Hot, damn hot and a catch 22

Epsilon

Epsilon

Joined
Jan 15, 2002
Messages
430
I just feel like complaining. It was a 105°F today, its a 104°F right now. Yesterday was 107°F. I have to run my kilns in the morning before it gets too hot. Towards peak hour and the time I usually finish, I have ice packets and a fan blowing on my controllers to keep the temp at or below 100°F. The panel got to 102°F, then finally out of frustration I finally unplugged it and now heat treating is postponed. I cannot run the kilns in the evening because I use a generator and the damn neighbor complains if its running after 6pm. A 50 foot extension cord seemed somewhat hazardous running from the dryer outlet through the house, so that option is out. Unless anyone knows a wise way. This working situation is temporary and I will be relocating soon to a proper work area, hopefully.

Can anyone relate? If its not one thing its another and another aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand another. This is one of many bumps in the road I have encountered over these years. Friends, family and even myself believe patience is what I am learning though bladesmithing. It was at one time my worst attribute. I used to be really bad and but have improved a lot thanks to this way of life. I have great pace but always hits snags they put be back where I started in many cases. I have to wonder though, if others experience these set backs I receive daily, with the magnitude that I do. Or is that the price for someone verging on crossing over to being a professional from amateur? Something I will have, no matter how many more dissappointments I get. Perhaps its because I never apprenticed? Or maybe that's the point to all this, since I believe in that destiny thing. Why am I rambling on about something I already know to be true? Perhaps I just need to remind myself. This is a difficult art form, but I love it. I would just like to see the light at the end of the tunnel without it being the head lights of another oncoming train.

-Jason

I still love it damn it. :cool:
 
Jason, "but it's a dry heat".;)
On the extension cord, I dont know how many amps those things are pulling, but you could probably get by with 8/3 SO cord(portable cord), and put the receptacles/plugs on it. That stuff can run into $$ though.
Maybe, just move up here. Not much difference in daytime temperature, but it drops 30-40 degrees at night.:D
 
Whew- and it was a scorching 62 degrees here in Tenino, Wa today. But a couple of days last week it did get into the 80's. Damn hot then (grin).
 
If I may be so bold:

On the 50 ft. 240 volt extension: if you must, go with as heavy a gage as possible - as Mike suggests. You must minimize voltage drop. The smaller the gage wire the more voltage drop. That is not good for your expensive equipement and causes the cable to heat. Carefully check the extension and its plugs for warmth while running the oven.

Otherwise don't do it, especially if you don't know what you're doing. (danger)

RL
 
Okay, I'll quit whining, I live a charmed life compared to Jason.

But we're about to hit the miserable season here in Iowa, where it's 95 degrees and 95 pct humidity... If you blink you sweat and the sweat just pools in your clothes...

Even so, I could run all the hot appliances I wanted and they'd still function. And I can grind in wet clothes, no swe..., er, "no problem". :)

Hope it gets better for you soon Jason!

Dave
 
Monsoon season when the humidity gets up there is when it gets bad.

I just started and I love going out into the garage, switching on the fan and hopping on the grinder. The cold shower and A/C in the house always makes it worth it.

If I make this a permanent part of my life, I'd like to get a forge and put it out back. Heat it up, bang on some steel with the sun beating down. Sounds like FUN to me. :D
 
You forgot the best part -- the mosquitoes. Here in Georgia if more than 6 get you at the same time, you have to grab the anvil to keep from being carried away.
Dave, plenty of my DNA is still flying around Iowa. Those beasts are only one state removed from the biggest in the world - Minnesota.
"Why Minnesota? To protect Iowa from Canada."
We hope to see you sometime next week--- Ken
 
Man The Bumps never quit for me either...
I loved living in Phoenix years ago and would love to again someday..Here it has been running in the high 80's to lower 90's with 90 percent humidity on most days.Buut all the equipment runs great.But with the kids home from school I can't get as much done as I am used to so when I tell someone something will be done in a day or two something always happens to extend that,Like kids getting sick and having to go to the doctor,or they have things they want to do and I can't expect them to stay in the house all summer either.I am sure glad that customers realize this and will cut me a break.With Donna working full time so I can make knives full time I have to play the role of Mr. Mom most days,I wouldn't trade it for nothing but sometimes I can't keep my word like I should and that really bothers me.I hope after the girls get older they will understand that when I give my word I need to be able to keep it and not just play with them and not get my work done..
Bumps in the road are not only for begginers or some of us that have been at it as long as I have,they just make us learn more and make us apriceate the times everything goes smooth.
Bruce
 
Thanks Bruce, it makes me feel a little better to know I'm not the only one. Its weird, when I say I'll be done with something it takes twice as long, when I don't say a peep, I get done ahead of time. gonna have to trick myself or something.

