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By Dave, January 3, 2012 8:29 pm

The login bit may have been our internet connection as Twitter is acting f lackey now.

Took quite a while to log in but tis now online and connected. Now to figure out what other apps I can’t live without.

Looks like it will download and install now that I have restarted and saved the previous session to disk.

Trying the newest Puppy Linux and so far am much pleased. Now if I can get Skype running…

Writing the 32 bit version to thumbdrive to try again.

Had hoped it would work, but guess I should have tried it from the thumb drive.

So much for the 64 bit version of Pear OS. 🙁 Another coaster created…

Managed to get it burned. Now to see if I can get it to install in an unused partition.

Was within about a minute of starting a dvd of Pear OS Linux when the power went out here. 🙁 Gonna try again now the winds calmed some.

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By Dave, January 2, 2012 9:40 pm

And after hours trying to figure it out/fix the problems, just not worth the effort to me.

Supposed to be in persistant mode but after 4 or 5 installs think I’m gonna give up on it. Tis fast, but still lotta stuff not right.

Have caught a bug so spending the day on the computer. Been trying to install Dreamlinux on a thumb drive and its not working right.

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By Dave, January 1, 2012 6:00 am

Happy New Year all! Am now gonna call it a night, if I can sleep with all the explosions going on around here…

Will most likely make a new one. Most likely of stainless steel. Tis good to have a new project, as I don’t have enought to do already. 😉

Missing pieces, I plan to make in iron or steel in the forge. Water tank has a hole or two in it. Enamaled so not sure how to repair.

But since I’m gonna have to build the room/kitchen it will reside in, don’t think that should be much of a problem.

Has a few cracked cast iron bits. A piece or two missing, but overall looks to be in good condition. Am looking to do a complete tear down.

After an hour + of taking it apart enough to get into the back of the truck with the camper shell still on that is. Needs lots of TLC.

Am the new owner of a 6 eye wood burning cook stove. After I finished cutting wood went to look at it, bought it & brought it home.

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By Dave, December 31, 2011 4:00 pm

Not to mention all the crap to be cleared out of the way before anything can be done. Guess I’ll split the wood on the trailer first.

Still thinking of adding a room to the front of the Q-hut. Back is allready complaining about moving all those rocks.

Speaking of which, I need to go reload ours. Back in a bit…

Not to mention much further away from a road that I can get the tractor and trailer to. But such is life with a wood burning heater… 😉

Am about done in for some reason. Hoping to get the rest of this oak cut up & split tomorrow so I can start on the next one which is bigger.

Worked on a clock for a bit and got it running pretty good. Checking it out now. Made a WW run for a few groceries and came in and ate.

Or getting that way fast, so split 4 more into pieces I could load into the wheel barrow and move to the trailer. Loaded up and came home.

Once resharpened cut fine. Got the main part of the trunk cut up and started splitting the round into firewood. Got one split and twas dark.

So sharpened one side again. Gonna have to get another chain tomorrow. Teeth are filed to nubs on this one. Too many rocks and dirt. 🙁

Came back to the house, got the wheel barrow, cant hook, and glasses. Once back to the trailer looked at the chain and saw more damage.

After sharpening the chain and refueling the saw, dropped a large dead oak, and started cutting it up. Saw was cutting to one side. 🙁

Once I finished that removed the bush hog and hooked the trailer up, loanded the chain saw, maul, fuel and bar oil and headed to the woods.

Got the bush hog stopped before anything was damaged much. Cleaned the wire out of the blades and continued clearing the area.

Changed the negative battery terminal on the tractor. Bushhogged a fair amount of stuff including some service entry cable with steel core.

Still able to move today so must not have overdone it yesterday. Been somewhat busy all day too. Got and put a new handle in the maul.

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By Dave, December 30, 2011 1:10 am

And now back on the Linux box! Happy, happy, joy, joy!!!

Booting back into Linux after more than a day having to run Windoze to work on some stuff. Typing this on the iBook.

Knew I was tired but didn’t think I had cut and split quite that much. Good to know I can still do it if I gotta…

Ended up with a pile 4 feet wide, 6 feet long, & 6 feet high, or 144 cubic feet. A cord is 4 wide, 4 high, & 8 long which is 128 cubic feet.

Got all the wood dragged out of the woods, cut into rounds, split into firewood, hauled to the storage area, and stacked.

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By Dave, December 29, 2011 8:02 pm

But don’t think that will get started on today. Tomorrow or the next day should be soon enough. Got enough dry for the coming cold snap.

Looks like I’ll be a bit tired by the time this is done. Then I get to start on the one across the creek up on the side of the hill.

One more section this length and one round left to pull out of the gully. Along with 3 or 4 wheelbarrows of smaller stuff.

