60+ year old thread.

Morning Sue!

 

Good morning everyone.

 

I am having fun firing the milling machine and Oxy/Acetylene Torch.

My band saw cuts at an angle. 1/2" by 5" hot rolled ends up with 1/4" taper (not good). So cut oversize, toss a 3/4" stubby carbide mill, and make nice clean cuts so I have a square piece.

Jogging my memory as O/A doesn't like mill scale. I know to wire brush to electric weld but forgot about the challenge for O/A welding (Scale burns off at higher temp, so it tends to reflect the heat, best to de-mill it).

My Actelyene regulator is not happy under 3 PSI, so go up a couple of tip sizes so I can run six psi.

Hard time dialing in my flame. Oh, wait, my old teacher, had some great tips about that (Kent White taught me to O/A weld aluminum).
https://www.tinmantech.com/faqs/

The dirty tip kept popping. My son reminded me of my wooden block tip. Put the lighted torch against a wood block, and the pop clears the torch tip. Good thing I taught him those wonderful tips and tricks, as I have forgotten too many of them!

I got a few tacks done but was shaking too much to run a bead. Thankfully my son stopped by and did the heavy welds for me.

Amongst my scrape pile in my old 1 1/2 ton Hein Werner Orange jack. I bought it for $100 in 1975, original owner's business went belly up. He was a great mechanic and a lousy business owner. I kept thinking someday I'll rebuild it, but I sold my lathe. It was a great tool that paid for itself, helping me pay for college. I haven't the heart to toss it into a scrap pile, but part of it to live on for my next project.

I still have too much good junk, including the old lawn mower. In my old house, we had an HOA with noise and lawn ordinances. One day I couldn't get the old gas mower started, but I had a crazy idea on a surplus motor ($10 brand new at auction) and how to mow my lawn. 1995. I might have been ahead of my time. Sadly takes too long for a 1.5-acre lawn, but it was perfect for my suburban yard (less than 1/4 acre). I had a neighbor one night ask why I was "vacuuming the lawn."

I'll post up my latest and craziest hopefully in a few weeks.

 

In my experience there is no such thing as a quick, simple project.

 

I love figuring out how to make something useful. And dump runs mean a chance to scavenge and bring good stuff home to be reused. The last run yielded six perfectly good railroad ties. At thirty bucks apiece around my neck of the woods, that's $180, and saving the landfill from burying something of use. On a prior run I scored an electric motor with little use on it, only the switch not working. Now you have me thinking about the mower... hmmmmm...

 

Post of the Day right there^^^^^

 

Alan, just curious why are you installing EV stations at your apartments? Is it currently required by law/ regulation? Seems like a huge expense.

 

Nice, clean work! Not what my Master Electrcians gave me. Too bad all the meters are digital now; can't see them go backwards!

Time expands to fill all voids. Simple projects are nothing but mass creation of voids.

 

Good question. Electric is here to stay, for better or worse, and I’ve always been one for staying ahead of the game. Chargers are mandated for new construction, so if I’m to compete on an equal footing, I want to offer chargers also.

 

Oh, but you can! Our meter has digital rectangles that move across the bottom of the meter as we draw electricity. While they were installing the panels, it began to move backwards when 11 of the 39 panels were online.

 

Oooooooooooooh!
I have 2 digital. One for PV. The revenue meter cycles through 8 readings, no fun at all!

 

Good morning >60.

 

Good morning fellow Porchatonians!!!

 

Good morning, everyone. I have friends, and family members, that have been on me to file for disability with the VA under Agent Orange. I started the process yesterday and I have to say it is pretty confusing. I do not know how you guys and gals that have applied to the VA for anything actually navigated the process. I think I figured it out and have downloaded and filled out two forms. I think I will set up an appointment with the Maryland Department of Veteran Affairs to help me with the filing process. Off to the gym.

 

Morning 60+

 

I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at that appointment. Even before the Agent Orange acknowledgement, the VA has had a Service Related Disability office. It was an uphill battle, but now you’ll get the respect you deserve.

 

My electric Coop is a great bargain. Our rates vary from 3c/KW up to 9c/KW

Shifting the pool pump to run during those non-peak hours helps offset the bill.
There are newer two-speed pumps that drop consumption but run for 14 hours at a lower flow rate, but
my 2-hp motor needs about 7 hours to exchange the pool. The irony is I can run those times during the Economy and
Super Economy (no neighbors near the pump, so nighttime use is not an issue).

I should pump well water into a holding tank at night but realized a $2000 gallon water tank and a $40 monthly saving takes
a very long payback window.

 

Good Morning Porch Pals & Sue! Hoo Hah! Got all that stuff done, now to get some more rocks! Looks like we play weather dodge 'em this week; but we always need rain. Like to get enough to matter.

 

Good Morning 60 + Porch Folks. Can't do much until the foot heals up soooo it feels like nap time

Have a good day all!

 

Morning boys... off to work.....and buy a new washing machine