Above 1200 Sq/FT DFB's Garage

[D.F.B]

MASPORT MSV -

The MSV Series went on sale in the mid 2000's as a premium addition to the rather extensive range of lawn mowers in Masport's lineup. These mowers debuted Masport's new 19-inch cast aluminium deck and went head-to-head with the new 19-inch Victa Mustang, Bronco and Razor. I'm not sure what came first, but you can clearly see MSV and Razor shared a similar handlebar design. It's also around this time when Masport (and Victa) were putting some effort into making their lawn mowers look visually appealing. You can see that in the profiling of the Masport's aluminum deck, the fancy "mag wheels" (which I always thought looked tacky), less angular catchers and experimenting with alternative colours such as purple and powder blue.

"Bringing together power, precision and great looks, the Masport MSV Series boasts high-performance mowers for those who aren't prepared to compromise on quality or features".

"The MSV is the luxury sports car of lawn mowers thanks to its unique body mouldings, airflow design, wide mag styled wheels and a stylish chassis design".



The initial MSV lineup consisted of several trim levels with varying levels of equipment. Most were powered by a Briggs & Stratton Quantum XVS engine with a unique Masport-only dress cover. There was also an 18-inch mulching model, the Honda powered 3-n-1, and a singular self-propelled 550 SP.

All shared the same "ErgoHandle" with the neatly integrated throttle controller, comfort grip, and snorkel assembly (the Honda didn't get a snorkel though). There was also Zone Start, 8-inch "Mag" Wheels, Smart Chute (n/a on mulcher model), 4-blade mulching disk (bar blade on mulcher), edge-to-edge cutting, and some models got a chipper chute.

For the earlier MSV's, Masport went with a dark plum purple and black colour scheme. The deck, engine cover and throttle/air filter housing were purple, while the wheels, handles, catcher and chassis wear strips were black. The purple was dropped in favour of silver/black and green/black for later builds. I personally liked the green ones.















The MSV Series was in production for more than 15-years, considerably longer than the similar concept Victa Razor and Tornado Edge. However, as the years went on, the MSV range was gradually reduced until it was simply a single model within the lineup, and its now no longer available.

I remember listening to a podcast in the last year that was interviewing the Masport product manager. In the interview, he noted that the Masport lineup was far too complicated and overpopulated with models. Fast forward to now and the range has been culled significantly, most of it from removing engine options on otherwise identical machines. That makes sense as battery power becomes more and more viable. Even still, I don't really understand having the President (green series) and Platinum (grey series) competing for the same customer, especially when all that separates them from one another is the paint on the deck. Pick one colour and run with it.

 

[D.F.B]

After few big days on the tools, it was nice to get some tinker time in the garage today. In the box seat, the Ranger....................

The weather has been so unpredictable this spring. When I last washed the Ranger on Saturday, the temperature reached 31-degrees (88f), about right for this time of the year. The next day it was cold and windy with a top of 17-degrees (62f). Annoyingly, a 60-second shower of rain undid my efforts 24-hours earlier, littering the car with dirty water spots.

It's always a satisfying moment when you finish off a bottle of product, or two in this case.....................



The first to go was P&S Wide Open, which is from their off-road line. P&S are not known for great soaps, most of them refuse to foam and are poorly concentrated. Wide Open bucks that trend in that it can foam and is acceptably concentrated, so you use less per application. And the slightly alkaline formula means it can actually clean! So, I'd say this is arguably their best soap. And yet, Wide Open is nothing more than adequate, middle of the road, good but not great. I used up the bottle in my wheel bucket and won't be re-ordering.

P&S Detail Products - Wide Open All Terrain Wash | The Rag Company

Highly concentrated, high powered OFF ROAD Wash Soap. Perfect for every day washing on ATVS, dirt bikes, off-road trucks, and more. Wide Open is a pH balanced but still strong enough to get any job done. Wide Open Wash creates a ton of deep penetrating suds to infiltrate tough mud.

theragcompany.com

The second was Inspiration Radiance. Nearly everything about this soap would land it on my sin-bin list; poor concentration, lack of foaming ability, a terribly dated scent, and a lack of ultimate slickness under the wash media. Wash-n-wax style soaps like Radiance are not my usual preference, mostly because they are heavily compromised to achieve a happy balance between cleaning power and the ability to leave something behind. And yet, I actually like this soap, which stems from the wax-like gloss and slickness it leaves behind. Will Radiance easily clean a filthy vehicle, not really. Will it leave substantial protection, hardly. Does it put on a heathy foam party, never. But the end result is so satisfying. Will I re-order Inspiration Radiance? Probably not, but not because I don't like using it, rather a lack of need for a soap like this and the superiority of others like it (Koch Chemie CES for example).

P&S Inspiration Radiance | The Rag Company

Wash your car and preserve your car's paint protection with Inspiration RADIANCE Coating Maintenance Wash. Get professional car detailing results in minutes with just this product and a microfiber towel or wash mitt.

theragcompany.com

Following the wash with Radiance, I went with Bead Maker as the drying aid. And what a lovely combo this is, both having that wax-like look and feel. I've said this for a while now, but solid/non-metallic colours seem to look best with a wax or synthetic sealant, Si02 products can look very sterile in comparison.



For today's detail, there were two additional extras -

- A very quick rinse down of the engine bay, an application of Hyper Dressing, and a blow down with the EGO to distribute the dressing and remove excess water.

- Cleaning and reapplying Reload to the black plastic wing mirrors, fender features, door handles, bumper insert and window trims. I really need to go over these areas with Solution Finish but Reload is a quick and easy alternative.



Clean again!

 

[D.F.B]

For today's spotlight, two brochures from the Victa professional lineup, one from the early 2000's, one from the late 2010's.

VICTA PRO-SERIES MOWERS -

While not dated, this is one of the oldest brochures in my collection, one I would have picked up in 2001 or so. Only one of these mowers is still in production, the rest were basically at the end of their production life.



The range opened with the Pro 460 Utility, which is now sold as the MasterCut 460. This utility chassis has been in production since the 1970's, the only changes being wheels, discharge flap and engine selection. At this point in time, they offered the High Compression Victa 2-Stroke and the B&S Quattro 4-Stroke.



The Pro 550 was next, which is the predecessor to the current generation Mulchmaster 560. These featured an aluminium chassis, which provided a 22-inch cut in either side throw or mulching formats. Available in push or self-propel, I'm not sure you'd want to be pushing one of these tanks! Power came from the Hi-Compression 2-Stroke with a massive 5.4-litre remote fuel tank, or the rather unusual Honda GXV 140. I'd have taken the 2-Stroke, simply because that Honda is just too small for commercial use, especially with such a large cutting width and self-propel.

Rounding out the range was the Pro 505, powered exclusively by the Hi-Compression 2-Stroke. These mowers had been in production since the 80's and featured a bullet proof 20-inch aluminium chassis, self-propel, a 4-litre fuel tank and an oversized catcher. These mowers are highly sought after on the used market.









All of these mowers were made prior to Breaks & Scrap'em arrived on the scene, so quality and durability were always the goal and not considered an area in which cost savings could be made.

