Maine Bound!

[92 Green YJ]

Gonna need to work on that mustache, rookie.

Lol. I had just trimmed it up and shaved before the tests. Needed to make sure it was tight enough to not interfere with my mask for a good seal.

 

[92 Green YJ]

Glorious sunny spring day here today so we made the most of it and spent the better part of the day outside. The morning was spent on some spring cleanup and maintenance around the property. I spent a fair bit of time caulking some of the windows on the outside of the house. Still have a ways to go but made a good start.

After lunch we decided to take the pups and head over to Mariaville Falls for a short hike and to check out the river temps as we are anxious to try out the new kayaks. Had a great walk. Lots of people out fishing along the river today too.

Water actually wasn’t too cold so of the weather cooperates we may take the new Yaks out for the maiden paddle next weekend.

In other news, thanks to a hook up from one of my academy mates, I’ve been given an order for 50 laser engraved license plates for the RV park he works at.

The downside is, I am realizing just how slow this diode laser is doing these as they are taking about 32 minutes each to run. So, naturally, this has lead me to start shopping around for a more powerful and faster machine. Looking real hard at this 60Watt co2 unit from Omtech.

And I’ll be able to use the new Titan Attachments pallet forks I got for the tractor that arrived today to get it up into the studio if I do get it. The railing on the little balcony off the studio removes pretty easy.

 

[92 Green YJ]

So yeah, I went ahead and pulled the trigger and ordered the above pictured Omtech 60 watt CO2 laser engraver. Also ordered the chiller along with it to prolong the tube life.

With that in mind, I had to make some space ahead of delivery for this monster. It’s about 4 feet wide and roughly 3 feet deep and tall. So I spent some time in the studio today moving some things around. It’s going right next to the window on the back wall. Should make venting super easy though I’m not gonna just go out the window. Plan is to punch a hole below it to feed the exhaust outside via a dryer vent type thing.

With the space cleared I decided I wanted some storage above it for tools and accessories for the Laser so I ran to Home Depot and got a couple of half sheets of peg board, a wire shelf, and a 4’ led shop light to illuminate the space.

While I was in town I also swung by Made in Downeast Maine to move my table up to the front part of the store. The owner called me yesterday and said a spot opened up and he wanted to give me first choice at it. So of course I said yes.

And I finished my order of 50 license plates and delivered them too.

I decided to make a few extra pieces with their logo on it as freebies in the hopes that it will lead to further orders for other engraved items.

 

[92 Green YJ]

70 and sunny today so we decided it was time to take the kayaks out for the maiden voyage today on the Union river. Started by installing the folding kayak racks I got from Amazon and slinging them up on the roof.

We weren’t out too long as it was our first time but we paddled up river for a fair ways. All told we were on the water for about an hour and a half.

We did see 3 bald eagles while we were out on the river. Couldn’t get any good shots unfortunately as they were too far up. Saw quite a few fish jumping too.

That all being said, I’m not a fan of the roof carry. It’s a hassle to get them up and down and I can see that getting really old really fast as we start taking them out more. Also the tension atyle straps that came with the rack suck. Had to pull over and to go run them up twice. Think I’m gonna run to the new Harbor Freight in Ellsworth this week for a cheap 4’x8’ folding trailer to build me a custom Kayak trailer out of. Something with runners so I can just slide them on and off easily, build in some good tie down points and such and put some paddle mounts and such. Set it up so I can just tarp it for storage too.

 

[WTF?]

A lot of the kayak crowd uses the truck bed extenders;

https://a.co/d/f8g0tpT

 

[aczlan]

Think I’m gonna run to the new Harbor Freight in Ellsworth this week for a cheap 4’x8’ folding trailer to build me a custom Kayak trailer out of. Something with runners so I can just slide them on and off easily, build in some good tie down points and such and put some paddle mounts and such. Set it up so I can just tarp it for storage too.

We built a rack on a 14' landscape trailer when my brothers were in scouts.
If your paddles break down, what we did was to put a "deck box" (or a pickup truck toolbox would work) on the deck and we made our racks high enough that the boats rode above them.
We put paddles and life jackets in the box.
We used a piece of u-channel for an upright in the front and 3/4" or 1" pipe with noodles over the pipe and a rectangle welded to the end (with a hole for a strap to attach) for the crossbars.
We made a shorter one for the back to go on the tailgate.
IIRC it held 6 canoes, 2 short ones (from the front rack to the floor by the gate) and 4 longer ones (above the gate)
It was setup something like this, but not as pretty and on a landscape trailer: 4-8 Place Trailer with Storage [Kayak Angler Buyer's Guide]

Aaron Z

 

[92 Green YJ]

Another gorgeous 70 degree day today so we took full advantage. I spent the first half of the day doing a solid spring cleaning of the garage. Over the winter stuff piled up and it was a mess. Much better now.

