Above 1200 Sq/FT Cleaning Up My Shop

[oldironfarmer]

Little update on the Studebaker. The floor pans have 1" wide beads with round ends. Even though they will be covered I decided to try to duplicate them in the rusted portions. So I set about to make a die set to form them. First I split a short piece of I-beam to make two tee sections. Then machined the tees flat.

And sanded them smooth.

Then made a 1" wide round end bar, 1/4" thick, with a hole each end to weld to a tee. Picture below.

Then cut off a piece of 1"x2-1/2" bar 2" long and squared it in the mill. Laid out and drilled two holes to make bottom radii.

Turned it flat and hogged out the center.

Measured the sides of the existing beads at 40 degrees. So I stepped the milling cutter over 0.060" and raised it 0.050", over and over, to make a stair-step slope.

Ground a lead in ramp on one end.

Plan is to put a striking handle on the top die. Made a decent bead without a handle, but it needs a guide.

I think this will work. And I learned several things.

 

[oldironfarmer]

One of the things I learned is that there are several different almost 1" wide beads in the floor pan. The die I made fits the one I measured best, the others are a little different.

Not a perfect fit but I think it will work.

My helper has been making progress on the dust collection system.

The supports are supposed to keep the pipe round so it doesn't buckle and collapse with vacuum on it. Before we went further I asked him to plug all the openings and start the vacuum. Worked OK, but I think we had lots of leaks so we may not have had full vacuum. The joints will all get metal tape.

When I got the rock for the water outlet I was feeling wealthy so I ordered a load for the shop. My son in law spread it today. No more step up going into the shop.

He does really nice work. Who could not like a son in law with a backhoe?

Thanks for stopping in, we're hoping progress will magically take off!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Hey Andy, nice work on the water outlet and the vacuum ducting.

I could say what I used to have for snakes, but that may offend snake lovers.

It reminds me of a funny story about the time that my FIL had to repair a section of black poly pipe after some "lead modification" - due to a case of mistaken identity.

Thank you!

For snakes, I have a shotgun. I think they need ventilation. Except black snakes, of course.

He killed a poly pipe? Of course, around here that would be a black snake or a water moccasin, have to see it move to know whether it needs attention.

Good to hear that the bull is on the mend.

Keeping my fingers crossed. Taking Hershey to the vet tomorrow and I'm going to ask her what she thinks (I've got pics!).

Thanks for the visit!!

 

[BUGTHUG]

How well do you like that bull? They say you can make an incision between the two fang holes and **** out the poison ...and spit

 

[bolensboneyard]

Andy how did you make the angle on the die. Looks like you stepped it in with each pass? Or do you have a special cutter? Looks good.

 

[BBChevro]

Nice work on the dies Andy.

So does Hershey think that he's going on an adventure?

 

[oldironfarmer]

How well do you like that bull? They say you can make an incision between the two fang holes and **** out the poison ...and spit

I like the bull

He was very expensive. However he does not want me to get near him while he's hurt or I would have gotten closer. I assume I like him as much as you suspect.

Andy how did you make the angle on the die. Looks like you stepped it in with each pass? Or do you have a special cutter? Looks good.

Yes, I had measured 40 degrees, and my calculator said a 50 thousandth's rise would equate to 59.59 thousandth's run so up 0.050" and over 0.060". Grinding the little steps off down to the lines at the corners of the steps is easy and pretty accurate. I could have used a 45 degree mill and nodded the head 5 degrees. I'm afraid I made the die a bit wide but I'm going to live with it. I've already got more time in it than I wanted.

Thank yo for the kind words.

Nice work on the dies Andy.

So does Hershey think that he's going on an adventure?

Thank you sir!

Sound out his name "her she". He's a girl.

