Time is a tricky thing. Some days it snails past you. Other days it subsonics past you. We leave for our Solar Eclipse 2017 trip in a week. Seven days. Not even seven days because as I write this post it is 9 pm and I will have already started my journey North. Wanting the box fully windowed and hatched before our trip, the Planner has kicked into overdrive mode. There are so many things to do in preparation for this trip. In fitting fashion of last week's hectic workload, let's do this.
This morning at 6:15 am I knew what the day had in store for me. Work from 7-4 and the fourth and final window from 4-7. All materials would be ready and this window was going in. Dinner, who needs that. Windows come first. Sorry Kid, better make yourself a sandwich. Upon arrival, the Kid and the Planner were attempting to install the frame using a rope come-a-long. It was working but it was not working well as the Kid just does not weigh enough to man handle the handle. Once in place, it was noted the window opening needed to have torching burrs removed requiring the lowering of the frame. Lower, grind, and replace. Next!
Tack welds to secure in place. This allows repositioning into its finalized place.
Sometimes it takes some additional tooling to secure frame into place at the exact distance on either side. Well, it takes additional tooling when the helpers are me and the Kid. When the Worrier helps, he has super strong man arms and can force and hold the frame where it needs to be. Not too far in, not too far out. There is some fudge room, but it is very little. Next!
Weld, weld, weld. Now you can see why the old cotton work shirt did not survive. The Planner is forced to lay down within the work box to weld the underside of the frame.
Underside welding means all welding bee-bees fall onto your clothes and back into your face. For all you professional welders, they are referred to as welding splatter. I refer to them as welding bee-bees. Very dangerous work as bee-bees love to roll down the sleeves and onto exposed skin areas.
Either way, they are hot, hot, hot. Just look at this burn on the brand new jacket. A bee-bee of this size would have burned straight through the cotton shirt onto fresh skin. Burning skin is something offensive to the nose, not to mention what it does to the arm itself. Yowzers.
Looky, looky, the fourth window was placed with no problems. Tomorrow, the hatch. From this view, there is the man door at the far left, the third window in the middle with hatch opened, and the newly installed fourth window.
Evening sunset light always produced such wonderful pictures. From the side, when the hatches are lowered the "K"Line label will still be able to be read. Not that it matters once all the boxes are painted.
Yes, evening sunset light produces the best pictures. Just look how beautiful this inside frame corner weld looks. Wait, that has little to do with the light as much as does with the weld itself. A crappy weld in morning, noon, or sunset light would still be a crappy weld.
Once relieved of his duties, the Kid took off to unknown whereabouts. As it turned out, it was just under the box in his new hammock. Best $20 bucks spent in months. He reads here, plays here, hangs here giving much-needed space to both the Planner and myself. Everybody needs their own space. What's not to love about this space he created. Logs to play on, fully shaded, head on south/southeast breeze to keep mosquitoes at bay, and plenty of space to play with toys where they won't get stepped on. Excellent choice. Of course, since he is just under the box, he is within yelling distance if he is needed. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? Next!