falegniam's Blog at LumberJocks.com http://lumberjocks.com/falegniam/blog Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:43:14 GMT Ridgid R4511 Table Saw Height Adjustment Handle Jammed http://lumberjocks.com/falegniam/blog/28065 Subject: Ridgid R4511 Table Saw Height Adjustment Handle Jammed-
I was wondering if anyone has had a problem with lowering or raising the blade? What happened to me today was rather strange because this saw is almost new. In the middle of working with it, I has set the blade at it highest point. It got stuck there because the handle would not turn, and not a piece of wood jamming it. Eventually i got it to turn, but with much care because the handle is made of thin cast aluminum. Plus i didn’t want to damage anything else. The Trunion part of it is fine. I was able to move it up and down by levering it with a large screwdriver. This releaved the pressure of the worm gear that raises the blade, and the handle still would not turn. Again, carefully applying pressure a few times, turning it in both directions, I was able to lower the blade again. At this point I slowly raised it an inch at a time, and checking to see if it was getting stuck by trying to lower it at each inch interval. With the blade removed I watched it as it went to it’s highest limit without getting jammed. There are two rather large nuts on either side of the cast iron part of the part that hold where bearing should be on that worm gear. I am thinking that there are no bearings in there, and just a solid rod that turns the worm gear. My question is, how could this be happening so soon in the life of this saw, since it only have approximately 40 hours on it? Even if it’s a metal rod, inside a sleeve, to turn a gear, it should last for years before anything would break or wear out, and cause a jam as severe as this. I have not taken it apart yet. If anyone has any information on this problem, I’d love to hear about it.
Thank you for your time, Falegniam

]]> Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:43:14 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/falegniam/blog/28065 falegniam falegniam Job Contracts #2: Part 2 - Always get in writing http://lumberjocks.com/falegniam/blog/17697 Hello LJ members,
The motion to reconsider judgment did not go well. I lost again. This makes twice for the same case that should been settled with just a mediator. I had help with the preparation for the motion to reconsider the judgment, still results in a lose. The person that the court uses for small claims is an unqualified individual to say the least. I went to some lengths to prepare a well thought out defense, which she didn’t even read. I can only come to the conclusion that this is just pure laziness, but what can we do about it. I can only ask myself, how these people live with themselves. What thoughts do they have when they lay their head on that pillow. Do they ask themselves, what kind of person am I, or what kind of person have I turned out to be. Am I proud of who I am, and what I do.
I’m not a perfect person of course, none of us are, but we know right from wrong.
All that time I spent thinking about it, and telling myself it was the right thing to do, to fight for what was right. All wasted efforts, and I’m in the right 100%, doesn’t mean anything in court. Now, can we waste more time, and money trying to fight loosing battles? I say “we”, and not I, because it’s a national, or an international concern when it comes to legal situations. It’s a problem “we will” all have if we don’t get things in writing. A hand shake “is not” any type of guarantee. It has never been, not even in the good ol’ days. Even back then people screwed each other. It happened a lot less, but it still happened. So, for myself, I will listen to that voice of reason that doesn’t usually let us down, and not do business with anyone again without a contract. Nor will I do business with an individual that I feel is not trustworthy right from the start. You know when that voice in your head that says…..there is something about this guy or girl that doesn’t sit right with me. I will regret the coming days if I associate myself with this person. I will listen to that voice from now on. Make no mistake about it, these untrustworthy people come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. Proverbs have been written for a reason. My new favorite. “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover”... This is the only rule to live by.
Looking at a couple of people, and saying….. I trust that one, and not the other, because of the clothes, hair, age, size, nationality, car, house, neighborhood they live in, even financial status could be the one big mistake we make.
The only way to not work for free, is to get it in writing. Period.

“No signed detail contract, no job”.

You want me to build you a picnic table? What size, what material, finished or unfinished. How high, how low, Delivered or pickup, galvanized hardware, or zink plated. Benches or no benches. Attached, or not attached. When do you want it by. Half now, half when it’s done.

I have a fortune cookies that reads:
Success is in the details.

I guess this is a good thing, since this will help prevent anymore situations going this far.

Good luck to all, Falegniam

]]> Sun, 29 Aug 2010 17:38:24 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/falegniam/blog/17697 falegniam falegniam Boiled Linseed Oil #1: Boiled Linseed Oil http://lumberjocks.com/falegniam/blog/17437 I found this bit of helpful information in a magazine, and just wanted to share.

