Small Talk: The Welcome Mat

Netfoot · March 9

Up early with 24 boards to straighten on the new jig, then cut down into three boards of 1¾". This will result in 72 boards which would be enough for 72 ÷ 8 = 9 towel rails.

Now, of these 72 boards, not all will be useful for legs and rails. There will be cracks, splits, knots and other defects. And these will have to be set aside. Hopefully I will have at least 40 good ones so I can make five more racks. The ones that are set aside will hopefully produce three, two or maybe only one stretcher(s) because we need 20 stretchers to make five racks.

I already have some bits left over from the last batch. There are 5 legs, one rail and (if I remember correctly) seventeen stretchers. With these plus the new parts I am now making, I am hopeful of ending up with at least six racks and hopefully more.

But back to this morning, as soon as it was late enough (don't want to disturb the neighbors too early on a Sunday morning) I started trimming a hair off of one edge of each of my 24 boards.

The jig worked fine but I think I will have to revisit the clamps. The toilet bolt & wing-nut idea is fine but I think a more elaborate strip of wood might make the clamping go easier. Also, the jig had five slots but I only have four toilet bolts. They are sold in pairs and they go for about $6.99 per pair. You don't need five clamps because they can be moved from slot to slot to accommodate boards of different lengths but it would make life easier if each slot had a clamp which you could use or ignore as you see fit. The star-knob is easier in the fingers than the wing-nuts but the wing-nuts work just fine.

The jig is heavy and with the board in place it is a strain on an olde farte like me. I made the jig to accommodate boards up to 12" wide. These are only 6" wide but when I built the jig I allowed for wider boards down the line. There is some bending and leaning over to get the boards positioned just right (with a hair overhanging the edge of the jig) and clamping it in that position. After only four boards my back was starting to hurt so I told myself I'd do eight and stop. But somehow I just kept going until... they were all done.

Here is the blade in mid-cut, removing a thin sliver of wood from the edge of a board.

The thickness being removed is less than half the blade width, so under ¹/16". But realize that the amount being cut away varies along the length of the board because the edge is not straight. By making this very fine cut, we end up with a board that is straight on that edge. Referencing from the now-straightened edge, we should more easily make our parts straight and parallel on both sides.

I inspected the boards before I started. Good thing. Found these embedded in the edge of some of the boards.

Only four in 24 boards doesn't sound bad but it only takes one to damage a saw blade so a quick search before you start is not time wasted.

In fact, the carbide teeth on the blade would cut straight through these without hesitating. But those teeth are not made for cutting steel and if you do cut through staples, nails, etc, your blade will not last long. Besides the loud noise and sometimes a shower of sparks that results can set your teeth on edge!

Now I will go and shower off lots of sawdust and contemplate lunch. It's only just gone eleven, but by time I rest my back a bit it will be lunchtime. Mo has chow but I am contemplating macaroni (AKA bucatini or perciatelli) with bully beef and onion sauce. I wish I had something else to put in there. Ketchup. Onion. Bully. Garlic. Be thankful for that.

I wonder where Mo got to? He isn't under the bed. I will go out and find him and chuckle him under the chin!

Edited March 9 by Netfoot

Netfoot · March 9

All 72 boards at 1¾* width now cut. Here they are, stacked on the saw.

I have left gaps to let air in. If they ~~ate~~ are going to warp, split, crack or banana, I want it to happen before I spend time shaping and fettling them into working parts.

I have not examined them closely because I will wait until tomorrow, so I can pick up any changes that occur now the cuts have been made. But I've seen several knots, a few cracks and several boards with chipped or damaged edges. The damaged edges do not immediately condemn a board. The rails have to be rounded on all four edges which may simply remove the damage.

The boards are cut referenced against the edge I straightened this morning. This leaves a new, straight edge to reference for the next cut. The third board removes a tiny sliver of wood to leave the finished pieces at the desired 1¾". Sometimes only a hair gets removed in the form of sawdust but sometimes a thin strip is left back. This shows that all the supposedly 6" boards are all of a slightly different width. Usually a tiny bit more than 5½" and that tiny bit allows us to straighten the board and then trim that third narrow board to width.

Here is one of the off-cut strips. I broke it in two and photographed both ends at once.

Notice that one end of the off-cut is thicker than the other. An indication that the boards as bought are not even guaranteed to have parallel sides!

The variations in width and parallelism make it very worthwhile to straighten one edge of the board and then trim each narrower board to identical width. I set the width of the cut and lock the fence in place. Then I cut all of the 24 boards in three. Because I did them all at one time without changing the settings on the saw, I am confident they are all the same width. If I had to do some of the boards and then later try to reset the saw to exactly the same setting to cut the rest, I would never be able to guarantee that all the parts were the same width.

Anyway, it's now mid afternoon but it's also a Sunday. So I will call it quits until tomorrow.

I came in and found Mo curled up snoozing on the pillows. He promptly left! Well, too bad for him. I will go get my second shower of the day and take a nap.

Penne for lunch and leftovers for dinner. Fast from midnight. (Water OK, food and tea with milk is a no-no.) No idea how long it will take tomorrow, so I have to sneak the van out through the gate without Mo doing a runner.

Right, shower!

Edited March 10 by Netfoot

Netfoot · March 10

It's coming upon 10 PM. I had my dinner and after Garden Patrol, a mug of tea. Got to get going early tomorrow. I was told to bring two 500ml bottles of water. Presumably to wash out the contrast. I don't have two ~~599ml~~ 500ml bottles so I am taking four 235ml bottles. At least that is the plan. I just put them in the fridge and will most likely forget to collect them and put them into my bag in the morning.

I think I will try to get my meds from the QEH pharmacy while I am down there. And from Edgar Cochrane on the way back. But I need a new prescription from Dr. Kristi. I will pop in tomorrow on my way down and get one from her. Meanwhile I can let her know that after 23 months, something is happening.

I don't know if I will get the meds. They are not due until the 15th. Now you can get your meds early. Up to four days early. Which would be the 11th and tomorrow is the 10th. So they just might refuse to dispense the meds, and demand I come back the following day. For the fourth visit to QEH in less than a week. Fingers crossed they don't pull that crap.

Snuggle Puppy is here curled up on my feet at the foot of the bed. No, he has just moved to curl up against my back.

I had my shower this afternoon. My second for the day. I have just locked up and all the lights are off other than one over the bed. I think that within the next minute I will be asleep... Z-zz-zzz...

Edited March 10 by Netfoot

andidante · March 10

On 3/10/2025 at 2:28 AM, Netfoot said:

It's coming upon 10 PM. I had my dinner and after Garden Patrol, a mug of tea. Got to get going early tomorrow. I was told to bring two 500ml bottles of water. Presumably to wash out the contrast. I don't have two 599ml bottles so I am taking four 235ml bottles. At least that is the plan. I just put them in the fridge and will most likely forget to collect them and put them into my bag in the morning.

I think I will try to get my meds from the QEH pharmacy while I am down there. And from Edgar Cochrane on the way back. But I need a new prescription from Dr. Kristi. I will pop in tomorrow on my way down and get one from her. Meanwhile I can let her know that after 23 months, something is happening.

I don't know if I will get the meds. They are not due until the 15th. Now you can get your meds early. Up to four days early. Which would be the 11th and tomorrow is the 10th. So they just might refuse to dispense the meds, and demand I come back the following day. For the fourth visit to QEH in less than a week. Fingers crossed they don't pull that crap.

Snuggle Puppy is here curled up on my feet at the foot of the bed. No, he has just moved to curl up against my back.

I had my shower this afternoon. My second for the day. I have just locked up and all the lights are off other than one over the bed. I think that within the next minute I will be asleep... Z-zz-zzz...

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Hope all goes well for you today!!

Netfoot · March 10

On 3/10/2025 at 12:31 PM, andidante said:

Hope all goes well for you today!!

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Thanks!

It's 9:13 and I'm sitting in the "CT Scan Waiting Area" along with six other people who got here before me. We are right outside the "CT Scan Suite".

On the way in I pulled a number for the pharmacy. I got #66 and the pharmacy was serving #1. I would judge that there is little or no chance I get done here before they reach ~~#66~~ #86 and I don't know if it is wise to leave here and go to the pharmacy be cause I will most likely lose my #7 slot at the CT.

Stoped on the way down to get a prescription from Dr. K. but it took for ever and I got the distinct impression I was in bad odor. Can't think why. Dr. Kristi didn't even say good morning and when I asked Ckaudervto tell her I was on my way to get a CT she made no comment at all. Go figure.

Anyway, I got the prescription for Edgar Cochrane and I have repeats here at QEH so depending on how I get on here I will just have to go get a new number and join the queue at the pharmacy. Then stop at EC on the way home.

I left Mo with a brim-full bowl of water and a generous bowl of chow, which he can have for breakfast or save for lunch and he sees fit.

A YL just came and handed out forms to some people, told others that they didn't need to fill out the forms, and informed me she had to check the results of Friday's test. Oh, here she is with a form, just for me! Glad I didn't come down here to be told I'd failed the test.....

Edited March 10 by Netfoot

Netfoot · March 10

10:11 and the YL (who turned out to be the doctor in charge) just stuck an IV in my arm and sent me back out to the waiting area to drink my water.

