RPetry

Randy, In the past, we ran into "deep", down in the wood stains on older softwood decks. The common link was in the past they had been stained with certain Behr's stain products, the ones that were involved in a costly class action lawsuit. Due to bad/ineffective mildewsides/fungicides, mildew was growing down to the depth of oil penetration. Due to a leak in a Shurflo unit, I discovered a fix. Overnight, the unit slowly leaked an 8 oz./gal. NaOH mix directly on some mildew stained floor boards. Staying wet that long, the mix had a chance to get deep into the wood. After a wash and brightening, the affected area was a very bright, golden white color. Not a fix in a practical sense, unless you want help spraying tons of NaOH for 8+ hours all over the wood to keep it constantly soaked. And probably nuking a lot of lignin out of the first 1/4 - 3/8 ths inch of the top wood.

Nice work Jon. At first glance, that looks harder or at least more technical than wood.

Christmas Shopping Tip Number Two: Do not wait until the last week before Christmas Day to start shopping. Every year I swear to never procrastinate again, yet every year I do... I hate shopping!

The November 2011 issue of Professional Deck Builder magazine has an interesting article on alternatives to pressure treatment for wood decking. Interesting. It can be found on line here: Professional Deck Builder: Cooked, Pickled, and Glass-Infused Decking

Hey Adrian, Nice job on the design. Question. When the brush wears out is it fairly easy to retrofit a new one? What would really rock is if a natural china bristle brush was available!

Doug, Unless that deer was road kill, that is more than a prank. It is morally criminal. Hunting is more than a sport, it is an instinctual activity eons old to provide food for survival. I am not a hunter but approve of those that are, as long as they eat, skin, or put to good use what they kill. Just killing for the bravado is corrupt. Aside from varmits or protection of home, family, or in some cases livestock.

This has been a challenging, but fruitful season. The weather was very wet, we lost more than the usual number of days due to rain and humid conditions. But overall, it was a good season. Did some very high end work for wonderful new customers, and the numbers should come out close to last season, our best ever. The biggest plus of this year was finally delving into the wood siding house restoration market. Finished up a long waiting mahogany stain today, and stripped but cannot logically stain a nice cedar job until next spring. The wood will not dry out. So good by to the wood restoration season for 2011. The book for 2012 is the best ever, so its time to rest, recuperate, and have some fun! If that is possible in winter ...

Well done Charlie. Maybe you should start a carpentry contracting company!

Charlie, That is very shoddy construction. Is the builder still in business? The owner should demand a decent finish to the work.

Have to agree with Beth. In many aspects, women get the short end of the stick. Certainly in American society, although their status and opportunities have improved greatly in the past 50 years. I doubt if 1 in 100 heterosexual men would trade places and prefer to be a woman.

Life is funny. You work hard as a young kid, mowing lawns, landscaping, doing whatever to make a buck. Get your driver's license at 16, and buy a Triumph used 650 motorcycle. Learn that you need to become a home mechanic and do it. Sell it at 19 yrs. of age as you become wise enough to realize that you are on a crash course to possible serious injury or death. Go to college and work like crazy to help afford it. Graduate, and start in the real world of business. Work harder and longer, just to make a mark and keep up. Soon realize that there is more to life than merely money. Buy a beat up used '74 MGB-GT. Learn more about auto mechanics as you cannot afford to have a professional keep the car on the road. It is totalled parked on the street while sleeping in bed. In hindsight, a blessing. That car drove me crazy. Forward 30 some odd years. In that time, sold, or more descriptive, partially liquidated one company. Started another one which morphed into a small software company. Did quite well for many years, but the downturn around 2000 and honestly the personal drive to keep going was the end of that period. At the far side of 30, was married for the first and only time with the love of my life. We were both ready to have dogs and no children and finally settle down. Well, kind of ... Fell into the wood restoration business. It has been an interesting, as well as a growing business for the past now 11 years. Mentored a lot of young college kids, as well as a few older immigrants and hard knock young people. Have met a lot of very fine, interesting customers, which keeps me in the business and looking forward to next year. The Lotus Elise is earned. I've waited nearly 40 years to be able to be able to buy this car in responsible and good conscience. Only problem is, it is a bit difficult to get in and out of the thing! Hah!, bettcha' Medicare rehabilitation does not cover that. Do what you can do while you still can do it. Everything else is just fluff ...

