Re: The 2025 Burning Man Bar is open

[Elorrum]

Otherwise blow the screw out with the torch.
Use a little finesse and the screw will melt before the block is affected.
It will leave the hole clean enough to put the new screw right in.

FIGJAM, Is this common? No warping? How did you practice this?! Certainly you chose a perfect name.

[FIGJAM]

Working on an old truck engine with a blown head gasket.

The bolt heads were pristine, but had been in so long that they were brittle. (metal fatigue)

Three broke while trying to remove them.

The thought of trying to drill those out did not fill me with joy.

Cast is harder than machined metal.

A cutting torch is precise enough to focus the heat mainly on just the bolt.

Goggles, gloves, and a long sleeved jacket because the molten metal is going to come straight up out of that hole.

Sooooo as long as the block and heads aren't aluminum, it blows all the machined metal out.

Took about one minute per bolt................and joy was restored!!!

TA DA

[ygmir]

*rides in on War Rabbit™, unsaddles and let him free range*
*fills cheeze doodle bowl, put saucer of whiskey in rafters, plugs in ABB*
*grabs mug from ENECM, adds cream sugar, cinnamon and whiskey*
*sets up breakfast*

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Happy New Year, Bar denizens, and friendly visitors!

Figjam: so, were there threads where you were blowing the bolts out? I'd be amazed at the skill to blow that material out and not screw the threads in the block up. Not surprised, I know you have much skill, but wow.

*Heads for ROS*

[FIGJAM]

Not that much skill.

That's where the finesse comes in.

Just don't melt the bolt more than you have to.

It kind of surprised me the first time too, till I thought about the difference between cast and machined metals.

Didn't hurt the threads at all, and the hole was so clean, the new bolts went right in with no issues.

[ygmir]

well, good info, thanks!

[Elorrum]

Hey, bar! Hot coffee is nice.

I’m baking bread today. MDF sent me a gift pack of pans and seeds and special bread flour. I’m going to try rolls with seeds on top today.

[ygmir]

*wanders in, sheds rain slicker*
HI Elorrum!
*grabs mug from ENECM*
baking bread, such a comforting aroma. Sounds nice.
We're getting heavy rain again, with more to come for the next few days, they say. They are calling for feet of snow over Donner summit. We sure need the moisture, after the last few drought years. Bummer is high snow levels, so a lot of the rain is just running off. That mid level snow pack is what makes the big difference for aquifers.
Lots of trees coming down in the area, partly due to weakened root systems from the drought, combined with saturated soil and high winds. A lady got killed in Sacramento by a falling tree. Sometimes, you're just not lucky.

And Happy Birthday, to MDF!!! She's not here often any more, and is missed by me, and I'd imagine, others!

[Elorrum]

*kicks automatic banjo box*. Nice to see it still works. *Takes hot coffee to back booth.* *sprinkles cheese doodles and carrots in the Mr. Ed style stall sticking into the bar.* *pours a bit of bushmills for absent friends.*

[ygmir]

HI Elorrum! Old friends indeed *pours saucer of whiskey in rafters*
Yes, the ABB seems indestructible, and glad for it!
Sure be nice if Da Mule and others would pop in once in a while. sigh..
Maybe if I play a tune?

*heads for ROS*

[Elorrum]

Thanks for the tune, ygmir. Weirdly prophetic about the power to influence for consumerism. I forgot how I felt about the characters then. Seems nigh on forced inculcation now, and I feel sorry for the one who wasn’t into it. My takeaway today though is positive: I’m hopeful we can all agree on shared refreshments being necessary. Salut!

[Savannah]

It's 3:57am, and I can't sleep.


What's UP, Bar?

[ygmir]

It's 3:57am, and I can't sleep.


What's UP, Bar?

well not, not me.....or me, wait, what are we talking about?

I hope you drifted back off, and are enjoying the "sleep of the innocent", as I do...

[Elorrum]

Unh. I have a post too-invested-pointless-worthless-argument-adrenaline hangover. I’m beat. Savannah, nice to see you. *crawls under neb*

[Elorrum]

*kicks abb into life* cardamom bread ring on counter. This batch rose so much better. I learned the difference between instant and active dry yeast. Instant is better, cheaper. I thought everything in the little packets was the same.

I got some 75-300 ohm transformer baluns for making tv antennas, and am going over to see Lucky with a couple prototypes and watch broadcast sportsball. The broadcast towers are so near here that it doesn’t take much design at all. I twisted the two elements of a coax cable that I clipped one end off, into a “T”, plugged it to my tv with no transformer, and it works for the station I want today. So maybe something more elegant, maybe not. I’ll see what she likes.

[ygmir]

*kicks abb into life* cardamom bread ring on counter. This batch rose so much better. I learned the difference between instant and active dry yeast. Instant is better, cheaper. I thought everything in the little packets was the same.

I got some 75-300 ohm transformer baluns for making tv antennas, and am going over to see Lucky with a couple prototypes and watch broadcast sportsball. The broadcast towers are so near here that it doesn’t take much design at all. I twisted the two elements of a coax cable that I clipped one end off, into a “T”, plugged it to my tv with no transformer, and it works for the station I want today. So maybe something more elegant, maybe not. I’ll see what she likes.

interesting! maybe make a dipole, dish, or yaggi antennae.? I use a cheap yaggi and booster I got off Amazon 10 years ago for 29 bucks, and get 30 ish channels (most of no use or interest, or not english). But I'm 60 miles from the nearest broadcast, and I get bay area which is 100 miles from here ish. I've been trying to come up with a cell phone antennae to go with the booster for emergency contact at the Hof. I get intemittent signal, no pattern to when though. But I know I'm almost line of sight to one tower.

