tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71696007700476043592024-03-07T00:54:18.787-08:00Never Enough BricksBrick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-48973939790087204682014-11-23T07:04:00.000-08:002014-11-23T07:04:14.412-08:00Fighting Ebola: "DON'T SPIT ON SIDEWALK"<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
It looks to be another gray rainy Sunday. At least the temperatures are warmer. Katie stopped over Saturday morning and we walked along the river to the new University Boat house. They were having an open house for alumni rowers and guests. Katie rowed for the crew, and I know many of the coaches. What a facility. I wish I had taken my camera. It was still cool enough I did not wear my new camo Utilikilt. I was still “beat up” from Fridays “public service project”.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
After getting my halogen wall light fixed up I decided to tackle another project that had been on the back burner for a long time. I’d been joking about installing my “Don’t Spit on Sidewalk” brick into the sidewalk in front of my house for a while. I reasoned it would be my effort to help stop Ebola! The sun was brilliant and the temperatures were warm on Friday. It was time to get the show on the road.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
I owe it to my friend Ed for getting me addicted to my angle grinder! He taught me the “in’s and out’s” of how “big boy power tools” can make miserable jobs so much easier. I have to say the brick saw and angle grinder have had such an impact upon my life as to be scary!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
I knew this was going to be a real pain in the butt job. The old sidewalk I was cutting into has a lot of gravel mixed it which makes it nearly impossible to drill into, and slow cutting with the diamond wheel. I think bullets will be the best way to outline this project.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">The brick was laid out and the new location was marked upon the sidewalk.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">Using the diamond carbide drill bit each of the four corners was drilled out a bit. The bit would not go too deep because of all the gravel.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">The outline was first cut into the sidewalk. Starting on the north side of this cut out, the inside was scored into small sections and chiseled out with a steel chisel and sledge hammer. This starting area was the worst as there was so little area to work in. Ever so slowly the first half of the opening got cleaned out.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">With more room to work with the second half was cut out much easier and faster. All the while I was working in a cloud of dust and playing John Henry with the chisel and sledge hammer, the game day party was being set up across the street. I could just imagine what the people were thinking of the commotion going on!</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px;">My poor 4”diamond wheel was toast by the time I was doing the final fitting. This entailed making a duct tape sling to hold the brick to lower and raise it from the opening for the process of cleaning out the corners. With the initial space cleaned out this went amazingly quick.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
Cleaning up the edges before the final installation:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><img alt="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/001-149.jpg
" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/001-149.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />A small batch of mortar was mixed up and the brick was tapped into place with the rubber mallet. Ed’s dad was an expert bricklayer. Ed gave me bunch of his dad’s mason tools. These “jointers” have been invaluable to me these past few brick projects. What difference having the right tools makes. I used these jointer tools to pack and clean the side mortar joints.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
Jointer tools: <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><img alt="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/masonjointer.jpg " src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/masonjointer.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
Finished installation:</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img alt="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/sidewalkbrick.jpg " src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/sidewalkbrick.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
I was asked to post a picture of my “granny square”. I documented the origin and progress of this 10 years ago at Open Diary. This poor “granny square” started out as a joke in the skill center at work which eventually took on a life of its own. Coworkers would bring me leftover yarn from their projects. When it would be time to start another round a vote would be taken of whoever was in the skill center as to what the colour should be! It can make you dizzy to look at it too long! There are 86 rounds on this. I crochet very tight so this works out to a lot of yarn. The thing weighs a ton! I still add to it when the fancy hits.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img alt="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/grannysquare.jpg " src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/grannysquare.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
Stumpy just came in from outside. He made the rounds around my house and Michele’s house next door so he is ready for a break. He is now on my lap getting pets and rubs. He is purring his heart out. Things are good…..</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img alt="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/003-101.jpg
" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/003-101.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></div>
Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-24313089349631157342014-11-21T09:23:00.001-08:002014-11-21T09:25:09.562-08:00Back After A Long Absence <div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
The Internet and computer software are so transient. Time is flying by so. My good friend Graham asked if I would copy an old LP to CD for him. It has been quite a while since doing this. It was in April 2010 my old desk top tower died after seven years of service. The information and files on old hard drive was salvaged/saved. A new tower was purchased which was an upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
The last few copies made from my turntable I’m certain were through Realplayer. Well, the free Realplayer program has changed to where I don’t have that option anymore. The “Pyro” software to translate the analog LP to digital I downloaded when hooking up the turntable, was not in my programmes file anymore.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
I pulled out the disc and reinstalled it. It would not run. Using Google search I learned this old programme is not compatible with Windows 7. The turntable I have from Audio Technica is no longer supported by anything because it does not use a UBC port like the current models. I think I found a work around but it involves a lot of downloads and consolidating programme files and locations. It looks to be hours of work to accomplish. ARRRRG!!!!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
This morning I was curled up snug and warm under the wool blankets floating between being asleep and awake. For whatever reason I was thinking of the old house restoration blog I started years ago. It has been dormant for years. My last entry was in April 2011.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<a class="link" href="http://bungalowinalabama.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background: 0px 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #428bca; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://bungalowinalabama.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
I started this blog back in 2006 in the days when a lot of “old house action” was happening on the Internet. There was a thriving old house site with an informative discussion forum. An off-shoot of that site was a separate site for old house blogs. It was sort of a “web ring”. Just typing that out has it sounding like ancient history. That collection of blogs was very disjointed and eventually faded away.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
The old house site and forum deteriorated as the years passed. I posted less and less. The owners of the site pretty much ignored it and it was over run with spam. Things got to be so bad I did not want to have any postings to tie me to that site. Last year I went through and deleted all my posts. Mercifully only a few were “locked” to editing so there is hardly any footprint of me ever being there.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
It seems to be an “on line” pattern as the forum on that old house site ended up being controlled by a few “experts” doling out misinformation. I have witnessed this happen on various antique phonograph boards. I don’t like being involved in conflict if I can avoid it. I’ll read these forums, but refuse to join or participate. I really try and hold my tongue on Facebook. That site could have me crazy if I took it seriously.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
I’m thinking this might be how the Internet is evolving. I was on an old archived site recently that spelled out the rules and etiquette on how to navigate and behave in chat rooms. Looking back now on AOL Chat Rooms makes them seem primitive and quaint. Do chat rooms even exist anymore? Facebook and Twitter seem to have pretty much killed them off.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
To return to my old house blog: I’m going to start posting to it again. Instead of doing chronological entries of projects in progress, I plan on pulling out and consolidating entries going back to my earliest “Open Diary” years so I can have a document of the progress and work done here. I could almost write a book on the stories and adventures behind the bricks I salvaged from the burned out train station 30+ years ago.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
It is supposed to warm up today.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
Arrh!!! I did the entry up on the laptop in the kitchen. I attach the word file to a Google mail draft which I then open on the desk top to do the fine tuning and posting. The bedroom has been pretty dark as the halogen wall light was out again. I was expecting that to happen the last time I worked on it. I did not want to work in the dark so I took the damn thing off the wall and tore into it.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
Just as I expected one of the wires burned through. The halogen bulb emits such heat the inside the casing the wiring must be special high temperature stuff like what is used in ovens.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
I was planning on going to the appliance repair store to see if I could get wire from them. I found a source on E-bay for small lengths, but I’d rather get it locally if possible.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
This light is first generation and naturally not in production anymore. When this style lighting first hit the market it was VERY expensive and only sold in designer shops. This was purchased in the late 1980’s from a specialty light store on 8th Ave in NYC. I know I have this all documented in my paper journals, but it would take all day to find the information. Ron and I would shop there on our frequent trips to the city. Having this wall fixture up-lighting 300 watts, I can comfortably light half the room without table or floor lights.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
Once I tore into the thing I discovered the wire burned off right at the porcelain. There was no easy way to repair it. To condense a lot of aggravation, I remembered I had an old halogen torchiere lamp from when I lived in Bowling Green.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
I bought as a close out from K-Mart Labor Day 2004. I can understand why they stopped making this style light. There were more parts tacked onto this lamp. It had a glass cover for the bulb, and a wire cage over the entire top of the light. I now realize there was also a thermostat to break the current if there was excessive heat build up.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
It worked fine the time I lived in Bowling Green, KY. Here in Tuscaloosa I used it for a work light under the carport. It quit working years ago. It was cheap enough I never attempted to fix it, but hung on to it for parts. I was able to take the bulb holder out and switch it out with the holder of my old fixture. It had more than enough of the high temperature wire to do the job.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
Once again in my life it was, “NEVER BUY NEW, MEND AND MAKE DO!!!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; line-height: 25.2000007629395px; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img alt="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/halogenwalllight.jpg
" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/halogenwalllight.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" /></div>
Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-45921693204356537362011-04-07T13:49:00.000-07:002011-04-07T13:51:27.824-07:00Wednesday Missing in Action<table class="diarybody" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext"> </span><br /></td> <td> <br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext"> </span><br /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p> </p><div class="entrytext"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">Things have been so crazy as of late. Some great stuff has been turning up in E-Bay land. This phenomena resulted in my latest road trip was to Decatur, IL to pick up a cast iron whistle sign. This heavy thing was originally positioned along the railroad roadbed. It signaled the engineer to sound the whistle code for “approaching a grade crossing” which is two long - one short - one long blasts on the whistle or horn of the locomotive. I remember seeing these along the roadbed of the New York Central Railroad which was across the street from where I grew up. These old cast iron signs are quite collectible. The seller had this as a local pick up only. There was a New York collector who was hot for it, but the seller did not want to deal with shipping companies and the like. He held it for me to pick up.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/whistlesign.jpg" alt="" /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">Monday morning I did up the last of my packing and straightening up the house. Stumpy delayed my departure by some twenty minutes hiding out! That bad boy!! The house was locked up and I was on the road at 5:30 a.m.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">My first stop was Trader Joe’s in Nashville. Here I stocked up on Trader Joe’s Pound Plus dark and bittersweet chocolate, New Mexico Pinion Nut Coffee, Maple syrup, and a case of their Bavarian Wheat Beer.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">Back on the road I took I-24 into Kentucky. Kentucky and Indiana were the worst states driving. Not so much for the roads but for the weather. I knew I’d be in for some rain, but I never expected tornadoes to be part of the equation. I finally gave up on trying to listen to the radio as it was just one storm alert after another. The tornado warnings did me no good, as they go by counties. How could I know what county I was driving in?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">There were times the rain was so intense I was down to 45 mph with the four ways flashing. I knew conditions were bad when the trucks did not fly by me. When the tornado sirens sounded I got scared. Ever so slowly I drove out of the rain and the sky stayed a lead gray with low hanging clouds. The only clue this was not a chill November day was the faint hint of green in the trees.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">I’m truly spoiled with my Garman now. It is such a convenience to not have to drive and look at a map at the same time. That little screen shows what the speed limit is and how fast you are driving so keeping to the limit is so easy. I no longer fret about missing a turn or street sign.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">Driving to Warrensburg, IL I had to take a lot of secondary roads. These can be so dangerous: being able to give full attention to traffic and road signs can be a lifesaver.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">I arrived to pick up the sign right at 4:45 p.m. some 620 miles from home. This hunk of cast iron is better in person: I’m very pleased. I settled up with Tony and we loaded the beast into the bed of the truck. My next stop was Decatur, IL some eight miles distant. