I had the radio on the other morning and heard my first Christmas song of the season - Elvis singing I'll Be Home For Christmas. He's been dead now as long as he was alive - 42 years. Surly, one of his buddies and I were in Memphis for a motorcycle race on the 10th anniversary of the King's death. We were planning on hitting Graceland but it was mobbed with people, as well as being hotter than the hinges of hell. I've been to his birthplace and the hardware store where he bought his first guitar but never made it to Graceland. I've never been blessed (or cursed) with fame and fortune but I've managed to out live Elvis by 28 years, so I've got that going for me. I'll take that as a damn good trade-off.
Meanwhile back at the shack, I'm Taking Care of Business by working on the buck. Not at a blistering pace but moving forward. Another day or two and I should be able to start working some sheet metal. That should be fun as well as a test of my skill. I've never done much of this kind of work and the last time I did anything along these lines was the Rickati tank and that was about ten years ago. I'm planning on making the top part out of one piece. Have to see how that works out.
I did a little more on the buck for the radiator shell. I made the ribs for the lower part and cut a couple of filler pieces for the top. I needed to add a couple of glue blocks for the center rib, so I got those made and installed. I also came across a post on Facebook on a metalshaper group I belong to that led me to a nice video on the various types of bucks. The website is here. On the video he discusses wooden bucks like I'm building as well as a couple different types of metal ones.
The one I found most useful is the type he called the superleggera. I knew the term was "eye-tie" for super light weight and that Ducati and Aston Martin had Superleggera models but didn't realize it was the name for an actual construction method. With superleggera construction, the buck or form is also the supporting structure for the skin. The form is normally made out of small diameter (1/2"+/-) tubing. If more pieces are needed to define the shape during construction, additional wires or flats can be added and then cut off later. I think this is what I'll use when forming the rear of the jitney. I'll have to make the top or a hatch that will lift up in order to access the fuel cell and the battery. Seems like the superleggera technique would be a good way to go.
Thanksgiving went well for the Missus and I. This was the first Thanksgiving in nearly fifty years of marriage that we haven't celebrated the day with family and friends. Actually, as far as that goes, it's the first time in 70 years that either one of us haven't spent the day gathering with family. We had a little turkey I cooked in the crock pot along with a couple of side dishes and pie. Pretty quiet day and other than the Missus cooking a big meal, just about like every other day around here. Not a bad thing, however. When every day is like a holiday, life is pretty damn fine and you've got plenty to be thankful for, which we certainly do.
Stay safe and if you're able, you might want to consider making a donation to the local food pantry or the Salvation Army. There's a lot of hungry people out there and it's only going to get worse.
.... and that's what worries me. The movie Wild in The Streets was on yesterday morning. I tuned in about half way through it so I'd have some background noise to drown out the ringing in my ears while folding the laundry. Kind of a strange movie but it was '68, so why wouldn't it be?
The aluminum rods showed up yesterday and I picked up some material for the buck on Monday, so it's back to work on the jitney project.
I need to add some more ribs on the bottom and fill the top in solid for the hammerform but it's a pretty good start. I'll work on it a bit more today after I get home from the grocery store.
It appears the weather is going to become "seasonal" - meaning chilly and rainy. Since it's almost December, the chilly, rainy weather will soon give way to cold, snowy weather but I'm planning on getting a little something done in the shop most days unless it's really cold out. I want to finish the buck before it gets much colder - no heat in the woodshop. I need to get the basement workbench cleaned up so I can resume work on a couple of my strictly winter projects. Instead of sitting on my rump, I can stay busy with a bit of hobby stuff when it's too cold out and in the evenings.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. The Missus and I will be spending the day here at the shack. She's planning on making a turkey and some "fixins", so we'll be OK but we miss seeing Surly and his group. Unfortunately, it looks like a lot of people are going to ignore all the warnings and will be traveling and gathering in groups outside their immediate circle. Now we can look forward to another spike in infections in a couple of weeks. It does look like vaccines are on the way, likewise, more effective treatments. I'm hoping Ol' Merle's got it right:
This one's been covered by a lot of artists but I think this was the original - R&B from the sixties like I used to listen to on the radio. There used to be a lot of choices on the dial back then. Besides the Chicago stations, on a clear summer night you could pick up stations from all over the country on the AM dial.
