We are moving from a house we've been in for 18 years. Downsizing house by 50%. Had 2200sf shop now 200sf shed, 6 attics to 1, plus a huge pump house w 200sf of storage to none.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel however as I retire in January after 46 1/2 years in the aircraft business.
95% done……
Billy

My company is putting on a conference in November in Clearwater Beach Fl and I am down here now at the venue doing a site visit.

They put me up in a huge suite! Damn its nice!!!

I read through this entire thread and thought calming thoughts.

quote:

Originally posted by rsbolo:
I read through this entire thread and thought calming thoughts.

::Inhale::

Fuuuu baaa baaa

::Exhale::

Day 2, so far so good.

Before breakfast I managed to install 5 solar lights I had previously purchased from Costco but had sitting in the garage for months.

I also sprayed the perimeter of the house and yard with Ortho Home Defense to knock back the spider and cricket population a bit.

I actively started eating better. I'm on day 2. Promised myself a new gun if I hit my target weight before next year.

spent last night cutting dead limbs from all the trees in my yard, then fired up the sthil mister and launched an assault on mosquitos.

The wife cut my hair, she did a good job.

quote:

Originally posted by KDR:
I actively started eating better. I'm on day 2. Promised myself a new gun if I hit my target weight before next year.

spent last night cutting dead limbs from all the trees in my yard, then fired up the sthil mister and launched an assault on mosquitos.

Tell me more about using a mister to fight mosquitos...

What are you using for insecticide? I started doing some research and quit because I wasn't sure if I wanted to a big ole backpack carried fogger...but if I could just use a pump container or a battery mister to spray product on my bushes and lawn, that'd be swell. I live in a suburban neighborhood, so not even sure attacking just my (tiny) yard is even going to do anything.

To clean and declutter my garage and workshop, I've had a Honda lawnmower sitting in the corner for probably 10 years. I mean it hasn't seen the light of day, let alone started and run. I don't need it so I decided to clean it up and get it running and sell it.

I sprayed it down with the water hose, then some cleaner, and then used a rag and car wash soap to clean it up. Looks good for a 13 year old mower. The paint is still nice.

I changed the oil, replaced the spark plug, put in fresh gas, 100% pure gas, no ethanol, 89 Octane, and new air filter.

It started on the first pull but won't idle. It has an automatic choke and when it comes off of choke to normal idle it dies.

I added some SeaFoam to the gas tank but so far that hasn't helped.

I'm informed Honda carburetors are simple and easy to clean. I'll give that a try. The parts guy at the Honda mower shop said a brand new Honda carburetor is around $30-ish if I'd rather go that route, or if the carb cleaning doesn't work.

Anyway, I'll get it running and get rid of it soon and free up some more room.

I gave away the weed eater to a neighbor whose kid, a freshman in high school who is going to mow lawns for money. It worked well, just like the Honda Mower back when I parked them in the garage 10 years ago. If they can get it running, fine, if not then the kid learns a little about servicing one and doing whatever to get it running. Dad says it will be a good Father/Son learning experience.
.

I listened to Artie Shaw and continued the uplifting mood started by this thread!

OP:

just an inquiry....is it just me, or does anyone else notice a subtle creep away from the gentility of 'Negentrophy' in the direction of 'daily chores about the estate'???

quote:

Originally posted by signewt:
OP:

just an inquiry....is it just me, or does anyone else notice a subtle creep away from the gentility of 'Negentrophy' in the direction of 'daily chores about the estate'???

I'm not opposed to either. If posting here provides positive reinforcement and affirmation to get 'er done, then think it's valuable.

I also enjoy the posts that are not house and shop related. I think we all can use reminders to be mindful to tend to our personal lives outside of the shop and home.

It's the same as the fitness thread. Whether it's an evening walk or a hour long Peloton ride, it's all good.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Aeteocles,

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:

quote:

Originally posted by KDR:
I actively started eating better. I'm on day 2. Promised myself a new gun if I hit my target weight before next year.

spent last night cutting dead limbs from all the trees in my yard, then fired up the sthil mister and launched an assault on mosquitos.

Tell me more about using a mister to fight mosquitos...

What are you using for insecticide? I started doing some research and quit because I wasn't sure if I wanted to a big ole backpack carried fogger...but if I could just use a pump container or a battery mister to spray product on my bushes and lawn, that'd be swell. I live in a suburban neighborhood, so not even sure attacking just my (tiny) yard is even going to do anything.

I was paying someone to do it and they were great, but it was costing about $100 a month. I bought a Sthil SR200 for $400 and Bifin I/T and some ExciteR from domyown.com for about $100. The ExciteR is a pyrethrin that kills mosquitos very quickly, but only lasts a few weeks and washes away in rain. The Bifin is longer lasting at about 3 months and helps with a bunch of insects. Both can be used in a normal sprayer.

I chose a backpack sprayer because of the amount of trees I have. It would just be too time consuming to spray the yard with a pump type sprayer and I wouldn't get the coverage that I need.