VICTA COMMERCIAL MOWERS -

This next brochure takes us back to 2016. The MasterCut and Mulchmaster were still very much the anchor of the professional range, but for several years Victa was missing rear catching models. This on again, off again approach is very unfortunate for the brand as a whole and basically helped Honda build such a strong leading reputation within the professional space. While the MasterCut and Mulchmaster are brilliant machines, they are application specific mowers, and the lack of a rear catcher model basically handed sales to the competition.



Originally, these commercial mowers were based on the 19-inch alloy Mustang chassis and went head-to-head with the Honda HRU196. A 21-inch version would arrive a few years later to go up against the Honda HRU216. Changes to the chassis over the basic Mustang included a different front "bumper" clip, steel side skirts to protect the aluminium, steel catcher flap, reinforced handle mountings with adjustable rake, heavy duty wheels, and a fabric 50-litre catcher with leather covered wear points.

"Designed, Tested & Assembled in Australia"



All up, there were four models, 2 push and 2 self-propelled. The single speed commercial grade gearbox was belt driven, offering up to 5 KM/H walking speed. Engine choices included the Honda GXV160 and the terrible Briggs & Stratton "Vanguard".

I say "Vanguard" because this was a rebranded 161cc DOV and not unique as is typical for engines with the Vanguard name. On the plus side, this engine offered a moly-coated piston, forged crankshaft, plasma-coated piston rings and a "Dura Bore" cast iron cylinder liner. It's also the last time a Briggs mower engine was offered with hi-zone snorkel air filter.

I say "terrible" because these engines were dogs. The unique lever-arm valve actuators are a known failure point that requires an engine and sump off repair. Mine had a lot of valve-train clatter, which is at odds with what Breaks & Scrap'em claimed. It was also completely gutless and would bog down far too easily. Despite the GXV160 and Vanguard sharing a similar capacity, the Honda felt as if it had underquoted its power figures, whereas Briggs overquoted.

Frankly, I really don't understand why Victa went with this engine, which at the time had replaced the 850-series on the Mulchmaster and Mustang as well. The 190cc 850 was/is vastly superior, to point where they eventually went back to it a few years later. I remember when I was looking for a Mulchmaster, they were offering both engines, so I had to make sure the right product code was ordered to get the 850.



As per usual, Victa has since deleted the 19-inch commercial models. And yet, Masport, Honda, Bushranger and SupaSwift all offer similar mowers in this space. I really hope the new owners breath some life back into Victa, and the commercial line in particular.

 

[D.F.B]

Reflecting on Carpro Reflect

Reflect is what Carpro terms a “rapidly-diminishing nano abrasive” finishing polish. Producing an ultra-high gloss finish and famed for its ease of use, Reflect is without question one of my favourite polishing products. Unlike some final step polishes, Reflect contains no “durable fillers”, which means a body shop safe formular with no silicones, waxes or Teflon to mask minor imperfections, what you see is what you get. Reflect is an ideal finishing step to remove minor compounding haze, or as a final jeweling polish to take gloss and clarity to new levels.

Get CarPro Reflect Finishing Polish Online | Waxit

CarPro Reflect is a versatile, finishing polish infused with nano-particles that produces an incredibly high-gloss finish. Get Yours Online Today! FREE Shipping on orders over $150!

www.waxit.com.au

CARPRO Reflect High Gloss Finishing Polish 250ml (8oz)

CarPro Reflect High Gloss Finishing Polish (250ml) was developed to complement the CQuartz line of nanotechnology coatings.

www.carpro-us.com

Being up front, the cutting and corrective ability of Reflect in minimal. Depending on the paint, that might be an asset. For example, I’ve used it on an intermediate foam pad to fully correct the paint on a late model Mazda. For the most part, you are using Reflect for its glossing ability, however it can do some correction on the right paint with the right pad. In most situations, you’d be going with a finishing or light polishing pad, stepping up to an intermediate if you feel the need. On my Mustang for instance, a ShineMate orange foam works well.





Reflect can be used with a rotary or dual action polisher, or even by hand. The key to Reflect is restraint, the compound working better using less product per section. After an initial priming, Carpro recommend two or three small, pea-size drops onto a pad per set of passes. As the Reflect breaks down through the cycle, you should see the product diminish to a very light haze, which is the sign you’ve broken it down properly. This is one of the reasons why the wipe off is so easy. For the most part, Reflect is virtually dust-less, but if you do notice some dusting, it means you’ve used too much or worked it for too long. Pad blow or brush outs are fairly important here too.



Reflect vs Essence -

Carpro Reflect and Essence share the same abrasive package, which means a rapidly diminishing formula for mild correction and high gloss finishes. Where Reflect is a pure polish, Essence contains an Si02 additive. In days of old, Essence would have been called an all-in-one, they now call it a “primer” polish.

The Si02 content in Essence helps provide mild filling properties, which in theory means you don’t have to chase each and every scratch. Essence will also prime the surface prior to the application of a coating to apparently improve bonding. In that regard, Carpro suggest Essence can be used prior to all of their coatings and spray sealants such as Reload and Hydr02. You can also use Essence as a standalone protectant, just don’t expect miracles in terms of durability.

While there are differences, both Reflect and Essence are the stupid-easy to play with, be that during the working phase, the easy wipe off or the complete lack of dusting. I’ve also found them useful in cleaning up that scratch prone gloss black trim that has become so popular. So, which you choose will ultimately depend on what you want or need to achieve. In my case, if I’m going to apply something ceramic, I’ll finish with Essence. If I’m doing an old-fashioned wax or synthetic sealant, then I’d go with Reflect.

Either way, I have, use and recommend both.



Top Tip -

Unless you are doing this for a living, always buy the smallest bottle of polish you can. Polishing compounds do in fact age and go bad over time. It can be tempting to buy the big bottle to potentially save money over the long run, but ideally you want to use every last drop and replenish as needed rather than throwing away a half-finished bottle because it's gone bad.

Final Thoughts –

I personally think Carpro Reflect gets overlooked. Within the Carpro line, Essence catches all the attention for its dual-role potential. On a wider scale, dedicated finishing polishes like this are not as needed or wanted. On hard European paint, you’ll need something stronger, even to finish with. And that’s before you consider how effective 1-step compounds have become, think Scholl S20 Black, Sonax Perfect Finish and P&S Rehab, in some cases removing the need for a last step finishing polish.

Even still, I love Reflect. It’s a joy to use, easy to work, easy to wipe off, easy on the eye!

 

[D.F.B]

And while we are on polishing, I came across these while shopping in Repco this afternoon.......................



Meguiar's are on crack if they think a singular foam polishing pad is worth $40 each. Who is buying these at this price? For context, let's look at a few alternative equivalents..................

Buff and Shine Uro-Tec Maroon - $24.95 ea

Buff and Shine Uro-Tec Coarse Blue - $24.95 ea

Lake Country SDO Blue - $19.50 ea

Lake Country SDO CCS Blue - $22.95 ea

Maxshine High Medium Pro - $21.50 ea

Rupes DA Coarse Blue - $25.40 ea

ShineMate Yellow - $15.70 ea

ShineMate Green - $15.70 ea

 

[D.F.B]

Happy Friday!!

For today, the mighty XR8 was next in line. I had planned on filming this, but I didn't think viewers would want to hear an arborist running a woodchipper at full tilt the next street over.