Someone had taken my seat so I sat on the other side.... only to discover that half the waiting room does not have wifi. They soon went away and I quickly I reclaimed my original seat.

No idea how long I got to wait before I actually get the CT but I will just have to hang on until they call. I wish Mozie was here to keep me company.

And I'm hungry, but since I'm fasted for the test I doubt it would be a good idea to go find something to eat.

Netfoot · March 10

OK, all done.

11:25 and at the pharmacy. They were serving #777 and my ticket said #686 so I had to go pull another number. I am now #808.

The CT was a bit of a pain. They couldn't figure out who I was or why I was there. "He isn't on the list!!"

Finally they decided to proceed and stuck me in the machine. And left me there for 45 minutes. 🙁

Anyway, all done and next Monday I guess I will find out the results. Meanwhile, now serving #783 so hopefully I don't have to wait too long before I get meds. And then go to Edgar Cochrane and wait some more.

Netfoot · March 10

12:07 and now serving #806. Hopefully I don't have long to wait.

12:25 and leaving QEH. With a nice bruise on my arm. Edgar Cochrane, next!

Edited March 10 by Netfoot

Netfoot · March 10

Got to Edgar Cochrane at about two minutes to one. "We are not giving out any more numbers!" So you "dun wuk" before one in the afternoon? "Try Sir Winston Scott!"

Winston Scott is a terrible polyclinic which is why I drove past it to get to Edgar Cochrane. (Winston Scott is the other side of the roundabout from QEH.)

So, I drove back down to Winston Scott, to be told "The pharmacy is full. If you want you can wait outside in the parking lot and we will let you in later when the pharmacy is clear!" There were about 20 people already waiting in the parking lot.

Bugger that. I headed home, stopping only for a loaf of bread on the way. "No white bread. Only bran!" Shit.

Back home and wrassled with Mo to get the van in the yard. Finally got to eat a cheese sandwich (with canine assistance) around 2:40, the first thing to cross my lips for the day other than CT-mandated bottled water.

So now I have to go back out tomorrow to Edgar Cochrane. And to tell the truth I am not feeling like doing much today. Other than lie in bed and veg-out.

Maybe later I will get out and sort the boards into good vs. bad piles. This morning I had a quick sort through the stack and found four bananas. But not bad.

Oh, this is what I brought home from the hospital:

This is not the site of the IV where the contrast medium went in. This is the other arm, where they initially tried to place the IV. Strange how the cotton pad left an unbruised rectangle whereas the skin around the pad went all blue-blooded.....

And the site of the puncture (just visible) is over 2½" down from the crease of the joint. I have never had a needle there before. Where they ended up putting the IV is right on the crease of the other arm. And there is no bruising there that I can see. None at all.

andidante · March 10

Glad you were able to get this done! hopefully they will give you the results ASAP and the biopsy will be scheduled quickly.

Netfoot · March 11

On 3/10/2025 at 11:52 PM, andidante said:

Glad you were able to get this done!

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Thanks. It's been 23 months waiting on a biopsy and finally, I get a CT. I'm just hoping that the CT shows the kidney is benign. Otherwise, they will say "Aha! Now we know you need a biopsy! Which, starting from today, will take another 24 months to arrange..."

And the bruise I'd getting worse.

And is sore to the touch.

I went out and examined the 72 boards. 58 are perfectly fine or have very small flaws that we can ignore, work around or just accept. A chipped end can be removed when the boards are cut to length. A splintery edge can be removed when the edges are rounded. A small knot can be ignored.

The other 14 boards (including the 4 bananas I found yesterday) are more problematic. Bigger knots, cracks, chips, etc. I will have to go over them carefully tomorrow to see if any of them are salvageable. But assuming not where does that leave us?

Each rack requires 4 legs and 4 rails. For seven racks, that's 28 legs and 28 rails or 56 boards. With two boards left over.

But! I have four legs left over from last time! And one rail! Four legs, one rail and two left over boards to make more rails. That leaves me with one more board needed to make the missing rail and bring the number up to eight racks.

If I can get one more useable board from the 14 questionable boards, I have eight racks. And 13 more boards to try to get even more parts, even if they can only be cut down into stretchers. Stretchers are plentiful because every board or scrap can generally be cut down into at least one stretcher.

Now, I have a question that I am contemplating. Suppose I have two boards, each with a flaw at one end that makes it unsuitable for use. Now I cut off the two flawed ends and using sturdy joinery (say a splined or dowelled scarf-joint) to turn two "bad" boards into one "good" board. Would the "good" board actually be good? Minor repairs to a board are one thing, but joining two boards into one and using it as normal? Can't make up my mind. What do you think?

Also, I want opinions in a ladder-style towel rack. It's a very popular style I'm told and it looks like this:

But I am not convinced this is a good design. I am given to understand that these are not fastened to the floor or to the wall in any way. And I am convinced the feet will slide away from the wall and the whole lot will fall flat in the floor. At least ten times a day. Any observations, experiences or opinions to share?

These would be relatively cheap to make and although I wouldn't make as much for making them they would be an easy build and would be efficient to store, unlike the ones I'm building which take up plenty room.

Mo was just here kangaroo-kicking my back and butt. Then he moved to the foot of the bed and curled up in a ball. Now, he's back, bashing against my back as he tries to get me to move over and let him have free reign.

This kid is cute to the extreme degree but I really think I should put him in his place a little more often!

I've showered twice already for the day and there is a chilly breeze in the window. I feel like I should have another shower for some reason, but I don't really need one. So I am trying to convince myself not to.

Tomorrow I have to go back to Edgar Cochrane and see if I can get the remainder of my meds. But fortunately I can just pop Mo in the car and take him with me.

Ok I am going to sleep. Whether I shower first I don't yet know. Having bad reflux these last few nights and I'm feeling tonight will be the same. Before the lights go off I must rebuild my pillow pyramid! But a puppy is sleeping on top of it right now......

andidante · March 11

On 3/11/2025 at 3:01 AM, Netfoot said:

Also, I want opinions in a ladder-style towel rack. It's a very popular style I'm told and it looks like this:

But I am not convinced this is a good design. I am given to understand that these are not fastened to the floor or to the wall in any way. And I am convinced the feet will slide away from the wall and the whole lot will fall flat in the floor. At least ten times a day. Any observations, experiences or opinions to share?

These would be relatively cheap to make and although I wouldn't make as much for making them they would be an easy build and would be efficient to store, unlike the ones I'm building which take up plenty room.

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It's nice looking but I would worry about it falling too. I think you would have to lean it just right and make sure you didn't put really heavy things on it?

Notabug · March 11

On 3/11/2025 at 12:46 PM, andidante said:

It's nice looking but I would worry about it falling too. I think you would have to lean it just right and make sure you didn't put really heavy things on it?

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I agree. It would also probably nick up the wall behind the upper part of the rails. Anyone with kids or pets is going to picking it up off the floor multiple times a day. Unless there's a way to fasten it to the wall, I don't see the point since the towels are going to end up on the floor anyway. Looks good but completely impractical, IMO.

As far as the CT, if it shows the tumor is the same size or has gotten smaller over two years; that is virtually a guarantee that it is not cancer. Hoping you get that kind of news and the biopsy can be avoided altogether.

Netfoot · March 11

On 3/11/2025 at 12:46 PM, andidante said:

It's nice looking but I would worry about it falling too. I think you would have to lean it just right and make sure you didn't put really heavy things on it?

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I think if you brushed past it the feet would slide away from the wall and the whole thing would end up flat on its back. Maybe on a carpeted floor it would be less likely to slide but I don't know who would put wet towels to dry over carpet!

If there were a way to secure it? A cord (or two) from the base of the legs back to the skirting board? Or keyhole slots on the tip of the legs at the back that hook over a couple of screw heads?

As far as I can make out, they don't even have anti-skid rubber pads on the bottom of the feet!

But I understand they are in demand. We've discussed making them but he is as dubious as I am. However, if they are going to sell, they would be relatively fast and easy to build. And as for them falling flat: caveat emptor springs to mind.

Now, puppy and I have to go to the pharmacy. But I have a small matter to take care of outside first...

b4pjoe · March 11

On 3/11/2025 at 3:01 AM, Netfoot said:

Also, I want opinions in a ladder-style towel rack. It's a very popular style I'm told and it looks like this:

But I am not convinced this is a good design. I am given to understand that these are not fastened to the floor or to the wall in any way. And I am convinced the feet will slide away from the wall and the whole lot will fall flat in the floor. At least ten times a day. Any observations, experiences or opinions to share?

Expand

Yeah I would be kicking that at least one a day. Probably more. I guess it serves also as a hat rack and jacket rack. Personally not a fan and would never pay actual money for it.

Netfoot · March 11

Huge post just eaten. 🙁 Ok, here we go again, but quick:

On 3/11/2025 at 1:25 PM, b4pjoe said:

Yeah I would be kicking that at least one a day. Probably more.

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I totally agree.

On 3/11/2025 at 1:05 PM, Notabug said:

Unless there's a way to fasten it to the wall, I don't see the point since the towels are going to end up on the floor anyway.

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Correct. I can think of ways to secure it against the wall but they all involve driving a screw or two into the wall.

On 3/11/2025 at 1:05 PM, Notabug said:

As far as the CT, if it shows the tumor is the same size or has gotten smaller over two years; that is virtually a guarantee that it is not cancer.

