Well, here it is, a few minutes before 5 AM on a holiday Sunday, and before heading out to the shop, a visit to the 3806 (LSB) ham radio group was in order. There was “John-boy” (“coffee good!”) and a new fellow I hadn’t talked to before discussing the finer points of fly killing. With an emphasis on the big iridescent green ones. Hmm…must be coming up on summertime in the South.
A more serious discussion about the Sun was in order; apparently there has been another solar flare about 5-6 hours earlier. Which was interesting because I had a case of the “earthquake tireds” Saturday. But, not before getting the lawn mowed. (Happy wife=happy Life.)
Been warmer than average (for this time of the year) with 93F on the back porch Saturday. Another warm one today, but then the rains are coming. Got mixed feelings about these. Keeps the forest fire risk low – and the place is greener than Ireland. But it makes the grass grow – and that leads to more butt-time on the riding mower, so pardon me while I side-step the whole climate debate.
Scalar antenna is still holding the ground down – too hot to be cutting down trees to make way for it…
Toothache is better (Penn VK 500 mg) but chair time Tuesday. I’ve been asking if they do restorative walletectomies, but no.
Tool Checks
Still haven’t gotten the email from Evolution Power Tools on availability of their R10TS job site table saw. These went flying off the shelf when introduced because they got everything right. There’s a sliding table insert, a rack & pinion fence that remains square with minimal fuss, plus there’s a flip-down support on the rip fence so you don’t need 4-million pounds of cast iron Bessemer fence inserts which turn into a humid summer maintenance routine.
Tool Slut Alert! A new tool showed up on Amazon in the past week, though it’s a hand tool and not that expensive. Which causes interest to run to the light side.
It’s a single tool tap and die sit for use on PVC pipe. Amazon has a whole bunch of ’em listed here. This is a dangerous page, because you’ll have to sort out the price matrix: Some are free shipping, but thety cost more. Others has lower sticker prices, but ridiculous shipping. And others have a different feature. Worthy use of shop time? Well, depends how hot it is and what else is on the list for the day.
Having gotten through the first 76-years of life with a PVC cutter, a square of sandpaper, and a pot of hot-set cement (and purple primer to get all over the work site), I’m wondering if there’d be enough payback from buying such a tool, at my age.
An Apology to the Major
I thought I knew everything in home maintenance, but here’s proof that you’re never to old to learn something.
See, the Major and I were talking Friday and he was complaining about a cast iron cover for his “sprinkler system backflow preventer test port.” Got too rusted to fit right when reassembled.
Your what???
Apparently, years-ago in Pierce County, Washington (Tacoma and surrounding) someone hooked up a sprinkler system and managed to get it to back-feed tainted water into the public supply. As a result, homeowners with sprinkler systems are required to get an “annual inspection sign-off” on their system or God-knows what the Bureaucracy would do out of spite.
The Major has a lifetime of following orders (“What are those?“) so he has a 20-odd-year collection of sprinkler inspection and test reports.
To make a long story longer, after this year’s inspection, he couldn’t get the cast iron cover to fit right. So he’d gotten out a wire wheel, full-face small particle mask, and was wheeling his way to a fitting future when we talked.
“You really ought to get some of this chemical – which I can’t remember the name of – which has phosphorous in it – turns black – and stops rust pretty well. I’ll look it up and tell you about it – having a brain cramp at the moment…”
As promised:
“Ospho is a popular phosphoric acid-based solution used for rust prevention and treatment on metal surfaces. When applied to rusted or bare metal, it chemically converts iron oxide (rust) into an inert, insoluble phosphate layer, effectively halting further corrosion. This makes it an excellent primer for painting, as it enhances paint adhesion and provides a protective barrier against moisture and oxidation. Ospho is commonly used in automotive restoration, marine applications, and on outdoor metal structures like fences or machinery. (Or Ure’s welding table…) For best results, surfaces should be cleaned, and Ospho applied evenly, allowed to dry until it forms a chalky residue, then painted over to seal the treated surface, ensuring long-term rust protection.”
