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Dish soap...

We have solar (ROI 4. years) and later added batteries. We are close to not being producers or consumers annually, and that means we use more in the winter and generate excess in the summertime. We had a rapid return on investment, because as @California pointed out we have very high electrical...

Waaay too much...🤣

That looks quite slick! It also looks as if they have an anti-freeze up function, which is often what does in smaller AC units. Nice find. All the best, Peter

Congratulations!

That's a complicated set of questions, but here goes. I grew up in a colder climate with root cellars, and yes, I agree, it is not likely to work for you in NorCal. I couldn't make one work here, even if I used a good north facing, shaded slope. Creating a walk-in cold store is possible, just...

FWIW: but please verify that the thread and dimensions match. https://www.oilfilter-crossreference.com/convert/Wix/51203 I find that the store based cross reference to be generally more accurate, but they often over look possible filters. All the best, Peter

Have you smelled it? It repels me, too. "Egg yolk solids" translates to "rotten egg", at least for me. All the best, Peter

Solar powered emergency radio? Just trying to help your cabin not be the low hanging fruit. Red pepper flakes all around the cabin? All the best, Peter

Talk radio left on?

All of which brings to mind the classic joke about a bear attack: "I don't have to out run the bear, I just have to out run YOU." If you look at cabins in Alaska or Canada in bear areas, many of them are beefed up to keep bears from being able to get it. To me, it is like fire resistance; it is...

Here, keeping the hood open only invites the squirrels in. Ask me how I know...

Going from a 75R to an 80R changes the aspect ratio (tire height to width as a percentage). So the tire would be 11.25mm taller in an 80, from the axle to the ground and from the axle to mudguards, etc. on the RV. The 80 will be stiffer, which translates to a stiffer ride and and more vibration...

I did a deep dive on this, and didn't pull the trigger on it. I do have the valves and block, as the parts came with a third party attachment that I plumbed differently. So, as @oldnslo described, there are valves to do what you want. The not so great news has to do with where your existing...

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but those are unlikely to be safe, even as a backup spare. The age of the rubber (degradation) is one thing, but so is the rusting and degradation of the steel in the belts. With a tire in frequent use, any dampness or water that migrates into the tire...

We've had many holidays manning vet check points, crewing, or riding endurance over the years. None in Tasmania, so far... All the best, Peter

I think if you look up thread, the sizes are there. My recollection is that the diameter is the same, but the thickness varies a bit, with no explanation that I know of, other than tweaks to the compression. E.g. this seller who offers four different thicknesses. Yanmar washer eBay I think that...

I use baby powder loaded into a turkey baster. The local parks pump me on to it. It's less toxic, and just works, at least around here. All the best, Peter

I've bought them off eBay in the past. Does Pumps of Australia have a source? Do you have a Yanmar dealer that could ship it? Alternatively, they are just copper crush washers, and you might be able to source one locally. All the best, Peter

The dinner sounds delicious! I enjoy the stories of "Mad Agisting Horse Woman", in part because I had to look up the word and loved it. So, she and her daughter are off to the "Jolly Lette Memorial Ride"? Thanks for the posts! All the best, Peter

FWIW: We bought an iDealBed for my folks a while back. They liked it. It was straightforward to take apart move and reassemble, at least for anyone who knows one end of a screwdriver/socket wrench from the other. It was a basic model with just a remote, that I don't think they seem to make any...

A photo of the engine plate / tractor identification plate would help. Is there a possibility that the equipment might be different in Europe vs the US? All the best, Peter

How is the top of the Q/A attached to the SSQA? I had to re-weld my first attempt due to a few cracks, so I added reinforcements. (Bad design/ bad welding) Just out of concern for your Snuffleupagus... All the best, Peter

You probably have some benefit from being surrounded by trees that reduce wind speed across the pond, slowing evaporation. Congratulations on the low water losses! I hope that you get more rain. All the best, Peter

@ericm979 You might want to check with your new fire department. Ours was happy with our gate code. With the new interagency cooperation, it is not clear to me whose key we would need to get for a Knox Box here. I'm considering a sensor for emergency lights, but I don't have a model/brand...

Yes, you are "lucky" to have the rain and humidity; Valley Fever is a disease that is more common where the soil dries out and then dust is generated via tillage, wind, or animal movements, etc. So think areas like western Texas. But a friend came down with it after opening a single bale of hay...

I worked on a remote ranch for a bit that used a methane digester (biogas) to run stoves, lights, and yes, small engines to run the dairy. There are lots of ways to slice it. A relative worked with one group that ran the digester gas straight into Chevy big blocks into generators, and junked...