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I am surprised I'm still alive. Leaving cancer alone for two years sounds like a way to ensure it gets bigger and spreads. Kidney cancer is easy to cure but if it spreads to any other part of the body it is incurable. No amount of radiation or chemo will affect it. I got this from the very man who left it completely untreated for two years!

I need one more board to increase my towel rack potential from seven to eight. Look at these:

The board in the bottom is a leg left over from the last batch. The pockets for rails have not been bored but the two lap-joints have been cut at 1½" from the top/left and 8" from the foot/right.

I get the boards cut to 37" at the lumberyard for easy transport. The long board at the top is a 37" board with the scrap left on it untrimmed. It will have to be trimmed to final length of 36" like all the boards.

Here I have aligned the two boards differently. Suppose I trim the long board at both ends? I just have to trim off two bits from each end totalling 8⅝" instead of the usual 1" from one end of a regular 37" board. I could align the knot (actually a shallow sap-pocket) right where I need to cut a lap-joint!

The sap-pocket would be cut away, and I would have my missing board and therefore one more towel rack, or eight in total. (Until I bugger something up and the number falls again.)

I examined the other sub-standard boards. I could bore out knots and plug the bores but would that leave a sub-standard board? Like scarf jointing two halves of other sub-standard boards together to make one? Is a bored & plugged board or a scarf jointed board sub-standard? It would be better than what you started with but.....

And some boards just came from the supplier (Belize?) with ugly patches that there is little I can do about.

Got to go to Edgar Cochrane to get the meds on Dr. Kristi's prescription. But Neurology opens at Enmore on Tuesday afternoon at 1 PM. And I need an appointment date from them or at very least a new prescription. The pharmacist who gave me the meds yesterday (all MG related) told me I had no more repeats. I have to get a new prescription by the end of the month. And I was supposed to get a new appointment by the end of this month as well but the never called with the date.

If I go to Enmore for 1 PM, I will get to Edgar Cochrane later. But 1 PM is when EC stopped handing out numbers yesterday. If I go to Edgar Cochrane now (10:36) I might get rapid service and have to cool my heels at Enmore for hours before I get to see anyone at neurology at 1 PM.

I don't want to leave home twice. I don't want to cool my heels at Enmore for hours. But I don't want to get to EC to discover that they "dun wuk" early again!

Decisions, decisions!

Netfoot · March 11

11:48 at Edgar Cochrane. My number is #317. Now serving ~~#285~~ ~~#286~~ #287 so 32 31 30 numbers to go.

I doubt I'll be away from here before 1 PM but I guess I have all afternoon to go to Enmore/Neurology.

Damn! Battery is 26%!

Now serving #288.....

12:23 and now serving #299.....

12:48 and still serving #299! Battery: 17%.

1:16 PM. Now serving #304. Battery 15%.

1:36 PM. Approaching two hours. Went and moved the van to an even more shady spot which opened up. Mo was doing OK but I gave him some water. Now serving #306. Battery 11%.

1:48 PM. Exactly two hours. Now serving #311. Battery 9%. When I leave here I still have to go to Enmore! Another day wasted!

2:05 PM and now serving #315. Battery 8%. Only two more numbers to go. I will see if I can get a bottle of water for Mo. Can't leave here in case my number comes up and I miss my turn. But if I can get a bottle...

2:15 PM and they just took my prescription. I have a small bottle of water (500ml) to top up Mo's mobile bowl. No idea how long it will take before they call me for the meds. Battery 5%.

2:26 PM and I'm on my way to Enmore. Battery 4%.

Edited March 11 by Netfoot

Netfoot · March 11

OK we're home. And I ate cheese cutters for lunch.

At Enmore, I explained that I'd been waiting nearly four months for a four-month appointment date and because the four months were nearly up would they please give me a date? They did.

2nd September at 1 PM.

Yes, according to the Neuro team, four months from 26th November is 2nd September the following year.

I told them I needed a new prescription..... No. Come back next month (because gas is cheap and obviously I have nothing better to do than come down and visit them.

My four month appointment, starting four months ago, is six months hence.

And another day wasted because I am not doing anything today, after 2:38 sitting around the polyclinic waiting for meds and then having someone from Neuro vomit stupidity all over me. Thank god I'm done for a while.

Oh, wait! I'm back down there next Monday to hear what ridiculous pronouncements come from the Urology team, now they have a CT to look at and nod sagely.

Netfoot · March 12

So, not the most productive day. Hours spent just to acquire some meds, a bullshit appointment date for my next Neuro consult, and an afternoon feeling exhaustion without anything constructive happening in the garage.

And now, after a dinner of simple sandwiches, my tummy which has been hurting all afternoon, is hurting worse. I have a mug of tea drawing and I hope when it's cool enough to drink, it soothes my stomach.

Mo is eating his chow and will soon return to my pillows to lie down. 😐 No, he's sitting on the floor, polishing his toenails.

Hopefully I can get down to some constructive work tomorrow. There is a lot to do but first thing I want to do is cut down that longer board with the sap-pocket. I want to do that first thing. Then I want to scarf-joint two bad boards into one good one. Not for use - I just want to see how it will turn out. I will use a spline with the grain properly aligned across the joint. Then I will look to my supply of spreaders and make up the short-fall in numbers. Because spreaders are short in length, most bits of scrap can yield a spreader or two. And since they are relatively easy to make, very few turn out flawed.

I am watching a movie. It's called The Bounty Hunter from 2010 and starring Gerard Butler & Jennifer Aniston. They are a divorced couple. He is a bounty hunter and she falls afoul of a judge on some minor charge and he gets sent to bring her in. Best line of the movie so far: "You're thinking with your dick. No dick thinking!"

Mo now curled up behind me, still polishing his toenails.

Had two showers already for the day so I won't need to have another. Tummy feeling slightly better with the warm tea.

Going to sleep well tonight. I hope.

Suddenly, Mo is barking away, under the bedroom window. He had been practicing his ninja stylee again.

ETA: the bruise on my arm is bigger, blacker and sorer than ever.

Edited March 12 by Netfoot

Netfoot · March 12

Started by separating the boards into two piles - legs and rails. There isn't much in it but occasionally a board didn't strike me as suitable leg (or rail) material and ended up on the other pile.

Trimmed the leg with the sap-pocket and it seems to have come out well. Added it to my pile of legs. I now have 32 of each.

Marked all the legs with the gentle curve they will end up with on the top. Sanded each leg to the line. I used a marking jig I fashioned while making the last batch. Here is a photo of it:

Note you are looking at it from underneath. Just so you can see how simple it is. The curve is traced on to the leg from the other side. The leg in the jig would have been traced, taken to the sander and sanded down to the line, then put back into the jig for the photo.

Once all the tops of the legs were done, I clamped a long stop-block to the cross-cut sled and set it to the exact length of one of the four leftover legs from last time. That length is exactly 36". With that clamped in place I was able to quickly and accurately trim all the new legs to final length.

Most of the legs are cut down from 37" boards. With one end slightly reduced while sanding the curved tops and allowing for the ⅛" blade kerf, the offcut was somewhere between ¾" and ⅞" so essentially they went straight into the bin. But some of the legs are cut from longer stock and the offcuts are around 9⅜" long. Useful. One of these was immediately put to use.

The offcut is (obviously) the same width as the boards I'm using, so I used one of these offcuts to make my "magic spacer block". This is needed to make lap-joints of the right width to fit the stock boards. I prefer to make a new one for every batch of boards because the new batch isn't guaranteed to be exactly the same width as the last. Previously I used my ⅜" slotting blade because it "hogs" out more wood than the standard ⅛" blade. But the dado stack can be set to hog out as much as ⅞" at a time which is easier & faster. I chose not to use the maximum width of the dado stack. Instead I adjusted the dado stack to cut a slot the exact thickness of the plywood I have around here (18mm construction grade forming ply, AKA ¾" form ply). That is plenty of hogging and the size slot it cuts is convenient for something I want to do later.

So with that blade setting I cut an offcut in half lengthways and glued it back together. The glue is drying. I wish I had some TiteBond II as well as the TiteBond III I'm using on the racks. TB2 may not be waterproof like TB3 but it dries much faster. And I don't intend for my magic spacer to be dunked in the pool! TB2 is water resistant so if I drop sweat or spill OJ on it it will not fall apart.

Because the blade thickness is different this time, that's another reason to make a new magic spacer.

Mo just wandered in, jumped on the bed, kangaroo kicked me 5-6 times and went to sleep.

It's nearly 2 PM so I'm thinking bran sandwiches or cutters made with white salt bread. Cheese? Egg? Corned beef? PB&J? All of the above, simultaneously? Dunno. Let's go see what we got.

Netfoot · March 12

OK, I need 32 spreaders to make eight racks. I had eight completed spreaders with lap-joints cut and nine waiting for lap-joints.

I went out and wanted a scrap of wood to make something so I grabbed up a piece of wood, cut it..... and discovered it was a completed spreader 😭.

So. Seven completed spreaders and nine blanks, waiting for lap-joints. I therefore need 16 more. The dado stack was in the saw and I chose not to take it out. So I got some knotty scraps and using a Japanese-style pull-saw I hand-sawed 11 more blanks, cutting between the knots and blemishes.