Then we tried to get the quads out for a ride. Quickly discovered mine needs the carb cleaned as it just wouldn’t stay running. So instead we got the Jeep out. There is a power line trail nearby that runs off the road the firehouse is on that lots of people run their ATVs and such up that I’ve been wanting to check out. Did NOT disappoint! Up one side we found an amazing granite boulder field with lots of fun looking lines and climbs to try.

Huge area of this stuff. Then we went the other way and found the trail on that side had a whole lot of mud holes. So we got just a bit muddy.

Also got the chiller for the new laser unboxed.

 

[djljeep]

Another gorgeous 70 degree day today so we took full advantage. I spent the first half of the day doing a solid spring cleaning of the garage. Over the winter stuff piled up and it was a mess. Much better now.

Then we tried to get the quads out for a ride. Quickly discovered mine needs the carb cleaned as it just wouldn’t stay running. So instead we got the Jeep out. There is a power line trail nearby that runs off the road the firehouse is on that lots of people run their ATVs and such up that I’ve been wanting to check out. Did NOT disappoint! Up one side we found an amazing granite boulder field with lots of fun looking lines and climbs to try.



Huge area of this stuff. Then we went the other way and found the trail on that side had a whole lot of mud holes. So we got just a bit muddy.



Also got the chiller for the new laser unboxed.

Just FYI - not sure if Versant/Bangor Hydro/MPS has the same philosophy as CMP, but CMP's ROWs are fine for ATVs as long as they are marked trails, but not for full size vehicles. Warden Service can and will cite people when they catch them.

 

[92 Green YJ]

Spent the day in the studio today working on some stuff. I signed up to be a vendor at a card show in July so I started messing with some card displays. Starting with Pokémon card stuff. These should go well.

Then after waiting all damn day, the 18 wheeler carrying the new 60 Watt laser finally showed up at 7 PM. Got it off the truck and just put it in the garage for the night. I’ll work on getting it up to the studio tomorrow

 

[92 Green YJ]

Well that was some nerve racking redneck fuckery.

After a test I realized the forks alone didn’t have the reach I need to get to the deck. So I stacked a couple of extra pallets under the laser pallet in the hopes of getting the extra height I need. Came close but still wasn’t high enough. I also didn’t have the room to maneuver the tractor in straight so I wound up at an angle. Wound up using my come a long and a tree saver and some general sketchyness to creep it up onto the deck. But I managed it by myself and safely got the laser in and to its new home.

 

[ilten]

I'm impressed.

 

[92 Green YJ]

I'm impressed.

So am I. It was pretty nerve racking having the brand new machine that far off the ground and precariously situated. I got it done though.

 

[bgaidan]

What will that thing cut and at what capacity?

I may have a need for some discontinued intake gaskets for a couple of my rigs and/or a spacer I'm gonna build....some day.


Will it cut that composite fiber/metal gasket type material? Like a little litter than a head gasket?

 

[92 Green YJ]

What will that thing cut and at what capacity?

I may have a need for some discontinued intake gaskets for a couple of my rigs and/or a spacer I'm gonna build....some day.


Will it cut that composite fiber/metal gasket type material? Like a little litter than a head gasket?

I’m not sure on that. Typical gasket material and cork gaskets shouldn’t be a problem. This should cut up to 1/2” plywood with couple of passes. It has a 24” x 28” bed. I think I have some make your own gasket material floating around in the garage somewhere. I’ll have to give it a try.

 

[[486]]

how about .015" steel shim stock?
got some reed valves for a compressor head that having a lack of stress risers would be nice
currently running some I cut out with tin snips and filed the edges, but I know there's pointy areas that'll propagate cracks

 

[KenV]

That lift belongs in the win thread. Extra points for getting pics.

Are there any truck ramps that could hold your tractor? I know that doesn't fix the angle but still....

 

[92 Green YJ]

how about .015" steel shim stock?
got some reed valves for a compressor head that having a lack of stress risers would be nice
currently running some I cut out with tin snips and filed the edges, but I know there's pointy areas that'll propagate cracks

I very much doubt that. Fiber laser is what’s needed to really do true metal engraving. For steel the best this machine can do is burn off the paint or use a marking spray to bond The paint to the steel via the heat of the laser.

 

[92 Green YJ]

That lift belongs in the win thread. Extra points for getting pics.

Are there any truck ramps that could hold your tractor? I know that doesn't fix the angle but still....

I’ve got ramps for my trailers, but that wouldn’t have really worked in this scenario. I know what you are getting at though and that would have been great if I had that type of ramp on hand.

 

[92 Green YJ]

Well shit, guess it’s been a while since I’ve updated.

end of May saw our graduation ceremony from fire academy. It’s official. I’m a full fledged firefighter 1 and 2.