A gallon of the stuff will run about $38 bucks. But, again, the OMC (old man calculations) must be performed. How many square feet of rust prevention will you need between now and Undertaker Time? (Being ever the Optimist, I’ve been trying to find a 55-gallon drum of the stuff…)
A 3806 Morse Code Story
Ham radio legends are always fun. One of these involves the old Morse Code requirements (prior to about 2000, or thereabouts). A lot of people could get through the (old) 5 WPM Morse code test, but a few people got “doctor’s notes” so they wouldn’t have to take the 13 or 20 word per minute test for upper-division ham radio licenses.
“Yes, there was a doctor’s note provision in the United States for amateur radio operators seeking an exemption from Morse code tests at speeds higher than 5 words per minute (WPM). Prior to the restructuring of amateur radio licensing by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), higher license classes like General, Advanced, and Amateur Extra required proficiency at 13 WPM or 20 WPM. The FCC allowed a medical exemption for individuals who could provide a physician’s certification stating that they had a disability preventing them from learning or demonstrating Morse code proficiency at these higher speeds. This exemption enabled such operators to obtain a higher-class license by passing only the 5 WPM Morse code test, or in some cases, bypassing the higher-speed tests entirely, depending on the specific FCC rules at the time.”
Now the fun part – One of the guys on 3806 today claims that a guy he knew got a pass on the high-speed test using the above-described loophole. “Thing is, he had hemorrhoids!”
The story goes the poor fellow wasn’t able to sit long enough to get through the full five-minutes of the test and the Bureaucracy (supposedly) made an accommodation for him.
I sat there thinking “Well, I’ll be damned…” As previously established though, I think that’s already been established.
Off to manage a very difficult day. Which is defined as “Holidays with less than one hour between coffee time and beer-thirty.”
Write when you get rich,
George@ure.net /ac7x
George. Ospho is an excellent corrosion protection product. We tested it in our lab almost 50 years ago and it beat the rest. There was a product from Europe called Noverox that worked really well but I don’t think it is any longer available in North America.
Just make sure all surfaces are free of loose rust, cleaned, rinsed and dry before applying.
Indeed, Ospho is great stuff. But it only works on rusty stuff. Can’t put it on non-rust-coated metal and expect it to work. Solution? Whatever you want to Ospho, set it out in the rain for a month or two and get a good coating of rust on it, then wire brush it lightly and Ospho away.
Oh, and when applying with a brush, pour a small amount of Ospho into a separate container and brush from that. DO NOT pour the rust-contaminated Ospho back into the bottle. That neutralizes what’s left in the bottle, and you can’t use it again.
I seem to recall back in the late 80’s a product like what you descrbe being called Novarocks or some such. Spray it on the rusted parts of your car body then after it dried and turned black paint over it. I picked up a can at the local Wally world to try out on the rusty rocker panels of an old Chevy I had at the time. Seemed to work well enough. I sold it to a fella who wanted to turn it into a dirt track racer and about the only part left not rusted out were the rocker panels. I pondered if this stuff worked so good why wasn’t it incorporated into the manufacturing process at the time given the shitty sheet metal being used that corroded as soon as it was rolled out the factory door. Wait a minute I forgot, “The 100 Year Toaster”. Never mind.
Stay safe. 73
Yep – zactly the problem of the words, Jim. We make shit because, well, IT SELLS. And then it sells again and agaion, and… Presto! china is now making shit!
“I pondered if this stuff worked so good why wasn’t it incorporated into the manufacturing process”
Note my comment above… it only works on rusty metal. Now if they start rusting cars before they’re built, the Ospho would work like a champ.
re: “Been warmer than average…”
Folks,
A hot air report in “The Daily Mail” places blame on the Biden Administration for a looming shortage of air conditioner refrigerant. It seems R-410A is being phased out by R-454B. New refrigerant gas prices are allegedly …inflating.
However, before declaring a victor in a “pin the tail on the donkey” game, let’s chill with a pertinent fact. A “Wikipedia” entry for the outgoing R-410A credits its (planned?) obsolescence to passage by Congress of AIM (American Innovation and Manufacturing Act). The Act was passed on December 27, 2020 during the Trump One Administration.
This sure has the looks of a “Go MAGA!” moment. May cooler heads prevail.
