Wednesday Windage, Videos From GunBlue490

 

I have followed GunBlue for many years, and he shares lots of valuable knowledge.  Susan and I at least have the dog part well covered!

Make A Proper Hinge,

 ...and DON'T CUT IT OFF! You will see people who keep cutting when a tree doesn't go. If you made a proper hinge, keep your saw away from it. This tree should have been disassembled from the top with a bucket truck. Lucky that someone wasn't smashed.

Tuesday Torque: One Of A Kind, American Tractor

 Early in the Twentieth Century, nobody knew just how a tractor should be built. It took many years before industries settled on the formats that still work today, and of course, tractors are still changing.  I saw this one at Rollag, Minnesota a few years ago.  Thanks, Merle!

Here are some photos I got of this unique machine at Rollag in 2022.

Why Do I Make Chainsaw Videos?

 The fellow in this video is a certified arborist out on the west coast, and he does a lot of tree removals, and makes a lot of YouTube videos. He should know how to drop a leaner without it barber chairing, but west coast fallers, and it seems most arborists won't bore/plunge cut the trees they cut. The primary key to prevent barber chairs is to establish a hinge of proper thickness before the tree is released and set into motion. That requires bore cutting.  There is real resistance to bore cutting, even though it is an easy skill to learn, and it is a technique that sets us apart from the axe and crosscut saw methods. I hope to keep preaching the use of proper, safe methods while I can still crank a saw.

Back To The Old Grind!

Here's the link to the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhYggnpWYJs

And the video embedded.

Weekend Steam: Let's Make It A Steam Lorrie Weekend!

 Thanks, Merle!

Weekend Steam: Another Steam Lorrie

 

Thanks, Merle!

Change Of Seasons

 

The stoves are cold and gardening has begun!  Onions and cabbages are in the ground.

Assess Weight and Lean Properly

 I have heard through all of my forestry years to go up to a tree, hug it and look up to see which way it leans. You will see trees going in unexpected directions on YouTube videos when people listen to that advice. Put a heavy nut on a string, or use a straight stick for a plumb to assess where a tree wants to go.  View it from two sides and you will have the info you need to drop a tree where you want it, and be in a safe place when it falls.

Wednesday Windage: Revolutionary Rifle Tactics

 We never heard about this in history classes.  Disney ran a short series about the Swamp Fox back around 1960. I doubt it was an accurate portrayal, and I don't remember any of the episodes, sixty six years after!  Here's History Underground.

Tuesday Torque: Six Cylinder Fairbanks 2-Stroke

That's impressive! Six power strokes per revolution! Thanks, Merle!

A Good Stiff Drink...

....for work well done! Here we have a very nice young walnut surrounded by lesser trees impeding its growth. Look at your timber with a critical eye and these decisions are easy. The sap running from the grapevine was a nice little bonus.

 

Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam: Sandaoling Coal Mine Railway

 Contrary to the caption on this video, the engine is not ejecting cinders. The Sandaoling coal mine is low quality coal that throws lots of cinders when the engine is in a hard pull.  It is dramatic!  Many Thanks, Merle!

Weekend Steam: Steamtown, Scranton, PA

 Suggested by our steam and gas friend, Merle.  Thank You, Merle!

Here's their website. (Click)

Wild Critter Behavior

 Remember those groundhogs from the other day?  I put them on the dam so our migrating turkey vultures could feed and clean them up. Today, they were covered up with dry grass that had been scratched up from around them.  You can see the tail peeking out on this one.  I think that is cat behavior, so I am guessing that a bobcat has claimed them.  The grass is keeping the sun off, so they shouldn't spoil for a day or so.  I will keep an eye out, but bobcats are mostly nocturnal and invisible

Tough Spring Flowers

Our daffodils were all looking sad and bent over after a 15 degrees Fahrenheit night.  I thought they were goners.

Today they were standing all the way up again, looking pretty and proud.

 

Wednesday Windage III: Tax, Serialize, Register, Criminalize...

 ....Pritzker's at it again! Tom Grieve provides a good update.

It's like we are living in a script by Mel Brooks.

Wednesday Windage II: Dealing With Barn Busters

 Groundhogs are legal game until the end of March, when a two month pause happens while they raise their young.  I have been watching. Today was sunny and relatively calm, and I spotted one at the north barn. It's a 110 yard shot from the dog yard, and the .308 bullet took the first one from the back of the right ribcage and out the opposite shoulder. I went up to retrieve it and checked inside the barn. Another groundhog was sitting just outside its hole, but my eyes were still dazzled. The groundhog went down its hole before I could line up with my .44 Vaquero.  I stood behind a post and waited. It popped back up, but just showed the silhouette of the front of its face beyond a straw bale. Well, bullets go through straw pretty well, and at 20 feet the iron sights worked just fine.  Two groundhogs in one day!  

