Who has time?

[Gene Howe]

I suppose that most of us spend our spare time in the shop. But we can't stay there all the time.
What do you all do with the time at home when you aren't in the shop?

[dusty]

I suppose that most of us spend our spare time in the shop. But we can't stay there all the time.
What do you all do with the time at home when you aren't in the shop?

The Honey-Do-Llist always has the ultimate priority; lately, that list has concentrated on making the RV ready for a fall trip. Normally, that would be something that could be done in a day or two. This year it is a major task. The RV was a nesting place for some varmits. Due to that, there has been a lot of unusual attention given to the various systems within the RV. We are about ready.

Other than that, I spend a lot of time making certain that those varmits are not moving back in. Doing that involves a lot of landscaping work. We have many prickley pear cactus on our property and under fallen prickey pear is a favorite nesting location for the rats. By this summers end, I'll have that under control.

Those tasks consume most of my early mornings (while it is still cool). In the afternoon and early evening I get into the shop. After about 10:00am, my shop is in the shade and is not as hot as out in the yard.

[robinson46176]

I probably spend more time on the horses than anything else these days... We have miles and miles of electric fence and I am constantly moving fences around and re-configuring horse lots. I have a small round pen (35' dia) and next week one about 60' goes up. I have an outdoor arena that I have the fence down on now and it also goes back up in hopefully the next 10 days. I have some dirt to move this weekend to fill some low spots in stalls and lots. It takes a couple of good days to mow everything here if things go right. Our son ran the bush-hog about 4 hours this week and that saved me a lot of work. There are still a couple of miles of trails to mow. Lots of spraying and brush cutting and pasture clipping. A guy is cutting hay to bale now (I quit doing that) I'll have to get that under roof. Then there is a certain amount of horse hugging, brushing and wrangling to be done.
I also finally got my little Woodmizer sawmill all up and going and am gathering some logs to cut.
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My wife is painting the house and that is eating some of my time making odd repairs, caulking etc. (but I'm not going to complain) She is about 3/4 done with the first coat but then part of the house is stone. This is a big house but thankfully not real tall. We have some unfinished areas but we heat and cool about 4,000 sq. ft.
Then there is my collection of old tractors that I keep plugging away at. All of them need something done to them. Some need a good bit and some need almost everything. Those are "project" tractors and share some factors with Shopsmiths. Just a lot heavier and more costly. Here is a basic list:
Massey Ferguson 165-D (apart for a PTO repair).
Ferguson TO-20 (good tractor)
Farmall 400 LP (project tractor, engine apart)
John Deere A (needs restoring but sound)
Minneapolis Moline R (restored and painted)
Allis Chalmers C (restored and painted)
Case VAC (runs good, needs paint)
Case VAC (project tractor)
Farmall F-30 (Project tractor)
Farmall F-12 (project tractor)
Allis Chalmers WC (Project tractor)
Ford 8N (needs minor engine work)
Farmall CUB (runs good)
Massey Harris Pony (runs good)
I guess that is everybody...

I am also plugging away on my western boot rebuilding shop which will include some general shoe repair and a bit of saddle and tack work. I just moved one sole stitcher this week and quickly discovered that somebody has turned the gravity control knob way up. I used to move these things all over the place but I grabbed hold of this one and yelled "Heave ho!!!"... Danged thing completely ignored me... This one is about 600 pounds. Another I have is about 100 pounds heavier. A third is about the same as this one. Those old timers loved cast iron. Another machine only weighs about 400 to 500 pounds but the silly thing is over 8' long. My son suggested that the moving them difficulty may some how be connected to the fact that I turned 70 this spring. I guess it might.
It is supposed to get hot again here soon which makes a good excuse to sneak in some wood shop time in the AC.


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[Ed in Tampa]

how long approximately did it take to make that cut?

[fredsheldon]

Farmer, is that white chair from where you supervise your wife while she is doing most of the cuttin'

[oldc6]

Dusty: you stated that the motohome is about ready........

Did you get the fuel pressure, no engine running problem solved, and
repaired????

If not, you are not quite ready for the road!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[easterngray]

I don't have a lot of free time currently, but in July and August things slow down at work and I will get some time off.
My first priority for my free time is fishing! I am an ardent fly fisherman - mostly warm water and salt; some trout fishing in the fall. Part of what inspired me to build the shop and get a Shopsmith was projects related to my love of the outdoors and related sporting endeavors. Late fall I also hunt ducks. I haven't made any duck calls yet but I plan to get one done before this season opens. I turned a couple pine blanks for practice and they turned out pretty nice; I have some nice walnut scraps for the real thing. I also tie alot of flies.

Farmer I use a vintage Farmall M, H and BN at work launching off the beach and moving boats around the boat yard. They are great machines and just keep on rolling!!

Needless to say, I also spend free time on the internet!! I visit this forum, a fly tying forum and a fly fishing forum regularly.
Alec

[robinson46176]

how long approximately did it take to make that cut?

I have never timed it but I would guess it would be about the same time that it takes to split a sheet of 3/4" plywood the long way with a skilsaw and a very good blade... Maybe a little faster than the skilsaw.
That was a dead but still very good sycamore log that had no green sap but still a tiny bit damp inside. Dry stuff cuts a little slower than green stuff. You can cut pretty fast on a lot of the fresh cut stuff, kind of lubes the blade. I used to cut some stuff on my original band mill that almost sprayed water.
They have a larger engine option (10 HP instead of 7) for that little saw that you can push kind of hard but I would rather take my time and let the saw cut at its own pace.
Now the first little thin slab cuts go quite fast, maybe 10 seconds. Down in the heartwood it is a bit slower.
I got one bed extension because I want to cut some 18' rafters. Without any bed extensions the log length limit is 11'.


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[robinson46176]

Farmer, is that white chair from where you supervise your wife while she is doing most of the cuttin'

She can't be loafing around cutting lumber... She has the house to paint, stalls to muck, ditches to dig, postholes to dig, manure to spread and the barn needs roof work. You know, womens work.
That is my "sit down and think about things chair".


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[swampgator]

Retired for the past 8 years taking care of my wife who has Multiple Sclerosis and Lupus. She is totally dependent on me. All that gets done is direct result of my efforts. I'm not a house keeper. LOL Anyway, after getting things put in place in the house, if I get a couple hours to woodwork, I am so happy and thankful. Then on some days, I get the grandchildren to care for. The grandson is aged 5 and the granddaughter is 22 months. Grandson loves to clean the SS area and tool. Also, he likes to tell me what he wants and helps me draw it out before getting it cut out. Hoping that he'll love doing this someday. Lurk here some evenings while she watches TV and we don't have the children.