Aluminum on steel

This project was a bit of a test.

Attach aluminum to customer's old steel frame trailer.

Kirk fabricates and welds on aluminum fenders with built-in/protected lights

and removable sides.

The customer plans on using this to haul wood. The hitch on the back is to pull a log-splitter. (click on pictures to enlarge)
Customer pulled out today a Happy Logger.

Another job done!

Stair case to water

Another specialty job complete. Now the customer can get on his boat from his back yard. The steps are suspended from wall and designed to be removed before winter.
It is fortunate that water level was low for the installation.

Labour Day

It is safe to say, this is NOT a "labour of love". No idea why Kirk picked Labour Day to do this but, it is appropriate. As he puts it. "It has to be done." He will get back to his labour of love - welding - tomorrow. ( click on pictures to enlarge)

Thanks to my brother Frank, who left his hedge cutter ages ago, indirectly helped in this process. (Frank,You can have your hedge cutter back until next year)

Beautiful pile of aluminum

This is the last of the steps. We are done! We are glad. Burn-out. Glad to see them go. The truck is arriving on Tuesday. They are out of here! To make us feel even better, we got our first cheque (check) today for the first 15 steps out of 50. We can't wait to spend it. We are buying a tractor. Of course, I will have picture of tractor when it arrives. In the mean time.. I was having a great day at work.(Tim Hortons) Then, just before quiting time, me and the cash-register did not compute. It has to be me. I just wish I could get some formal training with this thing. This trial and error in front of the customers really gets me down.

Oh well, another day.

Busy (American) Beaver

Kirk was out in the shop at 5:00 am trying to get something done before people arrive needing something fixed/built.

Today was not the day to get any steps built. The first customer arrived at 6:23 am and left at round 9:00 am. Then, they just keep arriving or calling. To top it off, Kirk offered his welder-friend the use of his equipment because his friend's equipment wasn't powerful enough to do the job.

Why did I know this would tie him up some more. Kirk assured me this morning, his friend wouldn't need any help. Wrong.

Around and around we go. It is just after 4:00. I know Kirk - he is tried and hungry now (I did feed him an omelet at 10:00 am) and will stay out there with the "evening/night" person until the job is done. (yes we know for most, it is still afternoon)

Things that move

It is funny how similar things arrive. It is probably pure coincidence that everything, so far, today is vehicle related. Started with a bumper needing repair (didn't bother taking a picture of that) Kirk is in the process of cutting out a sheet of aluminum to cover something on this buggy.
Kirk transformed this beer keg to a gas tank last month. Obviously it works.

This repair is simple one - just weld a break in the frame. Repeat customer with different repair.

Kirk does like the change in pace. He is getting tired of building steps too! (mind you we have to have 20 completed by next weekend. )

Wedding gift

We try to be creative when in comes to special gifts for life changing events. Kirk and I discussed this at great length (because our minds wander off on different topics it takes awhile to get back to the gift) As you can see we came to a decision. Make another candelabra. At least it is original and personal. We hope they like it!

Now, I have to get this to my friend in England. Another challenge.
Of course, I add each creative piece of work Kirk builds to his "Kirk's work" folder on my computer. (click on picture to enlarge)

The start of the next 20 steps.

I better get cutting the tread.

Steps are moving out.

Looking forward to a "Pay Day" soon.



Click on pictures to enlarge.

Just when...

you think you have things figured out. Things change.

A co-worker commented on the fact, I seem more comfortable with the job. Surprise, I think their right.

It is amazing how fast things can change over night. Tim Hortons change the front end of the store. It looks great. Of course some customers like it and some don't. There you go.

We will adjust. But, I feel like I'm starting all over again. There you go.

Kirk is fishing, so I'm not planning dinner until he gets home. It could be fish! But, in the mean time the call came in. "When do you think you will have the next 15 steps done?" I hope he is enjoying his day because it will back to the grind tomorrow.

Aluminum is here!

The delivery truck just left. We now have steps - some assembly required.

We now have all the material we ordered. It was rough unloading it since Kirk is feeling badly. But, you do what you gotta do.

Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day. I'll just keep cutting, either way.

Today is a Holiday?

Victoria Day. It has finally warmed up to the temperature
fore casted for all weekend. Something definitely run a muck with the forecasters.

We have the bender up and working. Actually it is Kirk that does the working part. It takes a fair amount of strength to pull the handle around to get the bend in the metal. He does have a set up to use mechanical power to bend the metal but it takes too long to set up and adjust. So, it is back to "man power".

I've been busy cutting the pieces needed and there are a lot of pieces.

I did start the day out at Tree-Mendus hoeing while
waiting for any call from the sales staff should they need assistance in loading plants in a customers vehicle.
The reinforcements arrived so I decided I was better needed at home.
It was just as well. My back was killing me. Out of practice or shape, which ever or both. (The slob in me is coming out. We match.)

