Tin Ceiling for the Bathroom (michael)

Tin Ceiling for the Bathroom

We have been looking at ceilings among everything else that goes into one of these behemoths. We have seen wood, as in: paneling, shiplap, bead board and exotic woods. Then there was carpet, both fine nap and shag. Plastic, cloth, mirrors, wallpaper and more. We did not see any embossed tin. We wanted something different in our bus. We had some tin leftover from a home we built, so I used it on the bathroom ceiling. Its a small space and Honey can see how it will look. Yes, I went right over the existing ceiling. The 2'X2' panels were quick to install with self-tapping screws. Tin snips were used for all the cuts. I backed out the screws in the ceiling trim, tucked the cut end under the lip then tightened the screws. Christi came out when I had two panels hanging, gave me a stink face and left. Then she came when I had over half of the ceiling up and said "this just might work". Then our dear friends Michael & Shirley Trotter came over and she was showered with compliments about it. I think she likes it. I put it on the shower ceiling also, it flowed better. I will seal the edges with clear caulk once I get her seal of approval. I love it. I think its a great solution. Its quick and we did not lose any head room.

All the Best, Michael & Christi See our other Blog;http://michaelhargisshow.blogspot.com/

Plasma Cut Window Skins (michael)

Plasma Cut Window Skins Today my good friend, George Couch, plasma cut the window skins for our bus. George is the owner of Desert Rose Iron Works here in Tombstone, AZ. We picked up 5-4'X10' sheets of 20 gauge cold rolled steel. I took it to George's shop along with a side window frame. He put a tape on the frame, scribbled some numbers in a pad. Then he entered the numbers into his computer and this machine came to life. I helped him put the sheet steel on the table and the plasma cutter went to work. This thing cut through the steel like butter. It was fast and accurate. The plasma cutter made short work of of my steel. Thank you George, you're the best! Now, home to clean, prime and paint.

All the Best, Michael & Christi See our other Blog;http://michaelhargisshow.blogspot.com/

The "Must Have Tool Kit" for a bus (michael)

I was on the the MAK bus conversion site on-line, Chating and we starting talking about tools. I realized I didn't have a clue as to what should be in a bus tool box. So this AM I posted the question and bam! The respounces started coming in and still coming. So I will up-date this post as needed. Here is the question; What is your "Must have" Over The Road Tool Kit? We are converting our 1987 MCI 102A3 and would like to know what tools you would have on board? We will be on tour for aprox. 2 years+. And where do you stow them? PIC"S PLEASE. We will be making a list. The LIST:Coach-Net road service and a high-limit Visa card. Everything else is optional.Sean Two full sets of combination wrenches from 3/8 to 1-1/4. 1/4, 3/8 & 1/2" socket sets in English 3/8" drive metric sockets, 50' of air hose with tire chucks and a blow nozzle, Multimeter, wiring pliers, side cutters, vice grips, water pump, pliers, needle nose pliers, forceps, Drawer full of screwdrivers from jewellers' to really big, Hot glue gun, soldering kits, hammers, 3/8 cordless drill & a complete drill index, 3/4" drive socket set, 1" impact with tire sockets to fit the bus, 1" breaker bar with a 4 foot snipe, 2 x 20 ton bottle jacks, a variety of C-clamps, staple gun, caulking gun, electronic leak detector, Cat 5 cable tester, 2 really big (like 14") Crescent wrenches, Oil and fuel filter wrenches, 2 1/2 gallon yellow diesel can, filled, crimper and a selection of crimp-on electrical terminals, 5-tool combo kits, (the kit came with a drill, sabre saw, reciprocating saw, mini circular saw, chain saw, and flashlight, right-angle drill, Jack stands & cribbing, big channel locks, A/C guages, Magnifying glass, dremel tool, bullseye glass repair kits, hacksaw, butane torch, step ladder, those little stretchy numbers with the round ball on the end (?), And as we discussed last night, that most versatile tool of all --- the IR thermometer, utility knife, hammer, handheld grinder, heat gun, 5 foot folding ladder also stows under a bunk bed inside, I carry a parts drawer set of various lamps ( marker, turn sig etc), peumatic connectors, Tee's, valves, of various sizes,DOT tubing, 6 amp 12V battery charger, Don't forget the duck tape! (DreamscapeEagle) LOL, up-dates to come. Now I know what to get the bus for X-Mass. All the Best, Michael & Christi See our other Blog;http://michaelhargisshow.blogspot.com/

Laundromat Blues (christi)

Laundromat Blues So here I sit at the local laundromat/carwash combo in Tombstone, Arizona. I found a tablet of neon pink paper in my Jeep console, to record this moment in time. I didn't expect to find myself here for at least two more months. But let me explain my dilemma. (Those of the male persuasion may find this terribly boring, so consider yourself warned.) There I was crunching on my usual breakfast of yogurt and homemade granola, when I noticed a strange smell. Kind of a cross between burning rubber and an electrical malfunction. I actually stopped in mid-sentence (no comments from the men that are still reading, please) and said, "What is that smell?" Before I could get the whole thought out, Michael was flying off the barstool, headed for the washing machine, which was billowing smoke. OK, maybe not billowing but the room was filling with smoke. As Michael unplugged the smoking beast, I opened windows and doors to clear the air of the stench. Fortunately it's a warm Spring morning, so we didn't have to choke and freeze at the same time. It's not like we weren't warned. The washer has been making a loud roaring sound for the last two weeks during the spin cycle. But with bus obsession and all, we just ignored it. I just hoped it could hold out a couple more months. I needed that time to acquire the appropriate laundromat attitude. The laundromat is the only thing I can think of that I don't look forward to about going on the road. I just want to throw in a load of clothes and get on with the other chores of the day. The laudromat requires sorting, packing and loading the laundry into the car. Gathering hangers, detergent and softener. Then there's the quarters. I have actually started saving quarters for our tour. You never can trust the change machines. And you have to have reading material or something else to keep you from the boredom that comes with waiting for the rinse cycle. There's also the other issues: packing 6 loads of laundry into the back of the Jeep, only to get there and have all the machines full with a line of people waiting OR have all the machines full, but no one there to extract their clean clothes. Now, I have been guilty a time or two of that one, but it's still annoying! Basically, it's just the inconvenience of it all. I know, put on my big girl panties and deal with it. And I will. I just wanted some attitude adjustment time. Instead, I was thrown headlong into the laundromat blues. I was lucky today, I was the only one there. And for the next couple of months, I only have to wash the clothes there. I still have a working electric dryer and my favorite solar dryer, commonly known as the clothesline. I'm really going to miss that. I actually find it very relaxing to hang out the clothes and there's nothing like the smell of clothes hung out in our clean Arizona air. I know, corny. But now that I have been thrust into the laundromat life once again, I will accept it with grace, and patience and a good book. Maybe even a glass of wine. After all, it's five-o'clock somewhere. All the Best, Michael & Christi See our other Blog;http://michaelhargisshow.blogspot.com/

Refrigerator, Freebie. Well, almost. (michael)

Refrigerator, Freebie. Well, almost. We got a call from our dear friends Doc and Mary Roach. They asked if we could pick up some appliances from their rental house 30 miles away. We said we could. Then he came back with, "OK, then you can have the refrigerator for the bus." Say What! And you can have the oak cabinet island. $$$CHA-CHING!!! They are just the right color that Christi wants in her kitchen. Another check off my list. The refrigerator will fit through the side window. Not bad for a half days work. We are going to need 4 strong men and a small boy to do it. Lol.

All the Best, Michael & Christi See our other Blog;http://michaelhargisshow.blogspot.com/