Pellet heads!! What's up today?

Hiring out isnt a great option and I figure I have 7 plus years left in me doing it. That was a deciding factor too-7 plus years of keeping an old machine running or buy what should be the last blower I will need and not have to do much more than maintenance.

Now if I has corncob's guy doing it 20 bucks a storm, being there when I need them and doing it right....better believe I would take that route

 

Still some plow guys here offering for $20. But most of them are much more. Plus you get your service when they can get there. Some have two jobs so you have to wait on their schedule. My son who lives upstairs works here so he makes his own schedule. Me, I have no schedule. Bad weather, I only go out with the dog. I did buy some winter boots so I would be able to do that.

 

I used to do it all the time.I would make prototypes for hip and knee replacement among other things.Sometimes its the only way to generate complex shapes.The Fadal I used was fairly easy to program.Most of my work was 10 parts or less.

 

If I had that guy, I would be charging 30 bucks, which is less than the 40 most get here,
I would be flooded with customers, and making 10 bucks per... for doing nothing...

Dan

 

Not that I don't have the tools, because I do, I just lack the motivation. Besides, my 20 buck plow the drive guy is my neighbor. By the time I go fire up the tractor and clear the drives, I've sucked down 20 bucks in rapidly increasing in price diesel. Besides, soon my cab unit won't be here and I'll be dammed if I'll move snow with an open station tractor. I'm too old for those adventures.

She's off to my friendly Kubota dealer for a tune up and a refit to the new bailer I bought. Bailers today are 100% electronic control so tractors have to be fitted for them like a new pair of pants.... and it needs the overhead run and the injectors spray tested anyway.

This summer I'll do some pictures of the new one. Summer, what a great thought...lol

It's a bit chilly here tonight and windy too 30 actual with a stiff wind from the North West. Feels like 18 and I'm in the house and the stove is keeping at it's usual 72. 50% RH.

 

Most of my work on the Mazak is around 100-150 pieces. If I'm doing something one off, the old standby LeBlond Servo Shift and The Series 1 Bridgeport are my go to machines. Reminds me, I need to go out and kick up the floor heat a couple clicks. I have a job running tomorrow.

 

Pete... Everything is more expensive the farther you go east, pellets included.

 

So true. We are the most East state you can get to. After that it is the Atlantic ocean and some parts of Canada. I know we are listed as #4 in the nation for taxes. Best buys around here is to barter. One of my sons is really good at that. You do this for me and I'll do that for you. He has done really well with that.

 

Not exactly true, although in general, there are a lot of high tax states in the east. But Hawaii, Minnesota, Illinois, and California might argue with you.

 

The warmth expected from the south wind didn't start blowing in until about dark yesterday. I had snow on the ground all day (not much), but when I went out to get my mail at 6 it was suddenly all gone. Even though it was wicked windy, I left the mini split on overnight instead of switching over to the P43 since it was in the 50's when I went to bed.

The wind has calmed down somewhat and the temp is currently 35. Not supposed to get much warmer today, snow tomorrow and Thursday, then in the 50's over the weekend (so the weather guessers are saying).

 

Sounds like you have it covered Larry.

Good to hear that family is able to live there and be able to help you and the missus.

 

Weather forecasters and politicians have one thing in common. They can be wrong but never are....lol

Went to bed last night, it was 37. Woke up about 2AM and had to kick on the electric blanket. Got up to 14 and flurries and the stove was almost out of fuel and the house was tepid so I flipped on the propane monster in the basement and let it warm the bat Cave back up to 72. Stove has been maintaining it so far (kicked up the feed rate 1 notch). Sucking down the corn / pellet mix at a higher than liked rate today. Still 5 levels below max (never had it maxed out yet). Being inherently cheap, I like to conserve but not at the expense of cold tootsies. Have about an inch on the ground outside. I'm sure the morning commute was interesting in as much as Michigan drivers appear to have gotten their drivers licenses in a Cracker Jack box. Got some real winners here. Nice to be retired. Don't have to deal with idiots and there are a boatload here that think 4 wheel drive makes them invincible on the road. The vast majority of wrecks here are SUV's of the 4 wheel / all wheel drive variety. Might go good but stopping is another issue, well, they stop when they impact an immovable object like a guardrail, bridge abutment or another vehicle.

I've seen some good ones that make me scratch my head in wonderment. My favorites are 70+ on ice. All good until they get a little squirrelly and then look out. Usually starts with a couple 360's and then a trip into an immovable object resulting in a wrecker trip and a ticket for unsafe driving for conditions and age knows no boundary for stupid. Old stupid, young stupid makes no difference and neither does cell phone yacking. I bet most of them soiled their undies too.

Having retired from driving a big truck (as in a Michigan steel hauler with 11 axles), I've seen more than my share of stupid, way more. I was always concerned about them getting up under me in their uncontrolled flights. Carrying 104,000 on the deck, I could squash a car flatter than a slice of bread in an instant.

Never wadded up a big truck, but came close a few times. Mostly due to a driver of a 4 wheeler being out of control and me doing my best to avoid them.

Sure is nice being inside today. I do have some shop work to do however, but I'm procrastinating about it as usual.

 

I have them, but to be honest, I seldom wear them because if it is icy, I normally don't go out. This year may be different because I won't let Riley out off leash. I took him out to the cul-de-sac today. Put my walker in the middle and just let him run in circles with his 30 foot lead. One side is full of oak leaves. He had a fantastic time making the leaves fly up.

 

Please keep it over there with you! I've no use for it!

 

The usual tires put on suvs/4x4 are "all seasons".. NOT sn*ws. Makes a difference.
I have seen reports from Camaro owners that pass the 4x4/suvs in the ditch. The Camaros would have blizzaks on all 4 wheels.....

 

Thanks.

Dan

 

What version of Drolet are you running and a link to the manuals please.