Saturday, December 31, 2011

MSF - Crate

It's funny how the mind and body work. All of a sudden, stiff neck or not I'm motivated to do something. In this case, building a shipping crate for my "mini mold"

Carpentry is complete, now I just need to bolt it all together. This will be my New Years Day project
Lifting and seperating the two mold halves for inspection before shipping
4 side panels 
Looking in side 
Looking inside again

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

MSF

It's called the Mini Sport Flyer. From 1981 through 1990 I had a small hobby business called Sport Flyers Unlmited producting custom hot stamped mini flying discs in my garage. Always thought I might start this business up again but that has not happened.

I'm now negociating with another disc player to ship my mold and base to him to resurrect this "infamous" mini. Ha!

Today I pulled my mold base out of storage to start thinking about constructing a shipping crate.

Let the sequal begin!

350 pound hunk of steel
Inside my present day machine shop
Collection of the various designs I had hot stamped
Upper left corner. Job #001 - 500 brown discs with gold hot stamp for UPS.
Continuation, still need more racks to hang them all

Friday, December 23, 2011

Boots

I love these big winter snow storms. Gives me a chance to pull out some of my vintage winter gear. My favorites are my 1984 Marmott snow gaiters and my One Sport Italian mountaineering climbing boots. A very cosy set up. The gaiters really help to keep the heat in and the snow out. Need to buy a pair for Satomi. Today we traipsed up and down main street checking out the winter sights.

One Sport Boots
Kingston hasa new sign thanks to recent members of the towns social club
This was once Sara's kitchen where travelers could get coffee and great pies.
Kigston Bell

Almost snow bound!

The Weather service was correct, 9 to 13". Finally I have something to blog about. Well not really, it's just a lot of snow.

View from my office chair
Except for the snow this view is getting old. Some of you know I'm nurchuring an injury, not suppose to work so I spend way too much time on the internet and in the office. It's times like these when I can't really be outside doing things that I wish we had a mansion.
All our food is there in those buildings
 At some point we will need to spoil this nice view and make pathways or else we might starve. Actually Satomi does the shoveling, remember, I'm not suppose to work.
A good visual measurement

I always like seeing the rectangular shaped snow on our roofs, quite a load.  Thinking it's time to bundle up, put on our boots and walk on down the road.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Snowed In

What's a fella to do when it's 30 outside and snowing, coffee is cold, emails have been answered, the news is getting old and it's to early to start drinking?

Take pictures.......


Saturday, December 3, 2011

Yard Work

So does shoveling snow count as yard work? More snow due on Sunday. Bring it on!!!!!!


Monday, November 28, 2011

Bow

More from Alan the gin pole maker who really is known as the Bow Maker from Hillsboro. One of our neighbors purchased a bow from Alan this spring. Check it out...








Sunday, November 27, 2011

Message in a Bottle

Message in a bottle, now that was a great song.

This is a great spray bottle. My favorite. I have three. One in each car with a roll of paper towels to clean the windshields and a third we use around the house for cleaning. Unlike the cheap american spray bottles these from Japan actually last.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

B & V House

Out of the archives. Beginning pictures of the second Straw Bale house I built here in town. This was a tricky foundation to form up. So much rock we had a hard time driving in stakes. Ended up using a hammer drill and boring holes in the rock for staking all the bracing.

Always a big day when the concrete is placed
Now the curing begins
Ready for the steel 
Erecting the steel frame. Rule number one: never use a Back Hoe as a crane. Rule number two: wear a hard hat........

A big day when the trusses go up
Half way there
Installing the trusses is the easy part
Framing lookouts for the overhang, the slow part.
Perimeter sheathing
Let the roofing begin
First Winter

Saturday, November 12, 2011

2 SS's

So here is my spelling story:

I once took a spelling test in 5th grade, of course I couldn't spell, still can't and to old to learn, now I just ask Satomi.
The reason I was given a big X on my test was not that I probably missed them all but at the time I had one of those multi colored pens so all 20 words were in a different color. She was one mad teacher.





Friday, November 11, 2011

Cat Door

Satomi and I have talked about installing one of those cat doors, but why? Boo Boo has his own way to let us know he wants in. Amazing he can climb a panel door.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

snow

Winter officially starts December 22nd. I beg to differ. We had our first snow yesterday afternoon.



 As some of you know I have been dealing with a sore neck. I live with a hot pad or ice bag and three or four soaks a day in our hot tub. Two visits to a new chiropractor was scary. I called him a bone cruncher, not the gentle adjustments I was accustom to. I keep trying to stretch but my posture needs help. Time to visit our local massage therapist but that gets expensive especially since I have not been able to work for others.

Easy to draw but harder to make. Yes the treads have been MILLED and now waiting for sanding. Milling and routing were not the smartest thing to be doing so for now our Alternating Stairway is on hold.



Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Milling around

Usually when one thinks of milling around wood would not come to mind. I tried making a router template but this is Hard Maple and the 2 inch long bit just tore up the wood so I needed a solution.

So why not use my Mill. Slow but worked like a charm. Nice and controlled, no chatter and 20 pieces are now identical.

One of 20

This is operation #2. The first op as they say was to mill the short leg. Then I had to re fixture the clamping arrangement and mill the longer length.

Maple chips have a nice fragrance

What are these 2 inch L shaped pieces for any way. Stair treads for our alternating stairway up in our Timber Frame Cottage.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Boo Two

Come on down and join the party!

Suppose to be blurry!

Our Hostess

The Bar

Little miss cream puff?. You had to be there.

Still at the bar?

Was it something I said?

Food

It's all a joke

That beer looks about done

This guy really spurred us on

A scary couple for sure

Was that the Texas Two Step we heard?

You don't say.....

Just hanging around

Pit a full

Sparklers anyone?

Let there be light

My favorite prop

Not so scary

Now of course I wish I had taken more pictures, unfortunately I left a few folks out but you get the idea, Kingstonites just like to party.