The seven completed ones that were on hand from before are on the right, up against the fence. The next 9 in the middle were also on hand from before. The 11 I just cut are on the left and they are shorter. They are 11½" long and the completed parts are trimmed to 11" while finishing.

Since I needed 16, why did I stop at 11? Because I can't count and because both hands were twisted with cramp by then. But if you look across the back you will see three boards, complete with blemishes and knots of their own. These I can cut between the blemishes and get 6 more blanks. Which would be enough to make all required spreaders for eight racks.

Tomorrow, the plan is to complete the 32 spreaders, complete with lap-joints cut. Then I will start cutting the matching lap-joints in the legs. Once that is finished, I can start assembling side-frames.

I have a gluing jig that makes that assembly chore easier but it can only be used on one side-frame at a time. Perhaps I should build a second gluing jig? It would double the rate of production. And two side-frames are required for each rack..

I still have rails to plane and run through the router to stadium them. I am working on a minor modification to the router table I built a couple weeks ago that will allow me to clamp it down to the table saw. As is, it wanders around on the saw and is a bit of a PITA. Clamping it securely to the saw will make it much more secure and more comfortable to use.

And don't forget, each completed frame will need to be rounded over on the router table too, once the glue has cured.

Otherwise, Mo has just laid down and commandeered my feet as a pillow. Pity. I was contemplating a glass of iced water. It's a quarter to six and I just had a long, hot shower. The cramps in my hands had faded and I hope they don't come back. I ate the last of the bran bread with cheese for lunch. Mo had chow and refused to eat it. That just means he will see it again for dinner. And breakfast tomorrow. And lunch, and dinner if necessary. This is what happens when you feed your pupper too much pot-food. They start to turn up their nose at chow. But that can't be allowed to happen here. Mo had to eat what is available. No refusing the bully beef rice because it has no truffle-oil on it, Mo!

Edited March 12 by Netfoot

Netfoot · March 13

Tired. Been suffering from bad reflux last few days and this afternoon it was pretty bad! Thought I'd avoid eating or drinking so as to have less in my stomach to cause trouble. But as the evening drew on I found that a couple of cheese cutters and a mug of tea were required so I took a famopsin as well.

Mo is right behind me playing some sort of game. I will join him soon. I'm watching some YT videos. How to make toggle-clamps, dowel plates, etc.

See, when I bought my saws, lathe, etc, my plan was to buy lumber and build myself some furniture. A bed, a desk, a small table to take my meals.... But before I got familiar enough with the tools I fell sick, and by time I dealt with that, I was too broke to buy the required lumber.

Some of the things I did not get around to buying include a jointer, a compressor and a drum sander. And also smaller stuff, like a dowel plate.

Of course, you can often build your own tools but that usually requires that you have access to a whole different set of tools.

It's after midnight and seeing as I bathed earlier I don't have to move from this spot. I can turn off all the lights with the remote and just pull the sheet up to my nose. I want to be up early in the morning to test my blood sugar and get a mug of tea. Then as soon as it's 8:00 I can go outside and start making some noise.

Edited March 13 by Netfoot

Netfoot · March 13

After hand-cutting the last of the stretchers blanks, I set the height of the dado stack. And with a stop-block clamped to the fence, I cut the lap-joint on one end.

Then, I clamped a stop-block to the miter gauge. It has a thin strip on the bottom to fit under the first lap-joint.

Using one of my leftover stretchers I set the position of this stop-block to give the exact spacing between the lap-joints. The stop-block is not set to the end of the stretchers. It is set to the inside edge of the lap-joint!

Then I make a hogging cut that sets the spacing.

I can't hog out the rest yet because I don't want to move the stop-block until the spacing is set on all the stretchers. Note some blanks ate longer than others. They will all have to be trimmed to length do it doesn't matter. The excess will be cut off and they all have excess to be removed. Some just more than others. That will be done when the dado stack comes off And Mt my standard blade goes back on.

When the last of the spacing cuts are done, the stop-block can be removed and the rest of the lap-joint can be hogged out.

Edited March 14 by Netfoot

Netfoot · March 13

Now, the legs. We have to cut two lap-joints for the lower and upper stretchers. We start with the lower.

Using a stop-block clamped to the fence and carefully spaced to give a cut in the correct place, the leg was pressed against the block and pushed through the blade.

Then, the leg is pressed against the stop-block combined with the magic spacer and the second cut is made.

The two cuts define the position and width of the lap-joint.

The little piece in the middle can be hogged out by positioning the leg bye eye and making one more cut.

Here the completed lap-joint is tested with a stretcher. Good fit (not glued yet). And the joint is square, too!

Once the lower joints are cut in all the legs, the stop-block can be repositioned to cut the upper lap-joints. The exact procedure is used as for the lower. Care must be taken to cut the second lap-joint on the other end of the leg and on the same side as the first joint.

With the lap-joints all cut, the dado stack can be removed and the standard blade put in. With that we can trim the excess length off the stretchers. But the blade change will have to wait. The various parts of the dado stack are too hot (from cutting) to be handled comfortably. The same is true if of the arbor, arbor washer and arbor nut. And the entire mechanism down in the throat, for that matter. And the throat itself!

So I'm done for now. Not bad for the morning. I wish I was completely through with trimming the stretchers but I won't change blades until everything cools down a bit.

Besides, I could use a breather. And lunchtime is coming up and I think I will cook bully-beef rice with that last carrot. Mo might like some too.

Edited March 14 by Netfoot

Netfoot · March 13

Rice cooking. Smells good. When done eating I will get back to work...

Netfoot · March 14

Finished cutting all parts to length and made all the lap-joints. Remember the leg with the sap-pocket I was trying to rehabilitate?

Not bad. The splintery stuff is lying on the table under the boards.

I was about to start assembling side-frames when I realized I have to cut the rail pockets in the legs first!

It was getting late so I decided to do the pockets in the morning. But there was still a little time left in the day. So I added two boards to the bottom of the router table.

The two boards are notched/slotted to fit the existing boards at the bottom of the table. They are a tight fit, and glued along the slot and along one edge.

You can see the board notched and the other board fitted into that notch. Tomorrow, first thing, I will drive screws up through the bottom board and in through the sides to reinforce the joints. Then I will drill holes through these new boards at 10¾" spacing from board to board. This will allow me to fit toilet bolts into the miter slots on the table and up through the holes, to bolt the router table to the saw. (The miter slots are 10" apart and ¾" wide each.)

Previously, when I pressed a piece of wood against the router bit, the router would slide away from me slightly. This was more pronounced when the router was running. The vibration made the router table "float" a bit. Bolting it down firmly to the saw will give me a more stable unit to use to round over rails and frames.

I also blew the dust off of my slotting guide. I made a modification that allows me to easily adjust and fix it in place without need for a clamp. It didn't take long and the result isn't exactly beautiful but works perfectly well. Just a small improvement but every little bit makes it easier to accomplish the task.

Mo and I enjoyed our corned beef & rice for lunch, and our macaroni for dinner. Mo is curled up at the foot of our bed with his butt on my feet. I have had my shower earlier but we still need to do our Garden Patrol. I'm feeling lazy but we never miss Garden Patrol! Well, I suppose if a hurricane was blowing outside we might skip, but mere thunderstorms and howling rain are nothing to our determination!

Gotta pick a book. Don't actually feel like reading right now, but I think I need to have a book sitting here, in case I catch a vaps.

Mo had departed. I should put on my shoes, grab a torch and go out on Patrol. OK, I will do that now. Then I will drink a post-prandial mug of tea and think about going to sleep.

Oh, an interesting thing happened today. I noticed a missed call on my phone from an unknown number so I called back. Got a garbled voicemail recording so I hung up again. A few minutes later the called back, returning my call, which was returning their call...

Anyway, it was some woman at QEH who wanted to know why I had not had a "renal biopsy" in December. I told her that the reason was because nobody told me to. I explained that I've been begging for a biopsy for 23 months. I explained that I saw the doctor on the 16th of December and that he did not tell me to get a biopsy. I told her that I had a CT last Monday and that I would see the doctor next Monday, at which time (presumable) I will hear the results of the CT. I asked her where I needed to go for the biopsy and told her I could be there in 20 minutes, traffic permitting. I asked how long the procedure was going to take because I'd like to be back home before dark. I inquired whether I needed to bring bottles of water like I did for the CT, or anything else for that matter. What clothing should I wear? Would it be OK to livestream the procedure? Could I bring my emotional support puppy with me? Would I need to disrobe?

I think she ran away at that point.

Anyway, Universal Health Care strikes again, calling me three months after the event to admonish me for not having a procedure that they never told me to have.

Garden Patrol!

Netfoot · March 14

Three minutes to noon and I'm exhausted already. I think I'm done for the day and I have achieved very little. I'm hungry but I am too tired to walk to the kitchen so I am probably too tired to cook.

I started by making a few minor but useful alterations to my slotting guide. Jig. Whatever. Then I got to work on the router table.

Every time I look at that thing I regret I didn't use better grade plywood to make it. It is splintery, warped and not very good. The top is OK but the box/frame is crap.

Anyway, I drove in 24 screws to reinforce the glue joints that held the two new boards to the base. Then I drilled two holes on each board spaced to match the miter guide slots in the saw.