Since then I have actually taught my first training course for a weekly training night at the station. Did a course on winching and recovery tools inducing high lift jack use. We have a 12k winch and a high lift on the rescue and naturally with my years of wheeling this was a subject I was extremely comfortable with. I’ve also been signed up for a train the trainer course in September that, after completion, will allow me to give EVOC training, testing, and sign off in house. I kind of feel like the chief is moving me towards taking an officer spot here sooner or later.

we’ve gotten a ton of rain this summer but we have still found a few nice days here and ther to get out on the water in the kayaks.

I’ve pulled the trigger on solar and we are slated to have panels Installed in august. Of course during this process we discovered the roof on the side the panels will go on needed some work.

fortunately, one of the guys on my department is a roofer. Him and his guys have been on my roof for about a week and finished it yesterday. Discovered when they did the tear off that the PO didn’t use any form of underpayment prior to putting the shingles down. Amazingly the wood beneath looked brand new. But my guy installed a rain and ice guard before the new shingles so it will be good for a long time to come.

been spending a lot of time up in the studio. Found a nice home for the OMTech and I’ve done some reorganizing.

Kids are out of school so on days the wife works they hang out in the studio with me. My daughter is taking an active interest in my little business nd has been helping out.

I’ve done a couple of recent events. The Machias ATV Jamboree and the Central Maine card expo. The latter of which my daughter actually came with me and “helped” during the event.

I m booked for several more thru the end of the year including the Bangor Comic and Toy Con and the Bangor craft fair.

4th of July was fun

and I finally found some rusty yard art for the end of the driveway.

Overall we still absolutely love living here and couldn’t be happier. Even though I currently have poison ivy all over my legs. First time I’ve gotten it in damn near 30 years. Thinking I got into some when I took the weed whacker down the road to clear out and trim around our dry hydrant on Tannery Brook a couple days ago.

 

[ThePanzerFuhrer]

Why a roof mount solar when you have plenty of room to put them on the ground?

 

[92 Green YJ]

Why a roof mount solar when you have plenty of room to put them on the ground?

A couple of reasons. First, believe it or not, it’s actually quite a bit cheaper to go roof mount than ground mount. It was explained to me that they basically have to build the structure to mount the things on from scratch, where as roof mount the structure is already there. There’s also significant trenching costs to run all the wires.

Secondly, I rather like my view of blueberry fields and trees. I don’t want to be staring at an ugly ass solar array every time I look out my windows.

 

[92 Green YJ]

Couple of shots of the new roof. We finally also got a weathervane to put up on top of our spire.

 

[rockota]

A couple of reasons. First, believe it or not, it’s actually quite a bit cheaper to go roof mount than ground mount. It was explained to me that they basically have to build the structure to mount the things on from scratch, where as roof mount the structure is already there. There’s also significant trenching costs to run all the wires.

Secondly, I rather like my view of blueberry fields and trees. I don’t want to be staring at an ugly ass solar array every time I look out my windows.

How big of a system did you end up with? We got a quote and were shocked out of doing anything. Had another firm review and they said it was actually inline.

 

[92 Green YJ]

How big of a system did you end up with? We got a quote and were shocked out of doing anything. Had another firm review and they said it was actually inline.

22.4 KW. And yeah, not gonna b cheap. But with current rates, we should see roi on it in about 6 years. Will most likely be faster than that because I’m sure rates will only continue to rise. 56 400 watt panels in total

 

[rockota]

22.4 KW. And yeah, not gonna b cheap. But with current rates, we should see roi on it in about 6 years. Will most likely be faster than that because I’m sure rates will only continue to rise. 56 400 watt panels in total

Dang. Ours was almost 20 year ROI assuming a 5% yoy annual energy increases.

Heat pumps killed us….

 

[92 Green YJ]

Dang. Ours was almost 20 year ROI assuming a 5% yoy annual energy increases.

Heat pumps killed us….

I’m actually fixing to put a heat pump water heater in after the panels go up. Found the current boiler fed heater very inefficient and insufficient for our needs. It’s only 40 gallons which is nowhere near enough for a house this size so I want to go larger. Also, since it’s boiler fed, I’m still burning pellets or oil all summer long just to heat my water which is stupid and a waste.

 

[RusM]

A reason

, I rather like my view of blueberry fields and trees. I don’t want to be staring at an ugly ass solar array every time I look out my windows.

You have basic carpentry skills and a tractor, just own the real reason you don't want ground mounted.

 

[92 Green YJ]

You have basic carpentry skills and a tractor, just own the real reason you don't want ground mounted.

That’s definitely one of my bigger factors for sure. There are two solar farms on 180 thy I drive past every time I go into town. They are so ugly to look at. Heaven forbid they left or planted some trees along the road to block them from view. They are putting another massive one up on 1A in Holden right now as well. Again with no buffer along the road to hide them from view.

 

[mobil1syn]

You have basic carpentry skills and a tractor, just own the real reason you don't want ground mounted.

was a carport/lean to/patio cover not considered? if i ever went solar id probably go that route to avoid the heachache of having it on the roof

 

[djljeep]

It occurred to me how close I was the other day.