danster

I know how you feel. Don't know which pump you have but if you don't have already, get a General pump. Even if they would freeze up totally only the valve caps will strip off and won't damage the head supposedly. My pumps have frozen so many times I can't keep count, and they still work. I just make sure they are thawed out completely and crank her up. I've seen January weather (-40) open the roll up door behind my truck and within minutes the hoses would freeze. Last year went to do a job in Quebec city (4 hr drive from home) and the truck had to sleep outside so I put in one construction heater (220 volts) and one space heater (110 volts). That night the temperature went down to -45 deg and the heaters didn't do squat, all my pumps, hoses and half my tank (500 gallons of water) were frozen stiff. Trust me that when I say 500 gallons is one big ice cube...lol. Took me half a day to thaw out with a propane salamander inside the truck. Like Paul said, if your head is cracked you might try brazing, if that don't work its cheaper for you to buy a whole new pump. Get a General. Cheap to buy, cheap to repair and tuff as hell. Just my opinion. Dan

My preference is a truck. The wife has a Chevy Tahoe and I pulled a trailer behind it on a couple of occasions, what I didn't like was the sway it had, the wheelbase is too short and if you don't have sway bars it will sway. Also it has 6 ply tires instead of 10 plys like my truck which doesn't help. The suspension is too soft also to my liking to tow. My truck is a F350 crew cab long box with a diesel, now this is made for pulling. If you want to pull a trailer get longest wheelbase you can. If you want an SUV, maybe a Suburban would be better, but honestly, with a truck at least you have the box to put extra stuff. You will also need good sway bars in back of an SUV, you don't want that thing to start going sideways, been there, done that, and it ain't pretty, at least gets your heart pumping at a good pace...lol It all comes down to preference. My choice - PICKUP. Dan

pldoolittle, You are right and feel the same way as you, but then again we are in a free country and we have a right to an opinion. Although we all have different views, morals and opinions, the majority have said enough is enough. The way to end it, well..... that's going to open a whole other can of worms. Deck Guy, You have a good idea, it would be there first major decision as a democratic and free society :) Dan

Because it came with the painting end of the business. The gentleman I bought the business from wanted to sell and I wanted his painting contracts so it was one big package deal. All the PW equipment and painting equipment and contracts to go with it. Sweet deal. Dan

You are totally right, unfortunately the world has to tough out another two years:crying: of him. I just hope your wrong about no way to clean up, because it would be sad to leave the country in ruins. Because if it is, well we all know how it will end in the Iraqi history books. Dan

Daniel, It was for WMD's, which they didn't find anything. Just a lot of political BS. As far as pulling the troops out now well take it this way. If the cops would trash your house because they suspect your a drug dealer (hoping your not:) ) and leave without picking anything up or fixing anything what would your feelings be towards the police afterwards. Would you just say, hey, its Ok it was just a case of mistaken identity I can pay for a new house. I don't think so. Unfortunately, if the US is to regain the world's respect they will have to clean up the mess. But they can't do it alone, they will need a cleaning crew and not talking about Halliburton. Dan

Yes, I do know, but the little bit of troops and help they are giving is minor. 95% of the military right now is American. I mean the US will need a hell of a lot more help. More countries will have to pitch in if they want to regain control and clean up this mess. Dan

I agree the US should stay and finish what they started. But you will need outside help. The US military is strained as it is. Right now it looks pretty ugly in Iraq and the help of a few nations I'm sure would be quite appreciated by the Iraqians. G.W. will have to swallow his pride and accept he's not winning and make amends with some countries and ask for help. Just my opinion. Dan

I charge $75/hour plus degreaser with a minimum 3 hours. So when they call me, they don't call for nothing, they will line up work for at least 3 hours or more. Usually most construction companies around here have there own PW rigs, but they do call when its a very dirty job or something they are unable to do themselves, or they are on a very tight schedule and they need bigger rigs to do it fast so they can get up and running again (time is money for them and for me..hehe) Dan

