker? Never seen one of those yet…

[Bill Douglas]

Very impressive. No wonder it's heavy!

[astrochex]

Just another challenge for ya Captain.

Perhaps pulley systems will help carry the load.

[porsche tech]

Doesn’t look like an addition…looks like it was always like that. Nice job!

[astrochex]

Originally Posted by porsche tech

Doesn’t look like an addition…looks like it was always like that. Nice job!

Agreed, thats why I put new in quotes.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Javadog, this is the lift I originally planned to buy, basically just two 4 post lifts or an 8 post lift combo, was all too chunky for my limited garage working space



My 4 post lift is a neater/more compact design, lower platform is used to move the upper platform and when both platforms are on the floor the ramp height is only 6"/150mm high

Bill, I hope it is, fingers crossed it all bolts together easily and works out of the box

Paul, got a bigger challenge going on, started work last week with a new F1 team, busy getting up to speed with a new CAD system/operating systems and finding my way around the place

Everyone is so young many weren't even born when I started F1, hoping this old dog will learn a few new tricks

porsche tech, thanks, it's taking so long it's had a few years to weather in and exactly the look we were trying to achieve

[daepp]

Originally Posted by Captain Ahab Jr

Looking great Cap'n. And I, too have never seen a three tier lift before.

Too bad you didn't built a 12 foot deep pit before you poured your garage slab. That way you could access any car on the lift without disturbing the others' slumber...

[javadog]

Any chance of naming that new F1 team?

[matthewb0051]

Or any chance of getting me a job in F1. Heck, I'll even just sweep the floors

[carambola]

dude. rotation is the key.
have a twelve car garage with a shovel and some sweat

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Hi javadog, sorry, I'd prefer not to say which team but will say I'm really enjoying watching my previous design work at Honda perform on track in the Red Bull and Alpha Tauri cars without the stress of worrying about causing a DNF

Matthew, send me your resume

Chris, good idea, during a moment of madness I thought of adding a 2 post lift, along with a bolted frame on the top ramp so I could then stack 4 cars

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by Captain Ahab Jr

H during a moment of madness I thought of adding a 2 post lift, along with a bolted frame on the top ramp so I could then stack 4 cars

Yes, at a certain point it is considered madness. I think the triple car one will be just fine.

[GH85Carrera]

Capt, like the rest, I am amazed at all of your work, and high quality of work the you do.

I wanted a pit for my little one car scissor lift. As a guy with ample grey hair, I decided from the start to hire it done. 6 guys showed up in two pickups. The sawed the hole, used a pneumatic jack hammer, and broke it up and hauled it all out to the trucks. The went down to the sand from the initial construction. Put in the rebar, and poured the new pit, the walls, and a trench for my hydraulic line, cleaned up and and were gone that day. I did not have to go to the Dr. with a injured back, I did not have to haul away the old concrete, and I would never have figured out how to form the pit walls and floor like they did. It was money well spent for me.

You are a lot tougher than I. I do know my limits, and that was way over my limit. I do love my lift, and when not in use, it is sunk into the floor, and covered with a piece of plywood and there is nothing in my way of parking there in my daily driver.

I can't store multiple cars, but I figure three cars for two people is enough for me.

Keep up the amazing work.

[Mike Andrew]

More amazing work, Capt.
Try Line is getting closer....