As far as the extension cord ideas, thanks guys for all the input. Although the $$ thing always seems to be the issue when I have asked others. Guess I'll just have to wait for a new shop. Its just my kilns, the rest of the machines work fine.

Ha ha Mike, a dry heat. Well, yes. Like opening the oven door and aaaahh, first degree sun tan. Yippee.

Forging at 100+ is a trip. I bring a lot of water out to the forge. The anvil is toasty before I hit the ignition to the forge. I usually forge at night or late evening into the night though. At least I'm under a ramada for all my forging and grinding. Hell, after quench, I just hold the steel outside for a post quench stress relief. j/k :cool:

Anyways, thanks again guys.

-Jason
 
Knifemaking's a nasty job, but somebody's gotta do it.
Thank God it's us! :-)
My heart goes out to you folks that live in what
I consider the sweltering parts of the country
(anything south of Chicago). How in the
heck you deal with the heat is beyond me.
 
Hey Bruce, life would be boring with out
the Bumps in the Road;)

I pretty much have to shot the grinder of
at 7pm, neighbors sucks. I`ll be glade when
we can move to the country. The wife said
when we do she`ll never see me again. Is that
a bad thing:D
 
Hey Sylvester,I do live in the country and I can run my Power hammer and grinders all night long if I want(read that as have done and still do) On a clear calm night the few neighbors around that live aways away from me say they can here me forging as the anvil ringing echoes through the hollows.But the cool thing is allot of them are older and they say it just makes them remember the times there Dad or Grandpa would be working late to fix things in his old forge,and so they say it sings them so sleep and gives them dreams of the fun old days as a kid.So I get no complaints at all.Donna says that as long as she hears the grinder running or the anvil ringing or the thud of the power hammer when she is going to sleep she knows I am alright and so it doesn't bother her just makes her feel secure.
But your Wife is correct as you will probably find that you will spend more time in the shop during the nice cool evenings and peacful nights with no traffic or phone calls but only the crickets singing to you besides the fire and anvil.
Heck there isn't any better feeling than to be sitting on the smithy steps drinking a cup of coffee while the sun comes up with the smell of the forge fires burning and the birds singing in a new day while holding the knife you just finished.God I love this business and that is why I stay with it .But it can be stressfull at times but when you finish the job you were doing everything in the world just seems to be peaceful and you can relax for a few moments to pat yourself on the back.:cool:
Bruce
 
I have heard of a solution for the noisy generators.Some farmers here in Australia used to extend the exhaust pipes underground. They would use 2 inch water pipe dig down a couple of feet and bury a 44 gallon drum laid horizontal. The pipe would go in one end of the drum and another pipe out the other end into a second brum buried further away. The open chambers of the buried drums were said to have reduced the noise by the time it had been through them both and back out into the air. The exhaust pipe from the manifold was also wrapped in asbestos (dangerous stuff) I have never heard the result but it may be an option.
P.s The other sollution regarding the heavy extention cord is correct
the heaver the cable the less volt drop. However a new power outlet
closer the the kiln would be the safer way to go in the longer term when finances allow.
 
Reg, welcome to BFC, hope you enjoy the stay.
In you travels, if you happen to run across Errol Meridith, Jim Hansen, David Brodziac, please say hi for me. Thanks.:D
 
Thanks for the info Reg. And thanks Bruce, for painting that dream like scenario damnit! You live the life of a king. :p

-Jason
 
Thank you for your kind welcome.
I know dave brodziak he only lives about 500 kilometers away I see
him a couple of times a year I see him at shows. He has a great web site I looked at a couple of days ago.
I will pass on your regards.

Reg
 
Jason,I often feel that I am living out my Dreams.I may not be rich with money and possesions,But I am richer than most for the life I get to live.I have to give the good lord thanks everyday for leading me through all the bad times to get to this place in my life and be able to live out my dreams.Guess I am one of the lucky ones..
But sometimes reality slaps me hard and I have to get a grip but when all is well there is nothing better.

Yes I am the King of my house ,And I have my Wife's permission to say SO!:D ;) :p

Bruce
 
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