When was the last time you heard Captain Stubby & The Buccaneers on the radio? Actually, I saw him a few years back at the Chautauqua, must of been right before he passed away. Even got his autograph. He used to be on The National Barn Dance on station WLS and he did the Go, Go White Sox thing when they won the pennant back in '59 also.
Not much to report on the project front. Mowed the yard for the last time of the season, picked up a couple of grave blankets and did some other chores. Got out on the bicycle both Friday and Saturday. I was surprised to meet a couple of other hardy souls on the Saturday ride, especially since it was overcast, breezy and only about 45 degrees.
Since I haven't heard from the print shop, I might hit Menards when I go to the cemetery to drop off the grave blankets. I did have a piece of MDF large enough to make the pieces in the photo, so it's a start. I might get brave and tackle the skin for the back of the cab on the jitney this week instead of working on the buck depending on the weather and when I decide to head north. I put my order together for some material - round stock for a "wired edge" on the cab and dash hood and a bit of brass flat bar. I also need to consult with Surly about an emblem I want to put on the radiator grill shell. I've got a couple of ideas but I can't handle either of them on my own. He'll point me in the right direction.
I've been doing a little thinking on the radiator shell, both the design and how to construct it. The photo shows some of my preliminary thinking as far as the design goes and how I'll get there. The top tank of the radiator is about 4" wide. The plan is to have a relatively flat surface about the same width that roughly follows the contour of the radiator and then curves down. I'll then weld a piece from there that will meet up with the bottom frame rail.
I'm planning on making a buck for guiding me along, with the top part being a hammerform to help with the actually shaping of the compound curves. I'm waiting on the print shop to call me to pick up my order. When I get the call I'll pick up my job, hit the church with the donuts and then get some MDF from Menards for the buck.
In the meantime, I'll do a bit more yard work - planning on mowing today and pick up some of the branches and brush I cut yesterday. I've got a couple other jobs that require the extension ladder. If it's not too windy today, might tackle those. Yesterday was back in the sixties as today will be as well, but it was too windy to be working off the ladder.
That's how it's going to be with everyone I know by the time the cooties goes away. We'll all be strangers.
New lock-down orders in a lot of places. Lots of people ignoring the lock-down orders. More restaurants closing up shop now that it's becoming too cold for outdoor dining. Hotels going out of business and more and more people will be in danger of losing their homes and automobiles by the beginning of the new year. Education is in a shambles. Remote learning, back in school, back home again, in school two days per week and then remote learn the remainder of the week. I don't know what the high school shop teachers are doing with this insanity. Since a lot of traditional programs were already shuttered before, maybe there aren't that many programs being affected. Hard to teach welding, machining or auto mechanics when the only hands-on training comes from a keyboard.
I find it interesting that the Biden Covid response team is complaining about a lack of co-operation from the Trump administration on the virus. I can't see where they're going to come up with anything that hasn't already been tried someplace in the world anyhow. Of course my response is something along the lines of if you're so damn smart how come you haven't figured it out already. And if you have, how could you let all these people suffer. Politics - it's all bull shit. And while I'm on the subject, I wish the press would stop referring to Biden as the President Elect. He's no more the president elect than I am. That may be the case in a month or it may never be the case but as it currently stands, he's not the President Elect and they should know better than to call him that.
Brother Johnny was right when he made the call: "We're boned." And he's been dead for eight years!
Meanwhile back at the ranch, I turned the heater on yesterday to take the chill off the shop and get it warm enough to paint the support leg for the back of the Slant Six. First shot out of the gun I ran out of propane. I bought a spare tank last year so I swapped it out and finally got around to pulling the old water pressure tank out of the basement and loaded both tanks into the back of the truck. I'll get both of them taken care of today.
