The Lair

Thanks guys! We're ecstatic! Can't wait for Phoenix to meet Tony!

 

I wanted a decent tube notcher but at the frequency I need one, I didn’t feel the need to buy a really good one (JD2 - $300). This one was $200 and has similar specs.

3/4” shaft vs 1” shaft
3/4”-2” OD vs 3/4”-3” OD

https://www.affordablebender.com/co.../products/affordable-bender-tube-pipe-notcher

I couldn’t find any reviews on the thing so it was a little bit of a gamble, but their benders seem to have good reviews so I went for it.

My initial judgement of it based on build quality is that it’s built rock solid but not super refined. A little bit of weld spatter, not the best welds, powder coat chipped, etc. but it’s all cosmetic. That’s ok though, I only care about it making true cuts. I may pick up a hole saw today and give it a go on some scrap. I’ll be sure to share my thoughts in here.

 

Good Morning everyone! Thank you ALL for the well wishes. Happy New Year and a belated Merry Christmas to you all! <3

I know last year sucked on so many levels, but this year is already proving to be great beyond our wildest dreams!

Sorry for not responding more last night (this post is taking forever too) but we're on shadow duty until this girl gets use to all the different smells in the house.

So far though, she is proving to be one of the best dogs I've ever seen as far as manners go.

When we got home and she settled in, she got on the couch with us right between Deb and I, from just about the time we got home until I put her in her crate at midnight. During that time She took 3 naps, I took a short one and Deb took one too. LOLOLOLOL . It was a 2.5 hour drive home and she did ok in the Taco. A lot of stress obviously. Deb eventually got in the back seat with her and that seemed to calm her down some. She would gladly sit right in your lap while you drive if you let her though. We won't of course.

As you know, she's a rescue. There was never any question that would be the type of dog we'd have. She was terribly neglected of course. She spent her entire life chained up outside. Sad. She's from WVa and the weather as we all know can be brutal enough for an adult dog, so as a pup she must have really suffered. She was ultimately surrendered to a shelter there, then shipped to her foster Mom's house in Dover, De. where we went yesterday to pick her up. Her foster Mom only had her a couple weeks but she has her own low rider Pit and a smaller Bulldog. She also had another very large Pit mix foster. Those 3 dogs were freaking out the entire time we were there wanting rubs. Pheonix just sat in her crate watching us. It was just as her foster Mom said, "super calm attitude".

We know her name and that her Birthday is December 11. She's a Pit mix for sure but she could be any other combination of dog breeds. We'll do a DNA test later so we can customize our teaching accordingly and to try to determine if she might have any predisposition to serious health issues. Right now she's fixed and healthy and that's all we care about. She doesn't shed, which is weird but freaking awesome. We're going to have her microchipped too.

Until she demonstrates she is 100% compliant, she'll stay on leash when we have her outside wherever we are. I'll install a trolley cable so she can run eventually but for now she's content just walking up and down the common drive. Maybe I'll put up a fence in part of the yard so I can just let her out but I need the walks as much as she does.

We went out like 5 times in the pouring rain yesterday. She pee'd 3 times. This morning at 7am when she heard me getting up and ready she started a very mild "I gotta go" whimper, but nothing excessive. Normal I'd say. Maybe it was a little fear that yesterday was all a dream. I assured her immediately it was not. She sits nicely to let me put her leash on her. Then we went out. Pee, poop, and pee and a long walk up and down the common drive and we came back in. I gave her water and food, she took a drink, maybe 2 mouthfuls of food, got her elk bone out of her crate, 2 minutes later she was back in there sleeping on her blanket.

She's super calm, and super friendly with all dogs and people. Her last vet visit she was 46 lbs. She likes being next to us on the couch. Love that! She knows the basic commands. She's the perfect size for us. Very thick but not intimidating at all. She lays at your feet and wags her tail when you walk up to her.

Deb and I just decided that since we're still working from home it would be the perfect time to be able to provide the direction a dog would benefit from. We'll eventually get her accustomed to us being away from home for work, but a little at a time. She's great in her crate. She's in there right now sleeping, or licking herself. She makes a weird noise when she does it and seems to be too into it. I think she's just healing from her surgery.

We explained to the rescue and her foster mom we work full time. Her foster told us she works too and that Phoenix is great in her crate during the day.

She's going to be spoiled beyond belief. We've waited so long for this.

She loves her mommy!

 

Ah I gotcha! Yeah she rides shotty all the time
Fuggit i survived with lap belts only no airbags and much more unsafe vehicles compared to today's standard.

 

Good for you guys Rob! Im sure shell do great.

Shelter dogs are the best! Draco running around the yard when I first got him home was the best experience for both of us.

 

This new impact is awesome and only ~$70 with coupon from harbor freight. I’m impressed. I only tested it on a lugnut so far but it ripped it off with ease. The real test will be if it can undo the cv axle nut, which I’ll be trying tomorrow.

 

Just gorgeous! If we could, we'd have kennel! This one is so happy just being on the couch with us. She naps all day! Dogs are cool!

 

Naps all day on the couch huh? Never seen that before

 

Picked up two hole saws for $11 each and tested it out on some scrap. This thing cuts fine, but the shaft has the tiniest bit of wobble to it. Not enough to matter though. With a little deburring, she’s ready to weld. Overall, I’m happy with the purchase. I don’t know why I bothered trying to work with round tube without one. This thing is too easy.

 

I guess I should show you our puppy.

 

Damn Deano, I don't know who's more handsome! (of course I'm being nice )

The only thing cuter would be two of those pups!

 

I bet if you explain how much it would add to the value of the house they would agree to a reduction in rent to cover some of the cost.

I'd love to do mine!

 

I don't think I could handle 2 heelers...

 

I could handle two Healers before I could handle two Rahls.

 

Those blue eyes are adorable

 

So now youre ready to pull this off!

 

Thanks, bae! ❤

 

That's nice, can't argue with those results..... I was just looking at these (Eastwood) the other day. While I don't anticipate using it frequently, they are affordable/small and beat the drill press jig I've been using the past couple of years.

Is yours mounted directly to the table or is secured via a vice or something similar? I assume that you used a drill, how did that work out?

 

I’d considered the Eastwood too but wasn’t sold on it based on reviews.

I just have it clamped in my bench vice and it’s solid, and used a 1/2” chick dewalt cordless drill. It worked great, no issues at all. Just need to use pleeeeenty of lube.

 

Gettin started on my solar install today. Now I just need to seal up the hole in the roof and work on routing the wires.