80 degrees @ 17:30 and mostly sunny ...
Just woke up ... must have been stirring a bit before I awoke ... 'cause there was a hot cup of coffee sitting next to me when I finally came to ...
Came down to the house at about 06:30 or so to grab a quick bite and after I had my English Muffin with peanut butter and honey it was all over ... laid down for a little nap and that was all she wrote.
Finally got my welding lid cleaned up ... that turned into a nightmare ...
Went to replace the outside lens cover with a spare that was originally included with it and the first hint that it wasn't going to go well was when I started to remove the plastic protective film on the first side ... it came off a little hard. I flipped it over and started to pull on the second piece of plastic - the edges came up easy enough but the further away from the edges I got, the tougher it was to get the plastic to peel away.
It ended up taking more than an hour - maybe more than two - to get the plastic protective film off that one side ... and I tried various things to release it: heat gun, sticking it under scalding hot water for a couple of minutes, sticking it in the freezer for 1/2 hour ...
I tried pulling on it (it would tear before it would peel away), picking at it with various things (fingernails, credit card) and what I was finally left with was taking my thumb and pushing it with just the friction between my skin and the film ...
Once I had that done I was able to replace the inside lens cover with no problems getting the film off.
I had previously decided I wasn't entirely happy with my modification to the parts washer drain plug - the hole and pipe threads were slightly crooked and the hole size (1/4") was marginal ... so I chucked up a 3/8" four cutter end mill in the drill press since the 1/4" end mill had worked so well, and bored out the hole in the drain plug to 3/8":
I then took a 1/4" NPT pipe union/coupler and clamped it and the drain plug in one of grandpappy's old Jorgensen C clamps and glued 'em together with the MIG. Took two stabs at that, trying to get a leak free weld before I gave up and just soldered over the area where it was leaking with some 50/50 tin/lead solder. Seems to be working - the weld provides the strength and the solder provides the seal. It's not under any real pressure so I think it will be fine. I'll know for sure when I go back up there in a bit ... lol ...
Once I had the drain plug installed in the parts washer and I went and finished up the plumbing for the filter and the electric fuel pump and filled the parts washer ...
The performance of the fuel pump at 35 gph was less than exciting, but it will probably do the job. If I elect to upgrade the pump at some point with one with greater flow, I could plumb it into the CPVC "air agitator" and turn it into a "fluid circulation" system.
Degreasing will be on the menu tonight.
Had an open box of hose scraps that the mice had gotten into (full of grass seed) cleaned all those off ... will box them up tonight in a box with a proper top that can be closed.
Drilled four pieces of 1/4" plate that will be the mounting plates for the drop-down casters on the small welding table. Also drilled out some 3/8" angle for the lower lift pins for the boom pole. Started a little mod on the bandsaw ... but I needed two machine screws of a particular size and length ... and of course, even with all the organizing and putting away, I only had
one ... lol ... ya can't make it up ...
Put up a shelf over the parts washer for the battery charger and swapped a shelving unit, which was in the back corner and hard to get to and access, with the large trash can which is used for electrolytic de-rusting.
More tool organizing, derusting, and clean up ...
Was nice to be able to make some sparks again ... might do some more of that tonight. Need to find my welding cap tho' ...
