Tuesday 20th of December 2016
Hung around - waiting for the grab truck to " fit the job in " - no show today - they will do it tomorrow !!
Doctors for medication + dog walking + domestic jobs - easy day.
Must make a long screed / tamping board with raised handles.
I have just remembered that I have an big aluminium skate board platform - might be perfect to make a Bull Float out of - must collect it from my scrap pile in Sheffield.
Mike.
Wednesday 21 December 2016
Monday 19 December 2016
Christmas Preparation
Sunday 18th & Monday 19th of December 2016
Sunday - a day off - in Derby shopping with Jackie and enjoying Christmas preparations - very nice.
Evening - meal at Emily's steak house (poor) - shame about that - we rarely have a night out like that.
Monday - slow start ! - topped off the hardcore from the pile and contacted the grab truck company to move the pile to the lake - soon.
The hardcore that I just added needs tamping down - must bring the tamper from Jonathan's.
A chat with Neil next door - he recommends that I don't need reinforcing - it will be fine without it - Great !
Ordered more Visqueen - polythene barrier for under the concrete - cut that to size when it comes and we are ready.
Will contact the pumping company - get them to visit site soon.
I have started looking at timber prices and getting quotes.
Mike.
Sunday - a day off - in Derby shopping with Jackie and enjoying Christmas preparations - very nice.
Evening - meal at Emily's steak house (poor) - shame about that - we rarely have a night out like that.
Monday - slow start ! - topped off the hardcore from the pile and contacted the grab truck company to move the pile to the lake - soon.
The hardcore that I just added needs tamping down - must bring the tamper from Jonathan's.
A chat with Neil next door - he recommends that I don't need reinforcing - it will be fine without it - Great !
Ordered more Visqueen - polythene barrier for under the concrete - cut that to size when it comes and we are ready.
Will contact the pumping company - get them to visit site soon.
I have started looking at timber prices and getting quotes.
Mike.
Saturday 17 December 2016
A Sort Of Rest Day
Saturday 17th of December 2016
A dry and bright day - so sort out all the stuff from Sheffield.
Jackie helped to -
Trailer of cut, wet, wood emptied into the new steel firewood rack - all stacked neatly for air drying.
Three bags of dry firewood - one to the summer house - one to the feature rack - one to steel rack - no more bags in Sheffield now - just some old spindle patterns to cut up next trip.
Trailer washed with hot soapy water to shift some of the spilled oil from the engine job - looking better.
My poor little car hand washed - looking better !
My car loaded with the materials and tools for the dinghy repair.
The spare gas cooker ( for Jonathans ) moved from the summer house to the clean trailer for storage.
Summer house hoovered and tidy.
Good to have things organised - so - a restful afternoon and an evening with Alan and Marlene - lovely!
Christmas shopping ( I must buy my gifts ) tomorrow - plus - a special meal out in town for the two of us to start Christmas off properly.
Mike.
A dry and bright day - so sort out all the stuff from Sheffield.
Jackie helped to -
Trailer of cut, wet, wood emptied into the new steel firewood rack - all stacked neatly for air drying.
Three bags of dry firewood - one to the summer house - one to the feature rack - one to steel rack - no more bags in Sheffield now - just some old spindle patterns to cut up next trip.
Trailer washed with hot soapy water to shift some of the spilled oil from the engine job - looking better.
My poor little car hand washed - looking better !
My car loaded with the materials and tools for the dinghy repair.
The spare gas cooker ( for Jonathans ) moved from the summer house to the clean trailer for storage.
Summer house hoovered and tidy.
Good to have things organised - so - a restful afternoon and an evening with Alan and Marlene - lovely!
Christmas shopping ( I must buy my gifts ) tomorrow - plus - a special meal out in town for the two of us to start Christmas off properly.
Mike.
Thursday 15 December 2016
Base Shuttering
Week - 13th to 16th December 2016
Tuesday - rained - I visited Derby Timber supplies and bought the 19mm shuttering ply for the former - a good price at £ 22.50 including them cutting it into 5 inch by 8 foot strips.
I like the company - but they are a bit limited by what they stock and they could not quote for the sizes I need for the big build - never mind.
Wednesday - lovely warm sunny day - I joined all the boards end to end - made up enough for the whole perimeter from my stock and set one end.
I set the boards by driving the 16mm by 2 foot steel rods into the ground every 2 feet on the outside of the board and fixing the boards by 2 plastic wrap around pipe clips and 7/8 inch raised head screws - solid.
Thursday - I set the rest of the shutter - Jackie helped me to take the levels and - we are short of hardcore in various places around the edge - good job I still have a huge pile - lol.
I also cut timbers and braced the boards to the gravel boards on two sides and the path edge on another - just leaves the front - but that edge has extra steel rods - I might not brace that edge.
It all looks very solid - checked for square - not bad - the levels are within 5 mm all round - the dumpy level has been fantastic - I couldn't have done it without it.
Friday - up to Sheffield - cutting firewood - moving the last of my stuff out of unit 5 - then go and see my son Jonathan.
This weekend - I plan to fill in the hardcore - tamp it down - then the remainder of the pile can go to the lake on Monday.
I also plan to strip paint from the dinghy hull and sheath the whole underwater part in fibre glass - the materials should arrive on Friday.
Another productive week.
Mike.
Tuesday - rained - I visited Derby Timber supplies and bought the 19mm shuttering ply for the former - a good price at £ 22.50 including them cutting it into 5 inch by 8 foot strips.
I like the company - but they are a bit limited by what they stock and they could not quote for the sizes I need for the big build - never mind.
Wednesday - lovely warm sunny day - I joined all the boards end to end - made up enough for the whole perimeter from my stock and set one end.
I set the boards by driving the 16mm by 2 foot steel rods into the ground every 2 feet on the outside of the board and fixing the boards by 2 plastic wrap around pipe clips and 7/8 inch raised head screws - solid.
Thursday - I set the rest of the shutter - Jackie helped me to take the levels and - we are short of hardcore in various places around the edge - good job I still have a huge pile - lol.
I also cut timbers and braced the boards to the gravel boards on two sides and the path edge on another - just leaves the front - but that edge has extra steel rods - I might not brace that edge.
It all looks very solid - checked for square - not bad - the levels are within 5 mm all round - the dumpy level has been fantastic - I couldn't have done it without it.
Friday - up to Sheffield - cutting firewood - moving the last of my stuff out of unit 5 - then go and see my son Jonathan.
This weekend - I plan to fill in the hardcore - tamp it down - then the remainder of the pile can go to the lake on Monday.
I also plan to strip paint from the dinghy hull and sheath the whole underwater part in fibre glass - the materials should arrive on Friday.
Another productive week.
Mike.
Monday 12 December 2016
Sort Out Day
Monday 12th of December 2016
An overcast / drizzly sort of day - a bit miserable - time for getting sorted.
The area at the side of the house was untidy - mainly because I stored my dinghy project there plus logs waiting to be cut to usable firewood - so TODAY'S THE DAY!!
The dinghy is to be the new maintenance boat at Scott's lake - after the it's bottom has been repaired.
I managed to move it onto trestles on the drive so that I could clean up the side of the house - Jackie had a fit !! - IT CAN'T STAY THERE !!
So - PLAN B !!
Scott helped to move a steel storage rack into position where the dinghy had been - to store firewood for drying - overflow from our nice feature rack for dry wood near the conservatory.
Jackie stacked six big bags of dry timber offcuts, onto the feature rack, that I had brought down from Sheffield last week - that's my poor little car empty for two minutes ! !
Jackie helped me to stack all the nicely cut firewood from the trailer onto the rack - great.
The remaining big logs were then loaded to the trailer - to go up to Sheffield for cutting tomorrow.
The area around the rack was swept clean - oddments of timber were stacked on the new rack and a tarpaulin roof fashioned to keep it all dry - lovely!
I then made a transport frame and strapped it securely to my poor little car roof rack !
Jack and I then lifted the Dinghy onto it and I strapped it on - ( heavy for me !! )
We delivered it to Scott's - Jack and Scott carried it through the car port and on to the patio behind the garage - ideal - we can sort out the fibre glass work in the dry - under the car port - perfect.
Scott gets a nice stable work boat - I get to sail it occasionally - good arrangement !
So - all sorted - the area at the side of the house now very tidy - plenty of firewood drying - loads of space for more if we come across any.
I looked at the clock - it was 4 pm !! - We had been working out in the drizzle all day !!
I was worn out - time for a sit down with G & T for Jackie and a glass of red wine for me - a useful day.
Note - It must seem like a massive effort goes into producing firewood for our lounge stove but when it is lit - the thermostat for the central heating feels the heat and shuts the boiler down - our gas bill is really low right now - it might just be the reason - plus - we love it !!
Mike
An overcast / drizzly sort of day - a bit miserable - time for getting sorted.
The area at the side of the house was untidy - mainly because I stored my dinghy project there plus logs waiting to be cut to usable firewood - so TODAY'S THE DAY!!
The dinghy is to be the new maintenance boat at Scott's lake - after the it's bottom has been repaired.
I managed to move it onto trestles on the drive so that I could clean up the side of the house - Jackie had a fit !! - IT CAN'T STAY THERE !!
So - PLAN B !!
Scott helped to move a steel storage rack into position where the dinghy had been - to store firewood for drying - overflow from our nice feature rack for dry wood near the conservatory.
Jackie stacked six big bags of dry timber offcuts, onto the feature rack, that I had brought down from Sheffield last week - that's my poor little car empty for two minutes ! !
Jackie helped me to stack all the nicely cut firewood from the trailer onto the rack - great.
The remaining big logs were then loaded to the trailer - to go up to Sheffield for cutting tomorrow.
The area around the rack was swept clean - oddments of timber were stacked on the new rack and a tarpaulin roof fashioned to keep it all dry - lovely!
I then made a transport frame and strapped it securely to my poor little car roof rack !
Jack and I then lifted the Dinghy onto it and I strapped it on - ( heavy for me !! )
We delivered it to Scott's - Jack and Scott carried it through the car port and on to the patio behind the garage - ideal - we can sort out the fibre glass work in the dry - under the car port - perfect.
Scott gets a nice stable work boat - I get to sail it occasionally - good arrangement !
So - all sorted - the area at the side of the house now very tidy - plenty of firewood drying - loads of space for more if we come across any.
I looked at the clock - it was 4 pm !! - We had been working out in the drizzle all day !!
I was worn out - time for a sit down with G & T for Jackie and a glass of red wine for me - a useful day.
Note - It must seem like a massive effort goes into producing firewood for our lounge stove but when it is lit - the thermostat for the central heating feels the heat and shuts the boiler down - our gas bill is really low right now - it might just be the reason - plus - we love it !!
Mike
Butlins Weekend
Friday 9th to Sunday 11th of December 2016
A restful weekend of sorts at Butlins Skegness for a 60's music weekend.