That little item aside, I was afraid her last car ride may have been to dump her so I was nervous. However, yesterday she got a collar and today a leash. The vet is also my farm vet and she is really good with animals. She gave Hershey a good inspection and said she was healthy and sound. She even checked her for an imbedded chip to make sure she wasn't a registered runaway. No chip. Hershey sat still with a slack leash for drawing blood, ***** sample, and several injections. She's a winner. And the vet gave me her "rescue" discount

There is a house calico at the vet's office. Turns out she likes to torment dogs. She was on a chair when we went in. Hershey sniffed (may not have seen a cat before) and sat down. The cat got down and walked in front but didn't get a rise out of Hershey. Then the cat left the room, came back and circled under the chairs until she was behind us. Hershey was wagging her tail and the cat crept up to attack the tail. Just as she was about to pounce I gave her a fast flip on her head with my fingers. She looked at me in disgust and left. Later we were in the examination room waiting for test results. Hershey was laying with her nose out the door observing the goings on. I was sitting at the doorway. Here comes the cat for a drive by shooting, I mean clawing. She darted down the hall and I was ready and gave her another thump on the head as she was concentrating on Hershey's head. I don't think the cat likes me but Hershey still thinks cats are just an oddity of nature.

Hershey got canned dog food when we got home to reinforce that going in the car is not a bad thing.

Thanks for stopping in, guys!

 

[oldironfarmer]

Today was not particularly productive. First thing, check the bull, didn't find him. That's good, he's moving and on 160 acres with a lot of dense woods he is not easily seen. Then took Hershey on her big adventure. Then went to Tulsa to the Asian-American Society luncheon. A guy at church recently married a lady he met while working in China. They found the society and go to a weekly luncheon. He found out two of my old friends also go there. One was a Malaysian Chinese electrical engineer working in Jakarta when I moved there to do a project in 1979. His family welcomed me into their home several times, and when we closed the office I recommended we transfer him to Tulsa. We worked together at a couple of more companies through the years. The other was our managing civil engineer in the early 70's and a technical giant for many years. I had lost touch with both of them and was astounded when this guy at church asked whether I knew them. So we went to lunch and had a great time. Played ping pong in my boots. With some guys who know how to play. Really know.

Got to the shop about 4:00

Stuck a handle (1" sucker rod) on the upper die.

Cut out a piece of sheet metal based on the paper pattern I made earlier. Cut it oversize because I expected to get some shrinkage from the wide bead. Made the bead and re-marked from the pattern. Stretch instead of shrinkage. Here is the piece being final trimmed. Line to the right is original pattern, line on the left is after bead pattern location.

The throatless shear is the best new tool I've bought. Very easy to control and makes a nice cut.

Here it is final trimmed and ready for the brake. Break line is at lower left. This line should represent the outside of the bend to make the beads match.

I fudged a little on the line in the brake and got lucky. The piece fits like a glove.

It also fits with a glove.

I'm trying to be patient because it is taking me so long to do things. But I'm expecting to get faster so I need to be patient and not make a bunch of mistakes. Fortunately I haven't had to scrap anything yet. It would be very reasonable to have to start over on several patch plates. Hope my luck holds.

Now I guess I can cut out that old section of floor and try to measure for the bottom floor pan. The bottom floor pan may have to be made in three pieces to make it easy enough for me to make.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

[dchance]

Looks like you are making good progress in your learning to shape the sheet metal. Glad that the new dog seems to be at home now.

Dwight

 

[Rex_A_Lott]

I am waiting to see if you break the shear. I'd like to have a genuine Beverly shear, but its hard for me to justify the cost for the little use I would give it. If you dont destroy yours, I may buy one for myself.
Enjoy watching your progress, and this gets you off page 4.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Looks like you are making good progress in your learning to shape the sheet metal. Glad that the new dog seems to be at home now.

Dwight

Thanks for stopping in! I am learning and it is gratifying. But I've only touched the tip of the iceberg, so much to learn, so little time.

Every morning I open the door and Hershey runs full speed to greet me. A great feeling.

I am waiting to see if you break the shear. I'd like to have a genuine Beverly shear, but its hard for me to justify the cost for the little use I would give it. If you dont destroy yours, I may buy one for myself.
Enjoy watching your progress, and this gets you off page 4.

So far the shear seems to be doing well. Where the work is wearing away the finish I can see body filler, so it must have rough castings, but it has stayed in adjustment.

