Reid Engine: Two Stroking

Two stroke engines have been around for a long time. Modern two strokes, like your chainsaw engine, have a closed crankcase, which acts as a pumping chamber to pull fuel and air into the engine, then propel the mix to the top of the cylinder. Reid engines used a separate cylinder to charge the power cylinder, and it is fun to watch. This engine is tuned up very well, and it never misses a beat.

Shopping, Kinda-Sorta

 We've been checking out utility vehicles for putt-putting around the farm.  We looked at Polaris models at the Car Corral in Flora.  This metal-flake red number brought out the smiles. 

 The wife and I enjoyed looking over this homebuilt thing-a-ma-jig at the engine show at Evansville.  The most impressive part for me was the bean can air cleaner.  I didn't see anyone trying out the seat; whoever put it together forgot to include cup holders.

Ruger's Versatile New 77/357: A Handloader's Dream!

 Just when you think you think you know what you want, Ruger pulls another one out of their hat.  Ruger's latest news release is a rotary magazine .357 Magnum, lightweight bolt action rifle.  Handloaders love the .357.  You can load heavyweight thumpers for taking deer or wild hogs, or load it down for plinking and small game.  The new Ruger comes equipped with iron sights, plus a set of Ruger scope rings.

This lightweight little rifle weighs just 5 1/2 pounds, and can quickly be unloaded by dropping the five round magazine and ejecting one cartridge.  Lever action .357's will run about one pound heavier, and the magazine tube must be unloaded by levering every cartridge through the action.  I can see this little sharpshooter standing by the back door, ready to take on coyotes, skunks, and other varmints that invade the homestead.  I have been rolling my own loads for a .357 Blackhawk for well over thirty years, and this new rifle would be a great companion for my revolver. 

A source at Ruger tells me that the rotary mag will also feed .38 specials, "Most Of The Time."  The shorter cartridges will occasionally "rim lock" causing you to clear a jam.  Use .357 brass for all of your field loads and you will have no problems.  Ruger has a nice introductory video on their website; Click Here to see it.

Images are courtesy of Sturm, Ruger, and Co.

MMMMM! Buckwheat Pancakes For Monday Morning!

Back To The Old Grind!

Video by SustainableSeedCo.

Bonus Weekend Steam Report!

KCRG-TV9 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa has published a very good video showing the reconstruction of Number 6 at Mt. Pleasant for the 2010 Old Threshers reunion.  This video is nearly half an hour long, so go fetch a cup of coffee before you settle in.  The article that accompanies this video can be seen here.




Many thanks to KCRG-TV9 for making the embedding code public!

Not My Victrola; A Double From Pax41!

Just a little info from Pax on these two oldies: "song one was recorded on 6/7/1910

song two was recorded on 7/1916"

Weekend Steam

Here's a new video by YouTuber Bidone1967. His notes:

"Hier der zweite Teil des Eisenbahnfestes der Mansfelder Bergwerksbahn.
Am ersten Juni Wochende fuhren Lok 9 und 11 zwischen Benndorf und Eduardschacht mit Personenzügen sowie zusätzlich ein Güterzug für die Fotofreunde.
Bei herrlichem Wetter war es ein Vergnügen die Züge zu verfolgen und zu filmen.

Viel Spaß beim anschauen des ersten Teiles.
Bidone"

Crankin' It Up

Wouldn't this world be a better place if everyone was issued a banjo when they were born? The Van Eps Trio (Banjo, Saxophone, Piano) performs a snappy little dance number for us on Paramount 2050-B.

Easy Leaner Technique?

Small diameter leaners present a problem to the person who needs to drop them.  The excess forward weight sets the tree in motion during the back cut while the hinge wood is too thick to bend, causing trees to split lengthwise.  On large trees this is not a problem, because there is plenty of  room to perform a bore cut and create a hinge of proper thickness before the back cut is done.  Small trees don't have enough room in them to punch through with the saw, so cutters are at greater risk of being injured by these small trees than if they were cutting a sawlog.


A safe method of dropping a small diameter leaner is demonstrated in this slide show.  The compressed side of the trees is shaved repeatedly until it begins to bend over.  This is the same method we use to take the snap out of a springpole.  It is effective, but time consuming, and lifting the saw repeatedly is awkward and tiring.  There must be an easier way.

I have been thinking and experimenting on moderate leaners, and I think I have hit upon an easier method that is also safe.  The first cut is an open face aiming cut, to create the front of a hinge.

There is not enough space behind the open face to make a horizontal bore cut, so do a vertical bore cut, leaving enough wood in the hinge to support the weight of the leaner.

Now you have a hinge, and a thick back strap to hold the tree steady. 

Sever the back strap, and the tree drops, with the hinge holding it to the stump all the way to the ground.



I have tried this on a few moderate leaners and it seems to do what I want.  The next step is to try it on a severe leaner, and then on a springpole.  This cut could save a lot of time and effort in the woods.

June e-Postal Match

Mr. Completely reminds us that we are running out of time to enter the June e-Postal match.  This is an easy match to shoot, and most shooters should easily make a passing score.  Phil, over at Random Nuclear Strikes is the host, and you can click here to see the rules and download your target.