Abnd may we SOME DAY make an a/c unit in ‘Merica again…pleeze?> Or, you can start making them there in Winnipeg, Jester. Though I can’t imagine a use case for them…
There are several home A/C manufacturers still in the U.S. However, Danby is the closest thing to “American made” in the “window world.” Danby is a Canadian company which had factories in Winnipeg (I think) and Findlay, Ohio. They relocated manufacturing to Mexico about 10 years ago, sent it to China about 5-6 years ago, brought it back to Mexico after a couple years of dealing with the CCP, and is now contemplating reopening the Canada and U.S. factories.
some nice clearance deals are avail now based on old R-410A systems
at least local dealer was running em earlier this spring when replaced 8 friggin year old heat pump (Trane)…with big ass mini split (Carrier) – more efficient with bigger filter expanding system flow up, less power usage, lower temp set heat range to 27 degree F before emg Oil heater kicks on. A win-win.
re: “The Wizard of Oz”, 1939
feat: The Emerald City
George & Friends,
Speaking of Carrier, thank goodness American Mr. Carrier invented the air conditioner only two years after Mr. Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” was published in 1900. Carrier a/c units still churned out from their NY state production line into the 21st century as a subsidiary to a military-industrial complex parent. Federal financial subsidy and a personal appearance by #45 on the factory floor only delayed the inevitable. Under cover of a licensing agreement, manufacturing eased to oversight by a concern in the Philippines. Its headquarters are situated in a southern corner of Manila nicknamed “Emerald City” because of the many parks (throwing shade upon a top security prison in otherwise utopian suburbia).
Meanwhile headquarters of Carrier’s American presence took to the opulent airs of Palm Beach Gardens, Fl., allegedly powered by federal bucks from the Inflation Reduction legislation of #46. There one imagines staff can allegedly make billions in revenue magicly appear in USA gdp ledgers out of overseas thin air that would turn the face of any bitcoin munchkin green with envy? As chance would have it, the now Floridian-domiciled a/c company perhaps shares a green technology hq campus with a former parent? While efficient local mass transit may be forever a pipedream, the complex is only a short drive from The Trump National Golf Club, Jupiter.
Meanwhile although a cursory glance of present “ownership” of the a/c company points to Manila, a closer look could allege orders emanate from a more northerly state clime housing the RTX colossus formerly known as Raytheon.
You’d think it would be sufficient to make any capitalist hot under the collar. Good fortune to us all on the yellow brick road ahead!
looking at the hi speed Morse tests and my ever more arthritic fingers I was wondering.
I probably could do the 5 wpm (as a scout years ago we had to do it with a flashlight), but in a true emergency I would probably write out what I need to say, transpose to code, and have it written before me.
So does Word or the free equipment have Morse as a font selection?
or does anyone know an add on to give it thzt?
just a complete novice with no equip asking before I get started.
Everyone have a happy and peaceful Memorial Day.
I am heading to the kitchen to put a 5lb Boston Butt in the crockpot.
The first ham license has no Morse at all – and neither does the General class – “No, no ham radio licenses in the US require Morse code proficiency. The FCC removed the requirement for Morse code exams for all amateur radio licenses on February 23, 2007. While Morse code is still used by some hams, it is no longer a requirement for obtaining or upgrading any license class. ”
I just do it (high speed Morse) because I enjoy it. (*After I’m done beatinbg my head and shoulders with a good 5-ft length of 3/8ths chain…)
There is a lot of remorse in the ham community about the Morse situation.
There’s a lot of pun police, too.
We used Ospho on galvanized steel. .Eetched it before painting with poly urethane paint. Great stuff. Keep it on hand always. Tool Slut pause: I have a spark plug in a tight place that I need to change. long one. Well I order a 5pc spark plug socket set. Arrives, open. try to find out which of set is the correct size. That’s when I notice the socket is too short. Then I get an old socket that didn’t fit. I look and see the new sockets are about 1/4″ too short. Just enough not to fit. Return to zon. Size I need is there but one socket costs $20.00. Set of 5 only costs $13.00. Still trying to figure a way to loosen the spark plug. What fun! When did life get so complicated.
