Rest in Peace Alice & Malcolm

 

Alice Brock of Alice's Restaurant fame has passed away.

And so Has Malcolm Smith. If you're of my generation and a motorcyclist, he needs no introduction. In addition to being a great motorcyclist, he had a motorcycle dealership and when the federal government decided to ban the sale of motorcycles to kiddies because of lead in the valve stems, Malcolm called bullshit on the whole deal and sold bikes anyway. Common sense would have told you a little tyke wasn't going to be able to get his head in between the spokes, therefor, not much chance of ingesting lead.

I worked on the log splitter yesterday - cold out in the unheated garage. I got as far as I could go until I get some help with the beam. That should arrive today after the 5K event. That too is going to be a chilly one - something like 18 degrees at the starting time. I probably should have taken a pass on this event. I don't think I'm going to try and be competitive any longer and I don't need another tee shirt - just need exercise. 

I was going to finish up the chin-up bar yesterday but I got a chill working on the log splitter and it was too cold to paint anyway. Maybe get that done today. I brought the can of paint in so it would be warm enough. If I run the heater for a while, I can get the shop temperature up to painting temperature. When it's this cold I don't like to run the heater unless I'm going to be out there for at least a couple of hours. 

Thanksgiving

 

Rockin', Splittin' & Fabricatin'

 

All of his songs were fairly simple in structure, but they were the real Rock & Roll.

I went out for breakfast yesterday with a former student of mine from way back when. He graduated in '91, so it's definitely been a while. We had a nice chat catching up and reminiscing about school days.

After breakfast I bought a log splitter. The Missus is worried about me trying to split wood for the fireplace by hand anymore. Yep - there comes a time to get some mechanical advantage working for you. I was able to unpack everything but the beam with the pump and cylinder attached - too much weight for me to wrestle around. In the instructions is says it's a two-man job with a crane or fork truck being a better solution. When everything was crated up it stuck out about a foot onto the tailgate. I cut the sides of the crate off, shortened up the bottom and then twisted it sideways a bit so I could close the tailgate. I'm going to assemble everything else and then line up some help to get the last piece out of the truck and get it attached.

I finished cutting out the parts for the chin-up bar. I want to get it welded and painted before Saturday. The slick stuff for the sled runners showed up and the hardware has been shipped. So, it's get the log splitter assembled, finish the chin-up bar and finish the sled. Then, like always, it's back on other projects around the shack and in the shop in my hit or miss fashion.  

Getting in the Spirit

 

Gettin' in the spirit. I usually try to not even think about Christmas until after Thanksgiving, but this year one of the radio stations I listen to on my commute has been playing Christmas tunes, and the variety of the music is a pleasant change from the classic rock I usually pick up. Plus, I heard Susie Snowflake and Hard Rock, Cocoa and Joe hardly an everyday occurrence on anyone's playlist.

Truer words were never spoken. Even if Trump can bring back manufacturing jobs, filling them with qualified people is going to be tough. From what I've seen at the college, it's bad enough they can't tell time, or work with fractions, but they don't have the giddy-up to improve their skills. They rely on their phones for timekeeping and apparently there's an app to solve their math equations. Of course, when they're not allowed to bring their phones to the jobsite, they're helpless. Maybe Trump will eliminate the Department of Education, since our ranking compared to other countries has gone steadily downhill ever since the department was established. Maybe dust off the 10th amendment and put the power back with the States as it was intended.

This popped up in my One Drive feed. It was taken two years ago at a church that was having traditional Polish meal as a fundraiser. They were sold out by the time we got there but I really like how Mary stands out in the gray late afternoon light with the snow on the ground and the sidewalk leading right to her. Your eye is drawn to her instantly, as it should be.

The speedbag's up but I'm on hold with the sled project until the slippery stuff for the runners shows up. It should be here in plenty of time for me to get the sled welded finish at the college before it shuts down for semester break. I still need to make the chin-up bar, but I can weld that here. Actually, I can weld the sled here as well, it would just be easier at the school.

Surly came down Saturday afternoon and we kicked around some ideas for wrapping up the shop organization and deciding what comes next after that. There's definitely some motorcycle work on the horizon. 

Book Review & Coupons

 

The weather was pretty nasty yesterday, so I stayed inside most of it. We got our first snowfall of the season and some gusting winds. The temperature was right at freezing, so it was too wet for any drifting, but not a good day to be outside. Because of that I finished reading Stronger by Jeff Bauman. 