Thanks for the visit, I've been really busy lately and neglected GJ. Been hauling hay and have more to move. I figure one session of moving hay on the thread is plenty

 

[Guster]

Wow, nice progress on the sheetmetal shaping Andy! You have come a very long way already. If it helps it might be a little faster to do the sides of the beads with the bead roller, that is if it has enough throat depth. Then true them up with the die and finish the round ends on the channels the normal way.

Have been catching up a bit and meant to comment earlier but it’s all a bit of a rollercoaster at work and home the last couple of days. I am very CST right now – that is “craving shed time”. Our local machinery shop is also having a sale starting on my birthday and have both a throatless shear and beadroller on sale but might be buying a concrete mixer today which kills my budget a little bit. Here’s hoping anyway!

Keep up the good progress and give Hershey a good scratch behind the ear for me!

 

[bolensboneyard]

Don't you just wonder how you have done without a throat less sheer for this long? No more aching hands. I love mine too. Wish I had known sooner.

 

[oldironfarmer]

Wow, nice progress on the sheetmetal shaping Andy! You have come a very long way already. If it helps it might be a little faster to do the sides of the beads with the bead roller, that is if it has enough throat depth. Then true them up with the die and finish the round ends on the channels the normal way.

Have been catching up a bit and meant to comment earlier but it’s all a bit of a rollercoaster at work and home the last couple of days. I am very CST right now – that is “craving shed time”. Our local machinery shop is also having a sale starting on my birthday and have both a throatless shear and beadroller on sale but might be buying a concrete mixer today which kills my budget a little bit. Here’s hoping anyway!

Keep up the good progress and give Hershey a good scratch behind the ear for me!

Thanks for stopping in! I wasn't sure how to use the bead roller without making a 1" wide beading set, so for no more use than I expect making the dies was quicker. I figured if I made two parallel beads I'd have a lot of stretching in between. Help me out with what I'm missing.

I had $400 to buy a concrete mixer years ago. Then I bought a 50 Chevy Fleetline instead from my parts guy. Every time I went to mix concrete in a box my wife would suggest we use the car.

I'll give Hershey a Guster scratch!

Don't you just wonder how you have done without a throat less sheer for this long? No more aching hands. I love mine too. Wish I had known sooner.

I'm surprised how nice it is. Thanks for commenting.

 

[Guster]

Thanks for stopping in! I wasn't sure how to use the bead roller without making a 1" wide beading set, so for no more use than I expect making the dies was quicker. I figured if I made two parallel beads I'd have a lot of stretching in between. Help me out with what I'm missing.

I had $400 to buy a concrete mixer years ago. Then I bought a 50 Chevy Fleetline instead from my parts guy. Every time I went to mix concrete in a box my wife would suggest we use the car.

I was more thinking of two trips through the roller, one from each side doing the step down rather than one to form the whole bead in one go, which would be hard work on the roller anyway. Very simple die which you may already have. Given that it forms, rather than stretches the hard part would be the finish at the ends which might create a local pinch in the metal. Though it is always easier to stretch than shrink anyway.

Hehehe... you can mix a lot of concrete in the boot of that '50 Chevy Fleetline. Easily done in a drive or two up and down the farm road!

I missed out on the concrete mixer as I was heavily outbid. Though every cloud has a silver lining. I got a notice on a sale for an item in a wishlist that was on hold due to being over the threshold for incurring tax and import tariffs. Same item also had free shipping promotion and I even had the funds after my lack of success at acquiring the concrete mixer. I couldn't press the 'buy now' fast enough. Only one large purchase left and I have all the expensive bits for my CNC router. Yeeeeeha!

 

[Farmall450]

Wow, lots of progress in one page. Hope the bull recovers.

 

[oldironfarmer]

I was more thinking of two trips through the roller, one from each side doing the step down rather than one to form the whole bead in one go, which would be hard work on the roller anyway. Very simple die which you may already have. Given that it forms, rather than stretches the hard part would be the finish at the ends which might create a local pinch in the metal. Though it is always easier to stretch than shrink anyway.

Hehehe... you can mix a lot of concrete in the boot of that '50 Chevy Fleetline. Easily done in a drive or two up and down the farm road!

