Chainsaw Kickback And Your Chain Brake

 I saw a video the other day where a fellow was complaining that chain brakes are useless. He was demonstrating how he formed his opinion by doing kickbacks with his saw with his bar vertical. That launches a kickback right at your face, and luckily, he never made a serious kickback, because a bad one is powerful. His brake probably was fine, and he wasn't hitting wood hard enough to make it set. Sometimes when doing a demonstration you may have to hit several times to get the effect you want, but if you do, you must have your saw turned so it launches to your right, not vertically at your head. A strong hit will swing the saw several feet.  Here's instructor Joe Glenn demonstrating a kickback at one of the classes he taught.

The next video shows me out in the woods to cut up a black oak, and I show how to check your brake to make sure it operates correctly. 

Weekend Steam: When Steam Was King, J.I. Case, 1950s

 Those engines were still young in the 1950s! Today we see hobbyists putting new boilers on engines to keep them running, so it is still a serious hobby. Life is good!

Milo Matthews monitoring the Prony brake being pulled by a Russell engine at the 1953 Midwest Old Settlers and Threshers reunion. Milo was one of the founders, and his son Stan started the Midwest Central Railroad, bringing engines 2 and 6 from the Southeast, and in 1966 bringing the Number 9 Shay from California. I don't think you will find any Old Settlers or Threshers at the shows nowadays. The young'uns carry on!

Weekend Steam: Big Boy Is On The Move!

Don't Plant Ash

 

Foster Pups Take A Trip!

 Coast to Coast! One Day! Two of Dottie's pups (Born in the Jackson County, Oregon animal shelter, and raised in a foster home.) have their forever homes! A flight nanny came from Ohio to Oregon, then to New York, arriving just before midnight to deliver. This long distance adoption kept us on pins and needles all day, but our nanny communicated with everyone concerned and the trip came off perfectly. More trips are being planned. The adopters very graciously agreed to let us share this photo of the happy moment. These successes are possible because of generous volunteers and donors who are dedicated to Schipperkes. Many Thanks to all of our supporters!

Wednesday Windage II: Ron Spomer On Maximum Point Blank Range

Wednesday Windage: Tim Sundles On The Changes From Old To New Models Of Ruger Single Action Revolvers

 This information is old news to old folks, but younger shooters may not know the history.  Back in 1973, Gun Digest had a lengthy article about the changes, with a history of the dangers associated with the old click-click-click of Colt type single action revolvers.  I was sold immediately and have had only the transfer model Rugers. They are solid guns, and you aren't likely to have life threatening malfunctions with them.  Here's Tim:

Tuesday Torque II: Shades Of Alexandar Botts!

 In the 1950s, Upson offered the following biography of his hero: “Alexander Botts was born in Smedleytown, Iowa, on March 15, 1892, the son of a prosperous farmer. He finished high school there; then embarked on a series of jobs – none of them quite worthy of his mettle. In these early days the largest piece of machinery he sold was the Excelsior Peerless Self-Adjusting Safety Razor Blade Sharpener. He became interested in heavy machinery in 1918 while serving in France as a cook with the motorized field artillery. In March 1920, he was hired as a salesman by the Farmers’ Friend Tractor Company, which later became the Earthworm Tractor Company.  Read The Whole Article!

Tuesday Torque: Wayback Machine To Boonville, 2009

 This video has had just 1000 views since we posted it seventeen years ago. The nickels aren't coming in very fast. It's not a bad video, and there are some good hit-and-miss mechanical views.

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a great cemetery crawl this weekend, and had some quality time with family and friends.

This marker had the marble spire stolen a few years ago. Maybe a sculptor strapped for funds and needing raw material. Who needs a stranger's grave marker in their home?

Poor George. Went from Bluford, IL down to Tennessee to visit family and was abducted and drafted into the Confederate army. He came home after the war. 

We got to review a lot of history of family and neighbors.