To close out 2004, let me ask you.
Have any of you noticed shirt button holes getting tighter? Let
me continue. Did any of you used to have trouble with shirt buttons
coming undone? Me either. So why did we need the button holes
to shrink so much? In fact, I can just about pry my finger nails
back to the knuckle striping the button thru the ridicilously
tight button hole in EVERY work shirt I own. I could far more
easily pull the buttons off the shirt than convince the hole to
release them.
I think this is (most likely) yet another
example of "extreme" in our society. Somebody's decided
to make us all suffer with every mundane task of our lives which
used to be simple. And, I know they sit and laugh when they ship
the crates of shirts out of China.
;?)
And, while we are discussing "extreme"
... let's talk about airguns.
I'll post a few more pics of the study
on slug characteristics I started earlier in the week.
I've got more knuckles on one thumb
than direct responses to the documentation of the penetration
test materials of the quiz slug. We missed all that "Amazing,
Gee Whiz part ... and moved directly to the multiple suggestions
of using and/or building a smaller airgun, different airgun, definition
of varmints, discussions regarding the wisdom of going to every
house in the county for signed exemption releases. And, I guess
I have to actually state for the record that I was NOT intending
to find a way to shoot the neighbor's cat without trace. I'd say
we pretty thoroughly hijacked the thread. ;?)
I suppose I did not state my logic
or study project very well. My plan was to explore a slug design
which; without changing airguns, without changing barrels, without
extensive restructuring of the airgun, would transfer energy quickly
- limit over penetration - and limit ultimate travel.
I started out showing you just that
- no modifications of anything. At the top of the power range,
noting the difference slug design alone could make. Even demonstrating
that an impossible sounding design could be made to fly, fly accurately,
and fly extremely fast from a pistol. I posted about a third of
the material I had in the can for that topic. As I say - with
several hundreds of reads of the materials and a very small handful
or less of comments regarding the actual data presented ...
I'll just finish the thread quickly,
since this is where I was going with it.
Had a private discussion with a buddy
by e-mail. We discussed the fact that you can never get a quorum
of opinion on the topic of airgun hunting and energy requirements.
While the world hunts squirrel with a .410 shotgun and/or a .22
rimfire ... the airgun community mostly feels the .177 airgun
will do just fine. I personally don't. That's an example where
the firearms guys think 100 fpe up is needed, and the airgun folks
often think the 12 fpe is just fine. What I've noted is a good
chance of critters flopping around wounded.
Now, on the other hand, it's a simple
fact that more white tail deer have been poached with a .22 rimfire
than any other tool. Clearly it will do the job - even with it's
lowly 100 fpe of approx. energy. However; while I make PCP rifles
more than SIX TIMES that powerful, I catch grief from airgunners
for being under gunned when I speak of medium game airgun hunts.
So, I seem to be both over gunned and under gunned no matter what
I hunt.
I've finished my research project (recreational
relaxation) by turning down the 32 Victory to lower levels and
firing the new slugs as intended. For those interested,
I post a link here. Point is, a Victory Carbine or Pistol
does not just find a home in the gun safe. It has a vast range
of capabilities without major reconfiguration. I'll guarantee
a 10.5 grain Premier pellet from a 20 fpe FT rifle would have
penetrated this 3/8" plywood. My 32 Victory SS pushing this
quiz slug @ 26.4 fpe did not. And, I have no doubt as to the "ton
of bricks" effect this slug would have on varmints. Did I
turn it down to a crawl? Take a look at the link above.
Big ole silver loving cup trophy? Aahhaaaaah
.... ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz ... yawnnnnn.
12-29-04
We had alot of input from readers on
our last discussion topic of a varmint slug. Here's a fun e-mail
I got this am.
Gary,
Your recent Homestead subject had me checking in way
to often. I suggest
you cease and desist all current overly exciting and interesting
activities,
before someone develops and addiction.
Or am I too late...
Glad you have enjoyed following along.
A fair number of you have had comments, cautions, concerns, etc.
The radical idea of using a smaller airgun has come up more than
once. This is something I must research ... ;?)
