Ol Dirty Bastard

[Texan]

Your Cases look awesome Kirrbby!

That's because there is no sweet spot. It's tiring, painstaking, job to do right but, isn't that part of what gives the results their high value?


Looks really good in these pix. And I agree with you, today was optimal polishing weather.

For me, the painful part of the job is when that liquid-like, mirror finish is developed...then you clean away the compound residue and find a couple of minor imperfections, only to discover how much more work has to be done if you want those gone. The term "executive decision" comes to mind. Just a warning...remain vigilant whilst at the wheel. It's shockingly easy to lose focus for a second, literally, catch an edge then watch in horror as a part gets ripped out of your hands and flung with serious velocity...and disastrous results.

BTW, all of this polishing does have a payback, beyond the satisfaction of those hard-earned results. A polished finish is relatively easy to maintain, indefinitely. The only thing that will erode polished aluminum, in the state is road salt. That includes dirt roads that have been "chlorided" for dust control. Chlorides are all forms of salt and they all eat metals, including aluminum. If it ever gets splattered from a wet dirt road, just wash it of when you get home, and give it a light rubdown with aluminum polish...only takes a couple of minutes. Then you're good-to-go.

Oh year Racerx, the aching in your lower back goes away pretty quick after a buffing job, but the nice polish remains

I only purchased a bench buffer specifically for my Minis, as I had done a couple of pieces with a drill, which was no fun. I also learned about the rockets a buffer can produce . Luckily, I was doing it like Kirrbby, outdoors in the yard, so the Brake Panel I was working on landed in the grass with no damage, but not before it almost scared the out of me. Lesson learned though.

 

[kirrbby]

I spose the party's over. General Motors wants me to come back to work...tomorrow. They asked me to volunteer...three weeks in a row. But this week, they insisted that I return. They didn't call everyone back yet...only a lucky few. I'm a little worried about catching some shop rat germs. I think it's too soon to be going back into the jungle, but I don't think they care what I think. lol Guess the world needs more pickup trucks.
2 month stretch of unemployment was the longest ever, for me, by far.
It was fun while it lasted. I got a LOT of work done on my projects, but this is sure to slow things down a bit.

 

[Gary]

Two months is pretty good though. One of my buddies at the phone company still has at least a year to go until he can retire,got one month off because he's over 60 and has a medical issue. He pulls out of a garage near the United Center and has to go into peoples houses. So look at the bright side GM thinks more of their employees than ATT And at least you had fun while it lasted

 

[airblazer]

What new policies will GM have in place As they reopen? Work is likely to feel like a hassle for a while. But a job is better than no job. It seems like it would be so easy to feel hopeless right now for so many people.

 

[kirrbby]

Social distancing 6'.
Masks always.
Safety glasses always.
Hand sanitizer all around.
Cleaning supplies everywhere.
Amped up cleaning schedules.
Temperature scan on the way in.
Health questions on the way in.
Safety concerns addressed asap.

It's obvious that they are committed to safety...as always, safety is #1
It's what I would have expected. If anyone is concerned, for any reason at all, they want to know.
I've heard that manufacturing is a good place to start, when restarting the economy. GM is planning to survive, at whatever cost. They certainly have the right "stuff" to get it done.

 

[kirrbby]

They claim a 1.5% chance of spreading the virus if both people are wearing masks.
30% if only the infected person is wearing the mask.
70% if only the noninfected person is wearing a mask.

 

[kirrbby]

As a little fyi.
My doctor is able to order a blood test for the virus, AND/or for the antibodies. The tests can be added to your regular health maintenance type blood test.
These days, my doc likes me to have fasting blood tests TWICE per year.
It used to be once per...now they tell me it's twice.

 

[red69]

Wait until you get to my age. Primary doc gets them quarterly, nephrologist every four months, urologist once a year along with the hematologist. And in between, if I get sick, it's anyone's guess.

 

[kirrbby]

Work is likely to feel like a hassle for a while. But a job is better than no job. It seems like it would be so easy to feel hopeless right now for so many people.

I forgot to say...but you're absolutely right. I think about all of those people often. I have no right to bitch. Work has always felt like a hassle. I'm just getting old and ornery maybe...and I'm not even old enough to use that as a excuse.

I do feel fortunate that my family is all happy and healthy, and weathering this crazy storm. My x-wife actually caught the bug a few weeks back. She spent a few days in the hospital, and is still trying to recover. Bad stuff.