I missed out on the concrete mixer as I was heavily outbid. Though every cloud has a silver lining. I got a notice on a sale for an item in a wishlist that was on hold due to being over the threshold for incurring tax and import tariffs. Same item also had free shipping promotion and I even had the funds after my lack of success at acquiring the concrete mixer. I couldn't press the 'buy now' fast enough. Only one large purchase left and I have all the expensive bits for my CNC router. Yeeeeeha!

Whew, I've been busy. I didn't have a step roller narrow enough to do the second pass, it would flatten out the first pass. I didn't have steel the diameter needed to make a roller. The existing rollers make a more square corner than the original stamping. So making the static die seemed to be plausible.

I'm getting good at shrinking sheet metal, it's fun. Wrinkle, heat red, and tap flat.

Actually I never had the Fleetline running. Then it was stolen. Oh well.

Sounds great for your CNC router!

Thanks for the visit!

Wow, lots of progress in one page. Hope the bull recovers.

Thanks for the kind words. I feel like I'm not getting much done, maybe I need to read back and look.

My son in law and I hauled the rest of my hay home, and I got it stacked (actually it was Bob), this feels like money in the bank.

I did make a coin catch box for the Coke machine out of galvanized flashing. WARNING- It's ugly.

Sheared out an appropriately sized rectangle

Laid out the cuts and bends

Trimmed out to size

Two bends to go

And then some really ugly soldering. The solder really runs in the galvanizing.

I might have done better with a soldering iron than the torch I was using. Or at least a pencil flame on the torch. Then when I tried to fit it, I realized it was an inch too wide I thought I could remember the dimensions. I couldn't. So I cut it in half, soldered it together and it catches coins. I tried to take a picture but my phone refused. A culture thing I guess. It was just too bad.

 

[oldironfarmer]

BULL UPDATE.

If you're not interested in cattle, just fast forward.

I found I can eat grass if I process it right. In fact I love it. So I have my own processing unit to make grass taste great. I've got several, in fact. I call them cattle. The bull is in charge of making more processing units for tasty grass.

The bull is in trouble.

Yesterday I found him along the creek in deep brush.

He was in a nice cool spot, close to water

Foot does not look good

I haven't figured how to get him out of there.

Now things get interesting, and when things are interesting, you forget to take pictures.

This morning I went down to check him and he was out in the pasture with the herd. Called my son in law and we loaded up five panels and some feed to try to get him penned up. Called my vet and put her on notice, she was available (she does dogs and cats too and Saturdays are busy for them). We got him penned without incident and I called the vet. Then we squeezed the pen down to four panels. The vet showed up and sized him up. Said he looks like hamburger to her. I told her I was not ready to give up on a $4,000 bull I had only had four months. She said if we wanted to try to get him to the barn (secure pens) she'd help. As I was slowly backing the trailer up to the panels he started pushing the panels. Then he got excited and ran with four pipe panels around him, with me and the son in law hanging on to the panels. He finally got his nose under them and was free. Drug the panel about 100 yards). Vet suggested we call the cows up to the barn and maybe he would come with them. He was running on all four so that's good. So we went to the barn and I called them up. They all came in the corral except two cows and one calf. Got the cows and calves into the heifer pen I have and kept calling. No bull. Vet said she would go through the woods with me to drive him up but we got to the creek and saw no bull. By now she had been here a couple of hours and had to go. I went back to where I had seen him yesterday and there he was. So I started driving him toward the barn, almost a half mile. Along the creek it was not bad. Would have been a nice walk if I wasn't tired and thirsty.

Crossed the creek three times and I manged to keep my feet dry, had to walk a log one crossing over deep pools. Then it is into the thickets and up a steep hill.

Things went well, halfway up the hill we met the cows that would not go in the corral. Still OK, they turned around and went back up the hill. But when we got to the edge of the woods, they scattered. I could see the barn, but we started off the trail into five ft high ragweed where I had cleared year before last. In bloom. I turned yellow all over. I'm not particularly allergic to it, but instant headache.

We get 20 ft from the entrance to the corral and he sees the son in law way out in the pasture. Heads toward him and the stray cows behind him. Son in law is great at handling cattle but can't get him to turn around. He attacks the son in law who beats him off with a cane he has, then the bull comes my way and comes for me. I have a whip and give him about two hundred strokes within five seconds on his nose as hard as I can. He turns and heads away.