Four tee-bolts with big washers fitted through the four holes; all I need to do is line them up with the slots and slide.... line them up.... slide.... line them up and slide....

It took me over an hour, lifting the router table and peering underneath. And cursing. Plenty of cursing. Once installed everything functioned perfectly, but... One. Complete. Hour.

So, Plan B. Drill holes on the outside portion of the boards, and elongate them into slots that reach the ends.

Now the table can be positioned over the miter guide slots and the bolts slid in along onto the board

before being tightened down. Took exactly one minute. With two of these snugged down the router ain't going nowhere. And if you have another minute you can walk around the saw and put two more tee-bolts on from the other end of the miter guide slots and secure the router even more securely.

But now I'm knackered! And hungry! Last night's macaroni hit the spot but I am hungry again and I feel to cook another pot of rice.

Unfortunately, I have nothing to put in it other than bully. No carrots, pumpkin, pak choy, cucumber, broccoli, or anything else. I am inclined to go to Popular and buy some veggies but I don't know if I have the strength to crawl to the van. However, it is Friday and when people get their pay this afternoon, Popular will become a madhouse. So if I'm going if better go soon!

Netfoot · March 14

Dragged myself down to Popular and bought pumpkin, broccoli, cabbage, carrots and cucumbers plus a couple plantains. While there i also got some dtuff like corned beef, tuna, milk, butt fodder, pepper, garlic powder, etc. Also some $1.59 pasta because it wes on special at $1.50!

Got home and I nearly ruptured myself trying to get the shopping bag out of the van and into the kitchen.I unpacked all that had to be put away and left all the tins in the bag to deal with later.

Now that I had all those lovely ingregements I could have cooked a good pot of rice for lunch! But instead I crawled away to bed. Perhaps I will cook a pot of rice for dinner instead.

Mo is asleep on the floor with his head & shoulders under the bed and his hind quarters sticking bout. I must be careful not to stand on him when i get up.

Netfoot · March 14

Just as an experiment, a couple days ago I got two boards with blemishes which made them unusable. One had an ugly knot and the other had a patch of really bad tear-out. I made a long scarf-cut on each board, taking care to get the angle the same on both.

Pressing the angled face of the cuts flush to the top of the saw, I cut a slot across the end of each. Then using thin strips of wood, I glued them into the slot in one board as a spline.

When the glue had dried I added glue to the slot on the other board and fitted the two together. I was careful to make the joint tight and keep the boards straight and parallel.

When all the glue was thoroughly cured, I cut away any excess spline and sanded everything.

Now, I did not put a lot of effort into this. I am not planning on doing anything with this. I just wanted to see how it would come out. So tell me what you think.

Do you see the joint? You will more easily see the line of end-grain where the spline was sanded flush with the side of the board. This could be reduced or eliminated if needed because where you see the end of the spline is where it is in only one of the boards and doesn't add any strength to the joint. A cosmetically better job could be done here if desired by reorienting the grain to run along the board as opposed to across it. On the inside of the joint, the spline could run across the board giving strength but not visible from the outside.

Here is a slightly closer look at the face of the board.

You should be able to see the faint line of discontinuity in the grain, running low left across the board to high right. How obvious this joint is depends on how different or similar the grain pattern and colour is on the two boards.

I'm not going to try it, but if I stressed this board until it broke I would not be surprised if the joint held and the break occurred elsewhere!

On the way home from Popular I staggered into the mall to buy two binder clips. I was told I couldn't buy binder clips; I would have to buy the whole binder at $1.95 each. I said I was sorry but I couldn't spend $3.90 on two binders to just throw them out and that I would have to go to another solution.

So they gave me two binder clips!

Edited March 14 by Netfoot

Netfoot · March 15

It's 10:30 and I'm taking a break. Started by finishing off some modifications to my slotting guide. I replaced the two clamp-on stop-blocks. I glued one permanently in place because you only need to move one to adjust the spacing. The other I slotted and bolted in place with a tee-bolts. The slot allows the block to slide 10" back and forth on the tee-bolt. And I drilled two bolt holes in the base so there is around 20" of overall adjustment by selecting which bolt hole you are using. I could drill.morevholes to give even more flexibility but I can't see any need for that at the moment.

I also made a number of setup blocks to help get this adjusted in the drill-press. It takes a separate setup for the pockets for top rails and bottom rails. Last time it took about 1½ hours to set up for each but with these setup blocks it should go faster.

The block with the slot helps set up the position of the guide so it cuts pockets in the center of the legs. The 4" spacer sets the distance from the top of the leg to the top rail. (I need to make a 19" spacer to set the bottom rail distance.) The 1" spacer helps set the two stop-blocks do as to give 1¾" pocket length to match the rails. (²" spacer plus ¾" Forstner bit gives 1¾" pocket.) And the thin shim is used to set the maximum plunge of the quill so you don't drill the pocket all the way through - which would turn the pocket into a hole.

I've run the legs through the process and cut all the upper pockets.

Now I need to reset the guide to reposition it to cut the lower pockets. The stop-blocks can stay as is but the entire guide needs to be moved 15" to the right because the top & bottom rails are 15" apart, vertically, on the leg. Moving the guide at all means it also needs to be adjusted so the pockets are centered on the leg.

I'm taking a breather because my back is hurting. I feel like a mug of tea but I already had one this morning. And I don't want to take too long getting the pocketing finished because once they are all done I can start gluing legs & stretchers into side-frames and it takes an hour to do each because I only have one gluing jig. If I can get some frames finished today, I can let the glue cure overnight. Then I can round then on the router and start assembling finished towel racks!

Uh... I do need to plane the rails to thickness and round over the edges but that also requires the router table. So, I can do frames and rails, one after the other.

Netfoot · March 15

12:20 and I have a pain in my guts. It's like a stitch in my appendix. Too much standing around at the drill press?

I set up the guide for the second pocket in each leg and began. Setup only took about 10 minutes (!) and off we go.

I was just pocketing the last of the legs when I thought, "Hello! This pocket is very shallow. Why is that?" The why was that the depth stop had come loose and had gradually adjusted itself to give shallower and shallower pockets as time went along. So, I had to reset the depth stop and re-pocket all the pockets! Anyway, eventually they were all done.

Now, the eagle-eyed may notice that there are only enough legs here for seven racks . What about the four legs for the eighth rack? Well, you see, I had a brilliant idea!

I figured that if I glued up the legs and stretchers into framed first, I could pocket the frames after. And because the frame was easier to handle (bigger, easier to get a good grip on) the slotting would be easier. So to test my brilliant idea I glued up two frames yesterday and let them cure overnight.

Unfortunately, a problem arose. I'm sure you can see what it is?

With the guide I am using I have to do a setup for the top pockets and another setup for the bottom pockets. With a completed frame to do, I have to setup the top/left pockets, then the top/right pockets, then the bottom/left and finally the bottom/right. Four setups instead of two! I must have been high when I came up with the plan. Thank goodness I only had the two of these glued up when I realized!

Anyway, I am not going to throw this pair of frames away. I will do two more setups and make two pockets pet setup and get these frames into shape so as to make towel rack #8. Yes, it's a PITA but it's $275.

But first, I will cook lunch. Yesterday's rice with pumpkin and cucumber was a success. Today we will try broccoli and carrot. And I just might cook myself a plantain to go with it.

I wish I had a slightly larger pot. But it appears that the only material that is used for the lids of pots & pans these days is glass. The most breakable substance known to man, and also one of the slipperiest, used in an environment where your hands will probably have water or oil on them. Or both.

Anyway, lunch!

Netfoot · March 16

Stopped for the night. Don't like working in poor light but when I got up this morning the sky was all black clouds and the rain was hosing down. So I've been using artificial light (a 2' fluorescent tube) all day.

Anyway, this is my stopping point:

Eight side-frames (four towel rails) and in the middle, enough legs to make another eight.

It takes me 8-10 minutes to get a pair of legs and a pair of stretchers into the gluing jig and clamped up. Then an hour to let the glue set up before I can take it out again and do the next one.

Meanwhile the frames that come out of the jig have to be gently handled so they don't fall apart. They are put aside and left alone overnight for the glue to cure.

The jig requires six F-clamps. Previously, it used eleven F-clamps but I removed five of them and modified the jig to replace them with wedges. Unfortunately the jig is too small to utilize wedges on two of the remaining six, and the last four would be tricky to replace. Not impossible; I could build four toggle clamps and use those instead. I have store-bought toggle clamps here but they are (I believe) too small & puny for this job. And I don't have enough of them.

I could make bigger clamps but I don't have the time or materials.

I had eggs for dinner, Mo had chow. Got to get up early and get to work on the remaining frames. It takes about 1:10 each so if I want to do eight of them tomorrow (so as to get them all done) it will take me 9+ hours.

Meanwhile, I can sand, round-over and sand again the eight I already have, as well as plane, round-over and sand all the rails. Monday I can do the frames from tomorrow, after they have cured tomorrow night.

Then final assembly. About 2 hours each towel rail followed by an overnight for the glue to cure.

So, here is hoping some freaky accident doesn't occur to ruin one (or more) rack.

I am sitting on the edge of the bed and Mo is on the floor, sleeping on my foot. I have a movie I want to watch but I can't get into bed!

