AC in the Elevator Room: Because Sweaty Machines Are So Last Season

So in less than two weeks, we might see a working elevator video. Exciting times for Chris and this building. Well on his way to getting a working and insurable building.

A lot of repair people when they replace a mechanical part of something they leave the old one. They'll say it's so you can get it repaired and have a spare but in reality it's usually just because it's heavy and they don't want to carry it away and also if they take it they'll have to find a place to throw it away. Most likely all of your "spare" elevator parts are bad

FOCUS…..! ❤ I lovingly mean , let’s get to the job at hand, all that guessing is for Neil. ❤

Chris, use Rockwool insulation. Cuts easily with a bread knife, stays in place when installed, does not need a vapor barrier, is fire-proof, and can be reused elsewhere if needed. A little more expensive than fiberglass insulation but well worth the money, in my opinion.

Hey Chris. The screens were on the inside. The hole in the screens was to be able to reach the handle and push the window open. Then you would close the little hole to keep bugs out. Good thinking on your part but I'm sure the workers could smoke while they worked. Cheers

Chris, did you get this room cleaned out? I hope you hauled all that stuff downstairs. You can do a thorough search of things when you have it downstairs. Your copper thing is an oil can. Yes , it would be nice to find the lid. I think it’s been suggested to get your tool room done. Every time you find a tool, put it in this room.

Chris, you are making great progress, so don’t get discouraged by any of the other remaining work! You do need to put that tool room/ workshop at the top of your list though…it will help you a lot to have a centralized space to keep all your tools and work on smaller projects. Oh yeh and Behr-Manning…..the Behr part is very familiar!!! I wonder if it is the same Behr as Behr paint? PS. I think you would have been better off putting a couple of strong fans up there in the elevator room and opening up the little door to the roof to create a cross breeze than putting up all that foam board and using a air conditioner.

Food for thought. You may want to get that leaky oil tested for PCBs. That can create a whole other set of headaches for you, but it's better to learn it now rather than later. Norton still makes sandpaper of various types. I use it for sharpening plane and chisel blades. They left the old motor up there because it's heavy, and given the current set up do YOU want to haul that puppy out of there now lol? I haven't seen an oil can like that in years! Hope you find the cap to the thing and polish that puppy up. We had one when I was a kid and it was old then (had a couple of different sizes). Lots of progress being made - I'm impressed!

Hi Chris, You can look it up as well, but Norton purchased Behr-Manning in 1931. They were in Watervliet NY just outside of Troy, NY.

Chris if you're going to work in that hot elevator machine room I would put in a fan to keep you guys cool because that room is going to be real hot with all this hot temperature we're getting

One of my favorite videos. That shelf will clean up nicely! Old wood just has a special look/grain that can't be replicated. The copper oil can is absolutely amazing, too! How exciting to see it come together! Every day a new treasure! What an honor to all those who worked there to have you preserve as much of it as you can!

Bob is such a smart and capable Dude, hats off to him.

you are making headway. Keep it going!. The heat load with no insulation on the elevator room will probably be too much for even a larger BTU AC unit. One option would be to head to Home Depot and get the foil backed insulation boards. They come in several thicknesses from 1 inch up to 3 inches. Place the foil side facing outward. The foil will help cut the IR radiation into that small room. Once the sheet metal on the roof gets hot, it will continue to radiate into the elevator room until it loses its stored heat.

It was a pleasure to meet you the other day. I hope you found your billfold! Love it when Bob is there to help you and I a, looking forward to the video with Neil helping you. Keep plugging away.

Cant wait to see the elevator functioning again!

You gotta find yourself a local Boy Scout Troop or Church. They always have spare free labor. My Eagle Scout Project was similar to what you are doing now.

Great content. Thanks Chris...finally I think I've found another person as obsessed with old industrial buildings, machinery, products, and processes as me... almost. ;) P.S. Retainer strap for your glasses..CVS. Walgreens, etc...couple of bucks dude..;)

GDAY CHRIS BEEN WATCHING FROM THE BEGINNING AND YOU HAVE HIT SOME MILESTONES WITH THE BUILDING AND YOU HAVEN'T HAD DONE MOST OF IT YOURSELF MY FRIEND, HECK YOU HAVE INDOOR PLUMBING WITH RUNNING WATER AND A FLUSHING TOILET 🤣 , GREAT STUFF TAKE CARE BROTHER 😁

I'm sure you realize this already. But I didn't see the vent on the back of the air conditioner that does have to be vintage outside to vent the hot air off i don't know if you did that or not, but that could be why it's not working as well.

Also probably too late (depending on when this was filmed) BUT you have a ton of not usable sprinkler pipe that is LONG and fits perfectly in your hand.. kinda like a stair banister!