These are my favorite wheels to clean!



Wheel Cleaning -
Tyres scrubbed with P&S Undressed, wheels washed with KCx GSF, Hydr02 Lite applied, Atom Mac on the rotors.

Exterior -
Washed using GSF, drying aid was ADS Amplify, door jambs also with Amplify. The engine bay was wiped down with Carpro ECH20, glass via KCx RRW at 128:1.

Interior -
A very quick vac of the drivers side floor mat, then a general wipe down with a damp TRC Eagle 500. Front windscreen cleaned with Invisible Glass.

Wheel & Tyre Dressing -
To start, the tyres were deep cleaned using Tarminator. The wheels and exhaust tips were given a wipe down with Bead Maker. For something a little different, I went with Gtechniq T2. This is not one of the WOW products, but it's very easy to apply and offers excellent coverage. If you like that barely there look to a tyre dressing, then T2 is a great option.









And what a glorious, peaceful spring day it was for detailing! Sunny, not too hot, not too windy, music blaring on the Airpod Max! :like: I suspect the guy across the road got to witness his neighbour rocking out to Nothing's Wrong by Haim. I don't care though, it made me feel good. :rockon:

 

[Mark_17]

Have you ever used Poor Boy's World Natural Look? That is one of my favorite tire dressing finishes, it doesn't give the tires any real shine but instead look super clean.

 

[D.F.B]

Have you ever used Poor Boy's World Natural Look? That is one of my favorite tire dressing finishes, it doesn't give the tires any real shine but instead look super clean.

I have, love the scent and how easily it spreads.

 

[D.F.B]

VICTA SUPER 24, MASTERCUT 600 & SUPER 600

These mowers were an institution! For decades, Victa made these slasher mowers for heavy duty applications, typically bought by property owners, councils, schools, sporting clubs and hire companies. Sold alongside a variety of special use and commercial grade machines, quite often they were special order only, particularly in the later years.

Being in production for so long, these mowers were rebranded and refreshed with new colours many times over the years. Covering every single one would take me a month, so, here are the main evolution points of the Victa slasher.



The original was termed the Super 24, the 24 referring to the 24-inch cutting width. The deck design was quite distinctive and was made from heavy duty cast aluminium. The engine was the full-crank 160cc 70 and 80-Series 2-Stroke, fed by a massive 5.4-litre remote fuel tank. Victa rear mounted the engine, with power sent forward to the blades via belt. In addition to improved balance, this layout would have protected the crankshaft from impacts, a good thing considering the intended use. Despite its hulking size and large cutting width, a self-propel system was conspicuous in its absence, in fact Victa never added it. Considering the size and power of the engines Victa used on this machine over its life, I’d suggest the added drag of a gearbox would have killed the cutting performance.





As Victa phased out their full-crank engine in the early 1980’s, the new Powertorque “half-crank” engine appeared on the Super 24. This new engine featured a one-piece cast iron cylinder and crankcase, an alloy head and bottom mounted coil and flywheel. This engine was more cost effective to manufacture, and supremely durable being a cast iron cylinder. In comparison, the original full-crank Victa engine was quite complex to make due to its aluminium construction, two piece crankcase, a separate cylinder and cylinder head, external transfer ports covers and a cast top plate to house the ignition system. In operation, the full crank was smoother and happier to rev, but the Powertorque was more durable, easier to service and rebuild, even burnt up units could be given a quick hose and sent on their way.









At some point, the name was changed to the Super 600, as in 600mm cutting width. In the early 2000’s, Victa then rebranded their professional line to fit under the Master Series banner. The Super 600 then became the MasterCut 600. Apart from different deck colours, engines, and chute flap, these later versions were largely unchanged. By this stage, Victa was offering alternative power plants, including the Honda GXV 140, GXV 160, and GSV160. There was also the Briggs & Stratton Intek, 850 and Vanguard. The 4-strokes didn’t get the big fuel tank, although some owners would retrofit it as an auxiliary tank. In reality, the 2-Strokes needed that extra capacity due to their thirst. Some Honda powered units got a snorkel filter. As part of the later Master Series, the Powertorque was upgraded to the VSP spec, and later the VEX60.

A few key selling points –

- Heavy duty cast aluminium chassis with extensive reinforcement points
- 7-inch front wheels
- 12-inch “semi-pneumatic” rear wheels
- Long life reinforced axles
- 8 cutting positions running from 28 to 93mm, single point adjustment
- 2 blade round cutting disk

These next two shots are taken from the original Master Series brochure. Power came from the VSP 2-Stoke or Honda GSV160 (the cast iron bore version of the GCV160).

https://www.masteraustralia.com.au/documents/Victa_Master_Series_Brochure_Web1.pdf





This one has been taken from the late 2000's Master Series brochure. By this stage, Victa was offering three engines, the pick here being the 190cc 850, the most powerful engine that ever went on the Super 24/600.



This next shot is of a single leaf / double sided flyer from the mid - late 2010, basically the final evolution of the 600. Again, three engines were offered, although Victa switched to the more durable Honda GXV160. This was around the time when Victa had phased out the 850 Briggs for the crappy Vanguard.











Production of the Super 24 / Super 600 / MasterCut 600 wound up in the mid to late 2010’s, ending decades of this very particular mower. These were never big sellers, primarily because of application-specific role they served. A lack of self-propel further limited the appeal. In some ways, Victa probably did themselves out of repeat sales simply because these mowers were so solidly built. Under a number focused parent company, a slow seller is never going to survive. I do wonder if Victa kept the moulds for the Super 600 after it was discontinued, or did Briggs profit from that too by sending them to the scrap yard?

VIDEO -

Not many videos exist on these mowers, these are the two best I found.

The first video shows a full-crank model from the 70's, complete with the side-pull starter common during this era. I'm not sure why they went with this setup, was it more durable than the Zip-Starter recoil system on the rest of the range?

This is an odd one, be that the added bumper bars or the automotive muffler. I actually like the sound of this one with that muffler. Going by the brochure shot below, the bumper must have been an optional accessory.

 

[D.F.B]

Vale Allan Moffat - Australian Ford Royalty

Without doubt, Allan Moffat created generations of Ford fans. While he also raced other brands, and at one point crossed the divide, Allan is most famous for his racing efforts in Mustang's and Falcon's spanning multiple decades. His race wins in GTHO Falcon's gave Ford a massive image boost and laid the foundations for its ultimate market success through the 80's. Without him, and the mystique he shaped with the legendary GTHO Phase III, I doubt the modern FPV GT's would ever have happened.

The Coca-Cola Mustang is surely one of the reasons why I associate the colour red with the Mustang nameplate.







The notion of doing 161 laps of Bathurst as a sole driver is just mind boggling. That's driving at the edge of control without a break for 500 miles or 1000 kms! No power steering, drum rear brakes, a park bench-like seat and relatively no concession to safety outside of a helmet and basic seat belt. And to think he won the race doing that!

The 1 - 2 finish would have to be one of the most iconic moments in Bathurst and Australian Touring Car Racing history.

The Cobra Falcon's, surely one of the most iconic and highly recognisable Australian cars of all time.