I drilled the holes in the radiator flanges and tacked the nuts for bolting it down on the front "U" shaped piece. I need to tack the other two nuts inside the frame rails - maybe today. I gave a little thought on making the top support rods for the radiator but didn't decide on anything yet. Next step will be move the motor mounts rearward and make the firewall.
It's going to be chilly today but supposed to warm up later in the week. I want to mow one more time and get a few other outside chores done while it's warm so progress might slow a bit in the shop but being outside is good for the soul. Much better than watching the news.
I'm in the process of mounting the radiator. Since it came with mounting flanges welded on, all I need to do is drill a couple of holes through them and the frame rails. I'll weld nuts inside the frame rails so all I'll need to do is just thread four bolts in and the bottom of the radiator will be fastened securely. There are a couple of tabs welded on at the top to bolt support rods to. I'm planning on making those out of 1/2" aluminum rod that will have a 1/8" slot that will slip over the tabs and a 1/4" bolt to fasten them. I might thin the middle of the rods down to 3/8" or I might get some tube and just make the end pieces out of the 1/2" solid and weld or pin them together.
It looks like I need to move the engine back a bit to give me a better shot at making the connections on the radiator hoses. As it is there's not enough room to get a hose to make the necessary right angle bend. If I move the engine back two inches or so, that should help a bunch. I've got 5-1/2" of clearance to the firewall right now, so that's not an issue. Also, it won't hurt to move a little of the weight rearward so it won't be quite so nose heavy. I might have to get a longer spacer for the front of the water pump to move the fan forward, but that's easy enough done. Might need to make a shroud later on as well.
I made a leg to bolt to the bottom of the engine yesterday to support the rear. With that bolted on I can remove the head for the engine stand and the pipe jack that's supporting the rear of the engine now. With the engine stand head out of the way I can fit the tabs for the top radiator support rods to the cab frame and then make the firewall. Someday I should get my remote oil filter kit. The delivery date has been pushed back three times now. I'm assuming it's due to the cooties, so I won't bitch. They have other kits available and there are other vendors I could get a kit from but it's not holding up the build. They're saying about a month now.
That quote up top? I was moving some stuff around out in the shop and it was written on a scrap of paper I found. I'm not much of a patron of the arts but that's mostly due to me squandering my money on car and motorcycle projects. But if I was contemplating going to college to get an art degree or an apprenticeship, I'd definitely take the route towards becoming a craftsman.
Wear your mask, wash your hands and stay home as much as possible. Our governor has just extended mandatory masks for another month. With the numbers climbing again, it's going to be an interesting holiday season. Maybe the Easter bunny will bring us a cure.
Looks good and, at least with my test piece, it works pretty well. While it's not designed for heavy gauge metal, it should do the trick for automotive and motorcycle panels.
The grip part of the handle called for a piece of black pipe with bushings pressed in. I had a piece in house from another project that was purchased within the last year or two. The ID on it was not a true Schedule 40 either, just like the pipe I bought for the rolls. I did have an old piece of galvanized that was the correct size so I used that. I also wrapped the OD with some hockey tape for a more comfortable grip.
I didn't think about it until I started rolling my test piece but some witness marks on the end plates to give me an idea on setting the rear roller would be nice. I can use the "I" from my alphabet stamps or a chisel to mark both the end plates and the adjusters.
The rolls are wide enough to roll the back part of the cockpit and the dash hood so I can start on the sheet metal whenever the mood hits me. I need to bead roll a test piece to make sure the top edge of both pieces will give me what I'm looking for. If it comes out like I'm hoping I might have to enlist the Missus to turn the crank on the bead roller while I guide the pieces through.
I did some running around yesterday morning - print shop, church for donuts and then the grocery store. There's a new church in the town north of me that has a bakery inside of it. I bought a box of six day-old donuts and a small coffee for three bucks. I don't know who thought of putting a donut shop/bakery inside a church but that's pure genius.
