lessons learned in life

[davitk]

A wise man learns froms other's mistakes. A fool refuses to learn from his own.

Be a wise man.

 

[biggerten]

When starting a fire with gas, if it's already smoldering, pour the gas into a cup BEFORE putting it on the fire. Caught a perfectly good 1 gallon chainsaw gas can on fire.

Uhhhhm. How 'bout don't use gas to start a fire? Kerosene or diesel would be a *much* wiser choice.

When I was young I learned to never let my Mom comb my hair when she was mad at my Dad. They're both gone, but I remember the lesson, anyhow.

 

[sandman2234]

I agree that gas is a no-no when starting or replensing a fire. There are just better ways, and a lot less chance of getting burnt!
David from jax

 

[davitk]

When I was young I learned to never let my Mom comb my hair when she was mad at my Dad. They're both gone, but I remember the lesson, anyhow.

owie owie owie

 

[WBWI]

here is a simple one...remember that the trailer hitch is installed on your tow vehicle. I've banged my shin numerous time taking things out of the bed of my truck. Usually only when camping.
I try to take the drawbar out when I'm not using it.

 

[jimmer2880]

One can safely light a fire with gas. It is not my first choice, but it can be safe. The import thing to do, is after you have poured a small amt on the pile, pour a small "fuse" about 15-20 ft from the "pile". This "fuse" won't provide anywhere the mushroom cloud the "pile" puts off. And, hopefully, you didn't pour enough gas on the pile to knock you off of your feet from 15 feet away

 

['Bota Fan]

i may only be 19 but i have learned a lot the hard way

when lifting things always lift straight up and hook above the weight - trip to e.r. 5 stiches in my lip a painful lip and a pair of broken glasses

when working on tmr mixers watch out for the knives on the augers

when cutting with a torch watch your ears also slag in ear - trip to e.r. and multiple trips to doctor and having a skin graft done on my ear drum

when grinding there is no such thing as to much eye protection

when drilling dont hold your work you never know when the bit will break - trip to e.r. and pita because fingernail was basicly shattered

watch out in the cement trowel aisle in hardware stores - 7 stiches

when changing shovels on a cultivator or working with plow bolts dont try to keep the bolt from spinning with your hand - trip to e.r. 5 stiches

i may remember more

brett

You're obviously a very industrious young man or you wouldn't have been in harm's way so many times.

Take comfort in the fact that by starting this thread, you have kept many, many of us from similar tragedies. One of the great things about TBN - everyone is so willing to share information and be helpful, and usually with a good sense of humor!

 

[Ken_CT]

Never take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

 

[turnkey4099]

Uhhhhm. How 'bout don't use gas to start a fire? Kerosene or diesel would be a *much* wiser choice.

When I was young I learned to never let my Mom comb my hair when she was mad at my Dad. They're both gone, but I remember the lesson, anyhow.

Yes, diesel is good, gas bad. I scared the p*** out of myself last year when I went to burn brush piles. Stopped on the way to fill up my 5 gal gas can and a 5 gal diesel. Laid my first fire, poured the diesel to it, lit it, moved to second one, did same. First not doing well so tossed more diesel from the 5 gal can. WHOOSH. Back to number two and repeat. Back to one, same problem, more diesel WHOOSH! and I noticed a flame flickering from the can spout. Slapped my glove over it to put it out and then it dawned on me that I had the gas can, not the diesel.

Took a sit down and cup of coffee before my legs quit shaking.

Harry K

 

[TrippleT]

Keep a lot of super glue, and black electrical tape on hand. When you cut yourself you can glue yourself together again. We had a fellow in the state shop where I worked and he did our tractor work. One day he really cut himself bad and the boss asked if he want to go to the Dr. He said, "naw just give me some of that super glue. I thinks to meself, he is going to get gangrene or no telling what from this. Next day, I asked him how is the cut today? He says, "a little sore."
If, it had been anyone else he would have had a severe infection. But, he didn't.
SO, just keep the super glue non surgical kind and electrical tape on hand, which he used. I guess ones immune system gets used to it after a while. Of course I am just being facetious, SO, don't take this to heart. I realize there is a medical grade of the stuff so I will leave that up to N80.