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">Cities of this size and location usually lack a Motel Six. I went for the big time and booked a room on-line at the Comfort Inn. I liked the fact a Texas Steak House was just across the road. Outback is my favourite restaurant chain, but Texas Steak is a pretty much in the same league.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">Got cleaned up some, put a couple Trader Joe’s wheat beers on ice and headed to supper. Things were not too terribly busy. I settled in at the bar and had a tall Shock Top beer and some hot rolls and butter in no time. My meal tonight was Caesar Salad, small New York strip steak, and fries covered with cheese and bacon. I ordered my steak rare and smothered in onions.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">When the steak came out it was totally covered in onions and a small additional bowl of onions was on the side! I was in onion heaven!! It was all so good! When I’m on the road like this it is always more fun to sit at the bar and interact with the bartenders and others. People are a lot more open and relaxed at the bar.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">Back at the hotel I was able to shift the sign into the cab of the truck. I really doubt anyone would take the thing from the truck bed, but with the investment I have in it I’m not going to tempt fate! That drive did me in. One beer in the room and I was dead to the world. This boy slept good…..</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">Today, Thursday April the 7<sup>th</sup> the phone rang at 5:20 a.m. The conversation went as follows:</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Phone:</b> RING RING!!!!!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Jamie:</b> Hey Debbie, I’ll be all set to walk when you get here.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Other end:</b> This isn’t Debbie…..</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Jamie:</b> Who is this????</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Other end:</b> Let me put Hunter on…..</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Hunter:</b> Jamie, are you going to cox today?</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Jamie:</b> I’m coxing Thursday. Today is Wednesday…</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Hunter:</b> No Jamie; today is THURSDAY…..</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Jamie:</b> Oh ***k!!! I’ll be right there!!!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:6.0pt; margin-left:0in;text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">I don’t know what happened to Wednesday. The last thing I remember is this bright green light that enveloped my truck and a little man with pale skin and large elongated eyes who poked needles all over my body…….. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!!!!</span></span></p> </div>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-24225238401887342011-01-05T15:38:00.000-08:002011-01-05T15:40:00.431-08:00Mend and Make Do<table class="diarybody" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext"><br /></span> </td> <td> <br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext"> </span><br /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <p> </p><div class="entrytext"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">It was the early fall of 1972 I signed on to the midnight sort at United Parcel Service in Lancaster, PA. Working nights loading the delivery trucks on the line and “hogging” in the trailers necessitated having warm rugged clothes. Champion Apparel had a “real” outlet store in Perry, NY. The clothing they sold was true factory rejects. My favourite basketball jersey from that store had a big 16 on the front and a 17 on the back! That shirt drove people crazy when I used to wear it!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">It so happened I was home in Lockport, NY before I started that job assignment. My mom, dad, good friend Toni, and I made the 55 mile trip to Perry, NY so I could stock up work clothes. We left early on a bright Saturday morning, driving through the Alabama swamps, the city of Batavia, and the rolling farmland till we reached Perry, NY.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">Whenever we made this excursion we would have breakfast at “The Hole in the Wall” restaurant located in the heart of the village. This place was famous in they would always give a serviceman or woman their meal for free if they were in uniform. That tradition began during WWII. My metabolism was off the charts back then. I can still remember the look from my dad when I ordered bacon, eggs, homefries, and a side stack of hotcakes for my meal. I ate every bite!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">Going to an outlet store was a big deal back then; I made the best of this opportunity stocking up with lots of heavy sweat pants and heavy sweatshirts. I have two of those sweatshirts remaining from that trip I can still wear. They are so battered and worn I only use them for the really messy jobs I don’t want to risk my better clothes on.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">Working on the Graphophone mainsprings this past weekend was one such job where I was wearing the Temple University Football shirt. The cuffs were so ragged even I had to admit they made the sweatshirt unwearable. I did a laundry of my nastiest work clothes Monday. The grease washed out really well from that old sweatshirt; I could not bear to rip it into rags.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">Google searches for “sweatshirt knit cuffs” led me to a discussion board. It was suggested that the elastic tops of socks can make perfect cuffs. What a great idea! It was easy to find a pair of socks with the bottoms pretty much worn through to use.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">It was easy work to sew the sock-tops to the sweatshirt sleeves. I should be able to get at least another ten years wear out of that garment!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">the shreds of the original cuffs and the new "sock cuffs"</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><a href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/finishedcuffs.jpg"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;"><img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/finishedcuffs.jpg" alt="" /></span></span></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Bookman Old Style;">This aspect of my life I can’t make sense of. I’ve made playing the “miser” into an art form. But, truth be told, I can get a comparable sweatshirt at the thrift store for a few dollars any time I want. Hell, I can even go to the “yuppie stores” and pay top dollar if I were so inclined. It is not the money aspect. Whenever I wear those old sweats I think back to when they and I were young. The memorable trip with those I cared about that early fall morning to Perry, NY: Working on the loading docks at UPS, doing chores around my first house in Lockport and now my home in Alabama. I always have happy memories wearing those worn out clothes. It is also a good way to annoy people… I’ve got ammo for years now harping on how to make use of worn out socks!!!</span></span></p> </div>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-46503558024602732942008-08-22T07:28:00.000-07:002008-08-22T07:31:23.381-07:00More Aggravation<table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext"> </span><br /></td> <td> <br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext">Thursday, July 03, 2008</span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="entrytext"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p> </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">One step forward, two steps back. It is times like this I wonder why I put myself into the situations I do. Yesterday morning the double mainspring assembly arrived along with the needed fixings that will allow me to install it to my machine. I think the easiest comparison would be to think of the main platform that supports the motor assembly as to a basic automobile body that can take many forms. By switching out a mounting bracket and some gearing, a single spring motor can be improved to a double spring.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">After I unwrapped the parcel I did a quick switch out to see if the springs were intact. It appeared the hooks on the arbor were disengaged from the spring. Opening the spring barrels I discovered the ends of the springs were all mangled. SHIT!! I had to say it.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">The mainsprings had to be removed anyway, only now I’ll have to install new holes and reshape the inner spring coils. This loss of material will also shorten the running time a bit: This was aggravation I did not need. There was not much choice in the matter. Once removed from the spring barrel, the mainspring was uncoiled and clamped to a board. The end with the damaged section was heated with a torch to take the temper out of the steel that will allow the shears to cut the now “soft steel”. This end section was again annealed. Lay out blue was painted onto the end and the outline of the pear shaped hole was scribed. This was drilled and filed out. I can’t make any further progress until the graphite arrives and I can install and grease up the springs.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/mainspringrepair.jpg" alt="" height="867" width="650" /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">The new grill cloth has been glued into place and looks wonderful. One aspect of this job at least progressed without trauma!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">A fast road trip looks to be in my future next week. The guys who have been salvaging the bricks from the <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Dixie Highway</st1:address></st1:street> down in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:state> are closing up shop. I contacted them and it looks like I’ll make one last brick run. I need a brick project after all this phonograph aggravation. I’ve missed my “brick road trips”. As much as I like travelling with Billy, he is not a Dairy Queen fan. When I’m on the road I need to have my “Blizzard Fix”. I know where all the Dairy Queens are on my route!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I’m not that far from Billy’s new home getting these bricks…but…. he and Linda will be in Ft Meyers for the next two weeks! It looks to be just a fast trip down and back.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">It looks to be a lazy 4<sup>th</sup> of July tomorrow. If all goes as planned I’ll bicycle over to Debbie’s and the crew will spend the day lounging around her pool. It is so hard for me to think back and realize it will be 12 years ago this week I put in the purchase offer for my house. I know I’ve mentioned before how I’m judging things by decades now!! I want to keep it at that!</p></span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-73723212076134893842008-07-04T18:23:00.000-07:002008-07-04T18:33:44.955-07:00Pot Metal Headaches<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/Edisonmotorgearing.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/Edisonmotorgearing.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span><span class="entrytext">The dirty gearing and oil tubes. The pot metal yoke it the gray part on the right.</span></span><br /><table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext"> </span><br /></td> <td><br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext">Friday, July 04, 2008</span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><br /><span class="entrytext"><!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p> </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">To Hell with high gas prices! I need bricks. The way things now look I’ll be on the road to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Jacksonville</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">FL</st1:state></st1:place> for a fast “brick run” next Wednesday. I want to get away from the fussy never-ending headache mechanical work I’ve been doing. It is crazy for me to bitch so. I mean this crap I’m working on was never meant to be still in use some 80 years after it was marketed. The fact this stuff is still serviceable is testament to how commonplace quality used to be in everyday lives years ago.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Until the flake graphite is delivered for the spring barrels I have to do other servicing to the motor. Thursday involved cleaning the old dried oil from the gearing. My ultrasonic cleaner does a good job on this nasty chore. <st1:place st="on">Edison</st1:place> equipped this style motor with “oil tubes”. These were easily accessible where-by oil was fed into these tubes and it was delivered to important lubrication points. The end of these tubes had a felt type material that regulated the flow of oil. After 80 years this material is hard as a brick hardened from old oil. This material had to be drilled out of the tubes, a real pain in the butt job.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">While cleaning the gears I realized the “yoke” holding the felt pads that regulate the motor speed was frozen. Again I have to say “SHIT!” Out of the entire motor assembly this one integral piece was cast of pot metal. It shows all the classic signs of “exploding”: cracks and fissures over the entire assembly. Any force to free this up will cause this cheap casting to crumble. The post this rotates on is riveted in place. Using a small escapement file I’m able to file the top of the rivet off. Then ever so carefully I tap on the center of this post with a punch to remove it from the housing. Just the tapping set up enough of a force to let loosen up each side of the yoke. One side flew onto the workbench, the other landed on the floor. SHIT!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">There was good to come out of this. I moved that shaft just enough to free up the frozen yoke. The broken pieces were large and easy to work with. Thank God for JB Weld. The pieces were epoxied back into place yesterday. This morning I cut out supports out of copper that were scabbed onto the back of this yoke with the miraculous JB Weld. Tomorrow I’ll add more supports to the front of the yoke just to be sure. That will hold for my lifetime!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Soon as I post this it is time to head over to Debbie’s. The entire crew is supposed to meet there and lounge around the pool. I need a day off from the aggravation I’ve been putting myself through. Being “Green” now I going over on the bicycle. It is getting to be a habit now of riding everywhere….</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">A Happy 4<sup>th</sup> to everyone!!</p></span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-62929765183784982902008-07-01T05:59:00.000-07:002008-07-01T06:00:14.709-07:00The Mushroom Effect<table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext"> The Mushroom Effect </span> </td> <td> <br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext">Tuesday, July 01, 2008</span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="entrytext"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p> </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">There is a term in house restoration called “the mushroom effect”. I think I’ve touched on this subject before. It is when a minor project evolves into a huge undertaking. That is what I’m in the middle of. UGH!!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">This current phonograph restoration project was SUPPOSED to be just a cleaning up of the case and installing a new grill cloth. WRONG! The reproducer rebuild required a new diamond stylus. This was easy enough to order. But, to fit onto this late style head I needed to install a hook underneath the needle that attaches to a small tension spring. Again that is no impossible task.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Before electronics entered the sound reproduction scene, the sound waves recorded into the record groove were recreated mechanically. The Edison system utilized a “hill and dale” method where-by the record groove went “up and down” as opposed to the “lateral” method where the sound waves were recorded going "side to side" used by Victor and the other major record producers. A parallel comparison to this would be the battle between Beta and VHS video tape systems in the 1980’s. Technically Beta was the better system (as was "hill and dale), but because of poor marketing and business decisions by Sony it eventually lost out.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">*I have to interject here… my good friend Donald was one of the first people I knew to have a tape system. He used to say..”Oh, I have a Betamax!” Talk about dated. Today, that sounds almost as obscure as me saying, “I have a Victrola!”</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">The needle in the groove transfers the information to a diaphragm which vibrates and is then amplified through a horn. That is the reason for the old records rotating at 78 rpm. That surface speed generated enough energy to the needle to properly recreate what had been recorded. In the <st1:place st="on">Edison</st1:place> system for his disc players a woven silk link is used to connect the needle to the diaphragm.