Son in law and I are both unhurt and the bull is off with the stray cows.

I'll call them in again tomorrow and feed the ones I have penned up. Maybe he'll come in to eat in three or four days. They come into the corral to eat salt routinely so it's a familiar place for them.

Time will tell.

Wife and I drove to town to get a half ton of feed to keep up the ruse that I want to feed them. I usually don't start feeding until October.

I'm beat, never even thought about going into the shop today.

I do run a farm, after all, so sometimes you have to do a bit of farm work.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

[xtremek]

All that brings back memories. Chasing horses, pigs, or cattle. It sucked until we started using my dunebuggy to run them down. Much easier than running on foot.

 

[jimreed2160]

Andy, you live one big adventure after another. The bull chase makes my hurricane story sound like a boring shopping trip. I think it might be time to give the border collie rescue groups a call. Hershey needs a friend and I'll bet some little yappy dog would give the bull fits.

Anyway, good luck catching him. The foot does look like it needs attention.

 

[shortykorte]

Andy that story sounds like a bunch of bull. lol
Hey we might end up with some of the central Florida cattle in our yards tomorrow.


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[oldironfarmer]

All that brings back memories. Chasing horses, pigs, or cattle. It sucked until we started using my dunebuggy to run them down. Much easier than running on foot.

I rarely have to chase anything, but it is pretty urgent to capture the bull to doctor him. If only he understood. Now I'm letting him settle down and hopefully wanting to join the herd. The stray cows came in the barn overnight and ate what I had left. They are now penned with the rest of the herd, so if the bull gets lonely he may come in. I have a lot of areas where a dune buggy would not be of much value

Andy, you live one big adventure after another. The bull chase makes my hurricane story sound like a boring shopping trip. I think it might be time to give the border collie rescue groups a call. Hershey needs a friend and I'll bet some little yappy dog would give the bull fits.

Anyway, good luck catching him. The foot does look like it needs attention.

Reminds me of "having an interesting life". I'd rather chase a bull than be hit by a hurricane, by the way.

I have considered taking Hershey to a dog obedience school (really owner obedience) with the view to teaching her to be a cow dog. I think she could learn. However, usually all I need is feed to collect cattle. Just an unfortunate incident with this bull. He may survive, but it's not looking good. He seems to be a bit, ummm, bull headed.

Andy that story sounds like a bunch of bull. lol
Hey we might end up with some of the central Florida cattle in our yards tomorrow.


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The whole country really feels for you guys in Florida. Me included.

Thanks for stopping by guys, maybe this hurricane thing will blow over.

 

[Craptain]

Thanks for stopping by guys, maybe this hurricane thing will blow over.

Pun intended?

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[oldironfarmer]

Pun intended?

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

Hardly even a pun, eh?

One must take the opportunity to be misunderstood at every turn.

Thanks for noticing

Short update here. Spent more time looking for bull and moving hay. But I did get a bit more floor demolition completed. Looks like the cab support can be reinforced rather than replaced.

The rib in the center had a broken piece cracked out around a spot weld, but everything else looks pretty good.

So glad to hear that Irma got tired of terrorizing people. Still massive destruction.

 

[Farmall450]

Any word on your bull?? Hopefully he's doing alright.

 

[drivesitfar]

Andy: I'm sure i've got a lot of reading and catching up to do, but just logged on after a couple months of a GJ absence and wanted to show you an old guy full of a little BS can show up so maybe your BULL will too. i hope there is some medicine to solve his issues cause he still needs to make a few more little ones for your farm.

good to see you are still alive and kicking (or walking the farm a lot) and looking forward to reading and catching up with all you probably did so far this summer.

ALL: for those of you in Houston and all of Florida and maybe a few more states dealing with the aftermaths of those two huge hurricanes i wish you all the best.

cheers

 

[oldironfarmer]

Any word on your bull?? Hopefully he's doing alright.

Bull is hiding out or has died. I've looked for him but haven't found him. I hope he's doing all right too.