If you can read this whole story without laughing then there's no hope for you. I was crying by the end. Note: Please take time to read this slowly. If you pay attention to the first two judges, the reaction of the third judge is even better. For those of you who have lived in Texas, you know how true this is. They actually have a Chili Cook Off about the time Halloween comes around. It takes up a major portion of a parking lot at the San Antonio City Park. Judge #3 was an inexperienced Chili Taster named Frank, who was visiting from Springfield, IL. Frank: "Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge's table asking for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (Native Texans) that the chili wouldn't be all that spicy and, besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted." Here are the scorecard notes from the event: ************************************************** *** CHILI # 1 - MIKE'S MANIAC MONSTER CHILI... Judge # 1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick. Judge # 2 - Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild. Judge # 3 (Frank) -- Holy ****, what the hell is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put the flames out. I hope that's the worst one. These Texans are crazy. ************************************************** *** CHILI # 2 - AUSTIN'S AFTERBURNER CHILI... Judge # 1 -- Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang. Judge #2 -- Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously. Judge # 3 -- Keep this out of the reach of children. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face. ************************************************** *** CHILI # 3 - FRED'S FAMOUS BURN DOWN THE BARN CHILI... Judge # 1 -- Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick. Judge # 2 -- A bit salty, good use of peppers. Judge # 3 -- Call the EPA. I've located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. I'm getting ****-faced from all of the beer. ************************************************** ** CHILI # 4 - BUBBA'S BLACK MAGIC... Judge # 1 -- Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing. Judge # 2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods not much of a chili. Judge # 3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the beermaid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. That 300-LB woman is starting to look HOT. just like this nuclear waste I'm eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac? ************************************************** *** CHILI # 5 LISA'S LEGAL LIP REMOVER... Judge # 1 -- Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick. Very impressive. Judge # 2 -- Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the cayenne peppers make a strong statement. Judge # 3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I'm burning my lips off. It really pisses me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming. Screw those rednecks. ************************************************** *** CHILI # 6 - VERA'S VERY VEGETARIAN VARIETY... Judge # 1 -- Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers. Judge # 2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, and garlic. Superb. Judge # 3 -- My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous, sulfuric flames. I **** on myself when I farted and I'm worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except that Sally. Can't feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my ass with a snow cone. ************************************************** *** CHILI # 7 - SUSAN'S SCREAMING SENSATION CHILI.. Judge # 1 -- A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers. Judge # 2 -- Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment. **I should take note that I am worried about Judge # 3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing uncontrollably. Judge # 3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my shirt. At least during the autopsy, they'll know what killed me. I've decided to stop breathing it's too painful. Screw it; I'm not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach. ************************************************** *** CHILI # 8 - BIG TOM'S TOENAIL CURLING CHILI... Judge # 1 -- The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold but spicy enough to declare its existence. Judge # 2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted, passed out, fell over and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure if he's going to make it. poor feller, wonder how he'd have reacted to really hot chili? Judge # 3 - No Report

Jim, Not sure why you are so hyped up on thread hits. Get whatever car you so desire. Your thread will not come close to many of the Wood forum threads new or old.

We've been mostly using citric acid for neutralizing/brightening for the past 10 yrs. For a few reasons. First, it is not harmful to you or your helpers or your customers lawns or plantings. Second, it is easier to dissolve in cold water compared to oxalic. Third, it does the same job as oxalic, just takes a bit longer. That is the key point as rinsing is not needed with normal deck work stained with Ready Seal.

Diamond Jim, You are now Peirce Fitchette's Contractor of the Year! Wow, 25 gals. of RS into the floor ... That is some seriously porous hardwood.

Diamond Jim, Gorgeous wood and nice job. Now if they would only trash the pink plastic hot tub ...

Brian, Thanks, it was earned over many years. It sucks for golf outings. Put a carry bag of clubs in the passenger side and there is no room for a cooler of greenies. The "boot" or trunk has a bit of room, but being a mid-engine car, it heats up pretty fast. Hmmm ... maybe dry ice is the ticket. Its the best driving I'll ever do. Can draw or fade at will!

Jim, Only a reflection on what Henry Ford discovered a century ago. Americans love automobiles.

Rob, It is not a "roof", but a "hood". What we Americans call a "hood", the British call it a "bonnet". We have a "trunk", the Brits have a "boot". Gotta' love the Limey's!

Beth, With a bit of ingenuity, I think I can get 2 RS 5'ers in the car. One seat belted in the passenger seat, and another one in the passenger footwell. The "boot" or trunk for a few rags, 2 stain pails and brushes, and we're in business!

Rob, So good to see you again at ACR yesterday. I learned more about pressure washing between you and Tom than 10 yrs. on this board. Think we'll stick with wood! I'm stealing Barbara, my little wood minx. She shifted some gears yesterday and remembered what European's knew decades ago. Light weight, fine suspensions, good design, and decent power makes a sports car. The drive from ACR to Columbia, NJ is a trip, that why I was up there to begin with. This is a fairly safe car. It all depends on your driving!

Tony, Unless you are seriously considering tracking the car, take a deep breathe and consider. The Exige is more track than road, is quite a bit more expensive used or new, and has poor rear visibility due to the design of the rear clamshell. Plus it's a hardtop. Any fun roadster must be a convertible. Look into a used Lotus Elise. I just purchased an '05 stock and pristine, from a private sale with the original owner that was meticulous in servicing and body maintenance. Never saw a track, with 20K miles. A bit less than $30K. A Sector111 Katana 2 supercharger will be about $5500 including installation and will boost the bhp from 190 to about 253. If you want a 1/4 mile monster, it is not the car. But if you enjoy driving twisty roads or track, a Lotus is just sublime. And affordable.

Jim, You conveniently left out the mushrooms and toot. Those were the days, but we're not washed out yet.

Jim, You have some world class twisty roads in California. Get the roadster.