Bleg

I have just enough energy to be thinking about all the things I want to be doing, and no where near enough energy to do any of it.

But anyway…..

I mentioned back in the fall that I’d acquired a 6’x6’x6′ wooden box to use as the basis for a future greenhouse.  My goal for it this summer is to get it moved into location on the property, get the clear roof on, and a smaller door built.  If I can get at least one sides worth of windows on that’d be awesome.  But the roof and the door would mean that I could potentially use it next spring even if I don’t get the rest of it done right away.

But this means that I’m going to have to cut holes in the plywood sides and roof.  I currently have a corded circular saw (Black & Decker), a battery powered recip saw (18v Dewalt), and various hand powered tools.  The circular saw is a full sized saw, and its heavy, no way I’m going to be using that.  I MIGHT be able to managed it with the recip (which is lighter, but not lightweight by any stretch), but especially the roof parts, only might.  I know my limits, and having either of those up over my head and running doesn’t sound like fun.  Yes, I can get Husband to help me, and plan to, but still.  I may end up on a ladder cutting down on the roof instead, but then that’d be awkward too.

Best suggestion for the tool to use for cutting out the window openings?  I kinda have my eye on some of those little corded circular saws, but they’re not especially cheap……

3 or 4 years ago I bought these gloves at Gander Mountain.  If there was a logo or brand name on them I didn’t notice it then, and it’s worn away now.  They weren’t horribly expensive.  I know they’re not Carhartt, because that was what I actually wanted and I settled for these.  What I can read off the tag (pictured) says they’re a size M, which means they’re either women’s size or boy’s size as my hands are tiny and they’re only slightly to big on me.  The palm and fronts of the fingers are leather, the side of the thumb is black suede, the back of the hand is nylon.

Whatever they are they’ve held up to winter wear and tear (including stacking firewood) better than any glove I’ve previously tried, and kept my hands warm better than any other glove I’ve tried.  Infact I don’t even need to replace them now, but I’d like to get another pair or two to stash away.  And my husband would like a pair to fit him.  An internet search with various search terms (including the number on the remaining tag) nets me lots of gloves, some similar, but nothing quite the same.  Nor is there anything the same on Gander Mountain’s website.

I mostly try to avoid putting up identifying information about me and mine on here, though I know if you really wanted to find me it wouldn’t be hard.  But sometimes it has to be done.

My mom has been trying her hand at selling her handi-work, with the idea of using it as a 2ndary income after she retires.  If you’re in Massachusetts proper you may be able to catch her at a local fair.  But she also has an Etsy Store.  She’s also on Facebook (Carolyn’s Jean Bags) if you prefer.

Now, I’m working with her to try to get better photos of everything, it’s a bit hard long distance, but I think the ideas are getting across.

She’s been making purses and bags (and clothing, and halloween costumes, and at least one prom outfit for me) for as long as I can remember.  Her stuff is well made, and should hold up well to abuse.

As you’re buying gifts this holiday please consider buying from small business and local craftspeople.  Sometimes it costs more, sometimes it doesn’t.  But it means so much more to them!

Does anyone know of a decent quality multi-tool that does NOT contain a knife?

See, I can’t (per company code) carry a knife, other than the ridiculous safety knife issued to us, at work.  We’re allowed to carry all sorts of OTHER tools, but not any other knife.  Flat bladed screwdriver?  Sure.  Pry bar? Sure.  Knife of any kind?  OMG, YOU’RE SO GETTING FIRED FOR BRINGING A WEAPON TO WORK!!!!

And yet there are so many situations where I could SO use to have a multi tool on me.  Yes, the company HAS tools we can use.  If I want to find someone to let me into the office to dig through the tool cabinet to find what I want.  While the customer waits impatiently.

I am aware that several of my co-workers carry multi-tools on the sales floor regardless of the knife/weapon rule.  And management mostly turns a blind eye to it as long as no one gets injured.  But my personal preference would be to NOT push the envelope.

