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StainlessDeal

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Posts posted by StainlessDeal


  1. Would most of you consider this a 2 person job?

    Mike, there are just too many good reasons to have at least one other person with you.

    Some of the better ones:

    -Safety: Yours, and that of the unsuspecting or oblivious residents or guests that will be in your work areas.

    -Help: You will need someone to handle the hoses, move chems, pre-set equipment while moving, etc.

    -Professionalism: I know this drum gets beat pretty hard sometimes, but I'm serious. You will want to look like you've been on large jobs before. Showing up alone will stir the curiosity of the managers and the residents. Don't give them the chance to imagine you are some rinky-dink outfit, here today, gone tomorrow.

    -Company: You will have to leave the site, or at least go inside once and again on a job this big. Your business' entire asset list will be outside, out of your sight every time nature rings or whatever. Company can just be there, maybe even working in some way. That is good.

    I would consider finding a local competitor that might be able to help out, it can save you some headaches, and make for a favor in the bank for down-the-road. Others here commonly do this. You might not have time enough to train an employee beyond being dangerous, if you don't start sooner than later.

    Good luck on the bid, keep us informed!:)


  2. Also, If you want to figure the pitched ends multiply the ln.ft. of the wall in question by the peak height and divide by 2. :)

    The method above will give you the area of the triangular section of wall that is above the pitched roof's gutterline. That area can then be added to the area of the square wall upon which the triangular section is standing.

    Is that sufficiently hazy? Sorry, but this is easier to talk about than it is to write about.

    Essentially, (this from a math-phobe, mind you) the length of the wall times the height of the triangular section gives you the area of a rectangle. (length x height) Since triangles describe 1/2 of a rectangle (bisected diagonally) you can divide the area by 2 and have the area of the triangle you lacked.

    This method of measuring is useful when estimating irregularly shaped surfaces. You can divide the irregular shape into various squares and triangles, and then measure the differnt sections and add the results.

    This is helpful when your measurements need to be very exact. In practice, I find it can actually be a distracting factor on smaller jobs. On a large job, such as this one, the peak height area will be substantial. I'd include it in the bid area.


  3. Adrian's building his own little loach! Man, that is a cool hobby. Mine is rinsing. (lol)

    I hear that remote control helicopters are extremely dangerous to their owners when they first start out, but a homebuilt chopper you actually fly inside? Waaay cool!

    Adrian, is this classed as ultralight? What is the powerplant? Is it controlled by the usual controls I'm familiar with (cyclic, collective, and pedals), or something new/different?

    I'm fascinated!:cool:


  4. Stainless Steel Flatbed...

    I sure like the way that sounds.

    I like box trucks because it freezes where I am, and I don't dig winterizing after a day's work. If you go the flatbed route, just be sure you have a good way to secure EVERYTHING. A buddy of mine just got hit with a weedwhacker on the freeway. He was on an antique Ariel motorcycle at the time, and the whacker bounced off a lawnservice trailer.

    The lawn guy never knew it happened, and never stopped. My bud is scratched up, but the Ariel is toast. It sure could have been worse, but I would hate to do that to somebody.

    As for set-up, search the flatbed trailer rigs here, and see what will work for your methods and equipment. I'd be especially careful not to overload one or the other axle, and I'd try to keep the profile low, since the deck is a bit higher than the average trailer.

    Good luck, and have fun with the new money-maker!:lgmoneyey


  5. I've seen your "tinkering": You do my kind of work to my kind of bikes.:lgbow:

    I love all bikes, but am especially fond of old Triumphs and Royal Enfields (especially Interceptors). I will ride anything rather than walk, but pre-80's britbikes are my faves.

    That said, I've lusted after many but owned few, and rats at that! I've always wanted a alky-burning cafe 750 Bonnie to join the Ton-Up with, but those days aren't here for me yet. My first kiddie is on the way, and Momma is already nervous enough.

    Again though, your bikes are way too cool, you do lovely work! Have you ever checked out Baxter Cycle: British Motorcycles | Triumph | BSA | Norton | European | Moto Guzzi ? They're about 50 miles down I-80 from me, but if you go, watch your step so you don't slip on the drool I've left behind!:lgwave:


  6. Ken, you don't HAVE to present your goods.

    Call up a talent agency and review clips from actors.