When I arrived home I did announce to Kirk that cutting metal was looking and feeling really good!

Right now, I'm cooking up a pot of gumbo (one of Kirk's favorite dishes) soon to be set on simmer and I'll get back at it.

Happy Holidays!

Working on a system.

We've been hard at it since 6:30 this morning hoping a system will emerge. We are cutting as many of the pieces as possible while waiting for the grip tread plate to arrive. It is safe to say it won't happen today as it's a Holiday weekend. So, we are looking at next week. Maybe?

The bend in the handrail is very time consuming at this point. Kirk is working on setting up his bender so this process will speed up. We found out today, they want an additional short handrail on the opposite side with the same extended bend in it. This was not good news. More material, more time.

We got lots cut today. I will be helping out at Tree-mendus tomorrow so Kirk will weld sections together ready for assembly when the tread arrives.

(click on hi-lited words to take you to their web-sites, double click on pictures to enlarge, to return to blog click on go back button)

360 continued....

It is not even noon yet and we've had three boats arrive for repair and one call to repair a pontoon boat.

Since the tractor trailer is in the way. The pontoon boat will have to wait for Monday.

This is good, and yet, scary. We have to keep working on the steps too.

As Kirk would say "I'm covered up".

360

Weekends are for trucks. They arrive here Friday evening for additions and repairs. This truck needs a chain pan only. Usually, Kirk builds the chain rack and pan. This is the stuff that keeps him from fishing. It is like being "on call" 7 days a week. 360 days a year.

The Pressure is ON!

Purchase Orders have arrived. Quotes on material have arrived. Of course, we picked the lowest quote and ordered material. Delivery date is hazy. Not good. Some material soon and tread plate (diamond-grid safety grating) two weeks.

Sarnia and Brampton locations ask; approximately how long to wait for steps?
The killer is, they've talked about the order since last fall, they shop around, have meetings, and keep us in the air for, what feels like forever. Finally, we get the go ahead. Now it feels like they want the product last week. Help!

Pressure is on, Kirk is working on steps, as I write, with what material we have leftover from the last job. He is also setting up patterns for me to follow from. The cutting will soon begin. I was told yesterday that he is giving me all the easy cuts. What a guy.

To add more pressure, one of our saws is down and we are waiting for a part to come in. Another one of those two week waits.

Next week we should have some sort of production line and routine going.

That is our game plan.

One step at a time

Got my answer today on which road to take.

We just received a phone call from GE Industrial.

We've got the contract to build 30 steps for Sarnia and 50 steps for Brampton and an additional 50 steps in a couple of months.

We are busy now! My new job will be cutting aluminum.

At Cross Road

As Kirk would say "I'm covered up!" Translation; he has a lot of work coming in. The above picture is work in progress; creative table to brace water ski pole.

Yesterday when I arrived home from Tim Hortons, our driveway was filled with boats (4), large and small, in addition to farmer equipment repairs, tanks and steps to build. It was busy, sunny, warm Saturday and the people kept coming.

I'm still having a hard time adjusting to my new job. For something that started out being "something to get me out of the house a few days a week" to "do I need this stress?"

The body and mind is willing, but the body and mind is breaking down. Help me Lord! What did I get myself into. Yes, I could just quit. But it is against my grain to give up. I probably should quit, as I spend most of the day saying "I'm Sorry". This is not only for what I do wrong. It is a combination of chain reactions of forces beyond my control. The result is still the same, I'm apologizing to someone.

When I started at Tim Hortons there are number of comments that have stuck in my mind.

It is more than just serving coffee and donuts.

We are not perfect.

It will come to you.

You can only wait on one customer at a time.

Just ask someone to help.

and my favorite

We are suppose to do it this way but...

I've had my share of jobs in the past and this is the first one that I'm stressed out before I even get through the door in the morning. It has to be me, because there are too many of them. The criticism from the younger generation starts upon arrival and it doesn't stop.

Then comes to positive side of the more mature, friendly, helpful, and understanding people that makes it worth the effort. Then I actually like the job.

So the long and short of this - I still am undecided on what to do. Kirk wants me to quit and work with him. If there is anyone easy to work with, it is Kirk!

Kirk's Sunday Projects

Kirk usually works on his boat on Sundays.

Awhile back he made new windshields.

I didn't really see the process but I know it started with a flat piece of clear plastic.

(click on pictures to enlarge)

In the maze of his shop, he is working on a pattern for the boat seats.

The material should arrive any day now (blue & white) but in the mean time he is practicing with some red and black, left over from way back when.

He mentioned, the seat design may change. He likes roll and pleats.

How much you want to bet, it's going to be roll and pleats.

Which looks good and much more difficult to do.

Just working

Patience and concentration is needed here.