You are lucky to have '70s era lines. Ours date from WWII... Not that we have fiber, but we were so glad to be done with the lousy infrastructure. Linesmen told us multiple times that the old wire splice/transfer boxes would get filled with acorns and short out in fog and rain. I rather think...

No worries! / ¡No problema! If you edit your profile to include your location, it can help people help you better. All the best, Peter

Aaaah. I now understand what you did. Brilliant! All the best, Peter

Why not just use the Q/A ports to control the cylinder and add an extra pair of small diameter hoses? I did that for a 3rd party power broom that wanted to do the same thing. I didn't want an extra switch and 12V out in front, but that might just be me. All the best, Peter

Our prior dogs were just like yours. Our current GS follows us around the house when we are vacuuming, begging to be vacuumed all over. Different strokes for different folks... All the best, Peter

I tend to use nylon pull ties (zip ties) to hold things in position; I make too many mistakes for glue. I would have to go check on the spring position(s). It isn't something I have dealt with in the past. My recollection is that those modulated the governor response. Here, I order from...

Our current GSD loves the vacuum cleaner, and loves being vacuumed. That's a first for us. Most dogs we have had in the past wanted nothing to do with the vacuum, much less the air flow. All the best, Peter

Fun! I saw one of those for sale a while back and thought about buying it because it looked so interesting. I'd never heard of flicker points before. Great to learn something new! All the best, Peter

It is a "DoorBird". There are a number of models. All the best, Peter

Yeah, I wouldn't do the first option either, for the reasons that you identify. I think that a neighbor has something close to what you want. I think hers is hard wired to the house, and makes the transition to the network there, but available on her phone remotely. I'll ask. It was...

My bet is on a defective seal around the solenoid to injection pump. I suspect that there's just enough air to prevent building speed due to the inefficacy of the the injection pump with air in the high pressure line, but once the engine is at speed, the fuel velocity is enough to sweep the air...

That's so sweet! (Cute dog, too!) I won't even get into how much our GS sheds. She has a dense, two layer coat, and the fine hairs just keep coming and coming. We've learned that conditioner makes a huge difference to the amount we can wash out in a bath, but she always keeps enough in reserve...

Welcome to TBN! Is your fire pump a Darley, or some other brand? I'd love to see a photo. Yes, that's abnormal, and that seems like a reasonable starting plan. Can you post a photo of your repair? Just so we are all on the same page, are you talking about the high pressure injection pump...

Yes, ours are loaded this year, too. That's probably the result of two back to back wet winters. We have three different varieties; a Fuyu, a chocolate and a coffee cake, the latter two being hachiya astringent types that we are still learning how to pick / ripen without astringency. It has been...

A neighbor has had a Ring camera at his gate for years and loves it. He'll send around amusing videos periodically. (Incompetent mail thieves turning on their hazard lights while blocking the road, Mike Meyer's style Y-turn around, etc.) All the best, Peter

@ronjhall great photo! Thanks. What sander/type are you using the ceramic belts on? Some browser (feral pigs by the browse height) came by the orchard two nights ago and decided to eat off the leaves that they could reach (30") on one of the persimmons. Never had the issue before. If it was...

Boy, you'd have to be pretty confident nobody would be in the area when it goes over. That would just seem to me to be a dangerous property condition, i.e. liability, but what do I know? All the best, Peter

@RSKY sorry to hear it. I hope things improve for you soon. All the best, Peter

One thing to bear in mind about a diagnosis of Meniere's, which is that it covers several quite different variants. That's not unusual for many diseases in my experience. I think that the major tipoff for me is if one treatment doesn't work for all patients, there are disease variants, and I...

@RSKY Nice to have a community that cares! I hope for you that something treatable emerges. All the best, Peter

😯😱😱 Boy that conversation with the boss sounds like the sort of thing that deserves a file memo summarizing the conversation, with a back up copy at home. If I had been your boss's boss, I'd have fired him on the spot for gross lack of managerial judgement. Makes a memorial story though. I'm...

Yikes! That's an event in anybody's book. I'm sorry that you are going through this. I'm not a doc, but that doesn't sound like something I'd sit around with. Clean bill of health at the ER notwithstanding, it seems pretty clear that however you got into the fix, a fair number of folks thought...

Nothing against your city personally, but I think that the data speaks for itself on how dysfunctional a state the city has gotten itself into, as your various examples aptly illustrate. New York City and Detroit came back, so I guess I have some hope, but I sure as heck don't know in terms of...

😆 Wasn't there a sight glass on the tank of Model T, basically on the dash? Or only some models?

Phone, I think. Interesting to see that the welder had the sang froid to close off his oxygen and acetylene tanks. The fire starts almost immediately after the welder lights his torch, which makes me wonder about oil mist. High pressure hydraulic oil sprays can produce very fine mists. All...