Came home and put the finishing touches on the roll project. I had to move the two feet on the back of the base because they interfered with the adjusting bolts. No problem since they were only tacked on. I finish welded the remaining pieces, cleaned everything up and then painted all the bits. I need two more bolts that are threaded full length or a piece of threaded rod to make a couple for adjusting screws. I thought I had a piece of threaded rod but it was the wrong diameter. And there's a hardware store in the same little strip mall as the donut church. I could have picked them up there easily enough. I'll run up town today and get what I need or I could head back north, hit the hardware store there and then get another box of donuts. They were good but it'll be hard to stay at my fighting weight if I do that. One way or the other I'll get the roller assembled today. I'm looking forward to testing it out.
The Lone Wolf things used to be pretty popular. J.C. Whitney/Warshawsky used to sell license plates and jackets with the logo on the back if I remember correctly. While the No Club thing was referring to car clubs, I'm going to go no club meaning boxing club. Since my running buddy came down with the cooties and the weather's going to cool down, I think it's time for me to just train on my own. While that's not near as much fun, I've done it before.
While training for the marathon my running buddy at the high school bailed out when we were scheduled to run 12 miles in temperatures of only about 4 degrees with about 4" of fresh snow on the ground. Can't really blame him but I soldiered on and continued my training. Way back when I was boxing I did almost all my road work solo due to my work schedule. It's much more enjoyable having a running buddy - my buddy Kevin and I had some great conversations while putting in the miles - and having a partner kept me honest but with this damn virus, my chest issue and advanced age, I'm thinking it's all me now.
I hit my fighting weight when I got back from my bike ride yesterday morning. I weighed in at 178. Left the house a heavyweight and came home a light heavy. The last time I was that weight was right before I ran the marathon 15 years ago. I weighed 165 when I graduated from high school and 165 when I got married a few years later. I got up to over 200 maybe twenty years ago. I was still in half-assed decent shape but definitely had a belly. The belly's smaller now but I don't have the muscle mass I used to so even though I've lost about five pounds this year still got a bit of a belly. However, my resting heartrate and blood pressure are good so I've managed the quarantine fairly well.
The plan now is to get the trainer set up down the basement again, add some more strength training and get outside this winter and do some hiking, skating and maybe even some snow shoeing depending on the weather. I would like to glove up at least one more time. I really miss going to the gym. Here I am from right after we started the boxing club: https://shopteacherbob.blogspot.com/search?q=Boxing+Exhibition. I was probably 190 pounds that night and 59 years old. Fun for the whole family!
45th anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. My buddy Kevin and I did a half marathon in Detroit, the third greatest day of his life by the way, and we ran by the Maritime Cathedral for whatever that's worth. The Great Lakes are nothing to take lightly. This is probably the greatest song of all time commemorating a tragic event. It's nice that the 29 sailors who were lost won't be forgotten.
I rode my bicycle up town to the hardware store yesterday morning to get my supplies to hook up the new light. Beautiful day once again for a bike ride. I think yesterday was the sixth day in a row with temperatures in the seventies. That's a record for November and we set a couple of individual records as well. Seven mile trip and I was up and back before the wind picked up - a little breezy but no gusting like later in the day. It could stay like this all year long in my book. I think I'd have to move to Hawaii for that.
I cleaned the lathe and started organizing some of the stock and cut-offs that are laying on, under and around it. I've got some stock standing up in the corner near by as well as in a corner by the band saw. I need to organize both of those along with some short pieces of angle and flats. That'll go on the list for a rainy day.
I got the milk cans cleaned up and painted. The paint was still wet or I would have thrown them in the photo. I painted them in the back of the shop where the light isn't the best so I might have to touch them up a bit when I see what they look like when I get them out in the sunlight.