Got half of the rest of the red oak pulled up to the cutting ground. Figure I’ll cut 5 or 6 rounds out of it. Looks like it’s 24″ across.

For now tis time for me to call it a night, so till later folks… 😉

Will empty the ash & wire brush the rest of the paint residue off tomorrow morning, then repaint with high temp barbecue grill paint.

Spent most of the day turning the barrel into a wood burning heater. Ended the day by building a roaring fire and burning the paint off.

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By Dave, December 28, 2011 4:06 am

Left out at almost dark and got home well afterwards. Will see about getting the barrel cut and stove built tomorrow.

From 77 we ended up in Pell City for a greasy pizza and then went to the Landus Antique Mall where Cat looked around and I talked clocks.

Stopped at the hardware store in Ohatchee and picked up a flue damper at a much lower price than any of the other places we stopped at.

Ended up at the Trailer/Tire/Barrel place on highway 77 out from Ohatchee where we got a barrel for the stove.

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By Dave, December 27, 2011 5:05 pm

Heading out to look at barrels and stove kits in a few. Till later folks…

Looking at adding an extension to the front of the q-hut for additional work area as well as a place to locate another woodburner.

Added a blower at the upstairs duct ac outlet to blow the heat from the woodburner into this area of the dwelling. Tis MUCH warmer now!

Not sure if I’m going with 30 or 55 gallon barrels. Or if I’m gonna get a top barrel kit and go with the double barrel setup.

It uses 6″ flue pipe rather than the more expensive and harder to find 8″ that the stove we have now uses.

Dug out the barrel stove kit I got many years ago and have’t assembled. Everything but the instructions survived. Think I can figure it out.

Decided to clean the flue on the woodburner yesterday. Ended up having to replace 2 pieces of straight pipe and one elbow. 🙁

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By Dave, December 25, 2011 11:39 pm

Made it back from Calcis without incident. Quite chilly in here trying to decide whether to build a fire tonight or clean the flue tomorrow.

Looks to be a longish cold drive south and back again for us today. Hope everyone is having a Merry Happy Whatever! Till laters… 😉

Time to call it a night. Hope everyone has a Happy, Merry, Whatever! And stay safe all!

Figure I’ll get up about 6 am and get it in the oven and go back to bed for a couple of hours. Shouldn’t need but about 2 hours to be ready.

For now have a couple of pounds of black eyed peas in the crock pot cooking. The ham is in the brown in bag with pinapple ready to go.

Gonna have to get the Korean clock finished up first. Also want to finish the Sessions case so it can go back together and on the wall.

Cuckoo clock went home this morning. Hope it stays working. Got another one on the end of the bench waiting to be worked on.

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By Dave, December 22, 2011 3:19 am

Still have a bit of adjustment to do and when the correct chain comes in that to replace but it looks like it will be ticking for Christmas.

Well, after bending, twisting, pulling of hair, and a bit of forceful language, the cuckoo clock is ticking and making appropriate noises.

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By Dave, December 21, 2011 6:34 pm

Now working to figure out the linkages operating the bellows and bird. These are bits that were missing when I got the clock in for repair.

The one I almost didn’t get was the one that did the job. 😉

Back from the screw hunt. Didn’t find the exact type I was looking for but got 3 different types to see if any of them would.

Gonna wait till this pouring rain abates a bit though. Tis coming down in buckets. Started in right about the time I decided to go out. 🙁

And they are REAL special screws too. Guess it’s time to shower and head to the hardware store to see if they have anything close enough.

Working on a cuckoo clock. Thought I had all the bits, only to find that the 4 movement mounting screws are missing in action. 🙁

Was waiting on a UPS shipment only to find that it will come in the mailbox whenever they get around to it. 🙁

Dilbert comic strip for 12/21/2011 from the official Dilbert comic strips archive. http://t.co/qA8LBzQt So true… 🙁

Check this video out — SOPA Cabana (by Dan Bull) http://t.co/ukW6pc7R via @youtube STOP SOPA!!!

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By Dave, December 20, 2011 5:51 pm

Got a couple of other things I may try but think I am going to have to put the whole project on the back burner for a few days.

Well, the vardo top is still being a pain. Been trying to figure out a easy way to get it on and working as I wanted it to but no joy.

Hoping for the rain to wait till late in the afternoon/evening before getting here tomorrow. For now am calling it a night, so till later…

And once again take much longer and be so much more work than what I had planned on. But such is life. And should be quite strong when done.

Then will have to shave it all flatish to coat with paint and glue for the canvas to bond to. Tis gonna be just so much fun.

And since this all needs to bond to the inside layer which is in 8 pieces I got 4 more cans of spray foam to bond it all together with.