Let me note a couple of things I've
heard from wise old woodsmen (who claim to have witnessed events
which seem to validate their points). Back when squirrels were
varmints ... some boys shot a few with what we'd consider today,
to be a Field Target PCP. You know - the .177 caliber @ just a
hair under 20 fpe. Well, the old guys told me the boys were darned
good shots, and placed good head shots. However; the .177 did
not do a "lights out" job. And, the creatures flopped
and wheezed - even after a couple of more so placed shots. Same
with starlings ... back when they were varmints. The old guys
told me similar stories of good solid body shots that didn't do
the job well at all.
So; the boys grew up, and now they
only take their 25 and 32 PCP's to the range and shoot paper targets
where there's a big dirt berm behind them. And all the squirrels
and starlings are protected and enjoying their chosen work of
tearing louver covers off of drier vents and building nests in
there when they are not chewing holes thru eves and entering behind
attic knee walls where they happily chew on the electrical wiring
... ;?)
Regarding the "shot shell"
ideas. Great idea - if you have an open barrel. You can't shoot
shot shells thru a shrouded barrel. The muzzle proper is down
inside the shroud. And, if you make a shot shell sleeve strong
enough to survive leaving the muzzle proper without expanding,
then you've just created a slug with shot inside.
In addition, an open barrel on a PCP
with the power to propel a shot shell capable of doing any work,
would sound much like what it is ... a "shotgun". And,
after the first shot in the barn, you'd have no more pigeon problems
(back when pigeons were varmints) hit or miss, 'cause they'd all
fly away ... until you got back into the house. ;?)
Now... for something sparkling ...
We are looking forward to a great shoot!
The Winner will take home the "Erwin
Cup".(pistol for scale - nice
try).
These are the opportunities you first
read here on the Homestead.
Never underestimate the power of an
accountant who says he can't think outside the box! haha ;?)
More stuff on the
Quiz link here - and I'll make up the
pages of pics today during breaks. All the pics are processed
and uploaded already - just have to organize them and tell the
story on the pages.
12-27-pm-04
Couple of more gates for you to go
thru regarding our quiz. Thanks for all your input. It's been
fun. Keep these in mind:
1). We are shooting a shrouded barrel.
2). Our prime concern is just for safety.
And ... yes - this is a tease. I've
got some dynamite photos to show you later. Well - actually -
not "dynamite" photos ... (much too loud ... craters
and such ... )
Here's a picture hint.
;?)
-----------------------------
Customer e-mail 6:30 pm ... Hi gary,
The latest picture looks like you shot the siding on
the house with a .32 wadcutter.
Jay
Actually ... it does look like that.
But it's not. he he ... ;?)
Coffee Can Mouse ... Offhand @ 10 meters.
With the new slug.
Here ... below ... is what we are trying
to avoid. It's the trail of the 32 caliber 50 grain round ball
(Single O Buckshot) thru a 2 by 8 spruce plank @ approx. 750 fps.
Sawn thru the wound channel.
That's alot of penetration. I have
a whole bunch of pics we'll go thru - alot of discussion. We'll
do it tomorrow - wanted to get in comments from the quiz from
those who wanted to write in.
Some great responses. I just posted
the question after midnight this morning. We'll let some more
run in today - you will enjoy reading them. I'll post my solution
later.
*<*;?)>
12-27-04
OK ... I'd like
to hear some feedback on a question. Problem
solving is the fun part of the engineering side of my trade. I'd
like us to kick a few ideas around. If I get some feedback, I'll
post some of it. I already have my particular solution. I've tested
it and photo documented it already. It's in the can. Let's see
what you come up with ... or what you think I came up with.
The problem:
I'd like to be able to do some varmint
control with the Victory 32SS. That's without having the projectile
travel a mile. I have all sorts of Barnes slugs and the pistol
loves the O buckshot. The slugs are in the 65-85 grain range.
They generate about 71 fpe in the pistol. The round buckshot weigh
50 grains. They generate about 63 fpe in the pistol.
Wouldn't it be nice to have something
that packed a whollop without over penetrating? How about something
that was very accurate, but didn't travel a long way. I have power
adjust - so I could turn the power way down. Then, I'd have alot
of trajectory to deal with - may be unavoidable. Fast is real
nice - but it may not fit here. The heavier the slug, the more
energy it will retain at distance. Some designs are prone to bounce
- ricochet. What makes that happen?
What would you do?