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">After nearly 80 years these linkages are getting pretty worn and frazzled. (Hey that sounds like me!!) On this particular reproducer I’m working on, the link was almost broken through. A little bit of super glue is just what the doctor ordered. That repair worked fine until I happened to twist the damn thing installing the needle, where by it just snapped off.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Pretty much my Sunday was spent dismantling the diaphragm assembly and making up another linkage. It was pretty much one frustration after another. This aggravation is a reminder to me why I refuse to take work in from other people!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I worked out a system to where I first drilled out the fabric from the old linkage. From there I was able to open up the crimped housings and fish a new piece of woven material through. Through researching various message threads on a restoration site I learned the perfect replacement “string” can be obtained from “decorator tassels”. I have only one of those annoying things that came with a novelty music box I purchased a long time ago. Crazy as it sounds, it worked perfectly!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/threadingthelinkedison.jpg" alt="" height="450" width="600" /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">That was pretty much my Sunday. </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Monday morning was spent at the bench making up the connector linkage for the diaphragm. A tiny threaded rod is screwed into an ivory button and then shellacked into place. I had one snap in half when I attempted to remove it. Nothing left to do but make up another one. It is not like you can go to a hardware store and buy any of this crap! Working under such tiny close tolerances is very draining. Figuring out the techniques with nothing to go by can be very frustrating. The next one I have to make will be much easier! Once it was done, I walked away from the bench. You have to know when to quit!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/hookandnutforedison.jpg" alt="" height="598" width="600" /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">The double mainspring assembly should be here soon. It will be so nice to work with big things again! Everything is going to get torn apart, then cleaned and regreased/oiled. The best mainspring grease is 40% flake graphite and 60% Vaseline. I stopped at an auto parts store figuring if any place would even know what graphite was they would. They had never heard of flake graphite. </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Once again I was saved by the internet. I have two pounds of #2 Flake graphite en route to me. I figure it is cheaper to pay the shipping over driving untold miles and getting aggravated. I get so tired of the pained looks I get trying to track down things nobody has ever heard of!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">This morning I’ll apply a coat of oil finish to the phonograph case to see if I can breathe some shine into that alligatored finish. It all cleaned up pretty nice, but it was a junky/cheap cabinet to begin with, so I’m not expecting miracles!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Then I have to be in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Greensboro</st1:place></st1:city> for a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. My good friend Buck lost his son Edward last week. Edward was only 36, but let’s just say he had problems that cut his life short. Buck had told friends he had written him off years ago and been expecting his death for some time. That is so sad, but people have to take responsibility of their lives.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Enough of this sad and depressing stuff… time to feed the birds, fix my last cup of coffee, and then work on that cabinet…..</p></span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-58423733125650339062008-06-27T06:06:00.001-07:002008-06-27T06:06:52.951-07:00Another Restoration Project<table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext"> </span><br /></td> <td> <br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext">Wednesday, June 25, 2008</span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="entrytext"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p> </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">We are getting into the full heat of summer here in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Alabama</st1:place></st1:state>. The days are clear and hot. There has not a drop of rain for the past few weeks. It appears we will have a continuation of the drought that has plagued this area for the past few years.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Tuesday I started to dismantle the Edison “Schubert” phonograph to start on the cabinet restoration. It is such a cheaply made piece of furniture when compared to the machines <st1:place st="on">Edison</st1:place> produced just some 15 years earlier. The finish is “brown mahogany”. Typical of the finish and color of the 1927 era, this translates to a muddy brown that pretty much obscures any wood grain showing through. The grain of the wood is boring, so there is not really much of a loss. About the only interesting aspect of the finish is the two tone effect on the doors. Still with all these faults I’m against stripping off the original finish. The interior finish is in good condition with decals and markings that should never be removed. A refinish job would result in a smooth finish and shine, but the wood would still be ugly. I will keep the original crackled varnish finish: once it is cleaned and rubbed out it should have a bit of gloss.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Perhaps the best gauge as to the grimy condition of this machine is the paper label that attaches to the record slots. A cursory cleaning with an art gum eraser removed most of the grime. The paper is pretty fragile so the cleaned portion is about as far is I’m willing to go.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> <img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/schubertrecordguidepapernumbers.jpg" alt="" height="416" width="555" /></o:p></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Looking at the inside of the cabinet: The felt on the turntable cleaned up to where it looks pretty presentable. Again you are always ahead to keep things original. The paper record guide goes on the left side where it holds down dividers that separate the stored records.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/interiorofschubert.jpg" alt="" height="416" width="555" /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">View of the machine with the left door “rubbed out”.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/Edisonschubertleftdoordone.jpg" alt="" height="740" width="555" /></p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> </span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-72153563141857817862008-06-27T05:56:00.000-07:002008-06-27T05:58:39.618-07:00Saved Again By the Internet!<table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext"> </span><br /></td> <td> <br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext">Monday, June 23, 2008</span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="entrytext"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p> </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Before I close out the last day of the road trip to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:city>, I need to catch up on the current happenings. Anybody who knows me is not surprised when I become all obsessed in a restoration project. The latest has been the preliminary work on the Edison Schubert phonograph. I’ve been able to track down a needle which should be on it’s way.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">The cabinet needs a good rubbing out. The exterior varnish is highly alligatored, but I’m hoping to be able to bring it back. The past few days have been trying to track down a suitable cloth for the front grill. The cloth original to the machine was ripped out long ago. There were some remnants of that fabric still glued to the sides. It was a patterned purple lightweight cloth. I made a preliminary visit to some fabric stores. Naturally I was treated like I was from outer space! I could not find anything even close.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Then I made my first forays to fabric sites on the internet. I looked at thousands of patterns with no luck. This morning I was running errands and I made the mistake of going to Michael’s craft store. They do not carry fabric, but I was totally grossed out regardless. Upon entering the store the color scheme for all the fake flowers was orange, brown, and yellow. Yup… they have the Fall collections up already! My God we just had the longest day of the year and they are three months ahead already. In a way this shows my ignorance in shopping in that I still register shock at this kind of thing.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I am on a mission to find a suitable cloth to fit behind the wooden grill. It has to be right, maybe not a perfect match, but close as possible. I have seen too many fine restorations marred by the wrong grill cloth.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">If anything I’ve learned how to narrow down my searches. After a couple hundred views I realized I had to use the word “Jacquard” in my search as that would bring up material with patterns woven in. Using Google as an initial search engine I somehow got onto a site where I discovered the perfect material.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">The color is an almost identical match to the remaining bits I have of the original. The pattern is not a perfect match, but it is in the same genre.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm80/brick1101/fabricforgrill.gif" alt="" /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I ordered two yards in case someone needs some, I can save them the aggravation I went through. Also, it was only $4.00 a yard!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">What a great way to round out the evening! Time to pull up Amos and Andy on the internet and relax with a cold glass of my box wine!</p></span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-18080506102271961792007-10-05T18:13:00.000-07:002007-10-05T18:18:00.638-07:00Time is Fleeting<table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td> <td><br /></td> <td align="right"><br /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="entrytext"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">If I remember correctly the song “Time Warp” from The Rocky Horror Picture Show starts….. “It’s astounding, Time is fleeting…Madness takes it’s toll”. How true: time has just been flying by for this boy, and as far as being mad goes…. I think I’ll plead the 5<sup>th</sup> on that one!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">People who really know me have seen me become consumed by a project. This latest patio mess is no exception. Monday found me making plans for a fast road trip to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Dallas</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">TX</st1:state></st1:place> for a mess of paving brick. I know it sounds crazy but as my sister aptly said: “Once Brick makes his mind up to do something he does it. Case closed.”</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I got on the road Tuesday morning at 3:50 a.m. It is a straight shot west on I-20 to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Dallas</st1:place></st1:city>. I’m in luck whereby I miss the thunderstorms that are plaguing <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Mississippi</st1:place></st1:state>. All through <st1:state st="on">Louisiana</st1:state> and <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Texas</st1:place></st1:state> the skies clouded up and get threatening only to later clear to brilliant sunshine. The brickyard is located on <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">South Lamar St</st1:address></st1:street> in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Dallas</st1:place></st1:city>. Once again the computer helped out greatly by using Google maps. Being able to enlarge the map to the most minute detail I can plot my route through the tangled mess of exit ramps. Traffic was light and I arrived a bit early from my projected time at 1:00 p.m. The guys at the yard were expecting me. As is normally the case in something like this cash payment is great appreciated. The pavers are only .60 ea so 200 only put me back $120. There was the nicest handyman on the yard who helped me load the things. This was the most weight I’ve ever had in the truck. The back is down as far as it can go. There were even 25 pavers packed in the cab with me! I had almost 600 miles under my belt; I wanted to get to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Shreveport</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">LA</st1:state></st1:place> for my night stop.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">It was about 185 miles later I pulled off the road at exit 8 off I-20 at the Motel Six. The nicest woman checked me in. she had so much personality. I had her laughing so telling of this latest brick run. I made arrangements for a 4:30 wake up call the next morning. I really had her going when I told her I can’t wait to get my wake up call from Tom Bodett telling me I won the one million dollars! (That is the usual recording on the motel Six wake up call!!)</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">A “Catfish House” is just down the road. A take out catfish dinner and some cold Buds made for a great dinner to this road weary boy.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">My wake up call is right on schedule…A woman’s voice tells me this is my wake up call. </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brick:</span> Wait a minute, where’s Tom Bodett telling me I got a million dollars?</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Woman:</span> Hearty laughter…Oh baby I don’t have one million for you!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brick:</span> Laughing back…thanks, I’ll drop the key off on my way out….</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">What a nice way to wake up with laughing! I just love it when I get called “baby and Hun” in these situations.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I’m fine driving till I get to Jackson, MS. There were horrible thunderstorms I drove through. Even with all that weight I can feel the truck hydroplane on occasion. This is white knuckle driving. Mercifully the traffic is going slow in the right hand lane so I stay to the right.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I finally drive out of the worst of it and don’t have rain again till I get to the <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Alabama</st1:place></st1:state> line. It is 75 miles from here to my little home. I don’t mind taking it slow now. </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">It was 11:15 when I walked in the door to be greeted by Daggy and Stumpy.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">By 1:30 p.m I had the truck unloaded and the bricks piled up.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Thursday: The morning is delightfully cool: The perfect weather to get the ground ready for the new bricks. The hard clay is scraped and leveled. In one spot the ground is spongy. I dig down and discover the decaying remains of the tree that was destroyed back in 2000. The remains of the trunk and heavy side roots have to be dug up. UGH! This really heats me up and puts be behind time wise. Better to do the work now and have a good foundation than to skip the job and then have the patio “sinkhole” in a few years. </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Time to load the truck up again: a short drive to Scotties for a load of crushed limestone. His business must be dong well. The yard is immaculate. I notice the bin containing the crushed limestone I need is nearly empty. He loads up a half yard into my little truck and the back end is back down to the ground!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">That is unloaded and I need another ¼ yard to finish up: Another trip, another load of limestone. By the time I finish cleaning that mess off the truck I’m all done in.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Tamping down the crushed limestone.