Flyinfool

I tried Back to plan 2.5..... I gotta do sumptin with that pile of bricks.

Ya want some? Come and get um!!! I'll help ya load them into your vehicle. Or you could build a jail for some pygmies .......

Well all of the chimney that was in the attic is now a pile of bricks in the driveway. Dang that is a lot of work, Carrying the bricks from the attic, down a stepladder, down 2 flights of stairs, and across the yard. To get the bricks out of the attic I had to fill a 6 gallon bucket with about 50 lbs of bricks and then while holding the bucket over my head climb down the stepladder...... OK plan 2.5. Now that I have this pile of 100+ year old bricks growing in the back yard. I had this thought, I'll bet that these bricks will make adequate pavers, well at least temporary ones till I get around to doing it rite.

Close but not quite. I used square stock because it was cheaper than round and available at the time I needed it. This is a basement hobbyist shop, not a factory, no CNC equipment. I start in the lathe with the bar between centers and turn the outside profile. I have a tab welded to the end of the bar to drive it so that I do not have to waste material with a dog. A 4 jaw chuck would waste 3.5 inches of the bar at the chuck end and another 1/2 inch for a center at the other end. That would lose 6 tools per bar. The first batch that I made the outside was not round it was cam shaped so the entire outside hade to be done on the mill with an indexer between centers. That was a PITA. Then I move to the mill with the bar between centers on the indexer, where I mill the interior profile for the full length of the bar. LOTS of chips here. I loose about a half inch at each end of the bar to save enough stock for the centers and cutter run out. Then I saw it up into parts and mill to thickness and cut the ramp on the mill with the indexer. The saw has a 1/32 kerf and the parting tool is 1/8 wide. Just the difference in kerf I would get 20% fewer tools per bar of material. This may not be the most efficient way to do this, but I have to work within my machining capabilities.

Woooo Hoooo let the partying begin.

I am starting with a long piece of 2 inch square stock. Cut the inner and outer profiles which entails removing 80% of the bar. Then slice it up on the band saw into 1/2 inch chunks. Then mill one side flat and cut the ramp, flip it over, mill to final thickness and cut the other ramp. At the moment I am using some cheap scrap steel just to prove out the process and fixtures. It only takes a couple of uses for this cheap steel to start showing wear. Once I get everything working right, I'll buy the bar of 1045 steel and do it again for real. The 1045 is tough enough that I do not have to heat treat. I could make these out of 1018 which is a LOT easier to machine, but then I would have to case harden them. The first time I made these I was wearing out $100+ solid carbide end mills. I now have all indexable tooling for this, so now I will wear out $12 carbide inserts. I think the inserts to cut the harder 1045 will be cheaper than the case hardening.

Well I have the first one made. I tried it on my spare head and it does work fine even though there are some machining oopies on them. But I have decided to make some changes to it to make it even better.

Did you go to confession after you stole / bought it....... Nice find. Seafoam?

Did you tell your mech about this site?

Well I chickened out. I decided that the patio will have to wait for next spring. I started knocking down the chimney today. So far I have not needed any tool other than my bare hands to take the bricks apart. It really is ready to fall down. If I wait till next year for the patio I will plan to be able to rent a bobcat.

interesting specs on the LEDs 64 watts is more power than the stock headlight.

Stupid city will not let me build a garage on my lot. But they did TRY to add one to my property taxes..... Don't get me started on that one.....

Dang, Permeable concrete is not recommended for cold climates with freeze thaw cycles. And I prefer the look of the pavers over concrete. I am planning to use flagstone pavers to have that random size and shape of stones look. I can only afford one project for the house this year. The other option is to knock down the chimney to regain the 4 square feet on each of the 4 floors it goes thru. That will also be a major project. I think I am starting to lean toward doing the chimney instead of the patio. I guess I will know for sure by Sat night.....

I'm just full of stuff........ Just ask anyone..... No rum balls for WHO???? Ahh, I see it now, "No rum balls for U":rasberry: I found them at Auto Zone, but they do not appear on the Auto Zone website. Check your local auto parts store for Smart Glow Fuse made by LittleFuse. [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Littelfuse-00940400ZGLO-Smart-Assorted-Multi-Pack/dp/B0000TX800]Amazon.com: Littelfuse 00940400ZGLO Smart Glow Blade Style Assorted Multi-Pack Fuse - 42 Piece: Automotive@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51UJdUpQt-L.@@AMEPARAM@@51UJdUpQt-L[/ame] http://www.ebay.com/itm/LITTLEFUSE-15-0000-MINI-BLADE-SMART-GLOW-FUSE-KIT-36-Pack-5-10-15-20-25-30-Amp-/290935217998 http://www.wiringproducts.com/smart-glow-fuses

OUCH! I checked out a couple of rental places for a bobcat or mini excavator. They all want $410 to $450 for a one day rental that allows up to 8 hours run time. When I described the project they all recommended a bobcat with a toothed blade on the bucket. Bobcat and excavator are the same price. Some required either their operator at $50 per hr or a cert that I am a qualified operator. I am not, never played with one, yet. But then the cat might just be fun....... And then IF I plan everything right, I can use the cat to spread the gravel.

It is getting down to the wire for a decision. I am thinking of putting in a big (to me anyhow) patio. It will be 10 x 30 feet. It needs to be done as a permeable base. There is not room to pitch it at all for water runoff so it has to be permiable to avoid a lake forming at my back door. To do this will require digging out a hole that is 11 x 31 feet and a foot deep. I do NOT have any access to any power equipment for digging, so it would me and a shovel getting very familiar with each other. Then I have to figure out what to do with 11 yards of dirt that would come out of the hole. The hole then gets filled with 8 yards of gravel that must be leveled and compacted, at least the gravel yard will loan me a compactor. Then another 2 yards of coarse sand, then 8,800 lbs of pavers to cut and place. The one big catch is that the pavers I want to use are on sale for 55% off until Saturday night. With out the sale price it will not fit in the budget. So I have until 8:00 Saturday night to decide. This sounds like a major undertaking to dig this hole and get rid of the dirt. I am not sure if I am up to it physically or mentally. I can see this taking most of the summer to complete. Once it is started the bike is stranded until it is done. Hiring a contractor to do this is way out of the budget. For all of the materials, delivery charges and rentals it will cost about $1200, the cheapest contractor was $10,000. Has anyone ever done a project like this? Got any words of wisdom? Maybe I need to have a Patio Hole Party? Or should I call it a free exercise party? I can supply shovels and food and drinks and Rum Balls .......

To be continued.......... WELL ................

I'm very glad to hear that you and Eileen have worked things out for the better.

Inbetween the pot holes we have lots of pavement here.

OUCH!! Good time to inspect and clean the stuff on the bottom?

:scared: :scared: :scared: :scared: TMI!!!!!

2 years ago........ You didnt by chance pour it into the garage foundation........

Its hard to make squirrel stew or pot pie if the main ingredient wanders off......

Yup Spring is here. More snow last night. I'll be forwarding it on to the east.......

Great to hear. Glad we all could help out in our own small ways.