Common now ... some feedback. This
is Homestead. Remember the format. I'm not going to just toss
out all of this without having alittle fun too. I can't read this
site ... I write it. So, I enjoy your mail and it's much like
the entertainment you draw from reading here.
Let's see if you'd do what I did.
;?)
12-26-04
Slug test demonstration
later tonight ...
12-25-04
Hope you are enjoying a fine Christmas
Day. Thanks for reading. Thanks also for the many notes of well
wishes we've received. I appreciate it very much. Nice to be thought
of on this special day.
I spent yesterday doing some Santa's
Elf stuff. Folks stopping by today. Things in this 111 year old
house are always waiting to be fixed. I fixed a few couple. I
started a tradition of hand painted wooded tree ornaments many
years ago. Name ornaments with dates. Each year we are pleased
to need a few more to account for additions to our family - wives
- husbands - grand kids.
We were pleased to have three of our
five children able to visit with their families this year. We
are ever grateful for the safety of our family. We sincerely pray
that yours is also safe.
This afternoon, I plan to sneak out
to the shop and do alittle pistol shooting (if I can stay awake).
Oh ... I got a scope in my stocking and a couple of more pistol
cases too. I must have been VERY good. ;?)
Hope you are able to relax today. That's
my biggest challenge ...
Hope you've enjoyed reading along for
2004. We'll be wrapping it up here in a few days. We sincerely
hope you have a Blessed Christmas.
Please remember to pray for our troops
and our leaders. They are all doing many things for us in the
background, so that we are free to go about our daily routines.
I appreciate it greatly.
I'll be home for Christmas. I always
enjoy your notes.
Gary
12-21-04
For those of you attending the Erwin
Cup Pistol Shoot, the Baymont Inn has offered us a special rate
of $49/night. This includes their breakfast lay-out too ... (although
I'll be staying there and will belly up to the Shoneys breakfast
bar with Bob. ;?)
It's very kind of Baymont Inn to once
again extend a special deal to us. They were a great help during
Standing Stone 4. It's a really fine place. The people are nice.
There's hot coffee and cookies in the lobby day and night and
there's an indoor heated pool. Well worth the $. Thanks very much.
Sorry we are alittle late getting this
posted, however; as we say - early commitments were slow coming
in. There's still room for a few more of you to join us. Jan.
15,16 th, '05. Corbin, Kentucky. Here's
the link to maps, lodging, etc.
Well, I did my Christmas shopping today.
Remember, we have six grandkids now and three more due in the
Spring. Our daughter (the USAF Sgt.) is having natural triplets!
It's been quite the topic of planning. Everytime I go to send
someone the url for Homestead ... I can't just "command copy"
cause the memory seems to be endlessly full of tri-baby carriages,
pregnancy websites, etc. Who knows for sure ... I've probably
sent several people sites for maternity clothes ... ;?)
Oh ... shopping. Got Kelly a Glide
Rocker and Ottoman. No, didn't try to sneak it in under the tree.
It's in the corner of the dining room. ;?)
Merry Christmas Kelly! You're a keeper.
12-20-04
Long day. Very cold here. Zero with
a nasty wind on top of that this morning. Burning some fossil
fuel today I'll tell you.
Some of you told me your computers
are as old and bummed out as mine so you are no threat. Hey -
no insult intended. I looked at the web stats this morning. Over
50 countries as usual. What you put on the net is "global".
Just have to be sensible.
Hey ... buy your wife a card guys.
Christmas in five days ya know. ;?)
12-19-04
Weather. The Corbin, Kentucky area
is alot like central Maryland (if that helps). It's NOT some Alpine
setting. Snow in quantity is rare. More nuisance snows here and
there. Temps. are often in the med. coat range. But rarely in
the down jacket range ('cept at 2 am).
Bring layers of clothes you can tune
to what you find. We don't know exactly what's in store for Jan.
15,16. We'll do all to make you comfortable. Remember - shooting
is from heated shooting sheds. Now - these are not the sky boxes
at the Super Bowl ... but they will be a nice shelter from the
cold. We'll shoot from there - we won't be wandering along open
trails.
We're looking into a room rate. I know
some have booked already. We didn't think we had enough folks
until this week to ask about rates. We'll see now.
On a different topic: Yes ... I know
... everybody would like to see all the parts, the procedures
I use to make them, the tooling, the diagrams, etc. If you think
about it - you know why I don't show all that. I told someone
this morning ... just with what I show ... it's clear that NASA
has nothing like some of the rigs you guys use to view the site.
I post a simple pic. It's blown up - enhanced - studied - next
thing I get a mail telling me I have to re-order 8-32 by 3/16"
grub screws 'cause there's only 6 left in the box on the shelf
in the background. ;?)
Bummer ... but only so much I show.
Bummer for me too - 'cause I'd like to show more of the dozens
of works in progress. But - I might as well just send the blue-prints
to China.
Hey, you want a wierd connection ...
Jay is also coming ... and he WON 3rd in the Atlanta Chili Cook-Off
a couple of years ago!!! Probably one of the shows I referred
to that I watched at 2am one night ... ha ha. Although, I don't
think it was a big city like Atlanta.
Well, we're saving the Whales now ...
;?)
12-18-04
Good Grief ... I learned today that
probably half of the times I've mentioned Bob's name, I've spelled
it "I" rather than "E". Had I just been consistently
wrong, he could have simply changed his name. As it is ... I guess
I'll have to correct my text.
Please note that's the "Frwin
Cup" .... I mean "Erwin Cup" is spelled with an
"E". Bob Erwin. ;?) ...... The mind is the first to
go ...
Ahhhh ... we've shamed one more fine
gentleman into coming to shoot pistol with us Jan. 15,16 - '05.
Good!! And, yes ... we know that you don't have a big bore air
pistol. That's just fine. You can shoot ours (after we adjust
the sights for you ... ;?).
You're gonna hate yourself if you miss
it.... ;?)
12-17-04
Note grid above .... multiple new items
there.
12-16-04
Well ... you are out there. Sitting
in your underwear with your cereal bowl no doubt. ;?)
I heard from quite a few of you last
night and today. Very interesting thing here. You know those annoying
radio and TV commercials you hear endlessly for the computer generated
match making services? Well, I've got one (of sorts) here too.
You guys are missing it when you don't come to Standing Stone
and to things like the Irwin Cup Pistol Shoot. Why? 'Cause about
a dozen of your e-mails were almost identical. And ... not a dozen
bad ones ... a dozen filled with thoughtful comments. All on the
same wavelength. You guys would enjoy each other's company.
I've run the mails thru my percolator.
Interested in the result? Well tune in next week ... ha ha.
No ... won't do that to you. I've come
up with a term to describe the "syndrome" described
by the mail. Ready .... ? Wait for it ....
It's the "Gary Poppins Syndrome".
Figure it out?
100% of the mail said that you come
here, year after year, and simply "expect" perfection.
After that ... what's to comment on? Here's the title line of
one ... Ho hum..just another gorgeous hand-built custom
tack-driver..yawn
Sure ... he was kidding. I enjoyed
all the mail very much. But the thought was in every mail - expressed
one way or another.
Another came in with the title "Homestead
Slacker"... Gary, sorry us Homesteaders are not living
up to our end of the
conversation. Personally I know your guns are more accurate than
most of us
are likely able to shoot; I need no further convincing.
So, for 6-8 years, I've shown you one
accurate rifle after another accurate rifle after ... well, you
get the point. Then, an interesting comment in another mail. Here's
an excerpt of his point 3.... 3. You are honest. I guess
people would rather see you shoot 1" groups @ 100 yards instead
of 12 yards. I think the 2x4 mouse group was about 0.95"
(the only one you could get an idea of scale). Nice shooting in
my book Tex.;)
AND ... the mail followed with this
thought ... "Next week is expected to be better than this
week". What's cutting edge this week has been seen next week.
Then, when I drop in something that has a practical application
... it's ....... it's a Honda Accord. Like a Honda Accord,
great car, runs like a top, comfortable, and dependable as sunshine.
Boring. I guess you could say that its Hondas fault for building
such good cars, they make it look easy and its what people have
come to expect. In a way you're in a bit of the same situation,
you've made it harder to impress people since you've shifted the
bell curve over to the right a bit.
