Shop Time w/T.W. Friends

So kinda like peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth then.

 

^^^^
Yeah, yeah - I do that stuff in the garage on rainy weekends...
Engineers...



OK, amended question:

What is the most powerful force that a common guy can use that directly has a dramatic impact on his future ability to consider a comfortable retirement?

Answer: Compounding.

 

Morning Shop

Busy day today, everyone called out again today, got 2 appointments for the day, then working on that 8horse that won't Rev, ifni have time. Hopefully cut out of work early. Got to drive 45 minutes away to pick up a new washing machine, ours experienced sudden unintended self disassembly.

Then I got to install it and make sure it works before the 48hr return period ends.

 

Looking forward to the solution on the 8 horse, interesting problem.

.
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You can't just go out & buy a "good brand" appliance and trust it to work anymore.

It is so... shameful how far we have fallen.
Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse and countless of our other industrial forefathers must be spinning in their graves in frustration.

 

Agreed. Nothing is built to last anymore. This washer was atleast 11yrs old. I'll be surprised if the new one has that life span.

 

Video of my NIMS CNC Mill Certification Project.

National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS)

https://youtu.be/Yjpev8_0Qas

 

Congratulations

 

Edited

 

Gonna have to disagree with you there. We, the consumer, have done this to ourselves, by demanding silly features and not willing to pay for longer life units.
Example:
In 1960, the average cost of a refrigerator was $225. The average salary was $5600/yr. Doing math, that was 4.5% of their yearly income.
In 2022, the average cost of a budget refrigerator was $1500. The average salary was $59,000. Again, doing math, that was 2.3% of their yearly income.

Going back to the washing machine and dryer, I am quite sure that a manufacturer could make a simple mechanical, no feature washer and dryer that would last 25 years for the same price as a modern washer and dryer with 72 options for cycles and speeds. But, I can also say with certainty that A) Very few would buy them and B) My sales cycle would put me out of business after just a few years.

Let's expand this to Drug Companies. I could come up with a cure and put myself out of business in a few years or I could just keep people alive long enough to buy their next prescription. Hmmm, What one would I do?

Slippery slopes @RustyGreen. Slippery slopes.
It's easy to blame the companies, but we, as consumers, shoulder the blame too.

 

We always opt for the simplest, most straightforward unit. I am aware however that we are in the minority here

 

I didn't assign any blame to the manufacturers.
I implied that the past innovators who pioneered reliable and long lasting consumer products would be furious.

I agree completely with you, the (foolish) consumer drove our slide to this "new normal" we now live in - and how I dislike that term.

 

My inlaws came by yesterday. My wife called me and said her dad wanted to buy me an auger for my tractor. I said tell him that is very nice but no thanks.

He wants to get it so I can dig the rest of the holes for the deck, I've already dug 17 by hand, 12 more to go. I grew up using hand post hole diggers, it's not that bad and I'm not scared of physical labor. I had one for my tractor and sold it several years ago.

I told my wife she knows me and if I wanted one, I'd have one. I have friends with them and could borrow one if I wanted too. Our yard is on a hill, I've hit rock in almost every hole, some small, some big. If I had one on the tractor and hit a rock the hole would be crooked and twice as big as I want it. I'll stick to the hand ones for now because the next ones are near the septic lines and I'd rather dig them by hand anyway.

He's also mentioned a lean too shed to park something in, not sure why, everything he has is in a shed. I haven't said anything to him when he says it, my wife said he's doing that to try and get you to build it. I said I'm not interested, it's an hour away and I'm not in the construction business for other people. That was months ago I told her that.

She said yesterday he said I could use an auger for his shed, again, not interested. When I get done with our deck, I'd kinda like to enjoy it. End rant now.

 

Hmmm... What a generous offer.
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On the surface.
.
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With a not so subliminal message of "then you can come use it on my property because now you owe me".

Family -- sometimes I'm glad I don't have any.

 

Numerous reasons I don't want to build a shed at someone else's house, one, I don't want to, two, all my tools are at my shop, three, my physical well being isn't what it used to be and four, this deck is killing me

 

Most importantly - "I don't want to"

Good for you man!
You have plenty of you own projects & family responsibilities to fill up your day.

 

Hey guys, I checking back in. Been a tough go for me and Mrs. Pinger

I can’t remember if I posted this here a few days ago, my old dog Lucian started having some medical issues Monday night. He continued to go downhill over the next days and crossed over the rainbow bridge yesterday. He’s been the best boy a guy could have.

I’ll get back to normal in a few more days.

 

Sorry to hear this my friend

 

So sorry for your loss Blevin, normal can take awhile.

 

Oh, you have a Ph.D.? I, too, have a few Ph.D.s', but my favorite is my wooden Ph.D. I find the mass of the wood helps drive it deeper into the dirt and clay soil and the little ruler on the side saves quite a bit of time. Cant live without my Post Hole Digger though I do like the speed of a gas powered auger on occasion when I can find one for rent locally.

-J

 

Oh dear. That's difficult. Sorry for your loss sir.