    Once narrowed to 3 or 4 you can have a live presentation and see what they can improv w your product after only a short explanation...

    r

    You don't need actors, just get their price, and I'll do it for 1/2 the money. I've seen what it takes to do the job, and they are ripping people off!

    They have, like, no overhead. They just have to show up and talk, anybody can do it.


  7. I go away for a little while, and everybody gets delusions of grandeur!

    I'd love to attend every RT, especially Jarrod's, but this one I will be missing, as I am expecting the arrival of my son waaaaaay too close to these dates to be out away from Chateau Millen.

    I'd love to ride out for this one, maybe some other time. Keep me posted on the events, I want detailed info, no summaries. lol!

    What happened to September?:lgtear: I guess I shouldn't even complain, Don Marler hosted a roundtable when his daughter was only months old.

    I hope you all have legendary fun, and that it keeps you on the phone to my lonely self for hours telling me about it.:lgwave:


  8. Yeah, well...It has been a couple of months, so I guess it will be okay to release the photos my wife and I shot in STL at the RT.

    The thing is, I didn't take any, and Tricia took exactly two. Here they are:

    First one is the back rows in my car on the way to the nicest bar in town. Left to right it is Part of Jarrod's copilot (a great guy, just starting out, whose name is on the tip of my tongue), Jarrod, Mrs. Kreisle, Mr. Kreisle, Mr. Fenner.

    It looks like they were watching how I drive!

    The second one is the same group plus Mr. Barry, The Turkey Tackler, Maddox and minus the women.

    I guess if you have a turkey tackler around you don't need female companionship.

    I can't say enough what a great time we had at this event. (I also can't prove it, because I always for get to take pictures!)

    post-1043-137772176939_thumb.jpg

    post-1043-137772176946_thumb.jpg


  9. Let's see Jeff...When I was a kid I liked anything that would put an eye out. My dad, however liked anything that was silent. He specially liked "Playing at Somebody Else's D%$#@ House" and "Squeeze the Mook for All He's Got", although we only played the second when I was a little older.

    How about something like: "Run the Surface Cleaner" or "Rinse the Walkways" or "Organize the Workers"?

    Yaaaayyy!! That'd be fun for everyone.

    I can't believe the Prince of Rinse is already 4! Time does get behind you doesn't it.

    I'm sure you can tell by now that I have no clue about kiddee games, and that I really just posted here to bust your nuggets.

    I'll ask the Earth-mother I live with, I'm sure she's got piles of educational, multi-cultural, gender-neutral games for kiddies! (How're those Nuggets?)LOLOLOL:lgwave:

    I'll get back with a serious answer soon.:winking:


  10. Can it really be a year more on the clock? Oh well, it really isn't the age...it's the mileage that counts!:lgwave:

    Happy Birthday, youngster!

    And thanks for making me hear things I didn't wanna. I'm truly not worthy!:lgbow:

    (I got you a special, all metal, high volume, rust-proofed, dihydrogen monoxide containment system as a gift, just come pick it up whenever is convenient for you.;) )


  11. Ahh, I tried univar earlier today ... and after waiting on the phone for 10 min. the salesman says "sorry we can't sell it to you" so I called a company that they can sell it to and asked If I could buy it from them ... lol, it gets better .. he says "sure" then calls me back and tells me his insurance won't let him sell it to me ... Louisiana, home of the largest chemical plants in the world and no 12.5% SH for lil. ol me :( please, any more advice ????

    I've seen 10% in fivers at local restaurant supply stores. I'd be careful though, the ones I saw were ridiculously priced and had sat long enough that the bungs were rusting.

    (TEE-HEE, I said "bungs were rusting":rotfl: )


  12. Do you have the correct nozzles? I wonder how those with the 3 nozzles work anyway. If a surface cleaner that cleans with two cuts the PSI in half, does a surface cleaner with 3 cut the PSI down in thirds? If that's true, rather then 3000 PSI, you've got less then 1000 when you use your surface cleaner. 1000 PSI isn't hardly enough for concrete.

    You're thinking in reverse. You find the correct nozzle size by dividing the flow by the number of spray tips. Your goal (usually) is to keep the PSI constant.

    You can assume that two outlets will divide flow, but not PSI. This is a common misapprehension. You could then decrease pressure by enlarging the orifice in each nozzle, as long as you use matching orifice sizes.

