StainlessDeal

Daimler Chrysler owns both Dodge and Freightliner, as well as Detroit diesel and Mercedes Benz. So what sells as a sprinter in the us both from Dodge and FL, is a Mercedes in other places. Just corporate cousins.:)

I've always had dogs, usually one little one, and one big old hunter. I've found that an unusual name has to be easily recognised while being hollered from the porch in the rain, at about two thirty or three in the morning. More syllables is worse, two is good for the "dinner's ready" kind of sing-song. How does Riley or Duckie grab ya? My buddy had a great brace of pointing labs named Tammy Faye and Sally Strothers! It was a hoot to hear him cheering them through water retrieves while guys in floating blinds were staring and wondering who was hunting nearby. I had a wonderful blue heeler mix that used to ride the rode with me that I called Rodeo. Usually as in, "Miss Rodeo, is it time for ice cream yet?" She could recognise a Dairy Queen sign from any interstate. She'd pester me until I bought her a small vanilla cone every day all summer.:lgsideway BTW, that's my best friend Petey as my avatar. We just finished our tenth hunting season together and it looks as though he's going deaf. My heart is almost broken, I can't stand it that he won't be a pup forever.

When I sat down to write that last post, there were like six fewer posts in this thread, I got a quick phone call, but man, what a quick bunch! :lglolly:

What is commonly referred to on these BBSes as "chlorine" or "bleach" is a solution of sodium hypochlorite. It is available in various stregths, usually 6%, 10%, 12%, or more rarely, 15% solutions. It is also called "liquid pool shock", and in the States is easily purchased at pool supply houses and chemical suppliers. It is unstable in that the amount of chlorine in the solution decreases rapidly as the solution decays. Keeping it cool and dark helps to mitigate this, but all sodium hypochlorite is decaying and getting weaker, so you have to keep an amount on hand that suits your use. I can get as much 10.5% solution as I can use a week at a reasonable price, and 12% for a little more per gallon, but my use varies widely so I generally buy a bit more than I have estimated using during the week. At any given time I have 10 to 25 gallons undiluted on hand, so I buy 10.5% and figure my ratios from there. I only buy 12% when I know I will use it all since pretty soon it will be 10% solution anyway. The oxalic is a great remover of stains that were left by evaporation of mineral-laden water on surfaces. The iron in the irrigation water sprayed daily on the fence in Jeff's pic's being a prime example. And just as an aside, you definately don't want to EVER be sprayed with Oxalic: It can lead to sterility in men.:lgtear: I hope this answers the basic question you were after.

Tomorrow Grandma Millen turns 90, so my family (really the whole clan) is gathering in Lake Havasu, AZ to throw her a party. Family and friends, even some childhood friends will be coming to remember good times and make some new ones. It got me to thinking: Imagine all the changes in the last 90 years here and around the world that have taken place since 1916. The world, even the States, was still mostly horsedrawn. Any aircraft, anywhere, would draw a crowd. Movies were still novel, and sound was the next wave, though not really looked for yet. Highways, not just streets, were brick, and there were just the barest rudiments of a transcontinental highway. Outside of the cities, the world was still largely lit only by fire. A funnel was still a "tin horn", and most people had witnessed the death of a person they knew well. America was just about to enter the mess "over there" and idealistic Coolidge and most of the Americans couldn't really believe it. My grandmother was the daughter of a housepainter/plasterer who drank and smoked and was called Brown becausehe chose not to be available to his home state's constabulary should they leave PA in pursuit. He died of blacklung in the early 60's, lamented by few. She married a meatpacker named Joe Millen in 1937, I still hunt with the 20 guage Winchester Model 12 that was one of their wedding presents, a shotgun Grandma used on pheasants, grouse, rabbits, and even pigeons during strikes when they would water the soup a little more and set an extra plate or two for any strikebreakers that repented and didn't cross. They were prosperous enough to retire early and enjoy many good times in AZ until Joe died in December of 1990, leaving her bereaved, but well-provided for. Since then she has lived in Havasu during the winter, and Minnesota in the summer, driving herself between the two until last year, when she stopped driving long distances, "For my Daughters' sake." She still drives to get her groceries herself, and looks dimly upon those that are able to, but don't. Summers are now spent in lovely Saint Louis, with her daughter and son-in-law. She spends most of that time rooting the baseball games she never misses, and doing complicated word finds and number puzzles. Grandma is as sharp as the crack of a whip, and will beat you at any card game but bridge, which she sniffs at as a game for "gossips and harridans." My Grandma Millen is an amazing creature to know, ain't I a lucky guy? I just wanted to brag.:lgwave:

Beth & Rod, I really like the new avatar! You looked perfectly pleasant in the old one, but this new elegant look is just what the doctor ordered. It makes us all feel a little bit more elegant when we dress up, and puts us on our best behavior, I've noticed that I tend to straighten up and remove my hat these days as I open TGS for each session.;) The problem is that now I feel like I should shower and change clothes after a workday, before I attend the new "Black Tie" GrimeScene. lol Seriously, you two look great in both avatars.:lgbow:

Last week was in sLowe's to meet a buddy for lunch and they had a Troy-Bilt Model 01904 cold water unit returned with a "bad pump". They have it marked for $75. I looked online, but couldn't get the owner's manual to work where I found it, but it looks like a 2.5 GPM machine rated for something loke 1850 or so psi. I was teasing my buddy about it (he works there) and he said I could probably get it for a lot less than what they have it marked at. You know the question: Is there any good reason to buy this? Is the frame good to mount a bigger engine & pump, will it be useful after some cheap building, or is it just shed shelf bait? Would it ever be a suitable spare, would I be able to rig a roller pump (or something similarly useful) on this frame affordably enough to justify this? I'm not married to the idea, just don't want to miss an opportunity. Let's hear the opinions, really let 'em fly! __________________

I really love the residential services, it just seems like the upsells are easy and the work area is usually pretty peaceful. I like decks and wood restoration, it is greatly satisfying to see how much better a maltreated deck can look. I LOVE roof work, nobody here seems to have any idea that they don't have to reroof to eliminate the streaks and stains on their roofs. (rooves?) I love being able to save them that money and trouble, and make decent money at it. Dislike: Degreasing, especially commercial. People think concrete poured in the fifties, and used daily to catch drippings from similar vintage autos will be perfect for 50 bucks. I also dislike fleets, around here the market for weekend/beer money types is perfect: "Nobody's wash job is worth paying for," so I pretty much do fleets only if they call me, and then only occassionally to fill down time. I'm pretty married to niche of removing lichen and moss (and algea) from most anything. I LOVE THAT!:lgmoneyey

Ok, that was Rod's suggestion, we all know you're a genius, too.:) I'm slipping these days, gotta get busy again...cabin closing in... The low pressure idea is a good one, too. Hmm... Maybe I can invent a two-in-one marvel of modern backyard engineering! We'll see, I'll probably just pass. The wife needs time to decompress before my REAL spring madness sets in.:juggle:

A trash pump has been on my list for a while, maybe this is the ticket I"m looking for. Definite possibilities... Ken, you are a genious, man! Thanks for gettin' my wheels turning again.;) :)

I'm sure she knows human (especially wifely) behavior better than I. I have the project bug in the worst way, always have. In the last year I have removed at least one project bike, one project trailer, an old project Freightliner tractor, numerous project pieces of furniture, and various other projects from the premises. Unfortunately, they were replaced by a second trailer, a 500 gal propane tank, several ancient firearms, copious amounts of used brass, a brace of woodworking saws, and a fishing boat (with two outboards) that all qualify as project material. I have managed to restrain myself from aquiring numerous other projects, including but not limited to: Two late sixties Triumph motorcycles, a paraplane, a smallish hovercraft, a wooden runabout, and various contraptions including a trebuchet capable of throwing a bowling ball nearly a mile. And yes, Celeste, wives DO hate that! I just like to stay busy, and think what fun this will all be!:lgangel:

Ken, I get a "file is broken message" when I try that link. My ancient machine has been suffering a little lately, soon to be replaced. This thing has a Briggs Intek on her, and yeah, the pump looks like a toy. I figured this was junk when it was new, I was just kinda interested in the gutter-snipe appeal sort of way.;) Russell, I think I will but I'd love to hear some far-out idea that would make this useful. (or fun) Really, 25 bucks is toy money!:fido2: Thanks fella's, anybody else?

Hey Mr. Williamson, hope the birthday is a good one! Thanks for the quality and quantity of your contributions to this industry, here and elsewhere. Hope you're having a great day!:)

Hey Jeff, good to hear the tummy is doing well. Also good to hear the pills are good!:) Thanks everybody for the well-wishes, I spent the day finishing a small fleet job, and sold the outfit on a dock and interior dock-pit cleaning and degreasing. Might yet sell them on cleaning the stains on their precast warehouse. Spring is coiling up, can't hardly wait. I spent Friday night with the whole cast of crazies: Family and friends from years of blessed living, a great time was had, but I was a little slow outta the slumber pit today!:lgsideway I should have known better: Friday the 13th, full moon, AND six months since we got married. It's been a good year for me, I'm pumped for 2006!:lgkick:

What a mess. Looks like the brick and roof need attention as well.:lgmoneyey Richard, I was doing some research last year, and noted that in some areas of Great Britain, I forget exactly where and can't find my notes as yet, there are protected Lichen species. If I remember correctly, this mostly applied to churches, churchyards, and gravestones. If you are going to be washing any lichen off any older buildings, you may want to search on terms like "protected lichen" and the sort. Hope this saves you trouble and good luck with the new endeavor.:)

You're gonna hafta buy a 3/4 pound truck to pull that thing, good thing you aren't in the mountains.:rotfl:

Tony, I use Ready Seal on the little wood I do, usually leave a small amount in a plain paint can from a paint store. I think home depot sells them, too. For me its a way to keep my name and services visible in their garage or shop. (and it keeps my shop from filling with oddball colors) Last summer a customer wanted me to get him an extra five gallons for his wood patio furniture, I told him it wasn't the best idea, especially since the intent was to stain some new furniture for a 3 season room. I also strongly suspected he was going to be staining things in the house as well. I wasn't comfortable with this, and he didn't push it, so he got a gallon labeled by me. Just part of the deal for my customers, and many ask so I get to say, "You won't need it, I will come back and fix anything I can, but I usually leave a gallon for you when I finish" This lets me sound a little cocky, while still being helpful and humble for the customer.:)

Good luck to you Mike, if either of you, or anybody else for that matter, needs someone to complain or whatever to instead of smoking, CALL ME! I'm good at listening, and I've been in that situation. It really does get better after a while.:)

Way to go!:lgkick: As a reformed 3-4 pack a day guy, I'd like to tell you that you can do it. I used to smoke before I got out of bed, and in the shower, all day at work, all night before (and then in) bed until I decided to go to sleep. Started at fifteen, my mom would bring my dad and I our cartons with every grocery trip. Started On Cowboy Killers in the box, was smoking Camel straits (4 packs a day) by 21, finished on about 2 &1/2 packs of Marlboro Lights a day. I was in a hospital for something unrelated for a few days, and figured I'd try to stay quit after that. There were some tough days there, and once in a while I am still tempted, butit will soon be two years, and I REALLY don't miss it. You can stay quit, just don't take the first drag. I'm serious, call me instead of smoking, if you think it might help, I'm all sympathy to new ex-smokers.:)

My little Tuff 4gpm 11horse (Honda GX 340) decided to quit on me today. It has had a history of running rich and fouling out, so I went with a slightly hotter plug but never leaned the mixture because the problem seemed restricted to low pressure (X-jet and large orifice) running, and after the new plug was much less of a problem. Anyway today was supposed to be in the 40's, so I was finishing some truck washes at a regular flatwork customer's place. The weather was socked-in freezing fog, and I was running 145 degree water and hurrying just to beat the freeze. Three-quarters through a trailer, the unit starts popping a backfire about once a minute, on the third one or so I let off the trigger to hear better. I could tell the power was down, but she revs back up. I decided to check the fuel, and shut down. I had lowish fuel, so I filled and when restarted, it would run until I pulled the trigger. I pulled the plug (fouled), and cleaned her up. Same lack of function. Pulled it again, was a little sooty, so I recleaned and checked fuel flow and air cleaner. The air filter was pretty badly oiled up, so I tried her without, and she ran as if the choke were stuck. What am I not thinking of? I'm planning on talking to the local guys tomorrow, but I don't want to be blindsided. This is a very low hours unit maintained correctly with good clean oil. What do you think? __________________

Thanks Russ, I wasn't sure if there could be a buildup inside. Thanks for the information, and for being so quick to answer.:)

On another site, somebody was asking how to go about cleaning the exhaust out, I wound up not having time to go after this work myself, and handed it off to a local Honda Industrial engines dealer and service center. If you were going to clean out a sooty exhaust, would you disassemble it and blow out with compressed air, and then go from there, or would you do it another way? I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't ask the service guys how they planned to go about it.

Joshua is the cutest little guy, never see him not having a good time. Kids reflect their folks, you must be a good set of parents. Looks to me like you've got the world by the shorties Jeff, that's not luck, that's good hard work paying off.:lgkick: Joshua does have good form, does he throw the monster-gutter-hangin'-hook? Will he teach me when he goes pro?:lgwave:

I've avoided at least one job where this was an issue. Neighbors didn't get along and the one with the posts on his side claimed primacy. I'm not a lawyer, but could see that they were brewing up to battle it out. I bid the job VERY high in June and haven't heard a word since. I do drive by occasionally and it is still weathering away. Another concern that has rattled me was the guy with the bloodthirsty pack of Rottwielers. Now, you gotta know I have dogs, I speak dog, people used to call me "The Dog Whisperer", and I have no issue with Rottwielers. I believe they are an honorable, beautiful, ancient breed. (Hannibal had them as draft dogs when he crossed the alps to invade Rome) I just couldn't get near the far side of the fence, and the customer couldn't get his neighbor to control his 8 (!) 200# snarling hounds. Believe you me, I was not going in there. My customer paid for the full job, and told me he'd call when he settled the neighbor down. I've checked back half a dozen times and he says he doesn't care anymore. I told him I'd refund part of the money, but he says no, and that's where we are. Crazy, huh?:)

I've been using a "one size fits some" generic motorcyle cover. It was less than twenty bucks I think, but that has been a few years ago. Next time I'm in a bike shop, I'll check prices. I bought the dang thing to carry my bike covered behind my tractor (as in "tractor-semitrailer" rig) but never did use it. It has a draw-string and tie down eyes, but is not the heaviest stuff. I use a step-van, so I haven't tried this on a trailer. I think covers like this are available at Wally World and other Chinese product outlets for pretty cheap now. Cool hookup with Mel, Beth! Thanks!:)