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.