Tests and Repairs.

 Our Location today is Windsor, Ontario.

Click on the pictures to enlarge.

There was plenty of Frost on the windows that needed to be scraped this morning. Luckily, by remotely turning the Truck on from inside the Apartment the engine had started the melting problem before I got down there.

I was Fifteen Minutes later getting to the Plant this morning, as more drivers were adding care under the weather conditions. There was a big surprise that Mile, who is normally the first to arrive, did not pull in until I reached the Entry Door.

After restoring the Air and Propane Supplies to the Burners, Sorough was able to finish prepping the Test Unit, while I made a few adjustments to the repair, he was left to complete yesterday.

Running the Test Unit on the PTA, we use a few variations as a way to eliminate Pinholes from forming along the edge of the Hard Surfacing Material used on the Rebuilt Screws. This will adjust the speed and time it takes when making the changes in the future.

Once everyone was happy with the change, Mile gave the okay to remount the Seven-Inch Left-Handed Feedscrew in the Plasma Transfer Arc. We were right in the middle of the process when a delivery with Three Raw Bars was made. When we energized the Air to the Tailstock, it would not hold the Unit in place. Since this happened before, I simply put the Safety Stands in place and shimmed the Unit with wooden blocks. It barely moved when the Crane was removed.

With the delivery completed, Mile was informed of the problem. He immediately called the Pipe-Fitters Hall. We cleaned up the area, brought Scrap outside and did another repair using the TIG Welder. It was past 2:00 before the Pipe-Fitter had the PTA working again.

Mile left around 2:30 because his Shingles were acting up.

It was just after that, we all heard a loud bang come from the CNC Mill. A cutter had broke loose and gouged the Shank well over a Half Inch deep. Vinnie the Engineer pleaded with me to fix it tonight. I was on my way home after an extra Hour.

Traffic was terrible but I made it home safely. Kathy said it looked cold outside, so she didn’t go anywhere. Our temperature reached 50 F (10 C) this afternoon.

Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment, unless it personally attacks someone for their opinion, or is Spam.

Be Safe and Enjoy!

It’s about time.

Krackers

You Might Be a Redneck If

Your dad is also your favourite uncle.

Drive-In With A Bang.

 Our Location today is Windsor, Ontario.

Click on the pictures to enlarge.

Yesterday, Mile had us put aside the Seven-Inch Left-Handed Feedscrew, we were about to weld on the Plasma Transfer Arc and load a Scrap Three Inch Unit, to experiment with. Since there was no Blueprint for that Screw everything had to be hand measured and calculated.

When he came around the corner this morning, I had sizes written over the entire thing, from Three Zones and Two Flight Widths. It surprised him that I was so thorough but it also scared him that a simple Test was being done on such a Complicated Feedscrew. He found a simpler Two Inch Unit, to use.

Sorough and I finished the set-up only to find the Propane was not coming through to the Burners. I suggested we check the Tank that had just been replaced Two Weeks ago.

I was leading the way towards the door when there was a Loud Explosive Sound, that shook the building from behind our Welding Shield. Before I could say anything Sorough ran past me out the door. There was no Flames, no more Noise, just a Cold Breeze. Myself and others went rushing past the Shield to see a Five Foot by Five Foot Hole in the Concrete Block Wall.

In a small Plant of this size everyone, even the office staff came out to look. That was when Rick the Driver came in saying, “I stood on the Brakes, but the Truck would not stop”. He was just going to bring it to a Mechanic, to have the Brakes repaired.

Sorough and I tossed all the broken Concrete through the opening, where a Local Contractor hauled it away. They also added a temporary, insulated patch to close the hole.

With my time remaining getting shorter, I brought Sorough over to the Inspection Bench to coach him through TIG Welding touch-ups. Out of the Two Hours we were there, I only welded for Ten Minutes, to demonstrate what he needed to do to improve his technique. He’s getting good with very little time.

With a Doctor’s Appointment for this afternoon, I punched out at noon. I let Mile know in advance and reminded him early this morning. He waved as I left.

I was home by 12:30 and after washing and changing we were soon out the door. We travelled to the west end Wendy’s where we had Burgers and Sodas for lunch.

At the Doctor’s Office we barely sat down, before being brought to an examination room. While we waited, Kathy kept having to give me a nudge or shake, to stop me from nodding off. George discussed the results of the X-rays from our last visit and issued some Antibiotics for Kathy’s congestion. After exchanging Holiday Greetings we’ll see him later in January.

We stopped at Canadian Tire to get Replacement Filters for our Humidifier that is only Three Years Old. Nothing on the shelves came close to what was needed. The store associate suggested trying Amazon.

That walking was enough to cause my Hip/Leg Pain to scream. I didn’t like to, but I had to let Kathy go in the grocery store by herself. She had to wake me when she came out.

Emergency Responders were very busy as we made our way home.

Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment, unless it personally attacks someone for their opinion, or is Spam.

Be Safe and Enjoy!

It’s about time.

Krackers

Where do computers go to dance?

To a disk-o!

Change In The Air, Forgotten Birthday and Power Outage.

 Our Location today is Windsor, Ontario.

Click on the pictures to enlarge.

There is definitely a change in the air and it is Cold, Windy and White. It is definitely time to layer up in the morning, especially since we live across the street from the Detroit River and the way our building along with the neighbouring building create a vortex as you walk to your vehicles. The White Stuff covered mostly the grass and gardens but it is still a foreboding message.

Most drivers were wise enough to drive according to the road conditions, but there were the odd ones that didn’t appreciate the way their souped up compacts teetered over the edges of the county ditches.

This morning Sorough and I did some extra work on the PTA, and were able to get the second Powder Bin working, which has not happened in some time. We also calibrated the Powder Flow on both units, so we’ll be better able to determine what to use on upcoming jobs.

I surprised Enrico, when I wished him a Happy Birthday. He had forgot about it until I reminded him.

After a couple of quick touch-ups Mile suggested we load the Seven Inch Left-Handed Feedscrew. Not having any information on that particular size, we used the Pencil taped to the Torch, to refine the Numbers. We had it running perfectly when Mile changed his mind and had us load a Three Inch Feedscrew. It didn’t surprise me much after the way he has treated others lately.

Kathy was at the grocery store this morning when they had several power outages. Whoever was in charge, needed to brush up on their People Skills. They were telling everyone they had to pay Cash, or put everything back where they got it. (How many use Debit or Credit for groceries today?) Most like Kathy left everything in the Shopping Carts and before exiting the store.

Though our Illness is getting better, it’s still causing us problems.

Thanks for following along and feel free to leave a comment, unless it personally attacks someone for their opinion, or is Spam.

Be Safe and Enjoy!

It’s about time.

Krackers

Words of Inspiration

Truly successful decision making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking.

Malcolm Gladwell, Canadian Journalist