Darwin award nominee #1 and Darwin Award nominee #2. Though I think technically the nominee has to die, or take themselves out of the breeding pool...

@riptides Looks nice! Do those latches work well for you, or perhaps more importantly, your horses? Many moons ago, I visited a breeder that had those style latches and they grumped a bit that their horses were always opening the latches, but I've known some horses to do strange things, like a...

The more recent versions of the Deutz engines (1011, 2011 series) used on Power-Tracs have solenoids with internal engagement of the fuel shutoff, and no adjustment needed or possible. All the best, Peter

I was thinking more of the impact stresses from having someone heavy, if not obese, dropped the 6' or so to that corner. If that really is acrylic, acrylic is not fond of wet stress, especially impact stresses in my experience. I can see that they are trying for a free fall "open" experience...

Facing the oil cooler side of the engine, lower right hand side, above the fuel cutoff solenoid is a black 2x14(?)pin connector that gets disconnected when degassing the hydraulic filter after changing it. I suggested that because if you pull than and the fuse doesn't blow, you know that the...

So, true. Personally, I like the challenge of finding problems, the proper parts or something I can make into a part, and repairing things. Same for building things. Always have. No accounting for tastes I guess. All the best, Peter

Not that far from you and @MossRoad, I remember we used to have some huge specimens that were in the 50'+ range, 80-120 year old trees, based on the age of the houses around them. I think in the 1880s they were a popular ornamental tree in parts of the Midwest. I always thought they were a bit...

@grsthegreat nice job! @Dftodd sorry to hear about the employee hassle. I don't know whether to hope he loves the outdoor yard work, or not. All the best, Peter

I think my aftermarket starter is 14 years old...

What did Terry suggest? 15 secs for a slow short is about par for the course. On my machine the only wire that goes through the tunnel is elevator control cord. It is pretty bulletproof; however, it does along the floor of the engine pan, and it might be possible that it has been eroded...

I've had cheap ones and I wasn't impressed either. FWIW: Here's what I use now: McMaster-Carr I disassembled it when I got it, cleaned the internals and lubed everything up with extreme pressure grease. YMMV. It is slightly beveled, so it gets closer to the surface if you are up against a...

Welcome! There's a PT owner's list, but it's not complete; https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/powertrac-owners-by-state-11-1-15-updated-10-25-2021.347432/page-7 You can add your location to your profile; it helps folks give you more specific advice. How are you looking to use your...

I'm thinking that you have a wire somewhere whose insulation has rubbed through. That's one of those, start at "A" and go to "Z" projects, but if it were me, I'd start behind the dash at the terminal strip. All the best, Peter

🤣 That was my first thought, too! The old batteries were zinc- carbon, non-alkaline, so dead, but they hadn't leaked. Two new D-cells, and "TaaDaa"! It worked. It is on the backup shelf pending time to put an LED bulb in with a few more lumens. All the best, Peter

Ouch! Jobs like that one are why I my personal collection of "persuaders" has gotten so large over the years. I keep running into jobs that just don't want to give up, be sensible, and unscrew.🤣 I have a demolition hammer with a post driving adapter (for driving t-posts and pipes) that works...

That reminds me. The house came with the original appliances. Say mid-80s. The dryer always had this clunking sound that I chalked up to out of round / old bearing. After we had had it for fifteen years, one of the thermal sensors went, so I bought two new ones, and opened it up to replace...

You and your wife have my sympathies. Long Covid is tough. Sometimes there is information about ME/CFS and MCAS that can be helpful. Good luck. All the best, Peter

As a preamble, I'm not an MD, or a licensed healthcare professional. One way to improve that might be to give the networks permission to access the other network's information. I've had to do it a couple of times, and then professionals on all sides can see everyone's prescriptions, and perhaps...

Just my $0.02 here. Make sure that you sign an advanced care directive to that effect. Plus one for your funeral/burial wishes. Keep copies in the hall closet, inside the cabinet door for the kitchen sink, cars, etc., and make sure the folks (your wife) around you know where they are, and what...

😆 I had similar thoughts, as much for the steel toed chain sawing side of it...

I have seen folks use those, but they seem to need a fairly hard, compacted, flat surface (e.g. a paved parking lot) as they don't have much lateral strength. I carry a jack stand, chocks, and blocks, and can use the jack in my truck if it fails on the road, though as it is a tandem tandem...

@kenmbz sorry for not naming you as the source. I remembered the story, but could not seem to surface the post last night. My apologies. All the best, Peter

First off, I am sorry that you have had such problems and travails. I'm also sorry that the issues have caused friction with your family. Ok. Down to brass tacks. Given what you have written above, Fredrick's seems to be offering in good faith to make this right. That is great. Given the...