Please don’t answer. yes in the South its grass season. being in deep south means you can literally watch the grass grow in real time. Got mine cut before the rain this week so if it dries out one day it will be twice as high. and please no sunny hot days! Just makes it grow faster!
I have heard Toyota products are great for hidden spark plugs in inaccerssible places. Fornately, my neighbor bubba was a Mercedes-t6rainign deal mechanic before getting out of Dead-End-Fort-Worthless and back to his family’s homestead. When I have a problem, he’s on speed dial “Hey, bubba? Got a ….[insert tool name] “
Simplest solution: Cut off the drive end of the socket with an angle grinder and weld on the next larger size socket. Then use as you originally intended.
GU: I get cravings around holidays. Not like “pickles and ice cream.” Nope, these are (estrogen-free) Man-Cravings. With temps in the low 90’s, two that have struck are Roast Turkey and Cold Beer.
The Beer is easy: We keep an assortment handy (Shiners’ and several others). But the Turkey? Well, that’s a problem. In town, Brookshire’s didn’t have one, neither did Wal-Mart, nor Kroger.
Sure, you can get the “frozen, ready for oven turkey breasts” but my experience with these is that they are horribly over-seasoned. The sliced Butterball at the deli counter could work, and it may come to that.
https://urbansurvival.com/tariff-wars-back-memorial-day-travel-teachings-and-trivia#comments
So, any news about the turkey decision???
3/4th’s uinch thick #14 cut on the slicer at Brookshires on their instore roast turkey breast – with enough wine and some Heinz turkey gravy (aisle 6, east side) it wasn’t bad. The Stovetop sucked – put too much water in it, but it will bake ou7t as a crispy (which E likes) so it will be good.
Just made us crab meat sandwches with melted cheddar for lunch and for dinner, chicken-won-ton soup with fresh bok choi…
bacon wrapped steaks tomorrow for dinner…
My stomach doesn’t know I’m not rich…
The wife asked me to make Salzburg steaks..
4 lbs of burger
1 onion
1 green pepper
1/2 cup of beef broth
1/4 cup worschester sauce
1 tbsp salt..
1/2 cup flour ( binder you can use 1 slice of bread or 1/2 cup of powdered milk for the binder)
chop the onion and green pepper fine..
add the rest to a bowl and mix it up.. take your form.. ( I use a hamburger press.. but have used one of this oblong meal containers wit the bottom cot out.. then you fill the container tip it over press down with the bottom that’s cut out and eject the Salzburg steak)
https://www.amazon.com/Ateco-4902-Stainless-Steel-1-38-Inches/dp/B000KESQ4I/ref=sr_1_1
press them out on a flat cookie sheet with parchment paper on it then freeze.
when I cook them I sauce mushrooms chopped then make a nice brown gravy place the Salzburg steak in the gravy..
So I asked Elaine “How do we make Salzburg steaks…”
“first we get to Europe….”
Lol lol…I made 12..you can use red sweet peppers to..
what I didn’t realize was we are out of corn or potato starch.. grr..I was going to make some but the wife said no..just buy it because its cheap..( so far)
You still building stuff out of PVC? Time to upgrade to EMT conduit! I put up a lean-to canopy along the house to park the lawnmowers out of the rain here. Next project is a shade canopy for the sun-intolerant vanilla orchids out by the back fence. These parts make it easy.
https://makerpipe.com/collections/modular-pipe-fittings?gad_source=5&gad_campaignid=14862374825
5-25-25
A palindrome.
Hi George, lookw like you got your quake today;
M 3.1 – 30 km WSW of
Ackerly, Texas
2025-05-25 15:05:37 (UTC-07:00
32.416°N 102.009°W, 6.7 km depth
Trump has now threatened to apply tariffs to individual
companies. Apple and now John Deere and perhaps others.
This is out of control , stop defending it.
Agreed Kevin,
I’ve lost the game plan at this point.
My thoughts at this point is its a smokey diversion. I feel something BIG is coming.
Just a point of information: Threading PVC and other plastic pipe is generally frowned on by the plumbing code folks unless it’s schedule 80 at least. For the rest of us, such threading might be useful for projects or emergency fixes. I know someone(not me) that had a habit of fixing his occasional plumbing problems with heater hose and clamps. YMMV.