|
|
|
|
|
^ good thinking about point loading  The barge hull is made from thick steel - the problem was the lip at the bottom of the vertical side plate was resting on an underwater post hence no point loading on the actual hull. When using the acros, I put an oversized scaffold board against the hull to spread that load. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aaahhh not so serious then, I’d been thinking wooden hull, load spreaders are definitely your friends here 😀
Ex brother in law bought a 90 tonne ex customs cutter ( muppet) which he couldn’t sail properly , and didn’t check that it could be dried when the tide went out until he got stranded
Fortunately for his family it was ok, nothing like finding out after the event! 😬
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 12, 2020 13:21:40 GMT
|
Question - does anyone have any suggestions for creating a simple website so interested folk can see the kind of work I do?A few people recently have asked if I can do xxx and have been pointed at this thread with good results but I'd like to have something more stand-alone and sort-of-professional. One suggestion I liked was to "stitch" before & after photos together to make it easier to understand the progress without knowing any background :  Other photos need no explanation (but it helps to know "UPVC solvent cleaner" from double-glazing suppliers is *great* for removing grease & stains from lots of places around the house <not spam>)   
|
| |
Last Edit: Jan 12, 2020 13:24:10 GMT by nomad: bypass spam filter ( kitch'n <> spam !)
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 27, 2020 15:25:38 GMT
|
Well, I’m still here (“here” in this case being within walking distance of the Mediterranean ! ), and keeping busy with a different project. Once again term & conditions were formalised before I got here* now I’m back doing the stuff that makes me happy. A popular attitude in the US army was apparently “If it moves salute it, if it doesn’t then paint it.” Visitors here are a rarity so I’ve had to resort to painting - lots of painting ! One of the minor tasks involves using a wheelbarrow - I have a choice of 2 so how difficult could it be ? #1 had a flat tyre but was sort-of ok until one of the handles snapped off. #2 was missing a wheel. The wheel eventually turned up but it’s broken (how do you break a solid rim??) and was missing tyre & tube. More searching found a bare custom rim, and a new tube was discovered at the back of one of the bedroom units (as you do). An old tyre from the back of one of the sheds works fine. Then *just* fit the tyre ( no tools available) and blow it up (after fixing the least-broken of the 3 foot pumps) Wombling & improvising - it’s the way forward   * The term & conditions? Have a look around the place, anything you can do to tidy it up will be appreciated. Help yourself to the crates of beer in the garage but don’t go crazy. I love this type of job ! |
| |
Last Edit: Jan 27, 2020 15:36:37 GMT by nomad: iPhone photo uploaded :(
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 29, 2020 12:05:14 GMT
|
Help yourself to the crates of beer in the garage but don’t go crazy. I love this type of job ! Define, 'crazy'! Looks like it'll keep you busy for a day or two. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 29, 2020 14:48:33 GMT
|
Sorry nomad, you’re in the med and getting free beer And what do we get? Pics of two wheelbarrows that look like they could be in my garden Come on man!😳 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 30, 2020 21:34:32 GMT
|
Usual rules apply - if you know this place or why I’m here - please don’t make it public !Suggestions welcome - how do you stop animals / kids / other stuff falling into an open well? This dates back to Roman times and was originally 1 donkey power ! First attempts to create a collage (using Pic Stitch)  And the next problem, what to do with a palm tree that has fallen and taken out a wall - and is now home to lots of very antisocial wasps ? (Wheelbarrow for scale  ) 
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 30, 2020 23:55:08 GMT
|
And the next problem, what to do with a palm tree that has fallen and taken out a wall - and is now home to lots of very antisocial wasps ? (Wheelbarrow for scale ) Gallon of petrol and a box of matches springs to mind! |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What moves fastest, the wasps, the ‘whoooomph’ of exploding petrol, or nomad outrunning both? Anyone for a sweepstakes? 🤣 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Jan 31, 2020 12:32:05 GMT
|
I like the suggestions a lot but due to the drought here (& risk of escaping fire) we're not allowed to have fires outside without a council permit. Shame as I've also got a few big piles of tree cuttings to get rid of and fires would be ideal. To give an idea, the water in the well should be up near the mouth of the access tunnel at this time of year not way below it. Sweepstakes - I already know the answer (learned the hard way !) Latest developments - have just been asked when I need to return to UK and would I like to stay here for another couple of months Tough choice |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In that case, may I recommend lighter fluid (genuine Zippo for preference) spray it into nest entrance, retire for a few minutes to allow it to vapourise, then wave ignition over the hole. There should be a satisfying woomph (note, a smaller one than above) as the vapour explodes and the nest will be eradicated without residual flames. It's a one off mini-explosion which shouldn't cause any issues. Did this once at my local pub in the UK. Wasp nests and beer gardens aren't a good mix. There was a dry stone retaining wall, only low and about 15' long. Hit the main entrance with lighter fuel, gave it five minutes to evaporate through the nest, put a match to the hole and the entire wall shot tiny jets of flame out, but no residual fire. Spectacular and very satisfying, unless you were a wasp.  |
| |
Last Edit: Feb 1, 2020 3:03:22 GMT by georgeb
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The last wasps nest I had were apparently ‘german’ wasp variety, no I’ve no idea either, I do know that despite being small the barstewards were very aggressive, and would sting if you even got near the nest entrance, even the ‘pro’ we had to deal with it in the end had a 15 foot Lance with the killer in a pot on the end!
