There is a masked man in the garage!
Posted By RichC on July 3, 2013
Having July 4th fall on a Thursday this week is creating chaos with my travel schedule. Each appointment scheduling call I’ve made is finding everyone taking a few days off … I should have done the same?
Anyway, spending time in town gave me a chance to dust off my TIG welding skills or lack there of after my brother dropped off a couple lawn chairs which are in need of repair. Since I’ve been wanting to repair the rocker panels and 4 jack points on the Mercedes 300D and have been leery of my welding expertise, a little practice was helpful. I’ve already treated the rust multiple times and need to do some final grinding and sanding before adding new metal, a zinc chromate primer and a few coats of TP Tools and Equipment’s Miracle paint. (still yet to be decided – below)
The Bill Hirsch line of restoration paints. Bill Hirsch has been servicing the auto restoration market for over 35 years. His line of paints is considered to be the best available. You can feel confident you are getting a product that will keep your project looking beautiful for years to come!
Stop rust dead in its tracks with Miracle Paint!
Designed to be painted directly over rusted areas. Simply scrape away loose rust scale and coat with this amazing product. Moisture-cured nonporous paint bonds to rusted and corroded metals like no other coating. It dries rock hard and will not crack, chip, or peel. Miracle Paint is impervious to gasoline, oil, anti-freeze, lacquer thinner, salt, and most acids. Will seal metal, concrete, grout, wood, and porous tile like nothing else!
Permanently seal your frame, chassis components, and engine compartment. Apply 2 coats of Miracle Paint anywhere rust attacks. Can be sprayed, brushed, or rolled – no thinning required. If exposed to sunlight, it is recommended that you topcoat Miracle Paint. Can be top-coated with enamel, lacquer, or urethane topcoats. For an original factory finish, we recommend coating with Super Black Chassis Undercarriage Paint. Made in USA.
Available in gloss black, silver, clear, or white.
What does it take to be WSJ’s startup of the Year?
Posted By RichC on July 1, 2013
I’ve voted for two of the listed small startup ventures that the WSJ editors believe could be worthy of going public and have listed in their WSJ Startup of the Year pages. Personally I’m pulling for PlanetReuse Marketplace seeing it as a way to use technology to network recycled building materials to those who could use them. We waste far too much and could do much better than just filling landfills with building debris (currently 40% of all landfill waste). This startup uses a QR-coded connected database that would make it much easier to connect a buyer to a seller of recycled materials – Ebay should buy this company.
As far as total votes, Speek.com is generating the most interest and although they have and easy to use conference calling service, it really isn’t anything new. I played with it today on a couple of calls and it wasn’t bad … but nothing new. Here’s a listing of how the top 13 stand as of July 1, 2013.
A VW TDI GTG on Saturday and stopped to see Katelyn and Drew
Posted By RichC on June 30, 2013
Click for larger panarama at Aaron’s (Growler) VW TDIClub GTG on Saturday
Owning a diesel car again after a couple year hiatus (Katelyn’s doesn’t count) was a weak excuse to go to a TDIClub GTG in Millersport, Ohio on Saturday, but took the Mercedes Benz 300D to the Volkswagen diesel gathering just the same – I was shunned but not kicked out.
Since Aaron’s place is somewhat close to Columbus I also connected with my daughter Katelyn and Drew and enjoyed a late lunch at the Brazenhead in Grandview with them. We had a nice time.
Also connected with a few old-timer TDI guys (like me) – Glen (L) and Bruce (R).
My eyes are now drawn to other old Mercedes Benz cars
Posted By RichC on June 29, 2013
Is that the way it is … once you own a certain make and model of car and then your eyes are automatically attracted to others that are of a similar nameplate? In the case of my recent Mercedes 300D project, its other Mercedes Benz cars … and the one below is a beauty (the brown one in the photo below isn’t have bad either!).
I stopped in at the local Ace Hardware in West Chester Ohio on Friday, I came face to face (literally) with a near perfectly restored classic 1950s Mercedes Benz 220 Cabriolet. I’m guessing it was a Cabriolet “B” model based on the license plates … and from a little web surfing, probably 1952, 53 or 54? Any expert opinions?
I looked around the hardware store to see if I could figure out who owned the car and wanted to compliment them on such a beautiful car, but my son was waiting impatiently and complained he was hungry … personally I think he is embarrassed when I approach people and start talking.
Oh well, at least I took a few photos (click for larger as they are worth it) and noticed a similar one for sale on Ebay … with a buy now price of $154,495. Hmm, I better stick with the 300D don’t you think?
Tech Friday: Cloud and sync storage called Cubby from Logmein
Posted By RichC on June 28, 2013
You’re invited to Cubby by LogMeIn. Give is a free try.
After eliminating Sugarsync, filling up my preferred but pricey Dropbox, and keeping Microsoft’s Skydrive and GoogleDrive for mostly shared online docs, spreadsheets and PDF files, I’ve been trying out a few other backup and synchronizing services. This week I added a couple MyCubby folders (their name for a shared folder) from a couple different harddrives on the same computer, and besides what seems like a bit slower synchronizing speeds (??), Logmein seems to be offering one of the better services. The free verizon gives 5GB of space with larger bonuses for referrals (my referral link here) and can be used to synchronize folders between users or across multiple computers. For under $50/year, the paid service for one user offers 100GB of space (half the price of Dropbox).
I’m all for unlimited back ups with all those cheaper back-up services, but the simplicity of synchronizing and having copies of files on all connected computers while remaining backed up to the cloud is my preference. If I were comfortable with both the price and the security of cloud data (see who own your files), I’d opt for once giant “cubby” or Dropbox folder in order to backup and synchronize everything on my computer in real time.
Obit: Gary Collins memorial gathering 1-2PM July 1, 2013
Posted By RichC on June 28, 2013
My condolences to the Collins family on the passing of Gary Collins after his accident last week. Gary’s love of aviation (EAA Chapter 174) and his passion for Corvair conversions was an inspiration to all of us who loved antique and grass roots experimental aviation. He was enjoyable to be around and our EAA284 chapter appreciated his time and expertise a few years ago.
A couple bolts and a couple volts
Posted By RichC on June 27, 2013
Impressive super cell photo from Nebraska (www.tonightssky.com) about a week ago. The photo is a sandwich of 2 shots about 9 seconds apart at f/22, 2.5 sec and ISO 100 according to the tech info shared on G+.
Hypermilers set world record for fuel economy in Passat TDI
Posted By RichC on June 26, 2013
Drivers Wayne Gerdes and Bob Winger set a new Guinness World Record for lowest fuel consumption by a non-hybrid during their 8,000-mile trek across 48 states in a 2013 Volkswagen Passat TDI Clean Diesel.
Gerdes, a practiced “hypermiler” who runs the online community CleanMPG, and his co-pilot Winger averaged nearly 78 miles per gallon during their 17-day trip ending Sunday. That’s 10 mpg better than the previous record of 67.9 mpg, and about 13 mpg better than the hybrid record of 64.6. For comparison, the EPA estimated that the average Passat TDI driver might get 43 mpg on highways. The only noted modification was a set of Continental low rolling resistance tires, according to a VW spokesman.
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.