Have any ridiculously long, unfinished projects?
 

After seeing Syncroids kitchen remodel thread, and how fast he finished. I got to thinkin about how many unfinished things I have., and how my wife gets on me for starting something new before I finish one.
What projects ( hobby or home projects)have you started a long time ago and have not finished yet.

I have a walk-in closet that I started to build in April. Havent touched it since July. Took down a wall in the bedroom to expand it and build the closet.

Outdoor pizza oven. Poured the footing. I bought all the stuff last yr, still sitting under my deck.

My outdoor G-scale train layout. started spring of '06. Ive laid 60 ft of track so far(have about 260ft more to go)

A wooden ship model that I started in '98. I work on it every couple of months.

About 12 car models in various stages on construction. Some I started about 3 yrs ago.

I have to finish up the porch, touch up paint.

Never started the walk-in closet (second floor covered porch conversion), the cost in supplies scared me 12 years ago.

I have a beautiful 1984 944 sitting in the garage for about a year now with a battery minder that leaks water and overheats.:(

I got probably half a dozen (or more) sprinklers that don't work or are marginal... drives my dad nuts but fortunately they go off in the morning when he's usually not around.

Also have a wing from a balsa wood R/C glider I inherited from my dad when he got half way through building it and lost interest that I finished. The wing is hung in my garage as an art object. When I discovered how fragile they are and that everyone in R/C gliders was going to the cheaper more durable Styrofoam gliders I figured it wasn't worth the effort.

Life!

I'm a bit different with home projects in that I do 99% of the work quickly and then never seem to finish the last 1%. For example, my last project was a major renovation of the downstairs 1/2 bath. I added in some small in the wall shelves. Finished months ago and still need to put the trim up around the shelves. Not sure why I am this way.

My 7 and 4 year olds.

Thinking they may be a lifetime project.

I think my Carrera is one project that I don't feel I will ever finish. Every time I complete something on it, I get another idea for it. Suspension is next on the list.
VINMAN, We were lucky on the kitchen remodel. All the outside people that we used delivered exactly on time. The rest of it was on time because we did the rest ourselves.

On another note...I think another unfinished project would be my relationship with my wife and daughter. Its an on going thing. :D It keeps getting better.

I have a project guitar that I never finished because I can't remember how to wire up the pickup and knobs. It has a non-matching Kramer neck and body, Floyd Rose and some Seymour Duncan humbucker. I need to slap it together and give it to a buddy before I move. It's a beater, but he'll use it more than I will.

The disc brake conversion on my 66 Mustang. I completely replaced the rear end and installed the disc on it, and it just stalled out. I had to drive it out of my garage on Sunday so that I could clean it all up to make room for the 4 post lift that gets delivered on Thursday, and I really wished I'd have finished. Driving without brakes sucks.

Hey, my '69 911 that I started over two years ago that's setting in the back of the driveway covered & on stands. But now I've started building this damned house, and am thinking I won't have time to work on the Porsche until it's parked in the garage in the house after I finish that project. I do have to finish it or my wife will definitely kill me.

My house. 1926 vintage bought in December '01 and did almost everything. Pulled down loaded up acoustic ceiling to find the damaged plaster it was covering. Pulled that down and put up sheet rock. Crown molding/repainted everything, stripped and primed/painted all the 75 year old door hinges, latches, and heating grates throughout the house. Remodeled the kitchen including tearing out a wall to the dining room and put in a bar, crown molding everywhere. Installed tile throughout the kitchen. Moved washer/dryer to the basement after installing an up-pump system to get the water out of there. A new backyard including all hardscaping, spa, patio, lots of tropical plants.

But now? I have molding across the newly ( 2-1/2 years ago...eek!) sliding door that I have never put in. Trim out arounf the tile in the kitchen at the back door. And biggest of all, finish tearing apart the bathroom I already started two months ago and re-plumb/finish it. All of a sudden (2 years ago) I ran out of gas. I just can't seem to sustain my efforts like I used to. I have all the tools, all the ability and knowledge and I just can't motivate myself. Now I realize all the rooms probably need re-painting again. It has been 6 years in some rooms. Will it never end? This thread has me thinking again though. Some pix of the work:

Backyard After (It was a weedy, unshaded hole before):
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189543978.jpg
The driveway with my old 951 and my Honda 70 - Found beside a trash dumpster. Taken apart it is its own unfinished project. But at least you can kinda see the patio
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189544032.jpg

The sliding wood doors I installed. Since stained and stucco painted but molding along bottom inside unfinished for WAY too damn long:

Oops. Here's the sliding doors:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189544269.jpg

Sorry, I can't help it. A couple more. Sooner, my energetic helper. The 100 lb Labrador wonder dog:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189544302.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189544379.jpg

+1.
Once the big part is done, I can't seem to finish the details. Hardwood parquet at the bottom of the downstairs landing. 4 months ago. The trim is still sitting next to the stairs.