The 7/8ths inch stuff is just way too stiff. So it’s going on in 4 strips per section. As in there will be 16 pieces, each about 5.5″ wide.

Had hoped to put the outside layer on in 4 strips and bend it to fit. Cut the first one this am and it ain’t happening that way.

As usual, the way I hope things will work and the way they actually do are entirely different. As in the foam going on the camper roof.

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By Dave, December 18, 2011 9:02 pm

Was hoping to get some on today but not looking like that’s gonna happen. But still got an hour and a half of light so maybe if I get at it.

Still got to plane the outside/roof side of the deck boards at the back and then will be ready to put foam down.

Tongue end of vardo is done except for 2 trim boards and some paint. And later another window but that is much later.

Lunch is done and night come too early so guess I need to get back at it. Till later…

2 of the boards now have lap joints. One installed and the other soon to be. 2 more to go. The new pull saw makes these joints MUCH easier!

Got more coffee and going back out to see about getting the front facade boards put on. Then can start cutting and gluing foam on the top.

Got the last 2 scalloped pieces cut. Not the half lap bit but the curved parts. Then moved a big pile of firewood to the porch storage area.

Camper Pictures: Have been very lax in posting pictures of the camper/vardo as it has evolved to this current st… http://t.co/bgkDpKzK

May have to attach it on top rather than underneath the overhang at the back.

Didn’t work out the way I had hoped it would. Gonna have to rethink the hangers/locations.

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By Dave, December 17, 2011 11:59 pm

Done for the evening, outside anyway. Just got back in from hanging a tarp/awning off the back of the camper.

Check this video out — Ukrainian lighting engineer stuns the audience http://t.co/rm8yf1kq via @youtube AMAZING!!!

Tea made and mostly drunk. Camper moved, set up on stands, tarp put on top of and screwed down. Now gotta get firewood in for the night.

Think I’ll get another cup of tea and think about it a few minutes.

Then again if I go ahead, move it, and get it set up all I have to do in the morning is pull the tarp off the top and start work.

Guess I’ll wait till tomorrow to pull the camper back up the hill. Had moved it back under the 10×10 for the rain earlier this week.

Got the back scalloped facade up along with the 16.5″ roof decking boards that extend over the door. 2 more pieces to cut for the front.

Got the 5 foot wooden one out and needed the tray to set drill and driver on. Tray boards been broken since I got it. Support is gluing now.

Bit of a nip in the air this am. Actually think it’s colder out there now than at 6 am. Started to work on the camper and needed a ladder.

http://t.co/isHkNDJf is the link for any interested in checking them out. Got it installed on a thumb drive and tis quite speedy.

Trying out PearOS Linux. Tis an interesting melding of Linux and Apple OSX. Early days yet but in time it may be a contender.

Vader Christmas Choir Flash Mob – Boing Boing http://t.co/p7TSNYlm LOVE IT!!!

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By Dave, December 16, 2011 11:32 pm

Check this video out — Christmas Tree Cutting III http://t.co/soUXtBqD via @youtube Love the “attachment” for his knife!

Also bought a Japanese style pull saw. Had a Vaughan on sale at Lowe’s http://t.co/iMnshuvA for less than $15. Cuts great!

$3.00 head. $9.99 + tax or $10.99 for the handle. So I got a really nice axe for about $14.00 and a little work.

Cut a lot better than my double bit axe. Going to spend a bit more time and shape the bit some more and I think it’s a winner.

Came home, put the head on after a bit of trimming to make it fit properly, and it felt pretty good. Nice heft to it, so I cut down a tree.

Bought a new handle for the single bit axe head I was working on a week or so ago. Decided on getting one in hickory rather than make one.

Ended up just going back to bed and skipping the rest of yesterday. Not sure that today will be much better. Got to go do some stuff so…

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By Dave, December 15, 2011 7:14 pm

I need to go back to bed and start the day over again. Or just skip it entirely…

The King Blues – Does Anybody Care About Us? (Official Video) – YouTube http://t.co/WHbkfFFx Great stuff!

HTTP status cats by GirlieMac: classic server error codes, now with cats – Boing Boing http://t.co/vjaWdBf4 LOL!

And still got the foam to put on. Tis gonna be close, especially if I add another layer of foam on the outside like I was thinking about.

Thought it would but with the stringers added the plastic tarp is just barely making the turn at the wall header now.

Not sure if the canvas I have is going to be big enough to cover the top without piecing it.

Thinking about half lapping them at the seams to make one solid piece out of the 4 boards. Will see how it works out tomorrow.

Cut one more of the scalloped front facade boards cut and the last one marked but lost light so didn’t finish it.