It's the story of the young man who had his legs blown off at the Boston Marathon in 2013. It's an interesting story of an unlikely hero who became the face of the Boston Strong movement in the aftermath of the bombing. I'm always interested in what makes regular people overcome adversity and come out the other side stronger. Recommended.

I went to the doctor yesterday and had my annual Medicare wellness checkup. I think it's mostly a way for the doctor's office to make a couple of dollars since they offered to do it over the phone. I've done these in the past and it's mostly questions about your ability to get around, any depression, dizziness, dementia, and all the rest that plagues old folks. There's no pass/fail to it, prevention is the focus. There was nothing in the conversation that I wasn't already aware of, but it's painless and it's free.

A pair of welding coupons from one of the young ladies in my welding class. Several of the students have passed a practice certification test and we still have three weeks of class left. I usually have a good percentage who manage to pass the test at the end of the class and become certified to the American Welding Society D1.1 Structural Steel code. I expect this group to do likewise.

I cut a couple more pieces for the gym sled while I was at work. I need to grind the cuts, sand the old paint and spatter off and then drill some holes. I'll be ready to weld things together after that. I'll probably tack weld everything together here at the shop and then take the assembly to school and finish weld. I'm hoping to get it finished up next week when I go back in. I still need to order the slippery stuff for the bottom skis and the hardware - I'll get that done in the next day or two.

Mrs. B's Classroom & Sled Progress

 

I just finished reading this one - good book. It's the story of a lady who leaves her job with the newspaper and takes a job teaching school on Chicago's South Side. She doesn't have a teaching degree but because the City of Chicago can't find enough teachers, like a lot of other places, they have an internship program to get you in after jumping through a bunch of hoops. After she's in the classroom she has to start dealing with unreasonable expectations and help that was promised but doesn't show up along with all the problems the students bring with them. I found the book especially interesting since I too taught at an inner-city school when I first started my career. It was nothing like what she had to go through, fortunately, but I definitely could relate. There's one line in the book that really hit home with me while she was summarizing what she had learned after being in the classroom for a while. "I learned that staff meetings in education are like hostage situations." I got a chuckle out of that one.

I got a few more pieces cut for the sled at the new gym. I'm planning on going in a little early today and getting a few more cut out. The bottom skis need a bunch of holes drilled in them to fasten the UHMV on and I need the hardware as well. I did a search for the UHMV and found a place that would cut customs sizes. Two pieces came to $45.00 for the material, but when all the rest of the charges were totaled up, it was $220.00. No go on that. I found stuff on Amazon that will work but I'll have to run it through the table saw and rip it down a little. I've only got three more weeks of school and I want to be able to weld it there, so I need to stay on it. 

VW & Boxing Gym

 

Surly was here the other night and he gave me a ride to the end of the driveway so I could get the mail. He had Buck Owens cued up, so I heard a little bit of the song. The driveway is long, but not long enough to hear the whole song, even if it is only 2:29. On my bicycle trip on the Katy Trail years ago, my buddy and I spent the night in a bicycle hostel that was right next door to a little bar. We were urged by the management to do some karaoke, so I chose to do some Buck Owens on my one and only experience with karaoke. Nice thing about it was I'd never have to see any of those people again. A singer I'm not - maybe I'll go back for an encore performance when I learn to yodel. That'll impress 'em!

 I finally got the head for the VW engine stand bolted up to the engine. I'm still not sure why it didn't fit initially, but it's a done deal now. I cleaned off a spot for the stand close to the trailer, so we won't have to move the engine more than a few steps. I'm going to pull the tailgate off the trailer, after blocking the wheels on the dolly, so it'll be ready to move when my help shows up.

I delivered the speed bag platform mount yesterday. Coach Jen and I walked three miles first, checked out the progress of her gym and then did lunch. Lunch conversation was all about her plans for the gym. She plans on opening up right after the first of the year. I don't know how much help I'm going to be with the eye surgery and teaching, but I plan on helping with the boxing as soon as I'm able.

She's waiting on a couple of contractors to finish their part and then she can clean things up and move the rest of the equipment in. It's going to be a nice place when it's all done.

Sledding

 

 I did a bit of "fingering" yesterday and came up with the sled plan for Coach Jen. I'm making this thing from scrap material I came up with, so that dictated the design to a large extent. The good thing is, other than the pipe, I won't have to buy any material. 