All about knowing your stove and how to load it, I think. Of course, it helps to know that you are tossing in Osage orange in the first place. I sent some whole dried Scotch bonnet peppers to a friend to use as seeds for the coming Spring planting. A few months later, I got a note telling me...

The ranch kitchen came with a 35 year old refrigerator that sweated like the proverbial pig and ran constantly. We replaced that with a new and dropped our power bill to about 60% of what we started with. Then we replaced the old Kenmore top loader with an LG front loader and dropped it to 40%...

Yes, I can't measure that here either. I had never heard the metric tap trick before, but mentally, it matches the few I know. I've been known to use the closest inch version... Thanks! All the best, Peter

Normally, yes. How old is your machine? The reason I asked above about the parts is that the starter wiring is normally; Key switch -> booster solenoid -> Bosch starter solenoid -> starter My Deutz starter doesn't have a fuse on it, so I'm not sure which fuse you are referring to. Pulling...

Osage orange trees come in male and female trees, so you are down to just males. All the best, Peter

Welcome to TBN. Where are you located? (It helps folks offer better suggestions.) Can you share a few more details on what you have done to troubleshoot the not starting? Do you know that it is that your starter is bad, or the solenoid, or the Power-Trac solenoid? All the best, Peter

Yes, hummingbirds go into a mild form of hibernation overnight called torpor, with greatly reduced metabolism. So, no, they aren't flying when it is dark outside, though twilight is a great time for them to feed upon bugs, which contain protein and fats, needed by the hummingbirds. All the...

What an amazing tree/complex. Personally, I'd be saving any straight lengths for fence posts, and woodworking uses. Growing up we had a little bit of it around. Due to its density and rot resistance, that complex isn't going to rot quietly away in your son's lifetime. So, yes, at some point it...

Pretty amazing tree. Did you know that it is reputed to make a great firewood as well as a green fence post? Maclura pomifera - Wikipedia All the best, Peter

On my most used compressed air hose, I find that I need to replace the female coupler every few years as the o-ring distorts and doesn't seal when uncoupled, nor when coupled. And watch out for having some incompatible fittings like industrial vs automotive. Some combinations connect, but leak...

There are a fair few machinists here, but I would look locally first. I'm having trouble visualizing what could cause one to be able to spin a wheel 360 degrees before the other wheel began to turn. All the best, Peter

My condolences. I know how hard it is hard to lose an equine buddy, but it sounds as if it was time. We lost our last arabian, a 26 year old, a year ago to pigeon fever that ruptured internally giving him what amounted to sepsis/toxicshock. His pasture buddy died two years previously a few days...

That's a very odd failure pattern. Have you found a chunk of metal there? Or at least filings? Were the front axles grossly loose? If you can't find replacements, I'd take it to a machine shop to see if they can fill in the holes. In the reassembly, if it were me, I would make sure that I had...

I'd put a note up at the local feed store, or start talking heavy equipment operators. I suspect what you want is a barge someone made, designed to be trailered in a a couple of trailer loads that will take a small excavator with a long boom. This isn't exactly an uncommon problem. The purpose...

If you aren't leaving "goose poops" of grease on certain zerks, i wouldn't rock the boat. I have a couple of zerks not in the easiest to access locations, and the default coupler on my pneumatic guns used to pop off occasionally. Make it a great day as a friend used to say. All the best, Peter

Nailed it.

If it works for you, that's all that matters! I have a few zerk locations where the locking fitting keeps me from routinely making a mess. Love the locking fitting. I have a few locations that benefit from 10k psi grease guns occasionally, even when the fittings are clean. (The bottom two...

That would seem to be the hummingbirds training the human...😆 Anything red in view? Ours are quick to investigate any fleck of red, anything sparkling, and every spray of water. Ours love to clean out spiderwebs, especially of ants. All the best, Peter

As most of my battery powered tools are Makita, so that's what I bought. (XPG01Z 18V LXT) To me, the Milwaukee M18 design is similar, and I know folks who like theirs. Despite knowing lots of folks with DeWalt battery tools, I can't recall seeing the DeWalt version of a battery grease gun...

Nice!

Where in Canada are you? There are parts of Canada where barges/aquatic excavators are more common, but I can't see that as being cheap, but location is everything. How much sand/silt is in the pond now? i.e. What amount of excavation are we talking about, and what is the goal? Assuming you...

3hrs seems like a heck of a job. I have found a long extension hose to speed things up a lot here, as does some version of a locking fitting. The standard "LocknLube" fitting doesn't fit into a couple of key spots on my tractor, so I use one from Anzo which is smaller. For truly awkward...

