Happy Independence Day

Happy Independence Day and 250th.  

 

I finally got around to pulling out the weed whacker.  I had a spiky tree that was hitting the truck going up and down the driveway.

 

While I had it out, I also pushed this back a bit so I can see when I pull out again. 

 

Last week I also finally got the Troy Bilt working.  To be honest, I am not sure why it gave me problems earlier in the spring.  The battery needed a boost (but wasn't dead), and it smoked a bit when I first fired it up, but it is the first time it ran in about a year, so a little smoke was expected.  I didn't have to do anything special to start it though.  My phone didn't capture it well, but the haze in this picture was all smoke.

It gave me a rough go the first lap around the yard as is its way, but once it settled in and warmed up, it mowed the entire yard with only one more stall.  Both sections of the front, and even the far back which hasn't been done yet this year.

 

I figured I would reward it with a proper tune up, but apparently my Tractor Supply has decided to stop selling parts.  I couldn't get an air filter for it (they only carry one Kohler air filter now), and they don't sell any spark plugs at all.  So it is only getting an oil change, a new fuel filter, and a new fuel shutoff, since that has started leaking too now.  I did pull the air filter, while it is worth a change, it isn't bad.  Next year it looks like I will have to order everything online.

 

Other than having a mini-cookout, I didn't do much myself.  I did attempt to do the next stage of the carport.  Turns out my tractor doesn't have nearly enough lift.  

 

I did come up with a better idea than what is in the video, just build a wood jig for it.  Or just bite the bullet and round up some help.

 

Other than that, I made a milkshake, watched some fireworks (admittedly there weren't as many as I expected), and that was about it.  After some brief discussion with Matt, I am looking at a total of 3 possible composite panel construction techniques.  The first is traditional, with two layers of plywood sandwiching a foam polyiso core.  This gives me wood on both sides to work with; if I want to hang recovery boards off the side, I can do that.  It also gives me the least insulation.  The next would be sandwiching plywood interior, and diamond plate aluminum on the outside.  It forces me into a thicker diamond plate sheet for the exterior, which would look kind of weird.  But after chatting with Matt, I think I might be able to use a regular roll of metal from Mansea for the exterior, attach it to an extruded aluminum frame, and then seal everything together with a spray foam kit.  That gives me the strength of a real frame, an exterior I can paint, and the best possible R-value (spray foam is better than foam boards).  Intriguing idea.

 

Seeing Dad post pictures from his vacation made me realize that I need to make reservations for mine.  I am also going to make the first big payment of the year on the mortgage.  I am still on track for the long term plans