A New Beginning!

[Lyle Wiese]

Congrats, michael. You will be missed around here, but as has been said many times already, this is an excellent opportunity. From what I have seen of ihon, there is none better. Totally fair and honest.

Now a little "gray haired advice": finish your education even if it's in a different major than what you are currently in. There is no replacement for a college education. You will have a college degree and that always looks better on a job application, if you ever decide to fill out another one.

Most of all, have fun while learning from the best.

See you at the bee and the rallye in 2010.

Lyle

 

[Michael Mayben]

Having spent fourteen years as a post-secondary industrial technology instructor and department chairperson, I have a bit different take on this "higher education" thing. And michael May not know it, but since I'm sumtimes hiz other daddy, I have had this same conversation with hiz real pop!

My personal belief is that no h.s. Graduate should be allowed to enroll in post-secondary work until they can show proof of two solid years of real world, full-time employment in some line of work after graduation...for money! Or...substitute appropriate military service. I can expound on this for hours but this is not the appropriate place for that.

So taking a break and working in the real world (especially in the current economic climate) is an excellent choice. And I know that michael will have hiz azz kicked nine different ways by Jeff/Darren/and the rest of the hangers-on down at ihon! That is just part of the deal, jes' like he git's hiz azz kicked here when he pics up a dam crescent wrench instead of the right wrench!

And them ihon boyz ain't gonna put up with michael's redneck workarounds, hopefully they'll train tha kid on how to read a protractor and figure what them tik marks called degrees is so he won't scruu up no more suspensions and endanger the rest of us on the highway.

And just maybee...sumday the boy will pass on summa this needless and useless schnizz to sum other redneck kid who don't wanna work inna shop changin' batteries inna dam 'lektrik prius pos and callin' hizownself a "technician"...or design sum kinda rocketship throwaway battrees for that crap!

We all gotta start sumwhere and take about nine wrong turns before we find one decent road. I do know that michael is about the hardest workin' leetle sumbitch I know, he dam shore earns hiz keep arount here when needed!

But one word of advice...do not open Darren's toolbox drawers unless he tells ya to git yore azz over there an' fetch that dam socket now!!!

Ya wanna be sumbody what kin do shit? Study this leetle video:

the jalopy journal » blog archive » 1940s auto mechanic…

 

[ihpartschad]

But one word of advice...do not open Darren's toolbox drawers unless he tells ya to git yore azz over there an' fetch that dam socket now!!!



the jalopy journal » blog archive » 1940s auto mechanic…

Holy crap I can't believe I forgot to mention that.

Srsly

no really I'm not joking.

Darren's tool box is an amazing thing to behold. I have known Darren for about 10 years, Jeff has known him longer and neither of us will touch his box unless express permission is granted. When you see it you will understand.

 

[Michael Dimock]

Ya wanna be sumbody what kin do shit? Study this leetle video:

the jalopy journal » blog archive » 1940s auto mechanic…

That was very interesting to say the least! Well, it looks like I'm off to a good start, but I sure wish the physics they described is what my physics class is about now! Boy would I pay more attention....

 

[Michael Dimock]

Been progressing on the projects that I'm striving to finish before I leave.... Some have to be done to get me there, so I figured this would be the prefect time to buy/build a trailer! bought a bare 18' trailer frame with tandem 3500lb axles and am slowly progressing on the makeover that it will get before I leave. The tires that it came with were all mismatched, with 2 being car tires! so I scored some "new" ones off of craigslist, a set of 4 7.00-15's w/ 90% tread for $60. 2 have the slightest bit of weather cracking but I kinda expected that for the price. Cut off some weak ass brackets and tore the axles down and cleaned/repacked/replaced the bearings. Will have to pick up a new bearing and race tomorrow, but 3 of the 4 hubs are done! it's good to do all this stuff before, as if I had to do this on the highway without tearing it down beforehand, lets just say it would be slow! Fabbed my own inner bearing/seal remover and used a large broken pto shaft to pound out the bad races. Some old 235/75/15 chains fit my "new" trailer tires nicely. The trailer is a bit narrow for a car hauler, but for the Scout it will be just fine. Will be strengthening the metal frame, making drive over fenders, decking it, and wiring in all new lights. Moving along ever so slowly!

