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Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT Grumblebums Corner

Workspaces sized between 265 and 485 squarefeet.
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1/2 Cup

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Apr 28, 2012
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Shepparton. Victoria. Australia
GB, I was just looking at the radar and observations for you neck of the woods. It certainly is not over yet.

You guys have had some massive falls.

I tipped out 28 mm from the gauge this morning and it is still overcast and misty rain here as we speak.

Regards
 

Bob Heine

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I'm hearing Australia is having some very humid weather....
2016-6-4%20Sydney_zpsf0reft9p.jpg
 
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Grumblebum

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Wollongong Australia
Strouty, it would have been one heck of a dump of snow that's for sure. We only barely dip into single digits degrees Celsius where I am near the coast. We are planning a visit to our snowfields this season so the kids can check it. It's around a 5 hour drive from here.

1/2 Cup it has definitely been one soggy weekend. I'm not too fussed as I have been resting pretty well the remnants of this nerve/back issue so it's been pretty much a family indoors weekend. Wifie has been pottering away doing various chores that she normally does not have the chance to do and I took charge in the kitchen with roasts and slow cooker meals along with some baked treats :thumbup:

Bears, thanks but luckily no damage here, when I purchased here I did ensure I was not in any flood zones and there are no large trees near the property. There was a good puddle in the backyard as the overflow from the stormwater pit flows out under the back fence but at least there is fall away from the house. I do expect some ground water seepage into my small plant room under the house and that is only because I haven't finished installing a drain line under the house yet - but it's slowly climbing higher on the to do list.

Other parts of the region have not faired so well and there has been lots of flooding and damage. Wifie has been showing me pics from FB and the local news websites most of the afternoon. Not sure what the tides have been but had we had a king tide or something it would have been much worse as the drains to the ocean just fail.

Bob, yep we do have some good signs don't we...

So the rain has finally eased in the last hour or so and the current tallies are:
Rain 9am Friday to 9am Saturday 96.4mm (3.795276")
Rain 9am Saturday to 9am Sunday 164.2mm (6.4645669")
9am Sunday to 6:30 pm Sunday 32.4mm (1.275591")

So in not quite 60 hours we have had 293 mm (11.5354")

Just a little bit of water.....
 

dlcwent

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I'm hearing Australia is having some very humid weather....
2016-6-4%20Sydney_zpsf0reft9p.jpg

:lol_hitti:lol_hitti Only you Bob.

Is this common for you guys this time of year? Or a once in a lifetime thing?

It sounds like you did make the best of the situation GB. And maybe at your next welding class, you should learn about underwater welding.:D
 
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Grumblebum

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Dan, the weather and the East Coast low's like we just experienced are influenced by the Pacific ocean temperature fluctuations from year to year which basically means we get drought or we get rain. If you google El Niño & La Niña you will get the technical explanation. (sorry I'm tired otherwise I'd try the laymen's term explanation)

I do have my SCUBA ticket, although it's been a few years since I've been underwater. Not sure I'd be into the underwater welding - bad enough trying to do it in a normal environment let alone underwater :lol_hitti

Welding course week 16

This week and next week are assesment basically.

We have to make up this box which uses a number of welds that we have been learning.

box tacked up - we don't seem to have access to clamps etc that one would use at home for doing such things so ignore it not being plumb and true...

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Seemed my welder wanted to run a bit hot tonight - see it's melted the top there a bit, but these were the horizontal fillets and butts.

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outside top corner came up ok after a few passes, looks better than the photos show it though.

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vertical up RH side, and you can see the hot runs on the bottom fillet

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vertical up LH side

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Next week I'll finish off the other side which will include overheads and more verticals.

Our instructor was happy which is good, main thing is I can see what is not right and can identify what needs to happen to fix it which I think is the main idea of the whole thing for me.

Last week next week, might have withdrawal after that as it's been a great course.

Almost POETS day for us :) then 3 day long weekend :thumbup:

Cheers GB.
 

Bob Heine

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GB, the welds look great and I know you're going to miss the classes. I don't actually weld. It's more melt, grind, melt, grind and repeat. As soon as I think I'm getting it, a hole appears like magic. I do have better luck welding thicker material but most of my projects have been thin stainless exhaust pipe or stainless sheets.
 