<br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img style="width: 427px; height: 320px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/chrushedlimestonebeingapplied.jpg" alt="" /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">But now I need to get the yard all detailed for the dinner party Saturday: I forgot to mention that one! I think everyone has a dish they know will always turn out and people love. That meal for me is bar-b-que lamb shanks. It was a standard dinner that my friends always looked forward to having. It has been some ten years since I cooked up that dish. The biggest problem is finding the lamb shanks to begin with. Publix markets has been carrying them. In the past few months I had acquired enough in my freezer to justify a dinner. </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">It makes no sense to just cook up a few, so I waited till I had even dozen shanks. I call the gang and everything is set for Saturday night. I told them to arrive around 5 and we will eat at 6:30 or so. The stove heats up the kitchen so; summertime is not the time to cook up a dinner like this. But I need to use these shanks up. I’m hoping cocktails and munchies can be out on the patio or front porch so the heated up house won’t make that much of a difference…</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">After the walk this morning I began the preparation of the shanks. They are first seasoned with salt, pepper, and paprika. Then they are browned in bacon grease using a cast iron frying pan. A sauce is made up using catsup, water, dry mustard, brown sugar, vinegar, and sliced onion. The shanks are arranged in a turkey roaster, the sauce is dumped over and the entire mess is slow cooked at 300 for a couple hours.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">The secret is to have the shanks “rest overnight” to really soak up the flavor of the sauce. That also gives time to “defat” the sauce. Now the shanks and sauce just have to be warmed through for the dinner. When I have company over I hate to have to spend all my time in the kitchen!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Here are the shanks. Time to get them taken care of and get started on making the cheesecake for desert….</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img style="width: 444px; height: 333px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/lambshanksonstove.jpg" alt="" /><br /></p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> </span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-16234445900823075522007-10-05T18:00:00.000-07:002007-10-05T18:09:16.194-07:00Moving Iron 7-03-2007<table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><br /></td> <td><br /></td> <td align="right"><br /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="entrytext"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">It is 6:30 a.m. as I type this out. I went to bed last night to the wonderful sound of RAIN! The threatening sky finally let loose after 10:00 p.m. Not a torrential downpour but a steady constant rain. It is so amazing the plants will “green up” after a good soaking. It must have rained most of the night, things are still very wet. Daggy and Stump returned into the house after the first check of the back yard with wet fur. That does not bother them much!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I still have to turn the central air-conditioner on. To annoy everyone I gave myself the deadline of July 4<sup>th</sup> to activate the thing. My fans and cooling strategies have been working so well, I might see if I can go the entire summer without using it! People got by in the past without AC. It cooled off enough last night to where I had to get under the wool blanket. Stump insisted on going under the covers for a bit, curling up in the crook behind my knees.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Monday was another steamy hot day. Working on the patio extension I smell the foulest odor. I’m blaming one of the neighborhood cats that frequent the back yard on spraying. Then my little Daggy trots over digs a bit in the pile of dirt excavated for the storm sewer cover. She delicately “does her business.” This loose dirt is her new litter box! Now everything makes sense! That pile of dirt is in full sun so it really heats and ferments. I know what the next project will be!!!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">The pad for the sewer cover has cured for a few days; it is ready for the cover to be installed. It is not hard to transfer the iron housing onto the four wheeled moving dolly. The ancient 2x6’s are set up as ramps. Using a scrap of iron pipe, this heavy housing is rolled into place! I used to help friends move upright pianos this way using large wooden “rollers”.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img style="width: 481px; height: 642px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/housingupramp.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">There is a little wobble in the housing. Using crowbars and some wood blocks for support the low side is raised up. Mortar is mixed up and applied in the gap. Ever so carefully the housing is raised, the supporting blocks taken out and then lowered onto the wet mortar. Once cured this will be solid as a rock!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I’m toying with how to tie this patio all together. I think using the Belgian Block around the sewer will give a “city feel” to the installation!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img style="width: 473px; height: 354px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/stormsewer.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/?action=view&current=stormsewer.jpg" alt="" /><img src="http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/?action=view&current=stormsewer.jpg" alt="" /><img src="http://s43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/?action=view&current=stormsewer.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">It is still gray and cool as I wrap this entry up. Maybe we will have more rain during the day. I have the door to the driveway open giving me a full view to the street. This so improves the air flow. The inside landing is Daggy’s favourite spot to stretch out. She is safe in her house, but has a full view and access to the outside.</p></span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-71123352105545346842007-10-05T17:55:00.001-07:002007-10-05T18:11:28.098-07:00Hot weather and Cement 6-30-2007<table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext"> Hot Weather and Cement </span> </td> <td><br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext">Saturday, June 30, 2007</span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="entrytext"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Debbie and I did our morning walk in Northport so we could splurge and get breakfast at City Café. It was a beautiful sunrise as we walked on the new levee along the <st1:place st="on">Black Warrior River</st1:place>. I’m going to have to bring the camera the next time we do this walk. There are some excellent “picture possibilities” along here. City Café is not crowded at all. It takes a bit longer to get a breakfast order because everything is cooked to order. We are in no hurry. I get eggs over easy, grits, biscuits, and ham. This is the REAL ham with the bone in it. No processed stuff that is cut from a loaf. I savor each salty mouthful, even relishing the fat!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">After breakfast I head to the new Lowe’s to get five 80 pound bags of Quickrete Concrete Mix. I’m hoping to have the forms all put up and hopefully the cement poured for the manhole cover project by tonight.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Before doing anything I have to remove the old forms from border bricks. All looks good. The cement is firm and set well. The new excavation for the “manhole pad” is staked out. The top of the pad must be seven inches below the top edge of where the face of the pavers will be. This entails a <strong style="">lot</strong> of digging. As the day wears on the heat builds. The temps stayed at 97 pretty much the entire afternoon. There were a lot of water breaks. Daggy had to come out to help too. Seeing the dusty hole, she had to try it out!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">The completed brick edging. Note my iced coffee in the pub mug!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><img style="width: 492px; height: 370px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/completededgeicedcoffee.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Daggy rolling in the dirt.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><img style="width: 467px; height: 350px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/daggyrollinginthedirt.jpg" alt="" /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I realized I forgot to get cheap lumber for the forms. I take a much needed break to Lowe’s again for the wood. It is amazing the looks I get in my working outfit! Today I’m decked out in a pair of cut off sweat pants, a mesh wife beater, my logger boots, and cammo do-rag. My clothes are wringing wet and splotched with the red brown <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Alabama</st1:place></st1:state> clay so prevalent here.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">By the time I get home the sky is turning dark. This is wonderful. I will make up the forms in the morning. In all honesty I’m too tore up to do much more tonight.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I just get the tools get put away when the first raindrops start to fall. This is how the summer days are <em style="">supposed</em> to be. Hot with an afternoon thunderstorm to cool things off. My parched yard enjoys a soft steady rain for nearly an hour.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">This morning (Saturday) I’m outside digging and fine tuning the concrete forms at 5:30 a.m.: the morning is so cool. As always, installing the forms is the buggiest part of the job. It is the unseen parts of the project like this that take up the most time.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I mix up seven 80 pound bags of concrete mix. I’m just 1 ½ bags short! Damn! Make a quick trip to Lowe’s. It is about 9:00 now and the store is packed. Naturally there are no cashiers open. One poor woman is trying to handle the entire building materials side. I feel so sorry for her.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">The concrete gets mixed and the form topped off. I have to hunt up a coin with the date 2007 to put in the top. By doing that I will never ever be broke! I scratch my name in the top and have Stumpy walk across the top so his pawprints will be forever preserved!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">The finished pad with the 2007 dime!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/manholepad.jpg" alt="" height="450" width="600" /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I have enough cement left over I can repair the corner of my driveway. That curbing has been missing forever. The dirt I’m excavating from the back is being transferred to the low area here. I won’t even attempt to grow grass here till the fall. Where this break is, the dirt will just wash into the street during heavy rains. Not now! I found a 2007 penny for this project!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">From here on it is clean up time. The tools are cleaned of cement and put in the sun to dry. I’ve got all kinds of excavated plants to transplant. There are lilies that I brought down from my house in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Lockport</st1:city></st1:place>, daffodil bulbs, mum plants, and even a few peonies.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">After all that I need a break. The soaking wet clothes are peeled off and clean dry things are put on. As I was typing this entry out Debbie called. At 5:30 we are going to meet for Mexican. I need a taco salad and a couple cold beers.</p></span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-9811368686229702682007-10-05T17:55:00.000-07:002007-10-05T17:59:39.864-07:00Hot weather and Cement 6-30-2007<table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext"> Hot Weather and Cement </span> </td> <td> <br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext">Saturday, June 30, 2007</span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="entrytext"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Debbie and I did our morning walk in Northport so we could splurge and get breakfast at City Café. It was a beautiful sunrise as we walked on the new levee along the <st1:place st="on">Black Warrior River</st1:place>. I’m going to have to bring the camera the next time we do this walk. There are some excellent “picture possibilities” along here. City Café is not crowded at all. It takes a bit longer to get a breakfast order because everything is cooked to order. We are in no hurry. I get eggs over easy, grits, biscuits, and ham. This is the REAL ham with the bone in it. No processed stuff that is cut from a loaf. I savor each salty mouthful, even relishing the fat!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">After breakfast I head to the new Lowe’s to get five 80 pound bags of Quickrete Concrete Mix. I’m hoping to have the forms all put up and hopefully the cement poured for the manhole cover project by tonight.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Before doing anything I have to remove the old forms from border bricks. All looks good. The cement is firm and set well. The new excavation for the “manhole pad” is staked out. The top of the pad must be seven inches below the top edge of where the face of the pavers will be. This entails a <strong style="">lot</strong> of digging. As the day wears on the heat builds. The temps stayed at 97 pretty much the entire afternoon. There were a lot of water breaks. Daggy had to come out to help too. Seeing the dusty hole, she had to try it out!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">The completed brick edging. Note my iced coffee in the pub mug!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/completededgeicedcoffee.jpg" alt="" height="450" width="600" /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Daggy rolling in the dirt.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/daggyrollinginthedirt.jpg" alt="" height="450" width="600" /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I realized I forgot to get cheap lumber for the forms. I take a much needed break to Lowe’s again for the wood. It is amazing the looks I get in my working outfit! Today I’m decked out in a pair of cut off sweat pants, a mesh wife beater, my logger boots, and cammo do-rag. My clothes are wringing wet and splotched with the red brown <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Alabama</st1:place></st1:state> clay so prevalent here.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">By the time I get home the sky is turning dark. This is wonderful. I will make up the forms in the morning. In all honesty I’m too tore up to do much more tonight.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I just get the tools get put away when the first raindrops start to fall. This is how the summer days are <em style="">supposed</em> to be. Hot with an afternoon thunderstorm to cool things off. My parched yard enjoys a soft steady rain for nearly an hour.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">This morning (Saturday) I’m outside digging and fine tuning the concrete forms at 5:30 a.m.: the morning is so cool. As always, installing the forms is the buggiest part of the job. It is the unseen parts of the project like this that take up the most time.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I mix up seven 80 pound bags of concrete mix. I’m just 1 ½ bags short! Damn! Make a quick trip to Lowe’s. It is about 9:00 now and the store is packed. Naturally there are no cashiers open. One poor woman is trying to handle the entire building materials side. I feel so sorry for her.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">The concrete gets mixed and the form topped off. I have to hunt up a coin with the date 2007 to put in the top. By doing that I will never ever be broke! I scratch my name in the top and have Stumpy walk across the top so his pawprints will be forever preserved!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">The finished pad with the 2007 dime!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/manholepad.jpg" alt="" height="450" width="600" /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I have enough cement left over I can repair the corner of my driveway. That curbing has been missing forever. The dirt I’m excavating from the back is being transferred to the low area here. I won’t even attempt to grow grass here till the fall. Where this break is, the dirt will just wash into the street during heavy rains. Not now! I found a 2007 penny for this project!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">From here on it is clean up time. The tools are cleaned of cement and put in the sun to dry. I’ve got all kinds of excavated plants to transplant. There are lilies that I brought down from my house in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Lockport</st1:city></st1:place>, daffodil bulbs, mum plants, and even a few peonies.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">After all that I need a break. The soaking wet clothes are peeled off and clean dry things are put on. As I was typing this entry out Debbie called. At 5:30 we are going to meet for Mexican. I need a taco salad and a couple cold beers.