tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44302863954403960642024-03-17T19:59:22.427-07:00Nicoya's Never-updated BlogNicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.comBlogger966125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-45342841498906293002024-03-16T22:29:00.000-07:002024-03-16T22:29:02.227-07:00The Hills Are Alive<p>It's been a wet winter this year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlcVr7alPbYjtD4bu58dDPhSyLFkry0t9YYjQVjtboR29DKR8wgbKCFsVJfvztPVIfkiEUcq5zAU35nXYfIWBsxfUNpxQWJ78xLY4R9YBaTUuLDLodm0TS5nOCff2elhBPj5eG5LwkIomsm8OmkdpVeiX4oxJkJAT0dexYX4C4roQFszZ8o3hhyW1Pt0/s2048/IMG_5510.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxlcVr7alPbYjtD4bu58dDPhSyLFkry0t9YYjQVjtboR29DKR8wgbKCFsVJfvztPVIfkiEUcq5zAU35nXYfIWBsxfUNpxQWJ78xLY4R9YBaTUuLDLodm0TS5nOCff2elhBPj5eG5LwkIomsm8OmkdpVeiX4oxJkJAT0dexYX4C4roQFszZ8o3hhyW1Pt0/w480-h640/IMG_5510.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Perhaps not quite as epic as last winter, but quite soggy nonetheless. I decided not to roll through this mud puddle.</p><p>What this means, though, is that the spring blossoms are out in force.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACSpNF-xyk9vKUdHYeeHIMA9-nOPhutnLShgtPjimQgx65A173zAJxeWm07Vhyphenhyphens1WhlIjk4roGIQqZoyYy8f8mU9CFmf4nHchKI-BKAMZfPdUg2PMYbyKyiW4NT-KAnf97qzYsCieAD-4Wo22WsnqxGIbx7xiC_JzhId3QrwI2r82ZukT7hr8kVVF4Ns/s2048/IMG_5512.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACSpNF-xyk9vKUdHYeeHIMA9-nOPhutnLShgtPjimQgx65A173zAJxeWm07Vhyphenhyphens1WhlIjk4roGIQqZoyYy8f8mU9CFmf4nHchKI-BKAMZfPdUg2PMYbyKyiW4NT-KAnf97qzYsCieAD-4Wo22WsnqxGIbx7xiC_JzhId3QrwI2r82ZukT7hr8kVVF4Ns/w480-h640/IMG_5512.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I'm not entirely sure what flowers these are, as I didn't get close enough to get a good look.</p><p>On the other hand, these flowers are no mystery.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyp9T2dOLfQdQnlZPj39oj2LoZ8E5pLRX9y972B4X6FUaDzZ4yWDtNYyPpwFpOhxTqzm3qAd1yNFG1csY01mSNHG9VhRKpfeBGOPA4EEiZSqRdPwBQzb_XM6tcvysdQZ90jsgA1_xe504jdPyNMQLHIxBqTigVlXl_ERbwoEtiuHs8CzUMB0_sz9L6NRA/s2048/IMG_5513.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyp9T2dOLfQdQnlZPj39oj2LoZ8E5pLRX9y972B4X6FUaDzZ4yWDtNYyPpwFpOhxTqzm3qAd1yNFG1csY01mSNHG9VhRKpfeBGOPA4EEiZSqRdPwBQzb_XM6tcvysdQZ90jsgA1_xe504jdPyNMQLHIxBqTigVlXl_ERbwoEtiuHs8CzUMB0_sz9L6NRA/w480-h640/IMG_5513.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>My plum tree is, indeed, once again in bloom. And speaking of trees in bloom, so is my bay laurel.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiito-aVhcRb4aUyMGP7N1HZSzqcH-6iJdjfcAB5nGbpeNNFQ61FCD7lrt97bJJ2XDrs4fJzwKrhEvwedSVFEksjnNNGQSsaHULOQMK6FgLPnQhSWXoyPBgmO2iFZFGuvX3j9wSqsCKNY7TOmihV-DaSpfBAkDlOh8Tt4W5jxRD24uHCNQCh3NTXdEOJGE/s2048/IMG_5518.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiito-aVhcRb4aUyMGP7N1HZSzqcH-6iJdjfcAB5nGbpeNNFQ61FCD7lrt97bJJ2XDrs4fJzwKrhEvwedSVFEksjnNNGQSsaHULOQMK6FgLPnQhSWXoyPBgmO2iFZFGuvX3j9wSqsCKNY7TOmihV-DaSpfBAkDlOh8Tt4W5jxRD24uHCNQCh3NTXdEOJGE/w480-h640/IMG_5518.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It hasn't grown a ton since it had its little drought setback, but it's still alive and kicking and I'm hoping that this year it'll put out some solid new growth.</p><p>A bit lower to the ground we have the daisies in bloom.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAuD3sWwZZ7cayNOBTsd_cxNIKjJtCxrc_O1MukntOQwVOX1FN0FskJxGtyVTHNH1jtzFD2t1V04no8xtyC38bjHMyy5FRsl2o43cwqDD9Q4nPQMj2Z6R4FYBLgs9MmXvEZjST1lInA0ldb1POue_8ZTylJYZDVwQkMRZ7kdunhK7vj7vw0cV_65llqM/s2048/IMG_5514.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAuD3sWwZZ7cayNOBTsd_cxNIKjJtCxrc_O1MukntOQwVOX1FN0FskJxGtyVTHNH1jtzFD2t1V04no8xtyC38bjHMyy5FRsl2o43cwqDD9Q4nPQMj2Z6R4FYBLgs9MmXvEZjST1lInA0ldb1POue_8ZTylJYZDVwQkMRZ7kdunhK7vj7vw0cV_65llqM/w480-h640/IMG_5514.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As well as the periwinkle, which is getting a bit aggressive.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0NWhG7SceuwmgKbQ507iDaSV_yGIsw68_61YLKe3JD0oHkF-tQVEAlv6xD1N3fmL4-wU5-FusGis4pJlVairgo0wgvKYdIB-vqmuBso1598DeNHVp7dVJKK5eOena47xp5v7u9gWHDLpUrMr3v4cNQA9jvcgAk7d2ipGgG_S3xhLpHBw8naczdEQK2Q/s2048/IMG_5515.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0NWhG7SceuwmgKbQ507iDaSV_yGIsw68_61YLKe3JD0oHkF-tQVEAlv6xD1N3fmL4-wU5-FusGis4pJlVairgo0wgvKYdIB-vqmuBso1598DeNHVp7dVJKK5eOena47xp5v7u9gWHDLpUrMr3v4cNQA9jvcgAk7d2ipGgG_S3xhLpHBw8naczdEQK2Q/w480-h640/IMG_5515.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Then there's the pinwheel desert rose along with a photo bombing calla lilly</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CprLbFEVprMNMZ6zOcX2zJDXKl0X-QTXBKuNU2VJpojY9HdMdLB-geJUPB7dYCla6Z-ObORMIe9iuHWToV5FMt6B3c261732pJXnEmBaXslzGw2cL47zdx1um9sJ7CKTMZ4La7LPwHVFJCrIiyCehqQS0e8NplNHRKO2aujz7CTVUj_YYY1XI7zb384/s2048/IMG_5516.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CprLbFEVprMNMZ6zOcX2zJDXKl0X-QTXBKuNU2VJpojY9HdMdLB-geJUPB7dYCla6Z-ObORMIe9iuHWToV5FMt6B3c261732pJXnEmBaXslzGw2cL47zdx1um9sJ7CKTMZ4La7LPwHVFJCrIiyCehqQS0e8NplNHRKO2aujz7CTVUj_YYY1XI7zb384/w480-h640/IMG_5516.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And more calla lilly in amongst my rosemary.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2lgPYoDDKnGa2bfdkjv_xygEtXEBOhNLcmfZf77Pd7S3IWKKAMWRE2LEuOOe2mxhxcgeClYyXoULDkoc26FUdZy6E7lIgYTBxyx9ZwtrZBI-TIkaYEKd7lAXGmf64EzI-NuEhsA7HE1dg578qVZVoIW_ImqxciyS0DVUE9BVy39xcqSAkFSBxtTx6Co/s2048/IMG_5517.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2lgPYoDDKnGa2bfdkjv_xygEtXEBOhNLcmfZf77Pd7S3IWKKAMWRE2LEuOOe2mxhxcgeClYyXoULDkoc26FUdZy6E7lIgYTBxyx9ZwtrZBI-TIkaYEKd7lAXGmf64EzI-NuEhsA7HE1dg578qVZVoIW_ImqxciyS0DVUE9BVy39xcqSAkFSBxtTx6Co/w480-h640/IMG_5517.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The baby sage is once again responding well to the harsh pruning I give it every year.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUkmzMGRtlz_tSaJK09yLkHLXH5Q7OqfuWsEJhY_tVJMuuV_CzzGzKNw0ylV7dyE74QanX4dSMGZXEd9jVDbVFaEwtncNTQnJ42EjpRy2gF-regI_bMoqA_afJ2uV9UpZ9Kytu3TeNdjpkXrh4PDRMdc4mXmcuBoxBUE4FzHa8UNuaBaQYqoyDFWKByU/s2048/IMG_5523.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUkmzMGRtlz_tSaJK09yLkHLXH5Q7OqfuWsEJhY_tVJMuuV_CzzGzKNw0ylV7dyE74QanX4dSMGZXEd9jVDbVFaEwtncNTQnJ42EjpRy2gF-regI_bMoqA_afJ2uV9UpZ9Kytu3TeNdjpkXrh4PDRMdc4mXmcuBoxBUE4FzHa8UNuaBaQYqoyDFWKByU/w480-h640/IMG_5523.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>In the "recovering from trauma" category is the spanish lavender, which had a peculiar amount of die-back last year. I had to prune away quite a few dead branches.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lMOO8_pkThDQWWbJT3PO2jGt_MMEW4o2bnxKn9m4Vq4oab0362QrVF-de4Tusud-1KO64Um7x-YyWgjVOk7ynU1RsKu-6hPkULbBMz-wcCrmRuPFwpDuWvE7swFfHJKhyW1ScWlY8U0ZJlXlyH9Sh9ErSvHPEvQ147i_VuEG5akU_w_HN1WEi_xhwNQ/s2048/IMG_5519.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3lMOO8_pkThDQWWbJT3PO2jGt_MMEW4o2bnxKn9m4Vq4oab0362QrVF-de4Tusud-1KO64Um7x-YyWgjVOk7ynU1RsKu-6hPkULbBMz-wcCrmRuPFwpDuWvE7swFfHJKhyW1ScWlY8U0ZJlXlyH9Sh9ErSvHPEvQ147i_VuEG5akU_w_HN1WEi_xhwNQ/w480-h640/IMG_5519.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Also on the mend is the milkwort, which was seeing its own weird die-back and regrowth.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcvkrHURRWsZljLhzhLpdYLjSq3cSA3z0b5PXFg902lf6zySF7hyphenhyphenOLyNh77r5OdY4sZBVNOa5ozUnsId9E_ndHcqQ7c39aT5G3PtZFQFyPneMi9HAqyMqt9LQJzBhBA2pJ7hdake7__uXhH77EgiAOb775WXhcC551iIHNEn5uHbMWHz_AxngD_RzWfs/s2048/IMG_5520.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcvkrHURRWsZljLhzhLpdYLjSq3cSA3z0b5PXFg902lf6zySF7hyphenhyphenOLyNh77r5OdY4sZBVNOa5ozUnsId9E_ndHcqQ7c39aT5G3PtZFQFyPneMi9HAqyMqt9LQJzBhBA2pJ7hdake7__uXhH77EgiAOb775WXhcC551iIHNEn5uHbMWHz_AxngD_RzWfs/w480-h640/IMG_5520.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It was peculiar seeing it going yellow and crispy seemingly out of nowhere, but the regrowth is quite strong so I guess I'm not too worried.</p><p>The pink lemonade blueberry is in bloom, and looks to get getting along fairly well despite its currently ragged appearance.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdh-MqCUgropKNvpgzDfY9K1AFnrfpNc-rslx5QfjzZDRKlpSXey4E4zbv_DkRmKAYlwk16MKEq_lqIywK3lgbwr9VHzdfD7kDdwD89-iG87jyrBC6COWJbJEeXc54p5vP371_tKGRFX6868m1dLvrvGigOINVqXc4-7MvvVdGU1nwCxhPAhGoS09vcC0/s2048/IMG_5521.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdh-MqCUgropKNvpgzDfY9K1AFnrfpNc-rslx5QfjzZDRKlpSXey4E4zbv_DkRmKAYlwk16MKEq_lqIywK3lgbwr9VHzdfD7kDdwD89-iG87jyrBC6COWJbJEeXc54p5vP371_tKGRFX6868m1dLvrvGigOINVqXc4-7MvvVdGU1nwCxhPAhGoS09vcC0/w480-h640/IMG_5521.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And the mexican heather is defying all odds and somehow popping up again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEODBfSjCw5gQgLUP1lqqRPyitJ2Yz9zJ8As_E2GDV436CQpetmokHsNNn7p9Fyax3jiY2wP1V-gvtMAn7OXhdonGRaIjxVqIbUdmPyG9NoSofoj7v8vpGv92WR-Mu0y0BNh7m4XmZH81VVQSRjvjlbGw46HJXSOUUq_u_6tQTWRsWiu7Sa74Be1L3VI/s2048/IMG_5522.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEEODBfSjCw5gQgLUP1lqqRPyitJ2Yz9zJ8As_E2GDV436CQpetmokHsNNn7p9Fyax3jiY2wP1V-gvtMAn7OXhdonGRaIjxVqIbUdmPyG9NoSofoj7v8vpGv92WR-Mu0y0BNh7m4XmZH81VVQSRjvjlbGw46HJXSOUUq_u_6tQTWRsWiu7Sa74Be1L3VI/w480-h640/IMG_5522.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>So in all, I think it's safe to say that spring has officially sprung.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-30599678350178359812024-02-26T20:14:00.000-08:002024-02-26T20:14:38.168-08:00Sealing The Deal<p>Back when I was refurbishing my Singer 251 industrial straight stitch machine, I noticed that there had been a lot of dried-on oil build-up around the right side of the machine, below this cover plate.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEw63qaqdPR52C-WD871k7dXWdB_raRqBZUIrH4F4HRaKkju-lrljBow6apLrPkV74ljoyYGIrwi7D16ItMCh0JRu-xIygQpZ9rHAjK9VDMElH2TzVOdFMPBrONdVhJftqbG0Hg443OUploK93uB_oAVtCiFWg3QW48jGYHGnvrYIBcbYs071FJme1aM/s2048/IMG_5481.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEw63qaqdPR52C-WD871k7dXWdB_raRqBZUIrH4F4HRaKkju-lrljBow6apLrPkV74ljoyYGIrwi7D16ItMCh0JRu-xIygQpZ9rHAjK9VDMElH2TzVOdFMPBrONdVhJftqbG0Hg443OUploK93uB_oAVtCiFWg3QW48jGYHGnvrYIBcbYs071FJme1aM/w480-h640/IMG_5481.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I cleaned it off nicely, and replaced the oil flow window and its gaskets, but I did notice that after using the machine, there would be a bit of oil seeping from the cover plate at the top of the machine. It hadn't occurred to me to pick up a replacement gasket when I'd purchased the other repair parts, and a gasket is small and cheap enough that it would have basically disappeared into the shipping costs that I'd have to pay to get one delivered to me, so I put it off for a bit.</p><p>But, it just so happened that I was ordering some other sewing machine parts, so...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfv_xcGvka1brUyNRCfdOmww34q-sJxJapS1Vt0ZocKFELa0a4WOMK81u-QL0gHMSzwRa2GOcAPFeGwvSrJK5RxOOyosX2Vr-xWkPEpY_bqQaBlaYxSFqkOAXqrjOEOZ_puXvYwVnRPYPq4GTuSRO3Y5jtmk8t9_Ub9tLtoGIvhPXTiMa5DfTsqWHb33o/s2048/IMG_5482.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfv_xcGvka1brUyNRCfdOmww34q-sJxJapS1Vt0ZocKFELa0a4WOMK81u-QL0gHMSzwRa2GOcAPFeGwvSrJK5RxOOyosX2Vr-xWkPEpY_bqQaBlaYxSFqkOAXqrjOEOZ_puXvYwVnRPYPq4GTuSRO3Y5jtmk8t9_Ub9tLtoGIvhPXTiMa5DfTsqWHb33o/w480-h640/IMG_5482.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Let's do this.</p><p>The cover comes off with four screws, revealing what could quite possibly be the original 65 year old gasket.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJCSc_dqwFBf7Bnkek7Md4xHoC2WJ5UZkTRGHlME81jgO8iQuFyeVHj7vVpJ-cpudn4TGLclh0tnud1vUQs4MZEFY3qnr5tOH5thpyvDAcCquEV-ukylhbZWi3A1kCpPxlJzlmPFODDGHkQBjqaOO6SRtUfY8iug0e-nXJZkPd8hf-49M6OUXeZTOV88/s2048/IMG_5483.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJCSc_dqwFBf7Bnkek7Md4xHoC2WJ5UZkTRGHlME81jgO8iQuFyeVHj7vVpJ-cpudn4TGLclh0tnud1vUQs4MZEFY3qnr5tOH5thpyvDAcCquEV-ukylhbZWi3A1kCpPxlJzlmPFODDGHkQBjqaOO6SRtUfY8iug0e-nXJZkPd8hf-49M6OUXeZTOV88/w480-h640/IMG_5483.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">A quick sanity check to make sure we've got the right part.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWP1ameJEufLntjQglaoZuVvAx8MoUjhxXsEeal0F3bchCWd_P_HqSYlXrA2Aidh8YVnS9boY03ecXbdAfYfBDAL682cLfXEeCcxP1u-MSl_ouAO28C2zxPQE6W2Nq9-Ykh4LVaLrKCYDAE-53E10fwqpX2YFLXL8Vtcqv1ZbeplrIPoBvdmqxDMYJeI/s2048/IMG_5484.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWP1ameJEufLntjQglaoZuVvAx8MoUjhxXsEeal0F3bchCWd_P_HqSYlXrA2Aidh8YVnS9boY03ecXbdAfYfBDAL682cLfXEeCcxP1u-MSl_ouAO28C2zxPQE6W2Nq9-Ykh4LVaLrKCYDAE-53E10fwqpX2YFLXL8Vtcqv1ZbeplrIPoBvdmqxDMYJeI/w480-h640/IMG_5484.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">Never mind that I'm holding it upside-down, it's definitely a match.</p><p>The old gasket has flattened out considerably over the years, and adhered itself to the cast iron body of the machine. Luckily, we have ways of dealing with this.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFms9OhiWmnqlHF0Wo46ZhK9VGKSxoFgzdq7Hh0CpD0q8MZPJL8CWZ3ac-4oS7EFl7EyCJaxym61QURVVf9zEAETPqgjpld2Lj6Gskr4T3vrqsUlbSRVc9a5432RSzrVyeEkb-dtFRtkp9PoU64syyrIwvumiih9J8yzl7djLkl3lOU1m4Fahm4bKYuQ/s2048/IMG_5485.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFms9OhiWmnqlHF0Wo46ZhK9VGKSxoFgzdq7Hh0CpD0q8MZPJL8CWZ3ac-4oS7EFl7EyCJaxym61QURVVf9zEAETPqgjpld2Lj6Gskr4T3vrqsUlbSRVc9a5432RSzrVyeEkb-dtFRtkp9PoU64syyrIwvumiih9J8yzl7djLkl3lOU1m4Fahm4bKYuQ/w480-h640/IMG_5485.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I will commend it for putting up a decent fight.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZzFPch91cBe0G3CVTuu9xNjFScPWYGVKc8DQ7KWrq0oSiaPyUe1BkinqsXwAs1gkNpVHvQZti_az2dr11VVhSygB4woRvXNI0u5iI2IKqG_KIxOO-l_d-7yQ7IhYikBI8fF-F1cuBaiCI3Km3NMGmyM_uqbYvXco6rtXBzVi8QsJJ1331FEZFFjVyds/s2048/IMG_5486.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZzFPch91cBe0G3CVTuu9xNjFScPWYGVKc8DQ7KWrq0oSiaPyUe1BkinqsXwAs1gkNpVHvQZti_az2dr11VVhSygB4woRvXNI0u5iI2IKqG_KIxOO-l_d-7yQ7IhYikBI8fF-F1cuBaiCI3Km3NMGmyM_uqbYvXco6rtXBzVi8QsJJ1331FEZFFjVyds/w480-h640/IMG_5486.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The majority of the gasket yielded to the putty knife, but it left some crumbs behind that would interfere with the new gasket forming a proper seal.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYAUjJzSFalwnB_kZA7CexnMKl21x7KiSAyg2tAoDq763M29Ig9DMwMf92ZMobpnFQXWshsvlK6H_WnlwH4rYPj-uY9g9D7CeXIqsPL44C6S0LRYpSwll6TZXfHmdNM5bpolGWV5faM9hj8tE1cTSzUffa6Y5_L7yzD_dkegoNXEeMzlc3bm-W9VMgic/s2048/IMG_5487.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYAUjJzSFalwnB_kZA7CexnMKl21x7KiSAyg2tAoDq763M29Ig9DMwMf92ZMobpnFQXWshsvlK6H_WnlwH4rYPj-uY9g9D7CeXIqsPL44C6S0LRYpSwll6TZXfHmdNM5bpolGWV5faM9hj8tE1cTSzUffa6Y5_L7yzD_dkegoNXEeMzlc3bm-W9VMgic/w480-h640/IMG_5487.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>But the razor scraper made quick work of that.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2offzbJh0pee7Gd2PjZH3zfQ0ePm4KzWsA-bsbe4sgoES-2Wa98fBjhfOqbfTiwqISESxMKvoJmjeAQ9aY5AUgCqbHrzsJNf_UpJPbmSn1PTPsk3keL-x0_N3UKN7Rjw_y3jz0cCwZ6rp1NafK5vuJCJcWczZHY7-syHnJ2ss4u-baQNkvj1XdXa2WA/s2048/IMG_5488.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2offzbJh0pee7Gd2PjZH3zfQ0ePm4KzWsA-bsbe4sgoES-2Wa98fBjhfOqbfTiwqISESxMKvoJmjeAQ9aY5AUgCqbHrzsJNf_UpJPbmSn1PTPsk3keL-x0_N3UKN7Rjw_y3jz0cCwZ6rp1NafK5vuJCJcWczZHY7-syHnJ2ss4u-baQNkvj1XdXa2WA/w480-h640/IMG_5488.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>So we just pop the new gasket in place.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7I7LUZzPRpKicDDyfnjfn5QRtBd6IWmUrk1o9lxRpCqaeN5crdc-5LHE0Qwlj0qMWA9dEK84X1hfKPq0BnF68i_cBb3Kdj6m34nZS0wZKUxa3bIgX0gM3JvBsBQRk-i5l5YFC_MUhxVkOOD9xlII6wPSpcYrERbeAlnCdctEQto7mKr0krYS-tvtS1o/s2048/IMG_5489.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7I7LUZzPRpKicDDyfnjfn5QRtBd6IWmUrk1o9lxRpCqaeN5crdc-5LHE0Qwlj0qMWA9dEK84X1hfKPq0BnF68i_cBb3Kdj6m34nZS0wZKUxa3bIgX0gM3JvBsBQRk-i5l5YFC_MUhxVkOOD9xlII6wPSpcYrERbeAlnCdctEQto7mKr0krYS-tvtS1o/w480-h640/IMG_5489.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And we're good to go.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BjpnSnWoSjB3k4bmxvoDCZ8c6oTVREIY0CSqCsLrHUrEb6wzAoD5Z9vGlLjCrem0bQEjF6nW3X5aZS8ffqsSOQn4CBz_jf9BzMoXt6y0XXVla4_gjuCf-Irc3GUmzvtwzVZCrjJ2uoglPUxbpPJxW7ObuapD-EHypkVHd2rTdrkGu47Mh7e6V_e9w6s/s2048/IMG_5490.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-BjpnSnWoSjB3k4bmxvoDCZ8c6oTVREIY0CSqCsLrHUrEb6wzAoD5Z9vGlLjCrem0bQEjF6nW3X5aZS8ffqsSOQn4CBz_jf9BzMoXt6y0XXVla4_gjuCf-Irc3GUmzvtwzVZCrjJ2uoglPUxbpPJxW7ObuapD-EHypkVHd2rTdrkGu47Mh7e6V_e9w6s/w480-h640/IMG_5490.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Hopefully without any more inconvenient oil seepage.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-23561931897269627382024-02-26T20:01:00.000-08:002024-02-26T20:15:44.287-08:00These Feet Were Made For Walking<p>Most standard lockstitch sewing machines are capable of using a specialized presser foot most commonly known as a "walking foot", although this is a little bit of a misnomer. It's a little more accurately described as an "even feed" foot, and I'll explain why that is in a moment.</p><p>My new-to-me Brother Nouvelle 1500s can take one of these feet, which is convenient as it's a quilting-focused machine and an even feed foot is very useful when trying to feed a quilt sandwich (composed of the quilt top, the batting, and the backing fabric) evenly through the machine, without getting puckers and curls caused by the different layers shifting or stretching relative to each other.</p><p>However, the original even feed foot was not included with the machine, so I took a gamble and tried buying a high-shank even feed foot off of Amazon.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteR_rD-QwZedP7ZGhtwG7hYBd0v4gfgY8l0MhtNNCus9ILfV-nIz3UmGJf9ZybeT_8aLyPFwy8LjzLzYhHyGzeWirhJypoxCaIB2-a-Na2SnOcKpaWuFBrC1-w0na0wMOOOVJam24Y2z78r7eDkyoNB88LfFLx0wQUQ8E8K_8uFyx-CTVutKLMWana4o/s2048/IMG_5409.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteR_rD-QwZedP7ZGhtwG7hYBd0v4gfgY8l0MhtNNCus9ILfV-nIz3UmGJf9ZybeT_8aLyPFwy8LjzLzYhHyGzeWirhJypoxCaIB2-a-Na2SnOcKpaWuFBrC1-w0na0wMOOOVJam24Y2z78r7eDkyoNB88LfFLx0wQUQ8E8K_8uFyx-CTVutKLMWana4o/w480-h640/IMG_5409.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>This did not quite go as planned. Above we can see the Brother's regular high-shank presser foot on the right, a standard snap-on zig-zag foot to the left, and the high shank even feed foot in the middle.</p><p>What's wrong with this picture? Well, this particular even feed foot is designed for a high shank zig-zag sewing machine, which my Brother definitely is not.</p><p>Now technically I can install this foot, and I can sew through it without the needle striking the foot. However, all is not as it should be.</p><p>You see, the way this even feed foot is designed, the middle portion lifts up when the needle is at the top of its motion, and the two outer runners slide back and forth with the fabric to achieve the even feeding motion that the foot is named for.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXst_uLvEWNXk5Jhw7k3IsudA72RTjGdww2hqdEzlnu9LPL1RIIYMgCShRV40mnKzeVx7ulyt1xF26d-7B6jdhjPxxrcLyflOAnIjD6h2lBEnZIjBFXKolacnI219_vjLL4l9A6oQhGR-EbdlgmbgVnbSAogPH3M9Kz3iZL4DHiC146Y2zbHR_eOiTEg/s2048/IMG_5408.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXst_uLvEWNXk5Jhw7k3IsudA72RTjGdww2hqdEzlnu9LPL1RIIYMgCShRV40mnKzeVx7ulyt1xF26d-7B6jdhjPxxrcLyflOAnIjD6h2lBEnZIjBFXKolacnI219_vjLL4l9A6oQhGR-EbdlgmbgVnbSAogPH3M9Kz3iZL4DHiC146Y2zbHR_eOiTEg/w480-h640/IMG_5408.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>However, this doesn't work at all if the outer runners don't actually line up with the feed dogs.</p><p>It's a little easier to see if I compare how the even feed foot from my low shank zig-zag machine lines up with the feed dogs on my straight stitch machine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rfXum3R3XCnC3wlZHZbhtc687Hm9rDzTmeORr-H1HGG32viXnHXQyoZZTb6Wezy6cZ6kDu5AaQxSjS5cZr9cYrfIjZ8VSEkd77NQU_cE6kZkiXBRUxQgTHf3iwFncaSBB25SdQI7OXq8DAPzElmJxHjqlgunYduGAGwn04yD3eZ9xO7X8_COLPjrpPc/s2048/IMG_5500.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rfXum3R3XCnC3wlZHZbhtc687Hm9rDzTmeORr-H1HGG32viXnHXQyoZZTb6Wezy6cZ6kDu5AaQxSjS5cZr9cYrfIjZ8VSEkd77NQU_cE6kZkiXBRUxQgTHf3iwFncaSBB25SdQI7OXq8DAPzElmJxHjqlgunYduGAGwn04yD3eZ9xO7X8_COLPjrpPc/w480-h640/IMG_5500.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>On this foot, the metal portion holds down the fabric when the needle is making a stitch, and then the white plastic pieces are pushed down against the feed dogs when the fabric is being moved through the machine. If they don't line up with the feed dogs, the fabric doesn't move.</p><p>Luckily, I was able to find the correct even feed foot for this machine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfWAeEkk-wlddyUxHH-1ad6Xa8EFV6zGrYrmA5Vbv2d98_dedsN5TJX7SMjQP7EpqGWfxJih1k6I6b-SogSCLDOFg973HxQNfwrAZwv5RsO0whSQIt8bESp5lsSvTvJZGRhc0OhGj6X3yI4NsfTZonqANuTaRV6Rq3igLSnJwsBdv0o4G3z3Qxp-mnSo/s2048/IMG_5496.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfWAeEkk-wlddyUxHH-1ad6Xa8EFV6zGrYrmA5Vbv2d98_dedsN5TJX7SMjQP7EpqGWfxJih1k6I6b-SogSCLDOFg973HxQNfwrAZwv5RsO0whSQIt8bESp5lsSvTvJZGRhc0OhGj6X3yI4NsfTZonqANuTaRV6Rq3igLSnJwsBdv0o4G3z3Qxp-mnSo/w480-h640/IMG_5496.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>This one is designed specifically for high shank straight stitch machines, not zig zag machines, which means the foot is much narrower in comparison with the zig zag even feed foot, and the mechanism lines up with the feed dogs properly.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLvRMKwtwy7esyN3E-MiF6gxUbqPx1IZKWJ4UyMEvaLjUuuKFqgz-A4XWFobj4jHrljEifg3JlUcV2ZqMOPH-ApVcOzXo4QnviZQHNZ6JpgGAdwqNNPMhW1qtHPMXG-Yu1mAsoQAMbTxQfsky5coUqBrVBxdI0Mg1dFWDaWPN_VXRI_Wm8QbB1C3JS0c/s2048/IMG_5497.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkLvRMKwtwy7esyN3E-MiF6gxUbqPx1IZKWJ4UyMEvaLjUuuKFqgz-A4XWFobj4jHrljEifg3JlUcV2ZqMOPH-ApVcOzXo4QnviZQHNZ6JpgGAdwqNNPMhW1qtHPMXG-Yu1mAsoQAMbTxQfsky5coUqBrVBxdI0Mg1dFWDaWPN_VXRI_Wm8QbB1C3JS0c/w480-h640/IMG_5497.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6SJ3a4cyfXh2Ge4of3uxnK8QotOQg-d9QpDv-Ga27vAfkpF9tdjIaOMpMDVumVHIsID7O4IKW1ct6q3B0tqvcpJ7WvPReahaMGfDCnMRexdfv3MCMjgBUvtYc1gGGUbS7V1hbtO0xkdFMnulbOHG0Am9jecXm3wVGSbjWZdrFuLT2OcqX04johuzEQA/s2048/IMG_5498.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6SJ3a4cyfXh2Ge4of3uxnK8QotOQg-d9QpDv-Ga27vAfkpF9tdjIaOMpMDVumVHIsID7O4IKW1ct6q3B0tqvcpJ7WvPReahaMGfDCnMRexdfv3MCMjgBUvtYc1gGGUbS7V1hbtO0xkdFMnulbOHG0Am9jecXm3wVGSbjWZdrFuLT2OcqX04johuzEQA/w480-h640/IMG_5498.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>We can see here how the black plastic runners line up perfectly with the feed dogs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX09rjkvp910SKJCeygQU-yCFTirgAU52yJh7uI2mTD3Upbr_ag4horKQdtxshETXmxaJL6csv_BCzD4hsL0ByBumIVYoGsmr6kqLhlOfeJslOxenU0kLJyA-g39cMTiN216-GjKzYTM3IifcoMeq_xtYC2QZHQDyzSo1CDBBYYzUKsMDmvGbUpjgjtIU/s2048/IMG_5501.