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A couple of days ago I got asked if I could see what was needed to get the irrigation system working again. Challenge accepted !  What’s needed ? Swap out failed controller with reconditioned unit, and rewire Replumb pipework (some had tree roots growing inside!) Reset mains trip switch Bypass (bodge) failed water-level sensor Translate foreign map of the plumbing into English, then go looking in long grass for overgrown sprinkler heads Cap a couple of leaking pipes Then beers |
| |
Last Edit: Feb 5, 2020 19:08:56 GMT by nomad
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Been out of action a while had it? 😀
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 10, 2020 19:07:42 GMT
|
Today’s life tip: gaffatape - never leave home without a roll. One of the cooker drawers has been cock-eyed since I got here and it’s been irritating my ocd genes. Tape a nut to finger then you can get it into the hidden recess.  If anyone has spare time to kill, the local sales ads should fill a couple of hours : www.custojusto.pt/portugal/carros-usados/peugeot/404/q/peugeot+404m.olx.pt/ads/q-Peugeot-504/?view=galleryUnderstanding the adverts sometimes helps www.translate.com/Hope things are going well for folk, if anyone decides to snap up one of these bargains, commission to the usual address ( or a crate of ale at rrg20/21) would be appreciated  ps. does anyone have any advice about buying a car near the med and getting it moved to / registered in uk? |
| |
Last Edit: Apr 10, 2020 19:34:51 GMT by nomad
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 24, 2020 19:23:22 GMT
|
I decided it was time for another wombling & improvising project as I'd been without transport for far too long. This turned up in the local sales websites while ago but was too expensive for what I wanted, since then I got a cheap mountain bike for transport - so made a cheeky offer for it to use as an educational project / spares bike. The seller even included a set of fabric paniers & delivered it It used to be a nice electric bike but now has a few "niggles" ( you know, the kind of thing your Mot chap would declare as dangerous and not let you drive your car home - note the front wheel held on with straps & bungees !)  The motor was seized (& rusted), gears were stuck, the freewheel hub was (and still is) rusted solid, even the handlebar control unit was rusted out (how???). The forks got snapped when the seller tried to forcibly unsieze the motor.  Progress log : Recut axle dropout slots in the snapped front fork, then splint the fork when the recut piece snapped off. This is *not* the approved method ! Unsieze the motor ( beer & assorted hammers were involved) Get creative with the wiring ( getting the controller live just needed a strategic short-circuit in the right place to give basic boost, inserting an interior bulb from the fridge got the right voltage to trigger max boost !) Go out and play the sunshine (the battery isn't good but is getting better with every charge, max speed so far 30kph - the front fork and my cautious nature prevented any speed testing). Next question - where to get spares for a Dutch town bike fitted with an obsolete Chinese motor - made by a German company - sold by Hafrauds of Holland - now being professionally repaired in shed in southern Eu? To set the tone I have no tools, the shops are shut, and both my bikes have punctures so I can't even go out to buy a puncture repair kit ! It's all good fun |
| |
Last Edit: Apr 24, 2020 22:27:42 GMT by nomad: Typos...
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 24, 2020 22:07:27 GMT
|
Next question - where to get spares for a Dutch town bike fitted with an obsolete Chinese motor - made by a German company - sold by Hafrauds of Holland - now being professionally repaired in shed in southern Eu? To set the tone I have no tools, the shops are shut, and both my bikes have punctures so I can't even go out to buy a puncture repair kit ! It's all good fun I trust you're not going to let such fripperies as these get in your way? |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 25, 2020 16:25:08 GMT
|
|
Can you not use your gaffa tape to fix the puncture?! I remember as kids when we had worn through the tyres doing skids they got repaired by putting bits of old carpet inside the tyre!
|
| |
|
|
melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 2,006
|
|
Apr 25, 2020 16:45:38 GMT
|
|
Cut the inner tube and tie the ends back together.
|
| |
www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 25, 2020 18:50:51 GMT
|
One of the punctures is now sorted (next door asked me to look at their kids bike - I'm checking they don't have a puncture by using their innertube in my bike until I can ride into town in search of new tubes or a repair kit) I love gaffatape but it leaks if you use it to fix punctures and leaves a sticky residue that makes it difficult to glue a proper patch on afterwards. So I heard 
|
| |
|
|
|
|
)