Edited March 16 by Netfoot

Netfoot · March 16

Today did not go entirely according to plan. I had planned to complete the side-frames and in between, plane and round-over the rails. But I realized that it's Sunday and the last thing my neighbors would appreciate would be me running Mr. Noisy to do the planing and Noisy Jr. to do the round-overs.

So I did assemble the remaining frames and this last batch will now cure, overnight.

Here they are, 16 frames; ~~enouh~~ enough for 8 towel racks.

Tomorrow the rails will be brought to shape and I hope it isn't a ~~busy~~ bust. I know that you should make the rails first and then cut the pockets to fit the existing rails. But I have done the opposite. I sure hope careful measurement will save me. Everything is based on 1¾" rails, so I should be able to rely on the rails (cut to 1¾" width) fitting ~~I to~~ into pockets cut for 1¾" rails). If not, I have to go and buy more wood.

And tomorrow I have to go to QEH for 8:00 AM and wait on the doctors to tell me what the CT said and what it means for me.

Anyway, Mo and I had boiled veggies with bully for lunch. Potato, pumpkin, carrot and a sauce of corned beef, onion and tomato sauce. It tasted pretty good. I am planning egg & cheese cutters for dinner. Mo can have the last of the chow. I will cut the salt breads and "french-toast" the cut faces. Then I can put them back together with a slice of cheese and voila! Egg & cheese cutters! And the egg won't go slip-sliding away! (No, not a huge Paul Simon fan...)

Back is killing me! And after the last of the work was done and I finished my shower, I discovered a little blue packet on the bed with two Panadol 500 in it. I kid you not. I have no idea how he got hold of it because I keep the Panadol in the original box, inside a large, heavy-duty Ziploc bag, on top of a table in another room. I rushed out and the bag was right where it belonged with the Panadol box in it and everything!

Edited March 17 by Netfoot

Netfoot · March 17

8:27 AM at QEH. Had a rough night and woke with a queasy tummy. The last thing I wanted to do was leave home today.

But if I don't come today I don't get the CT results and I don't get another appointment to come later. Recent experiences with Neuro lead me to believe that if I mess my appointment it could be 10 months before I get another. So here I am, feeling really crook. Didn't think I'd make it from the car to the clinic. That you have to park in another time zone when visiting QEH because all the hospital parking is designated for staff doesn't help.

Jim, a friend, contacted me recently and asked what I was doing. Sent him a photo of the towel racks and he said he wanted one.

Now, my guy asked for ten and I've already delivered five so I have five more for him. But I have eight in the works. I think he will take them all immediately, but if not, he may want them at a later date and I can keep them until he orders the next batch. Then, those three will be ready for rapid delivery. (I won't assemble the last three if he doesn't want to take them immediately so storage will be much easier than for assembled racks.)

Also, Heidi told me she would like one, Jim says he wants one and honestly, I could use one myself! So the extra three will find a home one way or another.

But I am wondering. My guy asks me to make them and he sells them on to his customers. Is it right for me to make them, sell them to him, and also sell others to potential customers of his, thereby denying him the chance at a sale?

I would not actually sell one to Heidi or to my friend Jim. If they insist I will tell them the cost of the wood and they can pay me that. But that isn't the question. The question is: If I make five for my friend to resell, should I actually make ten, sell him five and then go ~~I to~~ into competition against him with the other five?

9:10 AM, in to see the doctor, but he has not shown up yet. Any minute, I hope.

9:16 and the doctor came. "Have you had the biopsy?" What f*c*i*g biopsy? Nobody told me to get a biopsy! I went for a CT last week.... "You had a CT? Who told you to get that?" Seriously, you had better have the CT results to give me! "No, but we can get that for you. But you are definitely on the biopsy list..."

9:24 and I'm leaving. The CT shows no change, they will confirm with the biopsy people and call me. Just like Neuro. Meanwhile, next appointment is 16th June.....

I doubt I'll make that date.

9:50 at Dr. Kristi's clinic. Hoping for a quick word with her to fill her in on all that's been going on.

LOL!

One of the drawbacks of parking under a tree.....

Edited March 17 by Netfoot

Notabug · March 17

The fact that the mass in your kidney has not changed over time is a really good sign.

b4pjoe · March 17

On 3/17/2025 at 3:01 PM, Notabug said:

The fact that the mass in your kidney has not changed over time is a really good sign.

Expand

And since it hasn't changed would they still want to do a biopsy? I know I would avoid that if possible. :)

Netfoot · March 17

On 3/17/2025 at 3:01 PM, Notabug said:

The fact that the mass in your kidney has not changed over time is a really good sign.

Expand

On 3/17/2025 at 4:22 PM, b4pjoe said:

And since it hasn't changed would they still want to do a biopsy? I know I would avoid that if possible. :)

Expand

I took it as a good sign. But if they want to do the biopsy to be 100% sure I am not going to refuse!

Back home after more than two hours wandering through Kooyman looking at stuff I can't afford. The truth is I just don't feel like doing any work.

andidante · March 17

On 3/17/2025 at 5:26 PM, Netfoot said:

I took it as a good sign. But if they want to do the biopsy to be 100% sure I am not going to refuse!

Back home after more than two hours wandering through Kooyman looking at stuff I can't afford. The truth is I just don't feel like doing any work.

Expand

I'm with you I would want the biopsy too! Hopefully it will not take too long to schedule you.

Netfoot · March 18

On 3/17/2025 at 10:54 PM, andidante said:

I would want the biopsy too! Hopefully it will not take too long to schedule you.

Expand

Well, they've been promising me one for 23 months, so.... But hopefully they mean it this time?

I'm lying in bed where I spent most of the day. Just wasn't feeling right from when I woke up this morning. Maybe because I did not sleep well last night? Maybe because I was anxious about the visit to QEH and the potential for bad news re. CT?

Anyway, I've done very little today. I did actually go and widen the base of my router table by gluing and screwing on two strips at the foot of the box. The entire router table was a little wobbly because I was foolish to make it of very suspect plywood. But adding these two strips at the base have made it sit square and firm and combined with the tie-down bolts I added previously the table is going to be much easier to use.

No news other than that Mo is lying next to.me now and I think I am going to roll over and go to sleep. Which is what I spent most of the afternoon doing.

Here's hoping tomorrow is a more productive day!

Edited March 18 by Netfoot

Netfoot · March 18

First thing, I got a scrap of wood and my sample pocket

and headed over to Mr. Noisy. The machine had been set up and adjusted for the last batch of racks and not touched since then so the settings should have been fine without adjusting. I sent the scrap through and tested it in the pocket... Perfect.

So I sent the remaining 34 boards through the machine, checking each one as it came out, against the pocket. All OK!

Then, Noisy Jr. With the improved feet and with four T-bolts holding it down I expected the router table to perform well. And it did not disappoint. It was steady and quite low vibration and I went ahead and rounded over all four edged of each board, running each edge twice; slow and then fast. 272 passes on the round-over bit. The table was fine. The router itself, on the other hand....

As I was working on perhaps the 3rd or 4th rail, the router began slowing down. The speed of the motor is adjustable within a certain range and for pine with the size bit I was using I had the speed up to max. When it began to slow down (you can hear it) I thought the speed control knobby might be shifting due to vibration. I checked but it was still turned up to max. The first thing I thought of that would cause fluctuations in speed was the motor burning out. I quickly shut it down and used my nose to detect the smell of magic smoke. When the magic smoke leaks out the machine usually stops working.

But no sign of magic smoke! Warm motor smell, sure. Burning wires? No. So the only other thing I could think of is worn out brushes. If the brushes wear the motor won't run properly until you replace them with new brushes!

This router is one of the first woodworking tools I ever bought. Way back when Dotty was a pup or even before he came along! That would make it 24-25 years old at least. But I have always avoided it's use. I use it when I must but because I never had a router table I always considered it a dangerous machine best avoided whenever possible. So I can't think why the brushes would have worn out.

Anyway, I turned the machine back on and continued rounding rails. Fingers crossed that I'd get 20 complete (enough for the five racks I need to provide to my friend) before the machine gave up the ghost completely, I just kept plodding on. And I got them all done. Here are twenty rounded rails at a nominal length of 37":

You can clearly see one has a knot right at the end. But these are to be trimmed to 36" before use so the knot can be eliminated.

And here are fourteen more at 46":

These are longer because they are the last pieces cut from the original boarfscat the lumberyard. The 9" of scrap were left in place and will be cut away when these are shortened to 36". Some of these have ugly blemishes but when I go to cut them to final length I get to cut away 10" and hopefully the blemish will be cut away at that time.

So the router completed the 34 tails pictured here and was still running when I shut it off. A motor with worn brushes is not automatically dead. The motor speed & power will be affected and as more wear occurs matters get worse until the motor stops running altogether.

I hope it doesn't pack up too soon. Because I have 16 side-frames that also need to be rounded over and each of them requires 20 passes on the router. So 320 more passes.

Right now at 11:11 AM, I am giving my neighbor's ears (and my own) a break and contemplating a mug of tea. I also promised Mo a tasty bully beef & rice lunch.

It's a bit early to start cooking lunch but by time I consume a mug of tea it might be time. However, I don't usually have my tea before lunch, so....

The rails need to be sanded and the frames should be to, both before rounding and after.