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX09rjkvp910SKJCeygQU-yCFTirgAU52yJh7uI2mTD3Upbr_ag4horKQdtxshETXmxaJL6csv_BCzD4hsL0ByBumIVYoGsmr6kqLhlOfeJslOxenU0kLJyA-g39cMTiN216-GjKzYTM3IifcoMeq_xtYC2QZHQDyzSo1CDBBYYzUKsMDmvGbUpjgjtIU/w480-h640/IMG_5501.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And so the fabric layers will be correctly pinched when the feed dogs are advancing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpgMipzZWdOvRD2vlBY6LO0JD7bIMVbeAvJ5fFAXWLTDxn068tVrwESMSp_PCayNOgrKyVCPquqWlxNmndt7lyYsDcymQ8_YAZdkAWTvwvBv3DDyBts5IAO7TenlntUPoJoy1m4dKqh0-ZXEUtejAuRb_K5vlsLatCQe1s3Wht1gY-Bvb-DA0rKBH-1M/s2048/IMG_5502.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpgMipzZWdOvRD2vlBY6LO0JD7bIMVbeAvJ5fFAXWLTDxn068tVrwESMSp_PCayNOgrKyVCPquqWlxNmndt7lyYsDcymQ8_YAZdkAWTvwvBv3DDyBts5IAO7TenlntUPoJoy1m4dKqh0-ZXEUtejAuRb_K5vlsLatCQe1s3Wht1gY-Bvb-DA0rKBH-1M/w480-h640/IMG_5502.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And this is the secret to the even feed foot: the runners in the foot slide back and forth in unison. The fabric that's already been sewn, behind the needle, will always move as one thanks to being stitched together, but with a regular fixed presser foot the fabric in front of the needle can be dragged forwards by the friction against the underside of the foot. With the even feed foot, the runners get pulled backwards in the rear by the stitched fabric, and this then is translated into the runners pulling the fabric in front through the machine at the same rate, preventing the stretching, pulling and puckering issues.</p><p>A walking foot is notably different here. On a proper walking foot machine, the foot's feeding motion is directly actuated by the sewing machine, rather than simply passively sliding back and forth as the fabric is moved by the feed dogs in the needle plate. Walking feet also generally have a much higher stepping action, which makes them able to walk up over much bulkier seams, like those you might run into when sewing leather and thick vinyl.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir20P6G6U7WKGo6uOFOnxBet5AHzMG9VePebbk6fhHFzM7CH-giMDybprTVKUHgRXDI5rvajFcMgFoPe9wlHDedpaCrM6eajmPXLJZnWU31lJDETxJGndK_FVfSCNa22JZx3o8uKxqn8bjekxf6DIuNAWUa6uuQlYJUHAJRGhMdqnmBdlnZFKyNgADWho/s2048/IMG_5503.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir20P6G6U7WKGo6uOFOnxBet5AHzMG9VePebbk6fhHFzM7CH-giMDybprTVKUHgRXDI5rvajFcMgFoPe9wlHDedpaCrM6eajmPXLJZnWU31lJDETxJGndK_FVfSCNa22JZx3o8uKxqn8bjekxf6DIuNAWUa6uuQlYJUHAJRGhMdqnmBdlnZFKyNgADWho/w480-h640/IMG_5503.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>But anyways, after only a little bit of a struggle with ordering the wrong part (thank goodness for Amazon returns), I have the correct even feed foot for my straight stitch machine.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-36071930242932040872024-02-26T19:36:00.000-08:002024-02-26T20:15:30.411-08:00Stomping Grounds<p>So along with all the parts to repair my shiny <strike>new</strike> old straight stitch machine, I also finally got in the replacement presser foot for my embroidery machine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1giiyrawAvpRNFoOAvfSaLjhEYl79_jeN6pp4YJs44OhJHI9D_hG_4FrWbbO43HD_W1GpxSTFnFFTht6YNyIYD1ZU7r5eoCeG2yxVJf158XAcEG023L24lrBuf6z7Eue78Pf6k1AsyMxNXfDcB1X90iDVt2pvr5H1Xp0BHFVd_YeM9JTSIOgGIVaBrc/s2048/IMG_5492.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1giiyrawAvpRNFoOAvfSaLjhEYl79_jeN6pp4YJs44OhJHI9D_hG_4FrWbbO43HD_W1GpxSTFnFFTht6YNyIYD1ZU7r5eoCeG2yxVJf158XAcEG023L24lrBuf6z7Eue78Pf6k1AsyMxNXfDcB1X90iDVt2pvr5H1Xp0BHFVd_YeM9JTSIOgGIVaBrc/w480-h640/IMG_5492.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>This foot is designed to hover close to the fabric when the needle is down, preventing the fabric from lifting up when the needle is pulled back up through the work to draw up the bobbin thread and complete the stitch. It also has a little lever arm which the needle bar bumps against at the top of the stitch which lifts the foot up higher when the work is being moved so that the foot does not catch or drag, which would cause the work to distort.</p><p>The original foot, pictured to the left, had worn out to the point where the foot was loose enough for the needle to strike it in some positions, which is far from ideal. In fact, it was so far from ideal that the original owner sold this machine for a song claiming that the machine would jam because of it. Luckily a replacement foot wasn't hard to find.</p><p>Or so I thought.</p><p>As it turned out, the shop I ordered the replacement from didn't have it in stock and had to order it in from their supplier, and for whatever reason their supplier apparently had a dickens of a time actually sending one out. Eventually I found it in stock at another place, and they were able to deliver it nice and quick.</p><p>But, what about that other foot, the one to the right in the picture above?</p><p>Well, that's a free motion quilting foot, or darning foot. The principle of operation is largely the same, but it's built with more plastic parts and, inconveniently, part of the foot sits a bit lower to the work, leading to this awkwardness.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66eN4SvQOUBLgsJQA9cpZ6XutsY9gDdes0slWXJCXr1LgQs2f6pm0HAWwHXDbzh90HwUSx0lB8xRZ4TvCRvTqR8Wh4RU1qUFpHiMYgESl8mVUcj_766CFODPk4U8UMWXzlFW16luk1ZKZlv0_mf3767liatQiweO8O_Erl44OeLwx7Td37vfUCimFFUs/s2048/IMG_5491.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66eN4SvQOUBLgsJQA9cpZ6XutsY9gDdes0slWXJCXr1LgQs2f6pm0HAWwHXDbzh90HwUSx0lB8xRZ4TvCRvTqR8Wh4RU1qUFpHiMYgESl8mVUcj_766CFODPk4U8UMWXzlFW16luk1ZKZlv0_mf3767liatQiweO8O_Erl44OeLwx7Td37vfUCimFFUs/w480-h640/IMG_5491.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It makes an awful racket when that happens during stitching.</p><p>But, we've got the proper embroidery foot now, so let's compare.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qHgb7zf1nW-duaKyZx8GRxAvjEY6i-2A2w1kOqJWKey35RKA2zAiW0MPEe3NzYL9wNwpfl6gsphcwLh8poMckS0cEYZ0Iqm2nQcB8UP7M12H9f8szTW8EKY1aTe0qGsK_Y-kgwaty7fowtfaNt50o0HMVTH9GBBrHT3zUIKyVKAGG9YXcrcBVGRlaDQ/s2048/IMG_5494.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qHgb7zf1nW-duaKyZx8GRxAvjEY6i-2A2w1kOqJWKey35RKA2zAiW0MPEe3NzYL9wNwpfl6gsphcwLh8poMckS0cEYZ0Iqm2nQcB8UP7M12H9f8szTW8EKY1aTe0qGsK_Y-kgwaty7fowtfaNt50o0HMVTH9GBBrHT3zUIKyVKAGG9YXcrcBVGRlaDQ/w480-h640/IMG_5494.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>That's much better.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nSoktesJXVzLBywtYauKdm-8e8LQgpGa1yYrQvIon8PiUbXgrWaNA5YWykyWS7cfPDS06dJaRC00OgNaikDKgMLVHnT74kVw1lV5Sn7uNzkoihyphenhyphenrqidVpyWcj2ZZtvGLASnEJdmd3Kcmj9imIFko0Hk1YeHKJmmhY5_u7xirb3tHF_qsf9LOKm8RcF4/s2048/IMG_5495.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4nSoktesJXVzLBywtYauKdm-8e8LQgpGa1yYrQvIon8PiUbXgrWaNA5YWykyWS7cfPDS06dJaRC00OgNaikDKgMLVHnT74kVw1lV5Sn7uNzkoihyphenhyphenrqidVpyWcj2ZZtvGLASnEJdmd3Kcmj9imIFko0Hk1YeHKJmmhY5_u7xirb3tHF_qsf9LOKm8RcF4/w480-h640/IMG_5495.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And that's the last fix I needed to do to get this machine fully back up and running.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-39452611917948489752024-02-26T19:20:00.000-08:002024-02-26T20:15:02.531-08:00Oh, Brother<p>This here is a Brother Nouvelle 1500s.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEi9qK3Cer87M8cE5SUFFdwbgpKxAp-e8H9aXnJDIQQ0tIcZvqCOWDy-cE7ITuDkwq1E4lyn8IGcsYAg7dSPMRKk2OhcxTKRWWnuZb1Q_fAv0DB3CD5r07OlsczPRj6n2qz-AFKBAY7nXE-7uTlAGWVgje8YE6xUr7aKlSmilEoXy4wooXajaEfi68AU/s2048/IMG_5465.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmEi9qK3Cer87M8cE5SUFFdwbgpKxAp-e8H9aXnJDIQQ0tIcZvqCOWDy-cE7ITuDkwq1E4lyn8IGcsYAg7dSPMRKk2OhcxTKRWWnuZb1Q_fAv0DB3CD5r07OlsczPRj6n2qz-AFKBAY7nXE-7uTlAGWVgje8YE6xUr7aKlSmilEoXy4wooXajaEfi68AU/w480-h640/IMG_5465.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As with almost every sewing machine I own at this point, I picked this one up for a song because it was broken. Unlike some of the "broken" machines I've picked up, this one was actually, genuinely broken, as can be seen by what remains of the needle thread tension unit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYs6GK7URahurrDYweVroD12Pvr9mTur3gQuyKO_EgTRM5WPaVy6HONaMcfIzTolMvXYWBXs0-r7QB7oJ-i1zQjsHLXzqV53r_dUKZI9pB9YPbW8HCXqh9LB3jvGhrQvJ-ESf3E4gPlxQcp3Qb-uTqJ-2-TBmgn6otB0Wgr7H4B49Lja8-DwCZP3ItLc/s2048/IMG_5380.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmYs6GK7URahurrDYweVroD12Pvr9mTur3gQuyKO_EgTRM5WPaVy6HONaMcfIzTolMvXYWBXs0-r7QB7oJ-i1zQjsHLXzqV53r_dUKZI9pB9YPbW8HCXqh9LB3jvGhrQvJ-ESf3E4gPlxQcp3Qb-uTqJ-2-TBmgn6otB0Wgr7H4B49Lja8-DwCZP3ItLc/w480-h640/IMG_5380.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Removing the broken tension stud, we can also see that some parts of the tension unit are missing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVhsNuihTmYHC9Hp9Fd7Mh4t2oWI5J46H9SSH9rSBpNFniqavjsrb1Z-15FXCcdOTcg8TXUd3N5ZLQypxzr90YEM-n7DJyQEP30w1V85mQyTMfRaRnwKf0N1ijMeM8QgpuM12m4wOCqRYiQd4oaf1FiZCNXOa2bvQGkQgbbd5wYrHEDF3wxuBpYY4R5I/s2048/IMG_5382.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVhsNuihTmYHC9Hp9Fd7Mh4t2oWI5J46H9SSH9rSBpNFniqavjsrb1Z-15FXCcdOTcg8TXUd3N5ZLQypxzr90YEM-n7DJyQEP30w1V85mQyTMfRaRnwKf0N1ijMeM8QgpuM12m4wOCqRYiQd4oaf1FiZCNXOa2bvQGkQgbbd5wYrHEDF3wxuBpYY4R5I/w480-h640/IMG_5382.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>So I'm going to need to order up some replacement parts. We'll come back to this later.</p><p>The tension unit was the only part that was disclosed as broken, however when I turned the handwheel I felt that there was some binding in the machine, which isn't a great sign. Luckily it was fairly easy to locate: the binding happened once per revolution, which indicated it was somewhere along the upper shaft or feed dog mechanism (the lower shaft that drives the hook runs at twice the speed of the upper shaft that drives the needle and takeup lever). The binding also didn't change when I changed the stitch length or engaged the reverse lever, so I ruled that out too.</p><p>To narrow things down further, I powered on the machine and ran it at full speed for a good 10-15 seconds. Running the machine when it's binding will cause whatever is binding to heat up, and so it was quite easy to locate the culprit, which was one of the linkages in the takeup lever assembly.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaR0JBqj-KZlPsx7Yj6McWMDfGnGedhGMyJIb35JB8a0LtuzYh-mKTrP0tm_2qQHjC2qbh0g24TNJ7I305siKg3TCAihtOm5fCxji76pnTsoWIm-PrT5ONJwkHZlWGOSTkLRg-lpcQpBJlzYMRyKTs8Tebgbp7EM9bfkQDurihEdKiiy4ci0NKIbVzlHQ/s2048/IMG_5379.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaR0JBqj-KZlPsx7Yj6McWMDfGnGedhGMyJIb35JB8a0LtuzYh-mKTrP0tm_2qQHjC2qbh0g24TNJ7I305siKg3TCAihtOm5fCxji76pnTsoWIm-PrT5ONJwkHZlWGOSTkLRg-lpcQpBJlzYMRyKTs8Tebgbp7EM9bfkQDurihEdKiiy4ci0NKIbVzlHQ/w480-h640/IMG_5379.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The middle pivot here was tight, but thankfully it was easy to loosen up: just backing off the black screw allowed it to basically recenter itself, and I tightened it back up and all was mostly well.</p><p>I say mostly well, because there was still excessive end play in the upper shaft. The handwheel could move in and out by a good quarter inch or so, which is not at all normal. Luckily this was also an easy fix. Just to the right of the black bearing bushing holder above, just out of frame, is a stop collar. Loosening two screws and sliding it to the left took up all the end play and still allowed the shaft to rotate freely without binding.</p><p>Next up, the thread tree. I'm starting to think someone dropped this machine down the stairs at some point.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmwflCKFzXz3fSTDtyS4XUVdRInxFZ7GpBTpPqjFX0jg2JiB6cs4reVUxZDortQJE3EcSrG3lcgpofptHhIqPTQ6bw3IbTBVr-i1SO7ejgsyqeM0oZiNCAG5fn2RiM1-lyJ8oZ_QDDScEP3bZzsSDwFuWg-20uSuGG3v2PbhRYD1rBPolGzPTmwXhfSE/s2048/IMG_5381.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmwflCKFzXz3fSTDtyS4XUVdRInxFZ7GpBTpPqjFX0jg2JiB6cs4reVUxZDortQJE3EcSrG3lcgpofptHhIqPTQ6bw3IbTBVr-i1SO7ejgsyqeM0oZiNCAG5fn2RiM1-lyJ8oZ_QDDScEP3bZzsSDwFuWg-20uSuGG3v2PbhRYD1rBPolGzPTmwXhfSE/w480-h640/IMG_5381.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>This part being damaged is especially annoying as a replacement costs around $40, which is a lot more than most parts. I didn't have much hope of fixing it, but I decided to see if I could massage the kinks out of it somehow, using my soft blow hammer and a solid 123 block as an anvil.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQV_tX4gpU6UYmPJFtX44GjAahL-Fg8Mot7jHepQvlEHpOfXa4RoBfqY-r5qO7ZKNAv9hCoGBmCe73lA3LHcK9LZTtvingFPlWKDgKIK9jc5bh4dcMNRpSf795jZn5P9HfEbQMhIf-J-4eI57I4yMmAllkTf9kig8PmwiLp_yCRiyI9Zwf3bYLZgvCbo/s2048/IMG_5390.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQV_tX4gpU6UYmPJFtX44GjAahL-Fg8Mot7jHepQvlEHpOfXa4RoBfqY-r5qO7ZKNAv9hCoGBmCe73lA3LHcK9LZTtvingFPlWKDgKIK9jc5bh4dcMNRpSf795jZn5P9HfEbQMhIf-J-4eI57I4yMmAllkTf9kig8PmwiLp_yCRiyI9Zwf3bYLZgvCbo/w480-h640/IMG_5390.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Hmm, that looks unexpectedly encouraging.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4wf42_zb_ns4IbfXJzflHcPttlx99ktLdjhcsYX5fS0jv2nnNbrCoCxF21mGxMM8AG8ZOUA-a4opEYwzrXcJUDFT7DODxVMBkjYVBUDv8eiqs2ZEuRkaeTzjqAyVtVu6Cd0lvis9GhrCFJ__AekkEzSMCnAdypDoySmsunnF-RJS3LS_jwUS2Fafbe8/s2048/IMG_5391.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4wf42_zb_ns4IbfXJzflHcPttlx99ktLdjhcsYX5fS0jv2nnNbrCoCxF21mGxMM8AG8ZOUA-a4opEYwzrXcJUDFT7DODxVMBkjYVBUDv8eiqs2ZEuRkaeTzjqAyVtVu6Cd0lvis9GhrCFJ__AekkEzSMCnAdypDoySmsunnF-RJS3LS_jwUS2Fafbe8/w480-h640/IMG_5391.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And would you look at that, hot damn.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jzRqzTa8r0SjUxKbZmafrSiyiWK9LY6NxN-PfepbgxbdKsO5e6_6QBGKZiG_htP7oGqsE9nl22PW4jcRA8mMKoj7o1Jk03DTKzi0hTCto6gMqBwQzb6MXAOSR9dBt1kttXdJYqS6XWlfKWgZSpZxHWJKh64DRZTkr1qCsEPyIhpynPm_Ityn7eyq1Q4/s2048/IMG_5392.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jzRqzTa8r0SjUxKbZmafrSiyiWK9LY6NxN-PfepbgxbdKsO5e6_6QBGKZiG_htP7oGqsE9nl22PW4jcRA8mMKoj7o1Jk03DTKzi0hTCto6gMqBwQzb6MXAOSR9dBt1kttXdJYqS6XWlfKWgZSpZxHWJKh64DRZTkr1qCsEPyIhpynPm_Ityn7eyq1Q4/w480-h640/IMG_5392.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Not gonna lie, this took quite a bit of gentle persuasion to coax it back into shape without crushing it, but somehow I managed to pull it off.</p><p>Thread tree goes up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOOIgjZn9mLm-E9JpkJrMKXs9hyh_Htc4PjtwJ_TLkuPGFw_kB18_f1bNQ8_i3_wj7Mvxof3c4jwg0rN4PpcWknnWkVRWmQlkgFHuL_KR4cv2ojaD7E2YAUDkSUXuv59Kr5B10iMM-tjNq7NjGLQ93q-qBPi_bkQPZvrV9afPEuqVspHi5azUEzbbXzM/s2048/IMG_5395.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOOIgjZn9mLm-E9JpkJrMKXs9hyh_Htc4PjtwJ_TLkuPGFw_kB18_f1bNQ8_i3_wj7Mvxof3c4jwg0rN4PpcWknnWkVRWmQlkgFHuL_KR4cv2ojaD7E2YAUDkSUXuv59Kr5B10iMM-tjNq7NjGLQ93q-qBPi_bkQPZvrV9afPEuqVspHi5azUEzbbXzM/w480-h640/IMG_5395.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Thread tree goes down.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqB4KGFlZxFpqJPjZBTSYZolmSE16ULYX41MRMl9o-zsTrww-Nsk6pEcIK_nR65tPtczXjRWJdKX6BVLYQ0A6VvWpuMG7y9k49LbYX3MiXQDfbsmkVkLvBVJTeCWQCksV-xd1uWKCK3VDTHLjuAXPPVmBjJD4R00QnG1lLH2tE3leU1eHJ-e5cet88qdo/s2048/IMG_5393.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqB4KGFlZxFpqJPjZBTSYZolmSE16ULYX41MRMl9o-zsTrww-Nsk6pEcIK_nR65tPtczXjRWJdKX6BVLYQ0A6VvWpuMG7y9k49LbYX3MiXQDfbsmkVkLvBVJTeCWQCksV-xd1uWKCK3VDTHLjuAXPPVmBjJD4R00QnG1lLH2tE3leU1eHJ-e5cet88qdo/w480-h640/IMG_5393.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Tumbling-down-the-stairs damage aside, the machine had also seen some miles, as evidenced by the fluff gathered around the hook area.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdPlXxfOGVaOTIklVsEkOMQcd48QGcmSf6z2a4RZp3RNsnAO2C4I4ZqT5MPI6ylyDLXjNi1GBI4tq_ICPLcpK46D8m4gN3GZ4EjL5npGdjT3XLQ0eCbKWoHlBQ81x3vLN3G4DOTr7ldAhvwYImxooH11ZJG8PbYnWPD6Z-eJ3cBvih3M58mj3CVOusng/s2048/IMG_5384.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdPlXxfOGVaOTIklVsEkOMQcd48QGcmSf6z2a4RZp3RNsnAO2C4I4ZqT5MPI6ylyDLXjNi1GBI4tq_ICPLcpK46D8m4gN3GZ4EjL5npGdjT3XLQ0eCbKWoHlBQ81x3vLN3G4DOTr7ldAhvwYImxooH11ZJG8PbYnWPD6Z-eJ3cBvih3M58mj3CVOusng/w480-h640/IMG_5384.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And then there was a few spots of rust on the needle plate, suggesting it had sat in the back of someone's closet, garage or attic for a time.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScBoPLgUsFHEZlvGpli8SCls43cXPOUahHrXz8KauRghVajo_iY6me2Q1RhAAaMy10J9spzIHMwAmWCtOPNFatLK7XS_KiRv2wtpgSSK8_d9i5oRIEiRHkYhoUSng5cE0G6irijwXB8uEXXfZiw5-9e8yV0iz8ZDAwBRZv6oxZkzzZ6s_eoOxxWru0y4/s2048/IMG_5388.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgScBoPLgUsFHEZlvGpli8SCls43cXPOUahHrXz8KauRghVajo_iY6me2Q1RhAAaMy10J9spzIHMwAmWCtOPNFatLK7XS_KiRv2wtpgSSK8_d9i5oRIEiRHkYhoUSng5cE0G6irijwXB8uEXXfZiw5-9e8yV0iz8ZDAwBRZv6oxZkzzZ6s_eoOxxWru0y4/w480-h640/IMG_5388.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Which a little autosol easily took care of.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigL7aHILi5U4Wu1K4wHMWoWpoa_Ecu4FWjioY9NrOtYffYv2DDYKRw2P1VwehU8cYDH8ty0tzEqKtZWbQyxaLMDgOhVH4CCwZNsx3sk0tnJ0Z1UGkSuAIQ2FBH4R2b07hseDl3XT0guCPMN9q8UfdnC2q2_loRrJWee9sAtHuq1tJ5BUz4ba7EpcEm-64/s2048/IMG_5389.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigL7aHILi5U4Wu1K4wHMWoWpoa_Ecu4FWjioY9NrOtYffYv2DDYKRw2P1VwehU8cYDH8ty0tzEqKtZWbQyxaLMDgOhVH4CCwZNsx3sk0tnJ0Z1UGkSuAIQ2FBH4R2b07hseDl3XT0guCPMN9q8UfdnC2q2_loRrJWee9sAtHuq1tJ5BUz4ba7EpcEm-64/w480-h640/IMG_5389.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And naturally for a machine this old, some of the glossy plastics were looking a little... Hang on a second.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31ltoqfLYUzANmxXtArszVWxzRnVgnOiqSCkHTGaXTbXPvrT_6cut5EklucJM-vknxscRxZGWSHSPfPT78qcHo6BsVdhdNZ2zWh2-AFAf3Z-5jpO8Vys9dK1rHFBZ86mHMxY42QyGHn2ha4Xo2TbHeUKr2FaSHYh4cpKXWXdbI6UGxqRxE93JhS1svjI/s2048/IMG_5387.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh31ltoqfLYUzANmxXtArszVWxzRnVgnOiqSCkHTGaXTbXPvrT_6cut5EklucJM-vknxscRxZGWSHSPfPT78qcHo6BsVdhdNZ2zWh2-AFAf3Z-5jpO8Vys9dK1rHFBZ86mHMxY42QyGHn2ha4Xo2TbHeUKr2FaSHYh4cpKXWXdbI6UGxqRxE93JhS1svjI/w480-h640/IMG_5387.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Oh...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OytsICGklFe3a1AdDYvG0r1JW03IATupy80rN7ftH9KX4j_mQ9ETjDY6j4u9syP6HNC3DiHDoDdDJ7xIeUQzTH4c-zT7Wyev-Qv5wmQY3YVprbvQN-1OajIEmxVG8A6uFbymPaqnBqUwlx54xykYQrq76x2gGWOjEbSlR3myWg8TUXcAurQc4j3B_Hw/s2048/IMG_5385.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OytsICGklFe3a1AdDYvG0r1JW03IATupy80rN7ftH9KX4j_mQ9ETjDY6j4u9syP6HNC3DiHDoDdDJ7xIeUQzTH4c-zT7Wyev-Qv5wmQY3YVprbvQN-1OajIEmxVG8A6uFbymPaqnBqUwlx54xykYQrq76x2gGWOjEbSlR3myWg8TUXcAurQc4j3B_Hw/w480-h640/IMG_5385.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Oh yes.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3SjGBhqaSYAypQYInbuZ3KJwbvCj54Xuf7fPiX5utMIf2m-a_xbCW2RiP4IbfSQFEx_R9I_LJicz478Hu76ZV2U9SWUgK2DU6FFXMLmsYVSB0mgevXESq3Lq7gxhg-DlrblB50U0InR11Nr7-mFsrKTfb4_DADVc0rQQ-GeBJi5yCDjLBVPLyaApfxw/s2048/IMG_5386.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3SjGBhqaSYAypQYInbuZ3KJwbvCj54Xuf7fPiX5utMIf2m-a_xbCW2RiP4IbfSQFEx_R9I_LJicz478Hu76ZV2U9SWUgK2DU6FFXMLmsYVSB0mgevXESq3Lq7gxhg-DlrblB50U0InR11Nr7-mFsrKTfb4_DADVc0rQQ-GeBJi5yCDjLBVPLyaApfxw/w480-h640/IMG_5386.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Mmmmm, that's the good stuff right there.</p><p>So at this point we've got a machine that looks pretty good.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzlsMeRSFMtyTp040n7zBvQ7zTjao-_5no7u6w7VBS0pn1xXiouog89_EuOurhwSAbe-PdmBC3hmclvCmMkOnUC1P1BdDJHt_r_w8D5KTF7ZTTeW2dqtm-AQY_6RfvWP0ph-RpZVc7V7f4myQCCw1FH90dLcs9HN4qEVNB89Uiqw8n57LlS-1X_OIYYc/s2048/IMG_5465.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzlsMeRSFMtyTp040n7zBvQ7zTjao-_5no7u6w7VBS0pn1xXiouog89_EuOurhwSAbe-PdmBC3hmclvCmMkOnUC1P1BdDJHt_r_w8D5KTF7ZTTeW2dqtm-AQY_6RfvWP0ph-RpZVc7V7f4myQCCw1FH90dLcs9HN4qEVNB89Uiqw8n57LlS-1X_OIYYc/w480-h640/IMG_5465.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>But it doesn't sew, thanks to the lack of a functioning tension unit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBhjH0LOJBnIQJhdMWikDzneeYfKqzGi-01qdFlgmLOlnXP5BmRI3r_OMeTCKEVySCm1CaiZylNWybFyHV6VBbvABz7F5-ZLzIQA0Blg0bvk_l-Kue9m7XlecNzhKS73TlCvfBKOnXPlOsD3O3JDbL0eZPzueXizk68YOXv6VFac0L65ikwBORT5vhPk/s2048/IMG_5466.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBhjH0LOJBnIQJhdMWikDzneeYfKqzGi-01qdFlgmLOlnXP5BmRI3r_OMeTCKEVySCm1CaiZylNWybFyHV6VBbvABz7F5-ZLzIQA0Blg0bvk_l-Kue9m7XlecNzhKS73TlCvfBKOnXPlOsD3O3JDbL0eZPzueXizk68YOXv6VFac0L65ikwBORT5vhPk/w480-h640/IMG_5466.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Thankfully my parts order came in, so we can tend to the very important task...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DG-DSWkt6OZeMTVdHOvtj5mQWl6lf0f09KR1zeu9vGyXUQA-yLMy-58gW9pkWtNsCXJXqP6hAjB4RAIQFXrU3ecg6OA21jIipRVSyQV2lkeBXxRz4m9SoZMpFpHSUt2AeZdrISWxzJU8_XgQR6sWV3DfpiUd-gVBrLuwhkNktMGjc8W_AM7h3-QmzhE/s2048/IMG_5467.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DG-DSWkt6OZeMTVdHOvtj5mQWl6lf0f09KR1zeu9vGyXUQA-yLMy-58gW9pkWtNsCXJXqP6hAjB4RAIQFXrU3ecg6OA21jIipRVSyQV2lkeBXxRz4m9SoZMpFpHSUt2AeZdrISWxzJU8_XgQR6sWV3DfpiUd-gVBrLuwhkNktMGjc8W_AM7h3-QmzhE/w480-h640/IMG_5467.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Of replacing the burnt out sewing light with a brand new LED replacement.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TsU3DLk1WaR3HfT5IUSrlwdj5hrmxEEr705p2kFHNh2aEiiJ8Gm9C6RysILloNyw-d1f4yklltPR_NZsrU5zG8qwUwqPsnmZgMp9Kf-voJ3Z3tQw6b7UjZdOwQL_vX_qjwwAB9BU2k66ZAHTXznCYG8c2v4sAsOHvFLdpQT0a_AMIg4QaWHJ4BsB85g/s2048/IMG_5468.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TsU3DLk1WaR3HfT5IUSrlwdj5hrmxEEr705p2kFHNh2aEiiJ8Gm9C6RysILloNyw-d1f4yklltPR_NZsrU5zG8qwUwqPsnmZgMp9Kf-voJ3Z3tQw6b7UjZdOwQL_vX_qjwwAB9BU2k66ZAHTXznCYG8c2v4sAsOHvFLdpQT0a_AMIg4QaWHJ4BsB85g/w480-h640/IMG_5468.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Ah, it's so much better already. And the light is pretty well distributed with the cover back on, which contains some reflective panels inside.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OFsRDU1cXoQyNF4PgpBIB0KQdPn0Nrw92s_GFzMa6Z70_mEhbGiR051JMaljJpqoInwAMjMZy55Ogqi2Uqlc00g-61WI0vfZ8CJ-LaBe4YNrTDkiArSFHvVGxUUl_7OhJUDJUyiGxEFOxOuGwViMVGp-jk4voELc6x50og2t_JlRstcnbSSPaSxPRjA/s2048/IMG_5469.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_OFsRDU1cXoQyNF4PgpBIB0KQdPn0Nrw92s_GFzMa6Z70_mEhbGiR051JMaljJpqoInwAMjMZy55Ogqi2Uqlc00g-61WI0vfZ8CJ-LaBe4YNrTDkiArSFHvVGxUUl_7OhJUDJUyiGxEFOxOuGwViMVGp-jk4voELc6x50og2t_JlRstcnbSSPaSxPRjA/w480-h640/IMG_5469.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I mean it's a little shadowy over on the right side of the needle but generally you don't need to pay attention to what's on that side very often, so it's not a big deal.</p><p>Anyway, jokes aside, we need to get to the important part...