From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

I grew up in the desert 60 miles from town working in a country grocery
store. We only closed 3 days a year and the 4th of July was not one of
them.

I promised myself when I started my own business I'd celebrate all the holidays, and take real vacations.

Here I am in the shop finishing second operations of a stack of molds so
I can get them shipped. Gravity cast lead molds, but one interesting
soft plastic mold I can't show anybody.

Yesterday I got a call from a sinker maker (not one of his molds above),
who is a technically a quadriplegic. No use of his legs. Partial use
of one arm and very limited use of the other. He asked me to make a
couple custom molds for him, because making castings is his day job
every day. He casts a few tons of lead a month and wanted to expand his offerings for his customers. I refused to put his order ahead of people
who paid first, but I am inspired to get those ahead of him done quicker
so I can get to his. I've had a friend or two tell me I am the most
driven person they have ever met (not so much anymore), but his refusal
to be literally held down by his limitations is inspiring.

Happy 4th of July to my fellow Americans, and happy treason day to my
British friends and associates.
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff


--
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www.avg.com
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From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 7/4/2025 1:25 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

I grew up in the desert 60 miles from town working in a country grocery store.  We only closed 3 days a year and the 4th of July was not one of them.

I promised myself when I started my own business I'd celebrate all the holidays, and take real vacations.

Here I am in the shop finishing second operations of a stack of molds so
I can get them shipped.  Gravity cast lead molds, but one interesting
soft plastic mold I can't show anybody.

Yesterday I got a call from a sinker maker (not one of his molds above),
who is a technically a quadriplegic.  No use of his legs.  Partial use
of one arm and very limited use of the other.   He asked me to make a couple custom molds for him, because making castings is his day job
every day.  He casts a few tons of lead a month and wanted to expand his offerings for his customers.  I refused to put his order ahead of people who paid first, but I am inspired to get those ahead of him done quicker
so I can get to his.  I've had a friend or two tell me I am the most
driven person they have ever met (not so much anymore), but his refusal
to be literally held down by his limitations is inspiring.

Happy 4th of July to my fellow Americans, and happy treason day to my British friends and associates.

I did a little weed eatin' this morning . Needed a trimmed place for
the new tractor , since I'm about to tear into the front axle . Wore out bearings and leaking seals , I'll get it apart then order parts ...
And while waiting for those parts I'll do some work on the JD 317 .
It's got about 43 years of "stuff" sloshing around in the fuel tank and frequently blocking the fuel supply . Two or nine other things that need
doing , we'll see which ones make the list .
--
Snag
We live in a time where intelligent people
are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.
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From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

"Snag" wrote in message news:1049cik$htup$1@dont-email.me...

On 7/4/2025 1:25 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

Here I am in the shop finishing second operations of a stack of molds so I can get them shipped. Gravity cast lead molds, but one interesting soft plastic mold I can't show anybody.

I did a little weed eatin' this morning . Needed a trimmed place for
the new tractor , since I'm about to tear into the front axle . Wore out bearings and leaking seals , I'll get it apart then order parts ...
And while waiting for those parts I'll do some work on the JD 317 .
It's got about 43 years of "stuff" sloshing around in the fuel tank and frequently blocking the fuel supply . Two or nine other things that need
doing , we'll see which ones make the list .
Snag
------------------------------------
Made a tool to disassemble the sink spray head in my shower. It's a
relatively expensive nickeled one that seems out of stock or discontinued
now. The valve spindle sticks open in hot water. The tool is a plug half knurled and half threaded 1" - 1.5mm (??) that depresses the spindle against its stiff spring until the handle can be unhooked. No O ring in HF's metric kit fit but one from their inch kit restored it like new. Synthetic brake grease (high-melting) initially loosened the original O ring but then
swelled it.

Greased the front end of my garden tractor, perhaps for the first time in
15 - 20 years. It's from backwoods Maine where the Sears service seems to
have been a bit lacking. Hacked and hoisted out a surface root the mower
deck was catching on the trail to a woodshed.