</p></span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-73801242882391732442007-06-26T17:55:00.001-07:002007-06-26T17:58:11.970-07:00Cement, Bricks, and Manhole Covers<table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext"> </span><br /></td> <td><br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext">Tuesday, June 26, 2007</span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="entrytext"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">It is 6:30 a.m. as I type this out. The mornings truly are the favourite time of the day for me. The watering has been done. I know I sound like a broken record on the drought here. Today I hooked up the soaker hose the front holly hedge. I’ve lost one mature plant. It had been sickly for awhile so I’m not sure I can blame it on the drought or not. I will not attempt to plant a replacement till the fall. The annuals seem to be holding their own. The two rubber plants on the front porch are flourishing. They must be a real masochist type of plant. The abuse they have received over the years, they have no reason to be here now! They are in cement planters that drain onto the concrete porch. The water that drains out is Daggy’s favourite drinking water. It drives me crazy! I give those cats fresh water every day! I guess the “dirt filtered” water has a better taste to her!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I am worn out. I had forgotten what a pain in the butt is to mix up concrete. Yesterday afternoon I made a trip to the brickyard to get 50 bricks to line this new patio addition. On the way there I stopped at the wastewater plant. It was recommended I check here for a manhole cover. I heard voices as I entered the building. Three guys were in a “break room” kind of place. I asked them who I should talk to see about getting a cover. They directed me to the head guy upstairs. I’m not sure if it is professional courtesy or not I was not treated as if I were totally mad in requesting this. The city can’t sell me a cover. He referred me to the supplier they use. This supplier is just around the corner. As I was leaving one of the guys was laughing, “You gonna get one?” he asked. “Things are looking good!” I answered. He gave me the high sign as I left!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">In the street in front of my house:</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img style="width: 543px; height: 724px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/manholecover.jpg" alt="" /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">First I have to get my bricks. It kills me to actually buy NEW bricks! But this has to be so the top edge of the patio addition is uniform. I found a great old looking style brick with “Old Virginia” stamped into the face.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">On the way home is when I check supplier for the manhole cover. Once again the people I talk to don’t think I’m crazy at all! I’m taken into the “yard” after donning a safety vest and hard hat to see the covers. Yup, there is the familiar cast iron cover with “City of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Tuscaloosa</st1:place></st1:city>” all embossed with a great art deco cityscape. The cover with the ring is only $199.00 plus tax. This guy I’m dealing with is laughing as I tell him my patio plans. He has really made my day. I’m sure he told his family about the guy who was in his office to buy a manhole cover that evening at dinner!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I finished up the afternoon mixing the five bags of cement left over from last years projects. There was nearly enough to fill the forms. The bricks are soaked in water and then placed on top and leveled. They get soaked first so they don’t soak the moisture prematurely from the cement. This slow cure makes for a much stronger bond.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img style="width: 466px; height: 349px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/mixingcementandbricks.jpg" alt="" /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Today I’ll dig the other half of the trench. The cement will be set up enough to where I can remove the forms and reuse them on the other half.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I also need to ship stuff off to Louis via Fed Ex. The terminal is right in the area where the manhole supplier is; I might just pick the thing up today. </p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> </span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-60963785403254316472007-06-26T06:33:00.000-07:002007-06-26T06:38:36.734-07:00<span class="entrytext"><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">It is a muggy morning as I type this out. What does a “Damn Yankee” do in this type of weather? For this boy, the answer is: “Work with bricks!”</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Originally I had hoped to fill a small grassy area using my rocks gathered from the shores of <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Lake</st1:placetype> <st1:placename st="on">Ontario</st1:placename></st1:place>. As fate would have it, I’m just a few rocks shy of a full load of being able to complete this. I had planned on getting more rocks my last trip home but the weather and Joe being sick changed those plans.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/lakeontariorocks.jpg" alt="" height="450" width="600" /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Instead I decided to extend the patio I built last summer.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Saturday was the start of laying out the new addition of the patio. My first plans were of a small addition using the cobblestones brought back from <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:place></st1:state> last spring. Not now. This patio will be almost doubled in size when the addition is completed.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">The center point is found on the patio side. A pipe is driven into place. A string is measured to the side of the patio. This will measure out the outside perimeter of the addition. My shovel is tied off on this and the first cut is made.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img style="width: 455px; height: 341px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/firstcutwiththeshovel.jpg" alt="" /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">The pick axe is used to dig the trench where the cement foundation will be poured. Daggy was helping me at this point. She started out in the cool shade of the ivy and wisteria. Once she saw all that dirt piling up she had to roll around in the dry soil.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img style="width: 478px; height: 358px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/daggyincoolspot.jpg" alt="" /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img style="width: 454px; height: 340px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/daggyinthedirt.jpg" alt="" /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Stumpy chose the more sensible route and camped out on the cool stone bench. I did not want to leave the house, but I had to make a quick trip to Lowe’s to get some treated 1x4x12’s. These I’ll use to make the cement forms. I really need to do a shopping trip. There is very little in the house for food. More important; I need another “cardboard Kegger”. I learned that is the current college term for box wine! There is a nasty place not far from me that sells beer and wine near the University I stop at on the way home.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">While all this is going on, I’m thinking on how to make this patio project unique. Sure I’m using all this reclaimed brick, but I need something to really make the finished product stand out. Then the light bulb goes off in my twisted little mind. If I can install a manhole cover in the middle of all this I can rant on how the city is so messed up they had to put a sewer access in my back yard! That is to be the mission for this week, see if I can wrangle a manhole cover somewhere!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Sunday I start work on the forms. These need to be notched so they can be formed into a curve. Wooden stakes are made to secure the forms into the trench. This is the real pain in the neck part of the job. I went through most of the lumber at Lowe’s to get the straightest stuff I could. This is pretty cheap wood so there are tons of knots, which do not bend and flex well.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img style="width: 531px; height: 398px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/notchingtheforms.jpg" alt="" /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">The forms have to be installed so there will be a slight dip. This facilitates the run off of water when it rains. (That is a funny one! Rain!!!)The outside form is the first to be installed. This is leveled off using a section of pipe. The string is brought out again and measured against the inside edge of the form. Once everything is as it should be, the inside board is installed. Scrap bricks are used as spacers between the two boards. The inside board is leveled and staked in. This is fussy work taking up most of the afternoon. I’m just about finished when it actually rains a bit!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img style="width: 478px; height: 638px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/formsalllaidout.jpg" alt="" /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">There is not much I can do till I get new bricks. I detest buying new bricks for this project. But, I need bricks with a constant thickness for this part of the patio. I don’t have anything in any quantity in my horde for this part of the job.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I call it a day when the rain arrives. I wish it were a steady hard rain, but it turns out to be just a sprinkling for about half an hour or so. It was just enough to dampen everything; not much more.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I’m sweaty, hot and dirty. A wonderful prolonged hot shower has me feeling like a million bucks. After enjoying the last of my steak I take a break walking around in my back yard. I study the ancient power pole my phone and electric lines run off. It is so archaic I think it could be considered for landmark status. Something is not right….the power lines to my house are draped over my security light. The supporting “guy wire” is loose from the pole. My God that is all I need is to have those lines short out!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img style="width: 540px; height: 719px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/powerpolemess.jpg" alt="" /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Going again through “voice mail hell” only this time with the power company, I’m able to talk to a real person. I try to explain the situation with the incoming power lines. This is not a dire emergency yet, but it needs to be taken care of soon. Hopefully this was fixed up on the work order to make sense to the lineman when they come out….</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">If those lines shorted out on that light standard it would fry my house wiring for sure. It is always something here…….</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> </span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-41767306731365354782007-06-14T17:16:00.000-07:002007-06-14T17:44:32.773-07:00Window Wonderland<table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext"> My High Electric Bill </span> </td> <td><br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext">Thursday, June 14, 2007</span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="entrytext"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">If there is one thing I delight in, it is annoying my friends with my frugality. Sunday I announced how upset I was going through all my bills. I found my electric bill was higher for May 2007, than it was for May 2006. “I’m going to have to cut back even more.” I announced in a solemn voice. “My last bill was $44.29: that is 14<span style=""> </span>cents over last years bill.” This naturally brings out the predictable moans and cheap comments.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">One reason I can keep this bill low is by rarely using my air conditioner. I have yet to turn it on this year. I have tested it out to make sure all is working properly. According to Google, it is currently 93 degrees outside. In my center hallway where the thermostat is located, the temperature is a comfortable 80 degrees. Having a constant air flow helps a great deal in cooling things off. The two ancient oak trees on the west/front of the house do a great deal in keeping the hot afternoon sun from heating things up in the house. The front door is open: the screen door keeps out the bugs while allowing the air to circulate. All the double hung wooden windows are open allowing a cross flow of airin every direction. </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">A job I have been putting off for years is installing new sash cord on the set of three windows in my dining room. Since moving here, when I opened these windows they had to be propped open with a section of lumber. Normally with double hung windows using cords and weights, there is an access panel on the side of the window frame. Not here… truth be told: this house of mine is not of the best construction when compared to my old house in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state>. In all my other windows I had to remove the outside casing to replace the rotted out sash cords. That way I did not disturb the interior finished woodwork.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Outside casing removed showing compartment for the weights.<br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img style="width: 431px; height: 800px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/windowcasingremoved.jpg" alt="" /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">The problem in the dining room is; I can’t remove the outside casings without destroying the sill of the center window. In order to replace the cords I’ll have to install my own access panels. This will be an all day job, but it needs to be done.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">The first step is to take down the wooden blinds, burglar bars, parting strip and the inside molding. Two holes are drilled in the channel of the parting strip. These are done at a 45 degree angle. Then a saber saw with a new, sharp, fine blade cuts across through the board. Once the two cuts are made, duct tape is put over the top cut to prevent the board from falling into the casing when the long cut is made to connect the two holes.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/pocketcutinwindowframe.jpg" alt="" height="800" width="600" /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">A piece of a paint stirring stick is glued to the back of the bottom cut to support the newly cut panel when it is reinstalled. A shim is glued to the top of the cut out panel. This is sanded down to make a nice flush fit when all is put back in place. A pilot hole is drilled at the top cut. This hole is enlarged on the panel and recessed. When this is screwed back in place it is barely discernable.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/finishedpocket.jpg" alt="" /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I’m able to remove the outer casings on the outside frames making for an easier replacement of the cords. Looking at this picture reminds me another job to be done. I realized after stripping and redoing these windows(many years ago) that Marine/spar varnish holds up beautifully for interior window sills over the normal varnish I use for the woodwork.<br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">That was my Wednesday. I was a happy camper being able to raise and lower the windows as they were originally meant to be. I’m not a fan of burglar bars; they were on the house when I bought the place. They stop the upper window sash from opening. However, I feel a lot safer from a random burglary having them there.</p></span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-6628381991587638212007-06-10T18:10:00.000-07:002007-06-10T18:14:27.576-07:00Final Water Heater Entry<table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext">Back from hiking on the Appalachian Trail and had to finally post this last water heater entry. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Catch-Up </span> </td> <td> <br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext">Tuesday, June 20, 2006</span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="entrytext"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Where to start? Last Thursday night was the initial operation of the new water heater. I held my breath as I opened the water and gas valves. The electric power to the unit was turned on, and I opened the hot water control to the outside shower. I heard the inner workings of the heater start up and in no time I had hot water streaming out of the showerhead! Success!!! I took a long, HOT shower to celebrate!