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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Tech Friday: Am I out of my mind upgrading to High Sierra?
Posted By RichC on November 17, 2017
I have a perfectly functioning iMac and against my better judgement spent this morning upgrading the OS to macOS High Sierra (release about 1-1/2 months ago). Hopefully that was enough time for quick fixes because I’ve upgraded Macs too many times over the years and have often regretted the decision. Usually software and hardware requires upgrading or retirement, but so far so good a few hours in with this 10.13.1 upgrade.
The upgrade took about 1 hour and after a couple restarts (some my own and related to Parallels) and it "seems" to be ok? All the normal software, and desktop look I’ve become accustom to, looks pretty good … maybe High Sierra is a winner?
Since I mentioned failures for Apple operating system upgrades over the year, I’ll mention the big fails … at least for me upgrading. The first big frustrating upgrade for me was Apple OS 6.5 to 7 … what a struggle. The second was OS9 to OSX … oh that was a whopper of a change for me. I recall sticking with OS 9 for years as the change was such a monster. Looking back … the refinements have been amazing and not all that different than the personal computer competitor, Microsoft.
For now … I think High Sierra is a winner for Apple, so my advice is to do it!
Painting and sharpening and changing chainsaw chains
Posted By RichC on November 16, 2017
A few of the late fall repairs to go along with splitting wood for winter is to keep my “collection” of old chainsaws running. Although I gave away my small old tiny McCulloch trimming saw from the 1980s, I still reluctantly use my bigger (translate = heavier) 20″ McCulloch Pro Mac 610 (PDF manual) with a square cut professional chain for larger trees and logs. More often than not though, I pick up my upgraded 16″ Poulan since it is newer and lighter … and sadly almost of disposable quality (they don’t make them like they use to).
Nevertheless, all three of my saws (even the tiny electric pole saw) needed their chain blades sharpened … I used a file but considered buying a grinder sharpener … and would have if all the chains would have been the same size!
The rain came again so I checked off another item Brenda put on my list of chores to do before winter … painting the old outdoor furniture with Rustoleum – a difficult job, since I put the wicker in storage. She wants them on the front porch during winter (yes I thought it crazy too — who sits on the porch in the winter?) I argued that we didn’t need anything on the front porch during the winter … but decided it wasn’t worth wasting my breath – we all know who wins when it comes to “aesthetics” vs “logic.”
While I’m at it, I can’t resist archiving and posting my sister-in-law’s video snippet of Jerry felling a tree … thankfully he still has all his limbs! (13 second video below)
Upside vs downside in owning GE stock after a steep decline
Posted By RichC on November 15, 2017
I occasionally receive emails or comments from friends and acquaintances who know I watch financial markets asking me to share my thoughts on investing. They really want stock "recommendations," but almost always refuse to give advice when it comes to picking and choosing individual companies. For the record, there is always financial risk and the safer route is buying a low cost ETF to spread the risk. That said, I can’t resist talking about one of if on the behemoth industrial conglomerates that a majority of investors have own over the past 100 years (as a individual stock or in a fund).
General Electric’s stock collapse this week after new CEO John Flannery outlined a restructuring plan was painful for those who hold this widely held company. Not only did his future plan include shedding smaller divisions like transportation and lighting, but also slashed the dividend by half (a big deal for most who hold GE stock). Sell orders quickly piled in on Monday and continued Tuesday … hammering the value of shares by a double-digit percentage drop.
Being an in and out owner of GE over the years, I was tempted in to buying after seeing this bellwether company slump; I broke my self-imposed 3-day rule for buying and selling "on news" and purchase on the first day (mistake) and second day of the decline (still a mistake). Hopefully in the long term this impulse buy is one I will not regret?
*** Giving the free TradingView.com chart embed a try for the GE stock above ***
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.