Lessons learned the stupid way

[2LaneCruzer]

I was working construction one Summer, laying storm sewer at Wiley Post Airport in OKC. I was mixing grout for the guys laying the pipe. Behind my crew was a crew back filling and tamping the back fill with hand held air tamps...it looked like fun!

So, when they broke for lunch, I went over and picked up one of the tamps, squeezed the trigger, and it danced all over my foot. I lost a toenail in a split second...it literally fell off that night. Next day, trip to the shoe store for a pair of steel toed boots.

 

[orezok]

Early in my career (in another century) then were still using these ancient jumping jacks in trenches. They weighed hundreds of pounds and could kill you if you weren’t careful.

 

[sea2summit]

On my (former) JD D110 lawn tractor, the manual did not include a reminder or torque for the blade spindle 10mm 'screws' (4 per spindle) holding the spindle to the deck. Really, you would only notice them when you'd remove the spindle covers IOT change the belt.

After years/many hours, vibration (plus 'hitting things') will loosen a few of those screws.

I knew that "something" was wrong... the mower sounded 'wrong'... but there was no wobble on either blade. So, I just carried on mowing. Fortunately, when I did discover that one of the spindles was held on by ONE screw, I was able to replace the other three and no damage was done to the deck. (two screws were trapped within the spindle shield + the spindle shield screws were the same type, so I 'borrowed' one of them)

I've perused the Owner Manual for my new Z355E and, again, there's no torque setting for the spindle bolts. I'll inquire at my Dealership for this specification.

Admitting you have a screw loose is the first step

 

[sea2summit]

Cut everything, drilled everything, welded, tried to assemble…welded the throw handle on the wrong edge of the angle iron. Since the leverage/geometry had to be offset I had to flip and offset the handle the wrong way when I redrilled. Dang it. Still worked though.

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

Todays lesson: Fire boots don’t have steel toes. I’ve spent my life in RedWing Loggers, steel toe and shank. Bought some RedWing, Wildland Fire boots. Everything looks the same except the Fire boots don’t have the steel toes and shanks. Put on the Fire boots, instead of my loggers before I went out to the shop to work on some cabinets.

I have developed a habit, of lifting sheet goods and setting them on the toe of my boots, and then reaching under with one hand to lift and carry them.

Tried that with the Fire boots. Knew immediately I had messed up. Big toe nail is a bit black tonight.

 

[oosik]

It's mid- July here. Hotter than the gates to Hell. My little lake is REALLY inviting. So - on with a pair of shorts - down to the dock on the far end. A wild run down the dock and a gigantic leap off the dock end.

Man - I just about pulled the "Jesus act". Walked on water almost all the way back to the dock. This water must have just come off an Antarctic glacier.

Tried just once and had a really steep learning curve. Now we wait until late August.

 

[Oaktree]

So, when they broke for lunch, I went over and picked up one of the tamps, squeezed the trigger, and it danced all over my foot. I lost a toenail in a split second...it literally fell off that night. Next day, trip to the shoe store for a pair of steel toed boots.

Yeah, easy to damage toes. I dropped a tire on my foot maybe 5 years ago (wearing sneakers). Nail kind of shriveled up and had to be cut off. When it grew back it was tender and splotchy/dark-colored. Doctor said it was the nail bed, and may never completely heal.

 

[Oaktree]

It's mid- July here. Hotter than the gates to Hell. My little lake is REALLY inviting. So - on with a pair of shorts - down to the dock on the far end. A wild run down the dock and a gigantic leap off the dock end.

Man - I just about pulled the "Jesus act". Walked on water almost all the way back to the dock. This water must have just come off an Antarctic glacier.

Tried just once and had a really steep learning curve. Now we wait until late August.

Heh. Had that happen to me once on a road trip, maybe back in the 80s. Had a pickup with a cap and was camping in state parks, etc. that didn't necessarily have facilities. Was in (I think) Wyoming, upper 90s and I was getting a little ripe (hadn't taken a shower in a couple days). Thought I'd go for a quick soap swim in a stream. Well...that was the quickest swim I've ever had. Dunked my head in to get my hair wet and saw stars!! That "water" was liquid ice! Once feeling returned, actually felt pretty good but lesson learned!
This would have been late August.

 

[bigtiller]

I rolled a canoe in 7' deep cool water. I swear I took an involuntary breath under water, but I don't know how that's possible.

 

[turnkey4099]

It's mid- July here. Hotter than the gates to Hell. My little lake is REALLY inviting. So - on with a pair of shorts - down to the dock on the far end. A wild run down the dock and a gigantic leap off the dock end.

