True Blue Sam the Travelin' Man

David aka True Blue Sam

Better late than never. Here's our kitty.

David aka True Blue Sam

David aka True Blue Sam

David aka True Blue Sam

Paying attention to the business at hand, our friend brings the cylinder around to the misfire, and it goes on the second hit.

David aka True Blue Sam

Trees like this one are a disaster just waiting to happen if they have a target. This hackberry is lined up to damage the corner of a very nice home. If you aren't tuned into looking at tree structure, you might miss the problem.

The homeowner noticed the problem when squirrels began chewing the edges of the split. This crack is about three feet long, and the solution to this problem is to remove the tree. One pruning cut twenty years ago could have saved this tree today.

Forking and tight branch angle problems need to be fixed while the branches are still small in diameter. You can lop off one side of a fork with a pole pruner like this one. The stub you leave with this method is really not a problem. The tree will grow around it and in a few years you won't know it was ever there.

If you are a neatnik, use a pruning saw to cut off all of the fork.

Be careful not to damage the fork you leave. You want to leave the better side (Straighter is better.), and part of that decision for me is to use the prevailing wind, and the sun to straighten the tree. I prefer to keep the side that is to the north or west, and I will have a straighter tree in a few years.

There, this swamp chestnut oak now has a straight stem.

You can also improve the quality of the wood produced by taking off the lower branches on the trunk of the tree. Lumber quality is the goal in the woods; safety for the person mowing the lawn is the motivation for yard trees.

You should have your pruning done before the limbs reach 2" in diameter. That will insure that pruning wounds heal over quickly. You will tire quickly if you are pruning 2" limbs by hand, and I prefer to have them off before they pass 1". Leave as little stub as possible, while leaving the collar around the base of the limb unharmed. This minimizes wound size while getting rid of all of the limb.

David aka True Blue Sam

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=470157227

Ruger's auction this week is the first of three consecutively numbered P90™pistols manufactured in 1991. This pistol is chambered in .45 ACP. It features a stainless slide, aluminum frame, white dot sights, oversized trigger guard, lanyard loop, ambidextrous magazine release, and decocking lever. 100% of the proceeds of this auction will go to benefit Honored American Veterans Afield. This pistol will sell mid-day, Wedneday, March 11, 2015. Click Here to read all about it and to place your bid.

$606 A good deal and a good deed!

David aka True Blue Sam

We saw this movie in the (GRUNGY) theater in Prestonsburg, KY. Your feet would stick to the floor with every step in that place. What a dump.

David aka True Blue Sam

Back To The Old Grind!

Thanks to Gary Bahre for the grinder!

David aka True Blue Sam

Some of the regular attendees in Kentucky were still snowed in, but Gary's Crankup still had about thirty-five engine fanatics roll in on Saturday for his annual barn party. Gary had bladed the snow back earlier in the week, and the ground was frozen, so nobody got stuck. The food was great, a line of engines was putt-putting along outside, and the food and camaraderie were great!

The new rod for the Bessemer mail box engine is nearly finished! It's a shame it will be hidden away inside the crankcase.

The lower end has to be split, spaced with shims, and the babbit inserts have to be poured. A slot for lube has to be cut in the upper end, then it will be ready to install.

Cale Mahnke of Mahnke Motor Sports is the artful welder who built this beauty. He thinks this rod could run at 3000 RPM, but I don't think Gary is going to try that.