Music Monday: Sister Golden Hair by the band America
Posted By RichC on November 27, 2017
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Archive: Thanksgiving 2017 with the Corbett Family
Posted By RichC on November 26, 2017
Better late than never in posting a few photos from our Thanksgiving day dinner and family time over this extended weekend. My brother Ron and his family were all able to get together at our house this year with our two new additions: Annalyn (Katelyn and Drew) and Teagan (Keira and Ben). Thankfully all of us live in Ohio and travel was a non-issue. since the weather was great.
Brenda always enjoys setting the table in the dining room and she pretty much over-did the little extras and "trimmings" this year. I know we all appreciated it (my mother would have especially enjoyed it) as we all ate our fill. Brenda made a special effort to use items for the table each of our late moms … as well as grandparents. So nice.
The turkey and trimming were delicious and we all enjoyed the time together … likely knowing it may be less and less as each or our children marry and will have their own family traditions. For now, it was great to be together.
Our kids were around for the day after Thanksgiving and we all had fun watching some football, a Christmas movie and playing the board game Settlers of Catan. We waved goodbye to Katelyn, Drew and Annalyn on Saturday watching them drive off in their new 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan (click play for video).
Answering an email from a reader on chainsaw sharpening
Posted By RichC on November 25, 2017
A reader wrote me a long email last week after noticing my chainsaw post and had a couple questions regarding how I sharpen the chain/blade on my chainsaws. I really had not giving it that much though since my sharpening 
technique is probably not expert or appropriate advice. So reader be warned.
Over the years I’ve pondered buying a cheap electric chainsaw grinder, but always suspected the low cost ones were "janky" (Ha! I’ve been looking for the appropriate post to incorporate that word!). The other downside is in heating up the tooth and losing hardness … besides how often do most of us really need to sharpen the chainsaw?
So I do it the way most homeowners have for years … a round chainsaw file (kit on Amazon). My dad had a special guide tool that I sort of which I would have inherited, but then again I’ve always taken the chain off the saw and filed it in a bench vise.
So here’s the method in 5 short steps:
- Remove the chain and put the guides in the vise. Measure the angle of the grind and add a couple guide marks on your vise (see photo below).
- Mark your starting tooth and use a "flat file" to knock down the depth tooth using the gauge (see Amazon link above) or so that the "bite" of the chisel tooth is about 1/32-1/16 inch (more for bigger saws … less for lightweight trimming or smaller CC saws as well as electric saws).
- Use the round file to stroke the gullet keeping the file level and in alignment with the marks on the vise. I don’t sharpen often, so I may file more than most just to be sure each tooth is equally sharpened (if not, the saw will not cut straight).
- Flip the chain and do the other side the same.
- I use my finger to check "hook" sharpness and often use the non-knurl part of the file to bend back the burr on the sharpen edge, then take a couple more light strokes to clean up the edge.
Sheering a router bit has me wondering about the quality?
Posted By RichC on November 22, 2017
Last summer I bought a 50-piece set of router bits to use in my woodshop and so far they have been great … that was up until I may have push the limits on a 3/16" straight cut bit a little too hard (possibly???). I only say "may" because the bit was mounted in my router table and it is easy to set up a jig and feed a tad to fast … but I really don’t think so? It sheered off at the base which had me wondering if the quality of the workmanship or Chinese steel was sub-standard?
I wrote a note to the company’s eBay sales page to see if there were any other complains or at least what it might cost to add a replacement. We’ll see how well they stand behind these lower priced carbide bit, for now I’ll be a little more gentle.
After repairing my old Marlin 1894, it is time for upgrades
Posted By RichC on November 21, 2017
One of my first rifles is still one of my favorites, so after repairing my Marlin 1894 last month I thought it might be time to upgrade a couple small parts. This .357 chambered lever action rifle is now 40 or so years old and after a fair number of rounds, suffered the bent extractor and weak ejector spring issue. The easiest fix would be just another "spring steel" component, but since this will likely be a pass down rifle, it deserves a couple stainless steel components that are true upgrades.
First is the tiny ejector with a stronger spring … it’s job is to force the spent shell casing out before sliding the next tube magazine feed round into the chamber. The Ranger Point Precision Extractor Claw is a totally different design and utilized a self-contained coil spring rather than the easy to break original spring steel part (below). The cost is about 3 times as much, but if you appreciate engineering, the new part is impressive. In all likelihood I’ll never need to replace either spring again.
Music Monday: An old favorite from Gordon Lightfoot
Posted By RichC on November 20, 2017
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Might need to rethink our Zodiac or inflatable RIB?
Posted By RichC on November 19, 2017
It looks like at least some sharks enjoy the taste of rubberized, synthetic fabrics like Hypalon, PVC or Polyurethane used in inflatable tenders and RIBs! (8 second video snippet below)
Granddaughter Annalyn and I enjoyed another day together
Posted By RichC on November 18, 2017
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Desultory - des-uhl-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee
- lacking in consistency, constancy, or visible order, disconnected; fitful: desultory conversation.
- digressing from or unconnected with the main subject; random: a desultory remark.