Getting Ready For The Blast

[farmersamm]

Supposed to be 4 days of sub zero weather coming

One the things to get ready...........because we're supposed to get an ice storm out of this on the first day.........fire up the welder, gas it up, and make sure all of the extension cords are handy.

Pull the rat/mouse shields off, and fire it up. Started promptly (whew)

If you noticed the "outside" battery box...................... I can't reach the battery on the welder when it's on the skid. So I decided to make a box for the battery that is attached to the skid. This allows me to run any size battery I want. Regular car battery, commercial truck battery, and the stupid batteries they put in Fords. We can take a battery out of anything if the battery in the box fails. Redundancy is king when it's push-come-to-shove time. You don't want to be messing around when the power goes out in the middle of the night.

I use old "failed" tractor, and truck, batteries. They won't crank a large engine anymore, but do fine for quite a long time on the welder. It's a real money saver.

i'm sure you've seen these pics before................but you know how old guys are. We tend to tell the same story over, and over..........because we don't have a lot of new stories at our age.

The box is hinged to swing out of the way when I open the motor compartment on the welder. The welder is fully shielded against rodents. I had a very bad experience with rats making a home in the welder.

Where the cables run inside the welder, the holes are stuffed with steel wool. Critters don't like steel wool.

Anyways.................I think we're ready for the Arctic Blast............as good as I guess we can be.

 

[300jk]

Supposed to be 4 days of sub zero weather comingView attachment 104309

One the things to get ready...........because we're supposed to get an ice storm out of this on the first day.........fire up the welder, gas it up, and make sure all of the extension cords are handy.

View attachment 104310
Pull the rat/mouse shields off, and fire it up. Started promptly (whew)

View attachment 104311
If you noticed the "outside" battery box...................... I can't reach the battery on the welder when it's on the skid. So I decided to make a box for the battery that is attached to the skid. This allows me to run any size battery I want. Regular car battery, commercial truck battery, and the stupid batteries they put in Fords. We can take a battery out of anything if the battery in the box fails. Redundancy is king when it's push-come-to-shove time. You don't want to be messing around when the power goes out in the middle of the night.

I use old "failed" tractor, and truck, batteries. They won't crank a large engine anymore, but do fine for quite a long time on the welder. It's a real money saver.

i'm sure you've seen these pics before................but you know how old guys are. We tend to tell the same story over, and over..........because we don't have a lot of new stories at our age.

View attachment 104312
View attachment 104313
The box is hinged to swing out of the way when I open the motor compartment on the welder. The welder is fully shielded against rodents. I had a very bad experience with rats making a home in the welder.

View attachment 104314
Where the cables run inside the welder, the holes are stuffed with steel wool. Critters don't like steel wool.

Anyways.................I think we're ready for the Arctic Blast............as good as I guess we can be.

That’s great you’re getting ready ! We hate being without power. Some can live without for a day or two. I hate being without power, lights, ect. If I wanted to be Amish I would be. We’ve been getting snow and 40 mph wind. Not fun.

 

[farmersamm]

That’s great you’re getting ready ! We hate being without power. Some can live without for a day or two. I hate being without power, lights, ect. If I wanted to be Amish I would be. We’ve been getting snow and 40 mph wind. Not fun.

I don't know how you deal with it. You guys are tougher than I'll ever be. I mean it.

 

[Texasmark]

I bought my dog a new heated sleeping blanket and got it installed today. She disappeared for several hours with me working in the yard which is uncommon for her. With a new heated blanket, here in N. TX.

 

[farmersamm]

I bought my dog a new heated sleeping blanket and got it installed today. She disappeared for several hours with me working in the yard which is uncommon for her. With a new heated blanket, here in N. TX.

THAT'S FUNNY!!!!!!!

You're either a dog person, or you're not. If you love them, you love them.

I've had a series of dogs over the years. Most make it to old age, except for the Pyrenes.

Our present pup was a Craigslist dog. Free to a good home.

We got there, and I got to talking to the guy. He said his son wanted a "real" German Shephard, so this one had to go.

Dog was around a year old, whined when we picked him up, and put him in the truck. Put his head on K'kins lap on the way home.......scared. We stopped at Carls Junior, and he got a burger. Pretty sure he knew he'd found a home.

Fast forward around maybe 10yrs..........he's getting old.

He's protected the place, given the both of us companionship, and entertainment. He's become a semi house dog. He deserves it.

Cold weather comes.................................Peanut takes it in stride

Plants his old bones on the couch, and we cover him up. Still there in the morning. It's the least you can do for an old friend.