One of my customers dragged himself
out of bed with pneumonia to comment today. If I had commented,
it would have been the same as the comments I made at Standing
Stone. How the heck do you get so cleaver?!? ..........So the
bottom line is that I enjoyed the article, expected that level
of shooting, laughed and giggled at the "monsters" attacking
the shop...
About half of them said they were too
busy laughing at the cartoons ...
Maybe we were all just too amused with the funny rat
pictures to
pay real attention to the marksmanship - your artistic license
working
against you!
There were quite a few more. And, ya
know ... I even shot a few more targets with Barnes 32 caliber
- 71 grain Waddcutters as a result of the request for same. You
say you want clean target holes. These were about 1" to 1
1/4" five shot groups ... one of them 3/4" for 5 shots
standing offhand. Approx. 65 fpe. I may post a few of those targets
tomorrow.
DON'T MAKE ME come thru this computer
... ha ha ;?)
So ... a side bar will be my pistol
practice/relaxation sessions. We know the gun is perfect. Let's
see if I can improve .. ;?)
12-15-04
_
Interesting. It's been three days since
I posted the link to pistol play. I got one "peep" from
the entire Homestead readership. One. Some kind of an eight year
record.
So, I got to thinking. Boring?
I looked at the page again. Didn't
seem so. This is the Homestead page so I'm supposed to be candid.
I looked at the pics and asked myself ... is that terrible shooting
or good shooting? I've never claimed to be an especially good
offhand shot or pistol shot. But, with all the multiple strikes
- and the general size of the groups ... I thought it was pretty
good. I used to watch some guys shoot their 10m pistols indoors.
The targets were alot bigger and their groups were too. Those
were pistols of about 2-3 fpe with absolutely no recoil.
My Victory 32SS was shooting the buckshot
ball at about 60-62 fpe - something like that. It does have some
recoil - even broke a weld on the back of the bullet trap! So;
regarding the groups ... I thought, maybe it looks too good. I've
gotten into trouble before for winning tournaments. Only a creep
would win ... using a Barnes rifle ... using slugs ... he made
the targets ... he won last year ... and the year before that,
etc. So, I thought ... nahhh ... there's nice clusters of shots
... but alot of stray stuff.
So then I thought ... maybe they don't
believe the shot clusters. I recall one target even had a nice
six shot cluster. One was mis-labeled too - I wrote it wrong when
I snapped the pic. The cartoons were 8 shots at 12 yards or thereabouts
('cept the 3 shot rat).
So I thought ... I'll do an experiment.
I made up 10 cards with each having 5 bull's eye per card. I shot
one ball at one bull's eye - five shot strings. Over the course
of the work day, I'd occasionally shoot a card or two. At the
end of the day, I had the ten cards - 50 shots.
Going thru the cards, I drew out a
little diagram of the group which would have occurred were each
of the bull's eye overlapped and registered. I even did a quick
area of the 3" outside circle I'd used as a base ring. Used
an 1 1/4" sticker dot for the bull. I compared the total
3" area with the area of a 32 caliber dia. circle. You know,
you could put 88 ball in that 3" circle? Maybe. Probably
the math and the real world of round ball in a round ring may
not duplicate the math version exactly ... but ... you get the
idea. There were about 88 "Pixels" where the ball could
land in that circle each shot. So ... what was the chance of duplicating
the same pixel a second time in five shots? You'd think it would
be extremely slim.
Well ... I made up my diagrams of composite
groups. Then I went thru the targets just looking at the diagrams
quickly. Clearly - five on a diagram is easy to recognize. Out
of the ten targets ... 8 of them showed diagrams of 4 or even
3. They indicated either close overlapping holes (cloverleaf)
or exact duplicate hole placement. That's an 80% chance that in
five shots, I'd duplicate or cut an existing hole. In fact. It's
probably higher because the first shot clearly could NOT duplicate
a hole - none existed prior to each first shot. I can't think
right now how to factor that in ... the 80% is odd enough. Seems
unbelievable.
I was gonna photograph all the targets
- make a grid of them and the diagrams. Get into the story alot
deeper with the areas of the targets I favored - the areas that
were almost never struck. Then, I thought ... hey ... what's the
point. It takes time. Evidently nobody is interested anyway. So
the targets are in a file.
What's it mean? The pistol is a machine.