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NBLMt8_CGWNLsIuqJco_sDjxeBg333TmxKxVNM6UHHqrcHzlTgP0l9piYx0wQfJnfoJypoLEwtvBRvM40WNGtZejrcsa65RC91BKGdFguQxd92WEXu1MzU4ehJL5V2xaeCuVU6jHuvE39pt7xf7Nq9n8nXoeiydvLpLZTh2DjIYb9XUXA_X1-M-F9rM/s2048/IMG_5470.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NBLMt8_CGWNLsIuqJco_sDjxeBg333TmxKxVNM6UHHqrcHzlTgP0l9piYx0wQfJnfoJypoLEwtvBRvM40WNGtZejrcsa65RC91BKGdFguQxd92WEXu1MzU4ehJL5V2xaeCuVU6jHuvE39pt7xf7Nq9n8nXoeiydvLpLZTh2DjIYb9XUXA_X1-M-F9rM/w480-h640/IMG_5470.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Trying out the new knee lift lever! For those of you not familiar with how these work, you push them to one side with your knee to lift up the presser foot.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbB477kXraAWzWZN9NWc5mPYqQGdxRvfNzJu_-VszsdmBa6KGuW_gEvc_Z37ieuAaTI1oy4x971mYPhRHjYjdW134KpAVm1DT6bRxEQiNoWuH4MPk3yUDbGM2hEE073YJHjJT3yaAniB5ajY-DKH-h4NL5v2ChjNbchwfew-dkPzywlM8kbqsEN5dwAM/s2048/IMG_5472.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbB477kXraAWzWZN9NWc5mPYqQGdxRvfNzJu_-VszsdmBa6KGuW_gEvc_Z37ieuAaTI1oy4x971mYPhRHjYjdW134KpAVm1DT6bRxEQiNoWuH4MPk3yUDbGM2hEE073YJHjJT3yaAniB5ajY-DKH-h4NL5v2ChjNbchwfew-dkPzywlM8kbqsEN5dwAM/w480-h640/IMG_5472.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And then you can lower it back down hands-free.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSImLQ_quN-3HuV_AXaO_iBGPoW2u1Ho38Z-JJ7iXcaaIkvzRk3DP2qgZCaCYHibxe3m3rLFU5a3jDxC1UJPnxHgxz-A9oOmtSnmUFttL0zs-Do2p6cBJQy4prrwy1X9VtHSAOibvRpw33XAUp5yX9KQWTYTE0B0emEzIWNTXiuj9ZqaDIORlsldySqc/s2048/IMG_5471.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSImLQ_quN-3HuV_AXaO_iBGPoW2u1Ho38Z-JJ7iXcaaIkvzRk3DP2qgZCaCYHibxe3m3rLFU5a3jDxC1UJPnxHgxz-A9oOmtSnmUFttL0zs-Do2p6cBJQy4prrwy1X9VtHSAOibvRpw33XAUp5yX9KQWTYTE0B0emEzIWNTXiuj9ZqaDIORlsldySqc/w480-h640/IMG_5471.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Which means you can actually hold onto your project with both hands while doing so.</p><p>Ok but for real this time, let's deal with this mess.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LPxVqum3B9pYj2FtYl0-gW0UFGM_uTTHiUB4spUSwwSgRHXYdKzO-t4qAWlXHUj5DNcEiuUzR50-Rkv0yI9AYT1SmS4nRy4TVDdtMIVSsklqKQdzxa_9R6zxWBmUtvFKCQko9D3EMORHbAZkl2ZXylmjRNvYMAA15anjyZZzONdIV7LtEEW7X9zT_ow/s2048/IMG_5473.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9LPxVqum3B9pYj2FtYl0-gW0UFGM_uTTHiUB4spUSwwSgRHXYdKzO-t4qAWlXHUj5DNcEiuUzR50-Rkv0yI9AYT1SmS4nRy4TVDdtMIVSsklqKQdzxa_9R6zxWBmUtvFKCQko9D3EMORHbAZkl2ZXylmjRNvYMAA15anjyZZzONdIV7LtEEW7X9zT_ow/w480-h640/IMG_5473.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As I said, the replacement parts came in, the most important of which is the new tension unit stud.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFkuhEmA-ii74-8LufEfvvAuznm6o-uvSRexQGLRbUr4M7wtHkyOtyn6q9LYRgHgd3LAzIveUv4j-lZ9SfjhhQrXqqBEUodbqD6_i0CTsOURpF4P3Mpr3-zJ1iLA_qMczvciBSWJJ6cfCeQaVfStNs_Q_PT9mmvySUUPVD1bZZJkw2hOv4mgpLC43fBU/s2048/IMG_5474.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFkuhEmA-ii74-8LufEfvvAuznm6o-uvSRexQGLRbUr4M7wtHkyOtyn6q9LYRgHgd3LAzIveUv4j-lZ9SfjhhQrXqqBEUodbqD6_i0CTsOURpF4P3Mpr3-zJ1iLA_qMczvciBSWJJ6cfCeQaVfStNs_Q_PT9mmvySUUPVD1bZZJkw2hOv4mgpLC43fBU/w480-h640/IMG_5474.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It looks quite noticeably different from the old one.</p><p>But the stud doesn't help us if we don't have the rest of the parts.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTk2PaVKSgX9396GiOvwxAOrOiJzlije1OjsXVAQGy_5pOcAQYQkuiCtw0h_SbiXLR5HlFEozTY5ahGn3WOYuzMpGl2CPzeuZx8diZc_yRvvpeHS_9CHM3RmeMnG-8QXe66l-1N4QTUm3sgeCx8L_sTjqGhvgLyJMgap3qDrEgXyejEsMNLnUaAFMzeJo/s2048/IMG_5475.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTk2PaVKSgX9396GiOvwxAOrOiJzlije1OjsXVAQGy_5pOcAQYQkuiCtw0h_SbiXLR5HlFEozTY5ahGn3WOYuzMpGl2CPzeuZx8diZc_yRvvpeHS_9CHM3RmeMnG-8QXe66l-1N4QTUm3sgeCx8L_sTjqGhvgLyJMgap3qDrEgXyejEsMNLnUaAFMzeJo/w480-h640/IMG_5475.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>So let's get those assembled and installed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNkB__c85dtx5zzRerHf73cbCvQk-Xnv0yLAwcZjlPTsLdRO-zKlNho9u_Yi9Bki-dFTMMntx1yeAvxEzfv7-tfE6xRkgdsrB9_CxItgum6RHbjFnTmUGryScQhWGoGJ_-eKr2yOwVRaunl8n9JY8Cd-0IXlmQWcjq9Ydvo8-zhdAbau8JwQZ0KX-yDM/s2048/IMG_5476.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNkB__c85dtx5zzRerHf73cbCvQk-Xnv0yLAwcZjlPTsLdRO-zKlNho9u_Yi9Bki-dFTMMntx1yeAvxEzfv7-tfE6xRkgdsrB9_CxItgum6RHbjFnTmUGryScQhWGoGJ_-eKr2yOwVRaunl8n9JY8Cd-0IXlmQWcjq9Ydvo8-zhdAbau8JwQZ0KX-yDM/w480-h640/IMG_5476.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The parts diagram for this machine shows pretty clearly in what order all the bits are assembled onto the stud, but it doesn't show this little 2mm allen head grub screw which secures the stud into the machine. You'll want to only put this in barely finger tight at first, because we need to adjust the tension and stroke of the checkspring.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyEm98sedq_kvCMEyyInsuqOL__TU2hPKq1-L5nEBcuSq1RVtLeko2flbUPLH58xNql9yxCoSKpTLanJ_tR1rbEVNJRJCBhUjFyFOQ4xQxxvy_XoHB1Ty8WVJW0IRjZLEYfS8Ipn1Xa8jgrVVlkmfvkAeZzPwc4cE_TLqY46chXmDGMtzc9HWd7hakbA/s2048/IMG_5477.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipyEm98sedq_kvCMEyyInsuqOL__TU2hPKq1-L5nEBcuSq1RVtLeko2flbUPLH58xNql9yxCoSKpTLanJ_tR1rbEVNJRJCBhUjFyFOQ4xQxxvy_XoHB1Ty8WVJW0IRjZLEYfS8Ipn1Xa8jgrVVlkmfvkAeZzPwc4cE_TLqY46chXmDGMtzc9HWd7hakbA/w480-h640/IMG_5477.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Normally the check spring sits in this position here when the thread is slack, and it helps to keep the thread from getting loose and tangled as the machine operates by accommodating the thread being pulled through the machine during the sewing cycle. When the thread is pulled taught, it rotates down into this position.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYErJUMZdpaGGUt-UxaKL9HMSTQkgqz2qqf2Rpr7FQjgQhn0l8tB3XhyphenhyphentbvuC_yMyvpSf0IwXycT_gcwH5AY9m9Hx0VD5Dv7BHzSD3R1w766_6EY20w5nsacPGlLBK-L9MJv9pzgDaOXGGYnIxftdQro9tsI6kkSOLredan9J5z76J4E7Lav9l6uvell0/s2048/IMG_5478.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYErJUMZdpaGGUt-UxaKL9HMSTQkgqz2qqf2Rpr7FQjgQhn0l8tB3XhyphenhyphentbvuC_yMyvpSf0IwXycT_gcwH5AY9m9Hx0VD5Dv7BHzSD3R1w766_6EY20w5nsacPGlLBK-L9MJv9pzgDaOXGGYnIxftdQro9tsI6kkSOLredan9J5z76J4E7Lav9l6uvell0/w480-h640/IMG_5478.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>There's two adjustments for the checkspring. One adjustment is to set the stroke of the checkspring, which is done by rotating the rear tension disc after loosening this screw here, which sets the position of the stop up at the top of the tension disc.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqSYGJXvL3rHwetN8Qg7XThhZbHCIj7ZRQLeUXpJRCv2sYRZ2tatkS-z3wX0hTPBX3CoSzWqg7XfHAiFT0K7vdEWVNfffxE3e400OhlS0-QmLJ3kPffr6rsrVnK981CFvjNmLRTcLIUxX4GUnbM34I_Elb90G5ywstZAwdggoAJIF2kuWbf2b4P0IWZE/s2048/IMG_5479.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOqSYGJXvL3rHwetN8Qg7XThhZbHCIj7ZRQLeUXpJRCv2sYRZ2tatkS-z3wX0hTPBX3CoSzWqg7XfHAiFT0K7vdEWVNfffxE3e400OhlS0-QmLJ3kPffr6rsrVnK981CFvjNmLRTcLIUxX4GUnbM34I_Elb90G5ywstZAwdggoAJIF2kuWbf2b4P0IWZE/w480-h640/IMG_5479.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>You want to set this so that the checkspring doesn't move during the sewing cycle until the takeup lever just starts raising. This will keep the checkspring from interfering with the thread being pulled around the bobbin by the hook, while also not leaving so much slack that the needle thread gets tangled around the takeup lever.</p><p>The other adjustment is to set the preload of the checkspring, which is done by shoving a flat blade screwdriver into the end of the tension stud and rotating it. This is why we left the grub screw loose a few steps earlier, so that we could set the checkspring tension such that the spring will go to full travel before pulling the thread through the tension discs, but not be so loose that it doesn't keep the slack pulled out of the needle thread during the full sewing cycle.</p><p>Once that adjustment is set, you can tighten down the grub screw to lock it in place, and then tweak the position of the tension assembly sleeve so that the slot is pointing upwards like it's meant to do.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHz-9Q_jcjPRVWf4xKBqeP4qacVam5ZTrQqEpTaJHueWRopAGP-W-20b37x8yoa_YVq3RJU-MsC90ECs4iOgPzhgZxgVPIihYWZ6B0xKLituS2WvIilG1BlOa4soh8_lB9kGSz_r0v8TSn-6SsAUXka_lqs0S-MY-SDSw4yMXnMW1noY9fpmm7-w7-JdI/s2048/IMG_5480.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHz-9Q_jcjPRVWf4xKBqeP4qacVam5ZTrQqEpTaJHueWRopAGP-W-20b37x8yoa_YVq3RJU-MsC90ECs4iOgPzhgZxgVPIihYWZ6B0xKLituS2WvIilG1BlOa4soh8_lB9kGSz_r0v8TSn-6SsAUXka_lqs0S-MY-SDSw4yMXnMW1noY9fpmm7-w7-JdI/w480-h640/IMG_5480.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And now we finally have a fully functional sewing machine.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-81448478312039264402024-02-24T14:23:00.000-08:002024-02-24T14:23:49.138-08:00A Rainbow of Possibilities<p>So the thing about embroidery is that it doesn't matter how many colours of thread you have. What matters is having the few colours you need. There's a lot of colours out there, and it's hard to predict exactly which ones you'll be using next, and so that leads to having to keep a fair stock on hand.</p><p>When we last left off, my stock looked a little bit like this.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUQs6_09AlRtqLJOdVCGzja1BXg13qjDNDi0PwbhZO4VQWsgQ3SmB5-xfiaclcTw1m5Ucy-kTaDVLpEmN60zal-GO1zqV5ANLX0Hw3dxh-Y_JH1gAoE7AiR2oKXgxVN7PvcOcHKC9mHvoJmewV5O2rro7rWauBTmn6fFwY-PXHorbtgQ0keWy5227R5M/s2048/IMG_5462.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUQs6_09AlRtqLJOdVCGzja1BXg13qjDNDi0PwbhZO4VQWsgQ3SmB5-xfiaclcTw1m5Ucy-kTaDVLpEmN60zal-GO1zqV5ANLX0Hw3dxh-Y_JH1gAoE7AiR2oKXgxVN7PvcOcHKC9mHvoJmewV5O2rro7rWauBTmn6fFwY-PXHorbtgQ0keWy5227R5M/w480-h640/IMG_5462.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>This is an 80 spool set of embroidery thread, which is actually only 78 colours since the white and black are duplicated (which is good, you go through those a lot). Also pictured are 4 spools of retroreflective thread (3 light and 1 dark), and 12 spools of waxed thread. Then there's two skeins of basting thread, and some rulers because that seemed like a convenient place to hang them.</p><p>The 78 shades I got line up with the Janome palette. That means that any time I want to stitch out a pre-made embroidery pattern that was designed for Janome machines, I can use those threads. I don't particularly want to sew pre-made patterns, and so I've occasionally found myself wanting colours outside of that palette.</p><p>Enter the Brother palette.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnDrPWRK9Kyyqbhd-8VePhTohHib6yTE6URwOvBIJF1bM0w7A1244WNoqqS2ZEpCn6oWevMDlOvL3JfJRIBg-8M_W20dK_YNG5ZvU5qiEOQTV9v-DXreWLHSN7GNXtOhzErphoFi4f6YV5X3CDD4BmmpNDTGb0Uo3Lp0siGQnlXh36aLTt0ZMIR_DNys/s2048/IMG_5463.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFnDrPWRK9Kyyqbhd-8VePhTohHib6yTE6URwOvBIJF1bM0w7A1244WNoqqS2ZEpCn6oWevMDlOvL3JfJRIBg-8M_W20dK_YNG5ZvU5qiEOQTV9v-DXreWLHSN7GNXtOhzErphoFi4f6YV5X3CDD4BmmpNDTGb0Uo3Lp0siGQnlXh36aLTt0ZMIR_DNys/w480-h640/IMG_5463.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>This is a 63 spool pack which adds 61-ish new colours to my combined palette. There's only one white and black in this pack but I already have white and black so they definitely don't count as new colours. For the rest of the spools there's supposed to not be any overlap between the two palettes, but there's a small handful where you'd have to really, really squint to see a difference.</p><p>Of course, I don't have 63 spaces left on my spool racks, but luckily that problem is easy to solve.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7tmBUroq6GCbBeZZAvrJD8Blx1KtMWWXAChPkviS8pZmHTZ_A3x3RDwugtEnqDeDGHbaMl2vBLwKOR5XJHL0c1HVpRHAiyk6j5UId8w_JAqyvdI6kndfHm9vOGDFk7x3jhMFTDgF_SdKsGW4Efrq7giESwCyb1CYVr_PXdBAL6Klne28Q8du5W1kUqQ/s2048/IMG_5464.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD7tmBUroq6GCbBeZZAvrJD8Blx1KtMWWXAChPkviS8pZmHTZ_A3x3RDwugtEnqDeDGHbaMl2vBLwKOR5XJHL0c1HVpRHAiyk6j5UId8w_JAqyvdI6kndfHm9vOGDFk7x3jhMFTDgF_SdKsGW4Efrq7giESwCyb1CYVr_PXdBAL6Klne28Q8du5W1kUqQ/w480-h640/IMG_5464.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I also decided to put my sewing thread up here on the rack, which is the very tastefully arranged rainbow of 24 spools near the bottom. The sewing thread is differentiated from the embroidery thread mostly in that the sewing thread is "cottonized" polyester, which means that it's treated to have a matte finish instead of a glossy shine. It's otherwise very similar.</p><p>If you're wondering why the embroidery thread isn't sorted by colour, it's because there's a somewhat arbitrary numbering scheme that they use for the different shades, and it's much easier to find the right number if they're in numerical order.</p><p>So will this finally be enough shades for me? Well, chances are that no, it won't be. The trouble is that the most popular embroidery thread colours, and thus the ones that are most commonly included in kits like these, are almost all very saturated, bold colours. This makes it rather tricky to do subtle shading or more naturalistic compositions with muted, desaturated tones. So, I'll probably still have to add to this over time.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-47912750627154597842024-02-22T18:19:00.000-08:002024-02-22T18:19:13.455-08:00Macroaggressions<p>So I'm out riding my bicycle this afternoon, as I do. Riding up Jones Trail in St Joseph's Hill OSP, a trail I've ridden many times before. For those unfamiliar, it's a fairly average fire road style trail, plenty wide enough for people to pass without conflict, and as such it's open to both bikes and hikes.</p><p>Anyway, I'm on my way up and the trail isn't too busy. I pass some folks going up and coming down, and as is common courtesy I always announce myself before coming up to pass someone from behind.</p><p>Then I come up behind a womyn walking hyr dog. Stop me if you think you know where this is going.</p><p>What follows is, as best as I can reproduce it, a word-for-word recounting of what transpired.</p><p></p><blockquote><p>Me: Heads up.</p><p>I pass her.</p><p>Her: Oh, of course I have to get out of your way, you're a white male.</p><p>Me: Yup, that's how it works. Have a nice hike.</p><p>Her: Must be nice having all that white male privilege.</p><p>Me: Yeah, it's great, I love it!</p><p>Her: One of these days it'll be women and minorities who have that privilege.</p><p>Me: That'll be a great day, I'm looking forward to it.</p></blockquote><p></p><p>Now I'm sure you're thinking that this is one of those cases where I thought of a wittier comeback long after the moment has passed, and in fact it is. I thought of two wittier comebacks, in fact, and I figured I'd poll the wisdom of the internet to vote on which one would have been better:</p><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>How dare you assume my gender, you <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TERF_(acronym)">TERF</a>. You're committing a hate crime!</li><li>You know maybe people would like you better if you smiled more.</li></ol><p style="text-align: left;">Of course, acknowledging that my chance of actually using that improved witticism has already, sadly, passed.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Anyway, I suppose I'm just left with a tiny seed of confusion: who was this person? Was she genuinely just a terminally online social justice warrior who thought she could make the world a better place by being as rude as possible to everyone she meets? Or was she some kind of MAGA agent provocateur, trying to poison the well of liberal fraternity and DEI?</p><p style="text-align: left;">Well, whoever she was, she was very rude indeed.</p><p></p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-32463035546240864992024-02-19T22:08:00.000-08:002024-02-19T22:08:34.261-08:00The Can-Do Spirit<p>So the time has come again to can up a fresh new batch of giardiniera. I only have a few jars of the old batch left, and the long weekend provided the perfect opportunity to spend a little time in the kitchen. The result is 15 jars of tasty pickled vegetables.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_qbWbsjsoZc0_T-aD7AkBE9UYm_rzBPqWescbkKMdQwYsyWNat3mimOjdFZ1pV9n-04fXq5Ng_wdN78MES6KANefz09CvlDgV9ZnMlO7kExHPZlEki_Yz-egG9__8paC6q8DcQ0RLb395E65k7EUvv1PhDmjc_2tmgysb-JF9dlV6d8C_4rGyon1-44/s2048/IMG_5457.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_qbWbsjsoZc0_T-aD7AkBE9UYm_rzBPqWescbkKMdQwYsyWNat3mimOjdFZ1pV9n-04fXq5Ng_wdN78MES6KANefz09CvlDgV9ZnMlO7kExHPZlEki_Yz-egG9__8paC6q8DcQ0RLb395E65k7EUvv1PhDmjc_2tmgysb-JF9dlV6d8C_4rGyon1-44/w480-h640/IMG_5457.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>This is, somewhat curiously, more than the usual 12 jars that this recipe produces. I'm not entirely sure what accounts for the difference in volume this time around. Usually I buy some random amount of veggies that mysteriously always exactly fills my 8 quart food tote, and then by some mysterious folding of physics it all packs down into 12 pint jars. Apparently the imperial system is confusing enough to flummox even the universe itself.</p><p>Well, whatever the reason, I'm not exactly sad about having three extra jars to go through, since that means I'll have three more jars to eat before I have to make another batch.</p><p>The canning process itself went quite smoothly, though you might notice that the lids look a little bit dusty. This is actually due to the temporarily hard water that's being piped in while San Jose Water cleans the fish bones out of our usual supply, which is delightfully soft compared to this liquid rock they're sending me. I didn't know I could precipitate mineral scale like this just from boiling one pot of water, but, well...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWx6Qk4iJCggKRGMZF1wTnVDx8b0dxI609pRBJ91K2ZKHjsezA9hVIhVjbnPQet19TWZKOt1vttxVOG3RHWVUx4SHA2Ci5uiXqsFv2O8tHHpV2JaRTHFQoSbsspeUJAgF06ATVa4j3FeFGXUl_uSFLroFzX5KbhKwjlw_L6tB6_Qnw5bROMCfiQ1tbw0/s2048/IMG_5459.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWx6Qk4iJCggKRGMZF1wTnVDx8b0dxI609pRBJ91K2ZKHjsezA9hVIhVjbnPQet19TWZKOt1vttxVOG3RHWVUx4SHA2Ci5uiXqsFv2O8tHHpV2JaRTHFQoSbsspeUJAgF06ATVa4j3FeFGXUl_uSFLroFzX5KbhKwjlw_L6tB6_Qnw5bROMCfiQ1tbw0/w480-h640/IMG_5459.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>That is, indeed, a rather alarming amount of minerals built up after just boiling one pot of water.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-24441828460924309992024-02-18T18:47:00.000-08:002024-02-18T18:47:34.276-08:00Default Route<p>I've had a router for a while now, and I've always been meaning to pick up a router table to go along with it. It just so happened that a cow-orker was selling one used for $100 and so I didn't buy it because I ended up being #3 in line. However, a different cow-orker was also selling one for $90 in slightly poorer shape, and so...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSFDtyEEYm7Nk84-xnKBulNx_yRrM98eScsAOxg1HRpvpfXpKV01cY2lhw8pU1x80-vf81B3ULI-gL6CB1KVXMR53H0u_bOXcgRlvFKaEJ8LceRJzhaMs1QR2PUwqKUyLeF32m7Y5VnR9OfnJO9bopcN98_Loj1OVMHKI1YPYMWE_zBJglhcmRs9riaQ/s2048/IMG_5448.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLSFDtyEEYm7Nk84-xnKBulNx_yRrM98eScsAOxg1HRpvpfXpKV01cY2lhw8pU1x80-vf81B3ULI-gL6CB1KVXMR53H0u_bOXcgRlvFKaEJ8LceRJzhaMs1QR2PUwqKUyLeF32m7Y5VnR9OfnJO9bopcN98_Loj1OVMHKI1YPYMWE_zBJglhcmRs9riaQ/w480-h640/IMG_5448.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It followed me home.</p><p>This is the Bosch RA1181which is, as the title of this post suggests, pretty much the default router table, and matches well with my Bosch 1617EVSPK router, which is pretty much the default router.</p><p>The condition issues are a missing cord spool on one side, which I couldn't possibly care less about, and some missing nuts and washers that vibrated loose and got lost somewhere along the way. Vibration tends to be an issue with these things.</p><p>However, there is a solution to vibration, and that solution is called nylock nuts.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMfFb-RS6uYl5kdDqiRGLLJPupJhfBRjTaZEchoJoxSJRMkPc0YdZu7VhinqDhX_3K982I4O1yqdtUOH8AdoALFG0SMOM-Qi3r7At7LVPXzxrA-XTIqP6ZTDSdbbO0Q-2s1lKq9wIId4Vamd_RvcDyHwHKZCaQ3GW81knw-WI7_Ha8wwMLzVD89tZJNI/s2048/IMG_5449.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtMfFb-RS6uYl5kdDqiRGLLJPupJhfBRjTaZEchoJoxSJRMkPc0YdZu7VhinqDhX_3K982I4O1yqdtUOH8AdoALFG0SMOM-Qi3r7At7LVPXzxrA-XTIqP6ZTDSdbbO0Q-2s1lKq9wIId4Vamd_RvcDyHwHKZCaQ3GW81knw-WI7_Ha8wwMLzVD89tZJNI/w480-h640/IMG_5449.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And also new washers. And just in case that's not enough, we also have the venerable Loctite 290.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajJGqerkvZEVdBboDLoRZTt9OTMGf2wOjRkuemT5g0gmVHHAbOHnfsCuj6qI85X2NxKibZNyntR-SAAd3UEMX134vG-lmfq8gaNIBUwAsWZo3UYm49ZBQJoXP2nVyas6sBShBPGH5thFH253MAH_l419O5jGneIGVu2xutsBArB199wcaCYak9OiXMSE/s2048/IMG_5450.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajJGqerkvZEVdBboDLoRZTt9OTMGf2wOjRkuemT5g0gmVHHAbOHnfsCuj6qI85X2NxKibZNyntR-SAAd3UEMX134vG-lmfq8gaNIBUwAsWZo3UYm49ZBQJoXP2nVyas6sBShBPGH5thFH253MAH_l419O5jGneIGVu2xutsBArB199wcaCYak9OiXMSE/w480-h640/IMG_5450.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>For when it just refuses to stay stuck. Also for the few nuts that weren't 1/4-20 and for which I didn't purchase replacements.</p><p>Anyway, 8 new washers and nuts go in to hold the legs onto the table.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tU11_O1xXhUQwmiUAtjnGmYh31J0EwQGnV0EcVfMAcGEzp2m0S0CISX3G3v8h0YOlXZaLdAfmXYoC36OAHkWgXSLg2VEb2M5TI0kp0h8Fh1TyKhAYVVraIWN2D44eppfSn_B_AhyphenhyphenQLABXCUt01tgaCyyszwD20yeJ5izIUHNOFXVZeklysFHiFDkYgw/s2048/IMG_5451.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1tU11_O1xXhUQwmiUAtjnGmYh31J0EwQGnV0EcVfMAcGEzp2m0S0CISX3G3v8h0YOlXZaLdAfmXYoC36OAHkWgXSLg2VEb2M5TI0kp0h8Fh1TyKhAYVVraIWN2D44eppfSn_B_AhyphenhyphenQLABXCUt01tgaCyyszwD20yeJ5izIUHNOFXVZeklysFHiFDkYgw/w480-h640/IMG_5451.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And some loctite goes on these 10-32 nuts.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6SsnpW7dJF_ISl_GlHpJhDjqLdxbVolKNxuM9-w2UMvPKX8VzUaRi2Vnw0e63gl6YPfYzsDK7c8cs-1InDD4z90Q6CnJLfIcf_PoyXaFEFwyswattoLNpFa9l1nb6l3p5eq0x6lGPhQqnQzR5bod2afk0T3QEABw1sfKG7SvzrnWKRz65IDlNkTF61I/s2048/IMG_5452.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU6SsnpW7dJF_ISl_GlHpJhDjqLdxbVolKNxuM9-w2UMvPKX8VzUaRi2Vnw0e63gl6YPfYzsDK7c8cs-1InDD4z90Q6CnJLfIcf_PoyXaFEFwyswattoLNpFa9l1nb6l3p5eq0x6lGPhQqnQzR5bod2afk0T3QEABw1sfKG7SvzrnWKRz65IDlNkTF61I/w480-h640/IMG_5452.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Now you might notice that these nuts have springy toothed washers on them. This is an attempt by Bosch to keep them from rattling loose, but there's two issues with that.