Bike Frame

 

I finished welding the bike frame yesterday with the exception of the stubs for the footpeg mounts. The weatherman on the radio sent out a bad weather warning and I didn't want to get caught out in the shop, so I went to the house - glad I did, too. A big blow-up came through shortly thereafter and I definitely would have had to ride out the storm in the shop.

The footpeg mounts get welded in today and then I'll do a bit of grinding, sanding and cleaning to get it ready for paint. While doing that I should be able to find any spots I may have overlooked that need welding.

Still waiting on the fork seals but I haven't got the fork legs cleaned and polished yet anyway. The shifter boot for the jitney should be here today or tomorrow. I picked up some poster board the other day to make a couple of patterns for the floorboard. When I went to pick up my fresh argon bottle on Monday, he was out of my size, so he gave me a smaller one. The delivery truck won't be there for another week yet, so I'm going to weld most everything I can in the meantime. That way I'll empty the small one and pick up my regular one, pay him for both and everyone will be happy. Plus, I'll have a lot done on my projects.

I talked to the travel agent the other day about a trip to Hawaii. It's not going to be cheap but it'll allow me to finish my quest to see all 50 states. Actually, it's more like pee, rather than see. By my rules, the only way you can claim to have been in a state is to mark your territory by "taking a leak" there. So when you see the old Johnny Cash song I've Been Everywhere show up on the blog, you'll know I made it. Meanwhile, back to work.

College Mopes and TIG Fingers

 I ran across this the other day: The average college student today - by Hilarius Bookbinder

Pretty much the same thing I've been dealing with lately. The fact that they don't know the basic things that everyone entering college should know is one thing, but the fact they don't seem too concerned about it is what bothers me. I know what a good welder should know and the conditions of the industry now. You try and tell them that it's a jungle out there but they don't seem capable of cranking it up and doing their best to prepare for a career. Oh well, 12 more days and they're on their own as far as I'm concerned.

I ordered one of these the other day - probably should have done it quite a while ago. It protects your pinky finger, or two fingers with the large one, while TIG welding. You need a pretty steady hand to hold the torch while welding and it's a lot easier if you can put a finger down on the material. I was welding on the bike frame yesterday and I was spending way too much time grinding the tungsten after dipping it into the puddle. I'm thinking the TIG finger would be a great help to steady my hand while trying to wrap a weld around round tubes, especially since my depth perception ain't what it used to be. At least I'm getting the bike frame welded up.

I did a little work on the jitney yesterday as well. I'm working on figuring out the floorboard. I made a pattern and I ordered a shifter boot. I figured out what to do about raising the seat up a little, so I can get on that and get the trials bike finished up. Things are moving along nicely now, but lots of yard work in the coming days.

 

The Magnolias are looking good even though we had a hellacious storm come through over the weekend and freezing temperatures last night. They lost some petals and buds in the storm and tinged the edges of some of the blossoms brown, but that seems to happen most years. No damage on the fruit trees, though.