January 29 -31, 2025 - Tool Box in the Trash - Golf Cart Rattle - Workbench Backboard Upgrade

My Blog Reflection

Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.

Mary Lou Retton, American gymnast

January 29, 2025

Yesterday morning Celina called me to let me know there was a large toolbox sitting out in the trash on her street that I might want to look at. I went over in the golf cart and found it sitting at the curb for a trash pickup. All of the drawers were there and each pulled in and out easily. It was a little rusty but I can deal with that. Here is a picture as I found it.

I brought it home because it is considerably larger than the one I have been using. I'll be able to store more tools in it. LOL

To prepare it for a new paint job I scraped off the loose rust, pried off the emblems, and taped the chrome handles.

I gave the rust spots an initial coat of red paint and let it sit overnight to dry thoroughly. I will paint the entire box tomorrow.

For supper we had our first smash burgers on the griddle. While they tasted great, they fell apart on me. I couldn't get the crust on them I wanted before flipping them. The medley of potatoes, green peppers, and onions were also tasty. While I was cooking it was getting dark. I need to start earlier so I can better see what I'm doing. LOL

January 30, 2025

Once the sun was out nice and bright I painted the tool box.

I will let it sit in the sun all day to set the paint.  A nice toolbox for a $6.00 can of paint and a little elbow grease. 

While the toolbox paint was drying I moved to another project.

Since we have owned the golf cart it has had a rattle when riding around. I crawled under it and pulled on everything that could possibly cause a rattle. Nothing appeared to be the culprit. When I stood back up I found that the back step was bolted on the sides but the two bolts on the cross member were loose. 

This could definitely be our rattle. If so it will be an easy fix. I got out my sockets and wrenches and crawled under to tighten the bolts. To my surprise I found that neither bolt had a nut on it. I was shocked that both bolts had remained in place and not vibrated out for who knows how long - years for sure. Here is a picture of one.

I pulled out one bolt and headed to Home Depot to get two flat washers, lock washers, and nuts. When I got there I found that the bolts were metric. I never would have guessed that since this is a 1989 golf cart. The back seat is newer so I suppose it is entirely metric. In any event, I found the appropriate nuts and headed home. Of course none of my sockets or open-end wrenches fit metric bolts. These are the metric wrenches I have here in Florida.

They did the trick and the washers and nuts were installed on each side in short order.

A test ride quickly determined that I had found the rattle. Good news.

January 31, 2025

I purchased a piece of 1/2 inch plywood off of Facebook for $2.00. If I had my truck down here I would have bought a half dozen of these pieces to bring home. They had a pallet of them. I don't know what they had been used for but they were in nice condition.

I'm using this board to expand and improve the backboard of my workbench. Here is a picture of the original backboard. It was a piece of particle board with nails in it to hold tools. Last year I pulled out the nails and I added two magnetic strips to hold tools. I will add more magnetic strips to the new board.

Today I cut the plywood to fit. The prior owners left several gallons of white ceiling paint here so I used a little to paint the board white. Kelly says I will regret painting it white but I don't think so.

For an international lunch we went to a Korean restaurant. It was a small place but the food was excellent and reasonable. Most of their business was carry-out but we ate in. We had enough left to bring home for supper.

After lunch I finished up the backboard project. Here is a picture of the new backboard installed with two additional magnetic strips and a second outlet on the right side of the backboard. Room for more tools!!!

I am happy with how it turned out. Here is a picture with the reconditioned tool box next to it. Lots of tools in a compact area.

No more projects on the immediate horizon.