Wednesday Windage: The Mighty .22, Tim Sundles of Buffalo Bore

 This video is a new upload, but I recognize the content, so YouTube must have taken down the original and Tim had to delete something. Oh Well. I have had very good luck with Ruger products, and others at the rifle club have had several problems with Browning Buckmarks. I have  added after market internals to some of our Ruger Mks, and our latest seems to be settling in at a 4 pound trigger, so I will be getting some Volquartsen parts to improve that.

We had nasty cold and wind, and I have not been out to shoot lately. It's going up to 60 today, so Spring is on the way. 

Tuesday Torque: SIAM's Second Annual Winter Crank-Up! Evansville, Indiana, March 14

 We all were very fortunate. The weather was perfect for this event, and the next day a nasty squall line blew through, bringing dangerous winds and cold temps. 

The chili was awesome! It was thick with homegrown, home ground beef, all made from steak!  

Works For Chicken Feed!

Back To The Old Grind!

 

Weekend Steam II: A Cute Little Loco!

 Merle is sending all of us to Hungary today to enjoy a pretty little engine and railroad. It looks to be about a two foot gauge, so I bet there is some oscillation in the cars.  Don't try to read while you ride!  Thanks, Merle!

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Weekend Steam: Spark Show at Rough and Tumble, Kinzers, PA

 Pretty Neat, Merle!  Thank You!

The Spring show is coming up in May, and the Summer show in mid-August.   Rough and Tumble Website

The Annual Show Is On!

One of life's big thrills is seeing the start of a season full of flowers. Our daffodils never disappoint.

We have several varieties, so we do a lot of looking and admiring. 

Ranger is thinking...."Should I?"

 

Dropping A Tree; A Review Of The Steps

I recycled a couple of videos from last year, trimming them down and focusing on the process.  An after action review is at the end, to reinforce the lesson.

 

Wednesday Windage: How Many Groundhogs Can You Eat?

 Holy Cow! I went up to the north barn today to get the utility vehicle and walked up on a groundhog who exited stage left under the east end of the barn. I retrieved a camera that I had in the barn, and there is another groundhog living in the west end, and a possum, too. There has been much to much digging going on in the old barn, so I must spend some time and deal with these little vandals. I note that the little earth movers like to come out in mid-afternoon as well as the morning. I have scouted a couple of good spots where I can break up my silhouette with trees. Years ago I would lie on the ground behind a log, but now I think I will use a folding camp chair and a monopod rest.

These little video segments can be good dry practice for you. Use a laser practice pistol, play the video full screen and sit back about 8 feet. Try to pop the laser dot in the vitals every time the groundhog appears. They never give you much time!

Tuesday Torque II: Why Two IHC Tractor Lines?

 Very intersting, Merle!

Tuesday Torque: 1912 Hart Parr

 One of three, 40 HP. Oldie but Goodie! Thanks, Merle!

Country Joe McDonald...

 ...passed away Sunday, March 8, at age 84. Country Joe was at Woodstock, and that is where he became a solo artist when he was asked to get on stage and take up some time.  He performed his famous cheer and the Fixin' To Die Rag, featured in the film and on the LP of Woodstock.  

During the 1970s he recorded his War War War album, but never performed it for audiences.  It didn't sell well, and in later years when people wanted it, it was not available.  Joe tried to get his publisher to reissue it, but they weren't interested, so he recorded the whole album again, live, in Canada in 2007.  It is a fine album, and you can listen to the songs on YouTube.  It was for sale on Joe's website, and I don't think you will be able to get it now that he is gone. Country Joe was a good guy.

Here is the 1970 recording of the Man From Athabasca, and the 2007 live recording.

Weekend Steam: 1915 Triple Expansion Engine

 Merle spotted a beautiful 1915 vintage triple-expansion marine engine that resides in a museum. It's turning, but no steam.  This engine replaced the original engines in the 1863 ironclad, HMS Scorpion. It's a beautiful piece of machinery.

And, here is an operating triple expansion engine in the SS Jeremiah O'Brien, one of the two surviving Liberty Ships from World War II.  About 200 of these engines are sitting on the ocean floor.

The Third Deer Will Test Your Eyes!

 I was seeing two deer until I was ready to hit the Export button, when I saw movement from a third.  See how long it takes you to see it!

Wednesday Windage: TC Contender

Tuesday Torque II: Big Bessemer Go-Buggy!

 Thanks again, Merle! I would be nervous riding the front end of this contraption!

Tuesday Torque: Cam-Stopper

 Merle sent a rare one. Cam Stoppers had a different method of governing the engine speed.  I have heard of them, but have never seen one in the flesh. Thanks, Merle! Even today, engineers are trying to find the perfect engine design.