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Grumblebum

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Those vertical welds are looking good :thumbup: :thumbup:

As what BF said.:thumbup:

You have the weave just right GB.:thumbup:

Regards

Ditto. Wish I could do that. Great work!

GB, the welds look great and I know you're going to miss the classes. I don't actually weld. It's more melt, grind, melt, grind and repeat. As soon as I think I'm getting it, a hole appears like magic. I do have better luck welding thicker material but most of my projects have been thin stainless exhaust pipe or stainless sheets.

Guys, thanks for the comments they are much appreciated. Hopefully I'll be able to continue one of the other welding or fabrication courses next year - I think I've used up my quota for this year since I originally told my wife it was a short 6 week course!

Bob, I have not tried any stainless work, I know the guys that have been doing the TIG course have been doing a lot of stainless practice.

Cheers GB. :beer:
 
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Grumblebum

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For the last few months an old factory unit has been undergoing renovation work not far down the road just a few minutes away.

Eventually it was painted red and they put big signs out the front called "Total Tools" (one of our tool stop shops over here www.totaltools.com.au)

Every day for the last couple of weeks I've driven past it on my way to/from work, so it gets your attention each time :)

Anyway they have been advertising the opening weekend specials (and lets face it, one can only resist a new shiny tool shop for so long), so on the way home from morning kids sports my 4yo and I called in to check it out. My son loves tools and he will quite happily read a tool catalog. He has a dewalt catalog on his bookshelf too :thumbup:

So we strolled around the place for a while and he asked me what different tools were etc. He now has his heart set on a battery blower unit of which we had our choice of brands - Makita, Milwaukee, Dewalt etc.

However I did need to grab a couple of things that I'd not gotten around to getting elsewhere namely a welding jacket and a new lens for my welding helmet. Also picked up a pair of MIG pliers that I didn't know existed until I started the welding course. Ironically I got these when there is only a week to go on the welding course, so I'm fully expecting better results in my overhead welds next week!... and I should be able to see a bit better again.

Anyway here are the new additions....

View media item 61353
Helping my dad throw up a stud wall at my sisters place tomorrow which will turn her 3 bed home into a nice 4 bed.

Have a good one.

Cheers GB. :beer2:
 

dlcwent

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Rod, I'm happy to hear that your boy has a Dewalt tool catalogue as part of his collection. That is awesome. Very nice that you share the tool store experience together.:thumbup:

Welding does seem to come out better when you can see what you're doing. I have had to go to a cheater lens in my helmet. It was that or try and wear glasses that never seemed to be pointing in the right direction.

I was not aware of MIG pliers. Please explain those to me (I need a reason to buy a new tool):lol:
 
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Grumblebum

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Rod, I'm happy to hear that your boy has a Dewalt tool catalogue as part of his collection. That is awesome. Very nice that you share the tool store experience together.:thumbup:

Welding does seem to come out better when you can see what you're doing. I have had to go to a cheater lens in my helmet. It was that or try and wear glasses that never seemed to be pointing in the right direction.

I was not aware of MIG pliers. Please explain those to me (I need a reason to buy a new tool):lol:

I'll take some pics of the mig pliers in action on Thurs night Dan, once you see them you'll want a pair.

Since you've got the vert welds down pretty good, you need to come and teach me how to do it. ;)

Mine still don't look as good as the instructors, but he is pretty happy with them so they can't be too bad. If I'm ever over your way I'd be happy to drop in :thumbup:

Welding course made me smile.

Great progress, and new tool, kit etc...... Perfect.

Thanks Grizz, I'm sure like yourself, this sort of thing is my sanity check from the day job. I haven't commented your way for a while, but I am still keeping up.

Cheers GB.
 
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Grumblebum

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Wollongong Australia
Well another long weekend bites the dust.

Yesterday I helped my dad throw up a stud wall at my sisters place to create a 4th bedroom.

View media item 61371
Still has a few bits to finish off, such as noggins, door header, linen cupboard frame out etc. But the main part is done.

Have a good week.

Cheers GB.
 
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Grumblebum

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Wollongong Australia
Welding course week 17 (final)

Final welding course night tonight.