It's amazingly accurate in that it will duplicate the firing cycle
and deliver the ball the same each time. To whatever degree "I"
can become a machine, the target will witness the event with a
duplicate hole. It may be a wide miss. If I do everything the
same (say I pull the trigger too quickly) ... and I do it just
the same again ... I get a duplicate hole - wide miss or not.
I still don't really know how the practice
cards stack up. I shot the two targets above today, just to post
here. One's with the buckshot - the other is an old Barnes 66
grain slug called the Hornet. That's shooting @ just under 70
fpe. The two targets were shot with a front rest of a "V"
notch of dense styrofoam - about 10 meters distance. Yes - needs
a few clicks right. That also explains why my offhand has been
favoring the left.
You see, there's a difference between
the pistol and me. I've now shown you both. The pistol is better
than I am. I've even changed my grip from a few days ago and improved
my groups - My grip was alittle too tight before. But, as I say
... that just tells you how I shoot the pistol ... Not the pistol's
potential. It even rewards duplicate mistakes with duplicate results.
The work this week has been on this
batch of Bison parts. I hope to soon jig weld various component
parts together. I'll show you assemblies soon.
Will post some fun pics of my pistol
shooting session in the shop alittle later this evening... ;?)
12-09-04
Yes - the saw works great. I cut a
pc. of billet and quickly moved on to clear the bench of last
week's accumulation. Back onto my crating and shipping. I owe
a special note of thanks to the several folks who have patiently
waited thru several of these side tracks. Thank you sincerely.
Just being one guy, I get all the jobs.
The end of the day bell never rings here. The calendar never has
periods of time blocked out for maintenance. And, I got a great
deal on this tool which would have passed, had I not ordered the
exact day I did. This project helped me tremendously to catch
up on organizing the shop to be more efficient. Having expected
the saw to arrive almost every day for a week to ten days (with
the shop opened up to receive), the project moved in ever expanding
circles. It's done now and we're making steam.
John, I'm crating yours this afternoon.
Peter, I know you are out of the country. That's out of "your"
country, which is out of mine too. Confusing, isn't it?
Hey, I hear a Dutch firearms magazine
has written an article on my work and on the Standing Stone concept.
I'm supposed to be getting a translation soon - I'll share it.
It will also feature some fine pics of the Hoss pistol. That pistol
has attracted more photos in more corners of the Earth. The ones
of you that passed on it ... well .... ;?)
I've had my yearly allotment of dust.
Being all squeaky clean, I think I'll hang one of those little
pine tree rearview mirror thingies in the shop now ... ;?)
Truck arrived. We got it thru the maze
of one way alleys.
I was ready. Had my 4,500 lb. pallet
truck ready. We took it up on the lift gate - jammed it under
the bandsaw and pumped the handle ... pumped the handle .... pumppumppummmmmmped
the handle. It alllllllllllllmost lifted it.
Started an embarrassing comedy routine
of servicing the thing (which has NEVER left me down and ALWAYS
worked perfectly). The truck driver even complimented the thing
- a fine brand - better than his. 'cept ... it didn't work.
I opened what I took to be the fill
port for the fluid. Even had super hydraulic fluid for stuff like
this. And, it would not take fluid - fairly small port - horizontal
into the jack tube - very awkward. So, I figure that's not the
right one. Lower down are two much bigger ones. I fiddle, fiddle
to get a T handle hex wrench. It fits!!!! I twist - it's tight
- twist more ... conscious that I'm keeping the driver. It turns
... good .... oh ... not good ... the steel 1/4" T hex wrench
shaft is twisting! Nice spiral flute now ... OH GIVE ME A BREAK!!!
I trot around the shop bouncing off
things like a pin ball - trying to locate another wrench. Finally
do and a ball pean hammer as well. I get the port loose. Out comes
a plug, spring, and a steel ball ... which rolls away ... OH JOY
... it's a check valve! And now all full of grit. Lovely. And,
with that out, I fill it some - clean and replace all ... now
it will ALlllmost lift it. Just enough so we still have to drag
about 500 pounds of it.
So, I go through all the check valve
stuff again. Now it won't work at all. Pant, pant.
So, I'm there slumped against the crate
like the last guy to cross the finish line ... and I just have
to thank, tip the driver, sign the slip, and give him directions
out of the network of alleys.
