Stupid Things I Have Done

[WinterDeere]

...still amazed how strong the building & rops were to go undamaged except for two perfect dents in door header trim.

I thought those two dents above every garage door was just how we tractor owners were supposed to identify each other. Our "rainbow flag", so to speak.

If you don't have them, you've never used your ROPS!

 

[Zerk]

I had to take my ROPS off, I know people said I would be dead by now. Was nervous once or twice. I would like to have it, just doesn't fit my door

 

[jjeff]

Happened recently in a hurry used some old t-posts to hang some newly acquired motion activated solar powered deer deterrent devices. Decided it was best to drill a hole on the flaired flange to mount devices of course i already drove the posts in the ground so using a drill press wasn't an option at the time . Good grief they must use armor plating on those posts broke 2 cobalt bits last bit I broke drill slipped and the broken bit impaled my hand, I was getting way to upset and short tempered being my 2nd bit so i was furiously applying way to much pressure on the post and when the bit broke besides impaling my hand the t-post sprung back hitting
me square in the face causing a bloody lip and broke my new sunglasses I got for fathers day. I usually foresee debacles like this and stay out of them, however I sometimes need to be reminded to take my time and do things correctly.

 

[WinterDeere]

You reminded me that once my father put an auger bit completely thru the palm of his hand, and out the other side. I’m not old enough to know the details, other than hearing he used the chuck key to remove the bit from the drill motor, and went to the ER with the bit still thru his hand.

He was an EMT working fire rescue, so probably had some good medical reason for not wanting to remove the auger bit himself.

 

[BnRidge]

Happened recently in a hurry used some old t-posts to hang some newly acquired motion activated solar powered deer deterrent devices. Decided it was best to drill a hole on the flaired flange to mount devices of course i already drove the posts in the ground so using a drill press wasn't an option at the time . Good grief they must use armor plating on those posts broke 2 cobalt bits last bit I broke drill slipped and the broken bit impaled my hand, I was getting way to upset and short tempered being my 2nd bit so i was furiously applying way to much pressure on the post and when the bit broke besides impaling my hand the t-post sprung back hitting
me square in the face causing a bloody lip and broke my new sunglasses I got for fathers day. I usually foresee debacles like this and stay out of them, however I sometimes need to be reminded to take my time and do things correctly.

I have a road grader from 1890 that I tried to rebuild, then realized everything on it was hot formed, hot punched, hot riveted. Like trying to machine rebar. Or fence posts. A grinder (kind of) and plasma torch worked. Drill bits just screeched. Kind of a spectacular learn it now lesson. Stupid things I've done.

 

[Alan46]

I’ve done too many to list!
Here’s one.
Getting high in the smoking section of a commercial flight in 1979!

 

[masseyrider]

Mine are in a 24 volume hard cover edition.
Soft cover will be released soon. Useful as TP when you finish reading.
A 2 year supply for the average family.

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

I have a road grader from 1890 that I tried to rebuild, then realized everything on it was hot formed, hot punched, hot riveted. Like trying to machine rebar. Or fence posts. A grinder (kind of) and plasma torch worked. Drill bits just screeched. Kind of a spectacular learn it now lesson. Stupid things I've done.

And when things are hot riveted together, the rivet flows into the holes, and locks up the relation of the holes to each other. So, location and size of holes can be less precise than if you're designing and building with bolted connections.

Problem I had with refurbishing an 1890s, horse drawn grader was the babbet bearings. That is a lost art. And the archeologists threw a hissy fit about converting to modern bearing axle assemblies.

 

[ultrarunner]

And when things are hot riveted together, the rivet flows into the holes, and locks up the relation of the holes to each other. So, location and size of holes can be less precise than if you're designing and building with bolted connections.

Problem I had with refurbishing an 1890s, horse drawn grader was the babbet bearings. That is a lost art. And the archeologists threw a hissy fit about converting to modern bearing axle assemblies.

There is an old farm machine shop we would send babbitt work but can't say if still around...

They had all the molds to pour...

I have his work in some early Fords.

 

[orezok]

My dad born 1900 used to tell me how he used to “scrape” and fit babbit bearings. A lost art

 

[WinterDeere]

Problem I had with refurbishing an 1890s, horse drawn grader was the babbet bearings. That is a lost art. And the archeologists threw a hissy fit about converting to modern bearing axle assemblies.