Then there's Oreo. I call her the Zoopster..............she's fast!!! LIke lightning. You have to keep an eye on her. Zoops here, zoops there.

Open a cabinet, and you better be QUICK to close it.

Showed up at the back door as a scrawny, half starved, kitten. Lived in the swather for months, while we fed her. Graduated to the house when we were afraid something might kill her.

I've never been a cat guy. All the experiences I've ever had with a cat, involves claws. This one is different. Sweet, and nice. Sleeps next to K'kins every night, curled up against her neck.

So...................good on you for the electric sleeping bag. You're a decent human being.

 

[jon f mn]

Has been 17 below here for 2 nights with 31 below windchill. Was 2 days earlier with 22 below, but no windchill those nights. We kinda take it I'm stride here, just turn on the heater in the barn so the water doesn't freeze and keep the dog in the barn at night. Only have to turn on the heater in the barn if it's below zero and windy. Otherwise the calves and pigs keep it warm enough.

 

[wjytexas]

In south central Texas the predicted lows 20 - 23F, highs upper 30's - 40F. TV weather dudes saying historic cold. Our Governor is saying don't worry, he's got this. Not having a lot of trust in either I have the generator pulled up to the house and water drawn if our system goes out. If I don't need them I'll water the yard and pull the generator back to the tractor shed. I'm cooking up a big pot of chili this evening. In any event I have firewood under the patio cover and a full bottle of The Glenlivet.

 

[Texasmark]

I bought my dog a new heated sleeping blanket and got it installed today. She disappeared for several hours with me working in the yard which is uncommon for her. With a new heated blanket, here in N. TX.

It was delivered yesterday and I had it warmed up in the house to check it out. Had a nice shag length cover on it, nice and soft and it put out good warmth. I bought one 24x36 which fits nicely in one side of her house with temp control and timer or constantly on. If she gets hot she can move over to the other side and be off it.

Anyway I got it installed and went about my business as yesterday was a nice sunny, balmy day. After a bit I didn't see her in her 40' x40' pen when she normally would be out getting some sun taking a nap.....she apparently decided that this thing was just what she has been wanting. I'm sure glad she's happy.....one less thing for me to worry about and the older I get the more things I have to worry about.....my ability to cope with them.

 

[Texasmark]

Well sir, I used to do what you just described.....for decades. In 2014 when I sold off my cows, one thing I did with the money was to buy and install a whole house permanent generator with a 500 gallon propane tank. Probably 4 years ago I gave my wood stove to a neighbor and use propane and baseboard electric heating. I am happy with the decision even though it costs more to heat the house this way.

 

[Fritz Maurer]

THAT'S FUNNY!!!!!!!

You're either a dog person, or you're not. If you love them, you love them.

I've had a series of dogs over the years. Most make it to old age, except for the Pyrenes.

Our present pup was a Craigslist dog. Free to a good home.

We got there, and I got to talking to the guy. He said his son wanted a "real" German Shephard, so this one had to go.

Dog was around a year old, whined when we picked him up, and put him in the truck. Put his head on K'kins lap on the way home.......scared. We stopped at Carls Junior, and he got a burger. Pretty sure he knew he'd found a home.

Fast forward around maybe 10yrs..........he's getting old.

He's protected the place, given the both of us companionship, and entertainment. He's become a semi house dog. He deserves it.

Cold weather comes.................................Peanut takes it in strideView attachment 104333

View attachment 104334
Plants his old bones on the couch, and we cover him up. Still there in the morning. It's the least you can do for an old friend.

Then there's Oreo. I call her the Zoopster..............she's fast!!! LIke lightning. You have to keep an eye on her. Zoops here, zoops there.

View attachment 104335
Open a cabinet, and you better be QUICK to close it.

Showed up at the back door as a scrawny, half starved, kitten. Lived in the swather for months, while we fed her. Graduated to the house when we were afraid something might kill her.

I've never been a cat guy. All the experiences I've ever had with a cat, involves claws. This one is different. Sweet, and nice. Sleeps next to K'kins every night, curled up against her neck.

So...................good on you for the electric sleeping bag. You're a decent human being.

I have an Oreo too! Jumps on my truck every morning to tell me the bowl is empty.

 

[sms]

That’s great you’re getting ready ! We hate being without power. Some can live without for a day or two. I hate being without power, lights, ect. If I wanted to be Amish I would be. We’ve been getting snow and 40 mph wind. Not fun.

Doesn't look like you got the ice we did Sunday.

 

[Texasmark]

I have an Oreo too! Jumps on my truck every morning to tell me the bowl is empty.View attachment 104378

That cat is "drop dead serious". What a picture. You had better feed me and the time is NOW! Meow!

