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The software problem may not be so bleak. It is the convenient menu that was annihilated. My stuff is still acessible, though #1's use of spreadsheeting seems to be hurting. Daughter is looking into the problem via experts at her office.
I used a good bit of time making back ups of my immediate contacts' e-conversations with me so that I won't be stranded if the computer goes totally south. In the process I've uncovered many old sales leads that might still bear fruit.
Today at the shop I finished the cladding process on the 150. Then made a lifting eye hole in the top of the anvil, set the anvil in place, and transfer punched the bolt holes for connecting the anvil to the tower's front. I had removed one of the tower's cladding sheets to enable the transfer punching. Took the anvil off and rotated it 90 degrees on the floor, and drilled and tapped the punch marked holes. Put it back on the machine and bolted it in place. I've found a trick or two to move the anvil a fraction of an inch during this fit up process. Need them, because moving such big blocks of steel is hard enough to do without requiring precision. Fundamentally, I use a bar across the forks of the forklift and move the lifting chain along that bar the fraction of an inch I want to move the anvil relative to the tower. Beats trying to maneuver the forks because the movement of the chain on the bar is micro-adjustable. Once I had the bolts in place and snugged really tight, I picked up the machine and set it atop the layout table on wooden blocks. I then made the 3.5"x20" plates that are bolted to the baseplate and welded to the anvil. Doing the drilling and tapping via the mag drill is a process that has gotten pretty routine, but I stay very alert because I know how tough it is to deal with a broken drill bit or tap. The first couple of holes suggested the tap was getting dull, so instead of hoping it would continue to work, I replaced it with a newer tap. I could immediately discern the better sharpness. Once the plates were drilled, but before tapping the baseplate holes, I sandblasted the plates and painted their bottom sides. After the baseplate tapping I put the plates in place and bolted them down, the paint serving to impede future rusting. It actually helps that the paint is still not quite dry because the stuff squishes out the air. The plates will hopefully never be removed again. I then triple pass welded the 90 degree joint between the plates ansd anvil sides' bottoms. Used a lot of antispatter spray, but still had to sand the plates when they had cooled a bit and the bolts were removed; gotta love the air wrench. Then cleaned all the welding smoke stains off elsewhere. and painted the lower part of the hammer. Set it on the floor on its side and replaced the previously removed tower cladding sheet. I left the hammer prone so that tomorrow I can start installing the V-guides.
The special valve for the 200 did not arrive today. Young Mike did not deliver the tup. Fortunately I have much work to do. I received word that another 75 has been sold, but I await the check.
The morning weather was crisp, but late afternoon was warmer. It is nothing to complain about. Last year we were having snow and cold that caused concerns about Dan Boone's Pasture Party happening. I just keep plugging along. So long as I dress appropriately and stay active the absence of heat in the shop is no problem. Why no heat? The shop is waaaaay too big and drafty to try to heat it. I've done those experiments in past years. Milwaukee tool company sells an electrically heated jacket powered with a rechargeable NiCad battery. That concept is the future of cold climate outer wear.
I used a good bit of time making back ups of my immediate contacts' e-conversations with me so that I won't be stranded if the computer goes totally south. In the process I've uncovered many old sales leads that might still bear fruit.
Today at the shop I finished the cladding process on the 150. Then made a lifting eye hole in the top of the anvil, set the anvil in place, and transfer punched the bolt holes for connecting the anvil to the tower's front. I had removed one of the tower's cladding sheets to enable the transfer punching. Took the anvil off and rotated it 90 degrees on the floor, and drilled and tapped the punch marked holes. Put it back on the machine and bolted it in place. I've found a trick or two to move the anvil a fraction of an inch during this fit up process. Need them, because moving such big blocks of steel is hard enough to do without requiring precision. Fundamentally, I use a bar across the forks of the forklift and move the lifting chain along that bar the fraction of an inch I want to move the anvil relative to the tower. Beats trying to maneuver the forks because the movement of the chain on the bar is micro-adjustable. Once I had the bolts in place and snugged really tight, I picked up the machine and set it atop the layout table on wooden blocks. I then made the 3.5"x20" plates that are bolted to the baseplate and welded to the anvil. Doing the drilling and tapping via the mag drill is a process that has gotten pretty routine, but I stay very alert because I know how tough it is to deal with a broken drill bit or tap. The first couple of holes suggested the tap was getting dull, so instead of hoping it would continue to work, I replaced it with a newer tap. I could immediately discern the better sharpness. Once the plates were drilled, but before tapping the baseplate holes, I sandblasted the plates and painted their bottom sides. After the baseplate tapping I put the plates in place and bolted them down, the paint serving to impede future rusting. It actually helps that the paint is still not quite dry because the stuff squishes out the air. The plates will hopefully never be removed again. I then triple pass welded the 90 degree joint between the plates ansd anvil sides' bottoms. Used a lot of antispatter spray, but still had to sand the plates when they had cooled a bit and the bolts were removed; gotta love the air wrench. Then cleaned all the welding smoke stains off elsewhere. and painted the lower part of the hammer. Set it on the floor on its side and replaced the previously removed tower cladding sheet. I left the hammer prone so that tomorrow I can start installing the V-guides.
The special valve for the 200 did not arrive today. Young Mike did not deliver the tup. Fortunately I have much work to do. I received word that another 75 has been sold, but I await the check.
The morning weather was crisp, but late afternoon was warmer. It is nothing to complain about. Last year we were having snow and cold that caused concerns about Dan Boone's Pasture Party happening. I just keep plugging along. So long as I dress appropriately and stay active the absence of heat in the shop is no problem. Why no heat? The shop is waaaaay too big and drafty to try to heat it. I've done those experiments in past years. Milwaukee tool company sells an electrically heated jacket powered with a rechargeable NiCad battery. That concept is the future of cold climate outer wear.
