Thursday, December 31, 2020

Ruger Mk III Loaded Chamber Indicator Replacement

If you have a Ruger Mk III, you know the frustration of periodic jamming due to the Loaded Chamber Indicator.  We like to blame bad ammo, but the LCI usually has a hand in the hangups of empty cases.  It is annoying when you are being timed, and even more annoying when you are using your pistol to instruct new shooters.  TANDEMKROSS sells a drop in replacement to solve your frustration, but making the switch can have its own frustrations.


Here are the parts from two Mk IIIs, one from a steel barrel, and the other from an aluminum Lite model.  Changing the parts on the steel guns is easy.  Disassemble the barrel from the lower receiver and you will see the little steel pin barely protruding from the underside on the left of the barrel.  Tap on the bottom of the barrel with a non-marring mallet, or hickory hammer handle, and the pin will work out.  After it is out you can remove the LCI and insert the replacement hole-filler. 

The problem in changing arises if you have the Lite model.  The aluminum grips the steel pin and it will not come out.   I had our Lites apart three times trying to remove the pins with no luck.  Here is how you do it.  Put a cutoff disc on your Dremel tool and very carefully attack the LCI.  Be careful so you don't mar the finish. The LCI has a metal part on the upper side, and after you have the polymer part removed, let the cutoff disc ride against the metal part  and cut a groove into the pin.  Use good lighting.  Use a small screwdriver to pry the pin out a bit, and then you can grip it with some tiny pliers and remove it. 

We have run our guns since making the change and they have not choked since.  Using a Dremel tool on your guns is usually not recommended, but in this case I had to make an exception. 

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

I Don't Like Spiders and Snakes


This is a re-post from our True Blue Sam blog, so we can post it on FBook. FBook does not like our primary blog.

Susan was sorting through some things in the garage Sunday, and was bitten by a brown recluse spider.  I keep snake bite kits handy in my man-purse, and put a suction cup on her hand right away, within minutes of the bite.  We use these things frequently for insect stings, and they pull wasp and bee venom out effectively if we can apply a suction cup right away.  This was the first time we used one on a spider bite.


I pulled it off after a few minutes to have a look, and we were astounded at the amount of blood that had come out.  Evidently, brown recluse venom has anti-coagulant properties.  We put the suction cup on again, and pulled less blood out on the second go.  The third time pulled very little.  The patient has no redness or swelling, only a tiny scab at the bite site. 

If you read about the Cutter kits on the Internet you will find that medical folks despise them, and say they do more harm than good.   I have never been snakebit, and I can sure understand the harm that can come from using one of these kits instead of seeking prompt medical attention, but I also appreciate the way they work for me on bee stings, and insect bites.  Now we know the little suckers are good for spider bites, too.


This is a brown recluse spider.  They like to hide in dark places, under boxes, rags, or etc., and can deliver devastating tissue damage with their venom.  If one gets on you, brush or shake it off; don't smash it on your skin.  Get it on the floor and then step on it.

Friday, December 25, 2020

Saturday, December 12, 2020

Santa Baby, Eartha Kitt

O Holy Night / Ave Maria, Lexi Walker - The Piano Guys

Deadly Spring Loaded Hickory!

 Susan and I put that hickory on the ground with a cut that will be new to most of our followers. It worked great, and we pulled it off the stump with a come-along rather than the tractor.  We have the video processed and we will start the upload at bedtime. It should be up in the morning and then we will post it here on the blog. 


And Here We Go!  It finished uploading about 4:30 this morning so you can watch it come down with your morning coffee! 

You will note that the final cut on the tongue and groove let the tree move and pinch the bar. I should have put a wedge in the top cut before that happened, but we came out of it OK. Every tree is an opportunity to learn. Gravity ultimately wins. You gotta work around that!

Thursday, December 10, 2020

Another Little Load

 This stack was a white oak log earlier today. Freshly split white oak smells delicious!



While out in the woods bringing the white oak rounds in, I spotted a hickory that had tipped over and lodged.  I shot a little video about it, and we will go back tomorrow to take it down and shoot a video showing the process.


Merry Christmas Darling, The Carpenters

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Git Wood!

 Susan and I split a nice pile of wood tonight.  Good weather tomorrow, so maybe we will do it again!



Angel Eyes, Emmy Lou Harris

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Jingle Bell Rock, Bobby Helms

Lisa Is Home!