I posted that last week. http://forums.thegrimescene.com/showthread.php?t=8732 Dan

HaHa....I do agree on the squeegee on the safety glasses, boy you can get dirty real quick. And it is possible to get accounts to clean heavy equipment but they are hard to get at least on a weekly basis. I don't bother too much with it because my main focus is painting. Your prices seem a bit low for heavy equipment though, but I guess maybe that's why you have the weekly account. Do those prices include the degreaser or is it extra ? Dan

That's my vote too... lol Dan

:lgbounces :lgsideway What's worst I can say been there, done that ....lol Dan

Ghost Car This happened about a month ago just outside a little town in the low country of West Virginia , and while it sounds like an Alfred Hitchcock tale, it's real. A guy was on the side of the road hitchhiking on a really dark night in the middle of a thunder storm. Time passed slowly and no cars went by. It was raining so hard he could hardly see his hand in front of his face. Suddenly he saw a car moving slowly, approaching and appearing ghostlike in the rain. It slowly crept toward him and stopped. Wanting a ride really bad, the guy jumped in the car and closed the door, only then did he realize that there was nobody behind the wheel. The car slowly started moving and the guy was terrified, too scared to think of jumping out and running. The guy saw that the car was slowly approaching a sharp curve, still too scared to jump out, he started to pray and begging for his life; he was sure the ghost car would go off the road and into the marsh and he would surely drown, when just before the curve, a hand appeared through the driver's window and turned the steering wheel, guiding the car safely around the bend. Paralyzed with fear, the guy watched the hand reappear every time they reached a curve. Finally the guy, scared to near death, had all he could take and jumped out of the car and ran to town. Wet and in shock, he went into a bar and voice quavering, ordered two shots of whiskey, then told everybody about his supernatural experience. A silence enveloped and everybody got goose bumps when they realized the guy was telling the truth and was not just some drunk. About half an hour later two guys walked into the bar and one says to the other: "Look Bubba, there's that idiot who rode in our car when we were pushing it in the rain."

Ooops sorry didn't want to double post. I should have checked before. Dan

This site is webcam in some park in South Africa. Be careful this is an addictive site. Saved in my favorites last week and been checking ever since. You can hear the birds, but I've seen zebras, water buffulos, hyenas and other. The sound and clarity of the site is awesome http://www.wavelit.com/popup/playerAfricam.asp There is also this polar bear cam in Churchhill, Manitoba http://www9.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/polarbearcam/index.html Enjoy guys and gals, Dan

A father passing by his son's bedroom was astonished to see the bed nicely made up and everything neat and tidy. Then he saw an envelope propped up prominently on the pillow. It was addressed, "Dad" With the worst premonition, he opened the envelope and read the letter withtrembling hands: Dear Dad, It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with you and Mom. I've been finding real passion with Joan and she is so nice. I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercing, tattoos,her tight motorcycle clothes and because she is so much older than I am but it's not only the passion, Dad, she's pregnant. Joan says that we are going to be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood, enough for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more children. Joan has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone. We'll be growing it and trading it with the other people in the commune for all the cocaine and ecstasy we want. In the meantime, we'll pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Joan can get better; she sure deserves it! Don't worry Dad, I'm 15 years old now and I know how to take care of myself. Someday, I'm sure we'll be back to visit so you can get to know your grandchildren. Your son, Chad P.S. Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Tommy's house. I justwanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than the report card that's in my desk drawer. I love you! Call when it is safe for me to come home.