Head over to owwm.org, lots of guys there still rebuilding machinery with babbit bearings, everyday. I used to own a whole shop full of babbit bearing machines, but now I have only two (planer and bandsaw).

 

[ultrarunner]

My dad born 1900 used to tell me how he used to “scrape” and fit babbit bearings. A lost art

The true definition of a skilled craft…

I’ve pulled shims to compensate for wear and used plastigage to measure clearance.

 

[gsganzer]

When my youngest daughter was in her early teens, she really wanted to see California. So, I used some of my airline and hotel points and booked us a trip. I was trying to make the trip fancy and memorable, so I was trying to book us first class. If anyone is an American Airlines frequent flier, then you know how much of a hassle it is to try to redeem points. I swear, they have an algorithm that tries to keep you from getting both the outbound and return with points. I was finally able to do it, but it meant we departed from Dallas Love Field and returned to Dallas-Ft Worth. Normally a hassle, but not a big deal for a special trip.

Anyway, some weeks or months pass and on the day of our "big trip" the daughter and I head to the airport. Yup, you guessed it, I went to the wrong airport. Fortunately, the ticket agent was able to get us a new flight from DFW, it just wasn't first class.

My daughter still reminds me of it.

 

[BravoXray]

Back in 1970 when I was a student at Purdue, I had not attended the physics class lectures all week, but decided to go, for some reason on Friday.
Walked in and sat down to be informed that today was the mid-semester exam. Took it cold and still got a 92%.

 

[1Mech]

And when things are hot riveted together, the rivet flows into the holes, and locks up the relation of the holes to each other. So, location and size of holes can be less precise than if you're designing and building with bolted connections.

Problem I had with refurbishing an 1890s, horse drawn grader was the babbet bearings. That is a lost art. And the archeologists threw a hissy fit about converting to modern bearing axle assemblies.

Back when I worked in a machine shop, job shop not production, we would pour babbit bearings every so often, then hand scrape them in. I always liked doing them in the winter, as the heat in the shop wasn't the best and the air conditioning was an open door and window. We would also hand scrape brass bearings in big punch presses. I learned a lot on that job!

 

[MossRoad]

Back in 1970 when I was a student at Purdue, I had not attended the physics class lectures all week, but decided to go, for some reason on Friday.
Walked in and sat down to be informed that today was the mid-semester exam. Took it cold and still got a 92%.

Way to absorb that information!!!

When I was in school, I'd tape record myself reading questions and answers. Then I'd play it back with an earphone while I slept on repeat. Worked great.

 

[masseyrider]

Back in 1970 when I was a student at Purdue, I had not attended the physics class lectures all week, but decided to go, for some reason on Friday.
Walked in and sat down to be informed that today was the mid-semester exam. Took it cold and still got a 92%.

Here in Ontario High Schools at the time we had grade 13 for people University bound.
I had a Chemistry class taught by a teacher I couldn't stand.
A friend of mine was also in that class and she would let me look at her notes and let me know when there were going to be tests.
I was in class at most once a week.
When I wrote the final exam I got 98%.
The teacher grudgingly passed me with a 90% final mark.
I should have failed for lack of attendance but the principal pushed it through.

 

[MossRoad]

Here in Ontario High Schools at the time we had grade 13 for people University bound.
I had a Chemistry class taught by a teacher I couldn't stand.
A friend of mine was also in that class and she would let me look at her notes and let me know when there were going to be tests.
I was in class at most once a week.
When I wrote the final exam I got 98%.
The teacher grudgingly passed me with a 90% final mark.
I should have failed for lack of attendance but the principal pushed it through.

One thing I've pondered over many times is the question of is it better to know all the answers or know where to find the all the answers?

 

[WinterDeere]

One thing I've pondered over many times is the question of is it better to know all the answers or know where to find the all the answers?

Is it better to have buried the bodies, or know where the bodies are buried? The latter, I suppose…

 

[ning]

One thing I've pondered over many times is the question of is it better to know all the answers or know where to find the all the answers?

You should know at least some of the answers, but overall knowledge of where to find all of the answers is more important in life, I've found.
Most work doesn't require instant recall - most of life is an open book test.
The most common things in your work & life of course you should have that knowledge right in mind.