</p><p>The first issue is that, much like most forms of lock washers, they don't actually work.</p><p>The second issue is that these nuts sit inside hex-shaped insets that keep the nuts from turning, so not only will the nuts not turn anyway, but the springy toothed washers actually interfere with getting the nuts seated into the recesses in the first place.</p><p>Great job, Bosch.</p><p>Anyway, these are the nuts that are getting buttered up with Loctite 290, which conveniently can be applied after the fastener is torqued to spec, as it will wick into the mated threads and seal them together.</p><p>Meanwhile, here we can see the remains of the original hardware.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2u2utCqskWdLxqyygEJT4pgmvP6z6_n9RQ5McNoslPxqgl_ptcYGpATZ1nacJchoOxD0R9MdrSl4BmKkxN55ilEIyoYkqMPFA2cuAZA41ImbAcho88yESudRm1eGi02QYieumYhtJaKo_iDlB3g2MsXw_PeDAuejner7-jNVGRDD_4FLd3Gd_zL-L34/s2048/IMG_5453.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2u2utCqskWdLxqyygEJT4pgmvP6z6_n9RQ5McNoslPxqgl_ptcYGpATZ1nacJchoOxD0R9MdrSl4BmKkxN55ilEIyoYkqMPFA2cuAZA41ImbAcho88yESudRm1eGi02QYieumYhtJaKo_iDlB3g2MsXw_PeDAuejner7-jNVGRDD_4FLd3Gd_zL-L34/w480-h640/IMG_5453.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>That's 3 original nuts with the useless springy washers, 2 replacement nuts without them, two original washers (black) and two replacement washers (stainless). This hodge-podge of hardware will find a new home in my random fasteners bin.</p><p>I suppose there was one other condition issue to mention, which is the sorry state of this featherboard.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYW3u8f9HSuettqjp13R-PmPqkVbeZGXgnJTtSo75c0LvD9Oi4xKwNGP3oh6zGidYDPY8AACZFyXcPf9pqFwQSRocFdW4IbQNXCFbkEUE4Unyo-5aZ4tSCRPuERL1OmS878Ecl8wdMdApfBlMcc3p0LeOOQci9FzY6PFB1AL945-UhtHQna9rynhI6bI/s2048/IMG_5454.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwYW3u8f9HSuettqjp13R-PmPqkVbeZGXgnJTtSo75c0LvD9Oi4xKwNGP3oh6zGidYDPY8AACZFyXcPf9pqFwQSRocFdW4IbQNXCFbkEUE4Unyo-5aZ4tSCRPuERL1OmS878Ecl8wdMdApfBlMcc3p0LeOOQci9FzY6PFB1AL945-UhtHQna9rynhI6bI/w480-h640/IMG_5454.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Pro tip: if your featherboard does this, you're using it wrong. Luckily a replacement set was included, so I actually have three working featherboards, not just two.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulLUHkuqGN1LubSgWBace_yiyuc24ql6jvgUIQ8VgFwOdDjj8rdYFM0Q2uBSrsLlGWsQfGU-257dvmA5s08kC_s1C8_Q6kn4Xx-fNL6m278OfCLWU-bQfkxaa5shl-kaFFGMxXgidgk6sS2KVIOL6LfeArREzf2euVjHSJhoIN2_HgdMdo-9mksyMxWE/s2048/IMG_5455.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjulLUHkuqGN1LubSgWBace_yiyuc24ql6jvgUIQ8VgFwOdDjj8rdYFM0Q2uBSrsLlGWsQfGU-257dvmA5s08kC_s1C8_Q6kn4Xx-fNL6m278OfCLWU-bQfkxaa5shl-kaFFGMxXgidgk6sS2KVIOL6LfeArREzf2euVjHSJhoIN2_HgdMdo-9mksyMxWE/w480-h640/IMG_5455.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>With all the fasteners fastened and the table set up, I must say it's looking pretty good. And, as luck would have it, it fits perfectly on my shelving.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgop3T_UFhhS56Dco1qj5n9YrUMLLrvK2j1DZ1vTcIcNzWTbaLO6IAg1g2ufCMo3hsjxrtygzxVKQO6JgavnkbD9oyQeOWP2DbgpOVhIFDqVmz-hKdFu8uWAPhorWIE2YBvK6YUPw2fnVVNgvfkOx7s0humHt2RnLNXJixumKfudLhfC4N6_3SjmK12o5E/s2048/IMG_5456.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgop3T_UFhhS56Dco1qj5n9YrUMLLrvK2j1DZ1vTcIcNzWTbaLO6IAg1g2ufCMo3hsjxrtygzxVKQO6JgavnkbD9oyQeOWP2DbgpOVhIFDqVmz-hKdFu8uWAPhorWIE2YBvK6YUPw2fnVVNgvfkOx7s0humHt2RnLNXJixumKfudLhfC4N6_3SjmK12o5E/w480-h640/IMG_5456.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>This will be quite a nice addition to my shop.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-76108502112305265722024-02-17T14:26:00.000-08:002024-02-17T14:26:05.263-08:00Getting Ahead Of The Game<p>In order for a bicycle's fork to stay attached to the frame, while also being able to turn left and right, it needs a pair of bearings that sit in the head tube of the frame and hold the steerer tube of the fork.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MOpryAuOadOMioqerKimBaCq18_wBSyDeE1eFT-RwY9Hy91PcNyOIoigfglCTrNFPonYl7UidkwjjENPw5WZz7oosIDwIQksCKp1V5jDVL6bZJ1W7Trb804ki7vEJZn3CEEQJ4CX49oK1KWva-W_gtOo6S3-1U_yKfycrRExKZ4dK898pzzlUQOM7Cs/s2048/IMG_5430.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6MOpryAuOadOMioqerKimBaCq18_wBSyDeE1eFT-RwY9Hy91PcNyOIoigfglCTrNFPonYl7UidkwjjENPw5WZz7oosIDwIQksCKp1V5jDVL6bZJ1W7Trb804ki7vEJZn3CEEQJ4CX49oK1KWva-W_gtOo6S3-1U_yKfycrRExKZ4dK898pzzlUQOM7Cs/w480-h640/IMG_5430.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>These bearings require a certain amount of preload on them to keep from rattling around all loose and janky-like, and that preload is set by tightening down the top cap.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4tWt9KSHG_jrNOXefd85XmDtCDdmC6MDa3UHfLo74BAa-h13CNq4sw6DEmAPeDwZ3SWLsQ224Z_BbAFyyLW-A5BmebN5_DYYC4hG1fpt4q0uCjXcsAMIQpvyPaa-MhGsg-Sr11XICzjxmUO1X3RdTFSSb5pq3YGW65rFOzLtMWKSZ6Xu8SuPlrMhTQA/s2048/IMG_5431.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4tWt9KSHG_jrNOXefd85XmDtCDdmC6MDa3UHfLo74BAa-h13CNq4sw6DEmAPeDwZ3SWLsQ224Z_BbAFyyLW-A5BmebN5_DYYC4hG1fpt4q0uCjXcsAMIQpvyPaa-MhGsg-Sr11XICzjxmUO1X3RdTFSSb5pq3YGW65rFOzLtMWKSZ6Xu8SuPlrMhTQA/w480-h640/IMG_5431.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>However, the top cap is not what retains the preload. Instead, the stem clamp pinches the steerer tube and keeps the spacers and bearings below it from working themselves loose.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4RvftF041hekYe88hD5AZbQElaikYJgHhY9KBK3nkhFzKdOkx6zKRs6DeHVlSDWeLgtBLJK_tAWzrBQKL9P8CyxCobwDSxFPE2Qn1DbaY2cpWbvMRUM8-zuOy0cgRDIhOW4lvAO6HfXn-3ixVijxJwZS_47w_pdhXDtbyebUHuVL0NFaAEA7AmD5zew/s2048/IMG_5432.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4RvftF041hekYe88hD5AZbQElaikYJgHhY9KBK3nkhFzKdOkx6zKRs6DeHVlSDWeLgtBLJK_tAWzrBQKL9P8CyxCobwDSxFPE2Qn1DbaY2cpWbvMRUM8-zuOy0cgRDIhOW4lvAO6HfXn-3ixVijxJwZS_47w_pdhXDtbyebUHuVL0NFaAEA7AmD5zew/w480-h640/IMG_5432.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>In fact, you can even remove the top cap completely, and the whole system will still work just fine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdkcCD-zMeACxbTuGpgYjJQrqFFs26dC1hzrplxPBjHYHqGJClTT3yPtJv9pdfwzv4LIJjVM0KZ-3X2oxPNHiYu-yjyOWSTqD625GhtVsEGTnn9LxAoGWtmfjTYPqz5FqTa2QOTu0QSPR1aRhJVz0g2DJcdWplkHABw7R-JQpRjzhVyHIFsIFKF_m-co/s2048/IMG_5434.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdkcCD-zMeACxbTuGpgYjJQrqFFs26dC1hzrplxPBjHYHqGJClTT3yPtJv9pdfwzv4LIJjVM0KZ-3X2oxPNHiYu-yjyOWSTqD625GhtVsEGTnn9LxAoGWtmfjTYPqz5FqTa2QOTu0QSPR1aRhJVz0g2DJcdWplkHABw7R-JQpRjzhVyHIFsIFKF_m-co/w480-h640/IMG_5434.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And it's only when you loosen the pinch bolt that the stem can be removed, allowing you to, if you so please, remove the fork from the bike, or set the preload again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1fHd0Bxz2Bet1OEWt31xEg9DM79S3uuM75UfqzjUcjdMPNpANGvHB37OJBcReKSk7d13EViHK9F7PB2V2tlMQZAEnBAW8LHgIDMLP8mmFCd7YVVB74uWv8_65yIXHMmpd-4i7DLhj88I4SgKkevhgBqwIBv2t5dDHfNLIKrOOOUkz9KnHzkEsOMkSL0/s2048/IMG_5435.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1fHd0Bxz2Bet1OEWt31xEg9DM79S3uuM75UfqzjUcjdMPNpANGvHB37OJBcReKSk7d13EViHK9F7PB2V2tlMQZAEnBAW8LHgIDMLP8mmFCd7YVVB74uWv8_65yIXHMmpd-4i7DLhj88I4SgKkevhgBqwIBv2t5dDHfNLIKrOOOUkz9KnHzkEsOMkSL0/w480-h640/IMG_5435.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Now this is all fine and dandy, when it works. However, due to a peculiar design decision with this Rockshox Boxxer dual-crown fork, the "stem", whose role is in this case played by the upper triple clamp, uses only a single pinch bolt. This means that it is not able to grip the steerer nearly as securely as a more traditional fork where the stem is usually twice as tall (at least) and uses a pair of pinch bolts to clamp itself into place.</p><p>This design oversight has lead to a recurring issue where, after going for a spirited ride, I've returned home to find that the headset has just the slightest amount of play in it. Briefly loosening the pinch bolt on the upper triple clamp (again, acting as the stem) results in the play disappearing as the fork components settle back into place after having been slightly dislodged over the course of the ride.</p><p>This is not ideal. Thankfully, we can do something about it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVNvucrYldELkXP1bKwREoCoDWkME3tVOQ4QbtDEiJLrFoCg-5-eadCoFDlHoeVE1BKz3rJdU0SFwW7tOClsJBSrAKWv6a0ZUxvmTW638oqxp1KDfItumWgPyoEVi4gSk_OXdAoqTbFejyxC8eLHFAB0toQcnj9YRbtIPmBM1nx3McFfLfWmZrEBvJSY/s2048/IMG_5433.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVNvucrYldELkXP1bKwREoCoDWkME3tVOQ4QbtDEiJLrFoCg-5-eadCoFDlHoeVE1BKz3rJdU0SFwW7tOClsJBSrAKWv6a0ZUxvmTW638oqxp1KDfItumWgPyoEVi4gSk_OXdAoqTbFejyxC8eLHFAB0toQcnj9YRbtIPmBM1nx3McFfLfWmZrEBvJSY/w480-h640/IMG_5433.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>This here is a locking headset spacer. It's sort of like half of a stem, and is going to serve as the missing half of my steerer clamping mechanism, effectively doubling the clamping area and hopefully solving this problem for me. It's usually intended to just allow you to remove the stem without the fork falling out of your bike (which you might want to do when packing the bike for traveling, for example), but I see no reason why it can't also help retain the headset preload in regular riding usage as well.</p><p>Since it's installed in place of one or more of the existing spacers, let's measure it up and see if we can't get roughly the same stack height.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEojCqA36-pgkPZIBmXzPl_TXewXYT7i71QPzdD_2d4SlcPl9WkeZ1T5VQKLaiXH9Dy6ep_jdSvxVMmQqgAZ39vw-cHQUKbzrpaNY0PQ7xuoM8iqRL5ku8BZujeNFzmuJpq9ibqH2FIZsPQxUi69fAz3F2VbOppUj1IZ39WuJOKd4obf57A9OtmfXuJjg/s2048/IMG_5436.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEojCqA36-pgkPZIBmXzPl_TXewXYT7i71QPzdD_2d4SlcPl9WkeZ1T5VQKLaiXH9Dy6ep_jdSvxVMmQqgAZ39vw-cHQUKbzrpaNY0PQ7xuoM8iqRL5ku8BZujeNFzmuJpq9ibqH2FIZsPQxUi69fAz3F2VbOppUj1IZ39WuJOKd4obf57A9OtmfXuJjg/w480-h640/IMG_5436.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Well, it's supposed to be 8mm, but I guess they were feeling a little generous at the factory. Not a big deal though, let's see what the original stack looks like.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRR6egg79CejdSAcPOD68BqV5FHrlcQZivqiUyX6k4UyzitBh5ZxRV9RjXMFqX6sZ48dmM619rHzMNz9tNHGx7DWSiPqxnkdrRetIGKEldMhKtotR-Rm490yu34DtJnOLuE7-3qp3o73rtTk4SbEUwRRr6khSlp5CsD7akAiZwkJHB6EgYHr7wQU4S74/s2048/IMG_5437.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRR6egg79CejdSAcPOD68BqV5FHrlcQZivqiUyX6k4UyzitBh5ZxRV9RjXMFqX6sZ48dmM619rHzMNz9tNHGx7DWSiPqxnkdrRetIGKEldMhKtotR-Rm490yu34DtJnOLuE7-3qp3o73rtTk4SbEUwRRr6khSlp5CsD7akAiZwkJHB6EgYHr7wQU4S74/w480-h640/IMG_5437.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Ah, yes, three 5mm spacers. This is going to take a little bit of math.</p><p>Or, it will take a little bit of fishing into my stash of headset spacers.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdwcCUXfhzI2ZOrDj6POgBKjcVRhz4-8mheHnwvKX03IE1lW_BPTIFiG-ZVgILShNGbyrR-A8c9DJTVPkYs4TYfWtwz5a7Vkxxwtq9GPfdIYnsdG56KziSbnN-l54lBxjSGTZWysuNWMOw4eFqN2jWHi1jCcyEADWF4UdpVdydnh78iQg4L985hl9lrw/s2048/IMG_5438.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdwcCUXfhzI2ZOrDj6POgBKjcVRhz4-8mheHnwvKX03IE1lW_BPTIFiG-ZVgILShNGbyrR-A8c9DJTVPkYs4TYfWtwz5a7Vkxxwtq9GPfdIYnsdG56KziSbnN-l54lBxjSGTZWysuNWMOw4eFqN2jWHi1jCcyEADWF4UdpVdydnh78iQg4L985hl9lrw/w480-h640/IMG_5438.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Alright, 8mm plus 8.5mm gives us 16.5, which is just a smidge more than we started with. This could work, but actually if we scroll back up, we can see that the upper triple clamp is actually sitting pretty high on the steerer. Despite the fact that there's a 5mm spacer preinstalled above the clamp, the steerer is actually slightly below the top surface of the clamp, which means we're missing out on a tiny bit of clamping area.</p><p>So, instead of going with the 8mm spacer, we'll go with one of the original 5mm spacers, which will give us...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtjaWkO1OAbUNZuEndty16gU-ez5zOXS5W33Ay_t_ClHmWL3vj2p81uHfrDGUmLmuccyTbsCc_qIf8y80KWO7-JlOOXeqVYN7DRfpWzl9u7OjlHbBpwAgBfZ6y9q6Vxo5-orsdYOAPVME8N810yucUO-BKCwZLqRQdh8pvODaIJnsNjszjY8blJ7AuVk/s2048/IMG_5440.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtjaWkO1OAbUNZuEndty16gU-ez5zOXS5W33Ay_t_ClHmWL3vj2p81uHfrDGUmLmuccyTbsCc_qIf8y80KWO7-JlOOXeqVYN7DRfpWzl9u7OjlHbBpwAgBfZ6y9q6Vxo5-orsdYOAPVME8N810yucUO-BKCwZLqRQdh8pvODaIJnsNjszjY8blJ7AuVk/w480-h640/IMG_5440.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>A healthy 13.5, which will drop the upper triple by 1.5mm, give or take.</p><p>So we'll go ahead and slide those on, just leaving the clamp loose for now.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTkOdarF6wuAffZ2v7snf7DWF84OsS8ossfPpXfznJMyBc72vQhIKvFVa0OD-8qZPl6BGMxVK1RRPfrgaTxl-l9XK4oFFdCJ74ko9YYePzxsaRC-s4VpmVNS4bge6bzYnCjiFgVkE_koJPQHaEJYn_SIfIQpRl2b5XJdoq14Gdmr7h-XE8VQjHO8cAEk/s2048/IMG_5441.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTkOdarF6wuAffZ2v7snf7DWF84OsS8ossfPpXfznJMyBc72vQhIKvFVa0OD-8qZPl6BGMxVK1RRPfrgaTxl-l9XK4oFFdCJ74ko9YYePzxsaRC-s4VpmVNS4bge6bzYnCjiFgVkE_koJPQHaEJYn_SIfIQpRl2b5XJdoq14Gdmr7h-XE8VQjHO8cAEk/w480-h640/IMG_5441.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Then the upper triple goes on.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejRu2VIXbkTCUWba_Tlg0EaqZMBJq1PJIkXQMJdizA983Fz73V5DKn-3PRVaODZsDAjhZZBkFCgq0FOYpOwg5QRk9oVPtxGu9fGyEFLx1KN9boRotQUCp5WJ_6e843e1ZeJ9_E7d8isdZsv0_d8tGX9r2O0US1Q-U-oZUZxJBpw9WYz7-BgUNgs1XsPA/s2048/IMG_5442.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjejRu2VIXbkTCUWba_Tlg0EaqZMBJq1PJIkXQMJdizA983Fz73V5DKn-3PRVaODZsDAjhZZBkFCgq0FOYpOwg5QRk9oVPtxGu9fGyEFLx1KN9boRotQUCp5WJ_6e843e1ZeJ9_E7d8isdZsv0_d8tGX9r2O0US1Q-U-oZUZxJBpw9WYz7-BgUNgs1XsPA/w480-h640/IMG_5442.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And we can see here how the steerer now just peeks up above the top of the clamp, as we intended.</p><p>Next up comes the 5mm spacer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliuUuABQxeHU1QL7Cmk1ebcxd1UjulUf_Zr_gnlMzE1okEuKTdalLZ2L-bokCKLYjqthpHc9SYHbz60iHGwD13Fp3f17p0g0owq4uflJ91F-ompcaX2T7Y8oQuzyAQBYiviBYQ43X8DBqeS4X-yFIcCVJ7_WXuojZ1JwwwQScFgQ1sUdzgDpzWEf-irE/s2048/IMG_5443.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliuUuABQxeHU1QL7Cmk1ebcxd1UjulUf_Zr_gnlMzE1okEuKTdalLZ2L-bokCKLYjqthpHc9SYHbz60iHGwD13Fp3f17p0g0owq4uflJ91F-ompcaX2T7Y8oQuzyAQBYiviBYQ43X8DBqeS4X-yFIcCVJ7_WXuojZ1JwwwQScFgQ1sUdzgDpzWEf-irE/w480-h640/IMG_5443.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>This makes sure that the top cap doesn't bottom out against the end of the steerer when it's screwed down to set the preload.</p><p>And speaking of the top cap, let's get it in place too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBiLhtB6xEWlptJdEokCSDev_hpg-JfQnxKJ_w27Y4asjOuvJWLiWEKIOJVwPw3Qv-HEfOhCJSzwiClHrI79yU9BE1xDeUoRzfpJ811wX5h8I60-RBO1wBzCEv3M1xc_8AYYCh37GPsrdLot1xh951QwwnwYmGeSJgwlHAovkN3cvAK0BZXMIskjoJiK8/s2048/IMG_5444.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBiLhtB6xEWlptJdEokCSDev_hpg-JfQnxKJ_w27Y4asjOuvJWLiWEKIOJVwPw3Qv-HEfOhCJSzwiClHrI79yU9BE1xDeUoRzfpJ811wX5h8I60-RBO1wBzCEv3M1xc_8AYYCh37GPsrdLot1xh951QwwnwYmGeSJgwlHAovkN3cvAK0BZXMIskjoJiK8/w480-h640/IMG_5444.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>In case you're wondering, this fancy top cap includes storage for a quick link, plus an integrated chain breaker tool. Very convenient if you ever break a chain out on the trail.</p><p>Once the preload is set, we tighten down both pinch bolts this time (as well as the fork tube pinch bolts, of course)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2HTw-oJKHbd-fwBQrefGv0ODzYszpixjlzSj64u-eSIK0Qdi7qoJgdPGnGV_w3_9slQnmvj2kIj2pEPyaJsu6GezUxkx97YzSFm0I4yg7hlBt2xgak4zNbBPt_q-4Ton1Xs1m1J4yAVaWfCfdTAu5bz4-2gEfQktler6O4kjy3bVU5tH9R2ZDXafO-I/s2048/IMG_5446.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2HTw-oJKHbd-fwBQrefGv0ODzYszpixjlzSj64u-eSIK0Qdi7qoJgdPGnGV_w3_9slQnmvj2kIj2pEPyaJsu6GezUxkx97YzSFm0I4yg7hlBt2xgak4zNbBPt_q-4Ton1Xs1m1J4yAVaWfCfdTAu5bz4-2gEfQktler6O4kjy3bVU5tH9R2ZDXafO-I/w480-h640/IMG_5446.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And once it's all buttoned up, you can't even tell it's there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BdtFVU20ouejn5n2DXE7z59SBf0nrTctgImqMDAkqBeLgKbNoTCZrn_Sl66phquxkUkCfYWjdc8nzBAtwj-W49ju-qa1hyphenhyphenYIjgwz6_yN27H71igFxyDQxWZDf4VP9XsZ7Z2d1GnIpP6o0HwEpbyrVxgG7FLf0fQkb8T_aWQhloE1kWFylnKWXyjPnDw/s2048/IMG_5445.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BdtFVU20ouejn5n2DXE7z59SBf0nrTctgImqMDAkqBeLgKbNoTCZrn_Sl66phquxkUkCfYWjdc8nzBAtwj-W49ju-qa1hyphenhyphenYIjgwz6_yN27H71igFxyDQxWZDf4VP9XsZ7Z2d1GnIpP6o0HwEpbyrVxgG7FLf0fQkb8T_aWQhloE1kWFylnKWXyjPnDw/w480-h640/IMG_5445.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As a bonus, while I've got my hands dirty, I should check on the brake pads on my gravel bike, since it's been a minute and I've been putting some miles on it this winter. For reference, you're meant to change them when the total thickness hits 3mm.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FcHK_lGjn6sGoayLVomdP1UO_A5y4YbAD4b80otsMN-4TCGwZdvoVG8K7oS8ecszBtr9iBLCrtf0-iM04vdc5TdZVUeiBRYR_dHJN8slGoc2JRh-wjeIeU_Xy1ErrsdN5NBgGpARjIaEVARpC8OmfiW9uI4SqJ61zwe2QuCn-Gx1SvH6XC6EL6gkq1s/s2048/IMG_5447.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-FcHK_lGjn6sGoayLVomdP1UO_A5y4YbAD4b80otsMN-4TCGwZdvoVG8K7oS8ecszBtr9iBLCrtf0-iM04vdc5TdZVUeiBRYR_dHJN8slGoc2JRh-wjeIeU_Xy1ErrsdN5NBgGpARjIaEVARpC8OmfiW9uI4SqJ61zwe2QuCn-Gx1SvH6XC6EL6gkq1s/w480-h640/IMG_5447.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Hmm, yup, I think I got my money's worth out of these pads.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-62024017389977986482024-02-07T17:25:00.000-08:002024-02-07T17:25:57.629-08:00I'm In Hot Water<p>This is my hot water tank. There are many others like it, but this one is mine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdk6U6fsBFi-SZOuXklPTBO0ZhyQjC4t6gbOFLBcIF93o3ptDYqlmm44lM8B7Hpw-WFPOzhQniNZFkPnYT5xxkRm5yFFAD0MLQPHYJz58gpfl2EBwbl0DHoVXr01JfHvORO3Kf8WXCIqQBQJuDC7dXPr9S8kgCuC4gQiTXUJinE2DobQGm7ig2XxAiKc/s2048/IMG_5414.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdk6U6fsBFi-SZOuXklPTBO0ZhyQjC4t6gbOFLBcIF93o3ptDYqlmm44lM8B7Hpw-WFPOzhQniNZFkPnYT5xxkRm5yFFAD0MLQPHYJz58gpfl2EBwbl0DHoVXr01JfHvORO3Kf8WXCIqQBQJuDC7dXPr9S8kgCuC4gQiTXUJinE2DobQGm7ig2XxAiKc/w480-h640/IMG_5414.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It's in year 11 of its 6 year warranty, and has finally decided to give up the ghost. However, it did not do this by springing a leak. No, instead it decided to start backfiring out the venturi tube.</p><p>So, let's pull out the burner and see what's up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpGEZJx0j956iNJ8EqlyR7IGc0qjktRZd0mtO17-2oH_jUcsaSJa0QG9H0Vhh6iTbHYLjTnMlbSEWemKm69yeOmAunLnZQ2qQHXHwGVSOTx-b9T8jBB1WQD_O96Ie13RJMS6EzJMgM55Z-H1O_nedN32DqfLzjW5QocSr5uA53sKWibTf9zEFbHmZGrs/s2048/IMG_5412.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpGEZJx0j956iNJ8EqlyR7IGc0qjktRZd0mtO17-2oH_jUcsaSJa0QG9H0Vhh6iTbHYLjTnMlbSEWemKm69yeOmAunLnZQ2qQHXHwGVSOTx-b9T8jBB1WQD_O96Ie13RJMS6EzJMgM55Z-H1O_nedN32DqfLzjW5QocSr5uA53sKWibTf9zEFbHmZGrs/w480-h640/IMG_5412.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>This is what's known as an ultra-low-NOx burner. Usually the venturi tube would mix a slightly rich mixture of natural gas and air, squirt that into a burner, and the mixture would exit through a series of small ports, which is where it would burn. The gas would mix with the ambient air in the burner chamber, leading to a fuel-lean mixture at the outside of the flame and a fuel-rich mixture on the inside. A little bit of NOx and a little bit of unburned HC would be created, respectively, and exit out the flue.</p><p>These emissions were considered not entirely ideal, so California enacted some regulations clamping down on the limits for NOx and HC, which required a redesign of the combustion system. Now, instead of injecting a fuel rich mixture, a stoichiometric mixture is created, and fed up through a screen where a sheet of flame burns in an otherwise sealed combustion chamber. This results in a much more even fuel-air mixture throughout the entire flame, with (in theory) no lean spots to produce NOx and no rich spots to produce unburned HC emissions.</p><p>And this is all fine and dandy until the screen cakes up with grime and holes get burned into it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBUNsdhw42YNf7sBrebTcoySTC4sMuum6xluZ9bUWjcVMI51J0cV_zP6yr1wLVIwCtXqKK847u4kYWeewseq3O85v7_XSuFsG-J-_skajgqD_TznqSPKOf6fGHYovwJbM-uHMQ1-tesc_-eAene9ts16cwnsS2Ze1UQXvVggAldWap_A4_dDnDN4PrtY/s2048/IMG_5411.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBUNsdhw42YNf7sBrebTcoySTC4sMuum6xluZ9bUWjcVMI51J0cV_zP6yr1wLVIwCtXqKK847u4kYWeewseq3O85v7_XSuFsG-J-_skajgqD_TznqSPKOf6fGHYovwJbM-uHMQ1-tesc_-eAene9ts16cwnsS2Ze1UQXvVggAldWap_A4_dDnDN4PrtY/w480-h640/IMG_5411.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>These holes, in particular, are what allow the flame front to pass back through the screen and up the venturi tube, causing the backfiring that I observed.</p><p>Now I didn't much fancy the idea of not having hot water, so my first attempt to remedy this situation was to get out the wire brush and clean the grime off the screen to see if that would fix things.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11erUOxZjUWaZG-zSwizrlw7xwSCwYeI-EHBbQibQJsLtqFKWT9QikN5H-KkymDPVru6fD3XMVX8nQ8lylpQGNBuS0i38q8mUZxbI5a0JptHP2bC3Y1Ix2ZnvaeFncNwUNHAjx1M0dz6fI4mG32C2_0pLLtuA-WffxW5Lf4eYAeecPQYGmq56rnZzgn8/s2048/IMG_5413.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11erUOxZjUWaZG-zSwizrlw7xwSCwYeI-EHBbQibQJsLtqFKWT9QikN5H-KkymDPVru6fD3XMVX8nQ8lylpQGNBuS0i38q8mUZxbI5a0JptHP2bC3Y1Ix2ZnvaeFncNwUNHAjx1M0dz6fI4mG32C2_0pLLtuA-WffxW5Lf4eYAeecPQYGmq56rnZzgn8/w480-h640/IMG_5413.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The screen cleaned up nicely, improving the gas flow, but the holes still present meant that the flame was not able to be confined to the combustion chamber.</p><p>A new burner assembly would have been roughly $300, but given the age of the tank, I'd like to introduce you to its replacement.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4L3gYX8pKJpj9tifV0AmxGSYjh4fwEmsRD5C5JmuwW-wmMVoHUmGiPFDRTGUrk7mI2W_Y1OoKp1i-3vQc6ErMHH689o4g5mp2MnrqogAd8n9D4qa9pWItX7r768eqvv_wgHyqWhcxVC3yiBJE4xXi__qmQciV5knzBc9fhMIW28gkfNxOQ3_hBB6_Aw/s2048/IMG_5415.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp4L3gYX8pKJpj9tifV0AmxGSYjh4fwEmsRD5C5JmuwW-wmMVoHUmGiPFDRTGUrk7mI2W_Y1OoKp1i-3vQc6ErMHH689o4g5mp2MnrqogAd8n9D4qa9pWItX7r768eqvv_wgHyqWhcxVC3yiBJE4xXi__qmQciV5knzBc9fhMIW28gkfNxOQ3_hBB6_Aw/w480-h640/IMG_5415.