I've got woods along one property line and a bunch of trees all over and I have no mosquitos all Summer. I spray about every 2-3 weeks, using the Bifin about every other time (more that I really need to) I was told by the guy that used to spray that mosquitos don't fly more than about 20 feet at a time and when they land on a treated surface they will die, so your yard will be protected. It does work better if your neighbors also do it, which my neighbor does.

Power washed the deck and non-skid on my sailboat yesterday. Not great for the gel coat, but gets it clean.

Tip of the day. When barefoot, avoid power washing your foot…..

Today, I put three unneeded, but perfectly serviceable, items up for sale on my local Facebook Marketplace or Buy Nothing group.

A little less clutter to dust around.

quote:

Originally posted by KDR:

quote:

Originally posted by Aeteocles:

quote:

Originally posted by KDR:
I actively started eating better. I'm on day 2. Promised myself a new gun if I hit my target weight before next year.

spent last night cutting dead limbs from all the trees in my yard, then fired up the sthil mister and launched an assault on mosquitos.

Tell me more about using a mister to fight mosquitos...

What are you using for insecticide? I started doing some research and quit because I wasn't sure if I wanted to a big ole backpack carried fogger...but if I could just use a pump container or a battery mister to spray product on my bushes and lawn, that'd be swell. I live in a suburban neighborhood, so not even sure attacking just my (tiny) yard is even going to do anything.

I was paying someone to do it and they were great, but it was costing about $100 a month. I bought a Sthil SR200 for $400 and Bifin I/T and some ExciteR from domyown.com for about $100. The ExciteR is a pyrethrin that kills mosquitos very quickly, but only lasts a few weeks and washes away in rain. The Bifin is longer lasting at about 3 months and helps with a bunch of insects. Both can be used in a normal sprayer.

I chose a backpack sprayer because of the amount of trees I have. It would just be too time consuming to spray the yard with a pump type sprayer and I wouldn't get the coverage that I need.

I've got woods along one property line and a bunch of trees all over and I have no mosquitos all Summer. I spray about every 2-3 weeks, using the Bifin about every other time (more that I really need to) I was told by the guy that used to spray that mosquitos don't fly more than about 20 feet at a time and when they land on a treated surface they will die, so your yard will be protected. It does work better if your neighbors also do it, which my neighbor does.

Looks like Bifen has the same active ingredient in the Ortho home defense that I'm currently using, just a ton cheaper when diluted to specs. Guess I'm getting a sprayer and switching. I'm reading studies that an electrostatic sprayer significantly improves effectiveness as it causes the droplets to stick to the underside and backsides of leaves and stems where it is harder to wash off... Ryobi sells a fairly inexpensive electrostatic sprayer........

I hadn't thought to use the Ortho home defense as a mosquito spray-- I was using it as a barrier spray for ants and spiders.

Today, ordered some Bifen I/T, Pivot 10 growth regulator, and a dose of ExciteR. I'll get a little pump sprayer for the time being.

For my daily negentropy project, I cleaned up, inspected and put away an old compressor.

My father in law bought a 6 gallon Porter Cable pancake compressor years ago for a flooring project. Used it once, and left it in the garage. He saw me using my little 1 gallon husky compressor to run a brad nailer the other day while working on a project, and gave me his 6 gallon compressor since he wasn't using it. For today's project, I brushed off all the dust, wiped down the tank with some WD40, and gave the plastic covers a once over with some 303 Protectant. I worked the drain valve (out comes water), and the drain valve is leaky due to corrosion. Ordered a new drain valve. I noticed that the rubber hoses from compressor to tank and tank to manifold/regulator were looking a little iffy, so I ordered new rubber hoses. I also had to learn all about ear clamps or crimp down clamps, ordered some replacement hose clamps and an end clamp crimp plier.

I'll finish servicing the compressor when the parts come in.

The compressor has 3 more years left on the tank expiration date, so I figured for $30 worth of tools and parts I can get a few more years out of it before getting a new Dewalt.

Today, I'm putting up two motion lights that have been sitting in the garage. It's been sitting there for a few weeks now, time to get it off out of the way.

This morning I moved the 8 gallons of stabilized fuel into one of the cars and will later make a run to the gas station to top up the containers for emergency storage.

Installed a new toilet handle.

I'm not sure why this was such a chore. The inner brass rods keep corroding and chain/hook thingy would keep falling off. I had rigged it to work a dozen times before coming loose, usually in the middle of the night when I get up to pass water. Nothing like waiting to see if the toilet is going to keep running when I'm wanting to go back to bed.
I bought a new one, didn't install it right away, and it walked off. More time passed. More standing around waiting to see if the toilets going to run. Went back and bought a second one.

The new one has a plastic rod for the hook and chain so it won't corrode. It's working like a champ.

I bought a handheld label machine. Going to keep it in the shop and start labeling everything as I go.