Thats my biggest problem. the finishing touches. I have a 5 inch piece of moulding left to put up in our bathroom, since last fall. I tell my wife im not putting it up just to pi$$ her off.:D

I try not to finish anything. In fact, I probably will not fini

I have the opposite problem. Once I start a project, I can't relax at all until it is done. If it's a long-ish term car project (paint or body, or engine out of the car stuff), I'll work on it for days on end until 2:00 in the morning, until it is done.

Which is odd, because I'm not really a compulsive person, and am pretty laid back. But a car or house project, just can't stand it unfinished and can't stop thinking about it until it is done.

Good thread im also like kurt v first off cars never get done your always doing something to them. and thats a good thing for wayne. As far as the railroad the poster was talking about thats another thing that Never gets completed always working on the railroad hmmm ive heard that sayin before. This thread should continue with everyone saying hey i got that project i started long ago done. yea right. ok here are some pics of my railroad hope the poster gets insentive.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189549200.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189549279.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189549386.jpg

Nope, no unfinished project here.......

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189550714.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189550733.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189550751.jpg

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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189550794.jpg

Its been sitting like this for a few months now. I should have finished it before I bought the boat. X-mas bonus should wrap it up.

BTW: any experience putting wood floors in a bathroom? I've heard using Elmers glue in between boards will keep the moisture from damaging it.

Just sold this yesterday. never finished it and I'll be lucky if I can finish the E this year.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/150037-project-73-911-r-rs-week-1-a.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/151147-project-73-911-r-rs-week-2-a.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/152355-project-73-911-r-rs-week-3-a.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/153579-project-73-911-r-rs-week-4-a.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/155770-project-73-911-r-rs-week-5-a.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/160261-project-73-911-r-rs-week-6-a.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/160465-project-73-911-r-rs-week-6-2-a.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/163312-project-73-911-r-rs-week-7-part-1-a.html#post1316571

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/163313-project-73-911-r-rs-week-7-part-2-a.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/164648-project-73-911-r-rs-week-8-a.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/168296-project-73-911-r-rs-week-9-10-a.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/170863-project-73-911-r-rs-week-11-12-a.html

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/171943-project-73-911-r-rs-week-13-a.html

:D:D:D Hilari

Four Door72, great lookin layout you have! I plan on doing the bridge thing over my fish pond too, although mines gonna be a wooden trestle bridge.

All of my projects take at least 4 times longer to complete than my original estimate and sometimes much longer. You'd think I'd learn, but I haven't.

Helped a friend get his SC running after 8 years sitting. Estimate 1 week. Actual time 2 years.
Replaced siding and painted house, Est 1 month, Act 4 months
Rebuild 930 engine and EFI, Est 3 months, Act 2.5 years
Remodel Kitchen, Est 6 months, Act 18 months and counting :(.

When I get down about how long my projects take, I sit back (, have another beer) and think about all the people out there that don't accomplish anything no matter how much time they have. Yeh, I take forever to finish a project, but I do finish them and I finish them right.

My poor long suffering husband has assorted projects that meet this discription.... 72 factory 2wd blazer, 80 slantnose cabriolet with 3.2...
angelahttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189600812.jpghttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189600893.jpg

Suggestion: Next project you decide to do? Estimate time to completion, multiply by 4, and now you know how long it will really take you. Still want to do it?

74 - 911 restoration 8 years (but finished and sold)
kitchen - 4 years, long enough that it needs REpainting and it's not done
1929 Hudson - 6 years and counting, not 1/2 done

Yes :rolleyes:

Even if I multiply by 10, I want to do the projects.

At least I've come to realization that I can't build my own design car from scratch, which has been a life long dream. It would never get done. Maybe I can start it when I retire, then I'll have something to work on until I die.

Anyone can start a project.
Finishing a project is a whole different ballgame.

I have a customer that I served when he was in HS. He went off to College, Graduated , got married and had kids. His kids are now in HS, and he looks me up to supply his HS Age Son. We get to talking old times, and he says "I remember you were working on a red car that was in the driveway. "yeah" I said, "that was my GT6 Triumph, good memory". He said "how did it come out".

I said "I'm still working on it"

When single, I built my minimax ultralight from scratch/plans in 1.5 years.

I have about 8 yrs in my current build from scratch/plans airplane project, a "DR 107 One Design". It is as they say.... 90% completed with 90% to go.


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I typically finish my projects, but with all the hobbies I have gotten involved with, I have quite a few items in need of repair/restoration and I have to try to keep myself from wasting valuable time "thinking" about the future projects as it definitely cuts into the limited amount of time I spend I current projects.