In many respects, Allan's racing achievements are more remarkable due to the varying support he got from Ford. Brock on the other hand had a bottomless pit of funding from Holden.

Back in the early 2010's, by chance I actually got to meet Allan at the Melbourne Motor Show. That year, FPV had unveiled the Black Edition Concept, and with Alan being the FPV brand ambassador, he was present on the Ford/FPV stand to help promote it. As was usual, Saturday's were the busiest day of the show and the place was packed. And yet, as I walked onto the Ford stand, there was this old man standing over behind a counter with no one around. I'm like, OMG, that's Allan Moffat..............no one else knew who he was. Being all by himself, I decided to walk up and say hello. He went on to sign a poster, then complimented me on my then brand-new Nikon camera, to which I was quite star struck by. He was so polite, a true gentleman. I thanked him and left him alone, but I still wonder if anyone as young as I was eventually figured out who he was.

rl]

In the late 2010's, Allan partnered with Tickford as a brand ambassador. During that time, two special edition Tickford Mustang's were created in his honor. The first as a tribute to his Coke Mustang days, the second inspired by the 1977 1 - 2 Bathurst win livery.





And as one last snippet, during the 1970's Allan partnered with one of the most iconic Australian brands, Victa.

Always a sharp, calculated and levelheaded man, in his final years Allan succumbed to the grips of dementia. His mental decline meant not remembering the very things that made him a household name and a hero to many. While Allan raced well before my time, even as a budding Ford man in the early 2000's, I knew exactly who he was and what he meant to the Ford faithful. His legacy is immense and no doubt be remembered forever as a pioneer and a hero to generations of Ford guys and girls.

Allan Moffat - four-time Australian Touring Car Champion, four-time Bathurst 500/1000 winner, six-time Sandown 500 winner.

 

[Geoff289]

While Allan raced well before my time, even as a budding Ford man in the early 2000's, I knew exactly who he was and what he meant to the Ford faithful. His legacy is immense and no doubt be remembered forever as a pioneer and a hero to generations of Ford guys and girls.

I, on the other hand, am old enough to have seen him race the famous Coke Boss '69 Mustang and everything else that followed. While circuit racing isn't my main motor racing interest, I used to go most of the local touring car championship and then Supercar rounds, and went to Bathurst several times, including to witness that famous 1, 2 finish with Col Bond.

Alan also came to a Mustang Owners Club meeting as guest speaker several years ago and I had the opportunity for a chat with him afterwards. As you say, an absolute gentleman, generous with his time, staying well beyond his speaking commitment to hang out with members and share his anecdotes.

His passing is a great loss to Australian motorsport.

 

[Mark_17]

I have, love the scent and how easily it spreads.

Just a quick maintenance wash today. It was cold and rain is on the horizon but the truck was filthy and the wheels were caked in bed in material from the new brakes.

 

[Bob Heine]

I said this was a $0.50c failure...................more like a $11.40

@D.F.B, as a former illegal immigrant in Sydney (1989-1991) I vividly remember the shock at the cost of seemingly simple repairs. The condominium we rented was brand new and we were its first tenants. One day, soon after moving in, a light bulb in a recessed ceiling fixture died. Upon removing it, I was pleased to see it was a simple incandescent indoor floodlight with an Edison base. I assumed it was a $1 to $2 bulb and choked when the local hardware store (only place that seemed to carry US-style bulbs). It was $8 ($20.21 inflated price today). Clerk warned me they don't last long and he turned out to be right. Got to be good friend with the hardware store clerk, visiting at least once a month for those two years. Sometimes I was buying three or four because every ceiling fixture in the place had one of those bulbs in it.

I will avoid mentioning our auto, electronic, or clothing shocks. It was cheaper to fly to Hawaii to buy two pair of Rockport walking shoes and sell the second pair than to buy one pair in Sydney. It may have changed in the ensuing 36 years but it took some getting used to. We enjoyed our time down under so much, the price of imported stuff faded away. Had our children not decided to reproduce, we'd still be in Sydney (or Melbourne) but 17anchors (2 children, 9 grands and six great grands) and their significant others keep us here in Heaven/Hell's waiting room (Florida).

 

[Bob Heine]

"What new mower did you buy Stevo?".......... "Oh, a Little Possum"

@D.F.B, we loved Dame Edna. (S)HE was the reason we named our Bichon Frise "Possum." Our friends gifted us the pick of the litter when we returned from Australia. Most people in our circle didn't get it because a Possum in the US is far from cute (alive or dead -- or playing dead). They also knew nothing of the Australian Common Brushtail Possum.
American Possum

Australian Possum

Heine Possum

 

[Bob Heine]

I once had a boss that had 10 of those traits.
What an a$$hole he was/is.

Jon, I don't recall when it was you worked for me.

 

[D.F.B]

2025 XR6 Detail

The time has come to give the XR6 some love. I last polished this car in December 2020, and in truth, its needed attention for a while now. Thing is, with how many times I’ve polished this car over its 17-year life, I’m starting to get nervous about how much clearcoat I have left to play with. Ideally, you’d whip out a paint depth gauge, but for whatever reason I don’t have one.

The paint doesn’t need much, and I won’t be pursuing total correction. I’m at point now where chasing every single scratch or mark is waste of time. There, I said it. The reality is, unless you put the car in a bubble and NEVER touch it again, marring is inevitable. So, you either live with the marring, or go through a cycle of enhancement and maintenance, enhancement and maintenance………………….This is also a reason why I say to ignore longevity claims of ceramic coatings, especially ones with bogus 7 to 10 year figures because the paint will need enhancement long before that theoretical end date.

PREP WASHING

As you would expect for a garage queen that is washed to death, there really wasn’t much to be done here. Only four products were used today, ADS Decon Soap, Carpro Clay Lube (at 10:1), TRC Ultra Clay Scrubber and Carpro Eraser.



I won't be touching the wheels for this detail, so I foamed them with Touch-less, scrubbed the tyres with Wise Guy, then rinsed.......done. From here, the whole car was rinsed for the next steps.

From here, I foamed with Decon Soap then went ahead with the contact wash. I love ADS Decon Soap because it's super slick and stays on the car for the whole wash rather than disappearing as you work. Great product! After another rinse, I went around with Carpro Clay Lube and a TRC Ultra Clay Scrubber. I really didn't want to douse this car in iron remover, and from experience, it's not a worthwhile step on these garage queens. So, a very light clay treatment was all I felt was needed, and even then, I'm not sure how much contamination there was to remove. Still, I did it to tick that check box. This was my first try of Carpro's clay lube, it's probably not as slick as Gyeon's but I like how it stays active for longer and even lathers up a little bit as you work. It also rinses freely.



After one final rinse, the old girl was driven back into the garage for a drying. After a blow down with the Ego, including the door jambs to flush out those stray drips, I went around with two large Gauntlet towels and Carpro Eraser to finish off the drying and prep for polishing. The appropriate areas were then taped up.

TODAYS OBSERVATIONAL RANT -

Most manufacturers of high-pH soaps sell them as a "strip wash" to remove existing protection products. Let me tell you, in most cases that is just not going to happen. This is especially so with modern ceramic coatings and spray sealants. Yes, if you ramped up the dilution strength and repeatedly washed the car over and over, maybe you'd see a stripping effect. But who is doing that? Not me. So, after washing your car with these products and you still see water beading, this is basically normal.