I usually make two passes on each cut, one slow pass to hog out the required material and then a fast cleanup pass. I think I will do all the slow hogging-out passes and then go back and do the fast ones. Hopefully if the router gives up the ghost it will wait until the frames are all rounded. If I have to do the cleanup with sandpaper it will be difficult but possible.

Phone. BRB...

😠 QEH Urology department. They said that the Client Relations Officer from Interventional Radiology (name unknown) spoke to me last week and that I said I was not willing to have the biopsy at that time. Incorrect! She asked me why I had not had the "renal biopsy" done in December and I told her that nobody had told me to go and get it done in December or any other time. I told her I had just (2 days prior) had a CT and that I was seeing the Urology team within the week and presumably they would tell me the results of the CT and what those results meant for my subsequent treatment.

I have now been told that my name is on the list for a biopsy and flagged as having waited for an unusually long time so priority should be given where possible. I was also just told that the doctor who heads the biopsy team (name unknown) is out of the island on vacation..... I think I've seen this movie.

So when the head of the biopsy team returns (date unknown but hopefully before the end of March) the Client Relations Officer will draw his attention to my name on the list and point out the unusually long time I've been waiting. This should lead to a date being set. When that happens, the Client Relations Officer will call me and tell me when & where to go and what preparations to make in advance, etc. And with any luck this will happen soon enough that the results of the biopsy will be available to the Urology team when I see them next, in the middle of June.

Not only does nobody want to do anything, they are all lying all the time to deflect the blame for their inaction onto someone else, preferably me. I'd surmise that when the biopsy was scheduled for December, the Client Relations Officer failed to contact me and let me know. Christmas coming and office parties keeping her busy, don'tcha know. So the week before I was due to see Urology again, they are "Where are the results of his biopsy?" Only to find out that I never had the biopsy. Because she never told me to come and have it. So then it is "Why didn't you have the biopsy?" Not "Sorry, I forgot to tell you to come and have the biopsy!"

Free Universal Healthcare. Ok, fine. But not to the exclusion of actual healthcare that you pay for and actually get!

b4pjoe · March 18

On 3/17/2025 at 5:26 PM, Netfoot said:

I took it as a good sign. But if they want to do the biopsy to be 100% sure I am not going to refuse!

Expand

I'm just not a fan of them disturbing something that hasn't changed since it was originally noticed. It is like poking a sleeping bear.

Note: I am NOT a medical expert. 😁

Netfoot · March 18

On 3/18/2025 at 3:55 PM, b4pjoe said:

I'm just not a fan of them disturbing something that hasn't changed since it was originally noticed. It is like poking a sleeping bear.

Note: I am NOT a medical expert. 😁

Expand

I know what you mean. But I don't want to ignore this and then in 5 years time it rears it's ugly head and I have to go for a much bigger surgery when I'm in my 70s.

I am also concerned about the fact that kidney cancer tends not to spread until it reaches 3 cm. This implies that at 3.3 cm, mine is a reasonable candidate for spreading to other parts of the body. Worrying, because when kidney cancer spreads it does not respond to chemo or radiation therapy. So if a surgical solution is not possible (lymphatic system, say) then no treatment is possible and they give you a big bottle of pain killers and send you home to die.

Now, maybe what ever it is on my kidney is not cancer at all! But the biopsy is the only way to find out for sure. So do I leave it alone and keep my fingers crossed that it doesn't blow up later? Or do I investigate and undergo what ever treatment is suggested while I am young enough to survive it?

I don't know. But right now, I am inclined to go cook rice.

b4pjoe · March 18

On 3/18/2025 at 4:07 PM, Netfoot said:

I know what you mean. But I don't want to ignore this and then in 5 years time it rears it's ugly head and I have to go for a much bigger surgery when I'm in my 70s.

I am also concerned about the fact that kidney cancer tends not to spread until it reaches 3 cm. This implies that at 3.3 cm, mine is a reasonable candidate for spreading to other parts of the body. Worrying, because when kidney cancer spreads it does not respond to chemo or radiation therapy. So if a surgical solution is not possible (lymphatic system, say) then no treatment is possible and they give you a big bottle of pain killers and send you home to die.

Now, maybe what ever it is on my kidney is not cancer at all! But the biopsy is the only way to find out for sure. So do I leave it alone and keep my fingers crossed that it doesn't blow up later? Or do I investigate and undergo what ever treatment is suggested while I am young enough to survive it?

Expand

Yes that is understandable which is why I added that I am NOT a medical expert. I went through a similar thing recently when they found a mass on my left kidney from an Abdominal Ultrasound that showed:

IMPRESSION: 1. Indeterminate 3.7 cm hypoechoic, vascular mass in the superolateral aspect of the left kidney is concerning for renal cell carcinoma. Recommend further evaluation with renal mass protocol MRI with contrast.

Then I had the MRI with contrast that said this about my left kidney mass:

Left renal AML. (Angiomyolipoma (AML) is a benign tumor that commonly occurs in the kidneys. It is typically found in the left kidney.)

My doctor declared the mass on the left kidney as benign with no need for a biopsy. They do want me to repeat the MRi in August which I would much rather do than a biopsy. But if they ever do want to do a biopsy I would do it.

I do understand that you need to follow your doctors advice.

Netfoot · March 18

This is the first of the 16 side-frames, all rounded over.

It may also be the last.

As I was finishing this one, the router began to slowly wind down to a stop. And as a farewell gift, the last thing it did was to chip out a piece of the frame.

Now, I could repair the chip and it's small enough that I could finish the repair with a sharp blade and sandpaper.

But what about these?

One rounded frame is no use without another on the other end! And the router is quite dead now, won't turn on at all.

Earlier, I was looking into the possibility of a pair of replacement brushes (two are required). I went to eReplacementParts and found my router. Here is what it says about the brushes:

"Carbon Brush-Set: 2610919544 $6.85, Obsolete - Not Available"

I checked SpareToolParts, PartSelect and several other sources, including the ones in Mexico and India that I never actually use. Same story. So the router is completely dead and there doesn't appear to be any legitimate way to resurrect it.

Of course, what I'd like is the new DeWalt 619 with 2¼ horsepower and collets for ¼" and ½" shanks, the fixed and the plunge base for U$237.99 plus FXF fee, shipping to the rock, brokers and customs fees, etc. not much chance of that, I'm afraid. And I can't wait 2 weeks for it to arrive.

Kooyman has a Makita router for sale for $499.99 but it is a plunge router and it does not come with a fixed base that would be needed here. Also, it is a 1¼ watt router (the old one is 2¼ watts) and the website does not say if it uses a ¼" or ½" shank. My bit has a ½" shank and a replacement but with ¼" shank would be $139.99 on top of the cost of the router.

Ace has a very similar router for $445.99 that takes ¼" and ⅜" shank bits but not ½". (I've never heard of a ⅜" shank router bit!)

Carter's has a Skil 2 HP router with a fixed base for $304.99 with both ¼" and ½" collets so I would be able to use my old bit but I have no idea about the router itself - there is very little info on their website. But Carter's have a bunch of router bits cheap as chips ($20-ish) but they have that horrible orange colour that tells me they are not Freud; they are Truper, which is junk from South America. And the website cleverly lists all the round-over bits without saying what size they are. A ⅜" round-over is what I need but their site doesn't say what size they are. They are junk but for $20, if they actually work and lasted one project they would be worth it.

Ok I could try the $304.99 fixed-base Skil router from Carter's and try to get it into the router table in place of my dead 1825. Assuming they actually have the unit in stock. And if they do, it will result in my benefiting a whole $87.75 when I sell the racks. But if I don't sell the racks (and I won't be able to without rounding them over) I will actually be in a very deep hole when time comes to pay rent at the end of the month.

I am going to go out now and see if that router has recovered enough to run again. I think the chance is slim to none. If it won't it will go into the bin and tomorrow I will go looking for that cheap router from Carter's. But I will try it and then go for a shower and make myself a cheese sandwich. Mo and I had some good rice for lunch but I could eat a sandwich now.

ETA: Nope, it's deader'n Kelsie's Nuts! And it occurs to me that it might be the electronics package (motor speed controller) and not the brushes but all the parts for that old 1825 router are marked "Obsolete - Not Available".

Shower, sandwich!

Edited March 18 by Netfoot

b4pjoe · March 18

Does the router have an overload button on it somewhere that may have gotten tripped? Usually a red button of some sort that pressing it would reset it?

Edited March 18 by b4pjoe

Netfoot · March 18

On 3/18/2025 at 9:44 PM, b4pjoe said:

Does the router have an overload button on it somewhere that may have gotten tripped? Usually a red button of some sort that pressing it would reset it?

Expand

Just took it out of the table, removed the base and examined it all over in search of the spot where brushes would be replaced. No reset button obvious, and it looks like you'd have to strip the entire router to change the brushes - if you had replacement brushes.

b4pjoe · March 18

On 3/18/2025 at 10:18 PM, Netfoot said:

Just took it out of the table, removed the base and examined it all over in search of the spot where brushes would be replaced. No reset button obvious, and it looks like you'd have to strip the entire router to change the brushes - if you had replacement brushes.

