And more junk.

[MFDAC]

Suppose to start raining here tonight.
Good news about your eyes

Thanks, Roger. Stopped raining here just before noon!

Great news on the eye Doug. Didn’t take long to get the ok.

Noel

Right at one week, Noel, Thanks!

Good to hear your eye is healing well Doug. Be careful with it. Remember when we were young and tough we could grind metal all day long without dumb safety glasses all the other safety stuff. Boy those were the days.......

Also we were talking about control panels a while ago. Those keys (some) are relatively common to other things too. I use a set on our camper trailer and one fit a tool box on back of a buddies truck.

I appreciate it Bill! I still have old pairs of glasses with grinding slag balls stuck in the lenses!

Good news Doug glad you got a good report. That’s all we have had for over a month rain 2-4 days then sunny. I’ve been cutting grass almost twice a week.

Thank-you, Jim! It has been either too rainy or windy for me to spray the weeds coming up in the gravel!

Speaking of keys, About 8 years ago a Vet. had a 7000 series JD tractor stolen. Found out a $40K truck lock has slim chance another key will fit in the whole state but a $150K 7000 series tractors were all keyed alike.

Usually all farm and construction equipment was keyed alike till the use of MFD's were installed in them. If you had a CAT key, you could operate any CAT equipment. Case excavator key is the same as a Link Belt (same machine, different colors, features etc), JD excavator is the same as a Hitachi one. While in the Army i had one key that would work in my lowboy rig, a older vibratory roller, and about two or three other trucks/machines.

Not a very secure feeling then when a person spends a huge pile of money on equipment just to have every other key out there to fit it!

Got the mowing and most of the trimming done. 10 days worth of growth. Was wet and pretty thick!

Will be heading to Denver Friday pending the arrival of a med I need at Walmart pharmacy. They sid it will be here by tomorrow.

DAC

 

[JDJake]

I might have said it before, any vehicle purposely built for the Army, {Humvee, 2.5, 5 ton, HEMMT.s and combat vehicles), don't really require keys. They have rotary ignition switch or push button. In garrison or storage they are secured with a padlock and a chain or cable through the steering wheel.

 

[chieffan]

First thing the Vet did was have a locksmith change the key. With all the computer stuff that runs through all the different switches not sure how that would play out today.

 

[JDJake]

First thing the Vet did was have a locksmith change the key. With all the computer stuff that runs through all the different switches not sure how that would play out today.

He probably just changed the cab door lock, those are pretty simple.

 

[MFDAC]

Ready to head to Arvada, CO tomorrow morning. The old Denali checked out ok. Got some weeds sprayed, and put a new locking doorknob on the shop door. In case Loree needs to put her car inside because of hail I didn't want her to fight with the old lock which was taking a bunch of jiggling around with the key to get it to unlock any more. The lockset was only 33 years old---LOL! Will have a couple more keys made when I get home. The Denali will need tires before winter but they should be ok for this summer. Ran the GT5000 out and body bagged it and put that toolbox trailer outside too.

I'm taking an old laptop so maybe I will be able to check in while down there. Will come home Memorial Day weekend so I have time to mow and do other chores before the left eye surgery.

DAC

 

[Cvans]

Safe travels and hopefully you will find your sister doing better when you get there.

 

[Toomanytoys84]

When I was at the strip mine 20 years ago we had 3 keys. New cat, old cat and a komatsu…those 3 keys would work on any equipment at the pit.

 

[chieffan]

He probably just changed the cab door lock, those are pretty simple.

Nope, changed the door and ignition switch. Door to easy to pop open.

 

[MFDAC]

Safe travels and hopefully you will find your sister doing better when you get there.

Thanks Chris finally got home about 5:30pm today. I ended up staying a few more days than planned. She wasn't doing well when I got there. Not going to go into all the details, but I had to take her to urgent care where they diagnosed a blood clot in her right lower leg. A couple days later, last Sunday, her leg and foot was having severe pain and she was not breathing well, high blood pressure and bad shakes. Called 911 for that episode. Had a ladder truck, ambulance and 6 responders at her place in about 4 minutes.