Splitting firewood, only Oct & Nov left for 25/26. First in, last out. Rebuilding that worn-out splitter in ~1999 taught me about hydraulics. In effect the splitter was free, I think the $200 was for its new but defective Tecumseh engine which IIRC $3 fixed. I bought it from a pawn shop and second hand dealer who knew values. He gave me some deals in exchange for listening to his stories.
jsw

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From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 7/4/2025 2:25 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

I grew up in the desert 60 miles from town working in a country grocery store.  We only closed 3 days a year and the 4th of July was not one of them.

I promised myself when I started my own business I'd celebrate all the holidays, and take real vacations.

Here I am in the shop finishing second operations of a stack of molds so
I can get them shipped.  Gravity cast lead molds, but one interesting
soft plastic mold I can't show anybody.

Yesterday I got a call from a sinker maker (not one of his molds above),
who is a technically a quadriplegic.  No use of his legs.  Partial use
of one arm and very limited use of the other.   He asked me to make a couple custom molds for him, because making castings is his day job
every day.  He casts a few tons of lead a month and wanted to expand his offerings for his customers.  I refused to put his order ahead of people who paid first, but I am inspired to get those ahead of him done quicker
so I can get to his.  I've had a friend or two tell me I am the most
driven person they have ever met (not so much anymore), but his refusal
to be literally held down by his limitations is inspiring.

Happy 4th of July to my fellow Americans, and happy treason day to my British friends and associates.

Gee Whiz Bob,
What a question!!

I can safely say that there is not enough typing space here to
enter ALL!! For ME (now) "every day" is a Saturday and every Saturday
I have two(2) Saturdays!!

So my list of work is greatly varied with STUFF!! Too Much STUFF!!

I will stop now because my STUFF LIST is dangling and needs adjusted!!

Have a great Holiday Weekend!! Even though July 4th is behind US, there
are (for me) two(2) Saturdays and a Sunday for the weekend STUFF than is pending!! ;-)

Les
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

"ABLE1" wrote in message news:ug9aQ.68900$FIUe.51632@fx35.iad...

On 7/4/2025 2:25 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:
.....
Gee Whiz Bob,
What a question!!

I can safely say that there is not enough typing space here to
enter ALL!! For ME (now) "every day" is a Saturday and every Saturday
I have two(2) Saturdays!!

So my list of work is greatly varied with STUFF!! Too Much STUFF!!

I will stop now because my STUFF LIST is dangling and needs adjusted!!

Have a great Holiday Weekend!! Even though July 4th is behind US, there
are (for me) two(2) Saturdays and a Sunday for the weekend STUFF than is pending!! ;-)

Les
------------------------------------------
My to-do list on this computer is three pages long, not including
reoccurring chores, though some have been fully or partly checked off and
the big one is described in a separate file. It's finishing the ends of the "kit" of sawn beams and assembling a timber frame shed. There's an ad on TV showing a woman staring in confusion at furniture kit parts, for me step 1
is cut down a tree, 2 is saw it into lumber to dry, 3 is buy steel to
machine the fittings.
jsw

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 7/5/2025 5:54 AM, ABLE1 wrote:

On 7/4/2025 2:25 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

I grew up in the desert 60 miles from town working in a country
grocery store.  We only closed 3 days a year and the 4th of July was
not one of them.

I promised myself when I started my own business I'd celebrate all the
holidays, and take real vacations.

Here I am in the shop finishing second operations of a stack of molds
so I can get them shipped.  Gravity cast lead molds, but one
interesting soft plastic mold I can't show anybody.

Yesterday I got a call from a sinker maker (not one of his molds
above), who is a technically a quadriplegic.  No use of his legs.
Partial use of one arm and very limited use of the other.   He asked
me to make a couple custom molds for him, because making castings is
his day job every day.  He casts a few tons of lead a month and wanted
to expand his offerings for his customers.  I refused to put his order
ahead of people who paid first, but I am inspired to get those ahead
of him done quicker so I can get to his.  I've had a friend or two
tell me I am the most driven person they have ever met (not so much
anymore), but his refusal to be literally held down by his limitations
is inspiring.

Happy 4th of July to my fellow Americans, and happy treason day to my
British friends and associates.