I brought Lisa home on Thursday after a four day hospitilization. The good doctors at VSS in Manchester, MO saved our little girl's life. We still do not know what caused the infection in her right leg, but it is healing and the swelling is down. We will go back in a couple weeks for a follow up appointment. 


Lisa's left leg is shaved for her IV port, the right leg was swollen so tightly that it was breaking open. That happened after she had gone on oral antibiotics, which turned out to be less than was necessary. Below are the good doctors who saved Lisa, from the website of Veterinary Specialty Services, in Manchester, Missouri.
                                                        Click To Enlarge.
Lisa is feeling much better now!


Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Blue Christmas, Elvis Presley

The Way You Get Big Bucks...

 ...is to let the little ones alone. Let them get to know you, too, if you have the time to be in the woods.



Brassman Bart: The Cubanola Glide, by Harry VonTilzer

 Here's another great one by Good Old Brother Ben, aka Brassman Bart!


Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Christmas Canon, Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Holly Jolly Christmas, Burl Ives

Hard Candy Christmas, Dolly Parton

I'm Back

 


I've been in St. Louis with Lisa at Veterinary Specialty Services. She has a bad infection in her right foreleg and is undergoing IV therapy.  It appears she is recovering now, and she will have a CT Scan tomorrow to see if there is something in her leg/foot. A holiday weekend during Covid restrictions is a bad time to have a sick dog, but they are taking care of her.

Thursday, November 26, 2020

Christmas In Prison, John Prine

 "Sweeter than saccharin at a drugstore sale." We miss you, John Prine.


Just In Time For Thanksgiving! Our Pumpkin Patch Escapade!

Just in time for Thanksgiving, we broke open some pumpkins and Susan has been cooking them. A pie went into the oven tonight! Watch the slide and video show to see the results of Susan's pumpkin patch. Pumpkin Pie recipe is at the end of the video! Alternate title and description! My Wife Planted A Pumpkin; You Won't Believe What Happens Next!

Brassman Bart: Hosts Of Freedom by Iowan Karl King

 The Brass Man's notes: Hello! This week's music is a number written by Iowa's own Karl King, “Hosts of Freedom”. Originally published in 1920, this music is 100 years old this year, and is public domain. The town band I played in when I was a teenager always played this number every summer, and when you listen, it may sound familiar, especially if you have ever played in a small town band in Iowa. The music is available as a free download on bandmusicpdf.org, and is very nice to listen to. All parts in this video are performed by me, and I hope you enjoy. Please like, please share, and please subscribe. Thank you. Brassman Bart

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Brass Man Bart: Barnyard Blues

 Another Great One from one man brass band!


Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Time To Gather....


 ...your hedgeapples! Supposedly, they repel spiders.  I don't know about that. If you are wanting to grow Osage-orange for bow making, let the apples soften up, and break them up in a bucket of water.  Sow the seeds in rows you have worked up and stand back. You want them to come up thick to force straight growth, then thin to get diameter growth.  

Brass Man Bart: K-K-K-Katy!

 Brother Ben knocks out a great one for our listening pleasure. Everybody loves this song!


Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Bug, October 5, 2020

On a cold, wet February night in 2004, I had to go to my office after hours, and Susan rode along. On the side of the road I saw a couple of eyes in the weeds and stopped, backed up and shined the headlights to discover a very wet kitten. I hopped out to pick it up, and it ran, so I had a brief chase in the mud running it down. As we continued to the office, Susan said, "This cat has a broken leg." That was a downer, but Susan tried to make it better by telling me she would take the cat to the vet in the morning so I wouldn't have to kill it.

When I got home from work the next day we still had a cat, and it was wearing a cast! Susan related that the vet looked it over and said, " I believe I can fix this cat! The poor thing sure took a tumble." Took a tumble? We had to name her Bug after hearing that. She still likes to sit with her broken leg out; kind of like Chester on Gunsmoke.

Bug passed away last night. Sixteen years seems too short a life for a good little friend like Bug.

Thursday, September 24, 2020

"I Will Send Hornets Before You"

 That little quote from Exodus has been a favorite for many years. It happened.  Our burglars came back, and examined the Weber Grill sitting outside the garage.  It held a secret, and the heinous perpetrators got a nasty surprise. 



Roll That Beautiful Bean Footage!

 Susan rode along for a couple of rounds with our farmer today.  That was a huge thrill! One more 40 to go.


Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Thursday, September 17, 2020

Got Milkweed?