Booked months ago via Jackies sister Zoie - but we almost cancelled due to Jackie having a bad cold / cough.
We arrived @ 2pm Friday - checked into our lovely Silver standard room and met up with the rest of our party - Zoie & Tez - Mick & Pat - Mick & Janet.
A buffet get together in Zoie's apartment then into one of the massive venues for music from various tribute bands.
All too much for Jackie - too many people - ( packed - 1000's ) - too loud - ears ringing - we left early.
Jackie stayed in bed all day Saturday and we left for home on Sunday.
Never mind - it was very cheap - the rest of our party enjoyed it - I got a good rest.
Back to work at home on Monday - but light rain all day !
Mike.
A restful weekend of sorts at Butlins Skegness for a 60's music weekend.
Booked months ago via Jackies sister Zoie - but we almost cancelled due to Jackie having a bad cold / cough.
We arrived @ 2pm Friday - checked into our lovely Silver standard room and met up with the rest of our party - Zoie & Tez - Mick & Pat - Mick & Janet.
A buffet get together in Zoie's apartment then into one of the massive venues for music from various tribute bands.
All too much for Jackie - too many people - ( packed - 1000's ) - too loud - ears ringing - we left early.
Jackie stayed in bed all day Saturday and we left for home on Sunday.
Never mind - it was very cheap - the rest of our party enjoyed it - I got a good rest.
Back to work at home on Monday - but light rain all day !
Mike.
Thursday 8 December 2016
No Progress
Wednesday 7th of December 2016
No progress on site since the last post but busy - busy - just the same.
Tuesday
Jackie has a bad cold and needed TLC - no problem.
The compactor was collected promptly - no problem.
A tip run to dump the double glazed units - done - very helpful tip guys !
A new front tyre for my poor little car - wearing very uneven - must get it checked.
Loaded the trailer with logs to be cut on the big band saw in Sheffield.
Loaded all scrap steel for a scrap yard run - including unwanted engine block and parts.
Wednesday
On a MISSION !!!
Up at 4.30 - on the road 5.15 !
At the unit in Sheffield before 6.30.
Unloaded logs.
Loaded scrap steel from container to trailer now full !
Emptied the first wood rack in the container - sorted the wood.
Re-organised the back of the container and stacked things tighter + neater.
Dismantled the rack an stashed the parts.
Re-stacked the wood on the second rack to the roof !
Stacked the 2 inch Elm boards for easy access.
A quarter of the container now empty - fantastic.
Ran to the scrap yard and unloaded - £26 - not bad.
Cut the logs to firewood size chunks - trailer now full.
Loaded 7 bags of dry firewood from my unit 5 stock into my poor little car.
Moved lots of my stored stuff from unit 5 into the container with help from the lads - great help !
Ran to MAES in Rotherham - dropped off the starter motors an alternator from the scrap engine for testing / quote for servicing - great.
Drove home to derby - big day !!
I feel better now that most of my stuff is out of unit 5 - just small stuff left - must get some tote bins from Scott's storage loft.
Rain all day Thursday - good to have multiple jobs completed in the dry - perfect.
Mike.
No progress on site since the last post but busy - busy - just the same.
Tuesday
Jackie has a bad cold and needed TLC - no problem.
The compactor was collected promptly - no problem.
A tip run to dump the double glazed units - done - very helpful tip guys !
A new front tyre for my poor little car - wearing very uneven - must get it checked.
Loaded the trailer with logs to be cut on the big band saw in Sheffield.
Loaded all scrap steel for a scrap yard run - including unwanted engine block and parts.
Wednesday
On a MISSION !!!
Up at 4.30 - on the road 5.15 !
At the unit in Sheffield before 6.30.
Unloaded logs.
Loaded scrap steel from container to trailer now full !
Emptied the first wood rack in the container - sorted the wood.
Re-organised the back of the container and stacked things tighter + neater.
Dismantled the rack an stashed the parts.
Re-stacked the wood on the second rack to the roof !
Stacked the 2 inch Elm boards for easy access.
A quarter of the container now empty - fantastic.
Ran to the scrap yard and unloaded - £26 - not bad.
Cut the logs to firewood size chunks - trailer now full.
Loaded 7 bags of dry firewood from my unit 5 stock into my poor little car.
Moved lots of my stored stuff from unit 5 into the container with help from the lads - great help !
Ran to MAES in Rotherham - dropped off the starter motors an alternator from the scrap engine for testing / quote for servicing - great.
Drove home to derby - big day !!
I feel better now that most of my stuff is out of unit 5 - just small stuff left - must get some tote bins from Scott's storage loft.
Rain all day Thursday - good to have multiple jobs completed in the dry - perfect.
Mike.
Tuesday 6 December 2016
Tidy Up
Monday 5th of December 2016
Very frosty start but sunny periods today
A morning in the office - off hired the compactor for collection Tuesday.
Contacted Bosworth Grab hire - £100 cash to move the remaining hardcore to the lake - not too bad.
Contacted Cempump - £288 to pump 4 cubic metres of concrete up to 30 metres - additional cost for longer distance - must measure up !!
Looked and looked on line for reinforcement mesh - found prices all over the place - emailed 3 companies for a delivered price - no replies !!
Ainscough Metals in Lancashire - £20 for A142 @ 4.8 x 2.4 - very cheap but no reply to my email ?
I will ring them.
I think it would be pushing my poor little car too much to collect 4 sheets - 16 feet by 8 feet !!
I brought round another 4 barrow loads in the afternoon filling in low spots and sludgy paths - I might delay moving the left over hardcore until I have set the former and filled in around the edges - I can compact that with my heavy tarmac tamper.
I ran the compactor round and round the site - all nice and solid - great !!
I measured the pump pipe run at 50 metres - I will ring Cempump for an updated price.
I measured for the electrical supply cable and conduit run 50 metres again.
There won't be much progress this week - I will post at the weekend.
Mike
Very frosty start but sunny periods today
A morning in the office - off hired the compactor for collection Tuesday.
Contacted Bosworth Grab hire - £100 cash to move the remaining hardcore to the lake - not too bad.
Contacted Cempump - £288 to pump 4 cubic metres of concrete up to 30 metres - additional cost for longer distance - must measure up !!
Looked and looked on line for reinforcement mesh - found prices all over the place - emailed 3 companies for a delivered price - no replies !!
Ainscough Metals in Lancashire - £20 for A142 @ 4.8 x 2.4 - very cheap but no reply to my email ?
I will ring them.
I think it would be pushing my poor little car too much to collect 4 sheets - 16 feet by 8 feet !!
I brought round another 4 barrow loads in the afternoon filling in low spots and sludgy paths - I might delay moving the left over hardcore until I have set the former and filled in around the edges - I can compact that with my heavy tarmac tamper.
I ran the compactor round and round the site - all nice and solid - great !!
I measured the pump pipe run at 50 metres - I will ring Cempump for an updated price.
I measured for the electrical supply cable and conduit run 50 metres again.
There won't be much progress this week - I will post at the weekend.
Mike
Monday 5 December 2016
End Of Phase Two
Sunday 4th of December 2016
A bright and sunny day but cold.
I steadily brought round about 15 barrow loads of hardcore today - filling in the low spots and compacting as I went - mid afternoon it turned very cold but I was finished - it looks really good !
I still have about 4 or 5 tonnes of hardcore left but Scott is keen to have it at the lake - I will contact the grab truck company on Monday and get a price for moving it.
The next phase is to go to Sheffield - to re-organise my container - move my stuff from unit 5 into it and liberate 3 sheets of 20mm shuttering ply.
I can cut it to five inch strips in Sheffield to make it easy to carry on the roof of my poor little car.
When I have the ply on site in Derby - I can set the former and line it with Visqueen.
I asked Neil, next door, about reinforcement ( a professional ) - I need A142 mesh - the sheets overlapped 400mm.
The stock size sheets come in 4.8 x 2.4 metres which are ideal - I need 4 sheets but I am struggling to find a local supplier with reasonable delivery charge - I'll keep trying.
Steady progress ! - Mike.
A bright and sunny day but cold.
I steadily brought round about 15 barrow loads of hardcore today - filling in the low spots and compacting as I went - mid afternoon it turned very cold but I was finished - it looks really good !
I still have about 4 or 5 tonnes of hardcore left but Scott is keen to have it at the lake - I will contact the grab truck company on Monday and get a price for moving it.
The next phase is to go to Sheffield - to re-organise my container - move my stuff from unit 5 into it and liberate 3 sheets of 20mm shuttering ply.
I can cut it to five inch strips in Sheffield to make it easy to carry on the roof of my poor little car.
When I have the ply on site in Derby - I can set the former and line it with Visqueen.
I asked Neil, next door, about reinforcement ( a professional ) - I need A142 mesh - the sheets overlapped 400mm.
The stock size sheets come in 4.8 x 2.4 metres which are ideal - I need 4 sheets but I am struggling to find a local supplier with reasonable delivery charge - I'll keep trying.
Steady progress ! - Mike.
Sunday 4 December 2016
No progress.
Saturday 3rd of December 2016.
No progress today - all day helping Jackie to put up Christmas decorations.
Mike.
No progress today - all day helping Jackie to put up Christmas decorations.
Mike.
Saturday 3 December 2016
Day Off
Friday 2nd of December 2016
No progress on site today - a day of catching up with domestic jobs and fitting the new double glazed units.
Mike.
No progress on site today - a day of catching up with domestic jobs and fitting the new double glazed units.
Mike.
Thursday 1 December 2016
Alan Helping Today
Thursday 1st of December 2016
We were both up early today - Jackie was having Maddie all day today - plus taking Charlie to school - so - UP AND AT EM !!
I managed about 10 barrow loads before Alan came round to help set out the levels in the centre of the site.
Alan suggested that we knock in small pegs and level the tops so that I can see at a glance where the hardcore is low - Great idea.
We soon had a dozen pegs in and leveled - great.
I carried on barrowing the hardcore - raking it level - then I started up the compactor !
In two minutes I had lost sight of the tiny bit of pegs sticking up and had run over three of them - pushing them into the ground - What a Dope !
I managed to re set them and found, in the shed, some sand castle flags - you never know when you might need them - lol.
I can see the pegs easily now - with each one having a flag on it.
An early finish today - I was ready anyway - Penny to walk and double glazed units to collect.
Mike.
We were both up early today - Jackie was having Maddie all day today - plus taking Charlie to school - so - UP AND AT EM !!
I managed about 10 barrow loads before Alan came round to help set out the levels in the centre of the site.
Alan suggested that we knock in small pegs and level the tops so that I can see at a glance where the hardcore is low - Great idea.
We soon had a dozen pegs in and leveled - great.
I carried on barrowing the hardcore - raking it level - then I started up the compactor !
In two minutes I had lost sight of the tiny bit of pegs sticking up and had run over three of them - pushing them into the ground - What a Dope !