In my case today, the decon wash knocked back some of the water behaviour, but even then, that often happens after washing with soap as they tend to leave a slight film behind. After the clay step, there was another slight degradation to the water beading. The Eraser wipe/dry process will have played a small part as well. Polishing will ultimately finish things off.

So why use these soaps if they don't actually remove an LSP? The idea is to remove as much surface level contamination as possible prior to hitting the paint with clay bars and polishers. So, while the "protection" may still be there, it's at least clean before you go rubbing on the paint. This improves the effectiveness and longevity of your clay and polishing pads.

Note - If your car only has something minor on the paint (say a detail spray), or a failing wax or sealant at the end of its run, then yes, a decon soap will toast whatever is left. For most enthusiasts who are forever "topping off" the protection with drying aids, this probably won't apply. I guess what I'm saying is to be realistic in what you will achieve with these soaps rather than saying product didn't work.

POLISHING -

The last time I polished this car, it was my first time polishing with battery power. And what a revelation. Unless you are running a polisher all day every day, we are at the point now where a power cord is basically obsolete. No management of cords, more flexibility, superior balance.

A lot has happened between 2020 and 2025. Like many who were at home for most of 2020 and into 2021, I doubled down on detailing to save my sanity. That included everything from trying new products, to expanding my tool artillery, even learning new skills and methods such as ceramic coatings and rinse-less washing. I also did my best to make my garage more functional, more efficient. The sink was transformative, likewise the new flooring. The cabinets meant everything had a place, and the wall mount pressure washer made washing so convenient. And during all of that, I was like a dog with a bone, it was an obsession that meant I was pursuing something positive and distracting myself from the world, the people I was working with, my depression and chronic pain. The amount of time spent researching just the nozzles to go with that pressure washer.......insanely excessive. So, when people would question why anyone would need 15 different tyre dressings or an expensive pressure washer, they were missing the point.

Anyway, a lot has changed, but then all but one of the cars remains the same. The last time I polished the XR6, I used my then 1-day old ShineMate polishers with a new pad system, ShineMate Black Diamond. These machines with those pads were so much more natural feeling than my old Waxit polisher and huge Lake Country CSS pads, suddenly I felt more confident. I then paired both with an old favourite, Scholl S20 Black.





Fast forward to 2025, well I didn't want to hammer the paint too hard, so the pad and compound choice reflect this. That means a ShineMate orange polishing pad with Carpro Reflect. For the roof and hood, I needed to step up to the Rupes turquoise intermediate pad with Sonax Perfect Finish. In addition to the Rupes HLR15, this was my first proper go using the new ShineMate EB212.



This little machine rocks! The EB-351 3-inch it replaced was far too bulky and heavy for such a small pad size, to the point where I didn't like using it. I sat back and considered various alternatives from ShineMate, Rupes and Flex, but nothing really hit the mark. Then the little Mirka became the benchmark 3-inch, but is just too expensive for what it is. Then ShineMate dropped the EB212 earlier in the year, basically a Mirka for a third of the price. If you can't afford or justify the Mirka, this EB212 is the best 3-inch polisher on the market.

Despite it's compact size, this EB212 has more grunt than the larger framed EB351. It rarely stalls, probably the best d/a polisher I've experienced in that regard. And because it doesn't stall, its more effective in getting the job done. I absolutely love the size, basically taking everything I adore about the Rupes LHR75 pneumatic, but without the hose hanging off the back. Actually, the battery balances the machine better, especially with the larger 5.0 ah version. In terms of battery life, I used this machine the most today and still had power left to spare when I called quits on the session. Only two negatives for me would be how hot the machine gets, so you need to be mindful not to block the cooling vents with your fingers. It can also be a little hit and miss with the double-tap throttle lock feature. Apart from that, its a winner.







And that's where I leave it for today. I still have the doors, side skirts, front bumper, wing mirrors and door trims left to polish. I also want to polish the glass and treat the rear bumper insert with Solution Finish. Then it will be time for some fresh protection.

I've been struggling with depression this week, and as usual, I shut down. This has been compounded by my little buddy being sick. He'd been at the vet since Tuesday morning, and I've been lost without him. Thankfully, he came home this evening and is much perkier than Tuesday morning, I just hope he continues to recover. Over the last few days, I've been fighting the feeling that I'm rapidly approaching that moment we all dread. I'm not exaggerating when I say he is the only friend I have close to me, I just want him to be happy.

Starting on the XR6 today at least gave me an escape for a few hours, a distraction.

 

[littlebean]

I've been struggling with depression this week, and as usual, I shut down.

****, I know it won't help but I hope you start to feel brighter soon.

This has been compounded by my little buddy being sick. He'd been at the vet since Tuesday morning, and I've been lost without him. Thankfully, he came home this evening and is much perkier than Tuesday morning, I just hope he continues to recover. Over the last few days, I've been fighting the feeling that I'm rapidly approaching that moment we all dread. I'm not exaggerating when I say he is the only friend I have close to me, I just want him to be happy.

so sorry to hear that, it must be hard (certainly not a time I looking forward to) and our little (13 1/2 year old) girl says chin up

 

[Swanny1953]

DFB. what do you use to clean your pads at the end of the job? I haven't found a great product.

 

[D.F.B]

There was to be a XR6 part two today, but....................

I had to make the decision I knew in my heart was coming, I just didn't think it would happen so quickly. Not long after coming home, my beautiful boy went downhill. He slept next me all night, in clear discomfort which I knew it wasn't good. After talking with the Vet, he had gone downhill so fast that further treatment would not have been beneficial. They made a house call, and he slipped away so peacefully in his favourite spot on the couch with one his paws in my hand.

I know I did the "right" thing, so why does it feel like I betrayed him. Faych was my best friend, he was the most placid, trusting, loving and empathic soul I've ever come across. I gave him the best life I could.

I apologise if this is too raw, I'm venting this here because I just don't know what else to do. I'm a beyond lost, it hurts so much.

 

[littlebean]

So sorry to hear this, there's two bits I take from your post

I know I did the "right" thing

I gave him the best life I could.

These are all we can do for our companions and they're interlinked, giving them their best life possible means making the hardest decisions even when we know that that choice will hurt us beyond measure.
It will be little comfort I know but I suspect that Faych knew his time was coming but wasn't worried because he knew his best friend would be there for him.

Oh and vent all you like, Faych sounds like a great dog

 

[D.F.B]

So sorry to hear this, there's two bits I take from your post

These are all we can do for our companions and they're interlinked, giving them their best life possible means making the hardest decisions even when we know that that choice will hurt us beyond measure.
It will be little comfort I know but I suspect that Faych knew his time was coming but wasn't worried because he knew his best friend would be there for him.

Oh and vent all you like, Faych sounds like a great dog

I had picked up on that a couple of times this week, just one of things that is hurting me right now.

 

[ajohno]

Sorry mate.

 

[jon72vega]

Sorry about your loss, you did the right thing though.

 

[Mr.zippy]

So sorry...many of us have had to make that call. It sounds like you gave him a fantastic life. That's the very best you can do, as our companions are with us for too short of a time.

