Bloodvale - Hobbies

Bowling was good though

sol_adm@yahoo.com (Glenn Crawford) — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 09:09:32 -0700

Having said all that I did pre-bowl last night and was very happy with the result - 168 / 137 / 167. Much better set of games than previously ( I think last week all my games were around 100 )

Tried a different bowling technique last night, different grip and everything - spinning. I can't get much spin on the bowling ball but there's enough to give it a little flick at the end and it got me a lot of strikes. I just hope I can keep it up next week

My Defender drawers

sol_adm@yahoo.com (Glenn Crawford) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 23:55:20 -0700

Well I guess I had better get this posted, been meaning to do it for ages.

At the same time I've been putting it off, I don't know why.

I started these drawers with Vern in March 2007 and I still haven't finished them by March 2008, sheesh.

In 2007 we did the side boxes but never really completed the drawers, just as well really as we changed our mind on how we were going to do the actual drawers.

The goal was to have side storage as well as a central set of drawers. There will be spaces between the central drawers, the side storage, and the rear cargo barrier for bits and pieces that won't fit in the drawers. The entire thing will be covered over and lockable so we can have our doggies sitting happily on top of it all when travelling.

Step 1 was to get a suitable template for the sides of the side boxes.

A full size PDF of our template can be downloaded from the website here (1Mb PDF). If you print it out A3 it will be the same size as the one we used.

Step 2 was to do some slicing and dicing. For our material we choose to use 3-ply marine bonded plywood. Strong, resilient, and should be more than suitable to the task at hand.

Step 3 was to create some floor and side panels using wood-glue and screws to hold them together. This helps to give structural strength to the box.

Step 4 was to add a lid. We're not sure if we're gonna keep this size lid or (re)move it when we create the centre bit with the drawers, so we'll see how we go. We used stainless piano hinges to hold the lid on.

Step 5 was to put it in place

Step 6 was to take them home and paint them up to protect the wood. I used an all-in-one water-based paint and got some anti-mould stuff and mixed it in with it. First coat I thinned out with water so it soaked into the wood better, second coat finished it off. Sorry no pics of that as it's a pretty rough looking paint job to say the least :-|

Originally the side boxes weren't secured by a couple of weekends ago Vern and I finished off some mounting brackets so they can be snugly bolted to the vehicle

Now for the actual drawers themselves, the tricky bit.

We used a metal framework using 25x25 RHS and 25x50 RHS. Both oversized, but what we had.
Timber is 18mm 5 ply.

Woodworking machine is cast iron 10inch tablesaw with router table extension.
Sturdier but less portable than triton.
We also used a jigsaw and a belt sander.

Job could be done with jigsaw and hand saw for straight cuts.
So you wouldn't need expensive equipment, just easier if you have it.
The metal stuff could be done with timber as well.
Woodworking machine is cast iron 10inch tablesaw with router table extension.
Sturdier but less portable than triton.
We also used a jigsaw and a belt sander.

So we start out with some left over metal

As you can see in this photo we used the wider metal (25x50 RHS) for supporting the sides...

Test fitting for sizing of the roof piece

Almost completed framework

Some tidying up

Adding the securing plates

A coat or two of paint

Complete with drawers

Done!

(actually I still have to make the lids of the side boxes and give them another coat of paint... but close enough for now)

Drawers and storage boxes almost done...

sol_adm@yahoo.com (Glenn Crawford) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 21:03:26 -0700

Yup, was at Verns' for most of the day today putting the finishing touches on the boxes and finding out why the drawers stick.

Well actually we investigated that the other day and surmised the blasted things were sticking in the sound proofing I put in.

So I ripped out the sound proofing, easy fix - annoying though.

Have now bought the same as was originally in the back and will use that to cover the floor to ensure the drawers etc. don't rub and make annoying noises.

All that's needed to finish the side boxes now is a lick of paint.

Thanks Vern for all your help - I honestly thought I'd never see the day that I'd have drawers in the back! It's taken sooo long...

Passed my Pre-Area Solo flying test today - yay!

sol_adm@yahoo.com (Glenn Crawford) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:12:29 -0700

Got 90% (2 questions wrong).

Quite annoying actually as up until today I was told it was an open book exam. So I studied, but not as much as I would have it was a closed book exam.

Got there with my study books and asked, was very surprised when was told "no". Kinda threw me badly.

Never to mind, I still managed to pass ok

Had an afternoon bowl as well

sol_adm@yahoo.com (Glenn Crawford) — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 16:46:00 -0700

Had another bowl this afternoon with 2 of my brothers and their families - 7 people playing in 1 lane, got pretty cramped but was a ball of fun.

Tony started by showing off to us all by getting 5 strikes in a row for his first 5 bowls. Bastard.

Was a good game though, lots of fun

Joined a bowling league

sol_adm@yahoo.com (Glenn Crawford) — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 11:14:00 -0700

Put our names down as interested in joining a bowling league today.

We went down to our local bowling alley to blow away some time and as usual were asked if we wanted to join a league.

They had 2 leagues starting - a Simpsons league on Tuesday nights and a Super Heroes league on Wednesday nights.