I got the prybar out yesterday to lift up the VW motor to bolt it onto the stand only to find out the bolt pattern isn't correct. I had another VW motor once upon a time and I remember having it on the stand, but apparently, not all VW motors have the same bolt pattern on the bell housing. I checked the mount against the trans and it wouldn't bolt up there either. However, the trans and the motor appear to be the same. I don't know much about VWs as far as what fits with what, but right now all I want to do is get the motor on the stand and move on. I'm going to try and get that taken care of today, finally.

I'm going to the gym this morning to see about a job for Jimmy. He had talked to me a while back about cutting down a boxing ring. I want to see if that's still the case and get it in the pipeline if it is. Depending on the weather, stop at the park on the way home and do a little walking. Two weeks until the 5K.

The Edmund Fitzgerald - A Bit Late

 

I missed the anniversary of the wreck last Sunday. As much as I listen to the radio, you'd have thought I would have heard something, if not the song, someone mentioning it. As a side note, when my buddy Kevin and I did the Detroit half marathon, we ran by the Maritime Sailor's Cathedral. Of course, the song was stuck in my head from there to the finish line, which was the 50-yard line of Ford Field. 

I've seen a lot of that attitude over the years - still see a bit of it at the community college level. 

Speaking of which, I went to an advisory committee meeting last evening. I didn't feel like my presence helped much, but the food was good. I did talk to my boss about my assignment next spring. It appears I'll be teaching on the same nights Coach Jen wants to have boxing nights when she opens her gym/health club. I won't be teaching until the middle of March, but I'll be convalescing from eye surgery part of that time. I told the boss I'll honor the commitment, but if someone else is looking for more work it won't hurt my feelings if he gives my spot away.

Speedbag platform mount with the adjustable angles installed. I really like the look of the finished product, so I figured I should post it one more time.

I was going to bolt the VW engine on to the engine stand head I worked on a couple of weeks back, but the way the engine is sitting on the dolly, I need to lift up the engine a bit to have enough clearance to sneak the mount into position to bolt it on - maybe see if I can lift it up and throw a block under it today. I'd like to get that one checked off the list.

I cut some pieces for the sled for Coach Jen's gym. I think I've figured out how to make this thing using mostly scrap material I've come up with. I need to sit down and sketch out a plan to finalize the design and then get after it.

Lots to do, like always.

Senior Citizen

 

I usually listen to a CD in the truck during my commute, rather than the radio - no commercials and nothing but my favorites. I don't go too long without listening to some jazz, and Mose is often the first one I turn to. This cut is from the CD The Earth Wants You, which is a collection of tunes about life as an elder. Something I can relate to. I did get the results from my blood work last evening. Everything came back A-Okay. Cholesterol 148. Since the heart attack it's never been above 150 - something to be said for a decent diet and regular exercise.

I finished up the mount for the speedbag platform. The two angles with the slots will get painted today and that'll finish it. The square tube has a pretty thin wall thickness but the angle bracing should stiffen things up to cut vibration. If you want a fast rebound on the bag, you need to have a solid platform. This one will be a couple of thick particle boards glued together. Should give good action and it's adjustable in height - can't have a boxing gym without a speedbag.

I still need to make the chin-up bar and sled. I've started on the sled but just barely. Now that the speedbag job is done, I'll pick up the pace on that one.

I haven't forgotten about the vintage trials bike. I'll get a little bit more done on that this week as well.

This & That

 

Bobby Allison passed away on Saturday. He was one of my favorite racers back when I was a big fan. Unfortunately, his career was cut short due to a terrible racing accident that scrambled his brains. Racing also cost him the lives of his two sons, Clifford and Davey. RIP Mr. Allison.

The Marines celebrated their 249th birthday on Sunday and Veterans Day was yesterday. Thanks to all who served, regardless of the branch of service. Hopefully we'll see some improvements in the armed forces now that we've got some new people that will be in charge. 

I received my "spit tube" in the mail the other day for the medical study I volunteered for. They advertised for people with industrial experience and may have ingested, breathed in, or otherwise absorbed various chemicals. I filled out a questionnaire and was selected as a subject. I think the primary goal has to do with ALS but I'm sure whatever they find will be used for other research as well. I'm also listed as an organ donor on my driver's license. Anything I can do to help others with whatever's not used up after I die, they're welcome to it.  

In addition to mailing in my tube of spit, I put in a brisk mile of walking at the park, and I got my blood test taken care of. I also finished up the speed bag project with the exception of two clip angles that need to be welded on. I was all set to do that when the lens fell out of my glasses. I normally wear a pair of reading glasses when TIG welding rather than my prescription glasses. The readers are just cheap ones from the Dollar Store but I tried gluing the broken frame back together. I'll see if that worked today. I've got a couple of other pair around here for computer use if not. Either way, I'll finish the welding and then get some paint on the thing so I can deliver it.