 

[zanyad]

So sorry to hear about Faych.

 

[D.F.B]

I've always said detailing has been my distraction when things are tough, this is no different and I hope the following posts don't come across the wrong way. I'm just trying to keep busy..........................

2025 XR6 Detail – Part 2

Picking up where I left of, that means more polishing, most of which being the more intricated areas.

Polishing (continued) -

Because I hate polishing front bumpers, I decided to get this out of the way first. Before starting, I added some additional taping around fog light bezels, headlights and grill inserts. Again, Carpro Reflect was teamed with an orange ShineMate polishing pad. For the more intricate sections, the iBrid Nano was used with the 12mm orbit and Rupes yellow foam pad.

Once the front bumper was done, I began rolling through the doors, side skirts, wing mirrors and glossy black B-pillar trims. For the doors, I used all three machines. The Nano was used around the handles, the EB212 3-inch for the belt line, contoured lower section and side skirts, the HLR15 5-inch for mid sections. The B-pillar trims and mirrors were next, the Nano with yellow Rupes pads were used here, one on the machine and one used by hand.

I set up the camera to show the EB212 in action -

Glass -

With the paint done, it was time to polish the glass. I like polishing glass, although not necessarily for the task itself. Instead, I love how polished glass disappears from behind the steering wheel.

To start, I needed additional taping around the windows to prevent staining the rubber trims and protect surrounding paintwork. Choice of compound was P&S Clarity Crème, first with the Nano in rotary mode for around the edges, followed by the EB212 and blue Lake Country cutting pad for the bulk.



With glass polishing, keep in mind that you aren’t really “correcting” the surface like you would with paint. Even with heavy duty compounds and pads, it will take your hours to remove a single scratch…………..if you are lucky. In which case, Carpro Ceri-Glass or Cerium Oxide teamed with a rayon pad would be your best bet. In my case, glass polishing is about deep cleaning. I like to use Clarity Crème, but any medium to heavy cutting compound teamed with foam or wool pads will also do the job, I'd probably avoid microfiber pads due to the higher heat generation.

Protection –

I’m done with ceramic coatings on garage queens. Longevity and ultimate chemical resistance are not a factor, especially with how “we” tend to continue topping things off with detailers and spray sealants. This is why after 5-years, the XR6 still showed supreme water behaviour. Having said that, on daily drivers a coating is probably a better option, but even then, I must prefer the user experience of a wax or sealant, far less stressful. There, I said it, again.

So, once again I’m reaching for an old favourite…………the now discontinued (in Australia) Wolfgang Deep Gloss Paint Sealant. I landed on this product way back in the early 2010’s after searching for something new/better than the Meguiar’s NXT paste wax and Autoglym Extra Gloss Protection that I had been using. This was back when Waxit was a sponsor of a local forum, so I reached out asking for advice, the reply suggested I try DGPS as it would suit the dark blue Sensation paint. I’ve used it on and off ever since. Are there better sealants out there, probably. Are there easier to apply LSP’s available, probably. Do I enjoy using the product, absolutely. Does the end result give me a sense of satisfaction, absolutely. Does the paint look and feel amazing, 100% yes. I remember not long after using DGPS for the first time, a family friend dropped around while I was washing the XR6, he instantly wanted to know what I had on the paint, he’d seen nothing like it before.



Prior to application, I used compressed air to blast out any polish dust from the door jambs and panel gaps. This was then followed by a heavy wipe down using Carpro Eraser.

As always, for the large areas I apply DGPS with a 5-inch dual action polisher and soft black waxing pad. I went with the ShineMate EB351 for this task because speed one on this unit is considerably slower than the Rupes, and for waxing you don't want or need pad speed. Intricate areas were treated with a foam applicator pad by hand. Once the entire vehicle is coated, leave the sealant to bond for 30 - 45min, then buff the residue. The wipe off is super smooth if applied in a light, even manner, however I recommend at least 4 to 6 towels to do this to prevent dust build up. You must then allow 12-hours for DGPS to cure before exposure to moisture.

 

[D.F.B]

Thank you to all that posted and reached out, it means more than you know. I think I was so numbed yesterday, it all happened so quickly. Today has been horribly tough, I haven’t felt this level of pain since my mentoring grandmother passed 15 years ago. I now understand what people describe as feeling empty, a sense of breathlessness and a deep tension from within that cannot to be elevated.

 

[D.F.B]

2025 XR6 Detail – Part 3

The following post covers the finishing touches.

Glass –

With the glass polished, it was time to get something back on it. After removing all of the remaining tape from the vehicle, I went around with a towel and Carpro Eraser to lift off any remaining polish residue and dust from the window rubbers and trims, a task I always hate doing but has to be done. All exterior glass was wiped down with Eraser, followed by undiluted IPA.

Product of choice for the glass was Gyeon Quick View. Applied to all glass and left to bond for at least 5-minutes, the residue is buffed using a damp towel. I follow with glass cleaner for a streak free finish.



Rear Bumper Diffuser –

I had planned on applying Solution Finish to this unpainted black plastic bumper insert. However, after cleaning with Eraser and IPA, the surface came up pretty good. So instead, I applied a heavy coating of Carpro Reload and called it good.

At some point I need to clean and scuff the inside of the exhaust tip in preparation for a dusting of fresh black paint. I've done this a few times over the life of the car.



Grill Treatment –

Ford used a strangle semi-gloss plastic on the FG XR upper and lower grills, not full piano black as is the current fad, but not unpainted black plastic either. I treat these areas in one of two ways, a spray and rinse sealant such as Hydr02, or a very obscure product from my Autoglym days………………..today I went with the later.

Autoglym Instant Show Shine is hard to describe. At first glance, you’d assume this is an aerosol trim dressing like Mothers Naturally Black, however you can also use it on paint and glass. I therefore have no idea what’s in it, but for whatever reason it works really well on areas that are hard to reach or fiddly to detail. Being an aerosol, its super easy to get full coverage of intricate grills like this, simply spray and wipe away the residue.

This is the last Autoglym product I have in my cabinet, purely because of its unique USP. Back in the 2000’s, we didn’t have access to online ordering in Australia until late in the decade. That meant an auto store was your only product outlet unless you knew of a body shop or paint retailer who stocked a special brand. And so Autoglym was a step above what was available in auto stores at the time. Now? Well apart from a few bits and pieces, they are making legacy products that haven’t been changed in 20 years. Once online shopping became available, and Bowden’s became big, there wasn’t any reason to buy Autoglym anymore, they got left behind.



With the tyres dressed and the engine bay wiped down, that’s a wrap on the XR6 detail.



Thanks for reading.

 

[Swanny1953]

DFB. what do you use to clean your pads at the end of the job? I haven't found a great product.

I'll ask again, since it seems to have been overlooked.

 

[D.F.B]

Needing a distraction, today I went down to my local dealer to have a look at the new Ford Ranger Super Duty.
This is the first time the Super Duty name has been used outside of the F-Series. For the US guys, the Ranger Super Duty has been created to fill a massive gap in the market for a seriously capable tow and offroad machine without having to get a heavy-vehicle licence. That means it will cater to the various fire departments, government fleets, and mining companies, as well as the lucrative touring and caravan markets. The key here being a vehicle with extremely high load and tow ratings without having to buy an unwieldy commercial truck or a massive F-Series/RAM/GMC type vehicle. Ford also put a lot of emphasis on off road ability, in particular making it safer and easier to operate, a high priority of large mining fleets.