Got the rest of the stringers installed and bolted in place today. Also got the front overhang decking boards cut and put in.

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By Dave, December 14, 2011 2:40 am

Think I’m gonna fix a cup of sleepytime tea and then call it an early night. Till later, folks… 😉

Put a 9 x 12 silver/brown tarp over the camper top for the evening. Gives a totally different feel to the inside with the top covered.

Also got one side stringer screwed to the 2×4 wall header and bolted to the rafters. Had hoped to get more done today but did make progress.

Got the center top stringer screwed down to the front and back wall and bolted to the 1/2″ EMT rafters.

Though not that heavy me thinks it needs to be a bit heaver on the front end. Just a tad too balanced to tow properly.

Decided to see how hard it would be to shift by hand and it moved with one hand. Pulled it uphill and onto the hitch again with one hand.

Moved the camper from under the 10 x 10 shelter today. Backed the truck up and got close. Needed to move it 6″ to one side and forward.

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By Dave, December 13, 2011 7:46 pm

“fine” should have been “find”. As in – Can’t find ones own arse with both hands and a Grey’s Anatomy. Yea, one of that kind of days…

A few more bits cut and put in. Spent a ridiculous amount of time looking for a lost pencil which I still haven’t been able to fine. 🙁

Got the center top stringer/perlin screwed down. Am trying to work through a sudden bout of depression/lack of energy. Hoping coffee helps.

Would make it warmer/cooler inside and not add much weight. Not sure I have enough foam without going to buy more. Oh, well back at it…

Then again I may add another layer of just foam over the bits I am installing now to give a smooth surface for the canvas to pull over.

Like the part I am working on right now. The fill between the stringers will be foam which will be curved. Still not sure how it’ll attach.

So had to check the computer and post an update. 🙂 Still working on/building this out of my head so some of the bits are going quite slow.

Got 3 of the stringers cut for the top of the camper. Trimming to length and had to come in for more tools to finish the job.

Hopefully tomorrow will be a more productive day. Till later folks…

All 4 rafters are shaped and cut to length. Tried to get more done but haven’t managed to get much else accomplished today.

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By Dave, December 12, 2011 6:04 pm

That part anyway. Now to get the rafters and assorted bits done for the roof.

Went to Jacksonville and got the parts for the camper. No problem once they had part #’s to punch in the computer. Tis on and ready to go.

Tis the quietest this machine has been since I have owned it! That NanoLube is some wonderful stuff! And now to bed, so till later…

Had to go around and check after turning it on to see if I had forgotten to plug the fan in, it was so quiet. But it was in fact turning.

Went on and put a couple of drops on the bushing also and then put everything back together. Rehooked the wires/cables and powered it up.

Was oil on the shaft and bushing but the bearing seemed dry. Got the 10 weight NanoLube I use for clocks and put a couple of drops in.

Blew the remains of the dust out and then moved on to the fan. Removed the label and then took the plastic clip out. Pulled the rotor out.

Twas almost totally clogged with dust. Got out the screw drivers and took it out, then took the fan off. Cleaned the fins out with a brush.

Shut the machine down, unhooked all the wires/cables and put it on the bench. Side was already (always) off so looked in the heat sink.

Was going to bed but the processor fan in the computer was whistling quite loudly so decided to shut things down and oil it.

Now I just have to learn how to use it properly. For now am gonna call it a night, so till tomorrow folks…

As that’s what it was put together at the factory with. Also have a very old bed frame that needs veneer put back down that has hide glue.

Then I can get to work on putting the Sessions case back together as I decided months ago to use hide glue on reassembly.

Works great and will hold the water bath temp in the 140-145 degree range with no trouble. Now to decide what inner pot to use for the glue.

Located a thermostaticly controlled food warmer that will work as a hide glue pot. Removed some stuff it didn’t need checked it out.

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By Dave, December 11, 2011 5:32 pm

1st rib bent, cut to length, and in place. Spacing to top edge is close enough for me to work with. Now to get the remaining 3 done and in.

5 mounting holes drilled and both batteries are now dead. 🙁 What I get for leaving them outside in subfreezing weather.

And now on to the 3rd cup of coffee and the ribs. Till later folks…

Will have to move wood several hundred feet down the hillside to get it to the trailer. Glad we have a wheelbarrow.

Found another large dead/down tree yesterday. Looks to be several trailer loads of wood there. Wish it was closer to the access road though.

Going to try to get the ribs up for the camper top skin today. Though may go out and cut some more firewood later on.

Up and out this morning earlier. Got a fire going in the firepit to knock the chill off when the hands get cold.

Ended up cutting for 4+ hours yesterday, then building a fire in the outside pit and cooking supper out there. Twas an early night.