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">On Monday the 19<sup>th</sup> I finished up the “tweaking” of the installation. The cold water line was not level, and I wanted to be certain all the connections were tight. That cold water line was fully functional, but just knowing that it was out of level drove me crazy. I could not look at it without wanting to remedy the situation. It only took ½ an hour to cut a section out of the line and re-sweat the thing. Now I can rest easy! So many times the threaded copper fittings and unions will develop small leaks after a day or two. This job was no exception; there were a couple drips that I had to contend with. All seems well now.<br /><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/completedinstallationofwaterheater.jpg" alt="" height="450" width="600" /> </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">The exposed pipes were insulated and attached to a support yesterday. Today I will insulate the pipes in the crawl space and install permanent pipe hangers. The plastic coated wire I used for the installation could suffice, but after all this work, I want the job to be finished up right.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">With this plumbing project out of the way, it was time to get back to my workshop roof. The shingles I had special ordered arrived at Lowe’s on Thursday. Saturday afternoon I went to pick them up. Customer service checked everything out and told me to go see George in the building dept. I can tell George is the comic relief of the dept. He is having a great time interacting with his friends and customers. George and his working partner are loading lumber when I arrive. Long boards of pressure treated wood were being transferred into the bed of an ancient truck: an old short bed Ford from the 1960’s. None of the door colors match the body and primer covers much of the trucks surface. A chromed tool box takes up half the truck bed. (It would not surprise me that this tool box cost more than the truck!) The proud owners of this vehicle stand by as this wood gets piled into the back and make no attempt to help. There is long overhang of wood over the tailgate; this is a very unsteady load. You can tell these are trailer people. The man opens the tool box, takes out a hammer and nails a red flag to the longest piece of wood hanging out. Then they drive off. That load was never tied down or secured in any way. Turning the corner to exit the parking lot, the spare tire rolls off the truck bed, bouncing onto the parking lot. Fortunately it did not hit anything. I see this type of thing every day here in the <st1:place st="on">Deep South</st1:place>. People wonder why I hate to drive in the mist of all this?</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I get the shingles home and try to get them transferred to the workshop roof. There is a Mimosa tree that grew up in Michelle’s back yard that makes this almost impossible. She told me I was free to take it down, in fact she was very happy at the idea when I suggested it to her. This tree is only a few years old, but things grow so fast here. I get out my axe and try to play Paul Bunyan. The trunk of this tree is very springy; I’m losing all the power of the axe as the trunk moves upon impact. Checking the growth of this nasty tree, I see how it originally started on my property, grew sideways under the chain link fence, and then up into Michelle’s yard. I transfer the chopping to my side of the fence. Once I get some notches cut into the trunk, I take my chains, cables and “come-along” back to Michelle’s yard. One of the chains is wrapped around the huge Pecan tree, the other chain around the Mimosa tree. The come-along is fastened between the two and ratcheted up tight. It does not take much to snap the trunk where the notches are cut.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Gary</st1:place></st1:city> is cooking dinner tonight. It is getting late, I will just have enough time to shower and shave now. The mess will have to get cleaned up Sunday.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">With Sunday being Father’s Day, Debbie calls to invite me to lunch with her, Sherri, and Jammer. This sounds wonderful. I need a day to take it easy. At the restaurant I am bad and get chicken alfredo on spinach pasta. It was so good. This dish is a treat that I ration myself to just a couple times a year!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">The Home Builders Association is hosting the “Parade of Homes” this weekend. This is an event where the best of the new homes are showcased. Usually all the appliances are upgraded and things are finished off nicer than a usual “spec” home. We decide to check out a couple of $500K homes to see how the other half lives. I am so amazed at what people will buy. The new trend I guess is to have everything open. The entire kitchen is all in plain view from all the common house areas. Now any dirty dishes or kitchen clutter is part of the décor! These show homes are all in these new developments that are named after the wildlife that used to reside there: Quail Hollow for example. What was once a meadow is now a cul-de-sac of ugly houses.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I was always under the impression that people moved into these places so they could have privacy and space around them. It just boggles my mind that these McMansions are built right on top of each other. In one of these places the view from the yupped out dining room is the poorly laid brick wall of the neighbors’ house some 10 feet away. Looking out the other direction is the view out the French doors: the back yard, a bare grassy area surrounded by a stockade fence surrounded by more poorly designed houses.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I will take my old place in the city with all its flaws and character any day over the overpriced, shoddily made houses being promoted and hyped today.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">My nerves were so shattered by all this: I had to take a nap before attempting to clean up the Mimosa tree mess over at Michelle’s. Michelle is out so I can easily get the wheelbarrow into her back yard and not worry about scratching her BMW.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I end the day moving the last four bundles of shingles onto the roof.</p><br /><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><span class="headertext">It looks like my next project will again involve bricks and Belgian Blocks...anything heavy and frustrating!!!</span></p></span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-375574656093600302007-05-24T18:47:00.000-07:002007-05-24T18:50:13.289-07:00Cutting and Threading Gas PipeHere is part two of the water heater story from last year......<br /><br /><table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext"> The Old Fence & Threading Gas Pipes </span> </td> <td> <br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext">Thursday, June 08, 2006</span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="entrytext"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">After I finished yesterdays entry I went on a search for the picture I knew was in my possession. A famous picture in my family: it is of me painting that bloody picket fence back in 1967. I finally I found it where it was not supposed to be. Here is a “happy Brick” finishing up the southern section of the fence. There were three pickets that were installed with screws so we could cross through to the neighbor’s yard!<br /><img alt="" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/paintingthefence1966.jpg" /> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Today I pretty much finished up the worst of the gas line installation by mid afternoon. The water heater was delivered by UPS late this morning. Now I can figure out how the installation will be done. It is so much easier when you can see it in person. The heater weighs 60 pounds. That is a lot of weight to be hanging off the siding of this house. What I plan on doing is: make a frame of 2x4’s the size of the heater and cover that in exterior plywood. That will be fastened to the siding and will make a sturdy base for the heater. The panel will be painted to match the house. I will install the unit onto this panel. This kind of contemplation over my projects was how I would occupy my mind at work. How this entire project will be done is slowly working itself out.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I have the chance to go to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Pensacola</st1:place></st1:city> with Gary and Larry this weekend. Part of me wants to go, but the other part says no. I think the “no” side will win out. I can take Larry in small segments; I can’t imagine an entire weekend with him.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Besides, I’m anxious to get this water heater mounted so I can do the final gas line installation done. Then I can start on the new copper water lines and get this nightmare finished. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">That is where the project stands as of Thursday afternoon. While I was threading pipe in the workshop this morning, I set the camera on the packing box the heater came in to see if I could capture a Kodak moment. So, here is a good comparison of what a difference 40 years makes!<br /><img alt="" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/Jamiethreadingpipe6-8-06.jpg" /> </p></span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-6383402989342662352007-05-24T18:36:00.000-07:002007-05-24T18:43:24.025-07:00Tankless Water HeaterI just read on the boards some questions on tankless water heaters. I installed a unit last year. Here is a cut and paste of the beginning of that ordeal from my everyday blog....<br /><br /><table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext"> Cutting Gas Lines </span> </td> <td><br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext">Wednesday, June 07, 2006</span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="entrytext"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Monday was internet shopping day for me. Researching the differences between tankless water heating systems I found a great Memorial Day sale that ended midnight on the 5<sup>th </sup>on a good system. (<a href="http://www.designerplumbing.com/store/TAKAGI03.html">http://www.designerplumbing.com/store/TAKAGI03.html</a>)</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">After I ordered the thing I downloaded the instructions. I decided on doing an external installation. The venting of these systems is tricky, and the venting kits can really run into money. Being in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Alabama</st1:place></st1:state> I don’t have to worry about freezing temps. It is supposed to be safe to 5 degrees. It VERY seldom gets that cold here. Going through the instructions I realized where I originally was going to put the thing will not be to code. The vent has to be four feet away from any window or door opening. That is what my entire house is: windows and doors! I will be able to put the heater on the back wall by the shower and be to code.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">This is turning out to be one of those classic “mushroom projects.” That is when a simple job grows way out of proportion. It just keeps mushrooming!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Because of the new location of the installation, the gas line will have to run about 40 feet from the meter. The fittings added to this feeder line will also slow down the gas flow. With all this in mind the supply gas line has to be 1” in diameter. The place where I planned on tapping into the gas line at the meter is ¾ inch. To remedy this I had to switch out the Tee fitting from the meter to 1”. A simple job? Not on your life!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">To do this entailed cutting the two pipes, one pipe was 1” and the other was ¾” coming off the tee. These pipes were removed, and then the Tee was switched out. This all had to be done in the crawl space with not a lot of room to move around.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">While doing this I removed more pipe work to simplify the gas runs. There were gas runs backtracking all over. Now the current hot water tank, gas fireplace, stove and gas dryer all come off one main gas line. The main cut line had to have a union installed.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Finally I had everything back together by 7:30. The gas was turned back on and all the connections were tested with soapy water. If there is any leak the soap will bubble up like crazy. It all passed inspection!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">This tank requires the water intake come from a ¾ line. When they replumbed my house with copper tubing I think they got the pipe from a remnant store. The main supply lines go from ¾ to ½ and then back to ¾. This has a great effect on the water pressure. Just think of a highway that has a set amount of traffic that goes from two lanes to one, and then back to two lanes again. Here is a picture of what I have to contend with. Every branch off the main water lines to supply the sinks, toilets, and tubs is a conglomeration of tiny bits of copper pipes sweated sloppily together. This mess has been a bone of contention to me since I bought the house 10 years ago. Pretty much everything will have to be redone.<br /><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/plumbingconnectionsunderhouse6-6.jpg" alt="" height="450" width="600" /> </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">That is where I stand today. Central Plumbing is just around the corner; they will be seeing my mug when I go there to get 1” galvanized pipe today. I will run the new line to where the tank will be installed and cap it off. Then gas line work will be finished and I can dig into the water lines.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">All the while I was fussing with the galvanized pipe I was thinking of my dad. He taught me how to work pipe wrenches, measure and cut pipe, and most importantly the right way to thread pipe. </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Dad was taught by his Uncle Joel, who was a second father to him. “Uncle Joe” was a craftsman when it came to plumbing and carpentry. He taught dad skills and dad passed that knowledge on to me. Poor dad, I can still hear him lamenting how I would be handicapped for the rest of my life because I was left handed.<br /><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/littlejamiecarpenter.jpg" alt="" /> </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">While I was working using Dad’s old thread cutting dies and pipe vice: threading that galvanized pipe, I knew he was looking over me with a smile. </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I always felt I was such a disappointment to him because I was never interested in team sports. Growing up I’d hear how so and so’s son on the football or baseball team did so well at the game. In time, many of these stars turned out to be real losers: I know dad took pride in what I accomplished on my own. </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Dad died too young at 67. When he was dying in Buffalo General we were talking about how I hated painting the backyard picket fence. There was never any question about me not doing it. I was told to do the job and I did. The fence was divided off into sections; I’d try to get one section done a day. This was oil based paint back then. It was such a pain to work with, when I was done for the day the brushes had to be totally cleaned out in gasoline. When dad would come home from he would inspect my progress for drips and runs. Oh how he would rant and go on if I screwed up. Today this would be called abuse. Looking back, it was a learning experience that set my standards higher than a “half assed” job.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Poor Dad lamented that he was too hard and would always remember that as such a bad time. I think I was able to convince him that I was thankful he cared enough about me to put me through that. Because of that early training I always try to do the best job I can. “If you can’t do a job right, don’t do it all.” was one of Dad’s favorite sayings.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Dad was not a perfect father. That person does not exist, but he did the best he could and he loved his family. You can’t ask for much more than that.</p></span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-15524898924426908562007-03-23T09:19:00.000-07:002007-03-23T09:27:55.724-07:00Latest Project....tool shed addition<span class="entrytext"><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">One of the big projects last summer was “Pergola/patio that was installed on the west end of my workshop. While all that was going on, I poured a cement pad for a small addition to be added to the shop. This was to be for my garden tools. I was getting itchy for an “outside project” so I began work on this addition on Wednesday.