Ryan

Mike

Clip Angles

Cradle Plates

I'm officially retired as the County Fair blacksmith. I handed in my key to the shop after finishing up Friday. It's just too much work and too much time, for too few people. I did see a few people on Friday, however. A couple of families with some kids and an individual who stuck around and talked for quite awhile. He's building a replica of Elwood Haynes' first motorcar. He also raises Talapia and sounds like he dabbles in all sorts of alternative energy/recycling projects. Naturally enough, he touched on WTSHTF scenarios - you can't be working on alternative energy and self-sufficiency here in the Midwest without a little bit of the New World Order or Zombies creeping into the conversation. Interesting guy, just the same.

The tractor photos above show a couple of former students lining up for the tractor parade they have every year. A couple of good ones right there. The other photos show the clip angles and plates for the lifting cradle.

The plates will get sandwiched between a couple of 2x12's to make up a pair of beams that will run the length of the building. The clip angles will allow me to bolt cross ties to the beams for spreaders. Unfortunately my magnetic drill quit working and the part to fix it is no longer available. The guy is checking to see if something else will cross reference. If not, instead of an eighty-five dollar part, I'll have to buy a new drill motor for about $600.00. I'm not liking that idea. I called around and none of the rental places have a mag drill and the pieces are too big for me to be man-handling around by myself under the drill press or the iron worker. I'll see what the guy comes up with for parts first. You would think that Milwaukee Electric Tools would make an armature that would fit the thing. I don't know if anyone could rewind it, and if so, what that would cost. I can't see me drilling all those holes with a hand drill, though.

The Missus and I are doing some baby-sitting next week, plus we're getting new tile in the kitchen and laundry room the following week. I can save a few bucks by moving the appliances and ripping out the old carpet myself, so I won't have a lot of time for the barn project between the grandkids and floor prep. I've only got three weeks of vacation left. It's looking like I'll be lucky to have the barn at the same stage it was before summer started. Regardless, it'll get done.

Hopefully, before the snow flies.

Enjoy the weekend, it's supposed to cool down a little here. Lets hope so.