 

[MarkO]

That trailer looks an awful lot like a travel trailer frame.

 

[Michael Dimock]

That is what I figured it was, so your guess is definitely as good as mine!

 

[Michael Dimock]

Have my steel order placed and will be picking up 1500lbs worth on Monday/Tuesday. swapped a carb out on the travelette after some recent troubles and it seems to be running better. Have done some light welding on the trailer with some materials that I had. Welding in the rain isn't fun! that's about all we seem to be getting weather wise now! braced the front w/ some 4" channel that I cut off the back and shortened the thin walled 4" tube that was the bumper and welded it at the end of the frame. I cut off the old safety chains and welded on some beefy new ones that I had lying around. Scrounged up 2 new hooks as well. Welded together a stinger for my old pintle hook that I took off the Ford flatbed before I sold it. 1/4" wall tube and 2 1/4" plates welded together should manage to hold what I'm hauling. I love .035 flux cored wire for welding in the thicker stuff! A drill press would have been nice compared to the ol' 50's all metal 1/2" drill. Didn't get flung around the table this time...

 

[Scoutboy74]

Mikee all you need is sum more ballast...think fwb styruhl

I'll send ya down an ottografed copy of jerry's new cookbook soon tuh blow up wherever fyne litratur iz sold. Jes $19.95 c.o.d.

 

[Michael Dimock]

Went on another small roadtrip today and picked up up an oxy/acetylene setup finally! I know it's not a plasma, but for me out here it is definitely better for the lack of 220 and stuff being in places w/ no electricity.... not that I'm going to be around much longer. anyway, got home and started cutting up some steel w/ the radial arm saw. So much quicker and accurate for sheet metal than the angle grinder! Kept on going well into the darkness as the lack of hard rain kept me motivated! got some 2" sched 40 welded in as crossmembers for the trailer and it stiffened it right up! Managed to calculate my mileage from yesterday and today and got 10.5 on the way up to newberg and partway back w/ the trailer and got 11.2 combining part of yesterday and today! not too bad for a square brick w/ 4.88's!

 

[Michael Dimock]

Was almost out of 75/25 on the mig when my contact tip unthreaded itself and melted the brass piece that it threads into... so, had to make another run into town and got some more stuff from industrial welding supply. Stopped by the muffler shop in town and gave him a list of materials I'll be needing for new exhaust on the pu! if I don't get it done before I leave, then at least I'll have the stuff as he has the beafiest exhaust tubing that I have seen. It is close to .120 wall and aluminized! It should last for the rest of my lifetime if the original lasted until now! Got to use the cutting torch today a little more, but this time with acetylene. Had to leave the cylinder upright for 24 hrs as it was laying down at the guys place that I bought it from. Definitely faster than propane, but it is a tad bit more expensive! Got most of my gas tank welded up today and just waiting on a sending unit that I ordered from Jeff to complete it. Will get the hole cut in the top for the sending unit before I weld it all together. Also got some pieces cut to length for the flatbed as it will be coming off tomorrow. since I was tired of getting wet, I rigged up a large tarp on the edge of the garage using the gutter nails and a few nearby trees. Lets just say that it is awesome comparatively speaking! Plugged in a fan in the garage and managed to get it dried out today so the steel doesn't rust so quick. It was a good day, but tomorrow should be without any more errands to run!

 

[Michael Dimock]

Got the first full day in yesterday and managed to get a fair amount done! I cut the flatbed off the orange pu and spent most of the day getting all the pieces cut for the flatbed. There is a fairly large pile developing now.... Of course, Jeff was the winner in the speedy shipping department, as I ordered stuff from him a day later and received it a day earlier than the rest! shortened the sending unit up a fair amount to fit in the 8" tall tank, but still need to affix the float arm better by crimping it. Today I drove up to salem to cherry city metals and picked up some more steel. I was able to find most of what I was looking for, but we will see if I need more... swung by home depot across the street and picked up some lumber for the trailer and flatbed. At this point it was raining hard and I was a little worried about my unfendered trailer spraying a cops windshield.... luckily I got home without any problems! My cutting duo are working quite nicely consisting of a skilsaw and angle grinder. I also picked up my exhaust pieces so someday I can piece it together. 2 1/4" at the down pipes to 3" single back through a dynomax muffler. Cut up some 4" channel and welded it on to one side of the trailer. My makeshift tarp fortress is working nicely but darn it, go away rain!