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">This side of the workshop faces north. It is always in the shade. I installed a new doorway and poured a cement pad to this back in 1999. There was a great deal of rotten siding that had to be replaced. I think there is some source of water in this area. The cement floor in the workshop on this side is always damp. Here it is only eight years after the fact and again I have to replace rotted siding. About three feet going from the bottom up of the siding is removed. The bottom three boards are pretty well trash. The rest is not in that bad shape. A piece of <span style=""> </span>23/32 sheeting is installed where the siding would be inside the new garden shed. From the outside of the shed to the edge of the workshop, the removed siding is fitted in. The bottom-most piece is coated on the back with Minwax Wood Hardener. Hopefully that will help stop the capillary action of water soaking into the wood.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I have a pretty general idea how this is supposed to all flow together. The first job in the framing department was to anchor the sill plates to the foundation. When I poured the cement last year, bolts were put in place for this task. It was a simple job to measure, cut, drill and install the pressure treated lumber.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">From here it is just putting up the framing. This is a bear of a job to do solo. It is up and down the ladder, measuring, cutting, leveling and nailing for pretty much the whole day.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img style="width: 474px; height: 632px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/toolshedadditionframing.jpg" alt="" /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">It is not till I get pretty well finished with the framing of the walls that I figure how I will install the roof. I will scab this shed roof onto the existing garage roof. The same roof I redid last summer! UGH!! I will have to add a little bit to the headers to raise the height so the new rafters will be at the same angle. It is going to be some tricky work to get this “scabbing” to even out and look right. That is going to be my project for today…..install the rafters. </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I was half way thorough this entry when I had to shut it down at 6:00 a.m. for the Friday walk at the University with Debbie. The campus is so beautiful. I remembered to take the camera. Following are some pictures as to how I started my day……</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">With it being Friday it was “coffee day” at the Starbucks on campus. We got there a little later than usual. It was so busy! There must have been complaints because the music was a wonderful soft Jazz, and the staff was friendly and nice! Rusty was in his spot over in an upholstered “lounge chair” in the corner. Debbi and I made his day! He always knows when it is Friday when we show up!</p> This is a view of "The Quad" at 7:00 a.m. on 3/23/2007 facing south east.<br /><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img style="width: 490px; height: 653px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/UofAquadspring2007.jpg" alt="" /></p><br />This is the Gorgas House on campus. It is one of the few structures of the original college to survive the destruction inflicted by Union forces in the last days of the "late unpleasantness".<br /><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img style="width: 407px; height: 306px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/Gorgashouse2-23-2007.jpg" alt="" /></p></span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-35377246638603727282007-03-11T05:39:00.000-07:002007-03-11T05:46:03.154-07:00More Patio & Pergola StuffIt has been a while since I have worked on this mess I call a blog. That last project doing the bedroom pretty much wiped me out for wanting to take on another project. Just trying to get the routine maintenance done in the yard here has been exhausting. Anyway...here is a continuation of the pergola project from last spring/summer.....<br /><br /><table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext"> Working With Bricks </span> </td> <td> <br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext">Saturday, May 20, 2006</span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="entrytext"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Today is Saturday the 20<sup>th</sup>. It is time to take a break from the latest project and pound out a journal entry. Right now at 3:00 in the afternoon it is the hottest part of the day and all my shade is gone. I’m hot and grouchy and sick of this project. When these signs surface it is prudent to switch to another job…..</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Since arriving home from the last excursion I have been working on the pergola/patio project. I’m getting burned out. Tuesday and Wednesday I cemented the border bricks along the tops of the forms I had poured. I have a fancy edged brick I used for this. Unfortunately, this brick still had cement that had to be chipped off the sides. This was Portland cement which was a real pain to remove. It is so much easier to remove the earlier types of mortars which are composed of just lime, sand and whatever. My arms, wrists and shoulders were aching from swinging that hammer and the shocks from the heavy iron chisel. </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">To cement these bricks in place on top of the cement form I purchased mortar in 10 pound bags. This stuff sets up real quick. I’m so slow in working with this compound: I don’t want to make a huge batch from the bigger bags and have it harden up before I’m done. After all that chipping cement off the bricks, now I have to mix this mortar crap up by hand. My aching body….at the end of the day nothing feels as good as a HOT shower. It is times like this I say “Screw the gas bills, I need this hot water!”</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">This project will use up all the remaining bricks from what I had salvaged years ago. I end up being about 120 bricks short. I take the easy way out and actually BUY new bricks from the builders supply. I decided that I will use these new bricks as an outline around the old salvaged brick. That way it will look more uniform. Although the new bricks don’t have the charm or history of the old bricks it sure is a lot easier to just have the bricks loaded into the truck and drive away. No demolition, chipping off mortar or stacking and restacking of the bricks.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I get four bags of sand as a start to set the bricks into their final resting spot in the patio. Once I get started I realize that I have to raise the crushed limestone base over ½ inch to have the bricks level with the border bricks on the form. Back out to Scottie’s for more crushed limestone. This stuff is a fraction of the price of sand.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Laying the bricks level is the worst part of the job. Because I’m using salvaged brick there is no uniform size. Each brick has to leveled as it is put down. The surfaces on these old bricks are not even making the job even more of a pain. Anyone who has read about my projects knows I’m not anal when it comes to this kind of thing. (RIGHT!)<br /><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/Layingbricks5-20goodone.jpg" alt="" height="375" width="500" /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">The early morning is the best time for this job. It is so nice and cool, the birds are singing and my coffee is hot. As the day wears on the temperature rises as the sun travels higher in the sky. My shade disappears: by 1:30 I’m working in full sun. I can only do this for so long. After working with the bricks, level, trowel and crushed limestone since 6:30 in the morning it does not take much for an excuse to quit!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">That is where I stand at this point in time. I have over half the patio bricks set out and leveled. The worst part is the center design using different street pavers. There are twelve pavers in this center design showing the manufacturer marks. It is almost an even split between <st1:state st="on">Alabama</st1:state> and <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ohio</st1:place></st1:state> bricks. I had a bid on e-bay for three pavers from <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kansas</st1:place></st1:state>, but they ended up selling for over $40.00! That is WAY out of my price range. Here I thought I was being extravagant with a top offer of $5.00 a brick! It is hard to pay for something that you are used to getting for free!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Tonight the neighbors are having a “Sundowner”. Basically it is a get together of the neighborhood with drinks and snacks between five and seven. It is just down the street so I can just walk there.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Hopefully I will have the rest of the bricks leveled by tomorrow afternoon. Then I pour bags of “topping mix” over the whole mess and sweep this mixture between the cracks of the bricks. Mist this all down with the hose and the mix turns into cement which holds everything together.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Then I start on the next project…the new roof for the garage and tool shed addition.</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> </span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-40762990687010058032007-02-13T05:27:00.000-08:002007-02-09T18:33:24.913-08:00More on the Pergola ProjectIt is pouring rain as I type this out. Following is a continuation of the pergola project that kept me so busy last year. In hindsight I can clear up a few details. Because this patio base was built facing into a slope, it had to be elevated. Because it was elevated, the side that would normally butt against the building was higher than the the cement slab foundation. Because of this, I designed this patio so it would be "freestanding". There is a space of about one foot between the side of the building and the patio.<br />I poured forms so the perimeter of the patio is a solid cement "wall" the width of a brick. This wall is then topped with bricks. More on that to follow. Here is the next step of the building process taken from my on-line journal.....<br /><br /><table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext"> Low Key Monday </span> </td> <td> <br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext">Tuesday, May 02, 2006</span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="entrytext"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I’m getting burned out on this patio project. The worst is really over at this point. The concrete forms are all poured, now I need to fill this area with crushed limestone to make a base for the bricks. The clay/dirt base was tamped down and covered with landscape fabric. This fabric is held down with the limestone leftovers from the last project a couple years ago. This limestone had been stored on the driveway side of the house in some 20 plastic buckets that originally held kitty litter. That reminds me: back when I was working at a supermarket in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Lancaster</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">PA.</st1:state></st1:place> a customer asked Ronnie, (one of the stockboys) where the cat litter was located. Ronnie yelled down the aisle to John, “Hey John, what aisle is the shitty litter in?” This was totally inappropriate back in 1971, but we all laughed!<br /><img alt="" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/formsandconcretepatio.jpg" /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">While working on all this, my package arrived with the latest E-bay purchase. When I redo the doors here in the house I replace the 1920’s door knobs and back plates with earlier styles. I have the styles of this house so mixed up and besides the older sets just look so much nicer. This box contains a set of door knobs and plates that match a set I already own. I’m very disappointed when I unpack the box. The merchandise is bright and shiny, it is definitely old but it does not feel right. The finish is rough. Whoever cleaned this either: sandblasted the pieces or brushed it all to death on a wire wheel. Not wanting to make a mess in the garage, I set up my buffing wheel outside. Now I go to town smoothing out the rough finish. What a difference some red rouge and a cloth wheel make.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">As I was putting the tools away I had the camera in tow to document the progress of this project. That digital camera is so much fun! Stumpy was up to something. Sure enough; he was tormenting a poor little Gecko. After taking the picture (you can just barely see the little guy on the piece of wood) I put Stump in the house for a bit to give the Gecko time to find a new hiding spot!<br /><img alt="" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/stumpyandgeko.jpg" height="338" width="450" /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Stump was pissed, he wanted to be outside. I turned him loose again and he went right to where his “friend” was. That cat was sniffing the grass and going crazy trying to find his new “buddy”. Mr. Gecko was smart and was nowhere to be found!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">When I was last in <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">New York</st1:state></st1:place> (there is one more installment on that trip to go!) I purchased a copy of <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Brideshead Revisited</span> by Evelyn Waugh. At the end of the day in my Morris Chair along with a glass of cheap box wine, I’m transported back to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region> of the 1920’s. Next to the early mornings, this is my favourite time of the day. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">At nine it is now dark and time to round up the cats for the night. I can usually find them in Michelle’s driveway, right next door. Tonight is no exception. Daggy goes into the back study by herself. Stumpy, I have to track down and carry into the house growling. He is pissed a second time at having to return to the house. This is tempered when he gets his bowl of wet cat food as a reward for being a good cat!</p></span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-71676290457480298302007-02-09T18:22:00.000-08:002007-01-07T10:11:08.317-08:00Pergola Project 2006I'm itching to do some outside work. The weather is not <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">conducive</span> for yard and outside house work yet. I've culled through my online journal and decided to post the pergola project that took up a great deal of my time last year. I'll do this over the next few days....enjoy!!!<br /><br /><table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext"> When is Sunday?? </span> </td> <td> <br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext">Saturday, April 22, 2006</span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="entrytext"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Things have been so crazy here: I have been so intent on getting caught up on my trip and all I have totally gotten mixed up on my days. This morning I go to the paper box on the corner to get a paper. Nothing so unusual about that: I put six quarters in the box for the Sunday paper and am outraged to pull out a Saturday paper. I’m all set to call the paper to give them Hell for not filling up the paper box with the right paper. The huge pan of home fries and onions are just about done as I’m fuming over the newspaper’s oversight. Then it slowly dawns on me, today is indeed SATURDAY! </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">How did I get to such a state? It’s a long story…… For a long time a major annoyance has been the mess located at the front of my workshop. This area has been a storage area for my brick horde and has been pretty much untouched for the past three years. It looks it. I have toyed with the idea of adding another patio in this area and even a pergola type enclosure. For the past few weeks I have been toying in my mind on constructing a simple pergola attaching it to the side workshop. Once that is up; it will be a simple task to brick in a patio.<br /><img alt="" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/patiositefirstpicture.jpg" height="338" width="450" /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Early Monday afternoon I head to Lowe’s for the first batch of lumber. It has been a while since I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ve</span> purchased treated wood. Talk about sticker shock. The three 4”x4”x12’ and two 1”x6”x10’ was over $60.00. But with that lumber in my truck I HAVE to get started with the project.