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It's a like-for-like swap, a 40gal gas heater, which even comes straight from the factory pre-scuffed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNHZL3EJYMsQRFBR7RMnbTz7IZ56SzwQASNPQm1tdoWWFB_1uCWcDPKevCLJe8qli8rVA27g0w0H3H_LqpUVi9uZ4mbYNEh4sPPNsRlNDP-OGpaMQsIJAhnEpT6ToXiyf07li4OKyjqisXPSvwGx90L0LkticTuFoA270EZJzXU4vlLi-QbSleL04U9Y/s2048/IMG_5416.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNHZL3EJYMsQRFBR7RMnbTz7IZ56SzwQASNPQm1tdoWWFB_1uCWcDPKevCLJe8qli8rVA27g0w0H3H_LqpUVi9uZ4mbYNEh4sPPNsRlNDP-OGpaMQsIJAhnEpT6ToXiyf07li4OKyjqisXPSvwGx90L0LkticTuFoA270EZJzXU4vlLi-QbSleL04U9Y/w480-h640/IMG_5416.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Well this is off to a great start but whatever, its job isn't to look pretty, it just needs to heat water and not set my car hole on fire.</p><p>Step one of the replacement is draining the old tank. I initially started off by hooking this garden hose to the drain spigot, but it was not flowing especially quickly.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2FHFtQJ0hf2wIBePQVWp803l2Z5xVkaOF451iQQBjFxvJ7qwX9yfXON7qoT5bknh8y6JczCnabIoXASwBPCcGyGRY-U0ARxVB9Vdzk_Ax7ZHh3P6ERSN-zMk8Sh9RPMJ__sDT_JtHmHQedeYY7A_VPjf6u8fLcxBftHrFT9WoX6rQ4iyOcJqxP-dn3c/s2048/IMG_5418.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2FHFtQJ0hf2wIBePQVWp803l2Z5xVkaOF451iQQBjFxvJ7qwX9yfXON7qoT5bknh8y6JczCnabIoXASwBPCcGyGRY-U0ARxVB9Vdzk_Ax7ZHh3P6ERSN-zMk8Sh9RPMJ__sDT_JtHmHQedeYY7A_VPjf6u8fLcxBftHrFT9WoX6rQ4iyOcJqxP-dn3c/w480-h640/IMG_5418.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>40 gallons is only 8 buckets, so that's what I tried next.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecJLTOZ2s-Yge9K9fVqG7CVMBIOKptyuJUKRPLq7OawT6_nJpEFWBqFdn2dezF6IRrkJNbD0aLN1VBKOf9b_kUcP9WxIBpLpc3VbxoxEdVOJLyIrz3DJ6V-Y58X9mZIBeyMZDf70-p1xnwQpNyzanry5Ay86aZFLBxKWD1DyKPD_YxgISebDiBhlBjq8/s2048/IMG_5417.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgecJLTOZ2s-Yge9K9fVqG7CVMBIOKptyuJUKRPLq7OawT6_nJpEFWBqFdn2dezF6IRrkJNbD0aLN1VBKOf9b_kUcP9WxIBpLpc3VbxoxEdVOJLyIrz3DJ6V-Y58X9mZIBeyMZDf70-p1xnwQpNyzanry5Ay86aZFLBxKWD1DyKPD_YxgISebDiBhlBjq8/w480-h640/IMG_5417.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>That seemed to be working well enough, so I busied myself with disconnecting the tank from the gas, water, and oddly excessive earthquake strapping.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9beauLKTPqiE6oXctVAnUGyV40PdMlt07iNeboLEp6fX4KTZ2C8194KXTHELvg8LWdMWs-WHR1DNGW0OSprl16wu5C3OYccxfhAqpwyJLyBqLqSzZojuaScvZK1j9En-Z3t8dXJOzyhzyhK9PBQoXbdU4iHH4mL1eMnTw_xqeHPX8AL0XUqeRJVLq_s/s2048/IMG_5419.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9beauLKTPqiE6oXctVAnUGyV40PdMlt07iNeboLEp6fX4KTZ2C8194KXTHELvg8LWdMWs-WHR1DNGW0OSprl16wu5C3OYccxfhAqpwyJLyBqLqSzZojuaScvZK1j9En-Z3t8dXJOzyhzyhK9PBQoXbdU4iHH4mL1eMnTw_xqeHPX8AL0XUqeRJVLq_s/w480-h640/IMG_5419.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Then roughly 8 buckets of hot water later, we pop the new one into place, hooking things up in the reverse order that it was removed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJN1W_H6WRRskpYn886WYB-HLtiLzrRTFjWHvaDBFjGr7Q_tuVPG3zYLMrIkD66TqJqOPl1g07HaFvy5K21Lo86WqrKbPjO8iLsjY0QX5YuyUdHr1iWOl-opibBITDjzCcna9Qv_z5PhbDtAsTCavLBToEr1fdFC_zNo3AvfHSb59qD9-WBHJBZat-S8/s2048/IMG_5420.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJN1W_H6WRRskpYn886WYB-HLtiLzrRTFjWHvaDBFjGr7Q_tuVPG3zYLMrIkD66TqJqOPl1g07HaFvy5K21Lo86WqrKbPjO8iLsjY0QX5YuyUdHr1iWOl-opibBITDjzCcna9Qv_z5PhbDtAsTCavLBToEr1fdFC_zNo3AvfHSb59qD9-WBHJBZat-S8/w480-h640/IMG_5420.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Now you might be wondering how, exactly, I managed to remove the old tank and put the new one in its place all by myself?</p><p>The answer is simple: Grab hold of it, tilt it back so it's well balanced on top of you, and then lift with your knees. It's only 130lbs empty, just man up and do it.</p><p>After I did the swap, my curiosity got the best of me: I wondered just what an 11 year old anode would look like. The answer?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKDghKSDRVTKh8azciKkbTpKg5VNByaxFYoNend8an7g8CgzHa95z3KL9NF5riou80GRL4i8uuTbpyEEOB7iqPCKgcq16eLtenNVkd4RdShWC7-2Po4_XJOlgsdd3ScJUyPcabKbKs_EPvNlTm4WfsvyZ7q-6AabXuUQzc98DxJMv60lSr_kCNELr6B4/s2048/IMG_5422.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKDghKSDRVTKh8azciKkbTpKg5VNByaxFYoNend8an7g8CgzHa95z3KL9NF5riou80GRL4i8uuTbpyEEOB7iqPCKgcq16eLtenNVkd4RdShWC7-2Po4_XJOlgsdd3ScJUyPcabKbKs_EPvNlTm4WfsvyZ7q-6AabXuUQzc98DxJMv60lSr_kCNELr6B4/w480-h640/IMG_5422.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Some anode material is technically still there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcu2JGyDLWtc0siV6AjOfL2WxCrui7H3TfMKIwwIX5rufviIqANeeZYvSJHIBW8S_gJ0hXMbZD-jqFyJRPEph3mYXzOnjWCpUECfLw7G48SusdWis3JzKn8Zdshy1SDrEHlqc-SZESJoFfVwI8NZ9ZlBwhyphenhyphenrQdVWX-pZf2di5g0fNqzJpI5LHw8WrhHc/s2048/IMG_5423.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcu2JGyDLWtc0siV6AjOfL2WxCrui7H3TfMKIwwIX5rufviIqANeeZYvSJHIBW8S_gJ0hXMbZD-jqFyJRPEph3mYXzOnjWCpUECfLw7G48SusdWis3JzKn8Zdshy1SDrEHlqc-SZESJoFfVwI8NZ9ZlBwhyphenhyphenrQdVWX-pZf2di5g0fNqzJpI5LHw8WrhHc/w480-h640/IMG_5423.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Which is the best kind of still there.</p><p>I actually suspect there was a bit more material than this still clinging to the anode rod, but I had used my impact wrench to remove it and at one point the rod got spun at quite a high rate of speed, which is why it's rather bent looking. I'm sure some anode fragments were probably flung off during this process.</p><p>Anyway, the entire ordeal started at approximately 8:30pm and, including a 30 minute round trip to the Home Despot, I had everything buttoned up and running again at 11:00pm. So disaster was averted and I was able to have a hot shower at the usual time before tucking into bed.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-80415692507800416822024-02-02T20:14:00.000-08:002024-02-02T20:14:36.688-08:00Unleaded Gas Furnace<p>So the previous furnace adventure, where I replaced the return air intake with a much larger one, didn't fix the issue I had where the furnace kept going into over-temp fault. Since I bought some replacement molex pins, but didn't use them yet, I decided that today would be the day that I'd perform that experiment.</p><p>Here's the connector in question.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmvGDzLkCYk7w37kw6MABNxDYxk1HSL-xg-2xTG2HlAf8eXJ0rq6m1iZXInvOmBbdPm866ydT9V4-bFwFzUy7fRI-Orrc0pAfqgYUKkneGu6ernKNAH6YJ6q4HhLOlg6CrJqFK5O-nWSr-1tBodoBL88zwuSO6tELIBZtoc9cujIOtN-S7EnnGjeoOZ8/s2048/IMG_5397.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmvGDzLkCYk7w37kw6MABNxDYxk1HSL-xg-2xTG2HlAf8eXJ0rq6m1iZXInvOmBbdPm866ydT9V4-bFwFzUy7fRI-Orrc0pAfqgYUKkneGu6ernKNAH6YJ6q4HhLOlg6CrJqFK5O-nWSr-1tBodoBL88zwuSO6tELIBZtoc9cujIOtN-S7EnnGjeoOZ8/w480-h640/IMG_5397.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>So, out comes the pin puller again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HkCAoVZ7-wOI8FP13GGq4QYOUX6A5n0IFSHm66VewjN6LBt6z-BJDMofFYcaIrFt7hyphenhyphenk1D6kfw5IBUvsE-noFPJKKMnv5Mwye5WgTWzDnfoqKuSsuxBy6_JqqcFHa3bf2bwymHX3V1HSkXC8-uWSuf6QOHdwOcFr1nxdFms63KvDyD_NM_NYFG8TDVs/s2048/IMG_5399.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HkCAoVZ7-wOI8FP13GGq4QYOUX6A5n0IFSHm66VewjN6LBt6z-BJDMofFYcaIrFt7hyphenhyphenk1D6kfw5IBUvsE-noFPJKKMnv5Mwye5WgTWzDnfoqKuSsuxBy6_JqqcFHa3bf2bwymHX3V1HSkXC8-uWSuf6QOHdwOcFr1nxdFms63KvDyD_NM_NYFG8TDVs/w480-h640/IMG_5399.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I actually only replaced three of the pins, the two yellows for the over-temp circuit, and the orange for the inducer vacuum switch, as those were the only ones I'd observed malfunctioning.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllXBxLOV393aXaqDu8ZJYt_lomOsQTvmycXB0fVzH1g3Za6uzbpFSh4AY2PJeJ9rZb2SK_v4VnjIkqYr_a3ke5mZMJ5FKimRrt1M1ceZydoupctVZPPQPpuxmEy4phE3EyIwzkI-BZQjDyG4n1pR6nrY3s6B5tYiHfeZuOywBG6PzHtux7_Fo_eqQX3o/s2048/IMG_5398.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllXBxLOV393aXaqDu8ZJYt_lomOsQTvmycXB0fVzH1g3Za6uzbpFSh4AY2PJeJ9rZb2SK_v4VnjIkqYr_a3ke5mZMJ5FKimRrt1M1ceZydoupctVZPPQPpuxmEy4phE3EyIwzkI-BZQjDyG4n1pR6nrY3s6B5tYiHfeZuOywBG6PzHtux7_Fo_eqQX3o/w480-h640/IMG_5398.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And I'm happy to say that the job went smoothly.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0GL9okb6s3Sfo6ZU6ZLz85YItQFMOaU_1bLjcEC2LzZicyYQ4enYenLvaBUY_o8yMWYIryqFpV4TqU6lckzKZCQFToFjq1q4I8S-7YbTnmPi1IjMa2XsftJ7aBTKmrEkH5uo0igbNT0vFv5X0clmcRS2YhzuxXPmhVTSz9uQ3RNdjHS7DeBW0Y9p3MM/s2048/IMG_5401.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0GL9okb6s3Sfo6ZU6ZLz85YItQFMOaU_1bLjcEC2LzZicyYQ4enYenLvaBUY_o8yMWYIryqFpV4TqU6lckzKZCQFToFjq1q4I8S-7YbTnmPi1IjMa2XsftJ7aBTKmrEkH5uo0igbNT0vFv5X0clmcRS2YhzuxXPmhVTSz9uQ3RNdjHS7DeBW0Y9p3MM/w480-h640/IMG_5401.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>So I buttoned it up, turned it on, and everything worked. Right?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFU35jmL2KRzB_t6rhsTld8y_o35zQNRGInq885LBPJfRr7YBYSjWPDiRmPtmS5NessyZaxVEbAYofWLS5eF5XYYw7twqfNaca7GWTYAttouo1LLKjaTZGZK6YuuNWEc0m0XjA7M4Wk17XoHuZ4vFsTY8h-yJUbe2yUDORi4AaTwvqujPO0lhdd-_fNA/s2048/IMG_5400.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihFU35jmL2KRzB_t6rhsTld8y_o35zQNRGInq885LBPJfRr7YBYSjWPDiRmPtmS5NessyZaxVEbAYofWLS5eF5XYYw7twqfNaca7GWTYAttouo1LLKjaTZGZK6YuuNWEc0m0XjA7M4Wk17XoHuZ4vFsTY8h-yJUbe2yUDORi4AaTwvqujPO0lhdd-_fNA/w480-h640/IMG_5400.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Of course not, it went into overtemp again, almost immediately.</p><p>So why did it go into overtemp? Well, let's have a closer look at the other side of the furnace controller board, shall we?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5K6O8K78SQa0t2pmt4TTtr2SOrtqB8zrwkZ_pn-mPxGEvFKnlNpEf_sTKQzVCAAKQuEYDfrU04efvHm2GvzsKcg7G2lmx6OzLzIXaWjD69O-Kewxe86j6arC68cJanfzmr0ocRBqJ7_jQC9We8cBEiGHmZTT_SvEEI1tPlnJlnUyDl4Mhip9uGJPaOw/s2048/IMG_5402.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5K6O8K78SQa0t2pmt4TTtr2SOrtqB8zrwkZ_pn-mPxGEvFKnlNpEf_sTKQzVCAAKQuEYDfrU04efvHm2GvzsKcg7G2lmx6OzLzIXaWjD69O-Kewxe86j6arC68cJanfzmr0ocRBqJ7_jQC9We8cBEiGHmZTT_SvEEI1tPlnJlnUyDl4Mhip9uGJPaOw/w480-h640/IMG_5402.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I'm thinking those solder blobs look a little suspicious. Almost like these pins were soldered in with an insufficient quantity of solder; and lead-free solder at that, which is prone to fatigue cracking when exposed to mechanical stress, like heat cycling or vibrations. How delightful!</p><p>So, let's get out the soldering iron, melt our way through that conformal coating, and freshen things up with some eutectic leaded solder.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD19mR8uGU9LgDR67JJZGktZ1KZwIF9cUwJ10gAG9LjPBWBxEGF3zdm_StES3NxLSgzeP1YUbZUg-yHYIYhicyYHFJ7GGaELyqYH0OrjIE1twImBbiW0jp5iIU-fHI6br4dIdi-u_0gZpd7Otin13C92cQe3V_tUlmuncI_A5eBnUaPHByDt_nwe6BtqA/s2048/IMG_5403.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD19mR8uGU9LgDR67JJZGktZ1KZwIF9cUwJ10gAG9LjPBWBxEGF3zdm_StES3NxLSgzeP1YUbZUg-yHYIYhicyYHFJ7GGaELyqYH0OrjIE1twImBbiW0jp5iIU-fHI6br4dIdi-u_0gZpd7Otin13C92cQe3V_tUlmuncI_A5eBnUaPHByDt_nwe6BtqA/w480-h640/IMG_5403.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The burnt conformal coating makes these reflowed joints look a bit worse than they actually are, but trust me, they're very solid.</p><p>Here's a different view, shot directly with my iPhone instead of through the microscope.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiks9jkgzVx3_lWVh2Kkp2UhhZyxx3zJmbmq8ANtHu3LSucuQG8d1NWbqrfguuLbnk3xqIM1-p8E4AtKaXRguXuhx3-DSQWbeBJOGMzD3NuMT_uBQRDFKdM0ceNjC3Nnan09TAQ3qXBobB_q4PefXPE0geeGjdXioE3wJVsgA6IXHdv_iOXFS9TmwbGUkw/s2048/IMG_5404.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiks9jkgzVx3_lWVh2Kkp2UhhZyxx3zJmbmq8ANtHu3LSucuQG8d1NWbqrfguuLbnk3xqIM1-p8E4AtKaXRguXuhx3-DSQWbeBJOGMzD3NuMT_uBQRDFKdM0ceNjC3Nnan09TAQ3qXBobB_q4PefXPE0geeGjdXioE3wJVsgA6IXHdv_iOXFS9TmwbGUkw/w480-h640/IMG_5404.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The fatigue cracking of the original solder joints is very obvious to see here. In fact, the lighter green spot above the bottom-left pin is actually where the conformal coating has started peeling off of the board due to the pin wiggling around loose.</p><p>Now I have a little secret to tell: I'm not actually resoldering the board from my furnace, here. Instead, I'm resoldering the board that I pulled out of my furnace 4 years ago when I replaced it with a brand new one. Well, let's have a look at the new one, just to confirm that it has the same problem.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzyj8daCrekmONle7lh4McLZXLOb04BlygdEJOI1dILUr30g9acA_48id67LhdAOl1qGjkCM4hDtSBOnB1FS_lYjm-nud2wXKFbciez1HcZrJ2h7Ue_EN3TJl4CU7KC2tTY_JyqKfVSCIfQ8FLwURVRurxkkcCta68lgfBUjRVqBd_2ncD-Hfr3vwKKM/s2048/IMG_5405.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzyj8daCrekmONle7lh4McLZXLOb04BlygdEJOI1dILUr30g9acA_48id67LhdAOl1qGjkCM4hDtSBOnB1FS_lYjm-nud2wXKFbciez1HcZrJ2h7Ue_EN3TJl4CU7KC2tTY_JyqKfVSCIfQ8FLwURVRurxkkcCta68lgfBUjRVqBd_2ncD-Hfr3vwKKM/w480-h640/IMG_5405.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpc8c1Cbvf4LNbnwQBgaXnp1hUK5s_Jkvnrq76mtvZgTUZUBWYIDsr-CJCcYx_yC4SO3WToZIEI_929vLYm35obs4J70EGA58javtsR_Uo_-p7cqJq_wubl7FCc5sjEty_3HpkMobN47MuYNacDcXsZ_1ByMcOLO38MK15SCKmqwEM7I46XQLAtbOyRE/s2048/IMG_5406.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpc8c1Cbvf4LNbnwQBgaXnp1hUK5s_Jkvnrq76mtvZgTUZUBWYIDsr-CJCcYx_yC4SO3WToZIEI_929vLYm35obs4J70EGA58javtsR_Uo_-p7cqJq_wubl7FCc5sjEty_3HpkMobN47MuYNacDcXsZ_1ByMcOLO38MK15SCKmqwEM7I46XQLAtbOyRE/w480-h640/IMG_5406.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And that would be a yes, yes it does indeed.</p><p>Amusingly, this isn't the only spare furnace control board I have. Back in 2000 when I first replaced this board, about part way through the swap I glanced down beside the furnace and what did I see? A third furnace control board, no doubt left there by the previous owner after they swapped a new one in.</p><p>Thanks, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restriction_of_Hazardous_Substances_Directive">ROHS</a>.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-52130840720177697802024-01-27T21:02:00.000-08:002024-01-29T10:37:17.519-08:00Wheezing Asthmatic<p>Not me, I mean my furnace.</p><p>For as long as I've lived here the furnace has been annoyingly noisy when it runs. Lots of whooshing from the air getting sucked through it, particularly through the paltry little 20x12 return grille.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31uRhZ_0mwSbSNPzTrx4VT3maVrswQfqtDmLFYjUMaTAv_aq-zVNzDg2pdDoC7s8SCq9jFBu9LKoaqSzWovB8-Ou7T0Uckd6gWCXtlwCUfSX1Y8s39IaAKVSAwX1vqbmnSaA_UWBztiv4u9fj4ErlLSNOGLaiLxVMDLzrb0_YsRUqcmH6IOJfOaUlCwM/s2048/IMG_5350.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31uRhZ_0mwSbSNPzTrx4VT3maVrswQfqtDmLFYjUMaTAv_aq-zVNzDg2pdDoC7s8SCq9jFBu9LKoaqSzWovB8-Ou7T0Uckd6gWCXtlwCUfSX1Y8s39IaAKVSAwX1vqbmnSaA_UWBztiv4u9fj4ErlLSNOGLaiLxVMDLzrb0_YsRUqcmH6IOJfOaUlCwM/w480-h640/IMG_5350.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>There are many things wrong with this return grille, and while I'm no size queen it is rather on the small side for the amount of air it's being asked to move. But it's also a floor-level grille, mounted up near the ceiling. You can tell it's a floor-level one because all the louvers are pointing down instead of up, which means that I get to stare at my ugly furnace filter every time I look at it.</p><p>Then there's the fact that the original screw knobs were missing, which I replaced with some 3d printed parts. The prints work well enough, but they're not ideal.</p><p>And there's also the part where the return grille was rammed into a space slightly too small to actually fit it, which means that instead of the 20x12 filters sliding effortlessly into place, they instead basically need to be installed with a hammer.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-hyPEV6OkGaEZ8GKKK_AhJ16TcTDMRHFv33KeSvyvVbfnMMl6qTNu_AmS3M239HznjYQVotaayV3NM5auRymrfOgATq2jX5g-n1nKPucncAVvABMh1rZFOXyot9i7DRAEOq9BbOvpGRHHu5r7NTW3ki-f2uoxFIzqjLTCp3xKg0Oyd0K4pxt9nEhY3M/s2048/IMG_5351.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-hyPEV6OkGaEZ8GKKK_AhJ16TcTDMRHFv33KeSvyvVbfnMMl6qTNu_AmS3M239HznjYQVotaayV3NM5auRymrfOgATq2jX5g-n1nKPucncAVvABMh1rZFOXyot9i7DRAEOq9BbOvpGRHHu5r7NTW3ki-f2uoxFIzqjLTCp3xKg0Oyd0K4pxt9nEhY3M/w480-h640/IMG_5351.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>You think I'm kidding about the hammer part but I'm not.</p><p>Anyway, step one is out with the old.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIprulyKDTsldnasuyLpNojMB2983igOsENspOEh9dqDPdtXXd9J0j38pRwVo00Jt6CKIZeiBGb0UPYjTQ8zC9cZAITGfBdQvPzEeCbrdCjII5_XGuh5Sdj9sxda0zw9gl4hNqFQ0OtxM8wBjI5KiGeQL0bGBt54V6znbk83U2asTWIq1kQbuj-bLJ9M/s2048/IMG_5352.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDIprulyKDTsldnasuyLpNojMB2983igOsENspOEh9dqDPdtXXd9J0j38pRwVo00Jt6CKIZeiBGb0UPYjTQ8zC9cZAITGfBdQvPzEeCbrdCjII5_XGuh5Sdj9sxda0zw9gl4hNqFQ0OtxM8wBjI5KiGeQL0bGBt54V6znbk83U2asTWIq1kQbuj-bLJ9M/w480-h640/IMG_5352.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Apparently this wall was once painted pink. Probably to match the original stucco colour outside. Good gracious that would be a bit too much pink. It also apparently had wallpaper on it at one point, and I'm guessing under the texture coat it probably still does. Interesting.</p><p>Anyway, next we gather our supplies.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-f63-YBpEMM0jl8900Z9fVtGhTwodYxCnvn3POY4xno4nknjuZErLfeSz-I0m7Tmt0GUJbpJhj6MWYTJ0qHp22hygbiyXwX100geTSbnqr7UFSUSEpmYfL7GPSbKGnU0qQbc-EVpYl4RADiHrl9dmRyPe-NSKk8GmXApxpZtzfCyUW1ceRyVUCoeGXU/s2048/IMG_5354.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx-f63-YBpEMM0jl8900Z9fVtGhTwodYxCnvn3POY4xno4nknjuZErLfeSz-I0m7Tmt0GUJbpJhj6MWYTJ0qHp22hygbiyXwX100geTSbnqr7UFSUSEpmYfL7GPSbKGnU0qQbc-EVpYl4RADiHrl9dmRyPe-NSKk8GmXApxpZtzfCyUW1ceRyVUCoeGXU/w480-h640/IMG_5354.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Pun partially intended.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_1yCyx6ISMcJFIMTCYX8mKws6FH9ESLNRMzsbaMnWOgSjYAtfDeqPifLeXN8Ki4i9qgNqwPbNhS2ArJT8tKUmZAKJS8UAU2KN7nCH2pobZwnkkE1N1_008_VgLXzMeHwXXa17djGNafDsGRHbBbR0iPfV8WOGwzS-ptqlVd6mo500ecYQOlM497Za2k/s2048/IMG_5353.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_1yCyx6ISMcJFIMTCYX8mKws6FH9ESLNRMzsbaMnWOgSjYAtfDeqPifLeXN8Ki4i9qgNqwPbNhS2ArJT8tKUmZAKJS8UAU2KN7nCH2pobZwnkkE1N1_008_VgLXzMeHwXXa17djGNafDsGRHbBbR0iPfV8WOGwzS-ptqlVd6mo500ecYQOlM497Za2k/w480-h640/IMG_5353.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I'll admit I made an error here, falling for the third worst blunder of all time, right behind getting involved in a land war in Asia and going up against a Sicilian when death is on the line. Never buy hardwood or sheet metal at Home Despot. Just don't. Unless you're too lazy to go to the metal supply store, like me. These 24x36 inch sheets are $50 each.</p><p>Eugh.</p><p>Anyway, the new return air grille is much larger than the old one, being 20x25, and that means there's some wall in the way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_sNdPpiKrH2s5N5H8KVzO5TMKd4OvHoPF-s5l62cobV8HCsbmmw6Sn45Jft_dWzQGchzNhxlVuY1l_8-n5AaR8_zaAnFK_QrA-VpgLwygufASmIiCU0C2DJCPjSNl8W2lFTf6QB4Lff69kcRN1-YRP5-yTaqyM8YhMrkvuJO6KhjhVwaigkO33NaTGU/s2048/IMG_5355.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2_sNdPpiKrH2s5N5H8KVzO5TMKd4OvHoPF-s5l62cobV8HCsbmmw6Sn45Jft_dWzQGchzNhxlVuY1l_8-n5AaR8_zaAnFK_QrA-VpgLwygufASmIiCU0C2DJCPjSNl8W2lFTf6QB4Lff69kcRN1-YRP5-yTaqyM8YhMrkvuJO6KhjhVwaigkO33NaTGU/w480-h640/IMG_5355.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The double line on the bottom was me being a bit sloppy with measuring and ending up with a bit of parallax while eyeballing the tape and making the first line a quarter inch too low, although in hindsight I should have gone with that measurement since things ended up being a bit snug.</p><p>Before we poke a hole in that wall, though, we need to get rid of the old return boot. Which is kind of easier said than done, since it's kind of all folded up and jammed in there pretty good.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHe_gGns35R7e4zvY4IjAbDOB8VwPf4eCOPBVM__DD7U5-w04Lz36ae_rwtPa9O_OcjtVNM2n8OfSQLuJowTTL2NiWIotFy9EkDEcpo7u0Tmtiz5BQTaMJebPdwfEXJFUg0pndk6pi1RNJ4Q79YuzeL3wG1LXK5fvS2HgGRdZ_pWPrPsoq3LxRjCPPUbs/s2048/IMG_5357.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHe_gGns35R7e4zvY4IjAbDOB8VwPf4eCOPBVM__DD7U5-w04Lz36ae_rwtPa9O_OcjtVNM2n8OfSQLuJowTTL2NiWIotFy9EkDEcpo7u0Tmtiz5BQTaMJebPdwfEXJFUg0pndk6pi1RNJ4Q79YuzeL3wG1LXK5fvS2HgGRdZ_pWPrPsoq3LxRjCPPUbs/w480-h640/IMG_5357.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It was a bit of a struggle getting in there with the snips, but once I did the old sheet metal came out without too much of a fuss.</p><p>Now, back to poking a hole in the wall.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJJO-WXX8GFZF7DqKjRsg6-tm2CzojaDqq8ymHbcOs1eWxRsV7OEH475QuSQRUwoqEYi83I2H3f3mLBcYijvASO77u4-oxd8MLtQLavm8tYkrWlQJPqEZQa_EWlSultb-Tsyf5-UYNmFo_kEYZEh9cM4V82uC8TKzIU_xv0LdcUvgf9ZadW8A_NcAOhw/s2048/IMG_5356.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJJO-WXX8GFZF7DqKjRsg6-tm2CzojaDqq8ymHbcOs1eWxRsV7OEH475QuSQRUwoqEYi83I2H3f3mLBcYijvASO77u4-oxd8MLtQLavm8tYkrWlQJPqEZQa_EWlSultb-Tsyf5-UYNmFo_kEYZEh9cM4V82uC8TKzIU_xv0LdcUvgf9ZadW8A_NcAOhw/w480-h640/IMG_5356.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It's a good thing this is drywall and not plaster.</p><p>Now you might well ask: what happens if I run into a joist in the middle of this space I intend to expand the return into?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnoGUTgSgLGUKvtgBZQHOMYtS_Mx4ku_Yvky8UJ8zx6W1Cu_z9Asy5y7fEo6IJ9hChlf4FGlXY4fPdukU7IACBcbdvh9KKHgqmAdb3ZEsr4uxWXW7bGOyk14Kal38GUv0Lx2ehxz6iXq3pFkRlxxrRL8XBWLEGb9ObPmcwvIRzAL4e6SP82_mTnFGnwA/s2048/IMG_5358.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnoGUTgSgLGUKvtgBZQHOMYtS_Mx4ku_Yvky8UJ8zx6W1Cu_z9Asy5y7fEo6IJ9hChlf4FGlXY4fPdukU7IACBcbdvh9KKHgqmAdb3ZEsr4uxWXW7bGOyk14Kal38GUv0Lx2ehxz6iXq3pFkRlxxrRL8XBWLEGb9ObPmcwvIRzAL4e6SP82_mTnFGnwA/w480-h640/IMG_5358.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Well I'm glad you asked. For this sort of situation, the best tool for the job is an oscillating multi-tool. Like this one, for example.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6B1ndp07g7pEGbJJ-LYax2v5d10eNQrWPiUlOQ5_IqdEZDVWsaHT37GcITNXtHObw1L5YvPhCWnuJ00jSF0a_yiTJp_chwnckQcubOnAVW1uYmeuvyVkRbeoKTXtVb7W0MTJ1ttCDk5hWQa77RsRLC8-Rek9VENO_fX-bD-SOr7bLQofupQ_1zRRJL2I/s2048/IMG_5359.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6B1ndp07g7pEGbJJ-LYax2v5d10eNQrWPiUlOQ5_IqdEZDVWsaHT37GcITNXtHObw1L5YvPhCWnuJ00jSF0a_yiTJp_chwnckQcubOnAVW1uYmeuvyVkRbeoKTXtVb7W0MTJ1ttCDk5hWQa77RsRLC8-Rek9VENO_fX-bD-SOr7bLQofupQ_1zRRJL2I/w480-h640/IMG_5359.