Good Monday morning!

Good Monday morning Patriot Woodworkers! What did you get done over the weekend, and what have you planned for the week ahead! Inquiring minds want to know. Please tell us what's happening in your shops, your life, and any events going on with you. Thank you for being here folks!

 

Welcome new members

To view our newest members and welcome them to our digs, please see our Members Page, you can "Sort" by join date and click on their names and be taken to their profile page where you can leave a message of welcome. Thank you for making our newest folks feel welcome.

 

Summer Fundraiser Prize Shipments

Folks, we still have a few stragglers for getting us their shipping information. We need to submit all shipping information at the same time to our sponsors, they don't like to ship these items intermittingly as the information comes into us.

For those of you who have supplied your shipping information to me, I apologize for the delay receiving your item. I am working diligently at attempting to contact and receive the shipping info for our remaining recipients.

 

Please, if you are on the list of recipients as seen at the following announcement linked right below, and if you have not supplied us with your current shipping information, please PM me your address, thank you.

 

 

Featured Topic

Guitar stand by @Pauley. Follow the journey! 🙂 

 

Featured Download

 

Sick puppy getting better. The "under the counter" dishwasher died. Fortunately the one that stands up in front of the sink still works (but I'm getting dishpan hands). Cut up a log for bowl blanks, still need to round them and rough out. Local club demo on Thursday. Working on an old GE clock radio- clock/alarm mechanics failed.

 

Pretty sure there's someone waiting for me to look like I need something else to do

Mowathon was interrupted by breakdown bandits. D1, the PTO to Gearbox #1 matched drive belt set flew apart. Got that fixed at the end of the day. D2 got a late start due to errands and lack of desire. That resulted in the deck drive belt from gearbox #2 to all the spindles shredding itself about an hour before I planned to quit for the day. It's not a fun job to replace. Why does the mower never break down sitting in the shed but never fails when you need it most?

 

So this week replace that #%@!!@%# belt, try to finish the mowing in between rains so I can start mowing everything again. Couple evening meetings at church; granddaughters car needs brakes; I need breaks. Where's the donuts!?

Lumber Run completed....wanted to test out a saw, as well..

Part of a "Kit" I picked at a yard sale awhile back   ( Sawzall, Drill, and this saw...$5, plus the carry bag...

helper was causing saw to bind near the end of a few cuts...

But...

9 planks @ 3/4" x 6" x ~5', and a 8/4 x 6 x 5'  =   $21.....

9 minutes ago, steven newman said:

Lumber Run completed....wanted to test out a saw, as well..

Part of a "Kit" I picked at a yard sale awhile back   ( Sawzall, Drill, and this saw...$5, plus the carry bag...

helper was causing saw to bind near the end of a few cuts...

But...

9 planks @ 3/4" x 6" x ~5', and a 8/4 x 6 x 5'  =   $21.....

The Bandit strikes again!!!

14 minutes ago, lew said:

The Bandit strikes again!!!

My words exactly😆

@steven newman entering the back door of an estate sale to go look for tools.

 

 

Now you understand..why I am known as Bandit....

Old belt off by the new belt. Deere dealer OEM replacement version is about $150. I bought 3 (to have in inventory) aftermarket off the bay for about $35/ea which includes shipping to my door.

 

Step on the belt and stretch it out it's about 5' long. 6 sided belt; somewhere between a 5L & 6L cross section. 54" mowing width. Like wrestling a rabid snake.

 

Have to remove this gearbox to get the belt wrapped around the pulley. Four bolts on the bracket. 2 front, 2 rear. You can leave the PTO shaft connected.

 

 

Looped around all the pulleys, set the gear box on its mounts, then tighten the bolts. Gearbox self centers. Leave the belt off the far left spindle pulley (right in this view) to roll it in place after the big idler tension spring has been installed.

 

 

Pull for all you're worth to connect the spring, then pull even more to roll the belt onto the pulley. Gloves are required and watch your fingers; VOE

 

 

1 hour later its on, tools put up. No idea what Flat Rate time is. Probably a lot less for a 22 year old with good knees, good back and doesn't wear bifocals.

 

Mowed until 8:30. Still have ~acre to mow, finish the roadside and some fence rows. Then start over again. Grass was really tall and WET. Rain will be here by midnight, off/on tomorrow.

Edited August 5, 2025Aug 5 by Grandpadave52

Spent the day at the Ranch. Morning with a friend we put up 2x4's to hold lights and outlets in ceiling. Afternoon I broke out the huge magnet to pick up nails. Got two grocery bags (small size) almost full. Then pick up sticks , well actually roots. Got two tractor buckets of that and did not finish.

      Switched over to a bit of mowing. Got to slaughter some sawbrier but also got the tractor stuck. By backing in to drainage creek discovered a very uneven ground with result of two wheels not making contact. Had to build up under both those wheels to get out. Good thing is no mud involved.

      As you can see I like to do many jobs at once and just move from one to another.

 

      Meeting with electrician tomorrow

23 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

 

 

1 hour later its on, tools put up. No idea what Flat Rate time is. Probably a lot less for a 22 year old with good knees, good back and doesn't wear bifocals.

 

I wouldn’t bet on that.