Good tip on the respirator. I like having safety equipment close by all the time so I will use it. I tried many different knee pads but they all seemed bulky, heavy and slipped around. I bought these cheapos on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FKPZ2RK?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
They are light enough I can wear them all day. Maybe they won't last as long but they are there when I need them. I also carry a pair of 3M push in ear plugs (not the roll up kind) in my pocket so I have them when I need them. If I was using tools all day I would use ear muffs.

__________________
Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT

Allow me to recommend these, sort of the monster Cadillac/Bentley model:



Nothing lightweight about these, the nice part is the way the thigh stabilizing attachment keeps them from rolling away from where you want them. It happens more with the hard face type.

I had total knee replacement surgery on my right knee last September. It’s been a net benefit but a bit of an ordeal. One thing that’s really lousy, it hurts and feels weird as hell to kneel on that knee. These pads make it bearable. The padding under the hard face really supports the entire knee area pretty well.

Spendy - $50 to $60.

https://tinyurl.com/4h5365vp

Also at Amazon.

__________________
1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Holly Molly do you need a permit to operate those? Thankfully I'm still on my original knees but my wife has 2 total replacements. She can't kneel on them yet after a few years.

__________________
Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT

I'm old enough to remember when it was a regular thing to use galvanized water pipe and fittings for hand rails in the shop, school yards, factories and so on .

As you mentioned they get dull looking soon and wear well, like iron .

How did your fence header pipe handrail come out ? .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Well I have not made them yet-that's what the tubing is for I'm pursuing now. I went to the place today to see what they have. They also have square and rectangular tubing that would work well for some gates I'm planning. I decided the original fence top tubing is not thick enough but it got me on the path to the correct material.
Here's a stick shift 350SL I'm drooling over now Nate
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1978-mercedes-benz-350sl/
Maybe you can hold onto it for me for a year or so until I get my garage done

__________________
Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT

Well that looks like fun .

You'd not want it stored by me ~ yesterday I pulled the tarp off my old BMW /6 and discovered a pile of chewed up acorns on the seat ~ I guess I'm lucky (?) that the damn squirrels didn't invade the air box or chew up the wires....

If you really want an R107 I'd give that one a really close & hard look, be aware the M116 engine will easily break traction in any gear/speed at will .

I had a '74 350SLC that was a beast ~ I couldn't resist driving it stupidly all the time so I sold it on before wrecking it or getting arrested .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

I like the simplicity of the early R107's. Plus they are not as pricy. If I mod it a little I won't have to worry about reducing it's value. As long as it's rust free. Lot's of So Cal cars out there still in rich peoples garages.

__________________
Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT

Oh yes, five recently showed up in the local LKQ yards in So. Cal. several were in pretty good shape, a sad thing .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

When I lived in Ca and Nv I would find them in the Pick n Pull on a regular basis. They were not damaged-just not worth driving anymore. Most looked like they were in someone's yard for many years. Almost all were SLC's. Both my project "5.6" blocks came from 450SLC's.

__________________
Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT

Yes, but this batch is all R107's and most have the hard top .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

The 350SL got bid up to $29K with reserve not met. I could buy a nice 450SL for a third of that. I guess when the time comes I will build myself a poor mans 350SL. I don't really care about the exclusivity. 99.9% of people would not know the difference.

__________________
Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT

No worries, as you said : there's plenty more out there and *much* cheaper too .

Building your own is always my choice although I'm not physically up to that these days .

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better

Last check there are 6 R107's listed on BAT. They seem to have become more collectable and pricier as of late.

__________________
Tony H
W111 280SE 3.5 Coupe
Manual transmission

Past cars:
Porsche 914 2.0
'64 Jaguar XKE Roadster
'57 Oval Window VW
'71 Toyota Hilux Pickup Truck-Dad bought new
'73 Toyota Celica GT