 

[Michael Dimock]

On Saturday, my grandfather turned 85 so like mr. Mayben and mr. Price, I had to celebrate a b-day! managed to get an hour of welding in before we had to leave! Sunday was a full day of battling the rain and wind, but I manged to get the sides extended and light boxes cut and installed. I've been having almost too much fun running the torch, as it has probably saved me $40 in grinding wheels and 2-3 hours of time so far! There was a nice breeze today, so my flux-core smoke inhalation was at a minimum.... the gooseneck plate hole was a tad big, so I cut up some 1/4 inch plate to add top and bottom so the ball couldn't move around. Took a while, but I also got the rails welded in place as well. I headed off into town to get some more steel, but then realized when I got to the bank that it wasn't open.... so I went to home depot and picked up some lumber and deck screws. The angled side boards are cut and I will just have to rip 2 of the 18 foot 2x6's a tad narrower tomorrow. Will head off in the morning down to eugene to pick up so more steel and drop by my old work for a party (free food!). I should come close to getting all the welding done for the trailer tomorrow. Been very busy!

 

[Michael Dimock]

After I picked up my steel down in eugene and swung by work for the party I got home... such a waste of a good clear day! Tomorrow when I'll be spending the whole day outside it will probably be raining... have I complained about the rain enough yet?! Spent a while first cutting up some lengths of steel. Finished the small portions of the angle iron on the edges and then welded together the ramps. They turned out nice. The big brown truck showed up today with some more stuff. I got my 30,000 lb gooseneck ball and class iv stinger as well as brake controller, stainless latches for the flatbed, and lights for the trailer and truck. They fit in my trailers light boxes like a glove and will be very well protected! Tomorrow will be a full day!

 

[Michael Dimock]

Pulled a 10 hour + day yesterday and decided that sleep was more important than updating... worked on my fenders and discovered that bending 4' of 1/8" diamondplate takes a lot of heat, hammer usage, and time! way too much time! Anyway, I got 1 fender done and finished 2/3rds of the other one. I finished off 2 spools of wire, and .030 hardwire just isn't cutting it, so I'm headed into town to pick up some .035 fluxcore.... The ups man showed up yesterday with a 63 lb box! got all my d rings and some trailer wiring stuff. Will be running a 7 pin rv/truck plug and got an adapter for 6 round and 5/4 flat, it's pretty cool. Progressing ever so slowly!

 

[Michael Dimock]

At this point I am almost done! Managed to get some new glass for my welding hood as it was getting quite hard to see out of the old one! Just need to pick up a piece of plate for the spare tire mount, weld on 3 d rings, and screw in the boards! Finished the other fender yesterday and started on the railing. Managed to get most of it done last night and had to put the finishing touches on this morning. It's looking pretty good and is way stronger then before! I'm not afraid to haul a vehicle on it any more! lots of pics!

 

[SS2]

Looking good!

 

[Drew Merrick]

Nice job michael. Your skills are improving vastly. But looking at your old welding mask glass I gotta tell you that you don't actually have to try to keep your eye on the puddle. It's a metaphor for continually watching the puddle.

 

[Robert Kenney]

That be flux core spatter damage. (I hope) but May be to close also . jk lookin good!

Kin heer Jeff scrachin hizown haid waitin for u tu aryive. So you kin git workin.

If you can't read the preceding, have another martini and it will come to you. off to the bar for me.

 

[Michael Dimock]

Everything welding wise is done for now! rigged up the old wiring and installed the tail lights and side markers. Having to drill all the holes for the screws through sched 40 pipe takes a while, so I still have some left to do. Will be installing some of my wiring shiz tomorrow, but my huge order of wiring supplies hasn't shown up , so I am going to have to call them up and see what the problem is. I'm hoping it is just slow shipping....