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It oscillates, and cuts through a multi-tude of things. Like pesky 2x4s, such as these ones that got in my way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-df3-sldD9uH1yVh2pF_BPsunbDKJJKjaN6z5P2ln6fwvb4-5EJ-XFhZNT3PPxPJh4UwvmdE3ch7sgSfLuEmahBQuRdWewTvBzu6e0In4Qv6D_4IXRKtGnuGg7ILSyyKzmNpmehV1VMr_cNMwwGaV-AOClINEmUxh98wmnRhJe7Usnl4DlQ1YNbRlROw/s2048/IMG_5360.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-df3-sldD9uH1yVh2pF_BPsunbDKJJKjaN6z5P2ln6fwvb4-5EJ-XFhZNT3PPxPJh4UwvmdE3ch7sgSfLuEmahBQuRdWewTvBzu6e0In4Qv6D_4IXRKtGnuGg7ILSyyKzmNpmehV1VMr_cNMwwGaV-AOClINEmUxh98wmnRhJe7Usnl4DlQ1YNbRlROw/w480-h640/IMG_5360.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And which are now no longer in my way.</p><p>Of course now I need something to fill in around the edges of this hole, to keep the drywall from caving in the next time someone so much as sneezes in its general direction. It'd also help to have something there to keep me from dropping anything important down into the wall cavity where I might never see it again. Things like the 2x4 scraps I'm using to fill that gap.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_J2ma-hcNYkmEKlpKmhMxQjjMOhC4l_xlYcOwQqYmLTo7Op8U9sCg8UqcChDU9dtV4ZtOlLADSOY0YNZlqhwgllh7mS62beSq2EkJn8n-RAYC8965bYI4SyAZ1W-cCyy4dtgHWR6uIM2OhMlrjFAXPDyWXJtL2KM91wbPe2aYJUE06UOvWeH0Tih0Iw/s2048/IMG_5361.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_J2ma-hcNYkmEKlpKmhMxQjjMOhC4l_xlYcOwQqYmLTo7Op8U9sCg8UqcChDU9dtV4ZtOlLADSOY0YNZlqhwgllh7mS62beSq2EkJn8n-RAYC8965bYI4SyAZ1W-cCyy4dtgHWR6uIM2OhMlrjFAXPDyWXJtL2KM91wbPe2aYJUE06UOvWeH0Tih0Iw/w480-h640/IMG_5361.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It's a good thing I think ahead for this type of stuff. Attaching a temporary piece of blocking to keep the 2x4 from falling down the wall while I screw it in made things very easy and straightforward.</p><p>Of course, we still want to secure the drywall to this framing, which you might think would be a difficult task given that we have a finished surface on one side and a giant furnace plenum in the way on the other side. But technology has an answer for this problem too.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4x13xJSktBAWfnAnc7-rrgampj6SFjNS1XnxD_YIBdCToAr1N4HcK5P_G35WGiwS5AcPPlq9qM2F7122M9ctNZlb7X9uOpk2VWPJ9rQJlPJntv6dx94HOcUgehXtwlCw20-YBpCTX4k0IdwGN_xzGh8v1OKfkQlDLRhU44I0zP4R9L2i7clSRzo0FFr8/s2048/IMG_5362.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4x13xJSktBAWfnAnc7-rrgampj6SFjNS1XnxD_YIBdCToAr1N4HcK5P_G35WGiwS5AcPPlq9qM2F7122M9ctNZlb7X9uOpk2VWPJ9rQJlPJntv6dx94HOcUgehXtwlCw20-YBpCTX4k0IdwGN_xzGh8v1OKfkQlDLRhU44I0zP4R9L2i7clSRzo0FFr8/w480-h640/IMG_5362.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>That ought to hold it.</p><p>Anyway, the bottom went into place pretty easily.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9ntt9uBuEGTSuN24fEo8AhEopTgYgiSqsCLqDRKI9n2LZmwCuUMe11FnK_QAQCv71OYWoWRb8bng5BJv5rFmJ5po8XYk0GrNI7V1jh_zcRRGQKtnSn6MnQpT2pWQ0MFblsOdq9-MtC9zefRbhi9JomnqKFLSpZ_vDvTv8ZUQ70DxRTMxpLjlSWy4w-8/s2048/IMG_5363.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9ntt9uBuEGTSuN24fEo8AhEopTgYgiSqsCLqDRKI9n2LZmwCuUMe11FnK_QAQCv71OYWoWRb8bng5BJv5rFmJ5po8XYk0GrNI7V1jh_zcRRGQKtnSn6MnQpT2pWQ0MFblsOdq9-MtC9zefRbhi9JomnqKFLSpZ_vDvTv8ZUQ70DxRTMxpLjlSWy4w-8/w480-h640/IMG_5363.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As did the sides.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-nv9XiPP8a-WYxOk93xCYj2lON2J7Ht9G1PnzYngAaND-J80Gy1WzYUiOQsIDfKxL_gP1C1c15axpaff-GO_zBsEVKUyodQ_qQaWjWW85JlS3GbhEFOnAnBgS4GpfPhOYThHJxUz2zUoXvw5_flWrLszYo66AtozhKvPqqZzYA9ygPKUUzZoqNMCQ4M/s2048/IMG_5364.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-nv9XiPP8a-WYxOk93xCYj2lON2J7Ht9G1PnzYngAaND-J80Gy1WzYUiOQsIDfKxL_gP1C1c15axpaff-GO_zBsEVKUyodQ_qQaWjWW85JlS3GbhEFOnAnBgS4GpfPhOYThHJxUz2zUoXvw5_flWrLszYo66AtozhKvPqqZzYA9ygPKUUzZoqNMCQ4M/w480-h640/IMG_5364.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCt6a0nCCgjVnxdAkGX_Rvbww0OtKWE_J_8CudpnsAR6S1splVOh5pkdqVwLdMxbiM73YqcM4bx0GNV8b8PAK0OpER6_hp7GVtzN60qfSlJj28pFTa_EIcSUi8FmX7AKUEy24AZ48fj0SoZ-tY14wbhQ2HgJLwEp9krKW_OK4ntbKMpSKlH__WjA8I3OM/s2048/IMG_5365.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCt6a0nCCgjVnxdAkGX_Rvbww0OtKWE_J_8CudpnsAR6S1splVOh5pkdqVwLdMxbiM73YqcM4bx0GNV8b8PAK0OpER6_hp7GVtzN60qfSlJj28pFTa_EIcSUi8FmX7AKUEy24AZ48fj0SoZ-tY14wbhQ2HgJLwEp9krKW_OK4ntbKMpSKlH__WjA8I3OM/w480-h640/IMG_5365.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And then we can get rid of the drywall in the back.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoly3WYIBLoKpg3OPXjghClX_yBDgvZ5tLV-jHCFXxvr70fyxsZfGmT8H2A0vtxzuKiznL49PhvjQIcvJIkxnEWWRK9Kr1UfpJ3ONiYGy5N0UrfOw_duvDdq5rw-Z4qbnVkMPGyi9TDV5tStYWMe2wyFLGo2HFO8XNiaPp9YcrTVnYqMDS5cHdMtDNmU/s2048/IMG_5366.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoly3WYIBLoKpg3OPXjghClX_yBDgvZ5tLV-jHCFXxvr70fyxsZfGmT8H2A0vtxzuKiznL49PhvjQIcvJIkxnEWWRK9Kr1UfpJ3ONiYGy5N0UrfOw_duvDdq5rw-Z4qbnVkMPGyi9TDV5tStYWMe2wyFLGo2HFO8XNiaPp9YcrTVnYqMDS5cHdMtDNmU/w480-h640/IMG_5366.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Now we still have one more layer to go through: the furnace plenum itself. It wouldn't do much good to just install the return grille like this and only suck air through the top half, so let's get some of that metal out of the way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO02l6-Kxyak1XCBKRc-mkeVQHSVEPFwA3V6KOyfeNYk5TCg6lWK4hX8SRLY1frKdVSiakALKupx7LffcVe3UHwPazxNETFNMfbhdhqC7lL9RYEuTBa_QnM7r5zrjwBjTL-rNw9q8hsj3sEdoz632sEws4QaMAPbx0jR_RML7ctRbRb5PK-_YuW54MeTE/s2048/IMG_5368.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO02l6-Kxyak1XCBKRc-mkeVQHSVEPFwA3V6KOyfeNYk5TCg6lWK4hX8SRLY1frKdVSiakALKupx7LffcVe3UHwPazxNETFNMfbhdhqC7lL9RYEuTBa_QnM7r5zrjwBjTL-rNw9q8hsj3sEdoz632sEws4QaMAPbx0jR_RML7ctRbRb5PK-_YuW54MeTE/w480-h640/IMG_5368.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I actually should have been using the red ones for this cut. I'll never keep them straight, as long as I live.</p><p>And there we have it, just toss the grille up there and it's job done!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6faYNbHWXM9vxOm9D6N1s_CaP_oRUGyFoJQZVsKcDfC0RxPDmC3ifgeb_byvvebLLCxwTBeU5C_lYcOKkrpYjNaXQdcyGcNzivQgplq_iluOgDiwxSDt2rDTVKD2X7tmMe_NbNKUo7NmvbU7D-MJNZqfp8BOah8dgvrTAOE1JQb6sMkZ7J-dm1_fwwbo/s2048/IMG_5367.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6faYNbHWXM9vxOm9D6N1s_CaP_oRUGyFoJQZVsKcDfC0RxPDmC3ifgeb_byvvebLLCxwTBeU5C_lYcOKkrpYjNaXQdcyGcNzivQgplq_iluOgDiwxSDt2rDTVKD2X7tmMe_NbNKUo7NmvbU7D-MJNZqfp8BOah8dgvrTAOE1JQb6sMkZ7J-dm1_fwwbo/w480-h640/IMG_5367.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Ok, I'm kidding, this is just a test fit, and so far it's looking good. But we definitely need to rebuild the boot to seal the plenum to the return grille.</p><p>For this I cut out some panels from the new sheet metal and formed them into a similar shape to the old ones, though taking a little more care to not make them hilariously undersized for the opening.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarVaNnw_REXOltC65MtpODLRZ5YbSJM0r6jrifmPTf7Vj2s50teC64vymemUVF74H27abFfqAPvRgDCpFcl-M8xb-fW3WKqJOyjZEB3eXhMJHQReDXqsnEn9iOj4so0nXl430suHmGRXs1jW_hjUXA2UUU8eQysN9t3hfQTpl1TdhN1cV69m7R7ttdxI/s2048/IMG_5369.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarVaNnw_REXOltC65MtpODLRZ5YbSJM0r6jrifmPTf7Vj2s50teC64vymemUVF74H27abFfqAPvRgDCpFcl-M8xb-fW3WKqJOyjZEB3eXhMJHQReDXqsnEn9iOj4so0nXl430suHmGRXs1jW_hjUXA2UUU8eQysN9t3hfQTpl1TdhN1cV69m7R7ttdxI/w480-h640/IMG_5369.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I formed a little hook on the back side of these panels, which will get wrapped up into a double-fold in the adjoining panels.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjxA6NkPEBEixLDh1JgbL3t15VoW9bJlPMUvtFVnyTi6okrzvqkm9kPeK7iMSrnn8OseZFQ73JtIW_Tgq1u6bp9DglImABZSuDE5TKVWq4oR_QLabfHwDF1PWmUXek9fMYiWFCCb9Tuq4_rk1Qnx7QPayPDUO_MDI82sdUaPjyQbWrZM41KGJ_nj27r4/s2048/IMG_5370.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWjxA6NkPEBEixLDh1JgbL3t15VoW9bJlPMUvtFVnyTi6okrzvqkm9kPeK7iMSrnn8OseZFQ73JtIW_Tgq1u6bp9DglImABZSuDE5TKVWq4oR_QLabfHwDF1PWmUXek9fMYiWFCCb9Tuq4_rk1Qnx7QPayPDUO_MDI82sdUaPjyQbWrZM41KGJ_nj27r4/w480-h640/IMG_5370.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>This is really the kind of job where I'd love to have a sheet metal brake, but unfortunately they're both large and not especially inexpensive, particularly for a decent quality one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiea1ABp_Xpg77Jd8gd8yi2x_BZD2ywcOUKeeeyH2H7rB3wm7Gh5azZx-c1OIY23_B-1L0JbI9OmnHMpnlUDCsfnWRpasRiNQ-67aw_Lm-YTABEJoV23tPOQ_JB-G6vG3KOHMnSZZOfelUpkc8PRmRQp60LSlhRkxMZM0e6UKmi-Z4Usx_ekIChz9bCgGs/s2048/IMG_5371.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiea1ABp_Xpg77Jd8gd8yi2x_BZD2ywcOUKeeeyH2H7rB3wm7Gh5azZx-c1OIY23_B-1L0JbI9OmnHMpnlUDCsfnWRpasRiNQ-67aw_Lm-YTABEJoV23tPOQ_JB-G6vG3KOHMnSZZOfelUpkc8PRmRQp60LSlhRkxMZM0e6UKmi-Z4Usx_ekIChz9bCgGs/w480-h640/IMG_5371.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>But I managed to make do.</p><p>You can see here how the corners roll up around each other to hold everything in place.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZ7a7AFPMGpvsEMR_o5GLuw4AzWVJVdNrXkqjhHG1MnGKH72ttl4R-cOS9LfkZ43XsslJSBDMo5am6OE87MjfOK-AFE70VbI68oDfwPPBwwRf9J94BZUk3ZMN-EF4PSYdROAKT6pmMDBJTOl7snoIg1lEkVleeU2oMCBndM69G9dm5p9Qsne-1KfCYHw/s2048/IMG_5372.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZ7a7AFPMGpvsEMR_o5GLuw4AzWVJVdNrXkqjhHG1MnGKH72ttl4R-cOS9LfkZ43XsslJSBDMo5am6OE87MjfOK-AFE70VbI68oDfwPPBwwRf9J94BZUk3ZMN-EF4PSYdROAKT6pmMDBJTOl7snoIg1lEkVleeU2oMCBndM69G9dm5p9Qsne-1KfCYHw/w480-h640/IMG_5372.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And after a little hammering they're secure enough for ductwork.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIK3yY4OBGdAQltDuaVTXAguSRODSTwVW1RbocL4V91renz1joI9Qzyq8dfflPouYFhn6ZCZ7sh_Nd79z5ZqanZOx-6OsqRWAlUeGKWcGPu4dkKvCWh_jCcFylwaAs2_FtWBsbAq_JXpBV0R6xHXd3_6XOuvUmMFijzfrVHOqnluvYHQyHcL4FN1AQSw/s2048/IMG_5373.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIK3yY4OBGdAQltDuaVTXAguSRODSTwVW1RbocL4V91renz1joI9Qzyq8dfflPouYFhn6ZCZ7sh_Nd79z5ZqanZOx-6OsqRWAlUeGKWcGPu4dkKvCWh_jCcFylwaAs2_FtWBsbAq_JXpBV0R6xHXd3_6XOuvUmMFijzfrVHOqnluvYHQyHcL4FN1AQSw/w480-h640/IMG_5373.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I ended up reusing part of the old boot to make one panel for the new one, because I realized that I wouldn't have to carve into the second sheet if I scavenged one side from the old metal.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBijhiEbGU6f2LxrxkTPCp6AzURYXiVTN8o2oP23yf-davVkgN91ckv0cqierxpJHan1oC1YaFGtaIhITdS3zsQcYwcx80sJTD62YibDSQzS71D-el8BXd-X8KtFMmxh_GRuijwuQhbFktNNCDI2C2YsJH0GX-WqmbLKXrR0M_HO_jlfYr77AH3r1eWc/s2048/IMG_5374.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBijhiEbGU6f2LxrxkTPCp6AzURYXiVTN8o2oP23yf-davVkgN91ckv0cqierxpJHan1oC1YaFGtaIhITdS3zsQcYwcx80sJTD62YibDSQzS71D-el8BXd-X8KtFMmxh_GRuijwuQhbFktNNCDI2C2YsJH0GX-WqmbLKXrR0M_HO_jlfYr77AH3r1eWc/w480-h640/IMG_5374.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And it's in my wall, who's ever going to stick their nose in there and realize that it's mismatched?</p><p>Anyway, the new boot took a little bit of percussive massaging to coax into place, and a little bit of trimming here and there to make sure it ended up flush with the wall, but I eventually managed to get it and the return frame buttoned up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3Y3uQGat6FZmUg61PCDFBau6h8uRQT8sAbRePpMvIO7qteUj_nJLxapsucqGRWcD8PKBlTCdgKuMyI0Gvnp-Z1VpzoSY-Ice-E4GAWalXh5pnUm2rOhcWfPuLvI7JI5hkyzOA_7tkm_hClaj9qMCeY6aiwvOKGDrNCGzIiLSLsuvkbHInsvGogQBti8/s2048/IMG_5375.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3Y3uQGat6FZmUg61PCDFBau6h8uRQT8sAbRePpMvIO7qteUj_nJLxapsucqGRWcD8PKBlTCdgKuMyI0Gvnp-Z1VpzoSY-Ice-E4GAWalXh5pnUm2rOhcWfPuLvI7JI5hkyzOA_7tkm_hClaj9qMCeY6aiwvOKGDrNCGzIiLSLsuvkbHInsvGogQBti8/w480-h640/IMG_5375.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I crimped the back edges around the plenum, sprinkled a few zip screws here and there, and buttoned it all up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcghhZzEyaDwGBrDi9Yv7QX7OYfCNqiYC89-7JVHeLL0JZZRtTu02pU7If_OtE8QKvQVcKYsAceyzoe8we5nhAirWkWBulmWwXZJN7yTIEi-nJjk7J-ylij58AWp6wGcLtc_HT-Gn1o8YNbKIbd7CXkoXkw7zTkF5al1pvDfvmcOV-80JjMm2etHwlVI/s2048/IMG_5376.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcghhZzEyaDwGBrDi9Yv7QX7OYfCNqiYC89-7JVHeLL0JZZRtTu02pU7If_OtE8QKvQVcKYsAceyzoe8we5nhAirWkWBulmWwXZJN7yTIEi-nJjk7J-ylij58AWp6wGcLtc_HT-Gn1o8YNbKIbd7CXkoXkw7zTkF5al1pvDfvmcOV-80JjMm2etHwlVI/w480-h640/IMG_5376.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And I managed to do it all with only a few crumbs of the sheet left over.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQx0YFeiPS6lTLxQEXZEIozlWpHA_VAOi-xvgZBBXCn5h3TFQAuMCL7cpP9zhysjFdL2yn8sd03P063PBE9cEQN2NbDNVxkBz2YNXoh6XP0b7_LY6B1CuXgpMGTVMPVJOKkaeyx2WApthQ6bR0wJe4j7Kio6CQ70gvg9dCFC9vPi__8_iJbLbbXAkPOZ0/s2048/IMG_5378.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQx0YFeiPS6lTLxQEXZEIozlWpHA_VAOi-xvgZBBXCn5h3TFQAuMCL7cpP9zhysjFdL2yn8sd03P063PBE9cEQN2NbDNVxkBz2YNXoh6XP0b7_LY6B1CuXgpMGTVMPVJOKkaeyx2WApthQ6bR0wJe4j7Kio6CQ70gvg9dCFC9vPi__8_iJbLbbXAkPOZ0/w480-h640/IMG_5378.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Which meant I could return the other sheet and get my $50 back.</p><p>So did the sound level improve?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='480' height='854' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyA4dgL59of2ns2s1h0RmEzQma2sEynmJIVV1O3pfRPOxhHhU19R01L4NcM6bylLxHMCNA02KHDozdPu7CZkA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p>I have no idea. I think it's a little better but the recording has all sorts of audio processing and AGC automatically applied to it so it's pretty much impossible to tell from the two clips, even when playing them back-to-back. I think the second clip even sounds a bit louder on playback but I'm pretty sure that's just the mic level adjusting between the two shots.</p><p>I'm also kind of hoping that this will help with the overtemp problem it's been having, but it'll take a few days at least before I know if there's any effect there.</p><p>What's at least clear is that the return wasn't the only/primary source of noise here, so if I want it to properly quiet down I'll have to keep trying other things. Ah well, at least it's way, way easier to replace the filter now. And the louvers are pointed in the right direction. </p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-16136599201008359692024-01-23T20:15:00.000-08:002024-02-26T20:20:10.380-08:00Holding On By A Thread<p>When I got my LS-321 sewing machine, one of the things missing was the needle bar thread guide.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCh8eNGE0tskjVy3TYoYzvEK7eEJgFKD3t9COZ9LaaGtVBAjLpeYYPFjNuVv9nBPd-rlcBzkdqZ3QYagSkrh2MnVY71goUiuRKipRSoY-oXReJFrZYxqvgmOnE49PUC7M7lJzCuxjrZeee63kW3cdk1R3ej-mX7KhcIngOtH4QoboEJcJFBVFL1vexIg/s2048/IMG_5343.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCh8eNGE0tskjVy3TYoYzvEK7eEJgFKD3t9COZ9LaaGtVBAjLpeYYPFjNuVv9nBPd-rlcBzkdqZ3QYagSkrh2MnVY71goUiuRKipRSoY-oXReJFrZYxqvgmOnE49PUC7M7lJzCuxjrZeee63kW3cdk1R3ej-mX7KhcIngOtH4QoboEJcJFBVFL1vexIg/w480-h640/IMG_5343.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It's a semi-circle of metal that wraps around the needle bar right at the height of the needle set screw, and guides the thread so that it follows the needle in a more vertical path. This gives the thread a more uniform geometry as the needle pushes through the fabric, which leads to better quality stitches.</p><p>Luckily, this part is still available, if only just barely.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0UdTswvG99oOcD38M3fWbRQ1LrG2WQOv8MEhB0-8S5ve2Ua3e_O_-5Shblv_CU7qEAZeFucm4MsKvvOmpaNoVl1UtNGzf1MPP0eOhyMWa71WcN8QWsUjSGbDT82R338nBNqQZQYIbdYKCCfDRwNxhKbJ1tD0sqafHzZeAWl9wjsHdwfkgCtdpSPDKJc/s2048/IMG_5344.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0UdTswvG99oOcD38M3fWbRQ1LrG2WQOv8MEhB0-8S5ve2Ua3e_O_-5Shblv_CU7qEAZeFucm4MsKvvOmpaNoVl1UtNGzf1MPP0eOhyMWa71WcN8QWsUjSGbDT82R338nBNqQZQYIbdYKCCfDRwNxhKbJ1tD0sqafHzZeAWl9wjsHdwfkgCtdpSPDKJc/w480-h640/IMG_5344.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I actually ordered this part back in October, but thanks to a combination of shipping errors and scant supply, it took until now to actually show up.</p><p>Installing it is quite simple. You just remove the needle set screw, and the needle while you're at it so it doesn't just fall out onto the floor, then slide it up onto the needle bar and reinstall the needle and set screw.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXg9KbJmKsXDkjwA4-9U_KKg7oDEF1uq7Hs_cgjv3BniLliNj6jhq0ptzwHZxjpHQOYrj27dvyNYUEbrWltmVYF2cSGDwTVpRhwQcz2FCfiGb4sTm0407Z3GyC2pkRw4qaEZgYlEO-0nhVjpxBt8fGoFY5Iq_QzwGt-IUavTC8Z5IM5pBApS8_o-R3lY/s2048/IMG_5345.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXg9KbJmKsXDkjwA4-9U_KKg7oDEF1uq7Hs_cgjv3BniLliNj6jhq0ptzwHZxjpHQOYrj27dvyNYUEbrWltmVYF2cSGDwTVpRhwQcz2FCfiGb4sTm0407Z3GyC2pkRw4qaEZgYlEO-0nhVjpxBt8fGoFY5Iq_QzwGt-IUavTC8Z5IM5pBApS8_o-R3lY/w480-h640/IMG_5345.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Then when you're threading the machine, you simply need to hook the thread around the left side of the guide and pull it into place, easy-peasy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXB_yDzLua_V-09hhTGJjxMS-_gYwKYGBZHTwlvgWLH0-5Z5A8EX-1npRdL6xWYo_ZoUsk-YbR0fIVR5GTmynkj0w32S7dnMRPzmYysSkuJvTdLguilSQ4cssTnB8zCS4cThaRG18gFVOPVAjU2BFPXQt58n4U_RJYemLJTRknGzkLNcq5wUH10FS3yqY/s2048/IMG_5346.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXB_yDzLua_V-09hhTGJjxMS-_gYwKYGBZHTwlvgWLH0-5Z5A8EX-1npRdL6xWYo_ZoUsk-YbR0fIVR5GTmynkj0w32S7dnMRPzmYysSkuJvTdLguilSQ4cssTnB8zCS4cThaRG18gFVOPVAjU2BFPXQt58n4U_RJYemLJTRknGzkLNcq5wUH10FS3yqY/w480-h640/IMG_5346.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And the usual proof that the machine still sews.</p><p>This is the last item on the fix-it list for the LS-321, so from here on out it should be ready to just make projects.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-17634298485501466772024-01-21T17:19:00.000-08:002024-01-21T17:19:33.830-08:00Put A Lid On It<p>A few months back, a terrible tragedy befell my poor PedoVan.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8ZaXu6X1uIb9rXkcgs73shgWCFdbQexye4ldgZuJZZnErrzhYJ9D7eOurtq6rmM4oDWobg8odohcwJETZF_2vb_1dNkHtkQUzuMmSBylioa417otVPkmHmW1pT8TegYEqjf2dVCoRZJh4n1ho5sAODWx7hOp1Kh7DI8zwqcmjd7IW0PMXug1qdFSoKo/s2048/IMG_5335.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8ZaXu6X1uIb9rXkcgs73shgWCFdbQexye4ldgZuJZZnErrzhYJ9D7eOurtq6rmM4oDWobg8odohcwJETZF_2vb_1dNkHtkQUzuMmSBylioa417otVPkmHmW1pT8TegYEqjf2dVCoRZJh4n1ho5sAODWx7hOp1Kh7DI8zwqcmjd7IW0PMXug1qdFSoKo/w480-h640/IMG_5335.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>That's right, the tiny little plastic tether that holds the fuel cap when you're refuelling broke, rendering the whole van literally undriveable. I've been suffering ever since.</p><p>Anyway, as is usually the case with this sort of thing, this tiny 3¢ part is only available as a complete subassembly with the fuel cap, and can't be purchased separately.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlLSaeAMa5n-XR-tx8xEsyFNUreAc4tdFAfLhqO-SxN4UpCloLstb1DBp79V2-nj4xP5u2RJZPvgCh2NxLIyoi9sTs4yyGSgXJ7awXtUg-I94sI0kVfWygPdD8xlFp6Wl9DgGF_1kOw-AvcwwEXg0uFTiaV-wvefjlR8OS5RffFNRGrtKGxwjr-OwYpE/s2048/IMG_5336.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlLSaeAMa5n-XR-tx8xEsyFNUreAc4tdFAfLhqO-SxN4UpCloLstb1DBp79V2-nj4xP5u2RJZPvgCh2NxLIyoi9sTs4yyGSgXJ7awXtUg-I94sI0kVfWygPdD8xlFp6Wl9DgGF_1kOw-AvcwwEXg0uFTiaV-wvefjlR8OS5RffFNRGrtKGxwjr-OwYpE/w480-h640/IMG_5336.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Honestly this isn't the worst thing as the gasket will eventually dry out and cause an evap error in the OBD computer.</p><p>Except that diesels don't have an evap system so actually it wouldn't have done anything at all.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0Abwj1N8nuXkK-f8qCkTtam4FHjehUYYa8yLetJegbGXhAO3LCbVGOvlDgwFPLuJfKkUef8mY2qgPXyXgDxBlLvkwuNIra5tEOSRAV_My99Au7GKF3k9nStJjWlU6qZAL9mNVM5xA-7ax-7uaW1kCc9qT7Q0xy-7brWCFOgaKxwu5QFeTvH6DyNY2ic/s2048/IMG_5339.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0Abwj1N8nuXkK-f8qCkTtam4FHjehUYYa8yLetJegbGXhAO3LCbVGOvlDgwFPLuJfKkUef8mY2qgPXyXgDxBlLvkwuNIra5tEOSRAV_My99Au7GKF3k9nStJjWlU6qZAL9mNVM5xA-7ax-7uaW1kCc9qT7Q0xy-7brWCFOgaKxwu5QFeTvH6DyNY2ic/w480-h640/IMG_5339.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>But I think it was still worth getting a new one.</p><p>Anyway, before we get the new one installed, we must remove the peg holding the remains of the old tether in place. Luckily, there's a tool for that.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcOqsHi1fILwjPznWiSTBf-qsNMSgMBBDB6rBK7b9JzhTUPtP59eBdzA_nj3LPDv7JBOFWZOyjP_KMs2FFFtWGbelJqo6Hw9SHL_eU6lxy1sAxHNg7s96jCROKR6MMB22JkL83bG-e8zdvVE29LIiS7hMyigreHzWMOvVGy-yLP9YTJGEjnxLuE9mPYY/s2048/IMG_5337.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrcOqsHi1fILwjPznWiSTBf-qsNMSgMBBDB6rBK7b9JzhTUPtP59eBdzA_nj3LPDv7JBOFWZOyjP_KMs2FFFtWGbelJqo6Hw9SHL_eU6lxy1sAxHNg7s96jCROKR6MMB22JkL83bG-e8zdvVE29LIiS7hMyigreHzWMOvVGy-yLP9YTJGEjnxLuE9mPYY/w480-h640/IMG_5337.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Then we just tether the new fuel cap in place.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAW9P31syzV39MonM9wcEpvqV75KXwXEXmZDjwPSq47SXWp5MJTM07bKmBLzcaiU-wYNW0FV6p6jXKJNAVfE1ui66JwhWU2RP-0ZaLE0a_YMeuRRIbPqaIdB5YJ0dCDDOxjGRbbOTzGhNDmFOgiAWw_2kQ6zFMyjnFhCUKuTnsZFAtNF1s58-jSkafuhM/s2048/IMG_5338.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAW9P31syzV39MonM9wcEpvqV75KXwXEXmZDjwPSq47SXWp5MJTM07bKmBLzcaiU-wYNW0FV6p6jXKJNAVfE1ui66JwhWU2RP-0ZaLE0a_YMeuRRIbPqaIdB5YJ0dCDDOxjGRbbOTzGhNDmFOgiAWw_2kQ6zFMyjnFhCUKuTnsZFAtNF1s58-jSkafuhM/w480-h640/IMG_5338.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And it's out with the old and in with the new.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhys9n_umCD1iX3TUH4J_1sTDVWgW4xZziAlIy0jhFIEOANL522Hd2adfbaoCaPXHKc-QMZr7a_IzAoecC5XebEyeVP74qS6_BJWAzDF6kKL_hC7oUnt6WpvCVC2wf8QGtZcTaS-M0mIsX2W86e5blB3FUF71t5hQhjIGRE5UAC0XlVRdcLq4akZUzh3j4/s2048/IMG_5340.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhys9n_umCD1iX3TUH4J_1sTDVWgW4xZziAlIy0jhFIEOANL522Hd2adfbaoCaPXHKc-QMZr7a_IzAoecC5XebEyeVP74qS6_BJWAzDF6kKL_hC7oUnt6WpvCVC2wf8QGtZcTaS-M0mIsX2W86e5blB3FUF71t5hQhjIGRE5UAC0XlVRdcLq4akZUzh3j4/w480-h640/IMG_5340.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I'll just have to be careful that the tether doesn't get caught in the hinge again. I'd rather not do this again for another 15 to 20 years.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-59817809274692901012024-01-20T14:20:00.000-08:002024-01-20T14:20:19.927-08:00I'm Screwed<p>For a while now I've been on the lookout for a very specific style of screwdriver. Basically what I want is an offset flat-blade screwdriver set, where the two ends are at 90 degrees to each other. With this sort of tool, you can reach into tight spaces and screw in, or unscrew, a slotted screw 90 degrees at a time.