More Fluff - Part 2

Well, it's been just 2 days since we added the attic insulation. I had no expectations to see any difference until we received our electric bill in a few weeks. However, I think we have observed a few differences....

1. We keep our bedroom pretty cool. By the time we go to bed at 10pm, my thermometer reads 57 degrees. This is usually true when the outside temperature is anywhere between 0 and 35 degrees. However, last night and tonight, the temperature in the bedroom is a whopping 61 degrees. I have tried to turn down the thermostat, but the temperature does not drop. This is good.

2. In the kitchen, the temperature usually hovers around 61 or 62 in the evening time. Tonight, we it didn't drop below 64 degrees.

Thus, I know the insulation is working as it should. I am simply surprised we can tell a difference so soon. More data to come....

More Fluff

Our attic insulation iss been pretty thin. I estimate we have about 6 to 8 inches spread unevenly through out the attic. At an R-value of approximately 3.1 per inch, this equates to an R-Value of 18 to 24.

The minimum R-value for new construction is R-39. It is recommended that if you blow in insulation for an existing house to go up to at least R-49. So, we decided to take advantage of the tax rebate this year and put in some more fluff.


Our roof pitch is pretty low profile, so the attic is difficult to maneuver through. I had thought about blowing in insulation myself, but that would be a horrible job. I decided pretty early on the only way to go would be through a contractor that specializes in such a chore.

I got a couple of quotes, for a couple of different thicknesses. I chose to go with a more expensive quote, for the contractor seemed to know his stuff. I also opted for the thicker of the 2 options he gave us. The option we went with is for an additional 18 inches of insulation. That, right there, is approximately R-54, so add to that the existing few inches of insulation, and we definitely have some major insulation overkill. Here are a few descriptive before and after shots:

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Exhibit C:

Exhibit D:

We should see a major savings in our electric bill, for our heat is produced from electric baseboard heaters. I find it kind of weird to look forward to the next electric bill, and to compare it to the previous 3 years.

My Invention

I invented a new thing: A Skate.

This is a tool I use to move and store my snowblade for my John Deere 316.


I had been moving it around by just lifting it up, but I'm not getting any younger these days. I made this skate to allow for easier moving, but it turns out that it makes for easier installation, too.


I used scrap OSB and 2 x 4s. The only thing I purchased were 3 casters at Menards for $1.49 each. So, for just under $5, my back has been saved and I can install the snowblade twice as fast.

I made two skates: one for this snowblade, and one for the snowblower. It sure is nice to move things around the shop without skuffing up the floor.

A "New" Diagnostics Tool

Or rather, the Diagnostic Center.

Welcome to the AC-Delco ST-210 Diagnostic Tune-Up Center. This unique piece of equipment was what all the shops and garages used before electronic On Board Diagnostics (OBD) took over. This unit is only good for old cars and trucks with no computers.

A friend gave this to me for free over the weekend. His Dad had bought it from a garage going out of business many years ago. The service manuals that came with this tool went back as early as 1966. While I haven't checked it out too completely, it appears to be a pretty cool tool. As you can see, it's in pretty good shape. It even has a red leather cover to protect the entire top of the unit.

I really like the holster specifically built for the timing gun.

What's Missing Here?

I took the picture below just a few weeks ago in preparation for the picture that follows.

Yep. The first tooth has fallen out. Actually, rather than gently "falling" out, it was yanked out by a tube of toothpaste. Here is my lovely daughter demonstrating how the tooth got yanked out.
She tells us that because she could not open the toothpaste with her fingers, she tried to open it with her teeth.

In the end, she never did get her toothpaste tube opened by herself.

Pictures from September

Here are a few pictures from our very busy September.

At the John Deere Museum in Moline, Illinois:

Near Amana, Iowa - right after eating giant cinnamon rolls
Here are a few pictures of our weekend

trip down to Turkey Run State Park.

The Boy fell asleep on our hike both days.

We went to watch the fanfare

before the Purdue football game.

The last ride around the yard in the Jeep.

I sold it to a friend in Huntington.

Of course, you have to have your last

round of Jeep Olympics by swinging

around on the roll bar.

The Pioneer Festival is always a favorite.

The Boy was really hamming it up for the camera.

We finished the month with a trip

to Dairy Queen. Both kids got free

ice creams from the library reading

program.