Makes sense to me. If it isn't frequent, I'd be inclined to do as you have been doing, or try the excelsior grid. I have never really tried to use geogrids in small segments, but perhaps screening might be an alternative. Around here, some folks bury 1/4-1/2" stainless steel mesh/screen below...

We've had the postmaster or sheriff out a few times in the past, complete with them getting fingerprints off of the mailbox, but we never heard the end of it. My perception is that unless the authorities happen to bust the thieves with mail addressed to someone else, not a lot happens, but when...

@QRTRHRS There's always a Ft. Knox mailbox... https://fortknoxmailbox.com/ We put one in years ago and now about half of the folks on the hill have them. We've had a couple of scratches from folks trying, but (knock on wood) no successes yet. I assume that someone will try to drive over ours...

How often does this happen? Do you have any constraints? Some stones to break the force of the water? Or just a big stone to spears the water? Getting some of the water off the driveway elsewhere? Putting into a drain, with drainage pipe? Putting in some geogrid to break the force of the water...

May you have many more in good health! Thanks for asking! Yes, I went down a similar rabbit hole when @Popgadget posted the HF torque sticks. I do a lot more with a battery impact driver these days than an air tool, but I do have them, so 1/2" isn't a deal breaker. I do use a drill, using the...

Sorry. Have you thought of helping out with a local youth group? All the best, Peter

Know any in 3/8 or hex drive without adapters? All the best, Peter

I have a Skil pole saw that I work the heck out of. Bought it with a coupon a while back for not much. Is it built to DeWalt or Makita standards? No. Does the battery take longer to charge because the charger doesn't have a fan? Yes, so extra batteries are important for long pruning/trimming...

I have kind of a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde approach to purchases. Things that I think I will use over and over again, I have no trouble moving up a notch or three on quality for better design, easier use, whatever. Things I don't know if I will ever use more than once in a blue moon... For...

Welcome to TBN! Can you provide some more detail? What have you done to troubleshoot? Was this sudden onset, or gradual? All the best, Peter

FWIW: I bought some clear organizer boxes awhile back to store my funnels in to keep them clean. All the best, Peter

Me? Most of the time.🤣

There is this; 4 stars for three bolts @ $16.20, or $5.40/ea https://www.amazon.com/Chamixx-K5651-34372-K5651-34370-76539-3437-2-Compatible/dp/B0D31GF2P6 Not cheap but not insane for an unusual headed M12 bolt. These are only grade 2. I don't know what the Kubota's are. Some designs are design...

If it were me, I'd spend some time tracking down the origin of the powder. I'd start by cleaning my transport container, and then buying from one station for a while. Once you get it sorted out, I'd have a good look in the tractor's fuel tank, and perhaps clean that as well, and then I'd change...

I think that the devil is in the details. The actual HST efficiency depends heavily on how the HST is set up, and whether the pump or motor or both are variable volume pumps, and the actual design. That said hydraulic pump/motor efficiency is in the 80-90% range, but that means overall the...

I'll bite. Why the microwave? And why is it on the floor? Also, are you going to cover the floor? Epoxy? Vinyl...? You do such great work. All the best, Peter

I didn't know how bad the snow was in your area, but the standard stands seem to be on the short side, at least to me, for some of the heavier snow areas in the US. Short of some windbreaks, I'm not sure what you could do, but if it were me, I'd try for windbreaks over mesh. In my limited...

I don't know how close to the ground your heat pump is, but I suspect that solution isn't mesh, but rather getting the heat pump above possible snow heights, like @Carl_NH. (In most heat pump manuals that I have read, it is one of the mounting requirements, though not one I see commonly...

No question. Most of the foreign countries with lower prices have national agencies for government approval and purchase for distribution (on formulary) in their national health systems. Some countries do approve drugs, but only for private use, as they aren't subsequently approved for use in...

It takes something on the order of $6B to bring a new drug to market, more if it is a risky indication like cardiac or neurology. Using an old drug in a new indication is cheaper, but if cardiac safety testing is required, it can run $250MM for that trial. Many other countries are willing to...

@zzvyb6 that is an amazing photo and an amazing story to go with it. I'm impressed at how well balanced the trailer and 'vette are loaded. All the best, Peter

So, upfront, I am not an attorney, and don't play one in movies. If there is overreach for data, or egregious requirements around the licensing, yes, many times. I include in that list some manufacturers of equipment that come with EULA, like vehicles. A certain pair of US manufacturers would...