[Elorrum]

I’ve made bow tie antennas from copper wire, looking at a flat panel design with copper ribbon, and a gray-hoverman…looks a bit like the bow tie, but with just two longer wires. https://www.google.com/search?q=gray-ho ... CNTwh6Y5jM I also cut a peanut can foil lid in half, attached it to the transformer wires and made a tiny butterfly looking thing. Was feeling quite proud, but when I removed the whole assembly from the end of the cable, the picture was still fine. Like I said, the towers are close.

[FIGJAM]

[attachment=0]01_15_23_efcbb6d6b7b74672c8130dc2ee3894a9.jpg[/attachment]

[ygmir]

*rides in on War Rabbitt™*
takes off rain slicker, hangs on wall antlers*
*grabs mug from ENECM*

Ah yeah, the bow tie antennae. I forgot about that one. You're lucky to have close broadcast. There is no cable in my neighborhood, and I resent the price of Sat. tv. I guess I'm lucky, perched where I am facing the valley, I can get line of sight, even though it's 60 ish miles. Though it does take the yagi and a booster, it works. And, there are a few broadcast networks with good programming, Star Trek, Beverly Hillbillies, I Dream Of Jeanie, etc. Even the good old cartoons!

Good comic FJ!! haaha, that one tickled me. How's the cactus business and winter down your way?
We're still getting rain, every day. Seems it's been like 3 weeks now, with nary a break. We need the rain, though like this so much runs off. Be nice if it'd meter and soak in better, and get a good snow pack. But, I'm not complaining, for sure! They said 7' of snow at the Hof. I hope someone gets a photo for me!

*heads for ROS*

[FIGJAM]

Yeah, we're getting your leftovers which is still a lot for this time of year.

Normally the monsoons stop around the end of august and then no rain at all till the end of january with just a few drizzles.

This year we've had periodic rain storms fairly regularly so far.

[Elorrum]

*brings in logs and stokes fireplace in Viking annex*.
Snowing here, continuing until 6 they say. It’s not a big accumulation here on the valley floor. If I remember to sweep my outside stairs, I’ll be less likely to slide down them tomorrow, I’ve had that wake-up a couple times. .

[ygmir]

*brings in logs and stokes fireplace in Viking annex*.
Snowing here, continuing until 6 they say. It’s not a big accumulation here on the valley floor. If I remember to sweep my outside stairs, I’ll be less likely to slide down them tomorrow, I’ve had that wake-up a couple times. .

do you have a Ring/security camera? If so, post the vid and put it to music! you'll be famous!

[Elorrum]

*brings in logs and stokes fireplace in Viking annex*.
Snowing here, continuing until 6 they say. It’s not a big accumulation here on the valley floor. If I remember to sweep my outside stairs, I’ll be less likely to slide down them tomorrow, I’ve had that wake-up a couple times. .

do you have a Ring/security camera? If so, post the vid and put it to music! you'll be famous!

HA HA HA! Everyone has some special talent, or crazy event to propel them, I guess, if they are lucky enough to capture it. The first time, I kept my head up and chin down, and sort of slid planked as I waited to stop. I would like to see that again. That same morning there were 2" deep puddles frozen into snow camouflaged ice rinks in the parking lot at work. The safety team was putting down de-icer about twenty yards ahead of me, and waved to me on the ground as they walked into the building. I was trying to hail them to come back, as It was me and two other people on the ground at once (thanks, safety guys.) All three of us having to crawl to a car in order to stand up successfully. That was a bruising morning. The second time I kept a tight hold of the stair rail with one hand which just stretched me out awkwardly. Since then, I put on shoe traction when it is icy, and do one step at a time sideways. It is a steel diamond plate stair tread, with roof melt dripping on it... even sweeping snow off doesn't prevent the icing up. I thought I understood gravity, but, winter teaches new ways. It teaches, yes.

[ygmir]

wow yeah, that ice... and it's so much colder there, that over the hill here, or where you lived before. I bet it really takes some getting used to! are the stairs just to your place, or common for others? Maybe some water softener salt?
Looks like a break in the rain today, we even got a little snow yesterday, but nothing to speak of. Lots of flooding down in the valley.
*grabs mug from ENECM, heads for ROS*

[FIGJAM]

TUBA= terrible underwater breathing apparatus.

[lucky420]

TUBA= terrible underwater breathing apparatus.

Gary Busey in the house

[ygmir]

no rain this morning! just black ice......everywhere.
Studded tires, FTW. I run them Nov to Apr.

[FIGJAM]

[quote=lucky420 post_id=1222735 time=1674052444 user_id=39821]
[quote=FIGJAM post_id=1222727 time=1673968847 user_id=39913]
TUBA= terrible underwater breathing apparatus.
[/quote]


Gary Busey in the house 😃
[/quote]

Maybe if I straighten it out it could be an elaborate snorkel?

[Elorrum]

Good morning Bar. I’m going to Killbuck’s Department of Strange opening at Sierra Gallery today https://thisisreno.com/calendar/#!/deta ... 3-01-14T08

His banners are fun and cause for laughter.

[lucky420]

Wakey
Bakey
Going to be a balmy 30 degrees today

[ygmir]

*rides in on War Rabbit™, removes his red sash and unbridles to free range*
WR is an appropriate conveyance, it seems, today!
*sets out cheeze doodles, whiskey in rafters, grabs mug from ENECM*
Crisp and clear Sunday! now, what to do? I have such a list built up from the last 3 weeks of rain....
*Heads for ROS*