They gave her morphine for the pain and determined the blood clot had not moved to a dangerous position. That night was the first good sleep she gotten since I had been there. All that seemed to been the worst of it. My youngest older sister was able to take over the caregiving today since I needed to get home, do some chores and be prepared for the left eye cataract surgery on Tuesday.

Obviously being gone for 13 days the grass would have been out of control this time of year. I thought maybe 6 or 7 days was all I would have to catch up on. Loree thought she would pull one off on me and surprise me with a mowed yard. My bride of 45 years first had to figure out how to get the body bag off of the GT5000. It sucks kneeling in the gravel to release the straps. She didn't know I take a old chair cushion to kneel on. Said after the fact she saw it laying on the welding table. Then by trial and error she figured out how to operate it very well! I had never even had her in the seat of that thing. The only tractor she knew how to operate is a Bolens/MTD LT sitting out back of the shop in the weeds. Haven't had time this spring to fire it up yet.

Her surprise couldn't happen since the security cameras were catching her in the act---LOL! Was able to save a short video that I can't download here, but here's a couple pics of her running it into the shop after she got done!





DAC

 

[Sawdust]

Sorry to hear about your sister Doug I thought about texting you on FB the other day to see how things were going but figured you were probably busy out there.

That’s funny about her trying to surprise her and you were watching her. All my tractors have their own personality I don’t think Carol could ever get one going. She loves a push mower though. Maybe I should get her a really nice one that’s her favorite color. Lol

Glad your back safely and hope all goes well.

 

[Toomanytoys84]

Sorry to hear about your sister Doug I thought about texting you on FB the other day to see how things were going but figured you were probably busy out there.

That’s funny about her trying to surprise her and you were watching her. All my tractors have their own personality I don’t think Carol could ever get one going. She loves a push mower though. Maybe I should get her a really nice one that’s her favorite color. Lol

Glad your back safely and hope all goes well.

My wife could puzzle it out but I’d imagine I’d come home to a broken tractor or something ran over in the yard.

 

[Cvans]

I’ve said it before, nothing beats a good wife and you have a dandy!

 

[MFDAC]

Sorry to hear about your sister Doug I thought about texting you on FB the other day to see how things were going but figured you were probably busy out there.

That’s funny about her trying to surprise her and you were watching her. All my tractors have their own personality I don’t think Carol could ever get one going. She loves a push mower though. Maybe I should get her a really nice one that’s her favorite color. Lol

Glad your back safely and hope all goes well.

Thanks, Jim. She sounded ok when I called her this morning. Said she has a cold now. More worries. I probably wouldn't have been able to answer a FB message either. As you said I was pretty busy.

Loree did have one thing she didn't figure out on that tractor. She had never used a hydro before and thought she had to push the "clutch" pedal whenever she went from forward to reverse. She said it was jerky doing that. I told her that is just the brake so it would have been jerky!

My wife could puzzle it out but I’d imagine I’d come home to a broken tractor or something ran over in the yard.

I haven't driven the tractor yet to be sure it is ok, but the blades look ok at least, Aaron! Took a look in the deck.

I’ve said it before, nothing beats a good wife and you have a dandy!

I and she appreciate that, Chris! I guess she'll keep me---lol!

All I got accomplished today was unpacking and laundry from the trip. I have a couple of lettering jobs that came up while I was gone so I did a little design work on the computer for one of them this afternoon.

Still pretty wore down from the adventures with my sister.

DAC

 

[MFDAC]

I had some running around in town to do today with Loree, and when we got home mid afternoon I just decided to go work on some sigh stuff.

One of the calls I got while in Colorado was from a 50 year racer friend. His son is driving dirt cars and the son buys "wraps" now to letter the car. Last one I did for them was 2017. The call said that his grandson is now racing go-karts. They want me to letter the new kart as around 20-25 years ago I designed a logo for the race team. He went on to say no vendors can reproduce the logo, so it was time for me to do some work for them again.

Problem was that the old computer and cutter are so obsolete, that I had to buy new equipment and software a few years ago, so basically starting from scratch. To save myself a ton of work, I decided to dig out the old Windows98 computer and hook it back up to the 34 year old vinyl cutter to see if I could cut a small black sticker that could be scanned into the newer computer and then used in the new software. The old cutter had developed "Alzheimer's" prompting the change a few years ago. It would "forget" what it was cutting part way through cutting a design, and just stop cutting.