I managed to re set them and found, in the shed, some sand castle flags - you never know when you might need them - lol.
I can see the pegs easily now - with each one having a flag on it.
An early finish today - I was ready anyway - Penny to walk and double glazed units to collect.
Mike.
Wednesday 30 November 2016
Leveling the Sub Base
Wednesday 30th of November 2016
A very cold and frosty start today - lots of ice around - but a dry and sunny day forecast.
A leisurely start - barrowing the hardcore and leveling it with the rake by eye - easy.
The hire company dropped off the compactor plate - a nearly new one - just the job.
It worked great - really packing the hardcore down well.
Jackie took Penny for her walk and collected a gallon of petrol for me.
I soon had to take off my coat in the sunshine - lovely.
Today, I managed about 20 barrow loads - plus leveling and compacting - good!
I'm about half way through leveling the sub base already !!
The big pile of hardcore is going down but it's clear that I won't use all of it - there will be a few tonnes left !!
The plan - I have spotted a company that has a small four wheel grab truck locally - I will ask them to quote for taking the left over hardcore to Scott's lake - they always need hardcore there - to deal with boggy areas.
Tomorrow - Alan is going to help take levels - we will mark up the low spots and fill them up as we go along.
I will keep going with the base as long as this dry spell lasts.
Mike.
A very cold and frosty start today - lots of ice around - but a dry and sunny day forecast.
A leisurely start - barrowing the hardcore and leveling it with the rake by eye - easy.
The hire company dropped off the compactor plate - a nearly new one - just the job.
It worked great - really packing the hardcore down well.
Jackie took Penny for her walk and collected a gallon of petrol for me.
I soon had to take off my coat in the sunshine - lovely.
Today, I managed about 20 barrow loads - plus leveling and compacting - good!
I'm about half way through leveling the sub base already !!
The big pile of hardcore is going down but it's clear that I won't use all of it - there will be a few tonnes left !!
The plan - I have spotted a company that has a small four wheel grab truck locally - I will ask them to quote for taking the left over hardcore to Scott's lake - they always need hardcore there - to deal with boggy areas.
Tomorrow - Alan is going to help take levels - we will mark up the low spots and fill them up as we go along.
I will keep going with the base as long as this dry spell lasts.
Mike.
Stressful Day !
Tuesday 29th of November 2016
The hardcore was due for delivery this morning but I didn't know when - so we started other jobs.
Jackie had asked me to take out the big gas cooker in the kitchen so that we could clean it and the recess that it fits in.
I also had a job - testing Zoie's gas cooker from Nether edge - the tenants said it would not get hot enough - so I bought a new one which they say works better.
Zoie's cooker has flame failure fitted - better for Jonathan than the one he has at the moment.
Once checked - I plan to swap it.
I pulled out the cooker - we cleaned the recess - Jackie emulsioned the wall to freshen it up - lovely.
Then it all went a bit pear shaped !
Zoie's cooker was in the summer house - I used the heavy sack barrow to move it into the kitchen but on the way up the path I didn't realise that the mains cable had grabbed the new path edge lights and broke two of them - plus it ripped the connection to the back of the cooker !!
The connection box was really fiddly to work with so it took a while to sort the connections.
I installed the cooker - all cleaned up - repaired the lights with epoxy glue.
All set for testing !!
Toad in the hole for tea - that should test it !!
The truck turned up at lunch time - a different driver - he said - I have brought you a good 10 tonnes !!
ARGHHHH !! - I said that I didn't want more than I ordered - half a load - 9 tonnes ?
The truck appeared to be 3/4 full !! - he said that they had no way of measuring the weight - just guess work - so they guessed heavy.
Then he started to grab it off it looked like soil !!! - but when I checked it - it was full of crushed stone / brick.
In no time at all - I had an enormous pile on the drive that looked just like the pile that they took away !!!
A sit down with a pint of tea to reflect for a bit - then up and at em !
By 4pm ( getting dark ) - I had moved about 15 barrow loads - the hardcore should be OK - it is full of stone - I felt a lot better about it.
I have moved a corner of the pile and not filled the base area very much at all - so - I will wait and see how much I have left over - then puzzle how to get rid of it - Scott might use it at the lake - I could gradually move it with the trailer I suppose.
The wacker plate compactor arrives tomorrow for a week so I will see how much it packs down.
Toad in the hole was a good test - the Yorkshire Pudding didn't cook as it should - even with the cooker on number 9 - Houston - WE HAVE A PROBLEM !!
Mike.
The hardcore was due for delivery this morning but I didn't know when - so we started other jobs.
Jackie had asked me to take out the big gas cooker in the kitchen so that we could clean it and the recess that it fits in.
I also had a job - testing Zoie's gas cooker from Nether edge - the tenants said it would not get hot enough - so I bought a new one which they say works better.
Zoie's cooker has flame failure fitted - better for Jonathan than the one he has at the moment.
Once checked - I plan to swap it.
I pulled out the cooker - we cleaned the recess - Jackie emulsioned the wall to freshen it up - lovely.
Then it all went a bit pear shaped !
Zoie's cooker was in the summer house - I used the heavy sack barrow to move it into the kitchen but on the way up the path I didn't realise that the mains cable had grabbed the new path edge lights and broke two of them - plus it ripped the connection to the back of the cooker !!
The connection box was really fiddly to work with so it took a while to sort the connections.
I installed the cooker - all cleaned up - repaired the lights with epoxy glue.
All set for testing !!
Toad in the hole for tea - that should test it !!
The truck turned up at lunch time - a different driver - he said - I have brought you a good 10 tonnes !!
ARGHHHH !! - I said that I didn't want more than I ordered - half a load - 9 tonnes ?
The truck appeared to be 3/4 full !! - he said that they had no way of measuring the weight - just guess work - so they guessed heavy.
Then he started to grab it off it looked like soil !!! - but when I checked it - it was full of crushed stone / brick.
In no time at all - I had an enormous pile on the drive that looked just like the pile that they took away !!!
A sit down with a pint of tea to reflect for a bit - then up and at em !
By 4pm ( getting dark ) - I had moved about 15 barrow loads - the hardcore should be OK - it is full of stone - I felt a lot better about it.
I have moved a corner of the pile and not filled the base area very much at all - so - I will wait and see how much I have left over - then puzzle how to get rid of it - Scott might use it at the lake - I could gradually move it with the trailer I suppose.
The wacker plate compactor arrives tomorrow for a week so I will see how much it packs down.
Toad in the hole was a good test - the Yorkshire Pudding didn't cook as it should - even with the cooker on number 9 - Houston - WE HAVE A PROBLEM !!
Mike.
Monday 28 November 2016
Orders Placed
Monday 28th of November 2016
Fiona and family left, for Cornwall, at 10am today after a big get together at the carvery for breakfast.
They will be back at Christmas.
We walked Penny in Bluebell woods - fantastic - leaves slowly falling all around - no wind - bright sunshine - lots of colour - amazing !!
Maddie was with us - putting wild bird food down at every possible spot !!
Back home - I set about removing one of the misted up double glazed units in the conservatory - there are three.
In no time - the beads were popped out and I could measure the clearance to the frame - 6mm.
I found Abbey Glass in Derby that actually make the units themselves - got a reasonable quote - £210 for the three ( toughened glass ! ) - I double checked the sizes - ready on Thursday - Great.
I will swap the units myself and I have earmarked two of the misty ones for the new workshop - one big window on the front - facing the house - the two units - one in front of the other with a three inch air gap between - great sound proofing - plus recycling !
Then I ordered the hardcore - half a load - ( 9 tonnes I hope - I don't want more than that ) - in bulk - tipped on the drive - tomorrow !!! - from the grab truck company - recycled concrete / brick - 40mm to dust.
Not a bad price - £210 cash.
Next - I called Hire Station - for a wacker plate hire- A Derby number but sounded like a call centre - they quoted prices much higher than the website but I got cut off.
I called the same number again and got straight through to the hire desk - they had no knowledge of my first call and quoted much lower prices than the website - WHAT'S GOING ON !!!
They will deliver on Wednesday - great.
I'm all set - settled weather - material and tools - just got to get some fuel ready.
We walked Penny again in Mark Eaton Park - bright sunshine still - the other side of Derby city centre - my first visit - a very big park - well maintained - well funded by the look of it - lots to do for children.
They have craft workshops with two woodworking companies and a company up cycling things - brilliant !!!
Back at home - nice to have the house to ourselves again.
Big day, moving hardcore tomorrow !!
Mike.
Fiona and family left, for Cornwall, at 10am today after a big get together at the carvery for breakfast.
They will be back at Christmas.
We walked Penny in Bluebell woods - fantastic - leaves slowly falling all around - no wind - bright sunshine - lots of colour - amazing !!
Maddie was with us - putting wild bird food down at every possible spot !!
Back home - I set about removing one of the misted up double glazed units in the conservatory - there are three.
In no time - the beads were popped out and I could measure the clearance to the frame - 6mm.
I found Abbey Glass in Derby that actually make the units themselves - got a reasonable quote - £210 for the three ( toughened glass ! ) - I double checked the sizes - ready on Thursday - Great.
I will swap the units myself and I have earmarked two of the misty ones for the new workshop - one big window on the front - facing the house - the two units - one in front of the other with a three inch air gap between - great sound proofing - plus recycling !
Then I ordered the hardcore - half a load - ( 9 tonnes I hope - I don't want more than that ) - in bulk - tipped on the drive - tomorrow !!! - from the grab truck company - recycled concrete / brick - 40mm to dust.
Not a bad price - £210 cash.
Next - I called Hire Station - for a wacker plate hire- A Derby number but sounded like a call centre - they quoted prices much higher than the website but I got cut off.
I called the same number again and got straight through to the hire desk - they had no knowledge of my first call and quoted much lower prices than the website - WHAT'S GOING ON !!!
They will deliver on Wednesday - great.
I'm all set - settled weather - material and tools - just got to get some fuel ready.
We walked Penny again in Mark Eaton Park - bright sunshine still - the other side of Derby city centre - my first visit - a very big park - well maintained - well funded by the look of it - lots to do for children.
They have craft workshops with two woodworking companies and a company up cycling things - brilliant !!!
Back at home - nice to have the house to ourselves again.
Big day, moving hardcore tomorrow !!
Mike.
Sunday 27 November 2016
Another Day Off
Sunday 27th of November 2016
No progress on site today - Time spent with our visitors from Cornwall - Fiona and family - Plus more work on engine parts.
All useable small parts are now stored in a big steel box - the cylinder head has now been stripped - looks a bit grim - lots of pitting - it must have been seriously overheated for a long time to get that bad !
I will get an estimate for testing and refurbishing.
The starter motor and alternator are in my car - ready to go to MAES in Rotherham for servicing.
The workshop bench is now free of engine bits - washed down with acetone - amazing how it clears the oil stains - I wish it could clean my hands - lol.