 

[brettliddicoat]

yea what you said about gang green the doctors all have a fit when i come in because im usually full of dirt from working all day i dont worry about it getting infected but the doctors shure have a fit i have never had a problem with it getting infected

and with the gas on fires i use to work on a farm and we would take tree lines out and such and when we burnt the large piles we would light them with seed bags and news papers then after they got going we would dump some waste oil on it to get it to burn hotter otherwise some of the stumps would have never burnt well one time the wase oil barrel must have had about 20 gallons of gas in it because normally you would have time to back away from the pile before it went up well with this stuff there was no time to do such thing

brett

 

[Lanse]

This is a great thread!!!!! Always screw the spark plug back in. Yes im serious, i was in a big hurry. The mower died back in the weeds, and i unscrewed the plug to put some starter fluid in. Not enough, so i go back for some WD40. Now, like i said, this was back in the weeds, so i put the plug back in the mag clip so i wouldnt loose it. Welp, i set the can aside and gave er' a big pull. BANG!!!!! Flames shot out the hole, probabally 10' out into the field. That was a shocker!! :-D


Also, watch for stupid dogs. I was giving a wagon ride to some if my friends, and there he was ahead of the tractor, which was moving full speed, with rough plowed field out to each side, trying to pick up a nice sized rock. He was pawing at it, and i was screaming at him to move and revving the engine, probabally, from 20' away, i slammed on both brakes, and he jumps out of the way!! Everyone went foward who was in the wagon, and i flew into the roof of the cab. Was quite a day!!!

 

[3RRL]

1) Never arc weld (upside down) inside the bucket 10' off the ground while wearing SHORTS.
-No where to jump from the slag spattering!

2) Never throw your hot used arc rods in the bucket either.
-Same reason as #1 above above.

#3) Never throw your hot used arc rods onto the FEL hydraulic lines thinking you are smarter now because what you learned in #2 above.
-You get down to the ground fast!

#4) Never drive the tractor over the spot you've been dumping your hot used rods.
-Unless you like fixing flats.



Just don't do it.
Some things you just have to learn for yourself. I wondered why I'd never seen other pictures like that before?
Hence, my slogan.

 

[shane]

Don't fry bacon in the nude.

Don't fart in a sleeping bag.

Do either and you'll discover real quick why not to.

 

[MikeD74T]

When starting a fire with gas, if it's already smoldering, pour the gas into a cup BEFORE putting it on the fire. Caught a perfectly good 1 gallon chainsaw gas can on fire.

If you insist on starting fires with gasoline, put it in a container with a small mouth, i.e. a plastic soda bottle, filled to the top. The small surface area will light without the poof & allow a reasonable retreat. The fire will grow quickly as the bottle burns down and will be more concentrated than gas thrown on a pile. Don't be sloppy when filling the bottle. Remember, even dangerous things can be done safely, but not by everyone !!! MikeD74t

 

[jimmer2880]

If you insist on starting fires with gasoline, put it in a container with a small mouth, i.e. a plastic soda bottle, filled to the top. The small surface area will light without the poof & allow a reasonable retreat. The fire will grow quickly as the bottle burns down and will be more concentrated than gas thrown on a pile. Don't be sloppy when filling the bottle. Remember, even dangerous things can be done safely, but not by everyone !!! MikeD74t

Thanks for the advice. We switched out "technique" (if you could call it that), to pour the gas into a plastic dixie cup, then tossing the whole cup & all into the fire.

When I look back on those days, it's amazing we survived

 

[jimmer2880]

1) Never arc weld (upside down) inside the bucket 10' off the ground while wearing SHORTS.
-No where to jump from the slag spattering!

2) Never throw your hot used arc rods in the bucket either.
-Same reason as #1 above above.

#3) Never throw your hot used arc rods onto the FEL hydraulic lines thinking you are smarter now because what you learned in #2 above.
-You get down to the ground fast!

#4) Never drive the tractor over the spot you've been dumping your hot used rods.
-Unless you like fixing flats.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i106/rliefveld/GRAPPLE/FINAL ASSEMBLY/3WELDINGBUCKETLIP.jpg
Just don't do it.
Some things you just have to learn for yourself. I wondered why I'd never seen other pictures like that before?
Hence, my slogan.

That sounds like something I would do (all 4 of them)

 

[keeney]

A quote from my 5 year old daughter while I was working on fitting some rubber stair treads with a sharp utility knife:

"Daddy, you shouldn't do any more projects that make your fingers bleed!"

- Rick

 

[rox]

A quote from my 5 year old daughter while I was working on fitting some rubber stair treads with a sharp utility knife:

"Daddy, you shouldn't do any more projects that make your fingers bleed!"

- Rick

Rick, this one gave me a BIG smile Too cute

 

[Tig]

We do quite a few outdoor bonfires in winter. The fire pit is always snow covered and the wood is often wet. To get a fire going with minimal mess I take a strip of corrugated cardboard and roll it up so it fills a soup can. Spread used motor oil over the cardboard and let the excess run down ito the can. Place the can in the pit like a candle and light it. Pile kindling over it and then larger pieces. No explosion risk and the wind will not blow it out. Once the wood starts burning well there is no oil smell.