Sounds like everyone else will be coming back to work next week...at our complex. Maybe some production will wait another week...but I think most everyone is getting called back. The assembly plant is ramping up quicker than expected. It might be interesting to see how well those trucks sell over the coming months.

 

[cjpayne]

I forgot to say...but you're absolutely right. I think about all of those people often. I have no right to bitch. Work has always felt like a hassle. I'm just getting old and ornery maybe...and I'm not even old enough to use that as a excuse.

It might be interesting to see how well those trucks sell over the coming months.

Over the past couple months here around and in Tulsa, I had noticed that traffic got less and less pretty quick. I leave at 5am and realized one morning that I was very VERY fortunate that my job was deemed essential. I did end up missing quite a few days, because our supplies from fab shops and such were coming to a trickle. That 1200 stimulus was gone pretty quick, but did help a bit with bills(kids.lol). I can just imagine what others are going through.

Hey Kirrbby, around here there have been some reports that brand new Tundra's are cheaper than a 2 or 3yr old used one. They cant seem to get rid of them fast enough.lol. I can only guess that Chevy/GMC, Ford, and Dodge are in the same predicament.

 

[Adam-NLV]

That 1200 stimulus was gone pretty quick, but did help a bit with bills(kids.lol). I can just imagine what others are going through.

Stimulus check....most of mine went towards jump starting the economy, mostly in SwitzerlandDoes anybody know if they are gonna stimulate us again in June? My truck needs new 4x4 Tires.

 

[Gary]

Recently drove from southern Florida back home to NW Chicago suburbs. By far Chicago had the most traffic with gas prices being the highest as well

 

[kirrbby]

The good stripper that I have at work, ain't working either. After a 2 hour soak, I could scrub off ½ a layer of paint with a brass wire brush. A stiff nylon brush wouldn't scrub much off, it needed the brass bristles, even to get the ½ layer.
We have 3 other strippers at work. 2 of them seemed to be working almost as well as the premium stripper. So I coated both parts and covered them for a overnight soak. We'll see...
Whatever that paint is, it's good stuff.

I've been trying to do, at least a little something on this project every night. I'm making slow progress. I have a footbar/kickstand setup that is odd, to me. I think it might be from a Honda XR80/100 maybe. The footpeg mounts are very similar to a CT70. The mounting holes are different in one direction, which allows me to cut the footbar in the center, and stretch it toward the R side. The kickstand that's on it looks to be made of the same size pipe that I need to weld in to stretch the footbar. So I plan to cut a piece of the KS to weld in. I'll probably put a piece of rod inside too, to help hold everything straight, and maybe add a little strength. Then I'm kinda plannin to use CT70 pegs.
BTW, I measured the CT/Z footbar mount hole pattern at 44x88mm on center.

 

[kirrbby]

I beat on my modified battery box some more to make it a lil bigger, front to back. That gave me some room for cushioning. Then I used some thin foam sheet that I have here, and spray glue to glue them into the corners. I think that foam came out of the kids craft box. It's probably less than ⅛" thick. I cut one piece of ¼" to go on the bottom center.
I had to sand some rust off to get a good glue bond.
My battery will be safe in there now.

 

[cjpayne]

Your very resourceful kirrbby.

 

[kirrbby]

I had a leak in one of my valve stems that I think I have fixed now.
I have all of my bulbs changed over to 12v.
Wire harness is wrapped up and in the bike...all good so far, but the taillight wires ended up a little short..?
Tried to round up a set of black cables...used stuff from my hoard...but I don't have all I need. I'll be ordering some new stuff, and I'll likely have to (re)build a couple of them.

 

[kirrbby]

Hmm...guess I never posted any pics of my wire harness. But I think I have some...

 

[kirrbby]

I whacked and hacked and welded back my brush guard to make room for my big down pipe. I might just spray a little chrome paint on that area now and call it good.


Oh, and I had to weld that washer on there too, since on had gone missing.

 

[kirrbby]

I'm hoping to order up some parts tonight...stuff I'm still needing.
Battery, rear shocks, cables, carb/intake, rear sprocket 32t...few other bits. When I think I'm about done buying, I'll have to try to add up about what I'll have into this bike...dollars. It's gonna be a ratty ol thing, but I'll probably still have about 12-$1400 beans in it. IDK, maybe not. The pipe alone was around $550...so...ya! Pretty easy to put a thousand dollars into a worthy rider.

 

[kirrbby]

Your very resourceful kirrbby.

Thanks CJ. Every once in a while, I score a win