Just wondering if I should strip out the camshaft from the dead engine before it goes - the one on Blazer has some wear evident, according to the mechanic that checked it, - a biggish job ???
Next engine job is to clean and repaint the spare gearbox - it appears to be in great condition - I already have a spare - One recently sold for £395 on ebay - not overhauled !!!
That would be nice - there are currently none for sale - must get cracking.
Monday - must order hardcore and wacker plate - the weather looks dry for a few days - great !!
Mike.
No progress on site today - Time spent with our visitors from Cornwall - Fiona and family - Plus more work on engine parts.
All useable small parts are now stored in a big steel box - the cylinder head has now been stripped - looks a bit grim - lots of pitting - it must have been seriously overheated for a long time to get that bad !
I will get an estimate for testing and refurbishing.
The starter motor and alternator are in my car - ready to go to MAES in Rotherham for servicing.
The workshop bench is now free of engine bits - washed down with acetone - amazing how it clears the oil stains - I wish it could clean my hands - lol.
Just wondering if I should strip out the camshaft from the dead engine before it goes - the one on Blazer has some wear evident, according to the mechanic that checked it, - a biggish job ???
Next engine job is to clean and repaint the spare gearbox - it appears to be in great condition - I already have a spare - One recently sold for £395 on ebay - not overhauled !!!
That would be nice - there are currently none for sale - must get cracking.
Monday - must order hardcore and wacker plate - the weather looks dry for a few days - great !!
Mike.
Busy Week
Saturday 26th of November 2016
A busy week but little progress with the workshop !
Jobs completed this week -
A day spent in the office at home sorting all sorts and listing 10 items on Ebay.
A visit to IKEA, Nottingham, for a small chest of drawers for Nether Edge.
Trip to Sheffield to turn 5 big post for Bramhalls.
Stripped parts from the spares engine in the trailer and cleaned them up.
Another trip to Sheffield to repaint the bathroom ceiling at Nether Edge and cut 40 steel bars at the unit.
The site was gradually drying out nicely - so on Saturday I laid out the corner pins for the base.
Nice and square - a good access space at the fence side for painting - a generous space at the rear for storage and a good six feet between the workshop and summerhouse - perfect.
String lines all round show the valley that has to be filled with hardcore and compacted.
It is hard calculate the volume needed so a rough guess at eight tons ?
The grab truck can deliver it in bulk - a reclaimed, crushed brick / concrete 50mm to dust called reclaimed no. 1. - more barrowing !!!
It's a shame that I can't use the pile of slate chips that we raked up at the start but I'm sure that it won't compact down like hardcore - we will use it for top dressing at the end.
Better guess how much hardcore I need on the low side - I don't want any left over !!
It should be easier to shovel and rake into place than the muck - we will see !!!
I have found the best value wacker plate hire in Derby at £50 per week - not bad.
The rest of the heavy steel bars ( 24 inches long ) are to support the shuttering for the base once the site has been leveled.
Again - I have found a good value supplier in Ilkeston for plywood and external cladding - I will go and collect next week.
Today - I finished stripping the spares engine and draining the sump ready to take it to the scrap yard on Monday - messy job - then I washed all the oily parts in paraffin ready for repainting and storage - my hands will never be clean again !!
At least I will get my trailer back in service when the scrap has gone.
Mike.
A busy week but little progress with the workshop !
Jobs completed this week -
A day spent in the office at home sorting all sorts and listing 10 items on Ebay.
A visit to IKEA, Nottingham, for a small chest of drawers for Nether Edge.
Trip to Sheffield to turn 5 big post for Bramhalls.
Stripped parts from the spares engine in the trailer and cleaned them up.
Another trip to Sheffield to repaint the bathroom ceiling at Nether Edge and cut 40 steel bars at the unit.
The site was gradually drying out nicely - so on Saturday I laid out the corner pins for the base.
Nice and square - a good access space at the fence side for painting - a generous space at the rear for storage and a good six feet between the workshop and summerhouse - perfect.
String lines all round show the valley that has to be filled with hardcore and compacted.
It is hard calculate the volume needed so a rough guess at eight tons ?
The grab truck can deliver it in bulk - a reclaimed, crushed brick / concrete 50mm to dust called reclaimed no. 1. - more barrowing !!!
It's a shame that I can't use the pile of slate chips that we raked up at the start but I'm sure that it won't compact down like hardcore - we will use it for top dressing at the end.
Better guess how much hardcore I need on the low side - I don't want any left over !!
It should be easier to shovel and rake into place than the muck - we will see !!!
I have found the best value wacker plate hire in Derby at £50 per week - not bad.
The rest of the heavy steel bars ( 24 inches long ) are to support the shuttering for the base once the site has been leveled.
Again - I have found a good value supplier in Ilkeston for plywood and external cladding - I will go and collect next week.
Today - I finished stripping the spares engine and draining the sump ready to take it to the scrap yard on Monday - messy job - then I washed all the oily parts in paraffin ready for repainting and storage - my hands will never be clean again !!
At least I will get my trailer back in service when the scrap has gone.
Mike.
Monday 21 November 2016
Lazy Weekend
Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th of November 2016
No progress this weekend on the workshop site - attending to little jobs that were mounting up -
Two trips to the tip with the roots and grass sods that the grab truck wouldn't take ! - messy.
Vac and wash the inside of my poor little car - now back to normal.
A long walk with Penny along the canal at Shardlow - very nice - sunny.
A big sort out in both of my tool sheds / workshops - I can get in them now - just.
Strip spare parts from the dead Bukh boat engine that I bought cheaply on ebay and is now occupying the trailer - lots of spares for Blazer - one small part was worth the effort and expense - the engine block and flywheel will go for scrap locally when I have finished stripping it.
Install path lights in the garden ready for Christmas.
The weather does not look good for Monday ( rain ) and I am working in Sheffield Tuesday - Woodturning !!
Plus I have maintenance work to do at my house in Sheffield - so the next post will be towards the end of the week.
Mike.
No progress this weekend on the workshop site - attending to little jobs that were mounting up -
Two trips to the tip with the roots and grass sods that the grab truck wouldn't take ! - messy.
Vac and wash the inside of my poor little car - now back to normal.
A long walk with Penny along the canal at Shardlow - very nice - sunny.
A big sort out in both of my tool sheds / workshops - I can get in them now - just.
Strip spare parts from the dead Bukh boat engine that I bought cheaply on ebay and is now occupying the trailer - lots of spares for Blazer - one small part was worth the effort and expense - the engine block and flywheel will go for scrap locally when I have finished stripping it.
Install path lights in the garden ready for Christmas.
The weather does not look good for Monday ( rain ) and I am working in Sheffield Tuesday - Woodturning !!
Plus I have maintenance work to do at my house in Sheffield - so the next post will be towards the end of the week.
Mike.
Friday 18 November 2016
Tidy Up Day
Friday 18th of November 2016
A lovely dry - sunny day today - time to sort things out.
As I said before, the site is wet and sludgy and our dog Penny loves to sniff out trails and she couldn't care less about getting muddy and then going straight indoors onto the white settee !!!
The Plan - To erect a simple light weight fence, the full length of the site with a wide, hook on, gate for wheel barrow access.
So I dug out some long lengths of reclaimed timber - plus some new - for the hand rail @ about 45 mm x 32mm.
I cut 6 uprights from 63 x 38 CLS timber and drove them into the ground along the path edge as uprights.
Nailed on the handrails - leaving a four foot gap for access.
Jackie helped me to staple on the barrier mesh - a roll of orange safety barrier we bought for £10 years ago - for keeping chickens off freshly sown grass seed and similar jobs.
It is very flimsy - but the wind goes straight through it without putting pressure on the fence.
I cut thin strips of 20mm wide pine and stapled it on to trap the thin mesh along all edges - it worked really well !
I dug out a wire mesh and timber door that I made for the potting shed to make it into an isolation cage for sick chickens - I fashioned two flat metal hooks from thin angle brackets - then hooked it on - great !
The gate is not as high as the handrails - I will extend it for neatness.
Jackie is pleased - Penny is not pleased - she can not get to sniff out the trails from any night creatures we get ( there is a fox sett in the field behind our house ) !!!
Hopefully - no sludge in the house or on furniture now - I hope !!
To help a bit more - I relocated the boot scraper to a position near the gate.
The rest of the day we spent on domestic stuff and walking Penny in Bluebell woods - she loves it.
Mike.
A lovely dry - sunny day today - time to sort things out.
As I said before, the site is wet and sludgy and our dog Penny loves to sniff out trails and she couldn't care less about getting muddy and then going straight indoors onto the white settee !!!
The Plan - To erect a simple light weight fence, the full length of the site with a wide, hook on, gate for wheel barrow access.
So I dug out some long lengths of reclaimed timber - plus some new - for the hand rail @ about 45 mm x 32mm.
I cut 6 uprights from 63 x 38 CLS timber and drove them into the ground along the path edge as uprights.
Nailed on the handrails - leaving a four foot gap for access.
Jackie helped me to staple on the barrier mesh - a roll of orange safety barrier we bought for £10 years ago - for keeping chickens off freshly sown grass seed and similar jobs.
It is very flimsy - but the wind goes straight through it without putting pressure on the fence.
I cut thin strips of 20mm wide pine and stapled it on to trap the thin mesh along all edges - it worked really well !
I dug out a wire mesh and timber door that I made for the potting shed to make it into an isolation cage for sick chickens - I fashioned two flat metal hooks from thin angle brackets - then hooked it on - great !
The gate is not as high as the handrails - I will extend it for neatness.
Jackie is pleased - Penny is not pleased - she can not get to sniff out the trails from any night creatures we get ( there is a fox sett in the field behind our house ) !!!
Hopefully - no sludge in the house or on furniture now - I hope !!
To help a bit more - I relocated the boot scraper to a position near the gate.
The rest of the day we spent on domestic stuff and walking Penny in Bluebell woods - she loves it.
Mike.
Thursday 17 November 2016
End Of Phase One !!
Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th of November 2016
What was forecast as a dry day turned out to be showery !!
I got set up early to finish the last 15 or so barrow loads when Scott turned up and we polished them off in no time !!
The site clear at last
Scott with the last barrow load !!
We checked a few high spots with the dumpy level trimmed off a couple of inches - ALL DONE !!
Ready for the grab truck - or so I thought !!
A phone call to a local grab truck company - Yes we can take away your pile of muck - are you sure that there is no wood or plastic in it - NONE.
That's good.
Are you sure that there is no grass or plant roots in it - ITS FULL OF IT !!
The tip will not take it as landfill - sorry.
OK - I will just have to pick it all out then, before your truck arrives !!!
That's OK then - he will be there first thing tomorrow - £180 per load - cash.
What a bombshell - my fault - I should have called them before we started moving the stuff - WOW.
So I spent the afternoon raking and picking out grass sods and root balls galore until the neat pile was scattered all over the drive.