I cut the shafts to length that the rollers spin on for the slip roll project. I used one of the cut-offs for a piece I need for the handle. I'm going to change how the handle is attached to the bottom roller. The plans call for it to be pinned as well as pinched. I think I'm going to weld a boss onto the handle and then drill and tap it for a couple of set screws that'll make it easier to take the handle off. If I need to move the finished roll it will be easier without having the handle hanging down snagging on things. When I was at the high school, I used to take the handle off to prevent the little darlings from running things through it that shouldn't be. The shaft on that one was much larger and had a square milled on the end of it the handle slid over. The shaft on mine is only 1/2", so too small to square off like on the one at the high school. I think I will mill a small flat on the shaft for the set screws to bite into. I've got the set-up already to go on the mill so it won't take but five minutes.
Planning on working on the handle again today as well as continuing with a little cleaning. The shop's definitely ready for a deep cleaning but that too will have to wait for that rainy day. I want to finish the roll and bend the piece of tubing for the rear loop on the motorcycle project.
I finished painting the shop yesterday. It soaked up the paint pretty good. Maybe I'll put another coat on in the spring. I'm done painting for this year, at least outside. It's about time to do some work inside. Maybe tackle a bit of that this winter.
I went for a bike ride after finishing the painting but that was all for the day. I'll pick up some supplies today to install the light over the big doors and paint the milk cans that normally bookend that end of the building. I've got a cup brush on a small grinder that should make quick work of the cleanup and then spray them white.
I need to clean up the shop a bit, make the handle for the roll and maybe bend a piece of tubing for the motorcycle project. Now that the roll's almost done, I need to figure out where I'm going to put it. I've got a combination disc/belt sander coming from Harbor Freight. Going to have to figure where I'm going to put that one as well.
Different kind of cowboy tune but one I'm quite fond of.
Likewise. Different kind of van but one I'm quite fond of - '47 Divco as seen on Facebook. She's a beaut!
I ran out of paint yesterday while painting the end of the shop. Fortunately, I checked Menard's website before leaving. The store I normally do business with didn't have any but another store about the same distance away had three gallons of it, so off I went. It was too late to start by the time I got home so I cleaned up and painted the door pulls and started on the installation of the light I bought the other day to put over the doors. I plan on finishing the painting today and then maybe work a bit on the handle for the roll. Maybe just finish the painting and then take a break - admire my handi-work and get lined up for the upcoming week.
Cream was a band I listened to quite a bit back in my youth. Hard to go wrong with Eric Clapton fronting any group. I've got a radio/CD/tape player combo in the shack I rarely use. I'm going to drag it out to the shop. I've still got a bunch of old tapes along with CDs I can cue up while working. That should pretty well set me up for hibernating out there all winter.
Progress slowed a little on the slip roll due to beautiful weather. I painted the majority of the day Thursday. I did the service door on the new barn, inside and out, the trim on the chicken coop and the shop, and a couple other things. I painted until I ran out of the trim paint. I'm planning on painting the north end of the shop today. I picked up a pad painter and some caulk yesterday so I think I have everything I need. The end of the shop isn't all that big. I should be able to wrap it up in one day.
I finished turning the last roll for the roller yesterday. I needed to get it finished up so I can chuck up a couple of the parts for the handle. My old South Bend lathe needs some attention before I do much else, however.
The weatherman is calling for a few more days like we've been having - seventies and sunny. I want to get back out on the bicycle a couple of more times yet. Maybe a short trip on the Himalayan as well. Shame to spend all this beautiful weather without riding it a bit. I probably only put 300 miles on it this summer. I had some big plans but like everyone else, had to change them. Improvise, adapt and overcome.
Pretty jazzed up with the roller project nearing completion along with the other things I'm getting accomplished with this gift of nice weather we're having. It would be nice if I could take the Missus out for a nice meal before the weather turns but that's not going to happen. By the time things clear up there probably won't be any restaurants left anyway. It's looking like no Thanksgiving or Christmas gatherings this year for us either. Regardless, I'll just keep pushing.
The nice weather brought the farmer out for some field work. This will be about the last time I see him until spring other than putting some machinery in the barn. I used to help my brother out with field work many years ago. His machinery was much smaller than what we see around here but I enjoyed driving the tractors whether it was plowing, disking or cultivating. Cultivating is pretty much a thing of the past now. Weed control is chemical rather than mechanical.