 One of the commenters on our Monarch Butterfly post mentioned that there might be readers out there who don't know milkweed. It's so common to us that I didn't even think about that, so we are correcting that right now.  I even found a couple more caterpillars this morning. It's a thrill.


Monday, September 14, 2020

Don't Mow Those Milkweeds!

 You probably know that Monarch Butterflies are in trouble. Monarchs need milkweeds to reproduce successfully, and there just aren't enough of them. The researchers don't seem to know why, and I think this problem began with genetically modified beans that tolerate glyphosate herbicide.  You don't see any milkweeds in bean fields like you used to.  Monarchs prefer to lay their eggs on milkweeds far from the edge, so the roadside milkweeds are not preferred, but that is what they are using at our place.  Leave 'em be.  You can mow those areas after frost when the little critters have moved on.



Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Brass Man Bart: Excelsior Gallop

 Brother Ben has run off to the circus. I feel just like I'm under the Big Top!

Barberchair In Minnesota News

                                           Photo Credit: Redwood County Minnesota Sheriff

Regular blog readers here know that I am always pushing proper falling techniques. Failure to make a plan for dropping trees makes every one you drop an accident, and sooner or later that will catch up with you.  This tree was cut from the tensioned side until it split lengthwise, gained elevation, and fell on the operator.  He paid a horrible price, being trapped for four days before he was rescued. Here is the link to the report:Chainsaw Accident

KARE 11 posted a video on their news site:


I think it is worth noting that the fire department personnel took two hours to free the man from the tree.  Moving a tree off of someone is not a simple thing, and I doubt that the firemen have had training in special chainsaw techniques. Study the Chainsaw Safety Rules on this blog, and click on the Chainsaw label to access all of our posts about chainsaws and dropping trees. 

Lift A Log Video:

Sunday, September 6, 2020

No Days Off When You Retire!

 


                               

                                                  There's Somethin' Doin' Every Day!

                                                            Back To The Old Grind!

Weekend Steam II: More Things We Miss This Weekend

Weekend Steam: What We Miss This Weekend

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Brass Man Bart, The Billboard March

Meet Sunka!

 Sunka is a 15 year old Schipperke male who has outlived two owners.  He has been in a private kennel for two months since he became homeless, and now that Betty Boop has been adopted we had room to take Sunka in. It is difficult to find a home for a 15 year old dog, so he will probably be a permanent foster for us.  He is a perfect little gentleman, but he is deaf and mostly blind.  He navigates around the dog yard very well and is enjoying life here already.  The other dogs are being kind to him, even energetic Sisko. Many Thank Yous to all who have donated to Midwest Schipperke Rescue! Your generous donations  provide healthcare for Sunka and other lifers in the Midwest family.



Sunday, August 30, 2020

Digging, Always Digging

 Do you ever wonder about which tools were invented first? I've thought for years that the hammer would be first, but there is also a good chance it was the shovel. Pick up a stick and you can use it to reach, to push, or to dig. Deuteronomy 23:13 tells us to carry a stick so we can clean up after ourselves.  We never get done digging, until we're really done, and then somebody else gets to dig for us.  Anyhow, the dogs are liking their stepping stones, and they will give us a safe path to clean the dog yard when it rains.

Back To The Old Grind!

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Emerald Ash Borer In The Local News: My 15 Seconds Of Fame!

 John Ross of WSIL TV 3 called yesterday and then came right out to do a brief interview and look at emerald ash borer damage to trees.  We got lucky and found some really good galleries for the camera. 

https://wsiltv.com/2020/08/21/the-u-s-forest-service-is-sniffing-out-emerald-ash-borers/

Friday, August 21, 2020

Roaring Twenties Music: Whispering by Paul Whiteman

Paul Whiteman and his orchestra recorded Whispering on August 23, 1920.  It went to Number 1 for eleven weeks, and stayed on the charts for twenty weeks, selling more than two million copies.  It is one of the songs that made the Twenties roar.


 

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Diggin' Taters


Plus, OKRA! We are living the good life!