My plan was to make the pile appear to be free of grass and roots and to convince the grab truck driver it was OK to take it. To clear the whole pile in a few hours was impossible.
I did manage to pull out a size able pile of roots and sods before dark.
Thursday
The truck turned up a bit later than they said - No Problem.
The driver took one look at the pile and said - I can get rid of it for you - It Worked !!!!
The first bite !
He was very skillful with the grab and soon gobbled up the pile in one load.
The website said that the truck was 15 tonnes capacity but what turned up was 18 tonnes capacity.
I was expecting to have two loads but the driver said - I'll get it all on this load - possibly a bit overweight.
Clearing up the bits.
Nearly gone !
All gone in 20 minutes - One load - only two bucket fulls to clean up plus a scrape up with the shovel, a brush with the stiff yard brush before the rain at 11 am !!
I did beat the rain - clearing up the dry muck just in time - then waterproof gear on - long hose right through the house ! - cleaning up all residue.
It took all the rest of the day to get cleaned up - all the roots bagged up and loaded into my poor little car - the retaining boards dismantled - drain gully emptied everything put away like it never happened.
All there is to show on the drive are the scratches on the concrete from the grab - no bother.
End of phase one - the excavation - next - set out the base - calculate the quantity of crushed brick required for the sub base - have that delivered in bulk - then barrow that round - level it out - rent a Wacker compactor plate and when that's done - build the base former.
All for now - Mike.
What was forecast as a dry day turned out to be showery !!
I got set up early to finish the last 15 or so barrow loads when Scott turned up and we polished them off in no time !!
We checked a few high spots with the dumpy level trimmed off a couple of inches - ALL DONE !!
Ready for the grab truck - or so I thought !!
A phone call to a local grab truck company - Yes we can take away your pile of muck - are you sure that there is no wood or plastic in it - NONE.
That's good.
Are you sure that there is no grass or plant roots in it - ITS FULL OF IT !!
The tip will not take it as landfill - sorry.
OK - I will just have to pick it all out then, before your truck arrives !!!
That's OK then - he will be there first thing tomorrow - £180 per load - cash.
What a bombshell - my fault - I should have called them before we started moving the stuff - WOW.
So I spent the afternoon raking and picking out grass sods and root balls galore until the neat pile was scattered all over the drive.
My plan was to make the pile appear to be free of grass and roots and to convince the grab truck driver it was OK to take it. To clear the whole pile in a few hours was impossible.
Thursday
The truck turned up a bit later than they said - No Problem.
The driver took one look at the pile and said - I can get rid of it for you - It Worked !!!!
He was very skillful with the grab and soon gobbled up the pile in one load.
The website said that the truck was 15 tonnes capacity but what turned up was 18 tonnes capacity.
I was expecting to have two loads but the driver said - I'll get it all on this load - possibly a bit overweight.
All gone in 20 minutes - One load - only two bucket fulls to clean up plus a scrape up with the shovel, a brush with the stiff yard brush before the rain at 11 am !!
I did beat the rain - clearing up the dry muck just in time - then waterproof gear on - long hose right through the house ! - cleaning up all residue.
It took all the rest of the day to get cleaned up - all the roots bagged up and loaded into my poor little car - the retaining boards dismantled - drain gully emptied everything put away like it never happened.
All there is to show on the drive are the scratches on the concrete from the grab - no bother.
End of phase one - the excavation - next - set out the base - calculate the quantity of crushed brick required for the sub base - have that delivered in bulk - then barrow that round - level it out - rent a Wacker compactor plate and when that's done - build the base former.
All for now - Mike.
Wednesday 16 November 2016
Nearly There !
Tuesday 15th of November 2016
Another overcast and damp morning - but no rain today - so the ground might dry up during the day ?
I decided to dig a section of the rockery that is a bit bigger than half of what's left - starting at the front - the soil was wet and heavy - slow going.
I roughly estimated 20 barrow loads for today - but it is was it is.
Gradually the soil dried up as it got deeper and all done for today at 15.30.
The whole area now looks like the Somme battle ground - puddles - sludge - bits of slate - it can only get better from here on ??
Jackie helped to hose the paths while I swept with the heavy yard brush - All tidy before dark - great.
The pile of muck is now massive and we can only just get Jackie's car out - Mine would be multiple shunts to get out !!
A fine day tomorrow - I aim to finish the big dig - take levels - dig off any high spots - arrange for the Grab Truck for Thursday if they can ?
NEARLY THERE !!
Mike.
Another overcast and damp morning - but no rain today - so the ground might dry up during the day ?
I decided to dig a section of the rockery that is a bit bigger than half of what's left - starting at the front - the soil was wet and heavy - slow going.
I roughly estimated 20 barrow loads for today - but it is was it is.
Gradually the soil dried up as it got deeper and all done for today at 15.30.
The whole area now looks like the Somme battle ground - puddles - sludge - bits of slate - it can only get better from here on ??
Jackie helped to hose the paths while I swept with the heavy yard brush - All tidy before dark - great.
The pile of muck is now massive and we can only just get Jackie's car out - Mine would be multiple shunts to get out !!
A fine day tomorrow - I aim to finish the big dig - take levels - dig off any high spots - arrange for the Grab Truck for Thursday if they can ?
NEARLY THERE !!
Mike.
Tuesday 15 November 2016
Recovery Day
Monday 14th of November 2016
A damp start today - little bit of drizzle - not good for digging and barrowing - there would be mud everywhere.
So today - plan B.
Two trips to the tip - my poor little car - full to the roof with huge poly bags of garden waste - shredded bushes - rotten timber and bush roots.
Jackie helped to sort it all out at the tip - we go so often that we know the routine well !
The worst job is the bag of chicken and dog poo - Erghhhh !
We have a dedicated small wheelie bin for it - lined with a really thick poly bag - the bin and bag dosed with Jeyes Fluid. We slide the bag out with the bin tilted forward and the bag drops into a big soft plastic builders bucket / tote. - in summer the pong is bad, so we tie wrap the neck of the bag, but today was not so bad.
The bucket stops any drips and makes it easy to carry the bag with it's two handles. - it all goes for composting with the garden waste at the tip.
Then tidy up everywhere - hose down the paths - sort out the potting shed.
No progress with digging today - the forecast looks like the same tomorrow - it might be dry enough in the afternoon - Wednesday looks better.
Mike.
A damp start today - little bit of drizzle - not good for digging and barrowing - there would be mud everywhere.
So today - plan B.
Two trips to the tip - my poor little car - full to the roof with huge poly bags of garden waste - shredded bushes - rotten timber and bush roots.
Jackie helped to sort it all out at the tip - we go so often that we know the routine well !
The worst job is the bag of chicken and dog poo - Erghhhh !
We have a dedicated small wheelie bin for it - lined with a really thick poly bag - the bin and bag dosed with Jeyes Fluid. We slide the bag out with the bin tilted forward and the bag drops into a big soft plastic builders bucket / tote. - in summer the pong is bad, so we tie wrap the neck of the bag, but today was not so bad.
The bucket stops any drips and makes it easy to carry the bag with it's two handles. - it all goes for composting with the garden waste at the tip.
Then tidy up everywhere - hose down the paths - sort out the potting shed.
No progress with digging today - the forecast looks like the same tomorrow - it might be dry enough in the afternoon - Wednesday looks better.
Mike.
Monday 14 November 2016
Hi Ho - Hi Ho It's off to work I go.
Sunday 13th of November 2016
A lovely dry and sunny day - so digging - digging today.
Jackie helped to tidy up the garden and chicken run area - so that we are working as tidy as possible.
Then I decided to aim at moving a section of the rockery about 18 inches high by 3 feet wide and 8 feet long - all the way to the fence - I guessed at 20 barrow loads, maybe ?
I hate trailing mud all over the paths so I quickly made a simple boot scraper - two bits of timber knocked into the ground and a thin piece of steel screwed between them - it works well.
I am still using the wonderful Mattock - the big wide blade chops through the soil / roots and stones and gives a pile of easy to shovel waste - Great !! - well worth the fiver on Ebay.
I got stuck in - I thought I would be on my own today but Jackie decided to fill three barrows for me - WOW!
In the end it took about 25 barrow loads to clear the area - I had enough by then - time to clear up.
The pile is really growing now - I can't go any further across the drive - so I am extending the pile towards the house.
That means the grab truck will have to reach further - they have a limit of 5 metres - I must measure up.!
I am using a long plank now to get the barrow high up the pile - Scott and Neil were using it when they were here but I wasn't quite fit enough and my left arm won't flick the barrow over - but today I went for it and I got it !!!
I estimate another two days like today - 40 to 50 barrow loads left - Just keep going.
Mike.
A lovely dry and sunny day - so digging - digging today.
Jackie helped to tidy up the garden and chicken run area - so that we are working as tidy as possible.
Then I decided to aim at moving a section of the rockery about 18 inches high by 3 feet wide and 8 feet long - all the way to the fence - I guessed at 20 barrow loads, maybe ?
I hate trailing mud all over the paths so I quickly made a simple boot scraper - two bits of timber knocked into the ground and a thin piece of steel screwed between them - it works well.
I am still using the wonderful Mattock - the big wide blade chops through the soil / roots and stones and gives a pile of easy to shovel waste - Great !! - well worth the fiver on Ebay.
I got stuck in - I thought I would be on my own today but Jackie decided to fill three barrows for me - WOW!
I have been so lucky with the weather - maybe I started just early enough in the year - the ground is nice and dry - it breaks up easily.
It would be 10 times harder to dig wet through soil.
In the end it took about 25 barrow loads to clear the area - I had enough by then - time to clear up.
That means the grab truck will have to reach further - they have a limit of 5 metres - I must measure up.!
I am using a long plank now to get the barrow high up the pile - Scott and Neil were using it when they were here but I wasn't quite fit enough and my left arm won't flick the barrow over - but today I went for it and I got it !!!
I estimate another two days like today - 40 to 50 barrow loads left - Just keep going.
Mike.
Saturday 12 November 2016
More Digging.
Friday 11th of November 2016
Today was a lovely dry and sunny day in Derby - Ideal for more digging.
Neil from next door came to help today and brought his wheel barrow !
We carried on digging what was the rockery - advancing the cut edge towards the right hand fence - then concentrating on a 2 foot wide dig at the back which eventually reached the right hand fence!
Much better digging today in the dry - I won't dig in the rain again - the sludge trails all over and your boots weigh a ton !!
We took levels as we went along so that we didn't dig out any soil we don't have to.
The area looks strange with no visual level reference - the fence slopes down towards the end of the garden - it all appears wrong but the dumpy level says its good.
I have decided to try and get all the soil on the drive if we can before I get the grab truck in and then they can quote for the whole lot.
The pile is really growing now - I am amazed at the rapid progress, thanks to Scott and Neil for all their efforts.