Andy: I'm sure i've got a lot of reading and catching up to do, but just logged on after a couple months of a GJ absence and wanted to show you an old guy full of a little BS can show up so maybe your BULL will too. i hope there is some medicine to solve his issues cause he still needs to make a few more little ones for your farm.

good to see you are still alive and kicking (or walking the farm a lot) and looking forward to reading and catching up with all you probably did so far this summer.

ALL: for those of you in Houston and all of Florida and maybe a few more states dealing with the aftermaths of those two huge hurricanes i wish you all the best.

cheers

Hey Drives!! Great to see you back. Having trouble finding much time for GJ lately

Farm work seems to be taking control for now.

Thanks for stopping in.

 

[dchance]

Andy good to hear from you. I think farming is from sun up to sun down with no breaks. It is work for sure.

Hope the bull is okay also. With 160 acres and tree cover there would e a lot of places to hide.

Dwight

 

[VocaTexas]

I've got a Maine-Anjou/Angus cross bull that had a front hoof in just about as bad a shape as your bull has. I took him to the vet and left him for four days. They lanced the skin just above the hoof and drained it. Then they flushed it with water and disinfectant and gave him antibiotics. The flush and injections happened twice a day while he was at the vets. I brought him home after that and he ended up healing just fine. Took nearly a month for all the swelling to go down.

About handling an onery bull...I bought mine when he was about 2 1/2 years old. He was pasture-raised and wasn't exactly wild, but didn't want anybody closer than about twenty feet. When I got him home I kept him in my pens for a little over a week. The first three days I would feed him over the fence (a couple of chips of hay and some cubes) twice a day. I put the feed closer to the fence every time and stood there while he ate. When he would come up and eat with the feed right next to the fence, I started going in the pen. Every time I would work my way closer to him. After about five days he would take hay if I held it out, and after a week he would take a cube from my hand. He will eat from my hand and let me scratch him on the forehead now.

I do basically the same thing with heifers I keep. Sure makes working them easier. I try not to make them pets, just used to me being up close to them.

 

[bolensboneyard]

I've got a Maine-Anjou/Angus cross bull that had a front hoof in just about as bad a shape as your bull has. I took him to the vet and left him for four days. They lanced the skin just above the hoof and drained it. Then they flushed it with water and disinfectant and gave him antibiotics. The flush and injections happened twice a day while he was at the vets. I brought him home after that and he ended up healing just fine. Took nearly a month for all the swelling to go down.

About handling an onery bull...I bought mine when he was about 2 1/2 years old. He was pasture-raised and wasn't exactly wild, but didn't want anybody closer than about twenty feet. When I got him home I kept him in my pens for a little over a week. The first three days I would feed him over the fence (a couple of chips of hay and some cubes) twice a day. I put the feed closer to the fence every time and stood there while he ate. When he would come up and eat with the feed right next to the fence, I started going in the pen. Every time I would work my way closer to him. After about five days he would take hay if I held it out, and after a week he would take a cube from my hand. He will eat from my hand and let me scratch him on the forehead now.

I do basically the same thing with heifers I keep. Sure makes working them easier. I try not to make them pets, just used to me being up close to them.

Just have to weigh in. I got my bull when he was a calf. I was steered away from even having my own bull as I had never worked with one before. I basically did the same thing and treated him with respect (just like electricity) and kindness. He followed me around like a dog and it even got to where I could give him hand signals when the cows were not looking from 50 yards away and he knew he was getting sweet feed for his own. It was comical to watch him slink away from the heard. The cows paid him know mind; just thought he was going of to be by himself as bulls do. I miss him.

 

[realvc]

Andy have you noticed all the B.S. (Bull Stories) in your thread of late?

Hope all is well with your bull, when you see him again.

 

[drivesitfar]

Andy: sorry i haven't made time to post on GJ and I easily can make a few posts and read a few threads each day so i will. that said after such a long absence i was thinking about what to say on your thread and i was thinking about just saying how's the BULL been since i've been gone. sorry to hear he's not well and hope you find him soon so the vet can maybe fix his foot cause from the sounds of it i'm reading that might be curable.

best of luck.

not sure you've seen 1/2 Cup's Shed Downunder thread, but he just posted a long TO DO like list of the goings on in his life i'm sure might sound a bit familiar and like anything else he's taking it in good spirits and treating his Cancer like a task to correct and beat.

hope all is ok with your health and really hoping your bride's health improves too.

cheers

 

[oldironfarmer]

Andy good to hear from you. I think farming is from sun up to sun down with no breaks. It is work for sure.