</p><p>Now it's not hard to find offset flat-blade screwdrivers, but if you look closely at most of them, they're only flat blade on one side and the other side is almost always a philips head, which is not a very useful tip for driving a slotted screw.</p><p>However, one company does manufacture the right style.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5up8npNIF6W0yvKNhX9diQJCKtKYhdiEI0zKeGrnPUZChQjMKziSXxnZDxYjrbv-G2HR12kpsTRXGRNzuw43yJAp_IqhMmKzNb1PXvSQiPrpRzU_-hNI0cXX_pReTBLnDzqQgj_giz0gD7wkelSSazyHNa4Vgbkuxt0kslgjI1hB331hjHGjCZA3WPso/s2048/IMG_5331.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5up8npNIF6W0yvKNhX9diQJCKtKYhdiEI0zKeGrnPUZChQjMKziSXxnZDxYjrbv-G2HR12kpsTRXGRNzuw43yJAp_IqhMmKzNb1PXvSQiPrpRzU_-hNI0cXX_pReTBLnDzqQgj_giz0gD7wkelSSazyHNa4Vgbkuxt0kslgjI1hB331hjHGjCZA3WPso/w480-h640/IMG_5331.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Unfortunately, it's Snap-On (AKA Blue-Point).</p><p>Now there's nothing wrong with this from a quality or design perspective, but the trouble is that these tools come with a Snap-On price tag. This set of 5 screwdrivers would normally cost about $75 retail, but luckily I was able to find a completely nonsuspicious listing on eBay for about $33 all-in.</p><p>So with that out of the way, it's worth discussing why I need a flat blade screwdriver to fit into tight places in the first place? The answer is simple.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWkZHe5IrJHf1315hzDH0iIEGjrp0IHsTZ671IbN1OXrrib52qA41-vcUTWlnneu7hOVAchG4dQuV5vpFxUbPqCdryTXaX5LydM2aDhtZEfNbMI6E_tQNZLysdwnzgMz4NvRv28fDbLmxGShd-47HO7C79TSckXts6ipXHcKVDcLoABguXNifrc3Kffc/s2048/IMG_5332.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWkZHe5IrJHf1315hzDH0iIEGjrp0IHsTZ671IbN1OXrrib52qA41-vcUTWlnneu7hOVAchG4dQuV5vpFxUbPqCdryTXaX5LydM2aDhtZEfNbMI6E_tQNZLysdwnzgMz4NvRv28fDbLmxGShd-47HO7C79TSckXts6ipXHcKVDcLoABguXNifrc3Kffc/w480-h640/IMG_5332.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Sewing machine needle plates are almost universally held in by slotted screws, and they always have the entire rest of the sewing machine right above them that really gets in the way of accessing them with a regular screwdriver. Even getting them with a stubby screwdriver tends to be quite difficult due to the proximity of the needle bar and presser foot shank.</p><p>But an offset screwdriver is the perfect tool for the job.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaPUtioo51iFlsx4gHL-prjBvRfKBRqHgGbKNcOu_2_5wARyL5c57I3M0ZgdqeFRLjyH451VYyRwbwqkybHVRkDiy4w7NR1fsURkSLKzHakC79xRs1UfL9ryZS3bJqpGxueKvOB9pGKsyeW8EQFbsTHT_fMHw1y5fVIwHIWGYml-hp5qJeB_Na4YTbpw/s2048/IMG_5333.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYaPUtioo51iFlsx4gHL-prjBvRfKBRqHgGbKNcOu_2_5wARyL5c57I3M0ZgdqeFRLjyH451VYyRwbwqkybHVRkDiy4w7NR1fsURkSLKzHakC79xRs1UfL9ryZS3bJqpGxueKvOB9pGKsyeW8EQFbsTHT_fMHw1y5fVIwHIWGYml-hp5qJeB_Na4YTbpw/w480-h640/IMG_5333.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Unless, of course, the screwdriver's blade is just a fraction too thick to fit into the head of the screw.</p><p>Well, lucky for me I have more than one sewing machine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZr7sCOtOza-lqIdTVLJaSXE1m0OvpxJHZwb-BovKXnx4vjM1D4CryRzZwYjqygq82R8g9tkJ7OfA8-LfTzq7an4h0PpAXA3D109zSfTk6T4NAYjRk419fCZ-07PEf8u1vrKe6wGTLOJKFBKyEnWIKzq0L4WsjbKUY1wjNN61BsYP1cwYoEF1b8MUB7I/s2048/IMG_5334.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZr7sCOtOza-lqIdTVLJaSXE1m0OvpxJHZwb-BovKXnx4vjM1D4CryRzZwYjqygq82R8g9tkJ7OfA8-LfTzq7an4h0PpAXA3D109zSfTk6T4NAYjRk419fCZ-07PEf8u1vrKe6wGTLOJKFBKyEnWIKzq0L4WsjbKUY1wjNN61BsYP1cwYoEF1b8MUB7I/w480-h640/IMG_5334.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>See? It works perfectly.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-46562551240190398282024-01-19T20:35:00.000-08:002024-01-19T20:39:08.630-08:00Feet Pics<p>So a while back I bought this chair from Ikea. This was not a great decision, for multiple reasons.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BZ1QcUqf4FAwnh0IM6x0cUPocYjrO8fBahcQFl46BKUG4VnSPTvy4Q6VC7c24Rai-1TpdtWQMSZSU3FuOntXn-kBUAbJ5rYZdarhP5XEZD4YQio2j-uXitIWiE6OeNdfUq_KjuVRIkmWbBaU-LQ9V9WFmG_i1eaAAmuWc7QWmWYNoGUNKXzPU64k200/s2048/IMG_5310.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BZ1QcUqf4FAwnh0IM6x0cUPocYjrO8fBahcQFl46BKUG4VnSPTvy4Q6VC7c24Rai-1TpdtWQMSZSU3FuOntXn-kBUAbJ5rYZdarhP5XEZD4YQio2j-uXitIWiE6OeNdfUq_KjuVRIkmWbBaU-LQ9V9WFmG_i1eaAAmuWc7QWmWYNoGUNKXzPU64k200/w480-h640/IMG_5310.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>One of those reasons is that the casters keep falling out of the legs.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Xs9taIhDBTTS-qJkAEi6jf5ZsOScnNu6BOtneC5qJKgBNujdHHPucMcNKaOCcv7uKaDLo5fQrXog3nUvONHNsn7G1oYeb6jbSF3cZsWBsNPL4gQ19IAFBxMU8GUKooATREk_Xn2t4ZTC0smJEN25lVj3xOQAfuMqhYUGEVWixM36jardoeEu1ciptc0/s2048/IMG_5311.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Xs9taIhDBTTS-qJkAEi6jf5ZsOScnNu6BOtneC5qJKgBNujdHHPucMcNKaOCcv7uKaDLo5fQrXog3nUvONHNsn7G1oYeb6jbSF3cZsWBsNPL4gQ19IAFBxMU8GUKooATREk_Xn2t4ZTC0smJEN25lVj3xOQAfuMqhYUGEVWixM36jardoeEu1ciptc0/w480-h640/IMG_5311.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Which is really not helpful for the whole "staying upright" thing that chairs are supposed to do. They're supposed to be held in place by these rather stubby plastic inserts that are "press fit" (more like loosely held) into the ends of the legs, but now they're going to get a little chemical assistance.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXKNm6TV_eSvWiUbo9RQjFJG8OkJ-4Lu9wBGmI92aNAISrZnme0nrauPNJuEVLhTgAjg8_-ctsv_88QkAh9BaHRDHlN7V066kfEgFGdMr-q1mPgfFoAwAwaCs82qiHTRd0Bc9zGh8Z8QClSZCXwjM90bixcCFw9w6hu4B2wLD64EvPtjvVzLWtPsUsz0/s2048/IMG_5312.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXKNm6TV_eSvWiUbo9RQjFJG8OkJ-4Lu9wBGmI92aNAISrZnme0nrauPNJuEVLhTgAjg8_-ctsv_88QkAh9BaHRDHlN7V066kfEgFGdMr-q1mPgfFoAwAwaCs82qiHTRd0Bc9zGh8Z8QClSZCXwjM90bixcCFw9w6hu4B2wLD64EvPtjvVzLWtPsUsz0/w480-h640/IMG_5312.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The putty is supposed to mix up black, but I guess dark grey is close enough.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yYA7Ifi_nZEa6NG64ewBYnQLpdj4r7Db3tfrVJ1ETX7K8tkWiD7stzme3G5whgH2ZmQdGV706DUlW72XEQLw73otNU1i0fRxuJAwUbmcCeqj4yFLftln6RJZeryoyycqOGUKdun3vFGjbRMdYFvqAb8uBOQuttS_zroRPiIBxym_WJaTyDU2jYD39-o/s2048/IMG_5314.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_yYA7Ifi_nZEa6NG64ewBYnQLpdj4r7Db3tfrVJ1ETX7K8tkWiD7stzme3G5whgH2ZmQdGV706DUlW72XEQLw73otNU1i0fRxuJAwUbmcCeqj4yFLftln6RJZeryoyycqOGUKdun3vFGjbRMdYFvqAb8uBOQuttS_zroRPiIBxym_WJaTyDU2jYD39-o/w480-h640/IMG_5314.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>It was a little frustrating to work with as it was a touch crumbly rather than being smooth and easily malleable like I hoped it would be.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6fF2Z7Sv37yb9NrPSpVTlHDZa-0DW6nyS-8k-40sb_d5FiHprdPiWRB68m2mvcVrjI0d6tlIZ5fPVsY8jF4oZb1p9ooNkAyScLB3NygsRpXl1xvUaDZFfGPybC14hxHA8sylwBxMs-SLzP335qF-Y7jvKV8Dwvo_mCPimefQOLFQCH5kz8zMMkW0-6c/s2048/IMG_5315.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP6fF2Z7Sv37yb9NrPSpVTlHDZa-0DW6nyS-8k-40sb_d5FiHprdPiWRB68m2mvcVrjI0d6tlIZ5fPVsY8jF4oZb1p9ooNkAyScLB3NygsRpXl1xvUaDZFfGPybC14hxHA8sylwBxMs-SLzP335qF-Y7jvKV8Dwvo_mCPimefQOLFQCH5kz8zMMkW0-6c/w480-h640/IMG_5315.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>But thankfully I did manage to squish a reasonable amount in there between the plastic inserts and the inside of the legs.</p><p>I was a little bit worried that the epoxy wouldn't have much holding power, given how dry it felt, but I think my worries might have been misplaced.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWPSbt_332wTwKbwsNPpfepm9AuGAoUCtOPmHZCDVVWe6liNV8ljLLNky4yDzzgSuucfu5BPKMpWUs1spo9rwieDCoGIHXL_0X9k2DnFR4KJNIArsL7Y0sEIJpuewU29KTw6a9t_9tXe7FFum17qoHqSLIFLU1-8RvuJtg3-O4B5vFwWrQVAmwdIJicY/s2048/IMG_5316.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTWPSbt_332wTwKbwsNPpfepm9AuGAoUCtOPmHZCDVVWe6liNV8ljLLNky4yDzzgSuucfu5BPKMpWUs1spo9rwieDCoGIHXL_0X9k2DnFR4KJNIArsL7Y0sEIJpuewU29KTw6a9t_9tXe7FFum17qoHqSLIFLU1-8RvuJtg3-O4B5vFwWrQVAmwdIJicY/w480-h640/IMG_5316.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It definitely stuck just fine to the cardboard it was resting against overnight.</p><p>Anyway, the chair is back together and everything's good, right?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYvHCpDKm9L0P5A7jucs4DOy49Y2Xe9woa7zyG2cV8pyULg-PIujzpejJuH0riI6OYhyphenhyphenG9t0bdaAjgYNtIjXCUnWhDN9WKavs80cSwrTSCqIKJm0d7KVT4_BK57dvzEtt9kFM2PKWzUiLe8sVkKeaDCrwYZEJJs3x2PAjnVRvRJhhv3mEbgDx4pIkgpI/s2048/IMG_5325.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYvHCpDKm9L0P5A7jucs4DOy49Y2Xe9woa7zyG2cV8pyULg-PIujzpejJuH0riI6OYhyphenhyphenG9t0bdaAjgYNtIjXCUnWhDN9WKavs80cSwrTSCqIKJm0d7KVT4_BK57dvzEtt9kFM2PKWzUiLe8sVkKeaDCrwYZEJJs3x2PAjnVRvRJhhv3mEbgDx4pIkgpI/w480-h640/IMG_5325.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Wrong. These casters are awful, as in pure 100% garbage. Ikea decided to be a little too clever for their own good and designed them with a spring-loaded mechanism where they won't roll unless you apply a fairly significant amount of downward pressure. So any time you try to move the chair around, it just scrapes across the ground instead of rolling. And then when you're sitting down, the chair is all rolly and unstable under you. Literally the worst of both worlds.</p><p>And added on top of that, the global standard for every single office chair caster ever made is to have an 11mm shank. Guess what Ikea's are? Yeah, that's right, 10mm. They just had to be different for the sake of being different.</p><p>Thankfully, you can find Ikea-specific replacements, and I found these bell glides listed for sale on the House of Bezos.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhButbLv95SuBcxbpLDMXGr7px2D-V_ja0Z_IQA2msuRpF5TKsFBkRpoXCBVPDd8bRj4kq1NW3cHN2m_Rwetz9DSmJFR9igAl4CJ9yeD-mXRmBWUKM1PZlY1726s25RhBMNosKLK-KeAr2LC239BS_4hlV1GrS_oKnFrDkqcAx-HA4hpDC9qLOENstbY/s2048/IMG_5326.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhButbLv95SuBcxbpLDMXGr7px2D-V_ja0Z_IQA2msuRpF5TKsFBkRpoXCBVPDd8bRj4kq1NW3cHN2m_Rwetz9DSmJFR9igAl4CJ9yeD-mXRmBWUKM1PZlY1726s25RhBMNosKLK-KeAr2LC239BS_4hlV1GrS_oKnFrDkqcAx-HA4hpDC9qLOENstbY/w480-h640/IMG_5326.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Basically they're a solid foot that replaces the wheeled casters. they slide relatively easily when you're not sitting on them, and then stay solidly in place when you do sit down. You know, the right way around.</p><p>They generally come in two heights: a low-profile height, which is basically just no taller then they need to be; and then these high-profile versions which are designed to match the height of wheeled casters. I chose the latter because the lift cylinder in the middle of the leg assembly hangs down pretty far, and I didn't want it to end up scraping the floor.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Wt-HN55m7mHrFPxRhwiNI5FfVhhdM5fSRqVCp68YzdW8DCuyON7At2TuX5oVLoc_lnEfgFqzHu01GxP3aMPdd8tLpUXhng0hAVR3Pb7-MucUklmgd8YfpJUxzESglPwJjjHuZOWnL12vUrbqcyh_D7TDJIyG2fS4O9Mq0LbB3xw51ga3NG4IjQdU9YY/s2048/IMG_5327.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Wt-HN55m7mHrFPxRhwiNI5FfVhhdM5fSRqVCp68YzdW8DCuyON7At2TuX5oVLoc_lnEfgFqzHu01GxP3aMPdd8tLpUXhng0hAVR3Pb7-MucUklmgd8YfpJUxzESglPwJjjHuZOWnL12vUrbqcyh_D7TDJIyG2fS4O9Mq0LbB3xw51ga3NG4IjQdU9YY/w480-h640/IMG_5327.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>They install very easily: just yank out the casters and shove in the bell glides.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHO6YcKdGJF3wqjafqfC78Lj2dm_0atzOyBkpxBpDrMD4p5LM45UGPnpzAVdOlqW_TA1TbB1202F-FM4ChuNwE_jJM7NUpQ4p-HCV6bz7AMN-u5xn8NsZZrq0_0Sra5PwfFuMqzzVFI4aNN3MsCVyOKOC9IaXwAXuifJVR1sCkioaXjEJ80JqkPN2Hclw/s2048/IMG_5328.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHO6YcKdGJF3wqjafqfC78Lj2dm_0atzOyBkpxBpDrMD4p5LM45UGPnpzAVdOlqW_TA1TbB1202F-FM4ChuNwE_jJM7NUpQ4p-HCV6bz7AMN-u5xn8NsZZrq0_0Sra5PwfFuMqzzVFI4aNN3MsCVyOKOC9IaXwAXuifJVR1sCkioaXjEJ80JqkPN2Hclw/w480-h640/IMG_5328.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>That's much better.</p><p>Of course, there is still one teensy tiny little design flaw with this chair.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EKxyH71TLwzM2xKiH3v8L4K75bZIajZ33-lcYeamcwkSDSQ9xCP7z4-PwuxkyhOu1Wma0cISKYwj-ywRQY0AQ8KrXgOy0KFmyUWfvijyx22jJnkC4HQE8WKcq3mkSoEeAV8JoiB8BteM8dSDaGNKWLW9CewLX2Bie_EYSCA3vCqpcCiK6pg_I-LjzJA/s2048/IMG_5329.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EKxyH71TLwzM2xKiH3v8L4K75bZIajZ33-lcYeamcwkSDSQ9xCP7z4-PwuxkyhOu1Wma0cISKYwj-ywRQY0AQ8KrXgOy0KFmyUWfvijyx22jJnkC4HQE8WKcq3mkSoEeAV8JoiB8BteM8dSDaGNKWLW9CewLX2Bie_EYSCA3vCqpcCiK6pg_I-LjzJA/w480-h640/IMG_5329.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Somehow Ikea thought it would be an amazing idea to design the seat to tilt forward at a noticeable angle. I can't even begin to imagine why they thought this would be a good idea, but it makes the chair remarkably uncomfortable to sit in.</p><p>But this is a problem to fix another day. For now, I'm done with dealing with this awful, awful chair.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-5071641309858049792024-01-17T20:00:00.000-08:002024-01-17T20:00:58.653-08:00Furnace Time, Again<p>Yes, it's that time again. My furnace is acting up, showing signs that there's something amiss in the high limit circuit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWGfOFXe2wRE4-mbmjQEtFHLv8Fls2oj4haS6lJK0J-RC48ZrWdij7v7x35YpcgbJT5oMOVCagia2sCADwMEey6mrLaVZ6Xv3uItphwikjiSIywIUHsUVepLrmBt-mdk0nFqLv12lGGHC_SdNMcpszhu3499PpIC7Cmy9u7gfS7cRt_zcvcOHAGYjkvo/s2048/IMG_5317.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWGfOFXe2wRE4-mbmjQEtFHLv8Fls2oj4haS6lJK0J-RC48ZrWdij7v7x35YpcgbJT5oMOVCagia2sCADwMEey6mrLaVZ6Xv3uItphwikjiSIywIUHsUVepLrmBt-mdk0nFqLv12lGGHC_SdNMcpszhu3499PpIC7Cmy9u7gfS7cRt_zcvcOHAGYjkvo/w480-h640/IMG_5317.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>My suspicion now has been narrowed down to the main 12-pin harness connector. Prodding at it seems to change the furnace's behaviour when it's in its 4-flash error mode, so my thought is that perhaps the connector pins aren't making good contact?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxt2AUf5JtoP1rkrbrLRt9zXunWm37A0eIOE6vEfLCkgpIR0zqtiaCYr0WE9_KGEJShvt0u7ObFwmG_JtGl8Ipf0cZPrK8lPa-cMtTysfOsdkIEWCLg9PLPL39Hwz1Q38JKStbSJyQXU7PI8lLV3stLNdPaDJMZ9TKRiMA5g17rr6k_bAzsvl9d_52AbU/s2048/IMG_5318.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxt2AUf5JtoP1rkrbrLRt9zXunWm37A0eIOE6vEfLCkgpIR0zqtiaCYr0WE9_KGEJShvt0u7ObFwmG_JtGl8Ipf0cZPrK8lPa-cMtTysfOsdkIEWCLg9PLPL39Hwz1Q38JKStbSJyQXU7PI8lLV3stLNdPaDJMZ9TKRiMA5g17rr6k_bAzsvl9d_52AbU/w480-h640/IMG_5318.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>This is a molex connector, where this circular female pins fit over top of a slightly smaller round male pins.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRpEZChyUZZnzPk6uuGDpOMKSLsPWZoxhUhFp8kQdRG1ZSXt7bQIlXeeUftmiHThMU4eklDlFVsDYtWHfkSnfYQYQ5QriT5ggq5dNdcilGZo6GKS_zunvn8Z8Ioj3nRPT4jDvBpfpXYoVpEDod-A9jQlVIUo9icBP0XMKJ21tBfrU1rdGj791FZ4PQMg/s2048/IMG_5319.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRpEZChyUZZnzPk6uuGDpOMKSLsPWZoxhUhFp8kQdRG1ZSXt7bQIlXeeUftmiHThMU4eklDlFVsDYtWHfkSnfYQYQ5QriT5ggq5dNdcilGZo6GKS_zunvn8Z8Ioj3nRPT4jDvBpfpXYoVpEDod-A9jQlVIUo9icBP0XMKJ21tBfrU1rdGj791FZ4PQMg/w480-h640/IMG_5319.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The pins are held into the connector body via a set of spring tabs around the end, and luckily there's a tool designed specifically for removing them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhGjxbWjCjheif68dmCI2lCayFZQ47K2vN5uYrhlAxmy4dhw6_R3d1LqOu-jlxwoWgZKLQ0TMgXn-_b1tYkN0ivSwIIUA6tenWLGTDNiVkwNQm0SDBsM1uzXKm21NdawF_GA_dJizGK4GP7QP_p4Y3hA0jybYE7NQ0otjvUpyIPRUYWWtEPNwPA77mOo/s2048/IMG_5320.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhGjxbWjCjheif68dmCI2lCayFZQ47K2vN5uYrhlAxmy4dhw6_R3d1LqOu-jlxwoWgZKLQ0TMgXn-_b1tYkN0ivSwIIUA6tenWLGTDNiVkwNQm0SDBsM1uzXKm21NdawF_GA_dJizGK4GP7QP_p4Y3hA0jybYE7NQ0otjvUpyIPRUYWWtEPNwPA77mOo/w480-h640/IMG_5320.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The key to using this tool (pun probably intended) is to push on the wire from the other side of the connector before sliding the tool all the way over the pin. The tabs tend to dig into the plastic of the connector, and so pushing it forwards helps keep the tabs from jamming up and bending the tip of the tool, which is made out of a pretty thin steel tube.</p><p>Anyway, with the two pins for the high limit circuit removed from the connector, we can see that...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQsYXtSO8T4kQnMZSml14sGVh_0AyI6z-oRmgpmjtUL7NGjfhb3Wg7h66a09gznkfMW1fXZgL-QeW7QMsPTJ-zspl7laHWDk-S0pO5yVSpGe1wIJqJjHpjRn_L9PGXLU-F5p68v-8eRLegVrBjSbkHmnPR_704ThDr2p5gsMu2kkQfTBnYqowVazrH3k/s2048/IMG_5321.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUQsYXtSO8T4kQnMZSml14sGVh_0AyI6z-oRmgpmjtUL7NGjfhb3Wg7h66a09gznkfMW1fXZgL-QeW7QMsPTJ-zspl7laHWDk-S0pO5yVSpGe1wIJqJjHpjRn_L9PGXLU-F5p68v-8eRLegVrBjSbkHmnPR_704ThDr2p5gsMu2kkQfTBnYqowVazrH3k/w480-h640/IMG_5321.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>They kind of look fine? I guess? I sort of expected to see a bit more wear and tear here, maybe the seam split wide open or something, but no. It just looks like a regular molex pin.</p><p>I did go ahead and flex the male pins on the controller board to make sure that they haven't gotten crushed. They're a split pin design that's intended to spring out against the inside of the female pin so as to make reliable contact, so maybe that'll help.</p><p>If these connections are still misbehaving, I did buy a set of replacement pins (in fact, a whole replacement connector kit) so that'll be the next step if the furnace continues to misbehave.</p><p>One other thing I wanted to address while I was poking around in here is this peculiar wire nut in the high limit circuit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzZOId9s7qGJUYEOv3gz1xTN6jCTKaOfC_RxzQtsBqWRi64RA7Dd_VxDiaePHjO29fdmyFy4lbodMTJe42vyxT6xUauZkZkPkDSAP1Htw6_AcAUNGu2Pv7sFQt1-lY3PVGGsdadaxEYnLb5ofBkvNvL4ts0nJzKrhD6Rm5gSea60G-SPH3PRH5wpkvMc/s2048/IMG_5322.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipzZOId9s7qGJUYEOv3gz1xTN6jCTKaOfC_RxzQtsBqWRi64RA7Dd_VxDiaePHjO29fdmyFy4lbodMTJe42vyxT6xUauZkZkPkDSAP1Htw6_AcAUNGu2Pv7sFQt1-lY3PVGGsdadaxEYnLb5ofBkvNvL4ts0nJzKrhD6Rm5gSea60G-SPH3PRH5wpkvMc/w480-h640/IMG_5322.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It's always seemed a little suspect to me, despite the fact that it's on there pretty good. One side of it connects to the high temp switch on the fan, and the other end goes down to the thermal fuses next to the burners, if I recall correctly. Anyway, it was easy enough to replace with an insulated spade connector pair.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM63iIamebx3fdb2Te4iWaFfzhf730nyXMMMFVd5wSL7fj7-hMBnI-JtcQdvSnqJvq04F74gPXBBludzZiaOE3CrvTMXQ4Zvr2HLRjkeOAsxNFDxJ4E-vVli7dpz_CkF7oqGps9raYxGY0Ys8JCFBAjhrw1XyQdS31bIu2BI5tqMJDdtRMZipQvDSQFD4/s2048/IMG_5323.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM63iIamebx3fdb2Te4iWaFfzhf730nyXMMMFVd5wSL7fj7-hMBnI-JtcQdvSnqJvq04F74gPXBBludzZiaOE3CrvTMXQ4Zvr2HLRjkeOAsxNFDxJ4E-vVli7dpz_CkF7oqGps9raYxGY0Ys8JCFBAjhrw1XyQdS31bIu2BI5tqMJDdtRMZipQvDSQFD4/w480-h640/IMG_5323.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>If nothing else, it looks much cleaner, I suppose.</p><p>Anyway, the furnace still works, though only time will tell if it'll continue to misbehave or if it'll finally calm itself down and just produce heat properly.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-18852066878877258692024-01-07T18:08:00.000-08:002024-02-26T20:16:10.847-08:00Threading A Sewing Machine<p>But the other kind of threading.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGcmPBnuUHz8O7Kx0GCp1r_hFyuhaC7Dth1gTRvak1kJWL1YAzuoz5m1XXq4C9Xf6Xj_TcjVfvBDqcNOirNokbxyAqC8krA9kD463g7Fz21DmDWiOw9_U1EQ7-4f7ndEIbflyiy616W39K7xRqTXEzQr782OBnTN3YJHwq-Nvona7xIAV5cZoNowzol0/s2048/IMG_5308.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfGcmPBnuUHz8O7Kx0GCp1r_hFyuhaC7Dth1gTRvak1kJWL1YAzuoz5m1XXq4C9Xf6Xj_TcjVfvBDqcNOirNokbxyAqC8krA9kD463g7Fz21DmDWiOw9_U1EQ7-4f7ndEIbflyiy616W39K7xRqTXEzQr782OBnTN3YJHwq-Nvona7xIAV5cZoNowzol0/w480-h640/IMG_5308.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>These bed attachment holes tend to get crapped up over time with dried up oil, lint, and various other kinds of dirt. Since they're a fine thread (9/64-40 of all things), this can quickly jam up any kind of attachment screws you try to fit into them, unless you chase the threads with an appropriate tap.</p><p>Thankfully, while not a common size outside of the world of sewing machines, the tap is relatively easy to find. After running it through both holes, the thumb screw can now spin all the way in with ease.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-4259338220391151302024-01-07T18:03:00.000-08:002024-01-07T18:03:10.648-08:00Playing Footie<p>While my new-to-me worktable was in pretty good shape overall, the feet left a little to be desired. Thankfully adjustable table feet are a commodity part, so it was easy to find a set of replacements at The House of Bezos.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-9lCgSJF-VP522Y2BOanCqwuVDaaGtBYMEi8fU62Fz-GmQrzdTO6vp1MwxZZAA1O22gGaiUAsqrItLFixkGQBpxrDQ7vEFHGgaFES_z9ABUMwmtQpzCSeiI0anJpBo1c4XrsRG2vJ_eFFgWaat9nsp-LIZDuwNbNKHYwHjZrRqPHGWZ9HoLoZ0JQxaU/s2048/IMG_5305.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-9lCgSJF-VP522Y2BOanCqwuVDaaGtBYMEi8fU62Fz-GmQrzdTO6vp1MwxZZAA1O22gGaiUAsqrItLFixkGQBpxrDQ7vEFHGgaFES_z9ABUMwmtQpzCSeiI0anJpBo1c4XrsRG2vJ_eFFgWaat9nsp-LIZDuwNbNKHYwHjZrRqPHGWZ9HoLoZ0JQxaU/w480-h640/IMG_5305.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I didn't need the threaded inserts, but they were the same price as the ones without, and had prime shipping.</p><p>Anyway, out with the old.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82hNEqCaHnZUOvP3ido9O9TAD9VenNuxHjDH_gIifwJmKquerABNanv-bQgsQHAbCQZ1sHwHK5PJHNAdMLmoPT4QcWz1Zz0vmBI6RxuPDUCCtc8P3x4W49jnFDKJdlo9_PyhyphenhyphenRRjzilhEVZQTSk8Mj-8xBHauJ41L7sE6KkBPhh4mTSYBWLOHjFQct90/s2048/IMG_5304.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj82hNEqCaHnZUOvP3ido9O9TAD9VenNuxHjDH_gIifwJmKquerABNanv-bQgsQHAbCQZ1sHwHK5PJHNAdMLmoPT4QcWz1Zz0vmBI6RxuPDUCCtc8P3x4W49jnFDKJdlo9_PyhyphenhyphenRRjzilhEVZQTSk8Mj-8xBHauJ41L7sE6KkBPhh4mTSYBWLOHjFQct90/w480-h640/IMG_5304.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And in with the new.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcV5UFY2tB8gEyvL-p_zfZPONIdpwROVeoAiToUTkP0d-Phl7Uvci1RAg22H-9V7qAlak_KPhB31R-UQKZ1ke2drsS3ePfpZa8Etrq4jBZpaP4J2a7mlGzceBJmlJmW0CTWSGODXdc1vMzZCiBA6YmWboGof0TwYyQGY2F9BUe0F4CZWQxpDqGgm5ZdA/s2048/IMG_5307.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmcV5UFY2tB8gEyvL-p_zfZPONIdpwROVeoAiToUTkP0d-Phl7Uvci1RAg22H-9V7qAlak_KPhB31R-UQKZ1ke2drsS3ePfpZa8Etrq4jBZpaP4J2a7mlGzceBJmlJmW0CTWSGODXdc1vMzZCiBA6YmWboGof0TwYyQGY2F9BUe0F4CZWQxpDqGgm5ZdA/w480-h640/IMG_5307.