Heavy rain tomorrow - Saturday - so a day off digging - back to it on Sunday.
Just to be be sure that I don't get a river of sludge in the rain - I covered the muck pile with Visqueen overnight.
Mike.
Neil from next door came to help today and brought his wheel barrow !
Much better digging today in the dry - I won't dig in the rain again - the sludge trails all over and your boots weigh a ton !!
We took levels as we went along so that we didn't dig out any soil we don't have to.
The area looks strange with no visual level reference - the fence slopes down towards the end of the garden - it all appears wrong but the dumpy level says its good.
I have decided to try and get all the soil on the drive if we can before I get the grab truck in and then they can quote for the whole lot.
Heavy rain tomorrow - Saturday - so a day off digging - back to it on Sunday.
Just to be be sure that I don't get a river of sludge in the rain - I covered the muck pile with Visqueen overnight.
Mike.
Friday 11 November 2016
Workshop at home in Derby
Friday 4th of November 2016
Now that the Summer house renovation is complete and Blazer is in good shape - I have managed to spend about three months there this year - (that was the plan after last year hardly getting to Blazer at all ).
Time for the Big Project - A big workshop - big enough to take all my wood working and metal working machines plus everything that I have in storage in Sheffield.
My wood turning workshop in Sheffield is still in operation with John working from there - sometimes jobs for me and sometimes for himself - plus I have a sub let tenant - Dave who rents half the shop to help pay the rent.
The situation is that John is looking to retire in the new year which means that the workshop will be costing me instead of earning a little.
It has taken me 16 years to find the top quality wood working machines that I have in Sheffield and I love them - they have allowed my little company to produce fine quality turnings for one of Britain's top furniture companies - If I sell them individually I will only get a fraction of their value.
I wish to keep them and use them to make items of furniture perhaps for new family here in Derby - without the overheads of a rented workshop 40 miles away.
Jackie has kindly agreed to me building a big workshop here in our garden and for my part - I will do my best to make it look attractive.
To prepare the area we decided to get rid of two raised beds that adjoin the big raised bed and to relocate the fruit bush into the big raised bed.
Jackie had already moved the bush while I was in France - so it was a case of moving the soil into the big raised bed and riddling the last of it to take out the slate ground cover - done !
We also decided to remove the diseased pear tree which was poorly rooted anyway and at the same time we pruned the plum tree and shredded all the cuttings ready for the tip.
So today we started to clear the area in the far right hand corner of the garden.
When the summer house was built some 10 years ago, or more, the soil from the excavation was made into a big rockery in this corner - I now have to move it again - this time to the tip !
The first job was to move the slate ground cover off the site so that it does not become contaminated with soil and concrete making it useless for filling in around the workshop at the end of the project.
I started the job today - raking it up - down to the weed membrane and then into the barrow and heaping it up just off the site.
Jackie helped to relocate the slab circle with the wishing well and collection of grasses to a spot near the chicken hut.
I then made a substantial timber ramp for the barrow to get up the two steps to the front of the house.
To my surprise Jackie's son Scott volunteered to help with the digging - WONDERFUL !!
Tuesday 8th of November
We removed the stone wall that was around the small pond and the rockery - hard work - every stone was a battle.
We dug out the pond - pulled out the rubber liner and filled it in with stone.
I took some advice from a local company who explained that I would save money and make life easier if I didn't use skips and instead use a grab lorry.
So I made a wooden barrier between us and next door - near the causeway - to pile up the muck within reach of the grab without him coming onto the drive which would damage the slabs.
It worked well - not having to barrow up into a skip.
Thursday 10th of November.
Scott again helping ( more like doing most of the work ) we started digging in earnest - a lot easier that moving the rocks.
We use a mattock to loosen the soil and then easily shovel it to the barrow.
So that we don't dig out any more than we need to - I took levels as we went along.
I bought a dumpy level on EBay for £40 - fantastic for very accurate level measurements - I have used one before and knew how good they are - on this site a spirit level would be useless and could lead to massive errors.
The workshop will be 24 feet ( 7.4 metres ) by 12 feet ( 3.7 metres ) externally with a 2 foot gap to the fence at the back and the side.
There will be around 7 feet space between the workshop and the summer house to allow as much light into the summer house as possible.
Once the site is clear and level, I can lay out the concrete base easily now that I have the tools.
After this project I can resell the dumpy level and might even make a profit !
The only problem we had today was the weather - it rained on and off until early afternoon, which turned the soil to sludge and we trailed it everywhere - Jackie was NOT HAPPY !!
Then the sun came out - we hosed and swept the paths and our boots - ALL SORTED
We are about half way through the rockery clearance now - Scott is back at work - so I will slowly press on on my own shifting the rest of it.
Mike.
Now that the Summer house renovation is complete and Blazer is in good shape - I have managed to spend about three months there this year - (that was the plan after last year hardly getting to Blazer at all ).
Time for the Big Project - A big workshop - big enough to take all my wood working and metal working machines plus everything that I have in storage in Sheffield.
My wood turning workshop in Sheffield is still in operation with John working from there - sometimes jobs for me and sometimes for himself - plus I have a sub let tenant - Dave who rents half the shop to help pay the rent.
The situation is that John is looking to retire in the new year which means that the workshop will be costing me instead of earning a little.
It has taken me 16 years to find the top quality wood working machines that I have in Sheffield and I love them - they have allowed my little company to produce fine quality turnings for one of Britain's top furniture companies - If I sell them individually I will only get a fraction of their value.
I wish to keep them and use them to make items of furniture perhaps for new family here in Derby - without the overheads of a rented workshop 40 miles away.
Jackie has kindly agreed to me building a big workshop here in our garden and for my part - I will do my best to make it look attractive.
To prepare the area we decided to get rid of two raised beds that adjoin the big raised bed and to relocate the fruit bush into the big raised bed.
Jackie had already moved the bush while I was in France - so it was a case of moving the soil into the big raised bed and riddling the last of it to take out the slate ground cover - done !
We also decided to remove the diseased pear tree which was poorly rooted anyway and at the same time we pruned the plum tree and shredded all the cuttings ready for the tip.
So today we started to clear the area in the far right hand corner of the garden.
When the summer house was built some 10 years ago, or more, the soil from the excavation was made into a big rockery in this corner - I now have to move it again - this time to the tip !
The first job was to move the slate ground cover off the site so that it does not become contaminated with soil and concrete making it useless for filling in around the workshop at the end of the project.
To my surprise Jackie's son Scott volunteered to help with the digging - WONDERFUL !!
Tuesday 8th of November
We removed the stone wall that was around the small pond and the rockery - hard work - every stone was a battle.
We dug out the pond - pulled out the rubber liner and filled it in with stone.
So I made a wooden barrier between us and next door - near the causeway - to pile up the muck within reach of the grab without him coming onto the drive which would damage the slabs.
It worked well - not having to barrow up into a skip.
Scott again helping ( more like doing most of the work ) we started digging in earnest - a lot easier that moving the rocks.
We use a mattock to loosen the soil and then easily shovel it to the barrow.
So that we don't dig out any more than we need to - I took levels as we went along.
The workshop will be 24 feet ( 7.4 metres ) by 12 feet ( 3.7 metres ) externally with a 2 foot gap to the fence at the back and the side.
There will be around 7 feet space between the workshop and the summer house to allow as much light into the summer house as possible.
Once the site is clear and level, I can lay out the concrete base easily now that I have the tools.
After this project I can resell the dumpy level and might even make a profit !
The only problem we had today was the weather - it rained on and off until early afternoon, which turned the soil to sludge and we trailed it everywhere - Jackie was NOT HAPPY !!
Then the sun came out - we hosed and swept the paths and our boots - ALL SORTED
We are about half way through the rockery clearance now - Scott is back at work - so I will slowly press on on my own shifting the rest of it.
Mike.
Wednesday 2 November 2016
Out to sea at last !
Tuesday 1st of November 2016
A lovely hot sunny morning - perfect for a little test run out in the bay.
I spent an hour or more catching up with the blog then I consulted the gate opening times list and found that I had only 45 minutes to get out before it closed for most of the day - I quickly prepared the essentials and made out with time to spare.
To finish off preparation properly I took a waiting buoy just outside the marina - much better.
The forecast gave 4 knots of wind in the morning and 8 knots in the afternoon but I found no wind at all until I was nearly back in the marina !
I was navigating with the Ipad running the i sailor programme - very good but the power level drops rapidly so I fired up the inverter and put it on charge - it still lost power !!
So I turned it off when I could to allow it to charge - I will look for a better fast charger.
The engine ran sweetly and Blazer seemed to glide along without all that weed on the bottom - Great !
Then I noticed that the brand new depth instrument was erratic at times - like the old one was - I am still using the old transponder because it seamed to work fine but not now !
I will fit the new transponder and hope that sorts it out.
Then the new (secondhand) pc monitor went blank - it was running the Seapro navigation programme for a check on the Ipad and for tidal flows - very strong around here - 2 knots when I first came out.
It must be something simple - another little job !
The chart table monitor was fine so I still had tide information.
That's what this little run out was for - shakedown.
Bar ar Gall west cardinal buoy
I did hoist the main sail hoping to sail a bit but no chance.
It was lovely to be out in the hot sunshine just tootling along trying my best to avoid the masses of underwater rocks in this bay
I spotted one lone dolphin about a quarter of a mile off - on a mission - going somewhere quickly - nice.
The gate re opened at 15.25 and I always give in half an hour for the inrush to settle down - so at 16.00 we were back on our berth.
A nice little trip out and a three jobs to sort out next time I come out - possibly next month.
A big clean up day tomorrow - Wednesday - then a 2am start on Thursday to be at Caen ferry port for 7am - home by 6pm with luck.
That's all for this trip - I will restart the blog when I return to Blazer - Soon !
Mike.
A lovely hot sunny morning - perfect for a little test run out in the bay.
I spent an hour or more catching up with the blog then I consulted the gate opening times list and found that I had only 45 minutes to get out before it closed for most of the day - I quickly prepared the essentials and made out with time to spare.
The forecast gave 4 knots of wind in the morning and 8 knots in the afternoon but I found no wind at all until I was nearly back in the marina !
I was navigating with the Ipad running the i sailor programme - very good but the power level drops rapidly so I fired up the inverter and put it on charge - it still lost power !!
So I turned it off when I could to allow it to charge - I will look for a better fast charger.
Then I noticed that the brand new depth instrument was erratic at times - like the old one was - I am still using the old transponder because it seamed to work fine but not now !
I will fit the new transponder and hope that sorts it out.
Then the new (secondhand) pc monitor went blank - it was running the Seapro navigation programme for a check on the Ipad and for tidal flows - very strong around here - 2 knots when I first came out.
It must be something simple - another little job !
The chart table monitor was fine so I still had tide information.
That's what this little run out was for - shakedown.
I did hoist the main sail hoping to sail a bit but no chance.