Gee Whiz Bob,
What a question!!

I can safely say that there is not enough typing space here to
enter ALL!!  For ME (now) "every day" is a Saturday and every Saturday
I have two(2) Saturdays!!

So my list of work is greatly varied with STUFF!! Too Much STUFF!!

I will stop now because my STUFF LIST is dangling and needs adjusted!!

Have a great Holiday Weekend!!  Even though July 4th is behind US, there
are (for me) two(2) Saturdays and a Sunday for the weekend STUFF than is pending!!     ;-)

Les

Les, I am glad to hear you are still alive. You are one of the
exceptions. So many people retire and die in a couple years.

I'm probably never going to retire. I'm always reaching for the brass
ring. From deaths door I stab at thee.

Maybe one day I'll spend days planning a trip to chase the best view of
an eclipse.
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com
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From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 7/5/2025 3:10 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On 7/5/2025 5:54 AM, ABLE1 wrote:

On 7/4/2025 2:25 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

I grew up in the desert 60 miles from town working in a country
grocery store.  We only closed 3 days a year and the 4th of July was
not one of them.

I promised myself when I started my own business I'd celebrate all
the holidays, and take real vacations.

Here I am in the shop finishing second operations of a stack of molds
so I can get them shipped.  Gravity cast lead molds, but one
interesting soft plastic mold I can't show anybody.

Yesterday I got a call from a sinker maker (not one of his molds
above), who is a technically a quadriplegic.  No use of his legs.
Partial use of one arm and very limited use of the other.   He asked
me to make a couple custom molds for him, because making castings is
his day job every day.  He casts a few tons of lead a month and
wanted to expand his offerings for his customers.  I refused to put
his order ahead of people who paid first, but I am inspired to get
those ahead of him done quicker so I can get to his.  I've had a
friend or two tell me I am the most driven person they have ever met
(not so much anymore), but his refusal to be literally held down by
his limitations is inspiring.

Happy 4th of July to my fellow Americans, and happy treason day to my
British friends and associates.

Gee Whiz Bob,
What a question!!

I can safely say that there is not enough typing space here to
enter ALL!!  For ME (now) "every day" is a Saturday and every Saturday
I have two(2) Saturdays!!

So my list of work is greatly varied with STUFF!! Too Much STUFF!!

I will stop now because my STUFF LIST is dangling and needs adjusted!!

Have a great Holiday Weekend!!  Even though July 4th is behind US, there
are (for me) two(2) Saturdays and a Sunday for the weekend STUFF than is
pending!!     ;-)

Les

Les, I am glad to hear you are still alive.  You are one of the exceptions.  So many people retire and die in a couple years.

I'm probably never going to retire.  I'm always reaching for the brass ring.  From deaths door I stab at thee.

Maybe one day I'll spend days planning a trip to chase the best view of
an eclipse.

Bob, I may have said this before...........
but, I do not use the words "I Retired"!! I use the words "I QUIT!!

It feels sooooo much better!! For those reading this that have worked
their "ass's off" for sooooo many years............

"Quitting" is More Better!!

And yes, I am still alive!!
I have exceeded the National Average age for a Human Male in the US
by 1-1/2 years!!! However, the clock will not stop ticking!!

Sorry, I gotta stop since my first Saturday has ended and I am starting
my 2nd Saturday for the day!! LOL

Have a good (what is left) of your weekend!!

Les

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 7/5/2025 3:10 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On 7/5/2025 5:54 AM, ABLE1 wrote:

On 7/4/2025 2:25 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

I grew up in the desert 60 miles from town working in a country
grocery store.  We only closed 3 days a year and the 4th of July was
not one of them.

I promised myself when I started my own business I'd celebrate all
the holidays, and take real vacations.

Here I am in the shop finishing second operations of a stack of molds
so I can get them shipped.  Gravity cast lead molds, but one
interesting soft plastic mold I can't show anybody.