It may look like a Ranger, but don't let that fool you. Externally, all front panels are new, there is a standard factory fit snorkel, pumped out fender flairs, steel front and rear bumpers. The 10-speed auto and 3.0 V6 Powerstroke diesel have been recalibrated for the role, a massive upgrade over the ancient and now 4-cylinder only 70-Series Landcruiser. But it's the underbody where all of the work has gone. All but a few minor parts remain, everything else is new or repurposed from other Ford vehicles. Think Bronco Raptor steering rack, F-250 front suspension, a modified 10-inch diff from the Transit. More on that shortly, but the videos below cover it all -

Ranger Super Duty

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At my local Ford dealer, two Super Duty's were on display. Both were double cabs, one in Arctic White with the black steel tray, and one in Seismic Tan with the black steel tray and an ARB Summit Bull Bar. Single Cab and Super Cab versions are also available, and later in 2026, Ford will offer styleside box versions.





Surrounded by other high-end Rangers, including three Raptors and countless Wildtrak's, I have to say the Super Duty doesn't seem to have the presence it does in the press shots. It's certainly bigger and taller, but it could easily be mistaken for just another Ranger. Of course, the majority of customers buying these things are buying a tool, not a show piece. In that regard, mines, fire departments, government authorities, they don't care what the vehicle looks like.

Having said that, I really love the chunky grill treatment they went with, which is repeated in the beefy side steps. The hood is unique to Super Duty and the stamped nameplate is supremely cool. Overall, the hood has a prouder, more defined appearance. I also like how integrated the snorkel is, very much an OEM finish and the opening is massive. That snorkel can be NCO deleted if you wish. In my opinion, the whole Super Duty package looks the most commanding in single cab guise, the tray and cab length are in proportion and gives it a tougher overall look.





As mentioned, both vehicles had the matte black steel tray, however body colour and galvanised finishes are also available. The tray situation is quite interesting actually. Price wise, the galvanised tray is the cheapest, ranging from $5996 to $7121 (double cab - single cab), followed by the body-coloured version at $7176 to $8331, the matte black being the most expensive at $8116 to $9376. If it were me, I would strongly advise against the black version as matte paint tends to age very quickly and actually absorbs dirt and grime that can never be removed. Be warned.

I do really like the super thick check plate bed, which has integrated tie down points. It appears you can unscrew and replace the bed material if the need arrived. Another plus, they haven't bothered painting the bed base, which always ends up looking tatty within a short period of use without some form of rubber protection mat.





Now, those tray prices don't include the 25-litre water tank and dust/water-proof storage pod fitted to both vehicles. These are dealer-fit accessories that Ford doesn't actually publish a price on their website. I'd say they'd be at least $1000 each.

https://www.ford.com.au/trucks-and-vans/ranger/superduty/accessories/





Those tray prices give you crappy incandescent rear light assemblies. These things date way back to the 90's Mazda Bravo / Ford Courier days, which must be fitted on the line because even my 2016 Ranger with a custom tray came with them fitted. They do the job, but a little cheap considering the retail price of these vehicles. The counter argument being they are cheap/easy to service or replace if damaged in the field. Take that how you want, but its not like LED is something to be frightened of in terms of cost these days, not when shelling out $100k on a car.



Either way, I feel like these trays are very expensive. I guess it comes down to convenience for fleets, they want something that is setup right out of the box, and that's certainly the case here. However, you will likely get something better value if you shopped locally. For example, my custom steel tray was made in town and came with storage boxes and an under-tray tool draw at a 1/4 of the price Ford are asking. And it's made from thicker steel, has metal not plastic hinges, a full width window protector and is fully powder coated. No complaining here, just making note.

The biggest story with Super Duty is the chassis. Ranger always had the biggest, thickest chassis rails in the segment. Take a look at the chassis legs of a Hilux, D-Max or Triton, then check out a Ranger, you'll see what I'm talking about. So, for Ford to go another step beyond what Ranger already had is saying a lot here. It would appear the added strength comes from internally thicker steel rather than being externally bigger overall. The rear diff is massive, all mounting points strengthened and using heavy duty bolts.



The front suspension though is probably the most impressive chassis change. The lower wishbone is absolutely massive, both dimensionally and in thickness. The upper wishbone has also been beefed up too. Just check out the size difference between the Super Duty and a Ranger Raptor, there's no contest!

Raptor -



Super Duty -



I've been offered a drive at some point in the future. Even though I have no use for the Super Duty package, I'm a gardener not a mining contractor, I'd love to have one. Make mine a single cab in Command Grey with the body-coloured tray (or have a custom one made), no bull bar, and possibly the snorkel delete. At 100k, that is never going to happen, not when a standard Ranger with the same powertrain is half the price.











Overall, Super Duty is an amazing package, one that could have only come from the Australian team. For decades, the local Ford engineers took what they had and made it the best they could. The Territory SUV being the most obvious example, a vehicle that hasn't been beaten as a flexible, clever and functional family car. Super Duty is another example of that. Also consider no other vehicle platform on sale today has been designed and engineered in Australia. If Ford can get the quality, reliability and dealer support right, then you'd be silly to buy the Toyota alternative.

 

[Geoff289]

Nice marketing touch in that last pic of the SD hauling the Tojo.

 

[D.F.B]

I'll ask again, since it seems to have been overlooked.

I've had a LOT on over the last week.

Pads get thrown into a bucket of soapy water after I finish with them, then left to soak overnight. You want a high alkaline soap or all-purpose cleaner here (Carpro Lift, Koch Chemie Green Star ect), do not use dawn dish soap as it leaves a sticky residue in the pad. The next day, I rinse each pad under warm running water to flush out the compound and soapy water. The pads are then thrown into the washing machine with Rag's To Riches, then air dried indoors before storage. Don't wash wool or microfiber pads with foam pads, you need to do them separately.

 

[D.F.B]

Another tough day.

I got out of the house to do some Christmas shopping, then ended up driving down to a favourite walking spot, then immediately broke down, again. It was raining when I arrived and while I sat there trying to regain composure. It felt so wrong to get out of the car and get started on the lap, someone was missing, someone was left behind and was missing out. Every tree, every stop point, that patch of paspalum we always had to check out, all a trigger. And yet, shortly after setting off, the rain stopped, the sky cleared to blue, the sun came out. I could almost hear his footsteps behind me.

Upon return to the car, I sat in silence wondering if things will get better because this is too much to bear. The hurt, the feeling of letting him down, the feeling he is missing out, the feeling he has been forgotten. Then feeling sh.t at the thought of no longer being on edge every time he got sick. I feel guilty wondering if another could alleviate this lonely emptiness, it's too soon to have those thoughts, it would break his heart to see. The thought of packing up his things in an attempt to protect myself from the grief triggers, again, it's too soon, but also when is the right time? Then there is the dread of all of those feelings.

