Family over for tea tonight

Family over for tea tonight so in total 5 humans and 6 dogs - OMG

Victoria Votes

Victoria Votes
Libs wiped out and Greens dealt crushing blow…all good news (y) From where we sit, or live…looking at the flashing lights atop those bloody cranes (in the news lately cos many of them are toppling over!) I remember well that Guy guy when he was in last time and rezoned everywhere to let in (nudge nudge) developers and even bulldozed a clear path for them by removing VCAT rights. Does this mean we a Labor fed voters - NO.

Voting done

Voting done no waiting and snag on the way out (y)

Bella to bird vet.

At the bird vet with Bella for follow up visit for blocked nose.

What a coincidence !

Shortly after I made the last post we lost the Internet, and of course no phone - ET not happy with the latter!

Radio 3AW news update that south east areas have lost power so not the NBN this time. Think I might have another go at doing a deal with Telstra for a modem/gateway with 4G backup.

Al’s Kitchen – Peri Peri Chicken

This week I've come up with something that's easy to prepare, cook and tastes really yummy using Spencers Peri Peri Chicken mix.

Buy a pack of chicken wings/drumettes and arrange in a suitable oven dish.

Dust all the pieces on both sides with the peri peri mix, cover with glad wrap and pop into fridge for a few hours (or overnight). I did mine late morning and removed from fridge around five for baking dish to come down to room temp - safe to put into hot oven.

Preheat oven to about 180° and while waiting for that peel and half some potatoes - I used another dish for them. Add a bit of olive oil to both, cover with foil and pop them into oven - wings on top and potatoes below.

After a while remove foil from both, keep checking and turn stuff over if needed. When the wings look OK swap the dishes to crisp up the roast potatoes.

Only have a photo of the leftovers - sorry 'bout that.

Talking turkey with Telstra

We are now out of contract with our 12 month bundle for phone, internet & Foxtel from Telstra. That means some of the Foxtel discounts are adjusted adding about $10 to the monthly cost with Entertainment, Documentaries & Movies going from $40 to $50 which is still below the normal $56 for that lot.
Some options are to remove Movies or even cancel Foxtel. Another option is to take up a new bundle like the $99 unlimited with Telstra TV and Foxtel Now for 24 months, includes a Smart Modem with 4G backup. Rang Telstra and lucky to get a switched on guy by the name of Arnel. The new bundle would not include the smart modem…hmm. Decided to cancel Foxtel so he put me on hold…waiting…came back with a offer to keep everything the same and reduce Foxtel (as before Ent, Docs & Movies) to $30 - DONE :-)
.

12" Disc sander - 2

In the first session for this project we made the motor disc, with that done next job is to make the sander disc.

Cutting the sander disc on my homemade 14" bandsaw.

12" Disc sander - 1

Collecting and preparing the parts to make a disc sander.

From stock I need to cut the end off this 2400 x 300 Melamine board.

Chooks coop heater - some modifications.

Due to some very cold nights I've been swapping between the regular 75W ceramic heat emitter and the larger 250W one. Currently that's a PIA cos I have to take out 2 screws to remove the top cover - time to fix that.

To change the heat emitter (lamp) I have to remove two screws and take off the top.

Annual council collection - finished

That's it for this years council collection, the last truck (green one) has cleared my three big stacks of green one of which was on my neighbours side.

Left a real mess out onto the road which is all cleaned up now including trimming and mowing.

Scroll saw project - update 14

The scroll saw is complete!

I'll use it for a while and see how it preforms. There will likely be refinements and I'll post the updates., here are two parting pictures.

Scroll saw project - update 13

The blade (cutting area) is quite close to the front of the table so I decided to make a fold down extension table.

The table extension is from Laminate flooring.

Scroll saw project - Update 12

For this session we are going to make the blade insert disc.

This is where we finished the last session, ready to route out the blade insert.

Android TV

Back on the balcony posting some pictures of the scroll saw build and, keeping a eye on the Blues vs Doggies game - free AFL footy.

Scroll saw project - Update 11

With the garden work done for council collection we are clear to potter in the workshop. Bloody cold miserable day but the gas heater has raised the temp in the shop from 7° to 12° plus, with some assistance from the Tangi heater.

Doing some electrical wiring, the jigsaw plugs into the surface socket.

Scroll saw project - Update 10

With the garden work done (last four days) and ready for council collection next week it's good to get back in the workshop to continue the scroll saw build- yay

Decided to switch from plain to the pinned type of blade. The plain type (no pin) just keeps coming loose no matter how tight I do up the clamp screws. Things are more secure now and I can even wind up the saw speed a bit more.