Yesterday I got a call from a sinker maker (not one of his molds
above), who is a technically a quadriplegic.  No use of his legs.
Partial use of one arm and very limited use of the other.   He asked
me to make a couple custom molds for him, because making castings is
his day job every day.  He casts a few tons of lead a month and
wanted to expand his offerings for his customers.  I refused to put
his order ahead of people who paid first, but I am inspired to get
those ahead of him done quicker so I can get to his.  I've had a
friend or two tell me I am the most driven person they have ever met
(not so much anymore), but his refusal to be literally held down by
his limitations is inspiring.

Happy 4th of July to my fellow Americans, and happy treason day to my
British friends and associates.

Gee Whiz Bob,
What a question!!

I can safely say that there is not enough typing space here to
enter ALL!!  For ME (now) "every day" is a Saturday and every Saturday
I have two(2) Saturdays!!

So my list of work is greatly varied with STUFF!! Too Much STUFF!!

I will stop now because my STUFF LIST is dangling and needs adjusted!!

Have a great Holiday Weekend!!  Even though July 4th is behind US, there
are (for me) two(2) Saturdays and a Sunday for the weekend STUFF than is
pending!!     ;-)

Les

Les, I am glad to hear you are still alive.  You are one of the exceptions.  So many people retire and die in a couple years.

I'm probably never going to retire.  I'm always reaching for the brass ring.  From deaths door I stab at thee.

Maybe one day I'll spend days planning a trip to chase the best view of
an eclipse.

Oh Bob,

This will help with your future goal!! https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/list.html

Plot and Plan!! Good luck on clear skies!!

Les
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From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

"ABLE1" wrote in message news:5LhaQ.63526$j%%7.5270@fx08.iad...

Oh Bob,

This will help with your future goal!! https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/list.html

Plot and Plan!! Good luck on clear skies!!

Les
---------------------------- https://globalgaz.com/visiting-libya-what-you-need-to-know/

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On Sat, 5 Jul 2025 18:33:36 -0400, ABLE1 <somebody@nowhere.com> wrote:

On 7/5/2025 3:10 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On 7/5/2025 5:54 AM, ABLE1 wrote:

On 7/4/2025 2:25 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

I grew up in the desert 60 miles from town working in a country
grocery store.á We only closed 3 days a year and the 4th of July was
not one of them.

I promised myself when I started my own business I'd celebrate all
the holidays, and take real vacations.

Here I am in the shop finishing second operations of a stack of molds >>>> so I can get them shipped.á Gravity cast lead molds, but one
interesting soft plastic mold I can't show anybody.

Yesterday I got a call from a sinker maker (not one of his molds
above), who is a technically a quadriplegic.á No use of his legs.
Partial use of one arm and very limited use of the other.áá He asked
me to make a couple custom molds for him, because making castings is
his day job every day.á He casts a few tons of lead a month and
wanted to expand his offerings for his customers.á I refused to put
his order ahead of people who paid first, but I am inspired to get
those ahead of him done quicker so I can get to his.á I've had a
friend or two tell me I am the most driven person they have ever met
(not so much anymore), but his refusal to be literally held down by
his limitations is inspiring.

Happy 4th of July to my fellow Americans, and happy treason day to my >>>> British friends and associates.

Gee Whiz Bob,
What a question!!

I can safely say that there is not enough typing space here to
enter ALL!!á For ME (now) "every day" is a Saturday and every Saturday
I have two(2) Saturdays!!

So my list of work is greatly varied with STUFF!! Too Much STUFF!!

I will stop now because my STUFF LIST is dangling and needs adjusted!!

Have a great Holiday Weekend!!á Even though July 4th is behind US, there >>> are (for me) two(2) Saturdays and a Sunday for the weekend STUFF than is >>> pending!!áááá ;-)

Les

Les, I am glad to hear you are still alive.á You are one of the
exceptions.á So many people retire and die in a couple years.

I'm probably never going to retire.á I'm always reaching for the brass
ring.á From deaths door I stab at thee.

Maybe one day I'll spend days planning a trip to chase the best view of
an eclipse.

Oh Bob,

This will help with your future goal!! >https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/list.html

Plot and Plan!! Good luck on clear skies!!

Les

O my last day of official employment in May, 1994, I had the choice of
going for lunch with the office bunch or viewing an annular solar
eclipse. Guess what I did!
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