Hope the bull is okay also. With 160 acres and tree cover there would e a lot of places to hide.

Dwight

Thanks for stopping in. I could find him if I scoured the place, but with his attitude I don't think he will come out of the brush. We worked calves and turned the herd back out so the bull may find some company. I'll go looking for him tomorrow and see if he is doing OK.

I've got a Maine-Anjou/Angus cross bull that had a front hoof in just about as bad a shape as your bull has. I took him to the vet and left him for four days. They lanced the skin just above the hoof and drained it. Then they flushed it with water and disinfectant and gave him antibiotics. The flush and injections happened twice a day while he was at the vets. I brought him home after that and he ended up healing just fine. Took nearly a month for all the swelling to go down.

About handling an onery bull...I bought mine when he was about 2 1/2 years old. He was pasture-raised and wasn't exactly wild, but didn't want anybody closer than about twenty feet. When I got him home I kept him in my pens for a little over a week. The first three days I would feed him over the fence (a couple of chips of hay and some cubes) twice a day. I put the feed closer to the fence every time and stood there while he ate. When he would come up and eat with the feed right next to the fence, I started going in the pen. Every time I would work my way closer to him. After about five days he would take hay if I held it out, and after a week he would take a cube from my hand. He will eat from my hand and let me scratch him on the forehead now.

I do basically the same thing with heifers I keep. Sure makes working them easier. I try not to make them pets, just used to me being up close to them.

I usually have all of my cattle pretty tame. The time to get worried is when a tame one starts to get aggressive. And that happened with this bull. Probably his pain and fever.

My neighbor (she would have been 107 this year) told me to never tame a bull: he'll try to approach trespassing hunters to get scratched and they will shoot him out of fear. Happened to her.

Thanks for commenting.

Just have to weigh in. I got my bull when he was a calf. I was steered away from even having my own bull as I had never worked with one before. I basically did the same thing and treated him with respect (just like electricity) and kindness. He followed me around like a dog and it even got to where I could give him hand signals when the cows were not looking from 50 yards away and he knew he was getting sweet feed for his own. It was comical to watch him slink away from the heard. The cows paid him know mind; just thought he was going of to be by himself as bulls do. I miss him.

I was confused when you said you were steered

They are smart animals, and have their own society.

Interesting story.

Andy have you noticed all the B.S. (Bull Stories) in your thread of late?

Hope all is well with your bull, when you see him again.

Just so long as nobody mentions their rooster.

Andy: sorry i haven't made time to post on GJ and I easily can make a few posts and read a few threads each day so i will. that said after such a long absence i was thinking about what to say on your thread and i was thinking about just saying how's the BULL been since i've been gone. sorry to hear he's not well and hope you find him soon so the vet can maybe fix his foot cause from the sounds of it i'm reading that might be curable.

best of luck.

not sure you've seen 1/2 Cup's Shed Downunder thread, but he just posted a long TO DO like list of the goings on in his life i'm sure might sound a bit familiar and like anything else he's taking it in good spirits and treating his Cancer like a task to correct and beat.

hope all is ok with your health and really hoping your bride's health improves too.

cheers

I just saw Steve's response. It seemed he was suffering from more than a collapsed lung. Sounds like he's in good hands, but still no fun.

My wife is doing OK, but her condition is degenerative and improvement is just not in the cards. The primary mechanism is Parkinson's. She wanted to go to my shop today so off we went. She had not been there in a couple of years (other than one quick visit), so things have changed. I parked her wheelchair in the foundry room and melted a few dozen cans so she could see an aluminum pour. She really enjoyed seeing the molten aluminum.

Then after I got her back to the house and finished lunch, I got back on the Studebaker. Ground the first patch plate smooth.

Then set about to make the driver's side cab support. I can buy one for $35, but I wanted to try, and the one available did not look exactly like the original anyway. Mine won't either. Original is 13 gauge, I only have 12 gauge, it is a lot heavier. Did some measuring, made a drawing and then layout on some plate.

