Re: Well, it's been a while

[Bob La Londe <none@none.com99>]

On 7/26/2023 2:47 PM, ABLE1 wrote:
> On 7/26/2023 3:35 PM, Jim Davis wrote:
>> On Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 1:09:04â?¯PM UTC-4, Bob La Londe wrote:
>>> On 7/26/2023 9:07 AM, ABLE1 wrote:
>>>> On 7/25/2023 2:32 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
>>>>> On 7/25/2023 7:43 AM, ABLE1 wrote:
>>>>>> On 7/19/2023 8:52 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
>>>>>>> On 7/19/2023 4:56 PM, ABLE1 wrote:
>>>>>>>> On 7/19/2023 12:18 AM, Jim Davis wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Wow! Can't believe I haven't looked in on ASA for about a month.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Been REEEEEELY busy. All kinds of upgrades, and new special jobs
>>>>>>>>> and trying out a different aspect of CCTV
>>>>>>>>> I'm doing all the Ethernet and telephone wire runs in a a ten
>>>>>>>>> office business. Existing customer is opening a new branch.
>>>>>>>>> Running all the thermostat wires for a customer that want's to
>>>>>>>>> upgrade from the old mercury thermostats to the Ecobee
>>>>>>>>> programmable remote access units. Laying wires for outdoor
>>>>>>>>> speakers around pool and cabana for Sonos sound system. Doing
>>>>>>>>> upgrades to Napco Starlink Connect remote access.
>>>>>>>>> ,
>>>>>>>>> Did and Access control install for one office door. And lots of
>>>>>>>>> little piddley service calls. Little busier than I like it but
>>>>>>>>> can't I guess that's a good complaint.
>>>>>>>>> .
>>>>>>>>> I don't have many commercial accounts left but one of the one's I
>>>>>>>>> have has CCTV cameras on outside of building and sure nuff I had
>>>>>>>>> to get up on a freakin 20 foot ladder and change the camera. I
>>>>>>>>> wonder if a parachute would open in that short a distance?  Or, I
>>>>>>>>> was thinking that if I got a bucket of cement and put a rope tied
>>>>>>>>> around me through a pulley attached to the roof of the building,
>>>>>>>>> If I fell, it would let me down easy. But I calculated that the
>>>>>>>>> cost of that much cement was too much ^ v ^
>>>>>>>>> .
>>>>>>>>> Hey Les, what are you doing with all your spare time now?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hey Jim,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Well I will have to say that every day is a Saturday!!
>>>>>>>> Although my daily work load is nothing like yours..............
>>>>>>>> I must say that you need to find a way to slow down........ a bit!!
>>>>>>>> :-)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> My biggest frustration is that my phone won't stop ringing with
>>>>>>>> calls
>>>>>>>> from previous customers.  Wanting help with this and that!!!  Or to
>>>>>>>> complain that I should have forewarned them that I was quitting the
>>>>>>>> business!!  Or that the new guys don't answer or return their
>>>>>>>> calls.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> So other than all that stuff, I have managed to get my 92' Honda
>>>>>>>> Goldwing out of my garage, removed the OLD gas, loaded new, and it
>>>>>>>> started up and runs great after I creatively fixed a gas leak from
>>>>>>>> the carburetor.  It hasn't be running for maybe 11 years or so.
>>>>>>>> Now I am in negotiations to either convert it into a Trike or
>>>>>>>> trade it
>>>>>>>> in on a Trike.  I should have a plan by the end of this week.  I
>>>>>>>> would like to take a few road trips just to enjoy the freedom of
>>>>>>>> the ride.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Other than that I have been fixing up things around the house
>>>>>>>> that I
>>>>>>>> have been putting off because I was too busy with business.
>>>>>>>> N-O-W I
>>>>>>>> can spend the time doing those Saturday jobs on any day of the
>>>>>>>> week!!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Then there is the..........................................
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> BTW I need to ask!! Hey Bob, what is your local temperature and
>>>>>>>> is it
>>>>>>>> too much??  I hope you have your shop with a cooling device that
>>>>>>>> runs!!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Later all,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Les
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Get it converted if you aren't comfortable on two anymore.  I have
>>>>>>> had the chance to ride side hacks and trikes.  Both have their
>>>>>>> headaches. Both beat not riding.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I don't really like the heavy weight tourers anymore.  I feel like
>>>>>>> they have gotten so much heavier.  I finally sold the '03 Roadglide
>>>>>>> (my wife's bike) to a cousin a couple years ago, but its 880ish
>>>>>>> pound curb weight is a freaking lot.  I seem to recall my old '97
>>>>>>> FLHT (was only in the 660-700 range.  Maybe its just remembering how
>>>>>>> much stronger I used to be.  LOL.  I don't remember any of my
>>>>>>> Goldwings being that heavy either.  (75 GL1000 x 2 and 84 GL1200).
>>>>>>> I would mind scoring another old (75 or 76) GL1000, but I probably
>>>>>>> wouldn't ride it much.  I tried to keep riding after my wreck,
>>>>>>> but... I get antsy after about 30-40 minutes and can't wait to get
>>>>>>> it back in the garage. Doesn't stop until the kick stand is down and
>>>>>>> it rocks over. I don't have anything with even remotely current tags
>>>>>>> now.  I think the Vulcan Mean Streak was last tagged in 2015.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Well Bob, I have (frustratingly) made a decision on my Honda Goldwing
>>>>>> and Suzuki GS550.  I have sold them to a local shop.  The decision