And, an hour later, Kelly's fixing
me a sandwich. Pretty much everything hurts. I found that the
first port I tried was correct. I just didn't have the fluid in
a pump can to get it in there correctly. The pallet truck works
perfectly now ... don't you just want to smile with me? .... here
we go .... smile .... ;?)
More later. Maybe a pic. Hey - I wonder
if there's really a bandsaw in that crate? I thought I heard some
heavy breathing (thought it was me ... now I'm not sure ... ).
12-07-04
Thanks for asking. No ... the bandsaw
did not arrive today. Kelly got the call this morning. And, of
course, it was on a big ole tractor trailer .. again. Now, when
I ordered it, I cautioned that I needed a straight truck with
a lift gate. Mentioned that I'd had trouble before because they'd
ignored my warning of the alleys. The lady that took the order
made the notes - charged me more freight for the straight truck
with lift gate ... etc.
So, when the company called at the
end of last week to say that they'd be coming Monday, we mentioned
the truck requirements again. Which ... of course ... they knew
nothing about. So, they said they'd have it on the right truck
for Tuesday. No problem.
And, this morning ... right ... it
was on the wrong truck again when they wanted to deliver it. So,
Kelly went thru it all again. And, it's supposed to be on the
right truck for tomorrow. We'll see. It's even gaining weight.
It's a thousand pounds now.
You see, I live in the same world you
do too. Nothing goes as planned. ;?)
12-06-04
We heard from the band saw fairy this
morning. Delivery tomorrow. And, while we'd told them a dozen
times we needed a straight truck with a lift gate ... right ...
they had it on a tractor trailer. Always happens. We tore down
signs, trees, everything the last time. Hopefully, they will get
it on the correct truck.
Worked like a fool on the shop getting
it back together yesterday. It was Sunday and my birthday together.
I get some points for working on my birthday and have some "splain'n"
to do about the Sunday work I guess.
Oh - alot of you have looked at the
new movies. Glad you like them. I'll do more when I get a chance.
I have some ideas for the Yukon. Note, on the recent movie, where
I shoot shots #2,#3 after sighting in: The "dulnk" of
the slug hitting the plywood and the sound of the shot reaching
the camera are very near together. Guess you read the notation
on the movie page that the slugs were hitting the 71 yard board,
ploughing along the ground for about 20 yards or so (an uphill
slope), and then lifting off and striking the 100 yard solid backer.
That's why the film from the bench area sounds like there's alot
of hang time. From there, you mainly pick up the solid "whack"
of the 100 yard heavy backer.
Ok, final sort out and the saw arrives
tomorrow. Thank Heavens ... I'm ready for some gravy work after
this bull work of moving equipment and renovation. Now that I'm
old, I'll need lots of naps and stuff ... and more coffee ...
ha ha. ;?)
Oh ... don't come runnin' to me and
complain that I don't schedule shop visits and the like, or don't
go to the show that you are going to ... ;?) I did Standing Stone
4 and the Erwin Cup is coming up Jan. 15,16, '05. I'll have my
product on display for examination and available for testing.
We put it in Kentucky - far more central to the entire Eastern
half of the USA than anything that would be convenient for me.
I'm a hard 12 hours drive away. And, as usual, the confirmed good
friends and visitors a flying in from out of the country and the
population of the US is "thinking" about it ... ;?)
It's coming up pretty fast. You are going to be left home taking
down Christmas decorations if you don't come. Consider yourself
warned .. ;?)
12-04-04
Progress report (coffee break).
No - the saw has not arrived. It shipped
late. May arrive Monday.
The shop's a wreck. Like a sliding
puzzle (which I hate) - where you have to move this up and to
the left before you can move that down and to the right, then
you slide it back to where it was to let something else pass.
Suffice it to say - I have more tools than square footage.
Watched one of those bike building
shows late last night - the ones with the dysfunctional people
doing a three stooges routine with tools and bike parts. The shops
are always vast steel truss buildings or vast timber frames, etc.
The camera shots fade to grey in the distance inside. That's NOT
like my shop.