Maybe finish weld the tabs on the Rickati gas tank as well. Need to keep working my way back.

Progress on Two Fronts

 

Since I decided to start at the front and work my way back, I installed the controls on the handlebar yesterday. The front brake cable is hooked up, but the throttle and clutch cables won't be hooked up until the engine installation is finalized. As you can see behind the bike, I've still got some more cleaning to do. 

Looking forward from the saddle - I'm real happy with how the tank turned out. It's kind of a shame I have so many different things that distract me from staying focused on developing my metal shaping skill. There's so much to learn but you can't master anything if you don't devote the time - 10,000 hours of your best effort according to Malcolm Gladwell. And, of course, you need the requisite tools and equipment as well. Tools I've got, time not so much. While I can't run with the big boys, I'm thinking this bike will be nothing to be ashamed of, though.

I got the machine work done on the speed bag hanger. Looking to get the rest of the parts made and welded together today. 

While it wasn't too cold yesterday, I started the shop heater while I was working out there. I wanted to get it ready for the inevitable cold weather that's coming, and it was a bit chilly and damp out. I should have enough propane to easily make it through the winter, but I want to make sure I keep at least two full tanks to run the generator in the event of a power outage. 

Compressor Trials & Trials Bike

 

I got the new regulator/water trap installed the other day. The only thing left is to make a little brace to support the regulator, or so I thought. When I fired up the compressor to test for leaks, everything appeared to be good. I figured it would be a good time to drain the tank and when I stuck my hand under the tank, I discovered a couple of small leaks. I brazed up the bottom of the tank once before as I recall. This time will probably require a patch over a fairly large area. Probably should have just bought a new compressor. Anyway, that explains why there was no moisture build up in the tank when I opened the drain valve.

I went out for breakfast yesterday with a group from the ham radio club. When I got home I headed to the shop and decided to put the projects for others on hold and get a little more done on the Rickati/vintage trials bike. I mounted up the front fender and then started cleaning the dust off of things. I'm going to start working my way from front to back finishing everything. The tabs holding the front of the gas tank need to be finish welded and the hold-down tab in the back needs to be altered due to interfering with the seat. I bought a rub strip to protect the swingarm from the chain that needs to be mounted and I need to finish the linkage for the shifter and brake pedal. Not much after that except to finish weld the frame and get it painted. It should look pretty good when it's all done. Actually, it looks pretty good now after I cleaned off the dust and spent some time polishing the shiny bits.

I'd like to find someone who could make me an enameled head badge like they put on bicycles for this thing and one for the jitney project. I would think with CNC milling, you could carve out the relief of the design on a piece of brass then bake the enamel in easy enough. I'm going to have to look into that.

The guy with the boat console I just welded up used to be a motorcycle mechanic and has a lot of experience working on Sportsters. When I finish up the Rickati he said he'll help me get mine dialed in. That'll be sweet

Feelin' The Love

 

"Let's get together and feel alright" Like that's gonna happen. At least things will now quiet down in my immediate circle. 

I made a knife for my dad years ago when I was experimenting with a little bit of knife making. He's been gone for 30 years and the knife has been in my machinist toolbox since his death. Surly's been doing some leather work and last time he was down I asked him about making a sheath for it. One week later, a beautiful sheath. He's always had a good eye for design, and as a machinist, a good eye for detail. Both of those skills came together quite nicely on this job. Now I'll be able to carry the knife with pride when I go hiking or camping. 

I bought all the necessary pieces to get the regulator plumbed up on the air compressor. The angle iron in the photo is for the speed bag job. The locking adjusting levers came Wednesday, so I can finish that job. Coach Jen is planning on opening up her gym the first full week of January, so I need to get the speed bag, chin-up bar and sled done by then. I went in to work early the other night and started on the sled. 

I mentioned the other day I went to the heart doc for my annual check-up, and later I read an article that mentioned the average life expectancy. I did an internet search and the latest figure I could find was 75.6 years for white males. If I'm average, I've only got a little over a year left - rather a sobering thought. However, with my diet and exercise routines, I think I'm good for a lot longer than that. I sure as hell hope so. 