Dip a rag in a container of boiled Linseed Oil, and wipe it onto a sanded tool handle (shovel handle was shown).
Let the oil soak in for a few minutes. The wipe it off the excess with a dry rag.

I haven’t tried this, but I’m thinking it might work on cutting boards, and butcher blocks as well.

]]> Sun, 15 Aug 2010 07:01:55 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/falegniam/blog/17437 falegniam falegniam 2010 Contest? http://lumberjocks.com/falegniam/blog/16785 Hi all,
I don’t know if everyone pays attention to the annual contest on LJ’s, but this one I don’t understand. I just can’t figure out what this contest wants us to do. I even asked a couple of friends of mine, thinking that it was me not knowing what this has to do with. They did not know either. How are we suppose to show fluidity or movement in wood? If that is what this is saying. Can someone please explain what they are asking us for in this contest?

Below is the category explanation…

Category
Fluidity – “Like grasses swaying in a summer breeze, the fluid motion is visible in the solid form of the wood.” Create a woodworking project that portrays fluidity and/or movement, Be sure to describe your inspiration and vision – the interpretation is as important as the finished product.

]]> Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:53:45 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/falegniam/blog/16785 falegniam falegniam Job Contracts #1: Always get it in writing. http://lumberjocks.com/falegniam/blog/16090 Hello LJ members,
This is what happened. A couple of weeks before Christmas of 2009 I started helping a “so-called friend” with a couple of jobs. This is someone I have known for about 10 years. The first couple of weeks we built wall in a basement for a home office. On another job we built a bunch of walls on a remodel. And another small partion in a sales office. All this in 114.25 hours, at a bargain rate of $20 per hour. Now mind you, I have skills like many of you on this fine website, so the money was just for something extra, and to spend some time with this friend. I got $500 on January 25, 2010, and nothing since, so i stopped helping him. This ended all communication on his part. At this point i was calling, and emailing him until i was fed up. I sent him one last email to let him know that my next step was small claims. Well this friend is very stubborn, so of course i didn’t get a response. He defaulted on the first court date, a week before the second court date i get notified by the court that he filed a motion to dismiss the default. A new court date was set for June 1, 2010, but the second court date was still active i was told by the court clerks office. I show up again, and he did not. Defaulted again, i thought, but no. So we both show up on the third court date. He came with some made-up story about how he did snow removal, and the court bought his story. So today I got my court judgment from my local court house notifying me that I lost the case. So I worked for free. $1785, plus $40 filing fee, gone. This is not justice as far as I’m concerned. If you go in with “truth” as your ammunition, and the other guy has a bag of crap, i think the truth should prevail. This is not how our court system works. So I learn an expensive lesson. Always write a contract, and both parties sign it. ALWAYS. There is not such thing as friends when it comes to money. I hope some of you will use this advise. I will use it from now on. Good luck to the people that don’t. Sincerely, Falegniam

]]> Fri, 04 Jun 2010 04:12:30 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/falegniam/blog/16090 falegniam falegniam Ridgid R4511 Vibration http://lumberjocks.com/falegniam/blog/15343 Hello,
About a week ago I purchased this great Ridgid R4511 Tablesaw. It’s an unbelievable upgrade from my 20+ Sears 10” tablesaw. It’s all set up, and squared off. I purchased a piece of phenolic so i can make zero clearance inserts. I have searched for high density plastic faces for the rip fence, but have been unsuccessful, so i will order a piece of high density polyethylene from usplastic.com. One problem I’d like to resolve is the vibration during speed down of the motor and blade. My thoughts are the the long storage of the V-Belt that the saw comes with is the cause of the vibration. All V-Belt or Drive Belts come in an oval configuration when they are packed, and they stay this way for a long time. I’m thinking that the two short loops at the ends of the v-belt pass over the pulleys are causing the vibration during the speed down after the switch is pushed in the off position. I would appreciate positive feedback on this subject if anyone has experienced vibration in this way? This tablesaw if new to me, so if anyone could alert me to any concerns they have has with this, that would also be great.
Thank You

]]> Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:47:35 GMT http://lumberjocks.com/falegniam/blog/15343 falegniam falegniam