This is my ride. http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2755186090042215609RnGPEK I'm like a big kid everytime I get behind the wheel... Ordering another toy for it this week, should add another 150 poneys...heehaw. Dan

Now you see what that Dodge is worth = a table and chairs...lol. I hear ya on keepin' the boss happy. By the way, that is one sweet truck. Only saw one Amarillo around here but I just checked it out real fast since we were in a parking lot, didn't want anybody to think I was a crook or something. The 6.0 diesel has tons of power too, especially if you add little toys. :vroom: Dan

But, But, But....its a Dodge, I want to get to my jobsite....:lgbounces . Just kidding. I am looking right now but waiting, I am looking for another Ford F350, crew cab, long box, single rear wheel. I like my 5 ton set up because sometimes I go in remote locations like logging road or industrial sites which the roads are not always in prestine conditions. I had a bucket truck a couple of years back but had to condemn it because one of the guys tried to push or pull something heavy with it and it bent the boom and loosened the base, never found out really what happened that day, but that employee has since left....ahum fired..lol. I have replaced it with a 40 ft scissor lift which is alot better for my use especially inside building and such (larger platform working space). If I need a boom I'll just rent one. I pick it up myself with a fifth wheel flatbed trailer I have. I am thinking also of getting a 45 ft boom, but only if I get a good deal like 15K or less otherwise I just keep on renting. These are very high maintenance machines and if your not mecanically inclined they'll cost ya a fortune at a shop. Thanks for the offer on the truck John, Dan

All you can do is tear it apart and take a looksy what inside. Most of the time its just crap in the passageways. If that don't work you can take it to a repair man that has all the seal and parts. If not well, might as well chuck it and get a new one. Most of the time its not worth the trouble to fix if you have to start replacing parts. A good impact, like the new Ingersolls will set you back a couple of hundreds but you will have it for at least 10 years plus without trouble. Just my opinion Dan

There's some good stories here..lol I have a couple of blunders also #1: Back my flatbed fifth wheel along my shop., I crank it up to lift it, take out the electrical, and pull the latch in my pickup bed. Get in the truck to pull up and wham. Forgot to put down the tailgate...oops. Had a nice banana tailgate, also brought in the sides of the bed. Replaced the tailgate and just forced the sides back in place. #2: We were doing some sandblasting and using a 185CFM trailer compressor. We got done so my employee proceeds to back the pickup and hook up the compressor, gets that done and forgets the latch. Had the chains though. He hits a bump at 40 mph and it pops off, the pole props in the air and he slams the brakes, it nearly went all the way thru the tailgate. Went thru the first sheet metal and you could see half of hitch thru the sheet metal on the back side. Has a quarter inch metal tailgate (reinforced) on that truck now. Tailgate alone must weigh almost 130 to 150 lbs, but she won't bend...lol Dan

So would you plug this baby at your client house or have generator:rotfl: :lol: :dunno: Dan

Saw a demonstration on a unit this summer. Great machine for places that can't accept water, difficult stains that are hard to remove with any chemicals or place that won't allow chems. It will clean off pretty much anything. The only use I could really see for it for my applications were Food Plants and around electrical component like panels and other goodies that go "BOOM" when water is applied. I would not see this machine for residential use. Another downfall if I remember correctly the hose is very short like 25 or 50 feet and cant' put more. It can strip paint but won't even budge mill scale rust, just a light rust. It is a very expensive unit at close to 20 grand and is expensive to run also. The Demo guy said contractors usually run at an hourly rate of 125 to 150 buck an hour. If I could have a signed contract with a couple of food plants around here for regular cleaning then I might consider one but they looked into it and still do there own cleaning with steam, hot water and chems. It was cool to see it evaporate instantly, but that's the only thing that exited me. Too expensive for what its worth. Just my 2 cents Dan

I had that happen a couple of years back. I believe my fix was to change the nozzle and had to realign / reset the electrodes. It wasn't burning all its fuel and when it did fire it would just shoot out the stack. The electrodes were misaligned because that fall I had been cleaning a lot of logging equipment out in the woods and some of these equipment were really in remote areas and I mean remote like 75 miles in the woods so the roads were really bad. A whole lot of shakin' going on in the back of a 5 ton truck...lol Hope this helps you out. Dan