It was lovely to be out in the hot sunshine just tootling along trying my best to avoid the masses of underwater rocks in this bay
I spotted one lone dolphin about a quarter of a mile off - on a mission - going somewhere quickly - nice.
The gate re opened at 15.25 and I always give in half an hour for the inrush to settle down - so at 16.00 we were back on our berth.
A big clean up day tomorrow - Wednesday - then a 2am start on Thursday to be at Caen ferry port for 7am - home by 6pm with luck.
That's all for this trip - I will restart the blog when I return to Blazer - Soon !
Mike.
Tuesday 1 November 2016
Blazer Has A Nice Clean Bottom !!
Friday 28th to Monday 31st of October 2016
Sorry about no new post over the weekend - the wifi was no good in the yard where I was working on Blazer.
Friday at 08.30 I motored round to the lifting spot and removed the back stay - It was only just getting light.
The two crane operators did a great job of slinging and lifting Blazer onto a trailer and tractor - they then towed Blazer up the ramp to the yard and set up the pressure washer.
The underwater areas of Blazer were not quite as bad as I thought but there were a lot of sea squirts and weed.
Prop after pressure washing only
The Copper plated prop experiment is working I think. It's been on 5 years now - The weed growth was light and the cement like deposit that always builds up came off easily with hot water and a soft scraper.
That cement build up was the reason that I started the experiment because it used to build up rapidly and was really hard to get off. The copper coating is like new - no electrolysis at all !!
The pressure washer was a big petrol job and was so powerful I had to brace myself or it would have blown me over !!
It took a couple of hours to clean all the debris off and some of the layers of old antifouling - in a lot of places the layers had been stripped off back to the commercial grade stuff ( brown ) that I had a company put on in Grimsby - Good stuff - there were no exposed areas of the Vyniguard paint that is protecting the hull - Very good stuff.
New keel anodes fitted
I spent the rest of Friday scraping off the prop shaft and prop - changing anodes - resealing the keel to hull joint with polyurethane sealant - Note - there were no rust streaks from the keel joint like there used to be since I fitted the two keel anodes !
Keel zinc anode.
New hull anode
Toilet outlet.
One bit of concern are the heads of the bolts that hold the toilet outlet sea cock in place. - I replaced it about 5 years ago with a new one from Ebay that had no bolts or flange. - The bolts from Blakes were expensive and I found these bronze bolts much cheaper - NO GOOD !! - they can't be the proper material - the heads are corroding - I will swap them at the next lift out for the proper ones - Penny wise - Pound foolish !!
A close inspection of the hull showed no blisters at all - (GOOD NEWS) - but a few areas of gell coat pimples - (NOT GOOD NEWS) - I scraped off all the hull coatings about eight years ago and found similar pimples - sanded them flat - filled any that popped- and didn't worry about them.
They are caused by some error in the layers of gellcoat and not in the main thickness of fibreglass.
I can not get Vyniguard hull coating quickly here so I chose to ignore the pimples until next time when I can be ready to sort them out.
Saturday - I found that I had a litre of really good underwater primer and I scraped off the underside of the keels and applied lots of coats - they have never been anti fouled because Blazer usually sits on the keels in the yard - but this time she stayed in the trailer all weekend and I just had enough clearance to paint them.
I used lots of the primer on the keels and joints - I used the lot !!
I then masked up the waterline red boot top stripe - (4 strips of masking tape 120 feet !!) and painted that with hard antifoul paint.
I then brush painted the keels - all the awkward areas and the part that joins to the boot top stripe.
Sunday - I applied two full coats of antifouling to all the other areas with the roller - I kept going until I had used the whole gallon with just enough left for the support pad areas when the crane lifts us back in on Monday afternoon at 3pm.
Lovely !
WOW !
SMART !
Even underneath looks good !
I applied a coating of the lanolin grease Prop-Tection by warming some up in a tin and brushing it on to the propshaft - skeg - rope cutter and prop - I'm sure it helps to stop weed growth.
Monday I washed the hull topsides - cleaned the log impeller and sprayed it with the thick silicone lube - and touched up all round.
We were lifted in on the dot with no fuss - ( very professional ) - refitted the back stay and motored back to our berth (she glided along ) - four days of hard work but a labour of love !!
The weather had been perfect throughout the job and I cleaned up everything - disposed of the roller / tins and brushes - then settled down to a corned beef casserole that I made in the morning with a well earned glass of Muscadet. - Fantastic.
Mike.
Sorry about no new post over the weekend - the wifi was no good in the yard where I was working on Blazer.
Friday at 08.30 I motored round to the lifting spot and removed the back stay - It was only just getting light.
The two crane operators did a great job of slinging and lifting Blazer onto a trailer and tractor - they then towed Blazer up the ramp to the yard and set up the pressure washer.
The underwater areas of Blazer were not quite as bad as I thought but there were a lot of sea squirts and weed.
The Copper plated prop experiment is working I think. It's been on 5 years now - The weed growth was light and the cement like deposit that always builds up came off easily with hot water and a soft scraper.
That cement build up was the reason that I started the experiment because it used to build up rapidly and was really hard to get off. The copper coating is like new - no electrolysis at all !!
The pressure washer was a big petrol job and was so powerful I had to brace myself or it would have blown me over !!
It took a couple of hours to clean all the debris off and some of the layers of old antifouling - in a lot of places the layers had been stripped off back to the commercial grade stuff ( brown ) that I had a company put on in Grimsby - Good stuff - there were no exposed areas of the Vyniguard paint that is protecting the hull - Very good stuff.
I spent the rest of Friday scraping off the prop shaft and prop - changing anodes - resealing the keel to hull joint with polyurethane sealant - Note - there were no rust streaks from the keel joint like there used to be since I fitted the two keel anodes !
One bit of concern are the heads of the bolts that hold the toilet outlet sea cock in place. - I replaced it about 5 years ago with a new one from Ebay that had no bolts or flange. - The bolts from Blakes were expensive and I found these bronze bolts much cheaper - NO GOOD !! - they can't be the proper material - the heads are corroding - I will swap them at the next lift out for the proper ones - Penny wise - Pound foolish !!
A close inspection of the hull showed no blisters at all - (GOOD NEWS) - but a few areas of gell coat pimples - (NOT GOOD NEWS) - I scraped off all the hull coatings about eight years ago and found similar pimples - sanded them flat - filled any that popped- and didn't worry about them.
They are caused by some error in the layers of gellcoat and not in the main thickness of fibreglass.
I can not get Vyniguard hull coating quickly here so I chose to ignore the pimples until next time when I can be ready to sort them out.
Saturday - I found that I had a litre of really good underwater primer and I scraped off the underside of the keels and applied lots of coats - they have never been anti fouled because Blazer usually sits on the keels in the yard - but this time she stayed in the trailer all weekend and I just had enough clearance to paint them.
I used lots of the primer on the keels and joints - I used the lot !!
I then masked up the waterline red boot top stripe - (4 strips of masking tape 120 feet !!) and painted that with hard antifoul paint.
I then brush painted the keels - all the awkward areas and the part that joins to the boot top stripe.
Sunday - I applied two full coats of antifouling to all the other areas with the roller - I kept going until I had used the whole gallon with just enough left for the support pad areas when the crane lifts us back in on Monday afternoon at 3pm.
Monday I washed the hull topsides - cleaned the log impeller and sprayed it with the thick silicone lube - and touched up all round.
We were lifted in on the dot with no fuss - ( very professional ) - refitted the back stay and motored back to our berth (she glided along ) - four days of hard work but a labour of love !!
The weather had been perfect throughout the job and I cleaned up everything - disposed of the roller / tins and brushes - then settled down to a corned beef casserole that I made in the morning with a well earned glass of Muscadet. - Fantastic.
Mike.
Thursday 27 October 2016
Lifting Out
Thursday 27th of October 2016
I realised that it might be possible to lift Blazer out this weekend even though I haven't planned to.
So this morning I set about checking if it is possible.
First - the forecast is for a dry weekend for painting.
Then I found that the local chandler can get an affordable anti fouling paint by tomorrow.
Then I asked at the office if they can lift Blazer out - no problem - 9 am Friday until 3pm Monday.
I booked the hire of the powerful pressure washer.
Then I went to Tregestel Bricolage - ( a big DIY / marine store ) and bought a roller and tray - plus - I found hinges for the gas locker door !
I have on board -
Old overalls.
Good quality masking tape.
Paint brushes.
New anodes.
A small tin of red anti fouling paint for the waterline strip - (boot top ).
All sorted !!
I spent the afternoon preparing Blazer - the lifting rig here is unusual - I will have to remove the back stay!!
It holds the mast up but with swept back spreaders the we will be OK without it for the lifting.
I lowered the boom and settled it on the guard wires cushioned.
I cleared the jack stays and halyards.
I measured the tensioners on the back stay so that I can tighten them back up to the same tension afterwards.
I will go around to the lifting spot early to get ready.
I went to see the crane driver and asked if it mattered which way they want me to moor up - NO - any way is good.
So- I'm all set - 4 days on the hard standing for the price of 2 because its the weekend - great.
I have never left it so long between lifting out - it must be 3 years at least - I can see a lot of growth on the keels that just has to come off.
Mike.
I realised that it might be possible to lift Blazer out this weekend even though I haven't planned to.
So this morning I set about checking if it is possible.
First - the forecast is for a dry weekend for painting.
Then I found that the local chandler can get an affordable anti fouling paint by tomorrow.
Then I asked at the office if they can lift Blazer out - no problem - 9 am Friday until 3pm Monday.
I booked the hire of the powerful pressure washer.
Then I went to Tregestel Bricolage - ( a big DIY / marine store ) and bought a roller and tray - plus - I found hinges for the gas locker door !
I have on board -
Old overalls.
Good quality masking tape.
Paint brushes.
New anodes.
A small tin of red anti fouling paint for the waterline strip - (boot top ).
All sorted !!
I spent the afternoon preparing Blazer - the lifting rig here is unusual - I will have to remove the back stay!!
It holds the mast up but with swept back spreaders the we will be OK without it for the lifting.
I lowered the boom and settled it on the guard wires cushioned.
I cleared the jack stays and halyards.
I measured the tensioners on the back stay so that I can tighten them back up to the same tension afterwards.
I will go around to the lifting spot early to get ready.
I went to see the crane driver and asked if it mattered which way they want me to moor up - NO - any way is good.
So- I'm all set - 4 days on the hard standing for the price of 2 because its the weekend - great.
I have never left it so long between lifting out - it must be 3 years at least - I can see a lot of growth on the keels that just has to come off.
Mike.
Wednesday 26 October 2016
More Maintenance
Wednesday 26th of October 2016
A damp and misty start today so I decided to work inside.
I dismantled the engine cover and took off the pipe that lets cooling water into the cylinder block.