The long rest it had must have revived it's memory as I was able to cut a logo that fit the scanner and then I was able to transfer it into the new sign software! I don't have to tell them it may not be identical now! Still the same one from way back then.

Will be able to edit the colors, add outlines and customize it up now.



DAC

 

[MFDAC]

We did the Father's Day stuff yesterday, going to Longhorn for a good steak! Loree and I along with our son. Got some house chores done today then figured my eyes were in good enough shape to do a small amount of metal cutting and some tack welds.

A while back I had talked about hanging a neon window sign in the house. Have had the new much lighter more powerful and smaller power supply to replace the old heavy transformer for awhile now. The transformer is 9 lbs and the power supply is 2 lbs.

Had to cut a piece of 1-1/2" strap for a mount since the new won't fit the old holes. Then drilled mount holes and cleaned the rust off of it.


Clamped the strap on the bottom of the frame so the sign can hang closer to a wall, or the sign could even sit on a shelf. Had sanded paint off of the frame.


Used a pretty big HF welding tarp to cover the glass. Should buy a small one someday!


Of course when I went to do the first tack weld I didn't look at the switch in the helmet! Got the blue dot bad since the helmet was set for grinding, not welding---LOL! Finally got 8 tack welds done which will be plenty to hold. Used a small round wire brush to clean things up then shot some Krylon satin black on it. It dried quick but decided to get on the computer tonight rather than assemble the power supply and hook up the high-tension cables. Will do that tomorrow afternoon.


Got the race from Iowa on and surfing here on this site!

DAC

 

[Cvans]

It was one of those old transformers with a big ceramic insulator on each end that we hooked up to an electric fence years ago to teach the cows that these electric fences weren't to be messed with. The snow was really deep and the cows kept pushing through them. The transformer only lasted three days but by that time they had all been thoroughly educated. No more fence problems that winter.

 

[chieffan]

Dad used to peal back an ear of corn and tie the husk together over the electric fenc wire if the battery was getting week. On wrap of the tongue taught most that those corn ears was not to be messed with.

 

[chieffan]

Carolyn picked up a couple nice thick T-bone steaks the other day on sale. Did them on the pellet grill /smoker yesterday afternoon before the race came on. Real tender and juicy, couple of the best we have had in a while. Heck of a lot cheaper that driving 30-40 miles to spend 3-4 times as much.

 

[MFDAC]

It was one of those old transformers with a big ceramic insulator on each end that we hooked up to an electric fence years ago to teach the cows that these electric fences weren't to be messed with. The snow was really deep and the cows kept pushing through them. The transformer only lasted three days but by that time they had all been thoroughly educated. No more fence problems that winter.

May have looked something like this, Chris? I think around 12,000 volt secondary they go to hardwire and opposed cables. Thiis one is 15,000 volt. They are for bigger neon displays that have larger diameter glass and more footage to power. The one I used on this beer sign is a 10KV.



Got the sign done today. needed one tie wire and of course I didn't have any copper strands the right size. Stripped the good end of an old GT battery cable that was melted back about 6" to get one lousy strand! Thought I had some tie wire around here but couldn't find it. Now I have some that I will probably never use again---LOL!


If you look close you might see a fresh copper wire when the rest are all corroded black. Hint--- look at the word PIZZA!

Looks good lit up.


For some reason the phone camera doesn't show the word "Lite" is powder blue except a little part on the "e". Digital cameras do some weird things with light. That's why the northern lights look so different on cell phone cameras VS the eye.

I had a small balance on PayPal so last week I ordered a couple of small tools from Temu to see how they are. Never had before. The 1/4" shank grinding burrs came in today. I think the set was 16 bucks. Still have a set of number and letter stamps and a 90* drill screwdriver bit adapter coming. Those ones might be on a slow boat!


They eyeball as good at the ones that are 20 bucks a piece at the welding store but looks can be deceiving.

DAC

 

[chieffan]

Probably all Chinese burrs are made in the same place.