Annual Council Collection 4

The tree lopping, pruning, bundling and final stacking out on the nature strip is done

Thanks to Philip Tyme for coming over this morning to help me with areas 2 and 3.

Annual council collection 3

Follow up to previous post, completing Area 1.

This is the last wheelbarrow load to finish Area 1

Annual council collection 2

Still working on the green stuff for annual council collection. As mentioned there are three areas and all the lopping is done which is a good start considering we have a dodgy back.

This is Area 1 - this photo from the previous session with half the Bay Leaf tree lopped. Todays job is to bundle and stack this lot outside. There are two other areas to be done tomorrow and I hope the kids turn up to help or I could miss the boat.

Scroll saw project - update 9

Video clip of test cutting some plywood - yay.

Scroll saw project - Update 8

Spent most of the day lopping trees and although a bit pooped out found the energy after dinner to head out to the workshop about seven-o-clock for another session.

The blade holder with threaded rod, wing nuts and washers did not work out so I did another version.

Scroll saw project - Update 7

Making the upper blade holder from a bit of flooring laminate.

Annual Council Collection 1

Monash annual council collection has come around again and this year my focus is on lopping and pruning three areas, one at the front and two at the back. Bit of a bugger that my back has been dodgy the last few weeks so I've asked the kids to help with bundling and stacking the green stuff out the front this coming weekend.

Pity to lop the wattle in full bloom, I've left three up the top.

Scroll saw project - Update 6

After redesigning the lower blade holder I pulled the whole thing apart to refine some of the parts.

Looks like a IKEA flat pack.

Scroll saw project - Update 5

Redesigned the lower blade clamp.

Lower blade clamp Version 1.0 did not work out. The blade comes loose and the squashed bracket clamp fouls the jigsaw blade guide.

Scroll saw project - Update 4

How to drill a hole in a hardened steel blade ?

The build is on hold while we go back and fix something that was a failure.

The adaptor fashioned from a squashed bracket does not apply enough pressure to hold the scroll saw blade and…the clamp itself fouls the jigsaw blade guide.

Next thing to try is drilling both the jigsaw blade and the offcut and screw together to clamp the scroll saw blade.

Scroll saw project - Update 3

This will be a interesting session as we are going to mount the saw arm bearings and install the assembly onto the saw frame.

With the arm support column dismantled I marked out the bearing centres on the two supports in preparation to bore the bearing mount holes.

Scroll saw project - Update 2 Part B

Still waiting for the chooks to go to bed so I can put their food away and lock up, so may as well prep for tomorrow.

As mentioned in the last post with a scroll saw blade mounted in the jigsaw I am able to measure the height of the arm support so here I've pulled the thing apart to cut to length on the mitre saw.

Scroll saw project - Update 2

Bought a few more items from Bunnings yesterday so I could move on with the scroll saw build - today.

Starting to take shape  

At this point right here, with a scroll saw blade mounted in the inverted jigsaw, I can now measure, cut and mount the main saw arm.

Building a scroll saw

Early photos of a new project I just started - a scroll saw.

This scroll saw will be powered by a new ALDI Workzone 710W jigsaw, mounted upside down.

8" Bandsaw - revisited

This is just a overview of what I've been doing in the workshop over the last few days…and nights. I built the 8" bandsaw last year and since then have not been happy with the design of the upper wheel block blade tension and blade alignment components. Adjusting one effects the other, increasing tension jams up the tracking adjustment…plus other stuff. Basically that design was flawed so I am building a scaled down assembly very similar to the 14" bandsaw that I built earlier this year.

This is the upper wheel block blade tension and tracking assembly. It does work but to hard to setup up so I'm going to pull out the whole thing and start again.

Holly to vet

Holly at vet for regular check-up.

All OK.

Pixie to vet.

Pixie at vet for regular check-up – all OK.

Telstra - Your broadband might be interrupted

Got through the day with no outages !
------------

From: Telstra Customer Service Team [service.interruption@telstra.com]

Sent: Friday, June 15, 2018 10:21 AM

Subject: Your broadband might be interrupted

Android TV Box

Winter is here so decided to come in out of the cold and moved the second (development) Android TV system inside to the balcony area - where it's warmer.

K9 Visitor

Visitor for Sunday breakfast, Willow from Botanic Ridge who is staying with us for the day.