 

[wjytexas]

Well sir, I used to do what you just described.....for decades. In 2014 when I sold off my cows, one thing I did with the money was to buy and install a whole house permanent generator with a 500 gallon propane tank. Probably 4 years ago I gave my wood stove to a neighbor and use propane and baseboard electric heating. I am happy with the decision even though it costs more to heat the house this way.

Since the Great Blizzard of '21 I haven't had to use the generator or water. I do like a fire though. We're all electric with a heat pump/AC. I figure to pull the generator out once every couple of years I'd just rather be prepared than sorry.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Supposed to be 4 days of sub zero weather comingView attachment 104309

One the things to get ready...........because we're supposed to get an ice storm out of this on the first day.........fire up the welder, gas it up, and make sure all of the extension cords are handy.

View attachment 104310
Pull the rat/mouse shields off, and fire it up. Started promptly (whew)

View attachment 104311
If you noticed the "outside" battery box...................... I can't reach the battery on the welder when it's on the skid. So I decided to make a box for the battery that is attached to the skid. This allows me to run any size battery I want. Regular car battery, commercial truck battery, and the stupid batteries they put in Fords. We can take a battery out of anything if the battery in the box fails. Redundancy is king when it's push-come-to-shove time. You don't want to be messing around when the power goes out in the middle of the night.

I use old "failed" tractor, and truck, batteries. They won't crank a large engine anymore, but do fine for quite a long time on the welder. It's a real money saver.

i'm sure you've seen these pics before................but you know how old guys are. We tend to tell the same story over, and over..........because we don't have a lot of new stories at our age.

View attachment 104312
View attachment 104313
The box is hinged to swing out of the way when I open the motor compartment on the welder. The welder is fully shielded against rodents. I had a very bad experience with rats making a home in the welder.

View attachment 104314
Where the cables run inside the welder, the holes are stuffed with steel wool. Critters don't like steel wool.

Anyways.................I think we're ready for the Arctic Blast............as good as I guess we can be.

I do the same on on few of my tractors that do not see much action and on my house generator.

 

[NDIHC]

Been below zero overnight since February 2nd in central ND. Several nights from the teens to 40 below. Tonight says -34°F, tomorrow night -27°F. Then thursday 8 for a high and zero overnight. Big warmup to 31 Friday.

 

[farmer656]

Supposed to be 4 days of sub zero weather comingView attachment 104309

One the things to get ready...........because we're supposed to get an ice storm out of this on the first day.........fire up the welder, gas it up, and make sure all of the extension cords are handy.

View attachment 104310
Pull the rat/mouse shields off, and fire it up. Started promptly (whew)

View attachment 104311
If you noticed the "outside" battery box...................... I can't reach the battery on the welder when it's on the skid. So I decided to make a box for the battery that is attached to the skid. This allows me to run any size battery I want. Regular car battery, commercial truck battery, and the stupid batteries they put in Fords. We can take a battery out of anything if the battery in the box fails. Redundancy is king when it's push-come-to-shove time. You don't want to be messing around when the power goes out in the middle of the night.

I use old "failed" tractor, and truck, batteries. They won't crank a large engine anymore, but do fine for quite a long time on the welder. It's a real money saver.

i'm sure you've seen these pics before................but you know how old guys are. We tend to tell the same story over, and over..........because we don't have a lot of new stories at our age.

View attachment 104312
View attachment 104313
The box is hinged to swing out of the way when I open the motor compartment on the welder. The welder is fully shielded against rodents. I had a very bad experience with rats making a home in the welder.

View attachment 104314
Where the cables run inside the welder, the holes are stuffed with steel wool. Critters don't like steel wool.

Anyways.................I think we're ready for the Arctic Blast............as good as I guess we can be.

In my Lincoln gas powered welder instructions it says do not hook to the new type Tvs something about megaheartz or what ever you callem

 

[jon f mn]

In my Lincoln gas powered welder instructions it says do not hook to the new type Tvs something about megaheartz or what ever you callem

Ove never tried a TV, but they will definitely light a heating blanket on fire. When I was driving over the road I tried to use a heating blanket, but the ones with digital readouts just wouldn't work and the older ones with mechanical thermostats would literally start on fire.

 

[jhwis]

That’s great you’re getting ready ! We hate being without power. Some can live without for a day or two. I hate being without power, lights, ect. If I wanted to be Amish I would be. We’ve been getting snow and 40 mph wind. Not fun.

Just another day in the office here. Although last winter and this winter haven't been too bad compared to most.