Take a tractor ride

Riding home from the Huntington Pioneer Festival

on the

1938 John Deere "A".

New Front End (Part 2)

I have finally finished the entire front end repaint of the old '64 pickup. This past week, I was able to clean up the front bumper and get it painted.


It looks really good with the newly painted grille. This cost me 1 can of spray primer, 2 cans of spray paint, and a few hours of time. Very worthwhile.

Home Grown

This year was the first year we grew a pumpkin. We didn't even know it was a pumpkin until it started turning orange. It was a volunteer plant probably from a seed from the compost pile.

It is a perfect pumpkin - short and squatty. The kids think so, too. Here they are giving it hugs and kisses shortly after we cut it off the vine.

A New Front End

I have made slow progress on the old pickup truck over the last few weeks, but progress nonetheless. Mostly, I've been working on electrical systems - parking lights / head lights / electrical distribution under the hood. Alot of the wiring was broken down with the insulation melted away. I replaced all of it with various wires I have accrued over the years - many of my wiring harnesses were made out of broken down power tool cords. They are well insulated, have 3 conductors, and are the proper gauge.

While tearing things apart, I try to pretty things up as I go along. The grille was removed so I could work on the wiring for the headlights, thus, I wanted to clean it up and make it look good again.

The picture below shows the original white-paint-discolored-with-surface-rust on the left, and wire-brushed down to bare metal on the right.I like to try to remove all paint and rust down to shiny bare metal when I can, for I feel the subsequent primer gives the paint a better chance to stick properly.

I also find it very neat to see the CHEVROLET lettering pop out in the sheet metal. It is difficult to see while covered in white paint.

Zip on a little primer as soon as possible to keep the rust at bay:

I painted white outside on a couple of sawhorses. After letting it dry inside for a few days, I had my wife help me put it back on the pickup.

Putting on the vinyl CHEVROLET decals really makes it pop out. The only job left to do is to aim and adjust the headlights, and re-attach the bezels around the lights. Even in it's nearly-finished state, I think it looks very good.

So, in just a few hours of labor, and approximately $10 in primer and piant, I transformed this:

into this:

The next job will be to do the same to the front bumper. It, too, will be painted white to match in another short while.

S'mores

Over the weekend, we went to a cookout at a good friend's house. We had good bratwurst, sweet corn, and s'mores for dessert.

The Boy really enjoys sugar. Thus, he really enjoys s'mores. He doesn't just enjoy the mix of chocolate, marshmellow, and graham cracker, but I think he also enjoys the mess it makes.

This s'more got in his hair, shirt, and shorts. Nonetheless, he really enjoyed himself, and wanted more after the first one was gone.

Furniture Jumping

When my wife left for an evening of peaceful grocery shopping, I taught the kids a valuable lesson in how to jump off the furniture.

We moved the mattress from the Boy's room out to the living room, and progressed to jump off a coffee table.

They had a blast.

The Boy could really achieve some height. The Girl squeeled and giggled through the entire lesson.

I'm sure my wife will appreciate the skill learned in this lesson when I am away at work, and she is trying to calm the kids down.

Dinner Conversation

Tonight at dinnertime, The Girl announced, "It's easier to run down the hill than it is to run up the hill."

At that, I replied, "Of course. What you experienced is gravity. Do you know what gravity is?"

The Girl: "Sure. It keeps your feet on the floor."

Well, that kind of blew me away, so I forgot the rest of my scientific lecture.

A New Bumper

I have taken the old rusty bumper off the 1964 Chevy, and given it a coat of paint. It was 100% rust, but very solid. The bumper probably weighed 60 pounds, but there were no rust-holes going through. As I was grinding it down with my wire wheel, it appears to have been painted many years ago. Years of neglect caused 100% coverage in surface rust....

I cleaned it down to bare metal, primed, and painted white.

I found it interesting that old trucks such as this did not have rear bumpers as standard equipment. Bumpers were an option in this era. Furthermore, bumpers were not chrome, but painted from the manufacturer. In the case of this old truck, the bumper was an advertisement from the Chevy Dealership. That is, if a truck was manufactured without the option of the rear bumper, the dealership would install one for you that usually had their name or logo on it. In this case, you can see the text:

"Capital Chevrolet, Inc. Austin, Texas"

I think cleaning up the bumper alone makes a huge difference in the overall appearnace of the truck. Next on my list is to paint the front bumper and grille. I think it will only enhance the contrast in the truck. I hope to add a few more pictures in the next week.