Land Rover? For me with a RHD, it is the turns at intersections. I try to train myself to put me the driver in the center of the road, but practice makes perfect as they say... All the best, Peter

Nice! That looks like a nice configuration. I don't remember seeing those very often, but it is probably just me. Ever have any trouble driving a regular vehicle after the Kei? (LHD vs, RHD vehicles?) All the best, Peter

If you know fiberglass, then you know... The long OEM light might just have fractured from the fiberglass flexing. RVs aren't exactly rigid. Regardless, I'm glad that it was a successful fix! All the best, Peter

Nice photos! I'd make sure you get the fiberglass really clean as I have found out the hard way that silicone doesn't do well with residual wax. 👍👍 And I love the idea of backing the RV up to a roof edge for additional safety! Nice job @Popgadget! All the best, Peter

😆 All the best, Peter

FWIW: After cleaning, and using DeOxIt, I have taken to using copper dielectric grease on contacts like that. All the best, Peter

Turn the pump off, and shut the valve from the pump to the tank. Drain the tank of water. Then pressure up the tank with air via the scraper valve until the pressure is about the kick in pressure. I prefer to have it about 2psi below the kick in pressure, but depending on your plumbing, you may...

As a kid, I remember hating those new jeans, and especially the iron on patches, as like @Jstpssng, I seemed to have a tendency to put a hole in one knee. The stiff jeans and patches felt to me like wearing a tin man costume. I'm sure I was vocal about it, but I have no recollection of that...

I wouldn't have described the black smoke as soot, but that's me. The engine sounds a trifle uneven to me, but it picked right up when the throttle was tapped. In my experience, one, two, and three cylinder engines are never going to be as smooth or even as a four cylinder, much less an older...

@rswyan FWIW: flax seed oil is known to painters as linseed oil, and the latter is usually treated (boiled) to keep it from setting as fast as flax seed oil. So, yes, it makes a great varnish or coating that will laugh at most cleaners and solvents. The ones that can tackle it are pretty much...

I can't speak for elsewhere, but it is still required in some jurisdictions that the gas pipe be bonded to the water pipes at the water heater, e.g. here. In another section of the code, the underground portion of the gas pipe is required to be wrapped in anticorrosion tape, or be plastic...

I have, many times, for both work and personal use. I'm of the same opinion as @hayden. Many have links to other documents that include further rights for them. Almost all include the rights to sell any and all of your information to anybody that they might care to do so for pretty much any...

It depends. Where are you located?

I did look into that, and the general consensus seemed to be that aluminum deck materials made great fresh water dock materials as it was very resistant to water and weather. The downside was the reflected and conducted heat, and thermal conductivity. Supposedly the recommendation was shoes...

Is either one of the two wires hot when the ignition is on? Something like that would do in more than a few fuses. All the best, Peter

Certainly could be. We get very little rain (7-12"/yr), which doesn't help. All the best, Peter

After what I thought was a fair amount of research and comparison shopping, we redid our deck in Timbertech (Vintage, hidden fastener), and I'm not impressed, but I have friends who used Trex, who were even less impressed with theirs. Both companies make a variety of grades and types of...

Or more. A lot depends on the size of the pile, the intensity of the burn, your soil, and how much rain comes down afterwards. Here, there were years old burn pile remnants when we bought this place. A pass of rototilling didn't help, so I took to composting on top of the piles, and then...

The "out of network" surprise billing has had some legal clamp down; https://anesres.com/billing-collections/no-surprise-billing-act-nsa/ That doesn't do much for all of the other insurance hassles, like enduring months of treatment by a low cost drug for the doctor being able to prescribe the...

In addition to sterilizing the soil, burn piles often also calcine the soil, and raise the soil pH, sometimes to levels that grass has a hard time with. If it were me, after removing the remaining ashes, I'd rototill the area as a start. Then grass seed and rotted hay. All the best, Peter

I've seen a bunch of $/person/year analyses over the years, and the US comes out as expensive. I think that it would be interesting to see an accurate cost/benefit analysis that would include the costs of care not provided, or deferred due to cost or wait times. I don't know the answer, but...

Any update? All the best, Peter

There are a series of ratings, and unfortunately, much of the "ground contact" lumber sold in my local box stores is only suitable for "incidental ground contact", I.e. not in contact with soil. https://preservedwood.org/The-Story/Preservative-Use-Categories/ While UC4A is rated for actual...

Gorgeous bobcat! Around here, they have a broad variety of color variations. We used to see one that seemed blue because it had no brown in its' coat. We saw it raise several litters, so it didn't seem to be a hindrance. All the best, Peter

I wouldn't drill holes. In my experience, that is just another channel for rot to start from. I'd either recess the fasteners, and sand the cupping down, or flip the cupped boards. Neither is a quick fix. Keeping the deck oiled annually will help some. Keeping water off by brushing or blowing...