I trimmed it with my bench shear, it was a load but did OK. That's two cut offs next to the layout piece.

My 22 gauge brake was not going to touch the 12 gauge so I had to hammer it out in the vise. Getting the last bend took a little time to figure out how to clamp it.

But then I could drive it down with a 1" rod for a punch.

Getting that bend most of the way allowed me to work it on into place. It fits pretty good.

I think it lines up OK.

Main thing is to be flat on the back to get a good weld to support the cab. Floor board support is secondary. The back is not supposed to be square to the floor. I was pleased with the outcome, especially for having to pound it into shape. I didn't even make any bend the wrong way. It's not real straight but it will do.

Thanks for dropping in, and keep praying for 1/2 Cup.

 

[shortykorte]

I bet that was a great morning for the Mrs.

Look at you Mr. Fabricator. We'll be calling you Robert Jr in short order.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[oldironfarmer]

I bet that was a great morning for the Mrs.

Look at you Mr. Fabricator. We'll be calling you Robert Jr in short order.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was surprised she wanted to spend time in the shop. We had a great time.

I'm just crawling but having a great time trying to pound the sh*t out of cold steel. Fortunately this piece gets welded in place never to see the light of day again (unless the Stud-e-Baker rolls over and plays dead).

Good to see you!

 

[Rex_A_Lott]

Nice to see you having a little adult supervision while you bang away with the new tools. Looks like you are at least accomplishing something, too often my metal projects wind up in the scrap pile.
As for the bull, you have been around nature a lot more than me, you know not to worry too much unless you see the buzzards circling.
As always, thanks for taking the time to post the pics and comments on your projects.

 

[oldironfarmer]

I'm sure having fun banging away

I'm surprised I haven't scrapped a piece yet. Have made a few practice pieces, but so far good material has worked out OK, at least to my low standards.

My wife does like the new benches and tool boards. She commented several times how much she likes seeing tool hung up instead of on the floor

Sometimes the animals just have to take care of themselves. Of course after you see the buzzards it's too late to call the vet.

Your comment on posting progress is appreciated. When I started on the Studebaker most people quit posting. There's a long way to go to get it finished and I appreciate the encouragement.

Dimes are on top of the machine...

 

[dchance]

I like the cab support. It is in a good learning location so that you can proceed on and be ready when the part shows.

Glad to hear that your wife got out with you. I'm sure that improved the day.

Dwight

 

[Farmall450]

My wife does like the new benches and tool boards. She commented several times how much she likes seeing tool hung up instead of on the floor

Fancy that!

 

[oldironfarmer]

I like the cab support. It is in a good learning location so that you can proceed on and be ready when the part shows.

Glad to hear that your wife got out with you. I'm sure that improved the day.

Dwight

That was my thought to on the cab support. Using 12 gauge made it tougher. But I have had a sheet of 12 gauge laying in the floor for some twenty years was a better choice than buying something. I struggled forming it cold with no brake. I really should have used the torch on it but managed to get it done.

I don't know what got into her, but I'm glad.

Fancy that!

And I really didn't think she would notice. She actually noticed my shop looked a little cleaner and more organized than it used to be.

Thanks for stopping in, guys!

Didn't do much today, but got started on another forming tool for the Studebaker. There is a curved hat section reinforcement under the back of the cab which is rusted out on both sides. It is made of 14 gauge like the cab supports so instead of buying a sheet of 14 gauge I'm going to use the 12 gauge I have. 16 gauge would probably work but if we do a good job on the truck it may see a lot of miles if my grand daughter likes it and keep it. So to make the hat section I made a female form from a piece of 1"x2-1/2" bar. Milled all the gap out.

Then ground the corners round and polished them smooth so the metal will slide over the contact points. The form is setting on the piece it is intended to duplicate.

The hat section makes two turns (first it curves down right in front of the form then makes a flat turn to the right) so it will probably be easiest to make two pieces with a single curve in each then weld the two together. I plan to use the form in the fly press. It's 5 ton with plenty of stroke so the male form will be made to fit in the fly press arbor. That will make forming the 12 gauge manageable.

More on that tomorrow. Thanks for looking in!