 

Monday, August 17, 2020

Tuesday Torque: Revisiting The Debut Of The 8 HP Bessemer

 Four years ago this fall, our friend Gary Bahre made this old basket case run.  It was just a very poor parts kit when he got it, and it is really fixed up well now, and could go back to work if Gary had a mind to do that.  History of this engine:  Found on a farm in Lawrence County Kentucky in 1976, brought to Illinois in 1980, this engine held a mailbox by the side of the road from 1992 until 2014. Gary Bahre took it on as a project and has made a basket case run again. During this engine's working years it powered a sorghum press at Martha, Kentucky. It had water in it during a freeze, and the water jacket was broken. When we bought it there was a big, ugly brazing job holding the water jacket together. Gary Bahre cleaned that up so it hardly shows now. The farmer continued to use this engine until the rod broke; we guess sometime during the 1920's. It sat outside and rusted until I saw it in 1976 as I was going to a timber marking job at Martha. My wife and I went there after work, bought it from the son of the man who originally purchased and ran it, and we loaded it in the back of our AMC Rebel station wagon.

Friday, August 14, 2020

The Devil Wears LaCrosse


Walking old Jack Dog yesterday morning I observed a track in the driveway that didn't belong. It was narrow, not a car, tractor or utility vehicle. I turned around and looked behind me; the log splitter was gone. It happened sometime after 10 PM and morning, and one of the neighbors told us that he had something setting off an alarm around 2 AM.


I found footprints. The thief walked in on the old section of road, and in the dark walked through mud.  The tracks are plainly LaCrosse rubber boots, but the mud did not print the size rectangle. They should put serial numbers on them and register all buyers, I guess. The County Sheriff came out, took photos and notes, and we sent him documentation for our splitter, on the long chance that they encounter it somewhere.  I have long held that thieves don't steal anything they have to work with, so the thief probably had a buyer lined up.  We had lots of storm damage locally, so our machine is probably helping some buyer of stolen goods work up a tree.

 
It was a good machine.  We have been using it since the fall of '09, and it has helped send many trees up the flue. It was full of gas and had clean oil; ready to work.

Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Brass Man Bart: Colonel Bogey!

Another one you will love from Brother Ben!


Wednesday, July 29, 2020

Brass Man Bart: Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay!

I love this!  I think you will, too!


The Hard Part Of Having Pets

Black Bart had a long life, and a good one because we took him in when he showed up as a feral Tom cat. He's been on heart medication since 2008, but his ticker wore out last week and he went downhill pretty quickly. Finding him hidden with Brat's owl doll told me that he knew it was the end. He was ready to go see his old friend.


Sunday, July 19, 2020

Swiper's One Year Adoptiversary!


All of the dogs we foster are special to us, but the seniors really tug at your heart.  Swiper was found wandering the streets of a major Midwestern city and luckily, he was pulled into foster care very quickly.  We had his teeth done, spent just a little effort making sure that he was housebroken satisfactorily, and fell in love with this sweet old boy.


He went to his new home a year ago this weekend. We called and had a great visit with his family yesterday.  He gets the best of care and is very happy being the senior dog in a pack of well behaved Schips.

More Interest, More Shooters!


Social unrest, mobs and riots have sparked new interest at the Carmi Rifle Club.  People are coming to Pistol League to practice regularly and we are getting new members. Many are now realizing they may have to defend themselves in their home or in their car when traveling.  The interest is not just in little pocket pistols for concealed carry.  This week we laid out a variety of single action revolvers, lever action rifles, plus pump and double barrel shotguns. Those who are new to shooting are limited in their knowledge of "cowboy" guns.  TV westerns were cancelled more than fifty years ago, and the guns that have fascinated old timers for decades are a new and novel tool for a large segment of the population.  We grew up watching westerns where revolvers were loaded, shot, unloaded and reloaded, cartridges were stuffed into the gates on Model 73s and 92s, and shotguns had ears. Operating these guns is second nature to "Boomers," and we are only too glad to coach those who want to learn how to run them.  We started everyone on .22s, then moved up to .38s and .44 Special. The shooting was impressive, with very few misses shooting guns that were a new experience. Good Times!


Thursday, July 16, 2020

Silly Dog Tasks

We are having fun with the foster Schips this year, and learning new tricks to teach dogs how to be good companions.  Godiva is really fond of me, but she lived in a kennel, not a home, and she needs to be monitored closely for her housebreaking skills.  She does not like rain, she does not like the heat of the day.  She might make a little puddle and want to come inside.  You gotta learn each dog.


Our strategy is to carry Godiva to the far end of the dog yard until we know she has done all of her business.  Little Lisa Marie needs encouragement to walk because of her knee surgery, so I take a dog under each arm.

They love the extra attention and this little effort is paying off with both dogs. That's Sisko watching the festivities.  He's wondering how come he's not getting a ride.