Ran a couple of errands yesterday morning, did some more work around the shack and then cut the keyways and fit the keys to the hubs. Not a lot of progress there but closing in on the finish line just the same.
I got a phone call from my running buddy yesterday. She's come down with the cooties. I haven't seen her in about three weeks so shouldn't be at risk. This definitely answers the question about participating in the upcoming 5K. She'll be in quarantine for two weeks and in no shape to run a week or so later I would imagine. This is getting a little too close for comfort.
I'm going to see about making the handle for the roller today. This should be the last part needing to be fabbed up. A little more welding and then it should be ready to run a piece of sheet metal through it.
And concerning the election:
"Well, the people have spoken… the bastards."
– Dick Tuck, candidate for California Senate, 1966
Great day yesterday - the temperature was unseasonably warm, blue skies with a few clouds. It was a little breezy in the morning but no complaints from me. I got out on the bicycle late morning and put in 5 miles. They just recently paved one of the back roads I ride so I picked up the pace with a nice tailwind and went a mile and a half at about 17 mph. Since I'm not in the best of shape the return trip was a grind at about 9 or 10 but it's what I needed. It's supposed to be nice all the way into the weekend so I'll try and get out every day.
When I got back from the bike ride I replaced a hand rail on the front steps that had warped something terribly - something that I should have done about a year ago. I got back on the slip roll project after that.
In the top photo you can see the drive gears I got welded up. I need to cut a keyway on the shafts still - maybe today. In the lower photo you can see the keeper block to hold the top bushing and roll in place. The top roll needs to be removeable if you roll up a part with a small diameter. I also need to finish weld the end plates and the mounting feet.
Since the weather is going to be real nice again today, I want to take advantage of it and paint some more trim on the out buildings. Maybe a couple hours at most and then get back on the roll.
The Daily Timewaster had this posted. A commenter said it was listed at about $47K. I stopped at the local Ford dealer the other day and inquired about these new Broncos. They've received a lot of advance press and orders, however, it doesn't look like they'll be available until probably mid 2021 if you want to eyeball one or take it for a test drive. I like the looks of them from what I've seen but not enough to buy a pig in a poke as it were. I like my pickup I'm currently driving but I would like to get something with 4 wheel drive.
I posted about the place that took over for Lindsay the other day. I bought a couple of the Gingery books from there including the slip roll plan book. If you're interested in making yourself a homemade machine shop, a still or other projects, those books can be bought directly from the Gingery site.
I did make some progress on the roll project. Should be able to complete it this week. However, the weather is supposed to unseasonably warm and sunny to boot. I'm looking forward to getting out on the bike - both the push bike and the one with a motor. I put the Himalayan to bed for the season - Sta-Bil in the tank and washed it up, but I'm thinking another ride might be in order.
Now that the days are getting shorter and it's dark about 5:00, I need to alter my schedule a bit and get to work a little earlier in the day. I did my walkies Sunday and we got our three miles in just about the time it got dark. A couple of us talked about doing the 5K the Saturday after Thanksgiving but the more I think about it, with the increase in Covid cases locally, it's not worth the risk.
This is a wire edge tool I saw on a Facebook group I belong to. I made a reflector oven for a park my wife worked at years ago that needed to have wired edges. I got it done but it was a struggle. I'm a better metal worker now than I was then but I still wouldn't feel comfortable tackling a job like that. There's just so much to learn in the metalworking trade - should have started a little younger or limited some of my other interests a bit. Regardless, I've got the pictures of the tool posted so I can reference it in the future if I need it.
And don't forget to vote. I haven't heard a single word about the Libertarian presidential candidate either in the press or on the news. I have seen a few yard signs promoting the Libertarian candidate for governor locally. The best sign I saw yesterday while out was Jesus 2020. Yep - God help us all because we're going to need it regardless of who wins.