Willow, Pixie and Holly.

E-mail from Dick Smith Fair Go

E-mail from Dick Smith Fair Go

Dear Dick Smith Fair Go supporters,
ABC Four Corners programme ‘Big Australia: Are We Ready?’ covering Australia’s population growth issues, on this Monday 12 March 8.30pm – followed by Q&A

Facbook facial recognition

Facbook is expanding its facial recognition features...hmm.

Sounds good, like to help combat fake accounts (someone stole a photo of me [unlikely]) and to alert me whenever a photo or video is posted that includes yours truly [again unlikely].

This is set to - Only Me - don't forget to revert back to - Friends

Boronia Veterinary Clinic

TO: Dr. Tony Hayes
FROM: Alan & Eva Mackenzie
ANIMAL: Holly Mackenzie
SUBJECT: Recovery from leg operation

Hi there,

Holly is one week into recovery from cruciate ligament surgery performed by Dr Tony last Monday 12^th. Everything is going well and all the recovery signs are good.

However this morning she was sun baking after her toilet outing we noticed she still has a swollen lump on the inside of her knee.

Mum & dad now worried so Dad is sending attached pictures for Tony to review and please call us on 9561-5259.

Holly update - one week since her SCL op

Holly update - one week since her leg op and when we arrived home this afternoon from shopping she was at the front door looking through the foyer window with her new toy that we bought last week that has been lying next to her bed untouched since last Tuesday - another good recovery sign :-)

Holly recovery update

Holly update - she woke up this morning full of beans with bright eyes and a happy face so yes...recovery going well.

DIY Twin floor lamp 2

From the last session we left off at this point with the lights mounted on a plywood board.

DIY Twin Floor Lamp - Part 1

Some time ago bought a couple of LED downlights with 240V plug leads. Finally decided to do something with them – a twin floor lamp. This will stand between the two mitre saws that are parked at the front of the workshop against the roller door.

Found a piece of plywood the right size.

Holly update

Out for a break and a pee. Amazing how she can still take care of business. As already posted she is booked in on Monday at Boronia with Tony for cruciate ligament surgery and this time will stay overnight.

Lenovo Family Cloud

Invitation from Lenovo try out the following products:

Lenovo Family Cloud (Client - phones/tablets)
Lenovo Family Cloud Server (Server - Win10/64bit PC)

Went to my bookmarked Lenovo system scan webpage and one of the software items on the list was indeed the Lenovo Family Cloud Server, went ahead and installed that with no issues.

14” Bandsaw – Blade tracking knob

The saw is basically finished and now has it’s own parking spot on the floor.
Got onto one of the last little jobs this afternoon, the blade tension knob which is still just a screw nut.

Marked out on some scrap MDF a 40mm radius circle, then counter punched around the circumference at 90° intervals – and the centre. Bored four 15mm holes with a Forstner bit which will provide for finger grip. Then cut out the knob on the bandsaw, yes…the saw is making it’s own parts.

Workshop Tour – Feb 2018

Spent some time over the last few days cleaning up and reorganising the workshop.  The motivation for doing this is to find a parking spot for the latest nearly completed project – the 14” bandsaw!

This is the big Ozito 12” sliding mitre saw. I was lucky to get one of the last as they don’t make 12” anymore. Thanks to Ozito (again) for tracking one down and getting one to the Bunnings Scoresby store for me to pick-up!

Cookie with my coffee

Came inside from doing stuff outside for a coffee break – and a cookie.

My personal tin of Jacobsens Bakery Denmark cookies.

14” Bandsaw – Dust extraction 2

Noticed this morning that the lower wheel cover which also serves for dust extraction is not closing flush at the bottom.

Would not have thought that the middle 3mm MDF panel is the culprit. We need to recess the bottom edge of the cover.

14” Bandsaw – Dust extraction

With the lower wheel cover done we can start thinking about dust extraction.

Holly after her bath

Holly - bath time

Straight outside after her bath as she always needs to go toilet.


Then hang around as she initially dries off and give her first brush out – one of many.
She’s keen to get back inside to the coolness of the downstairs foyer.

14” Bandsaw – Hinged wheel cover 2

I the last session we made the frame for the lower hinged wheel cover which will also serve as a dust extraction box.

Now we can measure and cut another MDF board which we be the actual front panel of the box.

14” Bandsaw – Hinged wheel cover

With the base box at the back of the lower wheel boarded up with dust panels we can now start making the frame for the front hinged cover.