Man - I just about pulled the "Jesus act". Walked on water almost all the way back to the dock. This water must have just come off an Antarctic glacier.

Tried just once and had a really steep learning curve. Now we wait until late August.
View attachment 731129

Stationed out on St Lawrence Island off Nome Alaska back in 1955. July 4 55 a memorable date. 4 of use were sorta beachcombing along the Bering Sea, nice sunny day, water looked inviting. We all strip down and take a running start. I chickened out. The other three almost succeeded water coming back.

 

[JasperFrank]

Never date a woman that brings her own Tequila.

 

[JethroB]

My first attempt at water skiing was on New Years Day ,,, in a farm pond ,,, and none us knew how to ski. T’wasn’t a wise choice of activity. Our only excuse was we were about 15 or 16.

 

[newbury]

I was RUDELY AWAKENED by the most horrific torrent of water - and it was ICE cold. For whatever reason this operation caused the discharge chute to slowly rotate. It was a bath that I really didn't need. I can still remember how very cold it was.

PICTURES!!!!

 

[Jstpssng]

It's mid- July here. Hotter than the gates to Hell. My little lake is REALLY inviting. So - on with a pair of shorts - down to the dock on the far end. A wild run down the dock and a gigantic leap off the dock end.

Man - I just about pulled the "Jesus act". Walked on water almost all the way back to the dock. This water must have just come off an Antarctic glacier.

Tried just once and had a really steep learning curve. Now we wait until late August.
View attachment 731129

Years ago we were marking wood out of a remote camp with no running water. Most weeks we went out to town on Tuesday nights to rent a shower, but Thanksgiving week was short so we didn’t. Headed home Wednesday night I was pretty rank and it was unseasonably warm, so I stopped by the river for a quick soak and soap. It wasn’t until I jumped in that I remembered 6 days earlier it had been iced over.

 

[Root Cause]

He who is self-taught has a fool for a master.

Ask me how I know.

 

[oosik]

Sorry - Newbury - no pictures were ever taken. Pond has not formed in over ten years. We are going thru an extended dry period here. Besides - lesson has been learned. I will use my trash pump in the future.

 

[oosik]

I've had many "tough" learning experiences. Here's just another ...........

Many, many years ago I had my property selectively logged. A couple year afterwards I though I would make an attempt to speed up the decomposition of some of the stumps.

So ... ATV - Honda generator - Milwaukee Hole Hog - ships auger. Off I go to bore vertical holes in some of the stumps. The second or third stump - the auger bound up - the Hole Hog threw me aside like a rag doll.

I WAS NOT defeated. I put a long pipe in the hole where the handle was on the drill. A couple more stumps - the auger bound again. This time the long pipe almost beat the Holly Carp out of me.

Did I learn something - YES - clear the chips out of the hole more frequently.

I was lucky. I didn't get seriously hurt. The ships auger nor the drill received any damage.

And a side note. Those stumps that were drilled DID NOT seem to "rot away" any faster than the non-drilled stumps. I put 5 to 8 vertical holes in each stump. Each went to a depth of 12".

 

[Jstpssng]

Those stumps that were drilled DID NOT seem to "rot away" any faster than the non-drilled stumps. I put 5 to 8 vertical holes in each stump. Each went to a depth of 12".

I found the same thing on a stump from a tree on my mother's lawn. I even poured water into it, in hopes that it would freeze and help the process along.

So ... ATV - Honda generator - Milwaukee Hole Hog - ships auger. Off I go to bore vertical holes in some of the stumps. The second or third stump - the auger bound up - the Hole Hog threw me aside like a rag doll.

I had a similar drilling experience. The box between the loader arms on my L275 had broken out. In an attempt to get one more winter from it I was trying to drill a 7/8 inch hole through the arms with a 1 1/2 hp drill, so that I could put a bolt through it. All went fine until I went through the inside of the arm; and hit the edge of the box. It ripped the drill from my hands and landed on the ground, where it proceeded to wrap the cord around itself until I was able to get it unplugged. Fortunately the trigger was an on/off switch, otherwise my finger wouldn't have fared very well. I did manage to bend the 1/2 inch shank of the bit, ruining a brand new $65 piece of steel.

 

[oosik]

I have some "lesser quality" wood bits with long shanks. I learned - right away - not the bits to be using with the Hole Hog. Unless you are a fan of twisted spaghetti art.

I have one ships auger - 3/4". As I remember it was about $60 to $65. It has a shank that looks like it could be used as a pry bar.

Actually - it looks like a HD pry bar with flutes.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Never date a woman that brings her own Tequila.

I once dated a nymphomaniac who owned a liquor store...