    Hope this helps.


  13. Last week I called and asked them about D-Limonene. They said they carried it, but only in 55 gallon drums, and that they hadn't any in stock. She also asked me to fax her some info to set an account up.

    Needless to say, three days later I have moved not an inch in the direction she requested, but I was in the neighborhood of the warehouse, so I stopped in.

    1. She is VERY cute, as are all the ladies in her office. (I'm happily married, but it was a nice surprise)

    2. She was happy to help me immediately in setting up my account.

    3. My drum of D-Limonene was in stock, and subsequently loaded. (Even though I hadn't been in touch for three days, and she had anticipated a week lead requirement)

    4. They worked as expected and more. They've won my custom from here on. Service sells!


  14. This paneling is a lot like aspenite (also called waferboard or OSB, for Oriented Strand Board) in appearance, but not in makeup. I believe it is specifically designed to present the most possible surface area to the air, so that the aroma stays strong.

    If it is mildewed, I'd be loathe to wet it, as even structural stranded board doesn't tolerate water well, and de-laminates quickly after being wet. Don't soak it! I'm a bit surprised it hasn't begun to fall apart already.

    You may have already tried to clean this, but if I was going to do it, I'd test bleach (or a percarb) folowed by Oxalic (maybe) applied as dry as possible with a pump-up or a spray bottle. Experimentation and testing a few different methods will be a good policy.

    If the mildew is dry, it may sand off, and the scent will be restored as a side effect.

    I'd also just price replacing the panels, they are meant to be easy to switch, and to be replaced when no longer so smelly.

    Hope this helps, I'm working from ancient memories of a past profession, so I may be far off base here. Tell us how it goes.


  15. Thank you, that is exactly the kind of advice I need! I will go talk to her tomorrow and explain everything to her. Thanks for the advice because I would definitely like to do jobs that are not as difficult as that one until I'm more seasoned in this business. I don't want to take on something I can't do right. I'm glad I did ask the pros!

    So am I! Now you have to read up on what the actual pros have to impart. Read the Faqs and set up a signature (Required here) and prepare to learn.

    Welcome to TGS!:lgwave:


  16. But I heartily agree with this post quoted here:

    I think you should sell the job to both owners or not at all. I don't see any way to not damage the other side of the fence and do it right.

    I think you might have some trouble with this job. Generally, once a solid has been applied to a deck, the owner is stuck with solids. They are a nightmare to strip because they are solid.

    Similarly, they are difficult to overstain (even with another solid) because the new stain lays atop the old, failing finish. Thus, the old fails, taking the new along for the ride. That is if the new can even cure/cover the old stain.

    Solids are a mystery to me, might as well be paint to my eyes, and I haven't used one since I was in junior-high, but I believe the best ones, and any to be overlaid, require a decent primer.

    Search posts about solids by Ken Fenner, Seymore, and Carolina Prowash. They are true experts. Jarrod is as well, but I don't believe I've ever read anything about solids from him.

    I'm replying here because it seems as if you are against the wall, and I want to recommend that you reconsider doing this job. You need considerable skill to tackle these kinds of projects, and the results of mistakes can put you out of business before you had any business being in business. If you take my meaning.

    I'm not lecturing, and don't intend to be overly harsh, but people here are very willing to help newcomers that do a little homework. They help because this industry gets terrible press from upstarts and newbies running before crawling. (Amongst other reasons)

    Don't give us and yourself a black eye. Reconsider this job, get some information, and fess up to the customer that you jumped early. This won't be an easy job to do well.

    If you'd rather take offense at being handled roughly, though, it is your right. We'd rather see you do well down the road and nothing tomorrow, than see you mess up tomorrow, and do nothing down the road.

    Good luck, Keith!


  17. Or the Bon-Ami!

    I have always loved Triumphs.

    Of course I love BSA's, and BMW's, and Harley's, and...

    I know you know how much I can talk, well you ought to hear me talk about bikes, my wife calls it "Torque Talk" and usually leaves the room muttering when I get going.

    Too cool, my friend. We gotta put a ride together, have you seen Wild Hogs? We saw it last weekend with my folks, very funny.

    Check this link out for your new handle: Outlaw Biker Name Generator

    Be safe!:lgkick:

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