karine

It's probably "getting to be that time" that we should get together again... Dave, are you still interested in hosting?

...if anyone from Minnesota is interested, I have a lead on a short railing job. I'd LOVE to do it myself, but I was just approached when I was visiting last week, and they'd like it done (& installed) before I'll be back up to visit this Fall. Anyone have some free time? It's for a neighbor of my uncle in Marine on St Croix.

Well, our new shop (bigger space) should be up and running in November. We could host since there haven't been a lot of volunteers. Anyone from farther off got a good open calendar date in late November (weekend after thanksgiving) or early December? I'll let Lewis know we're chatting about it. He's got all the details and paperwork, etc. I'm assuming previous officers would be invited and we'd discus from there.

So who's go the space?! We're up to our neck's in stuff in our shop here... I could host something in October or November.

I've talked to Lewis about the same thing .. about giving the KBA a reunion/kick in the pants/ re-start... (& he should be seeing these posts & hopping in here any moment, I'd guess!) But where I understand we are at, is SOMEBODY has to step forward and say "I'll host a hammer-in" and then we can set a date. Lewis has the addresses and the records, and if someone hosts a date & place, then we can discuss moving forward from there. Best I understand it, anyway.

When I said that I am examining "building" I mean building my own package... with parts from the same company. Not buying the $2,000 system.. but maybe the $300 helmet and and an $800 air unit and putting them together myself. When getting two systems (one for my husband and one for myself) it's TWICE the savings... making me, at least, think about it. Downside= By purchasing their kit in pieces, I could find myself missing a $300 component here or there... just wondering if anyone had tried this with 3M complete air system & components. I might not get as big of a "deal" as I think, if I'm not careful managing my own "system"s. In other words, I'm not exactly thinking of building from scratch. But *thank you* for the warning! & now I've found the "standards" http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/respstds.html

Okay, I'm cutting aluminum all day & I'm supposed to start welding pieces together tomorrow. Time to get new respirator(s) ! Pronto! No more fooling around. Already went to Lowe's & they don't sell "boo" for filters I'll need. Time to hit the catalogs for my "make due" solution (masks under masks) until I can find a more permanent one. RRRgh! What are you guys wearing when you have to work in aluminum &/or stainless steel. Advice ???

I'm now investigating taking an older helmet and adding air flow... Anyone have any advice or recommendations re: the Speedglass helmets by 3m? (I'm thinking I might need one of their helmets to add their 'Adflow' system to... maybe something else can be worked out, though too. Still investigating!) Here's a video of their 9100xx Auto Darkening Welding Helmet... I'm looking at a 9000 series "flexview" (the 9100xx in the video actually has an extra large screen, and does not have a flip-up shield aka "flex view" I am looking for) But he talks about other neat additions their helmets have.

I appreciate ALL of your posts. @Arean Ellis: I DO agree that I have seen quite a few guys on a project just grab a tool to "get er' done". Almost always, I add "umh, goggles please" and more often than not they scoff. Those are usually NOT professionals in the particular field of the tool they're grabbing (at least they don't work 40 hrs a week with that tool) but I tend to wonder if they had more respect for their own safety, & weren't in such a hurry, they wouldn't blow off my recommendation. (disclaimer" by "guys", I DO mean of both sexes!) And It's a good possibility that if they grumble about safety glasses, you'd have to threaten their employment to get them to put on a mask! In my own shop, I don't care they like me or NOT, they're wearing the gear or they're getting out. Why? Because I'm the boss and I said so. Even my own kids (16, 17 & 21) thought I was a being a little ridiculous about the ALWAYS with safety glasses & ear protection, until they saw me demand it of a grown man. Then they chilled out a bit. @ HWoolrdrdge, Glad for your comment! (Sorry about the silicosis, even 'mild', that's scary stuff). & yours are just the kind of stories I'm hoping to avoid... but after years of working in this already, it's scary reminder of how important this search is! Thanks for sharing. Maybe it would be good to talk to our doctor about some kind of exam to see where my husband and my lungs are at *right now*. Naz and I (& I'm sure a few others) have a good hunt in front of us! I mean, we plan to someday have grandkids, right ??? I'd appreciate any comments, Glad to have an area here to discuss.

I'm trying to find the best available (yet affordable) particle mask/ air unit for working in the shop... which includes occasional commissions in aluminum and stainless. (Nasty stuff!)

Une photo du passé représentant un forgeron et deux petits enfants souriants. (A photo from the past, representing a smiling blacksmith and two small children). Sounds better in French.

"From An Old Forge" 1969 Oil Painting by Swedish artist Ulla Manneberg

Delano, Jack, 1914-, photographer. Hammering out a draw bar on the steam drop hammer in the blacksmith shop, Santa Fe R.R. shops, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 1943 March (just because it's an awesome & fun shot)

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