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">The real pain is all the measurements that need to be done. The most important thing to remember in a backyard like mine is to keep things in proportion. The side of the shop this patio will be at is 16 foot wide. If the pergola extends about half that distance, it should be just about right. Using plumb bobs, squares, stakes and string the spot to dig the center post is located. It has been very dry for the past few weeks. The ground back here is hard as my heart. The soil seems to go in layers. The hard top layer is decent dirt which then goes to a layer of dirt and pea gravel. Under this is a light clay that is easy to dig out using the post hole digger. This hole goes to a depth of two and a half feet. Stakes and braces are installed to hold this first post exactly square and straight.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">There are two bags of cement left over from the last patio project. This old stuff was a bear to mix. It took a lot of smashing with the back of the hoe to get it all thoroughly mixed. I’ll make sure I don’t have any bags of cement left over from this job!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Set this first post in cement and start working with the 1x6’s. I have to run a board across the side of the shop to attach the stringers to. I wish I had the foresight to plan this all out ahead of time. Instead, I just jump into a project and figure out solutions as I hit the problems. Get the side angles all cut and the board installed.<br /><img alt="" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/patiobuilding.jpg" height="338" width="450" /> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">At this point I start the brick moving. All the bricks stored here have to be moved. I’m reminded of that poor guy in Greek Mythology who had to spend eternity rolling a boulder up a hill: only in my case I’m moving bricks!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Tuesday is spent installing the other two posts. This is such fussy work getting everything lined up and measured just right. Working alone makes this just that much of a longer job.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Wednesday after walking at the University with Debbi, I go on a lumber run. I end up with two 5/4 x 6 x 16 and ten 5/4 x 6 x 10. I’m into this mess now! I hate to move 16 foot lumber. It takes a lot of tying down to secure this safely in my truck bed. The back streets are my route home, no interstate with this load!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">The miter saw is set up to chop the lengths right. Now this is where things get complicated. I learned that you don’t get burned out so quickly when you do a variety of different jobs. I had <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">earlier</span> made up a template for a fancy cut out for the ends of the boards. In between cutting the boards to length, I’m cutting out this fancy work with a saber saw. There are 14 cutouts that need to be done.<br /><img alt="" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/patiocuttingbeams.jpg" height="338" width="450" /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">The first cross board is installed on the posts. It is at times like this I wish I had a helper. I can’t fathom how many times the ladder needed to be moved and that cross board adjusted to get it to the right height and level. All I know is I was beat by the time I was satisfied with the results.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Wednesday night I’m relaxing with <u><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Brideshead</span> Revisited</u> and a glass of box wine. At 8:30 I hear some yelling outside. A car is pulled into the insurance parking lot across the street. The engine is running, headlights on and door open. This young woman is screaming and shrieking at this surly thin boy. “I’m sorry, I f—<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ked</span> up, It will never happen again.” Things continue in this vein for a while. The sulking boy tells this woman to not f--king touch him and tries to walk away. This woman is using her wiles crying and grasping at this boy. They walk around the block leaving the car running and abandoned for over half an hour. I want to tell this boy if he is smart he will run away from this as fast as he can. Finally they return. Was this resolved? Who knows and who cares? These kids and their drama!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Thursday is spent installing the rest of wood. I get a set routine down that makes this job a bit easier. With the wood all up I’m feeling pretty good. Now I move out the last of the bricks. It has been so hot, even with my do-rag my hair is driving me nuts. It has been a ages since I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ve</span> let it grow so long. A trip to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Northport</span> barber shop is in order. Glens chair is empty as I walk in. I plop down and tell Glenn to “buzz it all off!” He laughs and asks if I want a number 2 or 1 ½ blade on the clipper. I take the 1 ½ blade and in no time I’m covered in my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">shorn</span> hair. I can feel the breeze on the sides of my head. After trimming around my ears Glenn rubs the top of my head with the cool towel. It is such a great sensation.<br /><img alt="" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/patiobeamsup.jpg" height="644" width="483" /></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">After my haircut I drop into City <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Café</span> for a vegetable plate. Martha is on so I get her going. I tell her I’m all upset after my experience at the barber shop. She immediately starts laughing. “What happened hon?” she asks. I tell her I went in the barber shop and told Glenn, “I want my hair to look like Buzz Alden the astronaut. Instead they buzzed it all off!” She laughs and tells me I’m such a mess!! </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Friday I realize that if I’m ever going to remove the truck cap stored on the side of the workshop, it will have to be now. I used this truck cap when I was moving my stuff down from <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:state>. I should have gotten rid of the thing years ago. After being in the same spot for years, it is buried under prickers, ivy, and small trees. I got cut up real good cutting this mess away. The cap is not heavy, just awkward to handle alone. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">Once out in the open the ivy is pulled out from where it had grown between the inside supports. The thing is scrubbed down and hosed off. Next week I’ll get an ad in the paper to get rid of it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">I missed my workout at the Y on Wednesday, I won’t do that today. It is a black sky to the west as I’m walking. The weight and exercise areas are surrounded by large plate glass windows overlooking the street. I’m on the leg extension machine when the storm breaks. The trees are being blown sideways and lightning flashes light up the outside darkness. A transformer explodes and the lights go out. Shortly power is restored: by the time I’m finished with my workout it has stopped raining. The sky is still threatening on my way home. I get to thinking, were the cats outside when I left for the Y? I get the answer when I get to the front door, two wet cats run from underneath the truck parked in the driveway. They get dried off, and I get a nice hot shower!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">That has pretty much been the story of my life for the past week. I think it explains a bit why my sense of time is all screwed up!</p></span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-31311666879354520772007-01-05T03:44:00.000-08:002007-01-05T04:03:04.418-08:00The Floor is Finally Finished<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/floorfinished.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/floorfinished.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />After much aggravation and waiting the finish finally dried on the floor. It kills me to have the heat turned up high to help speed up the drying time! The woodwork in this room/house was never meant to be natural. This is just cheap paint grade pine stuff. Originally I was just going to faux grain everything. But, the paint build up on this wood was so great it was easier to just strip it all off rather than put up with the brittle built up paint chipping off constantly.<br /><br /><span class="entrytext"><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Saturday I was FINALLY able to get the floor finished. I put down the rug and clean the bejesus out of it. Then the bed gets set up. Finally things are coming together. When I was living in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Bowling Green</st1:place></st1:city> I purchased the greatest oak wall clock. <st1:place st="on">Mission</st1:place> style, the top is a long shelf with a groove to set plates in. There were problems with the thing, but the price was right at a close out for $35.00!!! I had no idea where to put the thing when I bought it, but I had to at that price! Now I realize; it will go perfect behind the bed! The rest of the day was finished out in this fashion, arranging pictures on the walls, moving in the computer armoire and installing the computer. All that wiring drives me crazy! I have my Saturdays planned out around the CBC 2 broadcasts. I had to keep the computer hooked up so I could listen to the Vinyl Café that comes on at noon Eastern Time. <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/vinylcafe/">http://www.cbc.ca/vinylcafe/</a> I know I’ve written about this program before. It is so low key and human. I think the word civilized can be used to describe it. I always get homesick for <st1:city st="on">Lockport</st1:city> and my friends in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Canada</st1:country-region></st1:place> when I listen to this. For the record; as I’m typing this, the program “Music For Awhile” from the CBC is playing on my computer! My life sure has changed since getting that high speed connection!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/bednightstandfinishedbefroom.jpg" alt="" height="600" width="450" /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">All the while I was working little Daggy was on hand. She is resting on the register grate that was in the kitchen of the house I grew up in. I used to stand on it on winter mornings to get my feet warm. That old iron top held many wet mittens to dry. This is just another example of the stories behind some of the most mundane things I have!</p><br /><p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/daggyontheregistergrate.jpg" alt="" height="0" width="0" /><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/daggyontheregistergrate.jpg" alt="" height="338" width="450" /></p></span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7169600770047604359.post-80812729179862639592006-12-03T11:15:00.000-08:002006-12-03T11:22:18.584-08:00Drying Time...Well I got the first coat of the floor finish steel wooled down smooth and the second coat of finish applied on Saturday. It dried a LOT better than that first coat. Just got it steelwooed down and will apply the third coat of finish tonight. It has warmed up a bit so I am going to move the outside plants into the workshop to give them a chance to survive the winter!<br />I just copied an earlier entry from my on-line journal that detalis this projcet from the beginning....<br /><br /><table width="100%"><tbody><tr><td><span class="headertext"> Prepwork and Wallpaper </span> </td> <td> <br /></td> <td align="right"> <span class="headertext">Monday, November 06, 2006</span> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <span class="entrytext"> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">There has been so much going on as of late. Last Wednesday morning I ordered a new flat screen monitor for the computer. I just missed the rebate offer that took $100.00 of the list price for the month of October. I was right in my hunch this rebate would be extended. It was!!! I was still able to save a bunch! Here is where I get my mind blown away…the doorbell rang before 9:00 a.m. Friday. It was the monitor being delivered…less than two days after placing my order! The deliveryman was so funny. After handing me the monitor he stood there sniffing…. “I smell bacon!” he says. I laugh and tell him that I had just finished up breakfast: three slices of bacon, two eggs, raisin toast, orange juice and coffee!! He just smiled and said how good it all smelled! </p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I’m amazed at the clarity of the screen on this new monitor. After using that tiny 15” screen for the past three and a half years, the new 19” screen seems HUGE!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Work on the back room has been going slowly. I’ve gotten burned out, but I want to have it and the house put back together before the holidays. There will not be a faux bamboo washstand in the near future to put back there. I was able to follow the auction on line for the stand I was interested in. I had left what I thought was an outrageously high bid considering the condition of the piece. I was floored to see it sell for nearly DOUBLE that bid at $2,750. That price is before the sales tax and 10% buyers premium is even tacked on. That is way out of my league!!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Sunday I pretty much finished up on the walls. Next is filling the “nail dimples” and raised paper seams on the ceiling. The ceiling fan has had a wobble that has driven me nuts since its installation. I have spent hours playing around with weights to try and get the blades balanced. I was able to correct a lot of the problem, but never to my satisfaction. I need to remove the fan blades in order to do the ceiling work. This will be a perfect time to weigh out the blades and get each one to the exact weight. Only problem is, I don’t have a scale. The perfect solution will be to go to the post office and use the digital scale in the self serve set up for weighing envelopes and small packages. There will not be anyone around on a Sunday afternoon. I was so annoyed to enter the post office lobby carrying the fan blades, weights, and other things to find the scales are gone. I’m finally going to have to break down and get a scale of my own. Selling junk again on E-Bay I do need a scale for estimating shipping costs.</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Working on the full ceiling means I had to take the bed down. It is such an ordeal, the dust bunnies were everywhere! Advertisements 100 years ago for iron and brass beds placed great emphasis on how much easier they were to maintain and keep clean. The wide wooden side rails on the bed frame harbor a ton of dust and lint. I know I really don’t pay attention to that kind of thing till I’m forced to take some kind of action and then I’m horrified!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I set up sleeping in the den on the sofa. It is not roomy as I’d like, but it sure is a lot easier and safer than trying to navigate the cluttered stairway to the spare bedroom upstairs! The computer is also in this back room. The cats and I enjoyed listening to Jack Benny radio programs before bed! I found a fantastic site with a bunch of programs you can listen to for free!!! <span style=""> </span><a href="http://www.imvite.com/il-index.php?category=29">Jack Benny Programs</a></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I had been playing with wallpaper and color samples all weekend getting just the right combination picked out. I made up my mind I was going to order the paper today. (Monday) Stumpy was such a help as usual during all this!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/Stumpyontheladderhelping.jpg" alt="" height="533" width="400" /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">I was all set to give Bradbury and Bradbury <a href="http://www.bradbury.com/index.html">http://www.bradbury.com/index.html</a> a call when the morning mail was delivered. There was an envelope from Bradbury and Bradbury! I did not have any samples on order: sure enough, here was samples of their new freize paper I have never seen. It is perfect for this room. Now I have to change everything around again! Talk about timing!</p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">The "Rookwood Frieze" on the left is the new choice now over the center paper and border. the brown of the trees seem to bring out the natural woodwork and the muted colors seem more appropriate for a bedroom. Now I have to determine what paper will go below the chair rail, and paint color for the "middle" section.<br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e386/brickpaver/wallpapersamples.jpg" alt="" height="800" width="600" /><br /></p> <p style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;" class="MsoNormal">Well, it is time to post this and get to the Y for my workout….</p> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> </span>Brick1101http://www.blogger.com/profile/00514827885051170095noreply@blogger.com1