The last time I took it off was a couple of months ago and it was blocked then with salt deposits - it's not easy to take off because one of the two Allen bolts is in an awkward spot but after 20 minutes - I got it off !
It was blocked solid again !!
I cleaned it and refitted it - I must devise a way to flush out the sea water when I'm leaving Blazer for long periods.
Blazer desperately needs to be lifted out for hull cleaning and anti fouling - it is long overdue - the weed growth blocks the cooling water inlet and yes - it was blocked today !
I tried to clear it from inside but a lump of weed was acting like a flap valve and I could not shift it.
I tried to reach under the hull with the mop - no good - I tried a long cane - no good - the curve of the hull was stopping the cane reaching the spot.
So I took measurements of where the inlet is inside and marked up the hull outside and noted that it was 40 inches under the hull. - I taped an empty pop bottle to the mop and marked the handle at 40 inches.
I was able to reach under - in the right spot - and the bottle held the mop tight to the hull - Got it !!!
It only took an hour !!
I must book a lift out - SOON.
The engine ran well and temperature was good - sorted for now.
I swapped the oil pressure switch for a new one - I noticed that the original had a loose spade terminal and although it worked OK - I wanted to swap it - DONE.
Next job - varnishing.
As part of the clean up prior to leaving Blazer to go home last time I cleaned the galley cupboard doors to remove some grease spots - I used neat bleach and it removed the grease and some of the varnish as well !!
So I might as well re-varnish all the galley and engine cover woodwork !
I used my orbital sander to prepare the big areas and the triangle detail sander for the corners and awkward bits - then hoovered up all round.
I use an oil that I have tested and its great for inside woodwork but outside it looses the colour with sunlight and goes transparent within 12 months.
I quickly applied one coat and what a difference - lovely - but it will want another two coats at least.
Not a bad result for the day - I'm pleased that I'm getting the bigger messy jobs done when I'm here on my own.
Mike
A damp and misty start today so I decided to work inside.
I dismantled the engine cover and took off the pipe that lets cooling water into the cylinder block.
The last time I took it off was a couple of months ago and it was blocked then with salt deposits - it's not easy to take off because one of the two Allen bolts is in an awkward spot but after 20 minutes - I got it off !
It was blocked solid again !!
I cleaned it and refitted it - I must devise a way to flush out the sea water when I'm leaving Blazer for long periods.
Blazer desperately needs to be lifted out for hull cleaning and anti fouling - it is long overdue - the weed growth blocks the cooling water inlet and yes - it was blocked today !
I tried to clear it from inside but a lump of weed was acting like a flap valve and I could not shift it.
I tried to reach under the hull with the mop - no good - I tried a long cane - no good - the curve of the hull was stopping the cane reaching the spot.
So I took measurements of where the inlet is inside and marked up the hull outside and noted that it was 40 inches under the hull. - I taped an empty pop bottle to the mop and marked the handle at 40 inches.
I was able to reach under - in the right spot - and the bottle held the mop tight to the hull - Got it !!!
It only took an hour !!
I must book a lift out - SOON.
The engine ran well and temperature was good - sorted for now.
I swapped the oil pressure switch for a new one - I noticed that the original had a loose spade terminal and although it worked OK - I wanted to swap it - DONE.
Next job - varnishing.
As part of the clean up prior to leaving Blazer to go home last time I cleaned the galley cupboard doors to remove some grease spots - I used neat bleach and it removed the grease and some of the varnish as well !!
So I might as well re-varnish all the galley and engine cover woodwork !
I used my orbital sander to prepare the big areas and the triangle detail sander for the corners and awkward bits - then hoovered up all round.
I use an oil that I have tested and its great for inside woodwork but outside it looses the colour with sunlight and goes transparent within 12 months.
I quickly applied one coat and what a difference - lovely - but it will want another two coats at least.
Not a bad result for the day - I'm pleased that I'm getting the bigger messy jobs done when I'm here on my own.
Mike
Hot Sunny Day
Tuesday 25th of October 2016
A bit foggy at first then hot sunshine all day - great !
I continued with the fuel - this time I filtered two 5 gallon drums of red diesel that I brought from home this trip.
They were the result of a major fuel spill (a few years ago) from a shattered glass filter bowl which emptied the fuel tank into the bilge. - I pumped it into the drums and cleaned up - got rid of the glass bowls - now aluminium.
I have searched for a contractor to filter the fuel without success - but now I can do it myself !
Red diesel is legal in boats in the UK but not over here - reading up about it - it is better if you are caught with it in the fuel tank than if it is in the reserve drums - so yesterday I transferred the white diesel into the reserve drums to make space for the red diesel in the fuel tank.
I now need to find the UK receipt for the red diesel to prove that I have paid some duty on it.
So - all finished with the fuel - all washed in hot soapy water - and I found a great place to store the filter system in the cockpit locker ready for next season tank check.
Next job was to tidy up some plumbing to the cockpit shower - done.
Next job was to remove the broken hinge from the gas bottle locker door - the local chandler has no replacements so I will find them on line or repair the originals at home.
I then got cracking in the galley and cooked a Chilli Con Carne - tasty.
I finished the day with a drop of red wine watching the sunset - great !!
A bit foggy at first then hot sunshine all day - great !
I continued with the fuel - this time I filtered two 5 gallon drums of red diesel that I brought from home this trip.
They were the result of a major fuel spill (a few years ago) from a shattered glass filter bowl which emptied the fuel tank into the bilge. - I pumped it into the drums and cleaned up - got rid of the glass bowls - now aluminium.
I have searched for a contractor to filter the fuel without success - but now I can do it myself !
Red diesel is legal in boats in the UK but not over here - reading up about it - it is better if you are caught with it in the fuel tank than if it is in the reserve drums - so yesterday I transferred the white diesel into the reserve drums to make space for the red diesel in the fuel tank.
I now need to find the UK receipt for the red diesel to prove that I have paid some duty on it.
So - all finished with the fuel - all washed in hot soapy water - and I found a great place to store the filter system in the cockpit locker ready for next season tank check.
Next job was to tidy up some plumbing to the cockpit shower - done.
Next job was to remove the broken hinge from the gas bottle locker door - the local chandler has no replacements so I will find them on line or repair the originals at home.
I then got cracking in the galley and cooked a Chilli Con Carne - tasty.
I finished the day with a drop of red wine watching the sunset - great !!
Tuesday 25 October 2016
Fuel Problem !!
Monday 24th of October 2016
On the last trip I changed the fuel filters and was alarmed at the amount of sludge in the primary filter - it was pretty certain that the fuel tank is contaminated with DIESEL BUG !!!
Back in derby I bought the components to make a fuel cleaning system - a 12 volt dc fuel pump - a big filter and spare filter elements - along with all the bits to pipe it up.
Today I assembled it and put it to work - sucking dirty fuel from the tank through the filler cap - filtering it and returning it to the tank.
I used a stiff plastic tube to probe around all the bottom of the tank - it worked really well.
I laid out an absorbent mat in the cockpit to mop up any drips and it did a good job - no fuel leaked into the marina.
The amount of sludge that I filtered out was amazing !! - the filter was a water filter at 5 microns and gradually over 3 or 4 hours the flow slowed to a trickle - I changed the filter element and found the first one covered in slimy black sludge !!
Gradually the black bits flowing down the clear tube to the filter became less and less and I struggled to find any by moving the probe tube around.
I then pumped fuel into two clean five gallon drums with a fresh filter element and caught some fine bits of black stuff that were floating around.
I would like to empty the remaining five gallons but I will have to buy a can for that tomorrow.
All in all - I am pleased to have cleaned a lot of the BUG from the tank without paying an outside contractor to do it and with my filter system costing around fifty pounds - not bad !
I will treat the tank with an additive that eats the BUG to get rid of any that might be stuck to the tank walls.
The problem of diesel bug is here to stay now that bio diesel is added to road fuel and with Blazer not moving far these days the fuel is now a few years old.
Now that I have my filter system I can easily clean the fuel at the start of each season if I want.
Mike.
On the last trip I changed the fuel filters and was alarmed at the amount of sludge in the primary filter - it was pretty certain that the fuel tank is contaminated with DIESEL BUG !!!
Back in derby I bought the components to make a fuel cleaning system - a 12 volt dc fuel pump - a big filter and spare filter elements - along with all the bits to pipe it up.
Today I assembled it and put it to work - sucking dirty fuel from the tank through the filler cap - filtering it and returning it to the tank.
I used a stiff plastic tube to probe around all the bottom of the tank - it worked really well.
I laid out an absorbent mat in the cockpit to mop up any drips and it did a good job - no fuel leaked into the marina.
The amount of sludge that I filtered out was amazing !! - the filter was a water filter at 5 microns and gradually over 3 or 4 hours the flow slowed to a trickle - I changed the filter element and found the first one covered in slimy black sludge !!
Gradually the black bits flowing down the clear tube to the filter became less and less and I struggled to find any by moving the probe tube around.
I then pumped fuel into two clean five gallon drums with a fresh filter element and caught some fine bits of black stuff that were floating around.
I would like to empty the remaining five gallons but I will have to buy a can for that tomorrow.
All in all - I am pleased to have cleaned a lot of the BUG from the tank without paying an outside contractor to do it and with my filter system costing around fifty pounds - not bad !
I will treat the tank with an additive that eats the BUG to get rid of any that might be stuck to the tank walls.
The problem of diesel bug is here to stay now that bio diesel is added to road fuel and with Blazer not moving far these days the fuel is now a few years old.
Now that I have my filter system I can easily clean the fuel at the start of each season if I want.
Mike.
Sunday 23 October 2016
Back in Trebeurden again !
Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd of October 2016
Having finished work on our summer house major rebuild, I thought a break on Blazer was in order before starting the construction of my big workshop in our garden.
I am on my own so far this trip - Jackie isn't keen on the out of season Trebeurden, plus her daughter - Fiona and family were visiting this weekend.
Thursday I travelled via Portsmouth / Cean and drove to Trebeurden arriving about 1.30 am !! - a long day.
Friday was unpacking the car and sorting stuff aboard Blazer - a big surprise - Jean-Francois next door was here until Sunday !!
We had dinner on Blazer Friday night along with another boat owner - Yves.
It was a great night - 3 courses and nice wine - plus three oil lamps on - the full works - lovely.
I asked the guys if dinner on other boats was a common thing - no - this is a first !!
I asked the guys if dinner on other boats was a common thing - no - this is a first !!
Saturday - I was invited to go sailing with Jean-Francois on his boat and the weather was great - sunny but cool and fair winds !!
We sailed 31 miles to the Sept Iles - a great trip.
Sunday ( today ) - a heavy rain / dull day - I chilled out on board and pottered in the cabin - making a big beef stew - Great.
No photos yet this trip - I will pick up some Duracell batteries tomorrow for the camera.
It's great to be back again - Blazer is in good shape - I might even manage a day sailing - you never know !
Mike.
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