Expand

I thought I had the same router as yours but you have the 1825 and mine is the 1810. Went and looked at mine and it has no button either. My manual I have is for the 1810, 1815, 1820, and 1825. It does mention:

If the router is hard to control, heats up, runs very slowly or leaves an imperfect cut, consider these causes:
1. Wrong direction of feed — hard to control.
2. Feeding too fast — overloads motor.
3. Dull bit — overloads motor.
4. Cut is too large for one pass — overloads motor.
5. Feeding too slow — leaves friction burns on work.

The router may stall if improperly used or overloaded.

Not sure how long it would remain stalled when overloaded but I would try it again in the morning but I'm not too confident it will fire up again for you.

andidante · March 18

On 3/18/2025 at 3:50 PM, Netfoot said:

First thing, I got a scrap of wood and my sample pocket

and headed over to Mr. Noisy. The machine had been set up and adjusted for the last batch of racks and not touched since then so the settings should have been fine without adjusting. I sent the scrap through and tested it in the pocket... Perfect.

So I sent the remaining 34 boards through the machine, checking each one as it came out, against the pocket. All OK!

Then, Noisy Jr. With the improved feet and with four T-bolts holding it down I expected the router table to perform well. And it did not disappoint. It was steady and quite low vibration and I went ahead and rounded over all four edged of each board, running each edge twice; slow and then fast. 272 passes on the round-over bit. The table was fine. The router itself, on the other hand....

As I was working on perhaps the 3rd or 4th rail, the router began slowing down. The speed of the motor is adjustable within a certain range and for pine with the size bit I was using I had the speed up to max. When it began to slow down (you can hear it) I thought the speed control knobby might be shifting due to vibration. I checked but it was still turned up to max. The first thing I thought of that would cause fluctuations in speed was the motor burning out. I quickly shut it down and used my nose to detect the smell of magic smoke. When the magic smoke leaks out the machine usually stops working.

But no sign of magic smoke! Warm motor smell, sure. Burning wires? No. So the only other thing I could think of is worn out brushes. If the brushes wear the motor won't run properly until you replace them with new brushes!

This router is one of the first woodworking tools I ever bought. Way back when Dotty was a pup or even before he came along! That would make it 24-25 years old at least. But I have always avoided it's use. I use it when I must but because I never had a router table I always considered it a dangerous machine best avoided whenever possible. So I can't think why the brushes would have worn out.

Anyway, I turned the machine back on and continued rounding rails. Fingers crossed that I'd get 20 complete (enough for the five racks I need to provide to my friend) before the machine gave up the ghost completely, I just kept plodding on. And I got them all done. Here are twenty rounded rails at a nominal length of 37":

You can clearly see one has a knot right at the end. But these are to be trimmed to 36" before use so the knot can be eliminated.

And here are fourteen more at 46":

These are longer because they are the last pieces cut from the original boarfscat the lumberyard. The 9" of scrap were left in place and will be cut away when these are shortened to 36". Some of these have ugly blemishes but when I go to cut them to final length I get to cut away 10" and hopefully the blemish will be cut away at that time.

So the router completed the 34 tails pictured here and was still running when I shut it off. A motor with worn brushes is not automatically dead. The motor speed & power will be affected and as more wear occurs matters get worse until the motor stops running altogether.

I hope it doesn't pack up too soon. Because I have 16 side-frames that also need to be rounded over and each of them requires 20 passes on the router. So 320 more passes.

Right now at 11:11 AM, I am giving my neighbor's ears (and my own) a break and contemplating a mug of tea. I also promised Mo a tasty bully beef & rice lunch.

It's a bit early to start cooking lunch but by time I consume a mug of tea it might be time. However, I don't usually have my tea before lunch, so....

The rails need to be sanded and the frames should be to, both before rounding and after.

I usually make two passes on each cut, one slow pass to hog out the required material and then a fast cleanup pass. I think I will do all the slow hogging-out passes and then go back and do the fast ones. Hopefully if the router gives up the ghost it will wait until the frames are all rounded. If I have to do the cleanup with sandpaper it will be difficult but possible.

Phone. BRB...

😠 QEH Urology department. They said that the Client Relations Officer from Interventional Radiology (name unknown) spoke to me last week and that I said I was not willing to have the biopsy at that time. Incorrect! She asked me why I had not had the "renal biopsy" done in December and I told her that nobody had told me to go and get it done in December or any other time. I told her I had just (2 days prior) had a CT and that I was seeing the Urology team within the week and presumably they would tell me the results of the CT and what those results meant for my subsequent treatment.

I have now been told that my name is on the list for a biopsy and flagged as having waited for an unusually long time so priority should be given where possible. I was also just told that the doctor who heads the biopsy team (name unknown) is out of the island on vacation..... I think I've seen this movie.

So when the head of the biopsy team returns (date unknown but hopefully before the end of March) the Client Relations Officer will draw his attention to my name on the list and point out the unusually long time I've been waiting. This should lead to a date being set. When that happens, the Client Relations Officer will call me and tell me when & where to go and what preparations to make in advance, etc. And with any luck this will happen soon enough that the results of the biopsy will be available to the Urology team when I see them next, in the middle of June.

Not only does nobody want to do anything, they are all lying all the time to deflect the blame for their inaction onto someone else, preferably me. I'd surmise that when the biopsy was scheduled for December, the Client Relations Officer failed to contact me and let me know. Christmas coming and office parties keeping her busy, don'tcha know. So the week before I was due to see Urology again, they are "Where are the results of his biopsy?" Only to find out that I never had the biopsy. Because she never told me to come and have it. So then it is "Why didn't you have the biopsy?" Not "Sorry, I forgot to tell you to come and have the biopsy!"

Free Universal Healthcare. Ok, fine. But not to the exclusion of actual healthcare that you pay for and actually get!

Expand

Fingers crossed that they will schedule you for the biopsy soon and it is not cancer!! I went through cancer 2 years ago and it is not fun! I also don't understand why these people can't just say Hey we screwed up! LOL

Netfoot · March 18

On 3/18/2025 at 11:08 PM, b4pjoe said:

I thought I had the same router as yours but you have the 1825 and mine is the 1810.

Expand

It's a family of routers. And the brushes are the same for them all and not available.

Feed direction is correct
Hand feeding at a modest pace
Maybe but never got used much
It's a ⅜" round-over bit rounding over ⅜" so cut is as per design and motor is 2¼ horsepower
No friction burns

If it were a motor stall that would have to be some sort of thermal or current overload protection. It has had plenty of time to cool off and reset now, and nothing. I will try it again tomorrow but I'm not holding out much hope.

It started with the motor speed changing up and down after rounding only a few (2-3) rails today. Less than 2 minutes of use. If I'd been operating it for two hours straight I might suspect I'd cooked it with overuse. But that is not what happened. And when it actually died it was just as I'd finished the very first frame.

I may have had this router for ages but I never used it much. It really shouldn't be worn out. But components will deteriorate due to simple age. I guess that is what happened here.

I have been thinking laterally about possible alternatives to buying a whole new router. At least for now. I'd love one of the new DeWalt units but that can't happen. I have been trying to scrape up the money to refurbish my band saw and I don't want to buy anything else when I have tools here crying for spares!

On 3/18/2025 at 11:43 PM, andidante said:

I also don't understand why these people can't just say Hey we screwed up!

Expand

Admit fault?!?? Heaven forfend!

Netfoot · March 19

About 25 years ago an old guy I knew died. His family gave me a router he owned; I have never been able to get it to work.

Remembering it, I dug around, pulled it out, blew the dust off and had a look. Got the router and removed the rusty old bit that was in there.

The bit is for the garbage but the rusty collet nut must be retained. It is a ¼" collet so I would have to get a ⅜" round-over bit with a ¼" shank. The one I have right now has a ½" shank.

Went to see if I could get the router to run. There is a shaft lock system that allows you to tighten/slacken the collet nut and it is a bit tricky. When you look at it it's difficult to see if the lock is on or off. And when it's on, an interlock stops the motor from running. After considerable fiddling, I managed to electrocute myself!

This lead is now in the garbage. When the connectors touched there was a loud pop! And a flash of light and a zap of current up my left arm. Good thing this isn't Trinidad. They use 240V in Trinidad. I know because I got a scar on my finger that I collected when I was about 5 years old. Actually, two scars one on either side of the finger. One where the current went in and another where the current came out!

(Not really - it's A/C so the current was travelling back & forth through the finger until someone came to my rescue.)

Anyway, I finally got the damned thing to run. It is as crude a cutter as something made of knapped flint. It is a Sears/Craftsman models - I shudder to think how old it must be. Let me go look at it and see if it has any info on it.....

OK, it's 1½ HP, 25000 RPM fixed speed and year of manufacture appears to be 1989. Made by Sears Roebuck. But most likely actually manufactured by Ryobi for Sears under the Craftsman brand name.

Heaven knows if this thing can be made to do any useful work....

By the way, does anyone remember the days of the big Sears Roebuck catalogs? When I was a lad my folks would occasionally order a batch of clothes from the catalog for me. I got to help choose, thankfully. Plaid trousers, polkadot shirts, etc. Platform soles bought locally. I used to cut a dash!

Very achy in my lower back on either side. I will refrain from saying "kidneys". A couple nights ago Mo left two Panadol on the bed for me. I didn't take them but I think I will tonight.

And it's already ten o'clock. So I had better consider watching a show and going to bed.

Edited March 19 by Netfoot

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