mikechell

The most precision shooting I do is racoons and grackles in the yard.  I use an air rifle as regular ammo is too loud for the neighborhood.  Plus, a miss with a pistol might end up in someone's window or worse.

If I could find a reasonably priced air pistol that can kill a raccoon ... I might go for that.

Thank you, Steve.  I don't think you've got room on any of the walls for them!  If they don't sell, I was thinking that they'd go to you, but again ... room?

I can't post them on FaceBook ... it goes against their rule for weapons.  I've listed them on "Nextdoor", but I don't think I'll get a response.

Don't get me wrong, I am not rude to those who say the words.  But I truly believe most of them are just saying the words.  They don't even know what they're thanking you for.  You can see it in their faces ... it's a courtesy.  Okay, fine.  I nod and move on.  I've thanked a few veterans, but I stop to talk to them for a few minutes.  Let them know that there is knowledge behind the words. 

Vic, there are three kinds of humans.

Friends/family ... Wife and I like these types.  They've proven they're not ignorant of real life and that they're worth our friendship.

Acquaintances ... These are people who've made themselves known to us and have not betrayed the common sense requirement.  They're worth talking to and to be given the chance to become friends.  This category includes most of the humans on this site.

People ... The majority of the world.  We don't know them.  Many of them prove, daily, that we don't WANT to know them.  They make themselves known to us with their ignorance and worthlessness.  These are the people we hate ... happily and vigorously.  Some of them might become acquaintances, but most of them won't be given the chance.

I'd be happy to spend time on a boat or wading a shallow with you ... and anyone else on here.  We do not have a "guest room" though, so it's a hotel for any visitors.

Couple of recent projects I got around to.

Made a tissue box holder.  It was supposed to hold the new, larger boxes Wife is buying.  This one came out too small so it'll go on sale.

I was given a couple of swords a few years ago, with cheap, broken, cast metal guards and damaged handles.

Finally got around to making new everything (except the blades) and a wall hanger.

I spent almost 12 years in.  I was planning on doing my 20 and then moving on.  After the first Gulf War, the military did a force reduction.  When I tried to reenlist, they just said my MOS was full and they didn't need me.  Reduction In Force (RIF) they called it.  I called it being unfaithful, which flies in the face of the motto.

I'm an Ex-Marine, as they proved that Semper Fi is one way.  So, I just nod and move on when I am thanked for my service.  It feels too much like another of the modern day "woke" policy of not offending anyone.

Yeah ... I had to go out in the cold this morning at 6:30.  It was only 52 degrees ... needed to put a jacket on.  Nicely warmed up to 75° F now.

I've got no problem admitting to being a wimp who can't take a "cool breeze?"

😁

This is just a comment based on what I remember of other such conversations.  As I understand it, cloudy UV resin is due to water in the solution.  High humidity areas (which I don't think Colorado is) or damp thread etc. under the resin ... 

On the other hand, If it looks good under normal light, personally I wouldn't worry about it.  Fish will eat things that look injured or struggling as well or better than healthy specimens.  So maybe that cloudy look in UV light will actually induce more strikes.

Welcome to the site, Tom.

I turn 65 in July.  I'll keep this info in mind as I make the transition.

Thank you.

My sincerest condolences to all who knew him.

My sincerest condolences to all who knew him.

Guess I'm the odd man out here.  An old man who loves the science fiction-y stuff on new cars.  Getting close to the complete self driving cars I read about in sci-fi novels of my youth.  I'd love to get an extra hour's sleep on my daily 4:00am drive to work.  I drove a few of the lane following vehicles during my travels and they're great.  Not so good if you're heavy on the accelerator pedal ... but fantastic if you're in no hurry, which I rarely am.  A little irritating when you get behind something REALLY slow because it'll follow at the required distance, but otherwise, almost self driving on long highways.

I like the fobs, too.  Wife's car is proximity fob, and set to shut the car off if the fob is more than 30 feet from the car.  She, literally, cannot be carjacked.  If she gets out and someone else drives off, they'll get 30 feet, and the car will shut off.

I'm ready for it.  Give me a car I can sleep in while it takes me to work, or to a distant fishing hole.  Give me an implanted interface, so I can access the internet without typing on this keyboard.  Hell, give me a cyborg body that will let me live forever and see all the other fantastic things the future may still bring.

Funny Gene!  I got the same offer.  I refused, even though it brought tears to my eyes.  Fortunately, Bounty, the quicker picker upper dried those tears before they could run down my face!

There are too many people in the world.  No matter how much people donate to such causes, there will always be the poor, hungry and "down-trodden".  We don't even try.  We take stuff to a local Humane Society thrift shop so they might make a few dollars off that.  Our will leaves our house and belongings to another animal rescue service.  Much better to help the animals people abandon than to help those actual people.

Just looked at your facebook page.  Your work is fantastic!

I quit several years back. (I don't remember when, 13? 14 years?)  I have never felt any improvement in my health due to quitting.  But then, I didn't quit for health.  I quit when a pack went over $4.00.  Just couldn't justify the cost of a carton of cigarettes when they provided little comfort or relief from stress.  Found out quickly that the few minutes alone I would've spent smoking ... well ... it was actually the time alone that was the big benefit.

Superbowl?  Some kind of chili cooking final?

Oh, it's a sporting event, right?

I haven't watched a "pro" sporting event since the baseball strike in the 90's.

Sweet!  You need to make a second hood with the hole cut for the blower.

I've been on several bungee slingshots (the "professional" ones where I'm strapped in a chair/cage).  Kissimmee Oldtown Near Disney has a 300 foot swing.  I've been on that four times.  Honestly, what they're doing looks like fun!  

I'd do it !

8 hours ago, johnnyquahog said:

I looked on eBay and saw more Evinrude Elto engines, parts, gasket kits, manuals, brochures, decals and stuff than I would have imagined.  Seems like there were lots of models.

I've looked, and so far, very little of what I've found is for this engine.  Mostly, I'm finding stuff for the models that have the fuel tank behind and the handle on the opposite side.  Mine has the fuel tank in the front with the handle mounted to it.

8 hours ago, johnnyquahog said:

There is one mint engine that fits in a suit case looking box that the seller is looking for twelve thousand.

First time I saw that one, it was going for $15,000.00, so he's dropped the price.  

Check the water temps with a fly rod.  If you catch sunfish species, it doesn't stay cold enough for trout.  If you catch trout, it stays cold enough.  Easy Peasy!

Thank you!  👍

So, I was given an outboard engine.

Which turns out to be a circa 1930/1935 Evinrude Elto.  Very few pictures of this particular engine exist online, at least in my searches.

I started with the easy parts, the lower end.

Water pump.

and gear case.

Found out why the engine wouldn't turn over.  The cylinder is rusted, bad.  The piston couldn't be moved, so I had to chisel it out in pieces.

The fuel tank with built in carburetor and reed valve assembly came apart relatively easily.  But, I haven't been able to get the main jet fuel tube out.

I'm going to see if I can rigid hone the cylinder and get a piston that will fit.  If I can, I might be able to make a runner out of it.

Otherwise, I'll just polish it up as a piece of antique art.

I'm wishing you all a survivable New Year.  Hopefully, the United States of America will still exist come 2025.  I'm truly not sure it will.