Well Corinne isn't a big Simpsons fan anyway so that ruled that one out, so we talked about it whilst playing and decided we'd give the Super Heroes league a try. On those nights Corinne or I can't make due to other commitments (work etc.) we can "pre-bowl" to keep our scores up.

At the end of the league we get a free super-hero bowling ball of our choice, they'll even drill it for us if we ask them Cool huh?

External DVD Writer not going now

sol_adm@yahoo.com (Glenn Crawford) — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 18:32:19 -0700

Dang it, my external DVD writer isn't going now. Maybe it did actually get damaged in the storm last night, I dunno.

No lights on the transformer so I'm guessing that is whats blown, I'll see if I can source another one because that's a bloody good external writer and I've had it for years (actually got it a few years before I left Switzerland to give you an idea of its age).

Bugger bum boo hoo.

Steve to the rescue!

sol_adm@yahoo.com (Glenn Crawford) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 22:17:00 -0700

Yay not only did Steve had one but he said I could borrow it until I can find / source a replacement! Yay!

He really saved my bacon as I've gotta work all day tomorrow and I was planning on VPN'ing in, else I'd have to drive in at sparrow-fart and that just wouldn't be pleasant.

Bloody Wireless Router died!

sol_adm@yahoo.com (Glenn Crawford) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:29:00 -0700

Dag nab it! My wireless router finally bit the dust. It was working earlier but just now decided to give up the ghost.

Actually I've got another one of the same wireless routers and when I plugged it in I got the same lights, so maybe the power pack has blown. Either way I'm shafted.

I'll call Steve and see if he has any lying around that I can borrow until I can replace this one.

What a storm

sol_adm@yahoo.com (Glenn Crawford) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 18:22:00 -0700

Wow what a storm we had last night - 37mm was in the gauge this morning, incredible! Mum tells me she got 41mm up at Bracken Ridge

Great heavy rain, just what we need... unfortunately though a side-effect of this lovely heavy rain is finding out where your house leaks :-\

Our power went off during the storm so at first I thought it was just a blackout, but then I realised the fan was still going. I had a look outside and the streetlights and other peoples lights were still on (as much as they are at 3am in the morning). Bugger, we've blown a circuit breaker.. oh listen and now the UPS in the computer room is beeping.

Oh well I thought I'd best get up and turn it off.

First sign of trouble was when I walked into a puddle in the kitchen. Uh oh, this can't be good. Got some towels and laid them on the floor, then closed the windows a bit tighter... walked into the computer room to find most of the floor rather damp in there too.

Shut the remaining components on UPS down, turned everything off at the wall (not that it mattered anyway as the circuit breaker had flipped, but you can never be too careful) and set about putting as many towels down as possible. A bit of investigation showed that the water was coming in from both the main window (which I already knew leaked if the wind blew the rain in the right direction) and the louvers! The louvers was the worry as they are directly above the power switches, my UPS and very close to the power boards on the floor.

Next morning I got up to investigate further and all the power boards were soaked. I could pick them up and hear the water sloshing around inside. Whoopsie.

Oh well a couple of trips to Mitre 10 and bunnings and now I've got a heap of switches screwed up high on the back of the computer desk, nice and neat and out of the way. The cabling is nailed up there too I just hope it is safe as there's a fair bit of it in close proximity to each other. Time will tell.

Everything appears to have switched on at least, so that's a good sign that nothing got damaged

Rear drawers again

sol_adm@yahoo.com (Glenn Crawford) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 18:35:00 -0700

Vern and I have been at it again (well, more Vern than I). Having another crack at those rear drawers for the Defender.

Got the frame welded out of metal this time and we'll make the drawers out of some of the wood left over from last time.

Going well, no photo's as yet (well there are I just haven't got around to putting them up anywhere yet)... will come "soon"

IT Campout

sol_adm@yahoo.com (Glenn Crawford) — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 17:48:13 -0700

Was out this weekend at Girraween national park with the guys from the work IT team.

All in all I think everyone had fun, it certainly was a great trip.

Koodos to Vern for organising it.

I would say pictures are coming shortly but I've been a bit slack lately, it may take some time before they're ready

Awefully quiet around here...

sol_adm@yahoo.com (Glenn Crawford) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 19:22:33 -0700

May be time for a change shortly... been a bit stagnant of late.

Sold my tyres

sol_adm@yahoo.com (Glenn Crawford) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 07:33:00 -0700

Yup, my mag wheels and attached brand new'ish tyres are gone.

They been sitting around Mum's for the past year, my grand plan was always to put them on the Series II but then when I tried the blasted wheel studs were smaller on the Series II than on the Series III and later models sigh So the Mags (which have their own special wheel nuts) wouldn't fit. Blast it.

So I sold 'em. Such is life The funds will help to go pay off the credit cards

First solo today!

sol_adm@yahoo.com (Glenn Crawford) — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:26:25 -0700

Yup, my first solo flight this morning

Was only 1 circuit but boy was it fun

Can't keep the grin from my face actually

Fun fun fun

Bubbled a bit on landing :-\ but was perfect for the rest