Today I mostly .....

[Zelandeth]

Stripped down a couple of old light fittings to be cleaned (44 years of grime, lovely - Cillit Bang really is astonishingly effective against it though), sorted out some dodgy wiring on said fixtures, reassembled and will be testing tomorrow. Attempted to inventory a couple of boxes of stuff in here and lost track half way through. Then spent a couple of hours once again procrastinating about buying a 12 string guitar. I've been doing that a lot over the last few months.

[Zelandeth]

Yep, I'd heard that! Can see why too, it does a surprisingly good job of shifting an awfully large number of types of gunk for something off the shelf of your local supermarket.

This looked like someone had lit a bonfire inside it about ten seconds before I snapped this - and the gunk was basically impervious to water and several other cleaners (including several automotive ones!). Just ran off when hit with Cillit Bang. Should really have taken a proper before shot - but basically, imagine someone had painted the inside of this thing with matt black spray paint.



Cleaned up to look like this.



Took about ten minutes to actually clean up. Not bad for something that's seen 44 years of 24/7 use (about 385,000 hours). It's now living a pretty easy retirement in comparison as the reading light next to my bed. The somewhat yellowed diffuser actually casts a very pleasantly warm light with a pair of decent triphosphor 8W tubes in it. Just need to repaint the outside of the base as unfortunately there are a few scratches on the one side.

Fitting is a Coughtrie SFB16.

[Zelandeth]

Pretty much definitely will end up with a twelve string at some point, even know what I'm looking for to be honest. Just a matter of justifying spending a couple of hundred quid on something which in the grand scheme of things I really don't actually *need* - especially when I already have a lovely sounding six string that I still have a huge amount to learn about playing.

If anything to be honest, electric is what I should really be looking at so I can practice without annoying my flatmate and neighbours! The guitar I have is quite immensely loud compared to many I've played.

Regarding Cillit Bang being used on cars - not something I've ever actually done, but have seriously considered to be honest. I've only recently discovered it really and haven't been scrubbing the engine bay since. Definitely might need to give it a shot at some point though.

[excossack]

Waited in for 3 couriers.All turned up............eventually after an irate phone call.

Did a few jobs on the Landy.
Found a bit of rust on the chassis so ground back and treated.
Resealed the bottom of the rear door windows as the old seal (read Mastic) had crumbled away.
Had ago at stopping the rear sliding window from leaking when it rains.
Checked and topped up the engine oil and screen wash and checked the coolant and brake fluid both OK.

[happiness stan]

I've been trying to come up with a bad pun (wheely something?) but I'm too tired and my throats too sore. Planted some rhubarb, garlic, winter peas and onions, made 2 loaves of bread and a cake. And picked up my eldests stuff because after 2 months of moving out he has decided he was better off at home. And I had some good plans for his bedroom as well Oh well maybe in another five years...........

[excossack]

Went to Weeton Army Barracks for the Heroes stages rally and was doing recovery.
One straight tow of a Focus with a knacker gearbox
Front suspended tow of a MK2 Escort than had gone sideways into tree and knackered some of the suspension.

Due to the rather heavy rain the event was cut short, I think it ran 8 out of 12 stages. Some parts of the stage was 2" deep in water

[LINCSLADA]

Looking good Si do they just weld to the orginal sill?

How much for a set?

Cheers Gav

[Zelandeth]

Drove up to Aviemore to meet up with some relations I hadn't seen in 20 odd years. Took parents Pug 207. Not the most exciting car, comfy enough though and bloody economical - averaged 71.4mpg, and that's including our fumbling around getting lost.

My quote for the day, when we pulled over and I decided to consult my GPS to figure out where on earth we were: 'All right...Who nicked Dufftown?!?'

Turns out when backtracking that some idiot had knocked the sign we were looking for over! No wonder I missed the turning in the dark.

[LINCSLADA]

Know the feeling Si my other half is due in three weeks.

I will come back to you for a price soon when you have a bit more time

Cheers Gav

[excossack]

Nice one!
You got plans, or using as is?

[Zelandeth]

Today I mostly...

Discovered an oil leak on the Saab. Line between the torque converter and the oil cooler.



Think it's actually been weeping for a while - but I cleaned it up a couple of days ago and it's damp again, so is obviously actively weeping - even if not using any oil according to the dipstick (it gets checked along with the rest of the fluids every weekend).

Guess I'll be shopping for a new one of these then. Want to get the oil and the filter pack in the 'box changed soon anyway, so will do it then I reckon.

[excossack]

Got back from the horse of the year show at the NEC

[excossack]

Tried doing a bit more welding on some mild steel, but didn't go well. Struggled to get a decent earth despite having nice clean metal for the earth connector clamp and cleaning the clamp.

Some welds down OK but most I could see the wire coming out and glowing and sitting on the metal.
Will have another look tomorrow.

Clarke 100EN Turbo/CO2 gas 0.8mm wire

[LINCSLADA]

Congrats to yourself and wife Si

Cheers Gav

[excossack]

John, is the mig wire rusty? what settings did you have it on? max power? when it did weld did it sound right? sounds like you got the wire feed up too high. Spitting and "sewing machine" like weld sounds is too much wire feed. If it hisses and the weld sprays, wire speed too low. You probably know that already though. Worth pulling the insulation back where the earth clamp connects to the cable. Its very common to have the calbe wearing through some or most of the "threads" meaning no matter how well set up the welder is etc you wont get a decent earth.




ANYWAY.... today I mostly have been in the hospital while m wife has given birth to our second child A boy, we have called Jake Jensen Allen. Snap on say his tool box will be here next week and I'm trying to find a smaller tig welding torch as he is having trouble getting comfortable using mine

MIG Wire OK. Max and 2 for the power and 4 for the wire speed.
When it did weld it was fine, nice sizzling noise.
I did notice some threads showing on the clamp but they looked OK, (could do with redoing I guess) might re-do the end anyway.
Spotted some rust on the Dense plug so had a go at cleaning that up. Its the the flat end of the socket that a little rust. Dremel time

Congrats on the baby. Boy and Girl now?