I know the Leatherman bracelet thing doesn’t contain a knife, but I’m not a bracelet sort of person (Leatherman is supposed to be pretty sturdy stuff, but I’d rather not test out the bracelet’s durability, and I would be if I bought one).  Plus I’d really like a pair of pliers and the like too.

I did recently run across the SOG line of multitools, where it looks like in at least most of them you could potentially pull out the knife and put in an extra piece of something else instead, which is kinda cool.   Anyone have any experience with these?

Are there any other options out there?

I’ve been using Agnitum’s Outpost firewall for several years.  Like it alot and have recommended it.  Unfortunately Agnitum’s been bought out, and the firewall will be going away in short order.

For those of us with paid licenses they’re offering two years free of Kaspersky’s firewall.  Kaspersky’s not one I’d looked at closely, but doing so now I was less than thrilled.  Better than nothing, but not something I’m going to want to use long term probably.  I’d about decided to take the free install till I could find something else, when I discovered that Kaspersky doesn’t play well with my antivirus of choice.

Yay.

Doing more poking around I ran across Comodo’s firewall.  Reviews look good, other than the usual “watch what check boxes you leave checked during install” thats pretty standard these days.  Anyone have any input on it?  Or for that matter, have a different firewall you use?  This is a Windows 7 machine, and though I keep saying I’m going to duel boot with Mint the Win7 side won’t be going away any time soon due to having too many programs that need Windows……

Any one out there with small robotics or electrical experience who’d be willing spend a few minutes to help me set up a wiring diagram for a project?  I can PROBABLY figure it out, but I’d appreciate assistance in making sure I’m getting it right…..

I could also use a link to a decent source for “stuff”, such as a (dimmer type) power control knob, etc….I think I miss Radioshack!

There’s a long blog post coming on this, but has anyone installed a corner shower or similar type unit?  Is there SUPPOSED to be a 2×4 frame-work on the wall behind the shower sides?

I started this blog with zero intention to make money off of it.  And I still have zero interest in putting the work that would be required into making this an real money maker.  I did briefly toy around with Google Ads, but the money there was essentially zero and not worth the (very) minimal effort required (in the space of a year I earned $0.05).

WAY back, I did a post on a DIY version of a commercial product.  And that post has worked its way into the first page of search results (infact, depending on the search words its the FIRST result right under the company page), on every search engine I’ve tried, when people search for the name brand product.  And its one of my biggest search engine hits, in the last two weeks it netted me 218 hits, more than twice the number of hits on my main page.  Which made me a little concerned when I realized it, some companies can be very sticky about how their name is used, and I keep expecting (somewhere in the back of my brain) to be contacted by the company in question and asked to either rename the post or remove it all-together. 

Well, I finally got contacted by the company in question (well, I think I have, I haven’t tried calling them yet to confirm its a legit contact, I want to have a better idea of what to do before I do that).  And instead of being peeved about my post they’re offering me membership in their associates program, with the offer to make a commission of up to 20% of of each sale that comes in via the link on my blog.  Apparently people who decide that the DIY version isn’t for them (or who try it and can’t get it to work), then proceed to follow the link in the post to the brand name company, enough for them to notice.  A check of my exiting links shows that 48 out clicks in the last four months went to the company page.  The only out link with more hits is the link to the DIY instructions….

I have no idea as to the terms of the associates program, the information on the company site is basically identical to what I got in the email.  I have zero intention of pushing this product any harder than I already am.  Which, in case you haven’t noticed, is essentially not at all.  I’d be willing to modify the original post to include the associate links (and a disclaimer stating that I am an associate), and MAYBE a discrete link on the side-bar.  But I know one peeve of mine is when a blogger joins such a program and then pushes it with every post and big ads……But I also have to admit that the idea of pulling in enough to cover the costs of the blog itself (hosting fees mostly) would be nice……

The final choice is of course mine, but its not like I have a million people who read this blog either, So!  Thoughts, opinions, random barely connected thoughts?