>>>>>> was a
>>>>>> bit challenging but the final deal will happen today and the bikes
>>>>>> will be picked up and gone!!  Goldwing left yesterday and Suzuki will
>>>>>> leave tomorrow.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> There are a lot of personal issues that molded the final decision.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I hope somebody's will enjoy their future rides with fun and
>>>>>> enjoyment!!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Les
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I've been looking at Silverwings (Real ones.  Not scooters) on-line
>>>>> lately.  I had the father of the Silver wing at one time.  The CX500.
>>>>> There are a few GL500s within reasonable driving distance, but I don't
>>>>> see any of the 650.  I'm not going to buy one, but I always wanted one
>>>>> before I got into Harleys.
>>>>>
>>>>> Maybe you should look at one of those VW rail trikes if you can find
>>>>> one at a reasonable price.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> Well I gots meself a new plan in the works for future considerations.
>>>>
>>>> I dug my '77 Suzuki GS550 out of the garage.  I had to re-inflate the
>>>> tires since they were very flat, on the 'bottom'.  It has not run since
>>>> 2004 or 2005.  I cleaned out the old gas, as much as I could out of the
>>>> tank.  I then put about 1/2 gallon of fresh in the tank.  I removed the
>>>> battery and added some Distilled Water and placed on my charger.
>>>> Charged it for 24 hours.  Checked the voltage and it held at 12.4vdc
>>>> for
>>>> a while.  Re-installed the battery.  Placed the choke to full on,
>>>> cranked the throttle a couple of times and turned on the key.  Lights
>>>> came on, in neutral, pressed the start button it turned over and within
>>>> 20 seconds it coughed and sputtered and then started.
>>>>
>>>> WOW!!!
>>>>
>>>> Not sure at this point but I think I am going to work on a different
>>>> plan for the future.  :-)
>>>>
>>>> Later,
>>>>
>>>> Les
>>>>
>>> Oh, yeah, about the heat... Its been over 110 every single day for
>>> about 3 weeks now. I tried to work outside on an old boat a couple
>>> days, but even under a popup shade it was pretty miserable. My wife
>>> said it was 118 yesterday. Walking out to the mail box for my latest
>>> prize scored off ebay has been a real chore. Not worth it for the bills
>>> and junk mail.
>>>
>>> I don't know exactly what is going on in the back shop. For some reason
>>> its not as hot as I remember it in past years with similar outside
>>> temperatures. The office and little machine room are air conditioned,
>>> but the back shop where the big lathe and big mills are is not. Oh, its
>>> hot back there, but not as stifflingly miserable as I recall.
>>>
>>> Tomorrow is my day off, so I'm going to try and fit a new sole out of a
>>> sheet of aluminum into "Another Boat Project That May Never Get
>>> Finished" in the morning, and work on a machine in the shop in the
>>> afternoon.
>>>
>>> I have not yet decided which which machine. You guys can vote on which
>>> one if you like. I may ignore you like a true politician, but you can
>>> vote anyway.
>>>
>>> 1. I've got a 3 phase Taiwanese turret lathe I'd like to get running.
>>> Phase converter (VFD), dirt, and some new cover panels. This one may be
>>> the easiest to get into running trim. Its also settign on dollies and
>>> its small enough I could roll it inside the little machine room where
>>> its cooler to work on... after I sweep a path through the chips.
>>>
>>> 2. Hurco KMB1 with a catastrophic ball screw failure. Went from .001
>>> baklash to .030-.040 backlash in the middle of a job. This would
>>> probably be the most profitable to fix.
>>>
>>> 3. CNC bridge mill/router build... this one will be the most work
>>> since have barely started on it. Its also likely to be the most fun (in
>>> the end) since I plan to use it for mostly odd projects like license
>>> plate plaques (for states that only require one plate in the back)
>>> awards plaques, machined labels for stuff in the shop Looks cooler than
>>> it sounds), signs and other things that are not part of my regular
>>> product line.
>>> --
>>> Bob La Londe
>>> Proffessional Hack, Hobbyist, Wannabe, Shade Tree, Button Pushing, Not a
>>> real machinist
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
>>> www.avg.com
>>
>>
>> I vote for # 3
>> At this point FUN is more important.
>
> I would have to agree #3!!
> Just because!!  :-)
>
>


Well, this is how it went.

Mostly I make molds to order.  This means I have a lead time of course.
Occasionally I'll make an extra.  Sometimes it more efficient to make
multiples than to make just one.  Sometimes I have some extra stock just
the right size.  Sometimes I just feel like it.  Often I will offer
those molds on eBay at a higher price for those people who will not wait
for my normal lead times.  It works.  I make occasional sales that way,
and it promotes name recognition in my market.  Last night a customer
contacted me to ask if I would ship right away because they were going
out of town in a few days and didn't want porch pirates to have a shot
at their package.  Yeah, no problem.  I printed a label, gathered up
some shipping materials only to discover the mold is not on the shelf.
I was in the shop instead, so I could get their mold done before the
carrier arrived to pick it up.  Of course it uses a stainless steel
insert rod and I was out of that size rod so I had to run down to the
local metal yard to pick up a piece.

So much for my day off.

--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff