Neighbor came over and moved some bench WW sanders and my Jet Lathe to other , cleaned off areas. Much better!

Moved the stereo, gonna wall mount the little TV.

Need some ice to melt, that’s keeping me from moving a bunch of wood out of the garage, into the shed

On 1/30/2026 at 10:34 AM, MrRick said:

My newest project for a friend and his wife who are celebrating 70 years! ... of marriage!!

I saw this in a YouTube video. One comment was, "It would work great until the cat bumped it."

Here's a thought..." Train the cat to not jump up on tables" 🙂

6 minutes ago, MrRick said:

Here's a thought..." Train the cat to not jump up on tables" 🙂

"train the cat" 🤣

I saw a lady a few weeks ago taking her cat for a walk on a leash. I was amazed. Didn't ever expect to see that for sure.

4 minutes ago, MrRick said:

I saw a lady a few weeks ago taking her cat for a walk on a leash. I was amazed. Didn't ever expect to see that for sure.

NOT on my agenda was the 9AMish decision yesterday for the well pump to fail. After quick diagnosis, got on the phone to the closest Tractor Supply where the current pump was purchased. The pump is a 1HP, convertible jet pump with changeable 115v/230v. Anyways, nope, not in stock. Checked a couple others that are sorta close/ convenient...nada.

So for the next hour I'm on my tablet researching similar pumps (and immediate availability) that would minimize plumbing work. A few years back I completely re-plumbed converting to all 1" rigid copper when I installed a new pump and 80 gallon pressure tank. I believed I identified one at Menards that would work with minimal replumbing.. So "quick trip" to Menards, compared two options from display models, picked one, grabbed some fittings and other stuff I thought I would need and back home before NOON.

For reference, the well pump is located in a partially underground storm/root cellar about 6'x8'. Of course not close to the garage so multiple trips through the snow paths. It wasn't below zero down there since I keep a heat lamp on when temperatures drop below 10° but first order of business get my Big Buddy heater going. It warms the space in no time even on the low or medium setting.

Finally got the cast iron pump/motor down there. After much comparing, measuring and deliberation, this conversion was not feasible during below zero weather. So, back on the phone to other Tractor Supply stores. One extremely helpful person said no, don't have that one in stock, but check out this Sku #. It appeared to be a replacement model for the one I had...anyways after seeing it online, it looked nearly identical to the Menards model with a different name which was basically the same as HD, Rural King etc. On the phone again, finally located an exact replacement at a TSC NW burb of Indy.

So a quick (2+ hour round trip), an identical replacement pump (this store had two). Back home at 4P. More trips back and forth to garage for everything I forgot on the previous trips, old pump removed, new pump in place (a couple do-overs from mental lapses), primed the new pump with 3 bottles of water which I did remember, we had water again at 7P. Picked up what I needed to, but majority of tools and material is still down in the cellar. That'll likely be on Monday's thread for the coming week.

So, after I do other stuff today which includes 2 hour roundtrip travel for grandson's basketball game, church tomorrow then a likely nap which I'm sure you're ready for if you read this start to end. If you read it, THANK-YOU and reward yourself with a donut...shoot you deserve two.

46 minutes ago, MrRick said:

Here's a thought..." Train the cat to not jump up on tables" 🙂

37 minutes ago, lew said:

"train the cat" 🤣

Edited January 31Jan 31 by Grandpadave52

41 minutes ago, MrRick said:

I saw a lady a few weeks ago taking her cat for a walk on a leash. I was amazed. Didn't ever expect to see that for sure.

Our Mr. Mew walks on a leash and harness, he gets excited when he sees me get them. Took to it the first try.

I think he thinks he's a dog, he also growls if somebody comes to the door.

43 minutes ago, lew said:

That's probably more like it!

36 minutes ago, Grandpadave52 said:

If you read it, THANK-YOU

Always exciting at your house, Dave!!

On 1/30/2026 at 9:46 AM, BB1 said:

Continuing to work on my "filter cart" that will have an old furnace blower and then filters on the other end to try to improve air quality in thr shop. Top will be an added surface for glueup, etc. I was going to use plywood but saw this laminated particle board for half the cost (3/4 thick with laminate on both faces). I'll edge band to finish that part off. Doesn't need to be high strength so hopefully this will be workable and like that glue cleanup shoild be easy

One progress picture with my bored helper as "we" installed the caster

I had a completely different approach to my dust problem:

9 minutes ago, lew said:

Always exciting at your house, Dave!!

The opportunities seem to be far more frequent, costly, and challenging than they were when we were younger for some reason.

At least the pump quit at 9A, not 9P; It was on a weekday and not weekend; even at -11° to start, temperature rose to +15°, sunny and nearly no wind; I wasn't just recovering from some medicalissue, so could make all the needed trips and repairs; so I guess I'm thankful for the positives, BUT, that all came about when I got into a hot shower last night. The preceding 12 hours...well...

19 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

I had a completely different approach to my dust problem:

When I taught school, I kept a WWII gas mask in the theory room. When one of the kids had an especially offensive fart, I'd grab the mask and put it on. Always good for a laugh!

2 hours ago, lew said:

"train the cat" 🤣

I'll try to tell this briefly. On one of the HIstory channel shows about espionage it turns out out the CIA had this idea of implanting a wireless mic into a cat, and train it to walk near some Soviets to overhear their conversation. They spent $20 million setting this up. When the big day came they released the cat, it walked into the street and was killed by a car . Our tax dollars at work.

Dave, I can only empathize with your pump problem. Something I'm constantly thinking of is what happens if ours goes out, especially in weather like this.

1 hour ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

I had a completely different approach to my dust problem

This is another one I might consider 🤔🤣🤣🤣

2 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

NOT on my agenda was the 9AMish decision yesterday for the well pump to fail.

BTDT Dave went for 2-3 weeks without a few years back when things froze. Now have one of those ceramic heaters in the well pump room, and a spare pump sitting ready to swap out.

Was a real PITA hauling water from next door, following year had to reverse the procedure when Bruce's well went out. Man that boiler sure likes water.

Any suggestions for Forstner Bits? My generic set has finally worn out, pretty sure these were HF specials from 20 years ago.

I need sizes 1/4 inch through 1 inch. These are most used, I have some Yonico bits I have replaced bigger sizes with and they are pretty good, couple are carbide tipped.

First time I've fired up the W11 computer since the 13th, been using the Zorin OS.