A Tumbleweeds View of Scrapping - Page 12

Winter has finally arrived. Expected high today is -4 with a windchill of -32. It is days like this that a shop would be nice.

Winter here also, high of 50 F today. But its going to rain again so don't be too jealous. 73, Mike

Thats probably on a good day

The weather has disabled two skid steers and my f350. Below zero temps and wind chills of -20. Suppose to get colder. Owner was willing to push back completion date since he is calving and knows the challenges. Still planning to finish this project on time. FYI he and his wife are smiling every morning, what ever that means.

Picked up two more major farms because a local school bus driver was watching the progress on the combines and shared her impression. Guessing they felt sorry for the idiot cutting iron in these conditions. Decided to turn my attention to my other full time job, hunting and fishing.

No pictures, just an update. Had to remove a motor from the last combine and this changed the entire schedule by the owners request. While waiting, metal that has been stockpiled for years was hauled, overhauled two trailers, and got all the trucks and skid steers running. Machinery does not like the cold weather any more than we do. Three liquid oxygen tanks, five 20lb propane tanks, and 10 trips to the scrap yard resulted in 30 tons of prepared iron hauled this year. This is in addition to fantastic fishing and hunting since the new year. This summer a trip to Alaska to fish for Halibut, fly fishing in the rivers in WY., elk hunting, deer hunting, and pheasant hunting in the fall, and several back packing trips will impact my scrapping. With these interruptions it is assumed I could still haul over 120 tons this year.

Both of my labs passed away in the last year so I added a new partner to deal with varmints. It is an 8 week old Blue Healer and learning the ropes very quickly.

All of my business has been one man challenges except the power plant. With the work ahead of me I am tempted to hire two local scrappers that are always looking for work. Working on a business plan considering this direction. They can offer man power, but little else.

To make a long story short, I am full time retired and now a part time scrapper. The motivation has always been the challenge and entertainment, not the money. Living the American Dream.

Always enjoy your posts. On to the important business, the dog. Been watching some of the farm youtube channels and two have Blue Healers, at least I think they are. Dog wise we've had a tough few years and its been about a year since the last of ours passed. The wife and I have more of a Yorkie yard than a ranch but the wife said no more dogs.

She says its because its hard to travel with a dog but I believe she just can't go through loosing another "baby".
I envy your situation with the dog and your business. Please keep up here so I can travel along with your journey.

For me I started riding motorcycles last year at the age of 66, what I should wait until I'm 86. I've actually used that as answer to folks who seem not to like me riding bikes. I now have a 2009 Honda Goldwing (yellow) and a 2020 Honda crf250L (a duel sport which means its nearly a dirt bike with lights and a license plate.) Both are tons of enjoyment and I intend to do some travel this year. Its great to hear from you 73 for now. Mike

A picture of the last combine at this farm. This is the smallest of the three. Three days of work yielded four tons of iron already hauled.

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When working on bigger projects liquid oxygen is used because it is so much cheaper. Problem is it burns off at a rate of 1% - 4% per day if not used. A 3ft. Smith professional torch with a #3 or 4 tip is the main weapon of choice using professional Smith gauges. The torch is upright of the oxygen tank.