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And just in case there was any doubt that the previous feet had breathed their last...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYDhQ5sF4KdnJdYZmMbVuC_fMbWSt96YPoPiMOQj6rIBJIgIMKA0Mx3GGVmmFHxu7p2td_LJfg5oE-GbUK47mV6tmNljVw4e_ql0ul89yRibElFwVaLK4WuGMV6mB_Doi4eipxJVvNRE-RLfpCRVGPLfE8bCXnWhk3AY0mztpa1phaOHXVdKuPSYTknM/s2048/IMG_5306.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYDhQ5sF4KdnJdYZmMbVuC_fMbWSt96YPoPiMOQj6rIBJIgIMKA0Mx3GGVmmFHxu7p2td_LJfg5oE-GbUK47mV6tmNljVw4e_ql0ul89yRibElFwVaLK4WuGMV6mB_Doi4eipxJVvNRE-RLfpCRVGPLfE8bCXnWhk3AY0mztpa1phaOHXVdKuPSYTknM/w480-h640/IMG_5306.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I can assure you that they were definitely done.</p><p>Also, I now have some free 3/8-16 threaded inserts for wood. Sweet.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-10871276475206625132024-01-06T14:43:00.000-08:002024-02-26T20:16:26.998-08:00Singing Right Along<p>Recently a Singer 301 popped up on the List of Craigs, as these things do, for an irresistibly low price. The machine is well known for its sewing speed, and a friend happened to be looking for a faster machine, so I picked it up.</p><p>Of course, the reason for this screaming deal is that the thread takeup lever was broken, and selling a broken sewing machine is an exercise in futility. There's just too many working machines available out there for the limited buyer's market to be satiated by, and most people are too afraid of sewing machines to even contemplate the idea of fixing one themselves.</p><p>However, I am not most people.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jKW7laSVqDA" style="border: none;" width="473" youtube-src-id="jKW7laSVqDA"></iframe></div><p>So as you can see above, the repair went very smoothly.</p><p>Prior to this I also cleaned the machine and relubricated it. The previous owner had done some cleaning, but they hadn't really disassembled much of the machine to do so and so there were some large semi-hidden areas that were still covered in probably 50 years of tobacco smoke tar. I didn't quite get everything smelling like a field of alpine wildflowers, but it's about as clean as it's gonna get.</p><p>I still need to chase some threads in the bed (an appropriate 9/64-40 tap should be arriving tomorrow), as the two holes that are used for mounting attachments like a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Sewing-Machine-Gauge-Industrial/dp/B09CZFL9L2">T gauge seam guide</a>, a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Double-Binder-Attachment-Industrial-Machine/dp/B08PK92R46?th=1">swing-away double-fold binder</a>, or a <a href="https://www.sharpsewingsupplies.com/store/p758/SWING-AWAY-DOUBLE-FOLD-HEMMER.html">swing-away double-fold hemmer</a> are a bit clogged up with a mix of lint and dried up oil. (A lot of folks these days prefer the ease-of-use of a magnetic seam guide rather than the older t-gauge style, but since this machine has an aluminum bed, those tend not to work as well here)</p><p>Anyway, the machine sews great, and soon it will be finding its way into my friend's sewing space to hopefully sew for many more years to come.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-22724920016575150472024-01-05T19:05:00.000-08:002024-01-05T19:07:31.824-08:00Pulling The Pin<p>When I set up my c-stand with my camera gear, one thing I didn't count on was the difficulty I would face with trying to mount my ring light. I'd purchased a ball head which I expected to be able to use, but it turned out to be a little insufficient for the task at hand.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyAZ1la3UhVZPuQrXIQWGXayrIfki7Yn_p3amL64-WefMJv_SuhIYFbkHgZsL6mMm6ay3qdHaeMlzVHZQeJpqLyu5zHesSencP3qxkSzXlBfdOJPS7srLj6JbvudP3PzlsfyREuDFtXpSqNl5j93GjMHjbyC6SlwUySbF42j14DQWgIkAhRrnljcYJEM/s2048/IMG_5290.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyAZ1la3UhVZPuQrXIQWGXayrIfki7Yn_p3amL64-WefMJv_SuhIYFbkHgZsL6mMm6ay3qdHaeMlzVHZQeJpqLyu5zHesSencP3qxkSzXlBfdOJPS7srLj6JbvudP3PzlsfyREuDFtXpSqNl5j93GjMHjbyC6SlwUySbF42j14DQWgIkAhRrnljcYJEM/w480-h640/IMG_5290.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Not only did it have a bit too much difficulty keeping it vertical, the 1/4-20 coarse pitch thread that the ring light mounted with provided basically zero resistance to coming unscrewed, and would do so if you even so much as sneezed in another room.</p><p>So I decided it was time to pull the pin.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-t-GWF-m8SwN-I4LnQAM2S-dqKSl5i87g5RHDX8GF_ACfbzTgIHCTsmTGAOEY3Puj4HeH3VpzvNi_q034NZvP9O_qDOEhrrBdrAbDZcbi9yvwbOCbIXsSgysg2VGsew3Nwh2znY4fSs6M4-SypIE71vKvn4eF-kF5aI7fCDAaJc6uTeQ5FEORVdJ094/s2048/IMG_5291.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-t-GWF-m8SwN-I4LnQAM2S-dqKSl5i87g5RHDX8GF_ACfbzTgIHCTsmTGAOEY3Puj4HeH3VpzvNi_q034NZvP9O_qDOEhrrBdrAbDZcbi9yvwbOCbIXsSgysg2VGsew3Nwh2znY4fSs6M4-SypIE71vKvn4eF-kF5aI7fCDAaJc6uTeQ5FEORVdJ094/w480-h640/IMG_5291.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>The baby pin, that is. That's the name for these 5/8 pins with the necked shank on one end (to prevent the set screw that secures it from sliding off the end). This one features a 3/8-16 stud on one end, which you might recognize as also being a coarse thread, and thus subject to inadvertent, unplanned disassembly. However, there is a solution to that, which comes in the form of using a nylock nut to lock things in place.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnhS4QWlZ4N8KCn9H-JQgNUwxzUNuo99NSv-9-6iYPuaewwvyOLLw1rfwV1IYEdPp-RLk0qb5igRdORTQRFOvt09_5azzLt_TzzsGID2w296E7eee9sYto3nj-ZeIW7L7_SmmH8dzZ-RiaDjfSWrn9AVbTeb4FHRJvl_RjYY0QXjSaFVWgcBjJr1B0MM/s2048/IMG_5292.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnhS4QWlZ4N8KCn9H-JQgNUwxzUNuo99NSv-9-6iYPuaewwvyOLLw1rfwV1IYEdPp-RLk0qb5igRdORTQRFOvt09_5azzLt_TzzsGID2w296E7eee9sYto3nj-ZeIW7L7_SmmH8dzZ-RiaDjfSWrn9AVbTeb4FHRJvl_RjYY0QXjSaFVWgcBjJr1B0MM/w480-h640/IMG_5292.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And yes, coincidentally the ring light just happened to have both sizes of threaded holes in its mounting bracket.</p><p>The baby pin fits into the gobo head, and gives us a three axis mounting system so that we can aim the light and camera wherever we please.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqJz5JGc4pAApz8dbE6FVHDEL7l_wKbL8qadJl2OY1MTNMfFoIfl8k85OOBIPK5HYc1nHOpDNTY8fq6h9xikOVXgOSn9LqLhsv1Cd7Zd3Tj98E1FLLHRJAFNgOekz1_G8L0NdjdLwzVGCyQ_L19lkPUOn0N05ex3kQSfayy5id2T3c0Wg1kaPgyD5RbE/s2048/IMG_5293.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifqJz5JGc4pAApz8dbE6FVHDEL7l_wKbL8qadJl2OY1MTNMfFoIfl8k85OOBIPK5HYc1nHOpDNTY8fq6h9xikOVXgOSn9LqLhsv1Cd7Zd3Tj98E1FLLHRJAFNgOekz1_G8L0NdjdLwzVGCyQ_L19lkPUOn0N05ex3kQSfayy5id2T3c0Wg1kaPgyD5RbE/w480-h640/IMG_5293.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And these are designed to securely hold way, way more weight than a basic 1/4-20 ball head, so it has no difficulty supporting this light, even with the camera attached.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuou-q-nmpcmvM6gCh1E1iY0g1V3T6w6YVIknM3qw1fxd9aMofAxDYEKfO0UFiNE_Etg1eWfrDhz56KTQ4nqhq4U2onNvhPkKdJhrvTyngg-k4WBYs9EKyDQ5WenCja_NxY1hKRYmhWLSp91jVULj8O8vPFkBnCNVh2bUaYw9IFaPzbm03f9OtNtDTngc/s2048/IMG_5294.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuou-q-nmpcmvM6gCh1E1iY0g1V3T6w6YVIknM3qw1fxd9aMofAxDYEKfO0UFiNE_Etg1eWfrDhz56KTQ4nqhq4U2onNvhPkKdJhrvTyngg-k4WBYs9EKyDQ5WenCja_NxY1hKRYmhWLSp91jVULj8O8vPFkBnCNVh2bUaYw9IFaPzbm03f9OtNtDTngc/w480-h640/IMG_5294.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>And that bodes well for getting shots like this.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MvglHjGHxjFf3spfOtv0uB9cRcXDgDbQyVKH-qa-FdtCskbecyfAFt0gL7cQBXTuz5_8cFOE_i-CyrOk96qEaIVhKmIwk1zTSVk8oxZzhGCOt-zt8GDw3T1wZeDkwaT868cYkQsEJvIYOCIhs-vgTjzNwwSoebuMz00dK7OOxTT64LE1BP1O6rH3GJs/s2048/DSC00007.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0MvglHjGHxjFf3spfOtv0uB9cRcXDgDbQyVKH-qa-FdtCskbecyfAFt0gL7cQBXTuz5_8cFOE_i-CyrOk96qEaIVhKmIwk1zTSVk8oxZzhGCOt-zt8GDw3T1wZeDkwaT868cYkQsEJvIYOCIhs-vgTjzNwwSoebuMz00dK7OOxTT64LE1BP1O6rH3GJs/w400-h225/DSC00007.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Hmm, there's that Singer 301 again. I wonder why it keeps popping up?</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-75401221601394358662024-01-05T18:56:00.000-08:002024-01-05T18:56:05.427-08:00Table Stakes<p>So I've been slowly putting together my sewing room, and one thing it's been sorely lacking is table space. Sewing is rather unique in demanding an absurd amount of clear flat space for laying out pattern pieces and fabrics, and many people end up just doing a lot of this work on the floor.</p><p>However, I decided I could do better than becoming yet another floor goblin, and so I found a fellow in the List of Craigs who happened to have too many industrial workbenches burdening his poor soul, and grabbed a 36x72 table. Yep, a whole 3 feet deep and 6 feet wide, with a shelf underneath where I'll be able to store some of my machines.</p><p>But do you know what just so happens to be 6 feet away from the wall?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDzdEJjspmhSFA69uCD8K3Q4medmOK_zWVjQjsmVltD8QDY_NAPtBDX-_ar_FIGWQt_eTWDlwVrMEYKHbDRRg4lHQEcZ9krMwml0cAl3uhAZZzM7C4kdWOE3nKDLn8CiMcUmgyFjBurJKlLSe7JlPVBFT4nZfqitiri_8gRdutnrSprp_sA9fDHjfUaw/s2048/IMG_5295.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDzdEJjspmhSFA69uCD8K3Q4medmOK_zWVjQjsmVltD8QDY_NAPtBDX-_ar_FIGWQt_eTWDlwVrMEYKHbDRRg4lHQEcZ9krMwml0cAl3uhAZZzM7C4kdWOE3nKDLn8CiMcUmgyFjBurJKlLSe7JlPVBFT4nZfqitiri_8gRdutnrSprp_sA9fDHjfUaw/w480-h640/IMG_5295.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>As in e x a c t l y 6 feet from the wall?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAwRR5JtESqNz5MD5kaoC0C474a8B0PqPTvflUwOr3zW_FlJY_vKzdPREF-Gu7ScDyMRB4ISWEVlo_bwxNlhuNv5U8zyoqZaktF9Ze7H_nPdhxv9bAx0dnaQSYkbLCqr8W7vZvbG3ct0oY3omoUFbtASbGcMi4C4XJXne3oE8kF9CaGUdSATnTCu45D4/s2048/IMG_5297.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAwRR5JtESqNz5MD5kaoC0C474a8B0PqPTvflUwOr3zW_FlJY_vKzdPREF-Gu7ScDyMRB4ISWEVlo_bwxNlhuNv5U8zyoqZaktF9Ze7H_nPdhxv9bAx0dnaQSYkbLCqr8W7vZvbG3ct0oY3omoUFbtASbGcMi4C4XJXne3oE8kF9CaGUdSATnTCu45D4/w480-h640/IMG_5297.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Oh well, so much for that outlet.</p><p>But lest you come to the mistaken conclusion that I embarked on this adventure unprepared, I assure you that I had everything under control.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSyfoVZTBpZ1Hi7lQm38LGzX_yA2xO3JteT3TO7q_v5bVOekI3PVoXLPVZ8IUaevLxaRfjYVhPTmA2HovL8h3wGHEIDfnfY-JgbjdHCdYQHvrcHikO5U1vkU_Kkn4TpzaSaRPZuxpoyhcOOwJbkMooIWOJEOQBiV8GISwswINBetW8lGLFgFOqidkmvU/s2048/IMG_5298.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSyfoVZTBpZ1Hi7lQm38LGzX_yA2xO3JteT3TO7q_v5bVOekI3PVoXLPVZ8IUaevLxaRfjYVhPTmA2HovL8h3wGHEIDfnfY-JgbjdHCdYQHvrcHikO5U1vkU_Kkn4TpzaSaRPZuxpoyhcOOwJbkMooIWOJEOQBiV8GISwswINBetW8lGLFgFOqidkmvU/w480-h640/IMG_5298.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I had actually been planning on using this power strip in a different location but never got around to installing it there. So now it'll live here instead.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4W9nZmLQ0UUZi8CxO1sUnJ1am2zdNL1w3My4KS81Txt5WTBDG-gB82RfO_zLM70SjMRGhnKqUB2G29W_sEeE3U4-iQ34pRG23jJdeBY6tkYuiJK5CF59rZdGAAY9IBBRam1tukNLc-8gM1Dhxa_yQJhN0mJ05QKgiXh7xfmPbhIyC4wyjE_eMCLAtnc/s2048/IMG_5299.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4W9nZmLQ0UUZi8CxO1sUnJ1am2zdNL1w3My4KS81Txt5WTBDG-gB82RfO_zLM70SjMRGhnKqUB2G29W_sEeE3U4-iQ34pRG23jJdeBY6tkYuiJK5CF59rZdGAAY9IBBRam1tukNLc-8gM1Dhxa_yQJhN0mJ05QKgiXh7xfmPbhIyC4wyjE_eMCLAtnc/w480-h640/IMG_5299.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Speaking of living places, the domestic machines fit nicely on the lower shelf.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrpLAvYD9Y3ZtE7uBRtzT40HurC_EQ3q8qAbhzuJNDjXEHphmWH3nuJe4ajGZwFdSoaLOhzLB2Pe0R7wddb4ZJzPIGnjlj63Bm_5GWpbxZxZLtWOft7nVR508Rll73lkamxLj9VhyCb-msbtn2QByb2moIcw6xdSFzZM2dO6e5agwryVZDuq36dVagOM/s2048/IMG_5300.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrpLAvYD9Y3ZtE7uBRtzT40HurC_EQ3q8qAbhzuJNDjXEHphmWH3nuJe4ajGZwFdSoaLOhzLB2Pe0R7wddb4ZJzPIGnjlj63Bm_5GWpbxZxZLtWOft7nVR508Rll73lkamxLj9VhyCb-msbtn2QByb2moIcw6xdSFzZM2dO6e5agwryVZDuq36dVagOM/w400-h300/IMG_5300.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>And despite taking up a fair chunk of the room, there's still plenty of space to comfortably use my industrials.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq1XCnnnlXQ3XyhE1dZ4YX2zcM7h57y7QXTrw9q43fny5FCDeVEuwnGs7bJDMv4DKQ8v9mHCt49zZR9ofm5WthGkReAOJSDgq4NB37ykoeA-rrX7B-b-CBCCQHwlhWiS1r-sZO9awD0FR5saZ5Yd3NlsiR385xBDVAVD4KX61IzmGPnDM0HYLhx_7RS4/s2048/IMG_5302.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq1XCnnnlXQ3XyhE1dZ4YX2zcM7h57y7QXTrw9q43fny5FCDeVEuwnGs7bJDMv4DKQ8v9mHCt49zZR9ofm5WthGkReAOJSDgq4NB37ykoeA-rrX7B-b-CBCCQHwlhWiS1r-sZO9awD0FR5saZ5Yd3NlsiR385xBDVAVD4KX61IzmGPnDM0HYLhx_7RS4/w480-h640/IMG_5302.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>So all in all I'd say that things worked out quite well, and this table should make a fantastic workspace for my sewing projects.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kw-VKOxctbJnVKTQtfK6tG_WfhRwYlWh5uj_wTrNLHBCIpXe1i15NSqqJqdkcoi_Th7EhZOxgUdxh-4N5bD4ZQUNV-9p_oghrXnhyCWq6W9z2_qqAFpEDpJy5P0oS9rEp3ZRao6dl9ngCGGXvw7c-mHhT4hWl8ouEIEheadFNbCZG44vCTd2ZC1lY5c/s2048/IMG_5301.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kw-VKOxctbJnVKTQtfK6tG_WfhRwYlWh5uj_wTrNLHBCIpXe1i15NSqqJqdkcoi_Th7EhZOxgUdxh-4N5bD4ZQUNV-9p_oghrXnhyCWq6W9z2_qqAFpEDpJy5P0oS9rEp3ZRao6dl9ngCGGXvw7c-mHhT4hWl8ouEIEheadFNbCZG44vCTd2ZC1lY5c/w480-h640/IMG_5301.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Hmm, curious, where did that Singer 301 come from all of a sudden?</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-70118016075486135672023-12-30T21:49:00.000-08:002023-12-30T21:49:01.253-08:00I Won't Take It Sitting Down<p>Well, I dunno, I might.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFN7epxwz2p6Ynvl-x61SAs_VxkLc50j3_Hrt2LjUzTxaEjuMoK3zlX6ZjN01eClrGNEWsFPErE8h_hTEr5PDmtJX489zdaUdTFudoeB47Dk-fLH9MHykqsQpWlACJhUm-gXhuGzIVZzb_mAVZa3QASi-OGuX_Z3L-8KflYBhUdQIaIBPB6TrLw5FP7Cg/s2048/IMG_5284.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFN7epxwz2p6Ynvl-x61SAs_VxkLc50j3_Hrt2LjUzTxaEjuMoK3zlX6ZjN01eClrGNEWsFPErE8h_hTEr5PDmtJX489zdaUdTFudoeB47Dk-fLH9MHykqsQpWlACJhUm-gXhuGzIVZzb_mAVZa3QASi-OGuX_Z3L-8KflYBhUdQIaIBPB6TrLw5FP7Cg/w480-h640/IMG_5284.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I've been enjoying sitting on the blue chair, but it's been splitting its time between my office and the sewing room, and carrying it back and forth was getting a bit old. So, I now have a pink chair to keep in the sewing room, so that the blue chair can remain in the office full time.</p><p>As a bonus, the chair dropped in price a fair bit from when I bought the first one. Nice.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4430286395440396064.post-44900498069235232072023-12-30T14:58:00.000-08:002023-12-30T14:58:43.497-08:00I'm Taking A Stand<p>For a while now, I've been using this lightweight, inexpensive tripod with my camcorder. Initially it worked ok, but when I added a ring light a few years back, the extra weight and leverage really exposed the flex and play in the head assembly.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEOnHC9M-Ckm5WJPCYHpt4eYu65j_h1W98oEOyXqPapV3Sigv5nHScHcs3lUGa7T-yBRb-PUYxYJWQ2pc_g3sd1H5Vp5zTWmsfXF1Ky6kQ5gYm_C3YvUCoNQZGkxf5ed8S9yCAt3hqXSZ2wvzU-KFrEAh5DUvqSK0zIkRDbR90Q6zO97qvI7NXi1SmKA/s2048/IMG_5275.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEOnHC9M-Ckm5WJPCYHpt4eYu65j_h1W98oEOyXqPapV3Sigv5nHScHcs3lUGa7T-yBRb-PUYxYJWQ2pc_g3sd1H5Vp5zTWmsfXF1Ky6kQ5gYm_C3YvUCoNQZGkxf5ed8S9yCAt3hqXSZ2wvzU-KFrEAh5DUvqSK0zIkRDbR90Q6zO97qvI7NXi1SmKA/w480-h640/IMG_5275.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It also made it rather awkwardly top-heavy.</p><p>Another shortcoming of it was its footprint. The wide stance of a tripod is great for stability, but in tight quarters or when trying to film something from above, it really just gets in its own way.</p><p>Luckily, the filmmaking world has solved this problem already, by inventing the c-stand.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUbu4_xEgbs8m2RAITH0an3gp8nC4uDMaTn4W1k_DPs4iiFrBthkvVk7DtHKLF4Ti-7ZUeYGZB4l5WQN8UqIUAJYPqPTl7kYZeTrdf1W8QlgbRrIORdhuiFglEhHJYfaJHqwmkjbvNNsyhMmoPmlfYy-0W4KONZ4yAfL4sZON96Ix2D1KmXxFqEBXhNY/s2048/IMG_5276.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUbu4_xEgbs8m2RAITH0an3gp8nC4uDMaTn4W1k_DPs4iiFrBthkvVk7DtHKLF4Ti-7ZUeYGZB4l5WQN8UqIUAJYPqPTl7kYZeTrdf1W8QlgbRrIORdhuiFglEhHJYfaJHqwmkjbvNNsyhMmoPmlfYy-0W4KONZ4yAfL4sZON96Ix2D1KmXxFqEBXhNY/w480-h640/IMG_5276.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It's not even remotely lightweight, of course, but weight means stability. The main pole can extend up to I think 11 feet high, and the arm at the side can be positioned pretty much arbitrarily. The footprint is much smaller, which would cause problems with extending that arm out to its full reach, but luckily placing a sandbag on the largest foot easily counterbalances this weight.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcqWfxkG58WntluYH717ouZWKF6jHsmoN62I9u2YsnqJQPqtnNDKR_GTF5-hFOyv8Mc4ntHcUpIUmJyeRllSKTrAWXJPWcmzyqSRQdwcJsSIlfstDf-G9l3AR5lSjjgLEOImr64t9HUJAbFwkacwkmoBJx1gi8BgFR5OInQkmPJMEolWSlriIUOq6Y5c/s2048/IMG_5277.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcqWfxkG58WntluYH717ouZWKF6jHsmoN62I9u2YsnqJQPqtnNDKR_GTF5-hFOyv8Mc4ntHcUpIUmJyeRllSKTrAWXJPWcmzyqSRQdwcJsSIlfstDf-G9l3AR5lSjjgLEOImr64t9HUJAbFwkacwkmoBJx1gi8BgFR5OInQkmPJMEolWSlriIUOq6Y5c/w480-h640/IMG_5277.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Well, I guess it would if it had sand in it. Luckily for me...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NAsxghQHnIBZfgkWDU15jgZSZ6TJFKdQT-gXSlVkz0_i8hK9TIzig9lyqXby7Azn8VBYcppC9mEFh_DoiUibYLZ_RBoirEJayRNZOa2xVvXjdQZB14u55tgnx52YmnM10M8CPkhsvtlrYDQStrjSJgyLWop6kRYimtbojBUqyMzg9lefJSJStgljqGs/s2048/IMG_5278.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NAsxghQHnIBZfgkWDU15jgZSZ6TJFKdQT-gXSlVkz0_i8hK9TIzig9lyqXby7Azn8VBYcppC9mEFh_DoiUibYLZ_RBoirEJayRNZOa2xVvXjdQZB14u55tgnx52YmnM10M8CPkhsvtlrYDQStrjSJgyLWop6kRYimtbojBUqyMzg9lefJSJStgljqGs/w480-h640/IMG_5278.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>So, that's much better.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiot7V4jCJhGztCBwrBoiOPyUCXb2fAbOM6IW8VSvcm8WnlnjeM1wJ0pON6go1Q-nfx5wlMxmHpob9VbJ0iHzqfcgXCchX3TOVz8NEJROGnA129UVkzAMqxVq2lmfGxeIVJkU-t3UWovUcGMdnyno_DnbQKhCfEUj6jI89j0m1Z_3iP4n71jR5SG8PdvR4/s2048/IMG_5279.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiot7V4jCJhGztCBwrBoiOPyUCXb2fAbOM6IW8VSvcm8WnlnjeM1wJ0pON6go1Q-nfx5wlMxmHpob9VbJ0iHzqfcgXCchX3TOVz8NEJROGnA129UVkzAMqxVq2lmfGxeIVJkU-t3UWovUcGMdnyno_DnbQKhCfEUj6jI89j0m1Z_3iP4n71jR5SG8PdvR4/w480-h640/IMG_5279.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>With that 18lbs of counterweight on the leg, the arm can be extended to its full reach, well clear of the base of the stand.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUCMiYfcmHczvAFbjrIiBJmpmIYnUIN2DqQ-Y7fstctPKBNtRvTDXT1Vjt5STk85Ti_Wq12ptLxl-Wzdn9JjwsKvVv1USKBmuc1vVIclu40xd09emWgKGCyLhmgZ_HBnTtPRDOjJZCJu5-dfBu6VXIL_rRSumiZBNbQZC-yxhMfjrnXt9fnoEuEPKN8I/s2048/IMG_5280.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUCMiYfcmHczvAFbjrIiBJmpmIYnUIN2DqQ-Y7fstctPKBNtRvTDXT1Vjt5STk85Ti_Wq12ptLxl-Wzdn9JjwsKvVv1USKBmuc1vVIclu40xd09emWgKGCyLhmgZ_HBnTtPRDOjJZCJu5-dfBu6VXIL_rRSumiZBNbQZC-yxhMfjrnXt9fnoEuEPKN8I/w480-h640/IMG_5280.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>This is sufficient to reach all the way over me while seated, and frame up a shot of what's on the table in front of me.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiw7jhdIRPZM_T9ICOs4drSLBU00DSKrF_twwrBK1Jnm8b7yVL5lRz_BOAJNelZ9iwbF6tYP-UiuyaSmKf7MLfA04jv4uaKJIwTR-sdcZCrURPo40i8AlUdc0TdyTu40ZQuhNkQvKq_DuOb7ZANKRYGS0L6m3EjEUqwXdRI02G6MfrdpIkP3XHkncT0mA/s2048/DSC00006.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiw7jhdIRPZM_T9ICOs4drSLBU00DSKrF_twwrBK1Jnm8b7yVL5lRz_BOAJNelZ9iwbF6tYP-UiuyaSmKf7MLfA04jv4uaKJIwTR-sdcZCrURPo40i8AlUdc0TdyTu40ZQuhNkQvKq_DuOb7ZANKRYGS0L6m3EjEUqwXdRI02G6MfrdpIkP3XHkncT0mA/w400-h225/DSC00006.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>With room to spare, even.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHc-NqiOJzpELTP7QXIpGxVANKi2l6BVcM_nOHh6c9TVd1I9YggqD9jGolpVKENor1933cIlSY1WcgHs9Wt_cL5Upl5CLQQd0ZVycI_H1XGY-ITqSyivY-ZAjAfdlwpEiIet0Va822FR8oJuZxwub6AtxWJYv1V8tmlwsOlNzNoGvKzkt1W1eDyhaI5U/s2048/IMG_5281.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHc-NqiOJzpELTP7QXIpGxVANKi2l6BVcM_nOHh6c9TVd1I9YggqD9jGolpVKENor1933cIlSY1WcgHs9Wt_cL5Upl5CLQQd0ZVycI_H1XGY-ITqSyivY-ZAjAfdlwpEiIet0Va822FR8oJuZxwub6AtxWJYv1V8tmlwsOlNzNoGvKzkt1W1eDyhaI5U/w480-h640/IMG_5281.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I also mounted an old 19" TV to the base of the stand to give me an easier view of what the camera is seeing, although I'm still waiting for the micro-HDMI to HDMI cable to come in, because I accidentally ordered a mini-HDMI to HDMI cable and WHY DOES THERE NEED TO BE TWO DIFFERENT SIZES???</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS78VN1Y_DTAYIB2c73RYvhj1KuGjMyPULr_jOowDvL82FGtJygcT1a66so8sPYfTuMnnQfDhqkkzxGbmvkpqVMYuZjWK3266XaRHbbxNNGns-4AO_fMKC55YrcXirnZXjskF9BxakJyZEo9z_HnLnJBJ4La6i7GjOeeJlZ_NGvXU7fEFbT1K5XYdGn5o/s2048/IMG_5283.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS78VN1Y_DTAYIB2c73RYvhj1KuGjMyPULr_jOowDvL82FGtJygcT1a66so8sPYfTuMnnQfDhqkkzxGbmvkpqVMYuZjWK3266XaRHbbxNNGns-4AO_fMKC55YrcXirnZXjskF9BxakJyZEo9z_HnLnJBJ4La6i7GjOeeJlZ_NGvXU7fEFbT1K5XYdGn5o/w480-h640/IMG_5283.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Anyway, viewing the live feed from the camera on this monitor will be much easier than on the tiny built-in screen, especially since with the ring light around it, I'm often staring into the surface of the sun trying to squint at it.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmOp9ljbJKe83NBMsEDuFMeg8kaWd5PTWQb-rqOA2tk0hld2074K6i35WCLURwFNV1IpzKYHfs_kEzdEIdccquOgak5b1yQRR5C5aPteBj3z5K8m2gB-qY79VcuXfy1bwzavMQrlk6_QWtW7hznP5PuDHx5mQUpuc1yY6Dujew_JfYzsGDjSWg-Ssx5g/s2048/IMG_5282.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmOp9ljbJKe83NBMsEDuFMeg8kaWd5PTWQb-rqOA2tk0hld2074K6i35WCLURwFNV1IpzKYHfs_kEzdEIdccquOgak5b1yQRR5C5aPteBj3z5K8m2gB-qY79VcuXfy1bwzavMQrlk6_QWtW7hznP5PuDHx5mQUpuc1yY6Dujew_JfYzsGDjSWg-Ssx5g/w480-h640/IMG_5282.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Anyway, this upgrade should open up a whole new world of possibilities for me. Or at least it should once the remainder of the Amazon packages trickle in over the coming week.</p>Nicoyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05946577068091417987noreply@blogger.com0