Friday again folks! 

 

Here "Two Weeks From Anywhere" I've been spending the past few days working mornings, and then late afternoons working on the yard.

Just can't take being out in full sun like I used to, that and we've been under an "Air Quality Alert" the past two days for Ozone. 

Today we're under an alert for the "Smoke" from the Canadian Wildfires. 

As far as woodworking goes, I'm making firewood, and alot of wood mulch. 

 

Not sure how much I'll get done today, and tomorrow due to temps forecast for the high 80's to go along with the air quality issues.

 

Did manage to talk Bruce into hanging on to another "Toy" for doing yard work, so will be playing around with it for a bit. 

 

Amazing what can be found "Curb Shopping". 

 

 So, What's on Your Weekend Agenda? 

 

 

Got all the J channel, corners and starters in place on the garden shed. Now just need to "fill" in between them. Supposed to be showers and thunderstorm thru Thursday.

On  a mission to get my 2010 Ford Transit Connect van in tip-top shape and running again.  Bought a new battery for it.   Have a new marker light to install today.  Old one was knocked off in a parking lot mishap.  Backup camera needs replacing and I've got a replacement but so far haven't figured out how to get the old one out.   Plan on taking the van 40 miles to pick up some fresh lumber to feed my design curiosity urges with.  Van has been sitting unused since I went electric with a 2020 Chevy Bolt. Bolt could make the trip, but doesn't have the space for what I want to buy.  I also bought a battery tender to put on the van so the new battery won't fail if it sits another year before I drive it again. 

4D

Managed to get some yard work done this week along with some other tasks plus a few small tools refurbbed.

 

Oldest granddaughter enroute home now for weekend. Youngest granddaughter has the weekend off. Might find some tasks for them.

 

May have to help (aka=supervise) SIL change coils and spark plugs on daughters van. #2 cylinder has developed a random misfire. Easy job once everything else is removed including the intake manifold.

 

Plenty of other round-tuits to select from as well.

 

Sunday, church services and responsibilities.

 

 

Tomorrow morning we'll start our 2-3 day trip back to Tucson. It's been great being with Phyl's family this past week..all 85 of them. But, I'll be  glad to get home! 

That DR Roto-Hog Tow Behind Tiller sure beats the heck out of trying to hang on to the walk behind! 

Now to move some dirt from that tilled up high spot, and put it in some low spots. 

But first,...

 

 It has to be "Beer Thirty" somewhere. 

A couple views of our accommodations at Ft. Robinson,  Nebraska.

The house we stayed in. One of about 20 similar ones. They were officer quarters.

 

Living room. Love the Stickly furniture.

 View from our back porch

Sounds liek it was nice trip despite the weather...the cowboy breakfast really sounded great. Have a safe trip home Gene.

^^^^What Fred said @Gene Howe ^^^^^.  Thanks for the pics of your accommodations. Very cool historical setting.

Waiting on glue to cure...again..

fancy Tray is about done...need to start on Secret Tray...

NEXT!

Wife asked to make two end table. Local mill was supposed to get a shipment of new wood in late today. I, also, stopped by Woodcraft. Of course sending pictures of stuff I liked. Both places she picked the Canary wood LOL. Going back to mill tomorrow morning to see what new stuff they got. Sunday have to drive to Charlotte, NC for work Monday morrning.

On 6/23/2023 at 9:42 AM, 4DThinker said:

Have a new marker light to install today.  Old one was knocked off in a parking lot mishap.  

4D

I guess my mind is still working as expected.  Got the light wiring connected, but no matter what I tried I couldn't get the bulb fixture to snap into the opening.  Comparing that side to the other side revealed that when the light had been knocked off the panel must have been bent in a bit. As such the metal opening surface didn't match the surface of the fixture. I couldn't access the back side to tap it out.  Finally gave up on mounting it yesterday and slept on it hoping to come up with a solution while I slept.  

 

This morning I had the idea to see if I could make a wood wedge that I could slip through the hole, the push aside to push the metal out.  I measured the distance between the outside to whatever surface was behind the hole. Roughly 3/4".   I found a scrap of paper and pencil and did a rub over the opening to trace an outline of the opening shape.  Opened up my CNC software and measured the rubbing outline so I could draw up the shape.  Found a stick of cedar that was close to that size in cross section.  Clamped it vertically in my CNC frame and cut .8" of the shape down into it.  Took the cedar stick to my cross cut saw and cut off the top .75" of it. 

 

Back to garage to see if the block would fit in the hole.   Good fit, slid in easily.  Bottomed out while sticking out with a bit of an angled amount exposed .  Traced the edge that stuck out, and then took the block to my disk sander to sand off the angled face.   Back to the van.  The fixture opening is two holes.  I fed my finger into the other hole to help push the block over and pull the metal out at the same time.  Finally got the wedge block pushed over and down until the metal was pushed out what appeared to be enough.  Put the fixture in, gave it a rap, and it snapped in perfectly and flat to the metal surface.   Thanking my aging mind for continuing to come to the rescue. 

 

I'll be giving my mind another chance now that replacing the backup camera is up.  I've looked into this task before, but the kit that came with the new camera has some installation tools that may help.  Gonna make that my Sunday adventure.  This is not an OEM camera.  It is one I had installed by a local shop after I bought the van. 

4D 

Edited June 24, 20233 yr by 4DThinker

Working on a set of boxes for Children's Hospital patients.  Picking up a bit more "scrap" wood Sunday and Monday. 

For what it is worth, after some air in the tires, and blowing sawdust off the front window, my 2010 Ford started right up this morning.  New marker light works, but the van informed me with a fast clicker when turning left that either the front or back marker light needs a new bulb.  Took the Van to McD's for breakfast this morning and give it a chance to literally blow any cobwebs or other debris out of the tail pipe.  There is about 1/2 a tank of old gas in there that I'll dilute with fresh gas before I drive the van to pick up some hardwood and BB plywood. 

My replacement backup camera is a bit smaller in diameter than the old camera.  Assigning my creative subconscious to suggest a way to make the new camera fit where the old one was. 

4D

13 hours ago, 4DThinker said:

Assigning my creative subconscious to suggest a way to make the new camera fit where the old one was. 

Careful now.... you don't want the poor thing to blow a fuse!

5 hours ago, HARO50 said:

Careful now.... you don't want the poor thing to blow a fuse!

That fuse blew 15 years ago.  I've bypassed the fuse and take my chances that an overload won't start a fire.  Occasionally I catch a little smoke coming out of my ears but so far no solder joints have failed as far as I know.   Can't say the same for a few of the tools I've bought the last few years. 

 

As for fitting a small diameter camera into a larger diameter hole, it spit out the idea of a stepped washer,  The step diameter fits the larger hole.  The inner diameter fits the new camera.  Now I need a fender washer that will slip over the new camera and be wide enough to cover the larger hole.  I've got a CNC mill I should be able to make the stepped washer with.  Need to gather exact dimensions of camera and existing hole and metal skin thickness. 

4D (with a little smoke coming out of his ears)