Gosh, it sure sounds like you have a gem of a mechanic there. Good luck! All the best, Peter

Went down again about 16:45 for about half an hour. No detailed explanation from Starlink yet. Our back up is to drive to where there is cell coverage, which has a certain barrier to use. All the best, Peter

Yeah, like not even attempted. Wow!

Thanks! That's great to know that they work. I've been reluctant to bet money on them and the equipment being torqued. @daugen, you might look for a sticker on the door frame for the PSI ratings, though on my RV, I ended up setting my tire pressures by weighing the RV, and using the...

FYI: He's the VP of Starlink engineering at SpaceX. All the best, Peter

That's something else besides a Belleville washer, but looks great for mounting shocks. Probably on my own do list for one of the cars that squeaks going around corners cold. It seems to me as if the strut is dying. Since Belleville washers are basically heat treated spring steel, any heating...

I think that he's referring to a Belleville washer; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belleville_washer It is basically spring steel punched into a cone, and has very high spring forces for the distance. You can also use them to take out backlash from linear worm drives, making cheap(er) equipment...

Any time! Please vent as needed, and look after yourself. I think it is a tough row to hoe, no matter how it goes. All the best, Peter

Ouch!!!

I have seen it here, too. Folks don't pay any attention to the humidity target until after the cooling package is installed. To me, the trickle instead of a stream is the giveaway in my view. Either the evaporator is too warm, or the air speed is too high, or both. Regardless, the system isn't...

That does seem like a really excessive draw somewhere. Good luck on your well! That's important. (What's up with it?) All the best, Peter

Does the new system condition all of the air, or does it run and mix in recycled air as needed for temperature? Do you know what the Freon temperature is at the evaporator, and what are the air temperatures (in/out)? Might be a Freon fill issue, or that the new air flow velocity that is too...

The phlebotomists here tend to be amazing. The rest of the talent pool is..., yeah, not so great at times. We seem to have something like a 50% staffing in ultrasound technicians around here; salary, too many retirements, I don't know. More than half of all RNs, MDs, and semi drivers plan to...

Well, last time I bought them at Amazon, the ones that I bought were $12 for 25...but price and quality certainly varies. Those are/were fine. YMMV! All the best, Peter

Thanks for the update. I hope that it fixes the issues with your tractor. All the best, Peter

@Buppies It is a hard disease, and the path is certainly not easy in my experience. When the time comes, I hope that I pass quickly and if not I hope that I will be lucky enough to have a loved one to help me in my time of need, the way you are. Unsung hero. All the best, Peter

I agree, that's why I said I knew I was spoiled, for exactly those reasons. We drive enough that that the cost savings on tires alone would offset all of the membership fee, but again, not typical. I've spent time in your corner of the country, hiking and skiing, and densely populated it is...

Locally, none of the retail locations, even with their discount promotions, come within $0.25/gal of the local Costco gasoline centers, but I know I'm spoiled in that regard. All the best, Peter

Wow! Nice job. Is that a powered loading rack? All the best, Peter

I hope things have improved, but is there any update, hopefully positive? All the best, Peter

@JeepHead I use baby powder (talc) in a turkey baster. It works great. All the best, Peter

@1 Old Man I hear you. Many folks do do thoughtless things involving pets and other people. Having a good dog is a journey, and finding is just the first step in that journey. Good luck to the next animal lucky enough to join your family. All the best, Peter

😱 I'm glad your dogs are ok. (You, too!) All the best, Peter

Thanks @Loaderman22, that wall/exhibit looks amazing! I know so few people these days who are good at building unmortared walls. (Of course there isn't much rock where we live now...) Growing up the unmortared stone walls were everywhere and it seemed as if most families had at least one family...

Anyone else having dropouts in the last week or so? Specifically Thursday through today? We've had 10-40 second drops of service, with no errors in our local network, and no outages on Starlink's outage list, but the Starlink ping pattern to outside servers show a dip that lines up with our...

And he can grow so many coconut trees that he has to thin the plantation!😉 I know first hand how poor my hand eye coordination is. Tree climbing arborist as my next career, umm, not in the cards. All the best, Peter

I have seen the same in most healthcare facilities. The red backup outlets don't seem to register with staff. All the best, Peter

I think that is to @grsthegreat's point about the speed of tripping on a fast fuse vs a circuit breaker more than "Brand Name" vs "Off brand"/"Made in China" in particular. The on equipment/near equipment fuses are there to limit the damage to the equipment and the upstream breaker is there to...

