Matthew Groves

Searched high and low, but can't find the great thread we had just a short while back with all those great pics and ideas for the campfire tripods. I am a man, so there's a distinct possibility that I'm not using the search feature correctly. Can anyone else find it? I'm not dreaming that we had one, yes? Matthew Groves Kearney, Nebraska

I'm sure we'd all love some pictures of the process, maybe starting right after the boiling. Anyone?

What about the "found out in the pasture" variety? Do those work? (assuming they're not too far gone)

These are fantastic responses, guys. Keep them coming. The tractor comment has my interest piqued, too.

I think I need clarification on the definition of "lift truck".

Unfortunately, I have no idea what the new shop is going to be like. It's not happening until next May or June. Just thought I'd get a head start. This makes it an impossible question, I realize. I hope to have overhead doors and a cement floor is all I know. The pallet idea is winning in my mind at this point.

I realize that I can rent, but I want to embark on a long term plan. I don't think that renting is a good long term plan. Say I want the 600lb Canedy Otto Post drill on the other side of the room, or I actually get an anvil too big for me to carry across the way. Workbenches get heavy. Wood lathes, too. Can barely wait to get a metal lathe...the list goes on. I'm not so much worried about the move, per se, but the thought of moving all the stuff got me thinking about a long term plan for having some hoisting/moving/lifting type equipment around. *That* reminded me that I don't *have* a long term plan, and then I thought to myself, "you're not the only one with this problem, and others probably have good and not so good solutions. Go find em." So (and this is where you guys bring reality to the situation), why buy a $100 dolly when a $300 engine hoist would work so much better? Why not a $500 used forklift for not much more? I'm using you guys to help me find the "sweet spot" of moving equipment, realizing that I'll always have to rent to pick up the Nazel 3B that I don't have, and that I still don't want to lug that Canedy Otto beast around with an appliance dolly. Let's focus on objects more than I want to lift (200lbs) and less than a ton.

Hey All, I'm going to be moving soon, and though my shop is *not* filled with powerhammers and multi-ton lathes, I still have heavy stuff to move around, and now to move locations. I bet there are some good opinions here as to how a person should progress with their "moving equipment". A hand truck is probably first, but what comes next? cherry picker? small forklift? Maybe some intermediate steps are not worth it? If I'm going to be moving this stuff, I might as well have the equipment to do it, and do it safely. This way, I'll be able to move stuff at my new location, and I'll own it, too. Spread forth your collected wisdom. I'm eager to learn. Or maybe some common mistakes in purchases?

How do you chop it? I make my own charcoal, but I have large chunks, and realize that I need them smaller. Do you chop it on a peice of plywood? in a bucket? Using a shovel? an ice spade?

pics pics pics. We're on to you now. Get a friend to take a small movie on his digital camera. Nice work.

Other charcoal burners like myself would *love* more pictures and videos. Looks like a great forge. Does that side blast help with the "fleas" like they say?

To be sure, nothing beats the physical removal via a brush, rag, or high pressure water. I got a Cannedy Otto #17 drill press at an auction for $10, and the loads of crud that a simple screwdriver removed would have taken many cans of X to dissolve. (http://homepage.mac.com/mcgroves/PhotoAlbum26.html) The solvents/cleaners should come after the "bulk" removal.

For most of these old tools, the grub that's on it falls into two classes which need to be treated differently. Luckily, they're both simple. Dirt. Grease. Detergents work great on the dirt, not so well on the grease. Degreasers work great on the grease/oil/lube, but not on the dirt. The local carwash that BT mentioned is not a bad way to go. BUT, some of these detergents and solvents work better over time, so if you want the ability to spray some on and wait, it's easy enough to do at home. I prefer Simple Green for the degreasing. Just spray it on and let it sit. Spray on some more during breaks in your other work. A simple (relatively) low pressure hose is all you need to wash it off. If you're going the dissassembly route, you might as well just start taking parts off and putting them into buckets of solvent/brake cleaner/simple green Here's a warning: Though those oven cleaners work pretty well. They are hazardous (to your health, yes, but more importantly) to your CAR PAINT. Watch the overspray and for sure don't let the part stay in your pickup bed if you're going to use easy-off or somesuch.

20 pages? I think we'd all like a look at it. Send it to me and I'll put a link for everyone to access it.

Any more info would be helpful. Is this a one speed drill or more? Breast drill? The only thing you want to watch out for are hidden springs and clips and pins and bearings. Sometimes there can be a pile of stuff in a hurry, with no easy way to figure out what went where. It helps to know ahead of time what you'll run into. A make and model will help us get you started.