Donal Harris

It was not a capacitor problem. That tested fine. Wasn’t a seized bearing either, because the shaft turned freely. So I just bought a new motor and swapped it out. It doesn’t look as robust as the older one, but it works. It is actually a lot quieter. At some point I will take out the rotor and test it to see if it has a short. I expect it does. If it does, I will check with one of the motor rebuild places to see how much it would cost to have it rewound. It is only 1.5 horse and single phase. It may not be ideal for a 72” grinder, but pool pumps are ran for hours at a time. They are very good and dependable motors. I am sure I can find something to use it for.

This one on top. The bottom one is a 1975 with a totally removable top. I suppose that would be great on a good day, but they leaked pretty bad. Removing just the back half is a good compromise. Newer models get better gas mileage and are more dependable, but are more complicated and harder to work on. That white Suzuki and your black one remind me of the Suzuki Samurai which was insanely popular for a few years here in the States. At first you could never find them in stock, but they were prone to roll over and that made them much less popular. Your big truck isn’t one we could purchase here as far as I know. I am not sure if it is due to tariffs or some other sort of protectionism, but not everything available elsewhere in the world is available here. Even US car companies have models for sale in other markets which we cannot purchase in the States.

You like black, I take it. My little Ranger (The King of Baby Trucks) is goldish, sort of like the chandelier. If it ever decides to stop running, I will probably try to find a 1976 Jimmy. That was the first year they had a half-cab instead of the fully removable top.

65 Impala my uncle had towed up behind his barn. Daddy said it would be an ok car. “Just needs a transmission.” Daddy showed me how to take the old one off and took me to a junk yard to get a used one and then helped me install it. It too was bad, so off it went. Two tries later, with me having to figure out how to get a transmission off and back on again by myself, I finally had a transmission in the car that worked. The motor smoked worse than a green coal fire. Daddy said, “Not a problem son. Just drop the oil pan and see if you can slid the pistons out from the bottom. Afte a about a week of me laying under the thing, he finally told me, “I was pretty sure it wouldn’t work, but thought it might be worth a shot.” Then he told me to get in the truck. He had a friend who might be able to help. When we got there I could see a bronze colored 57 Chevy Bel Air. Daddy’s friend came out and the two of them just stood around talking about a natural gas pumping station. Finally Daddy turned to me and said, “So what do you think it?” I had no real interest or knowledge about natural gas transmission, but didn’t want to appear dumb, so I just shrugged and said, “I guess.” He said. “You guess? What kind of answer is that? Do you want the car or not?” It took me a bit to realize he was talking about the 57 in the driveway $1,600. I wish I could say I paid the note, but can’t. Daddy bailed me out at the end of the summer. Turned out he and mom had never intended for me to drive the Impala. He had known for a few years his friend was going to be selling his old 57. And the reason he made me do all that work on the Impala by myself was he figured sooner later I would be alone and stuck out beside some road. He said it was better I experience that for the first time in the yard than 100 mile from anywhere alone in the dark. I loved that car, the 57, not the Impala.

Pool pump went to pump heaven this morning. This anvil is joining my lengthening shoulda coulda woulda list. Hopefully it is just a capacitor.

Isn’t Good Stuff still illegal at the federal level, or is that The Good Stuff?

He or she said I can come by and see it on Saturday unless they are away. The seller is a trucker. I am a little wary about it and plan to bring my son-in-law with me. People have been killed going to check out things being sold online. It is listed for $700, but they said they would sell it to me for $550 when I messaged them. I can’t say if that is a good or bad price, because they don’t know the weight. They think about 150. If so, that would be a decent price assuming the face is still sound. Most anvils seem to be going for about $5-$7 a pound now in Oklahoma. And there is too much paint to see any markings. It has been painted at least twice.

What I am worried about is this area. It looks like it could be a repair. I’ve asked her when I could drop by and check the anvil out. First pink anvil I have ever seen. I am reasonably secure in my masculinity, so I could forge on it without worrying about what the neighbor may say Even if it is sound, I am not sure I want it. I prefer a thicker waist. I don’t know that is why my little Mousehole has such a large sweet spot, but it has to have at least a little bit to do with it. She isn’t sure about the weight, but it is 28” from tip to tail.

I lost about 50% of my bushes and shrubbery when that massive cold blast that hit in February. My landscaping looks like a a horror movie set.

This anvil is fairly inexpensive. Does anyone have any idea who may have made it? It is welded to the stand. That shouldn’t have damaged it should it?

Not gonna go there. Wanted to, but my adult side kicked in.

Joey has a good video on making an anchor. https://youtu.be/g6LPfGdIbu0

I don’t use a brush. With the piece at a black heat, I just rub the stick of bee’s wax over it and wipe off the excess with an old t-shirt.

What next for the other side?

I haven’t been able to do more than skim through it, but it looks like it will be very useful. Mainly I wanted it because someone here said it was good AND I wanted to be able to understand at least half of what my Daddy says when he helps me build it.

Got this in the mail from eBay today. I believe it is the book one of the members here consulted when building their press.

Do you weld it in place?

If I weren’t so old and St. Petersburg were not so far away, I would ask if you need an apprentice. Language might be an issue, but I believe they just about have Babel Fish worked out.

I cannot remember if I posted a pic of the completed flatter I made from a utility trailer, axle spindle. The face is a bit smallish, about 2 1/8” square. I forget the exact weight, neighborhood of 2.5 lb. Byron and a another guy at Byron’s shop in Norman helped me straighten up the eye a bit on his press. The handle is bois d’arc. This flatter can double as a set hammer. My next one will also be made from a spindle, but the face will be at last 3” square or maybe 3” x 4”.

After reading some of the other comments, I know why it seemed creepy. It appears to be preparing to move or has been frozen in mid-movement like the Weeping Angels on Dr. Who. really like the piece quite a bit.

Very interesting candleholder. It is nice to look at, yet sort of disturbing at the same time. I have no idea why that would be. Did you arc weld any of it? Strikers like that, how do they get around the laws making “knuckle dusters” illegal?

You were supposed to drop by some time and give me some advice on optimizing my pot, Charles. When do you think might be a good time for that?

Finished up the flatter. I will need to make another one. The face of this one is sort or smallish at 2 1/8” x 2 1/8”

This is my favorite chandelier, Alexandr, especially the view from the bottom. In one of your other videos you showed a white exercise room. Do/did you box or do some other combat sport? If I were to send you a picture of an area of my yard, do you think you could give me an idea for an arbor there?