Went through our take home written test and clarified a few things then had a bit of a look over what some of the guys doing their "proper" tickets have to do for their certification (remember I am just doing a free introductory course). I don't understand the tickets there are so many covering different welding types but some of the tasks look interesting. Keep in mind that the guys are full time welders etc now so they have industry experience and are just adding certifications to their resume. (sorry probably should have taken some pics of samples)

Then it was back onto finishing our assessment "box"

But first some hot mig plier action for those that haven't seen mig pliers before. I am no expert but these are what I have been using them for...

Removing/installing the tip...

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Cleaning the end of the nozzle...it was pretty gammaged due to the guys running flux core wire through it for an assessment earlier today, and in true form the previous guy didn't "clean his tool" before the next bloke came along - me :lol:

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cleaning the other end of the nozzle....

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cutting the wire...they are a handy tool and feel good to hold - I picked up a pair of the same make as the ones we have been using at TAFE.

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Tonight I had to finish welding up the back side of the box we started last week. These are my best vertical ups I have done so far. I was donning my welding jacket and a clear new welding helmet lens that made a lot of difference in comfort tonight and I spent a bit more time dialling in the welder before starting on the project box.

Outside corner...

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Vertical up vee joint...

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Seems I missed taking some other finished photos.

If you ever get the chance to do such a course I highly recommend it. Great just to refine your techniques and pick the brains of someone professional who can do a demo as needed...and it was great fun.

I've used up my quota for this year (thats a wifie quota not a TAFE quota) so hopefully she'll let me do another course next year and I'm thinking I'll do the stick welding course...

Anyway need to practice what I've been doing on my own welder now with some projects.

Cheers GB. :beer: (oops have temporarily run out, glass of red instead)
 

rmalkow2

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Location
Brighton, MI
GB those vertical welds look great. You've really got a lot from this course. I wish my flat horizontal welds looked as good as your vertical ones.
Well Done!
 

dlcwent

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coastal maine
GB, now I see what the value of the mig pliers. They take the place of having to use more than one tool to achieve the same results. I think I'll be looking for a pair soon.

I'm sure there is a bit of joy/ sorrow that the welding coarse is over. You've had a good time and learned a lot. And sharing has opened my eyes to a few things I was not aware of. As I've said before, I am no welder. And following your thread has inspired me to take a coarse sometime soon. Thanks for all the pictures and lessons. Now you'll have to find something else to keep us all amused. G'day mate.
 

Terrick down Under

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Jul 2, 2015
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Royalla, NSW, Aust.
G, I have often looked at the mig pliers and wondered???, you seem to use them a lot.....might be a good idea to get a pair, ( I have an old piece of reo I used to clean the nozzle), these look a lot easier. Thanks for sharing.
 
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Grumblebum

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All, thanks for the comments. Apologies for the tardiness keeping my replies up.

I've planted the seed to wifie that I would like to do another course next year - so we'll have to wait and see how that pans out...

Not a lot otherwise happening in the garage. Last weekend was tidying up the outside front and back yards and cleaning up the chicken coop now that they are all in together. The young rooster has gone off to my parents place as their old rooster is just about on his last legs. The young one at 12 weeks old was already up and going at dawn so only a matter of time before neighbours got annoyed. Turns out what we originally thought was going to be a quail has grown into a nice Guinea Fowl. Looks like it might be a male but still trying to work that one out.

After the kids sport today I called in to pickup a new battery for the Hilux. It's been sounding iffy for the last few weeks on the early morning starts.

First stop my local 4x4 guys as I got the last battery there a few years ago (they are a client too so I normally got a few dollars off) but they didn't have any.

Second stop big red box autoparts store. They were all out too.

Third stop purple battery shop. They had the battery tester unit so we connected it up and it was showing about 430CCA of the rated 710CCA. So as suspected the battery was going. He upsold me to a Yuasa maintenance free unit with 2 yr warranty and slightly higher 730CCA.

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Here's the old battery, I'll have to check but I'm sure I've got 3-4 years from it and that is with me being prudent with water levels etc.

View media item 61706
Got home and after lunch my son got to learn about batteries and there was a bolt on the battery bracket he could use the spanner on to undo/redo.

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It's a cup of tea type of afternoon which led me off looking at battery testers and I've ended up ordering one of these that gives indication of CCA state which is something I didn't know about until today.

View media item 61705
So that's a little update here.

Cheers GB :beer:
 

rmalkow2

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Job accomplished, you passed on some knowledge to your son, got a new useful tool ordered as well. It sounds like a full and profitable day to me.
Give us a quick report in the future on the battery tester. I've often thought about getting one myself but then backed off for one reason or another. Maybe not often used but my number of vehicles keeps growing and then there are friends with battery problems.
 