Regulator & Speed Bag Platform

 

The regulator/water trap and the manifold came in. While looking to see what I needed from the hardware store, I discovered the fitting on the switch is not 1/4" NPT like all the others, but rather a 9/16-18 bolt thread. Fortunately, I've got a tap that size so I'm going to tap one of the holes in the manifold for it and then I should be able to assemble everything. I bought fittings, including a union, so I can assemble everything on the bench and then stick the whole unit on the compressor tank.

I did a little preliminary design work on the speed bag platform I'm building on the shop floor - not my preferred method - but I've been doing it my whole career as necessary starting way back when I was learning the trade with Uncle Pete. 

The rest of the details are sketched out on the cast iron platen along with some actual layout lines for when I weld it together. Now that I've got it figured out, I'll need one more drawing similar to the sketch above I can use to determine the angles and then lay the pieces directly on the layout to tack together. It's kind of a long process when you're the designer and the detailer, but drawing things out full size really helps me visualize the finished product and hopefully catch any design flaws.

Had my annual check-up at the cardiologist yesterday - good report. He told me to come back when I'm 75.

Went to the college after the doctor appointment and ran the track torch for a couple of hours. I cut the welds out of the certification plates they started on Monday. By cutting the welds out, they can use the same plates several times. Saves a lot of material that way. In a week or so I'll have them cutting their own plates. If you're going to be a fabricator, you need to know how to run a track torch.

I normally write these posts the night before they go up, so I hadn't heard anything concerning the election results. There should be plenty to absorb today, though.

The 3 P's

 Pogo, Pooh & Prepare

Tomorrow's Election Day when we find out who becomes the new President of the Former United States of America. Actually, based on past elections, we might not find out the winner for quite some time - hanging chads, Dominion, and all that. Regardless of who wins, about half the population are not going to be happy. Me, I'm not going to be happy until I see some of the swamp people in orange jumpsuits.

This one pretty much sums up where I'm at these days, especially after the extermination of Peanuts the pet squirrel. But as Brother Johnny used to say: "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you." Yep, we're boned.

 Batten the hatches, my friends, rough seas ahead.

Chicken Bell Completed

 

The chicken bell looks pretty good welded and stripped of paint. The welding was easy enough, but the bead blasting took a lot more time than it should have. When I finished blasting, I took the air compressor apart and ordered a water trap/filter/regulator, and a manifold to hook everything up.

Originally, the air manifold had a switch of some sort that hooked into the tank pressure, a pop-off valve, a tank pressure gauge, a regulator, and a working pressure gauge. I ordered a water trap/regulator and a manifold so I can install the feed line, the tank pressure gauge, the switch, and the pop-off valve. Plus, I need to be able to plumb the water trap/regulator off the end. The water trap/regulator has a gauge built in for the working pressure and the outlet. It shouldn't take too long to get it plumbed up. I'm going to put a union in the line as it comes out of the tank. It didn't originally, which meant I couldn't unthread the unit, or tighten it up since it had somehow worked loose. The Sawzall took it apart easy enough, though. 

I sanded down and painted the piece I made years ago for my boat motor on the engine stand. I no longer have the motor, but I do have a couple of boats that may need a motor someday. I did just repair a skeg on a motor the other day, so it's not unreasonable I might actually need it again. Plus, it's not really junk if it's got a fresh coat of paint, now is it?

I didn't get anything done on the vintage trials bike yesterday, but I did a couple of piddly jobs that needed my attention. So, a productive day.

Flap Discs & Chicken Bell

 

I bought some flap wheels from my usual online source. Price was good, less than a buck a piece. And if you look closely at the one in the left side of the photo, you can see they're made in PRC. I've never seen that before as the country of origin, but I'm pretty sure that stands for the People's Republic of China. Maybe the commies are trying to fool people as to where the product comes from - not sure why that would be, since we don't manufacture much in this country anymore. It has to come from somewhere.

I welded up the broken chicken bell yesterday. Since it's cast iron, I brazed it back together and burned quite a bit of the paint. I decided to bead blast the remaining paint off, but I was having trouble with the water trap on the blaster. What I need to do is install an industrial strength one right at the compressor. The compressor has a regulator and a couple of gauges mounted right to the tank but it has somehow loosened up and I hear air escaping when the pressure builds up. I don't know if it's because it's loose or maybe the diaphragm in the regulator has gone bad. One more thing that needs attention.

I finished up the boat console job and I got back on the vintage trials bike project only to get sidetracked with the bead blasting. I've about got it cleaned up, so I'll finish it today and then maybe look at the compressor to see what's what, then look into installing a water trap. Finish up the brake pedal on the bike after that. 

And it's November already, damn!