I haven't seen any posts from @riptides in almost three months. I hope that he's ok. All the best, Peter

If it were me, I'd buy a second board... I detest this trend in HVAC in particular of not stocking spares of even current equipment, especially for equipment with known track records of failures. I can't tell from your photo, but there might be an electrical technician nearby who could repair...

I hope it helps going forward. All the best, Peter

Yikes! As it has happened before, have you thought about a whole house surge suppressor? All the best, Peter

A few years back, we were out riding our horses, and I noticed something shiny about 1000' down the hillside, across the valley in a ravine and I could not imagine how the car got there, and what state the driver was in. We could tell that there was no way it was visible from the road, so we...

Woo-hoo! Congratulations! All the best, Peter

Wisdom! I can't count the number of times I ignored that before learning, (at least sometimes! 🙄😱😆 ) that it is better to come back fresh, and I have the scars to prove it. All the best, Peter

Hmmm... in the last photo, there are what look to me like hair line features that start on the block mating surface and continue down into the block; one from the stud with the pool of oil, down into the tappet channel, and one from near the stud to the right, which I think is the same area of...

Sounds great. Photos? All the best, Peter

My grandfather used to say that about repairs, but with time, I came to understand that in his time, the government had so many specifications, that a job done to well enough for a government job was done with care, dotting "i"s, and crossing "t"s. I never heard him use it about a sloppy job...

Yes, by doing what @grsthegreat pointed out, cutting the wires to the meter. It takes time, and it isn't exactly safe. As he wrote, it is really about helping save lives. Time matters. All the best, Peter

Short answer, for Android, only download apps from the playstore, and totally reset (factory reset) your phone every few months. In between, limit the number of apps to the bare minimum and keeping checking for apps that you didn't download. Unfortunately, there are a number of Android specific...

🤣 With an air cooled diesel, I'm not cooking anything. Perhaps reheating a burrito...perhaps.

That's a great story. Thanks for sharing it. All the best, Peter

🤣

I do pretty much the same, using your idea for the ziplock with the addition of a small plastic pan under the filter and bag to catch the drips. It's an old precooked chicken tray that is flexible enough, fits, and seems immune to oil. I think I've been using the pan for at least ten years...

I think that was extremely good and civic minded of you to do. With my neighbor's Tempest, I see the same issues. Both the rain and the wind are the two sensors that are most at variance to nearby sites, occasionally by amusingly large amounts. A recorded 3.5" rainfall at his gauge for a 0.25"...

I wish I had that pricing here. Retail vs wholesale pricing? Or California vs Idaho pricing?🤣 Regardless, I think that putting the main service panel outside saves relatively few dollars, if any, upfront, and brings issues later, at least in my experience in the form of more corrosion, I admit...

That pretty well is the same experience we have here between my Davis, and my neighbor's Tempest. I think from an electronic sensor perspective, temperature is easy, and from there it starts to get more difficult, and the rain and wind speed is not easy. Accurate weather stations without moving...

Technically, I believe yucca are North American plants, i.e. from Panama north, with 50 odd species, and who knows how many cultivars. I know that I have seen enough different specimens not to be able to tell at a glance which is what, but I'm not a botanist. All the best, Peter

Outdoor disconnects have been code required in many jurisdictions for some time. I believe it finally became a national code in 2020, NEC 230.235, now is 225.41 in the NEC 2023. I do not know when or where it originated, but as @ultrarunner wrote, common in California for decades. The logic is...

I've seen a couple of those, and I have always wondered how long they last. Many refrigeration compressors aren't very tolerant of vibration and debris. I would not do it without an extra filter. All the best, Peter

Do yours have a fragrance when they bloom? I've known some varieties that smell amazing. Many desert plants are pretty cold hardy because of how cold it gets in some deserts. I've just seen the dead leaves trimmed by gardeners skilled with a machete. I know that I couldn't do a good job of it...

I have mine set up so my older Davis Vantage Pro 2 connects via serial adapter to a small computer that packages the data and sends it to WeatherUnderground and CWOP. I believe that CWOP data is monitored/used by NWS. The computer is firewalled off (a couple of times) from everything else...

"How to make friends and succeed in business..." 👍👍

@grsthegreat I think part of the issue is the mild climate, with low electrical demands, and partly lower incomes in @ultrarunner's area, so homes don't get upgraded much, or often. @ultrarunner That's a whole bunch of old wiring. I've seen them, but not for decades. Don't quote me, but...

I'm not an electrician. I think that a neon bulb is a fair, but not super accurate indicator. GFCIs are generally more accurate. Does the insulation on the wire look ok? Normally, the test/reset buttons not working is an indication that there wasn't a great hot to neutral circuit, or the...

@mpham gorgeous bowl! How do you keep it intact while working on it? All the best, Peter