Alittle refreshing of the story for
the new readers. I built my shops. By that, I mean I even hand
mixed the concrete for the floors, framed it all, wired it all,
altered and blended a couple of old buildings with new additions
and renovations. Even the building is difficult to describe. Perhaps
the closest would be an old wooden shingle cannery building with
nooks and crannies and multi-levels. It's technically all one
building, but barely. Corridors and staircases connect shops.
There are so many internal corners, when I get in a hurry rushing
around, I've passed myself coming the other way. I've even gone
upstairs only to find myself back outside. Hummmm. ;?) Actually,
there's a small courtyard around which the shops wrap. In the
middle is a giant old weeping cherry tree. The base is probably
20' around or more. It provides a canopy over alot of the shop
(and requires alot of trimming and removal of tree debris too).
So, in this go-round ... having regained
the wall along which I wanted to place the new bandsaw, I removed
an old bench and shelving system which was very tired. Out the
door with that. Moved electrical wiring, sheathed the wall which
was damaged and unfinished in some areas. Have about 90' of new
wire welded shelving to go up.
Having built the shops, I've always
been in the position of having to get back into operation before
all the "cute" stuff was really finished. Like insulation,
final interior sheathing, water lines, etc. All the stuff that
goes for granted. So, whenever I go into battle with the shops
again, I clean and insulate and upgrade those areas which were
opened up again. Great fun. Wouldn't know what to do with a big
box building and room to move if I had it. I'd just stand and
cry I guess. It would be an Oprah moment for sure ... ;?)
That's it - coffee's gone. Back to
it. It's actually going back together now. Being fully aware that
folks are waiting, it's been move, drag, sweep, coffee, toss,
cut, install, move, transport, coffee, sweep, insulate, install,
roll paint, shower, pass out, awaken, coffee, repeat.... repeat
.... repeat.
Will be soooooooo glad to get this
phase done and take my Christmas family shop picture with the
new bandsaw. ;?)
Oh, the puff of vapor from the Yukon
breech in the movie. I'll check (as soon as I can find the rifle
again). Hasn't hurt anything. Poor rifle only shoots about 687
fpe as it is. ;?) I suspect one of the commercial O rings in the
system. The front Barnes manufactured breech seal is going strong.
12-2-04
I've been taking trailer after trailer
of shop "stuff" to the warehouse about ten miles away.
Even an old metal lathe that's served it's time. Tons of stuff
from the dark corners of the shop. Guess what? Those parts that
go "bling!!!" and fly across the shop - never to be
seen again? Those ones that roll off the bench and playfully roll
and skip and bounce away ...? They do NOT go into the dark corners
where I've been cleaning. No parts there. Confirms what I've always
suspected ... they fall into worm holes and pop up in other dimensions
and other times. That's how the wheel was really invented. The
thing rolled off a stand at a lawn mower repair shop in 1954.
It poped up about 2,000 BC in a coffee shop in Egypt were a couple
of Ox drag sled builders were gathered... And, as they say ...
the rest is history.
Clearly, I'm very tired. Haven't even
heard from the truck driver yet who's obviously holding my band
saw for ransom. However; I've almost gained "THE WALL"
I've seen in my dreams for days now.
Little known fact: You remember that
scene from the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark where the
old guy was pushing that hand truck through the canyon of crates?
That was me ... it was filmed in the Barnes Pneumatic warehouse
... though I never got paid for the footage ..
Back to the shop ... Don't try to stop
me ... ;?)
11-30pm-04
OK ... you guys are real comedians
...
Already asking how much time the new
bandsaw will take off the build time. And, how much I'll be able
to discount the stuff now. Hummmm .... I tell you too much ...
;?)
11-30-04
Welcome to the December Homestead.
I very much enjoyed the Thanksgiving Holiday. I actually got to
do some shooting which events had prevented for some long time.
I spent Sunday afternoon at my buddy's
homestead. I took the Victory and the Yukon.
This pistol is alot of fun to shoot.
It's stainless steel and billet aluminum on a color laminated
stock.
Shoots single O buckshot very well.
Just drop 'em in.
Also shoots my cast slugs very well.
The cast slugs will make the pistol develop more energy too.
Of course, a pistol is often shot standing
and offhand. Here, I was developing a hold and technique for the
pistol. This is 12 shots of buckshot - standing at 31 yards. The
50 grain ball just paper punch the 1" pine board with a "thok"
sound.
_ 