I eventually got going again and just drove. A trip to the Ford dealer, some loud music, distractions, all helped. I also decided to look into how I want Faych commemorated, we were given a pamphlet on Friday, but it was just too much to consider then. I just hope what I have selected is fitting, that it will keep his memory alive but also give me some closure and acceptance. I will say, some of what is being offered comes across as a cash grab by the company offering these services, preying on people in a vulnerable state who think spending big will make it all better................ that could just be my grief talking though. I'm also cognisant of wanting him with me forever, but without turning into a neurotic mess every time I forgot to "bring him along".

Surprisingly, making those decisions has helped. Also, the realization that his body was simply the vessel for his kind soul, which is now living in our hearts and memories. I have to believe that at the moment, I have nothing else.















This is so hard.

 

[littlebean]

Mate, the sun coming out was Faych saying it's ok, he'll always be with you

 

[Swanny1953]

I've had a LOT on over the last week.

Pads get thrown into a bucket of soapy water after I finish with them, then left to soak overnight. You want a high alkaline soap or all-purpose cleaner here (Carpro Lift, Koch Chemie Green Star ect), do not use dawn dish soap as it leaves a sticky residue in the pad. The next day, I rinse each pad under warm running water to flush out the compound and soapy water. The pads are then thrown into the washing machine with Rag's To Riches, then air dried indoors before storage. Don't wash wool or microfiber pads with foam pads, you need to do them separately.

I didn't mean to seem insensitive - I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved side kick. I know full well the hole created when we lose a loved pet. It took my wife almost 3 years to get to the point she wanted another dog to fill the void left by her best friend Ozzy. Then, this little guy reared his head and she has a new best friend. . . . .

He is 11 months old today, so a bunch bigger than his intro pic. The one blue eye is what sold Lori!

 

[D.F.B]

I didn't mean to seem insensitive - I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved side kick. I know full well the hole created when we lose a loved pet. It took my wife almost 3 years to get to the point she wanted another dog to fill the void left by her best friend Ozzy. Then, this little guy reared his head and she has a new best friend. . . . .

He is 11 months old today, so a bunch bigger than his intro pic. The one blue eye is what sold Lori!

I'm sorry too, I'm quite jumpy at the moment.

 

[jonshonda]

Losing a pet hurts, sorry for your loss. I'm sure you two lived a great life together. I still shed a tear from time to time about my first yellow lab I got as an "adult", and it's been 7 years since she passed. We are blessed with two yellow labs now, and I make sure we get out an enjoy the outdoors as much as possible.

 

[Bob Heine]

why does it feel like I betrayed him.

@D.F.B, our pets don't speak our language so we make assumptions about what they are trying to tell us. The wagging tail when we show them a treat or standing by the door to be let out to do their business are pretty easy to read. Their request to end their pain and suffering is almost always an unfamiliar message. We have helped enough of our pets to get to the Rainbow Bridge to at least suspect that's the message they are sending.

Our Pug, Ellie, was having trouble swallowing, with horrible coughing episodes so the vet prescribed pills she refused to take. They had to go down whole so we wrapped the pills in her favorite food. She got real good at eating the wrapper and spitting the pill out the side of her mouth so we resorted to jamming the pills down her throat with an index finger. When her condition got worse, we took her to the vet on Monday, December 22, 2019 and told them we could no longer torture her so please end her suffering. We wanted to be with her at the end so we were surprised the vet said she was fine and sent us home with Ellie, hacking and coughing.

I got up early four days later (Boxing Day) and Ellie was in the kitchen lying a foot or so from her food and water bowls. Apparently she passed (alone) some time late Christmas night. That's a betrayal we'll never forget.

 

[Bob Heine]

I feel guilty wondering if another could alleviate this lonely emptiness, it's too soon to have those thoughts,

@D.F.B, we went three years without a buddy when our Bichon passed. When we decided it was time, we went to our local no-kill shelter and Liane asked to see their Bichon Frise rescues. They had none so I turned to leave and almost tripped over the cage containing the cutest Pug I had ever seen. We asked to take her home and they wanted to know if this was our first dog. When we said no, they asked for the name of our vet. They called the vet's office and asked what kind of pet owners we were. The woman started laughing and we asked what the vet's receptionist said that was so funny. She told us the receptionist said: "When I die, I hope I am reincarnated as their dog." While this is going on, another patron asked how much they wanted for the Pug. Apparently $200 was too much so there was no altercation and Miss Ellie came home with us. Her full name is Eleanor Roosevelt Heine. One of us saw a resemblance...

After we took Ellie to the vet to be cremateed, we lasted two months before heading back to the shelter. The first visit, I handed Liane a tiny, bird-like Yorkie but she was afraid we would step on it and go through another horror show. On the way out a mutt with a "Pug Mix" on the cage started barking at Liane. We were too upset to make a decision and went home. Loneliness and misery sent us back to the shelter a week later and that "Pug Mix" started going crazy, barking and jumping around at the sight of Liane. It growled at me. The sign on the cage explained that the mutt was a Puerto Rican Sato, the common street dog of the island. The shelter had rescued a few hundred dogs from the island, which had been devastated by hurricanes a few years before. The dog had already been named Jasmine, had her shots, neutering and a chip. Jasmine was apparently flown first class from Puerto Rico to Florida because they wanted $550 for her. Before I could say a word, Liane pulled a wad of cash out of her purse and handed it over. They must have had our name in the computer because it was a no questions asked transaction.

My Kardia Mobile app indicated my Atrial Fibrilation had returned and because it was my third major episode, I spent a day in the hospital getting a Cardio Ablation. They cut the left Femoral artery and insert a hose full of tools and cameras up into the heart and zap or freeze the nerves causing the rapid contractions. When I returned home the next day, the news had a story about a mystery disease that was killing people. It was the start of the COVID-19 fiasco. Jasmine and Liane were relaxing on the couch, watching Animal Planet when I walked into the master bedroom. It appeared Jasmine had some Rhodesian Ridgeback in her background and she mistook me for a lion. We suspect Jasmine was targeted by big fat men when she lived on the beaches and streets of Puerto Rico and I looked like one of them. I have slowly won her over a bit by showing up with a Mini Milk Bone or Charlie Bear treat every time I get near her. She still barks when I walk into the master bedroom but now her tail is wagging.

We were suspicious of her backstory and suspected the shelter just wanted to increase their income. That suspicion disappeared the day Jasmine scratched on the sliding door between the patio and master bedroom and gifted Liane with the first of the 42 Iguanas (that we know of) that she dispatched in our yard. Apparently Iguanas are slow learners. As a stray in Puerto Rico, we know there was a plentiful supply of iguanas sunning themselves on the beaches with palm trees nearby. In the Caribbean iguanas are known as Chicken of the Trees.

We stopped photographing her victims after #7 and #8. Based on the evidence, Jasmine enjoys Iguana head more than the rest of the body because most of the iguanas she brings to us have been decapitated and we've never found a head anywhere in the yard. We also suspect she likes squirrel because she made a ten metre run across the back yard to catch one pilfering the sunflower seeds in our bird feeder. The squirrels are much faster learners and stay on the power lines behind our house to get to less deadly bird feeders.

 

[Bob Heine]

@D.F.B, in addition to Rhodesian Ridgeback, Jasmine may have some Meerkat in her. Before leaving the enclosed patio to hunt, Jasmine often checks her territory...