Railings

A pile of steel square tube that is destined to become our front porch railing.

We quickly welded together the small section and did a test fit.  Fits really nice.  I'll have to trim a little bit more and paint it.  Having a tough time finding the correct electrode for welding.  Airgas had some small 60 series rod that works pretty decent but doesn't really flow and lay in like 7018.  Need to get to Farm & Fleet.  They had some 1/16" 7018 that looks promising.

The pour went well and it rained hard that afternoon and into the next day.  Got some plastic on it in time and it looks good.  Need about another 5 yards of black dirt for My Dear's flower bed and to get it to slope away from the sidewalk.

The makeshift work station.  

All Over the Place

As fall is upon us I am scrambling to get a some stuff done that requires warmth.

Got the concrete poured out front this AM in the drizzle.  The "Big Boys" came up big for me one more time.  Todd Teske and the Mr. Charlie Kwick defied the years by screeding, wheeling and finishing about 50 feet of sidewalk.  Great moment when pops fell into the concrete while trying to walk along the 1 foot strip of dirt between the forms and the garage.  He sacrificed his body and only managed to jam his right elbow into the mud.  He may be sore tomorrow.  Concrete is still covered with plastic.  Pics soon.

Got the front fender of the Sporty painted.  Found the best recipe for a good looking and durable matte finish is using the Plasti-Kote and putting a couple of coats of Rust Oleum matte clear.  Can't argue with the resulting look.  Nice matte finish without looking chalky or primer-like.  Gonna give the same treatment to the   lower fork legs too.

The Woods L306 is almost done and looks really cool IMO.  The bracketry that is in the background is all that is left.  Learned a lot on this.

1. Be more patient
2. If you get frustrated, walk away
3. Make sure to prep the area to be painted meticulously

Steele Towne delivered my steel today, so I start to weld the front porch railings tomorrow.

Progress

One Piece at a Time

Got a few parts sanded down, primed, and painted.  The Ford 8n is gonna be a pain next year, I can see it already. 

Started to work on the Harley a little now too.  Took a couple of pieces that I have spares to, roughed them up and put some flat black engine enamel on them.  The Plasti Kote is, allegedly, resistant to gas.   We'll see.  If it is, the gas tank will get a coat as soon as the snow flies.  Can't decide whether to go flat black with the wheels or go gloss with a red pinstripe.

Saw where someone put an old fire extinguisher as the oil tank for their Sportster, so I put a wish out there to the universe that one would come to me like my buddy Gustav.  And, when that didn't work, I managed to "source" one that was destined for a dumpster.  That project is on the way back burner.

PTO leak

Have a small leak from the PTO.  New oil seal and bearing assembly are like 3 bucks a pop.
After I get the old 8n's belly mower done, then will move on to leak 1 of 3.

Read a site put up by another dude (http://www.myfordtractors.com/painting.shtml)  where he recommended colors.  The grey that I picked looks about right and I snagged a rattle can of the Sunrise Red.  Holy crap, super bright!
The old girl will really pop when she gets a new red belly next year.

Threw some pine needles on the four blueberry plants to get them ready for a long winter nap. Getting that anxious feeling that comes every fall.  Did I get everything that had to be done finished?  Got the hose bibbs shut off and the hoses disconnected.   Feels like I'm missing something.
Most of the miscellanea that came with the old house isn't a consideration here.  

Final inspection on the house Thursday.  Better get some of that stuff done soon.

Birthday and Blade

Celebrated dad's 72nd birthday today.  Wife bought one of those crappy cards that don't have any writing on the inside, plunks it down on my lap 20 minutes before we leave and says, "Here you go."  So, I do the usual and jump on the internet and look for a quote that will make me look smart.  Found a little gem by John Burroughs that fit the bill just fine. 

If you change things around enough you feel a little better about not crediting the author. 

I was under the impression that my dad would be (unknowingly) enjoying a quote from a longtime heroin user and author of one of the filthiest books ever.  I was thinking of William S. Burroughs. 

Got home and watched the Packers barf up a sure win in Indy, then went to the shed and started working on the old Woods belly mower.  Should be good practice for the tractor restoration next year.  Redid the rear flywheel cover and it looks tight.  It will match the tractor colors.  Red and gray.

Gone in Ten Seconds

Bought a cycle.  '93 1200 Sportster.  The kid loves it.  He has ridden it about 100' so far.

Baby steps.

We won't let him ride it until he gets his motorcycle license.

The plan is to do a simple bobber project with it this winter in the shed.

Got a bunch of stuff to do around the house still.  No wood heat in the shed yet.

Been sick last two days.  Bad headache and vomit 4x.