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Grumblebum

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Its always a good day when you get to add a new tool to the arsenal :rocker:

Job accomplished, you passed on some knowledge to your son, got a new useful tool ordered as well. It sounds like a full and profitable day to me.
Give us a quick report in the future on the battery tester. I've often thought about getting one myself but then backed off for one reason or another. Maybe not often used but my number of vehicles keeps growing and then there are friends with battery problems.

Rod, have you got and had a chance to use that tester? I was wondering what your opinion of it was. I'm thinking about getting this one....http://www.googleadservices.com/pag...ahUKEwjCtrKfjeHNAhVEbz4KHUOZDNIQwg8IIg&adurl=

I'm still in the looking stage, so I'd like to hear others opinions.

Fellas, thanks.

Dan I have only done a quick hook up on a small battery at work just to see it light up basically. I'll do a little review on the weekend as I hope to have a little time in the garage as the kids will be having a sleepover at my parents place (it's school holidays for another week over here).

The model you have looked at should be good for you with your work. Mine was about $150 delivered and I think it should be ok for a home garage.

What is the standard scale your batteries use ? Ours are CCA (cold cranking amps).
 

dlcwent

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Same here. CCA. And I'm leaning toward that tester as another tool that can help with sales. If you can test a customers battery and show them the results on paper, they are more apt to want a replacement if they can see it's weak.

I'd still like to hear your opinion on that one of yours when you find the time.
 
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Grumblebum

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Dan one thing I just thought of in case I forget later is if you need to test batteries in vehicles with the automatic engine start/stop stuff like the volkswagens/mazdas etc. I think there are testers designed for those battery setups.

GB
 
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Grumblebum

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Another busy weekend...

Kids off having a sleep over which gave me a bit of fiddling time.

Wifie and I re-arranged our pantry which meant modifying some of the ikea shelving. This was a good excuse to get the saw out and also give the dust deputy another run.

Even with the duct tape hose attaching it still gets the dust that otherwise would have been all over the saw and garage floor. Very happy with it.

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My dad has been helping one of his friends downsize and relocate and in the process saved this old Makita 15" saw for me (the gentleman used to own a fab shop at some point I believe). It's a steel cutting mitre saw so should be an excellent addition to my space. I've been wanting something to cut steel mitres with more success for some time and I think this will fit the bill nicely.

It's an old Makita model 2415 15" table saw and has a few carbide tipped blades with it. I've been trying to find out a bit more about it and am looking for a product manual but my searches so far have not come up with anything. Only a few photos of the same model on a couple of auction sites.

From what I can gather it's vintage is between 1982-87. It is very heavy and my guess is 30+ kgs (66+lbs).

It works quite nicely and I will do a bit of a strip down clean up on it. It has had some grey spray paint applied at some point, but I'll try to clean this back and assess the state of the original makita grey that is still there. From what I can tell it's only missing the clamping device and what appears to be a small bottle that must have held oil.

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One good thing is the serial number plate still had the original plastic protector over it so the plate looks new underneath.

I'll also post it in the vintage tool section to see if anyone else has one. I think I've found a site that has the angle measurement decals for it, but they don't have pictures so will have to email them to see what they have.

Sorry Dan never got to play with the battery tester, but I have a couple of days off this week with school holidays so I should have some time to play with it.

Cheers GB.
 

Lyndon

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Aug 11, 2014
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Sydney, Australia
Rod

Drop saw looks great, I just don't seem to have any luck with people needing tools cleaned out that will supply me with those sort of "wins". And I'd really like to find a good, old drop saw...... :lol_hitti

Have fun cleaning it up. Have a look at Chris's site (NedNorton), because the work he's doing on his stuff is choice........ :thumbup: :bowdown:

Lyndon
We need to catch up some time soon..... :dunno:
 

dlcwent

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Nice score on the chop saw GB. It looks like it will serve you well. And no worries about the tester. Whenever you get a chance.
 

Denwood

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Sep 22, 2014
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Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
GB, I admire your motivation to take a welding course. It's something I've considered for some time now.

I see your dust deputy is serving you well. Pretty impressive how well a few bits of plastic work.

Cheers,
Dennis.
 
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