jamesp
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Jun 16, 2017 13:45:21 GMT -5
Kinda stinks to have to build a prototype to work the bugs out , could have had it all dipped without the bugs . No problem, one or two of those posts were sacrificial. Helped at fabrication for lining things up. I should have used it first but I could not have it dipped with the axles on it. So the seemingly backward progression. With no jack it sits 2 inches above the ATV hitch ball, just back ATV and bear down with one leg a bit and your hitched. Got that target. Unfortunately you need the jack for the last 3-4 inches to get it on the truck hitch, not so bad. Tongue weight close to 300# at hitch height, another moving target. Having to cut the bottom beam for fork clearance was also intentional, I made the floor low so the pallet would be trapped by he lip of the bottom beam on open load side. The worst mistake was actually the ceiling to 2nd shelf distance. The ceiling is 2-3 inches too low. Next mod. All mods were done on the loading side. It was most involved. Well, the hitch I added later. I had to scrounge for steel. Did not know how long it would take to find adequate steel. Next time it will be right the first time. Functionality is #1, aesthetics far down the list. I had quite a few considerations to target. End result is user friendly. Plus the guy gave me a can of special galvanized spray paint. She is wire brushed and ready to spray. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Jun 16, 2017 13:49:37 GMT -5
jamesp Third time is a charmer. I am hoping to build sales up and sell all as a business. Need a year of big gross sells then boom, sell her off. |
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Post by wigglinrocks on Jun 16, 2017 13:56:40 GMT -5
jamesp Third time is a charmer. I am hoping to build sales up and sell all as a business. Need a year of big gross sells then boom, sell her off. Are you advertising other places or just online . A few resort areas around here where people spend quite foolishly . |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 16, 2017 14:18:37 GMT -5
With that beautiful insides I would have sledged that rascal for yard rocks. The coating does that rock no justice. Jean ? What do you think ? It is certainly a trophy whole. Maybe take the diamond grinder and remove the outer layer, yep, tons of work. Yes, jamesp , that was exactly the plan. We did that on another one previously - 
Yes, tons of work 
I cut out reflective letters from a sheet of PSA vinyl, put those onto PSA black vinyl, cut out just a little larger. Stuck them onto one another, then onto the rock. And made a reflective address rock 
Night 
Unfortunately, I need to redo them, as they did not stick well to the not -clean-surfaced and not-flat lepidolite. Next time, will put the two cut-out stickers onto pieces of cut out aluminum, and glue them onto the rock. Will keep them flat.
Here's another pic of it in the yard . 
The red arrow is pointing to a large, solid yellow/brown jasper from out at Indian Pass. It "tinks" like glass when you tap on it. Will need to cut it with a gas powered saw before it can be loaded into even a big saw. No real plans for it yet.
I had forgotten about getting that monster into the truck! After rolling it UPHILL, end over end about 30 feet, over rocks and cactus, I got it to the road. We had to go down the road a piece and pick up a long wooden board someone had used as a motorcycle loading ramp. We were able to slide the rock up the board, and into the truck.
For the time being, the bigger one sits in the yard in it's natural state. This photo taken before we had it, but it was placed beyond the cactus in the barrel to the left.
What we won't do to bring beautiful rocks home..... |
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Post by wigglinrocks on Jun 16, 2017 17:25:13 GMT -5
rockpickerforever , be careful going outside , there is a couple aliens hangin around .
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 16, 2017 17:50:00 GMT -5
Ha ha! wigglinrocks , there used to be three of them. One is staying with a friend. They've been hanging around at least five years now. We have to take them down when the wind blows strongly (not often). If we don't get them put back up within the next day or so, my neighbors will mention it to me. They are a fixture. |
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Post by wigglinrocks on Jun 16, 2017 17:56:50 GMT -5
Ha ha! wigglinrocks , there used to be three of them. One is staying with a friend. They've been hanging around at least five years now. We have to take them down when the wind blows strongly (not often). If we don't get them put back up within the next day or so, my neighbors will mention it to me. They are a fixture. Worried for a bit there but as long as they are friendly , your good . Should rig up a remote so they can wave at the neighbors as they go by . |
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Post by 1dave on Jun 16, 2017 21:38:11 GMT -5
rockpickerforever Jean, I try to read all of your posts and included the above photos in the file I keep on your adventures. You are a hard working treasure. An electric winch in the back of your truck would be good. catmandewe taught us the tailgate makes a good ramp. 
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Jun 17, 2017 1:39:31 GMT -5
Something about aliens and Jean. "Ha ha! wigglinrocks , there used to be three of them. One is staying with a friend. They've been hanging around at least five years now. We have to take them down when the wind blows strongly (not often). If we don't get them put back up within the next day or so, my neighbors will mention it to me. They are a fixture." there used to be three of them one is staying with a friend they have been hanging around for at least 5 years neighbors will mention them They are a fixture 800 pound purple rock in the front yard note the giant antenna to the right of the aliens the very tall palms lined up with the aliens in the background numbers that glow in the dark... night  |
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Post by coloradocliff on Jun 17, 2017 1:51:32 GMT -5
The largest piece of obsidian in our front yard came from Obsidian Butte, on the SW Edit - South EAST corner of the Salton Sea. To catch that that one, we just manhandled it into the back of the truck. That was a good ten - fifteen years ago, could not do it now, lol.
This is how we pick up bigger rocks: 
Lifted with a hoist that is mounted into the receiver hitch on an offset platform, with bottle jack underneath for support on the ground.
Not sure how heavy it is, at least 250 - 300 lbs. This is the most humongous rock we have hauled home to date. It is a large chunk of lepidolite, it now resides in my front yard. Can't really see the nice purple coloring of it in the photo.
It is a big 'un! 
Some smaller chunks of it, and other stuff. 
A small bright chunk - nice color, but soft stuff. 
We need to go back up and get a bigger chunk for Anita. She had had her sights on this one from a previous trip, did not know we were already planning to go get it for ourselves.
Nice boulder Jean, Your beard was shorter then..
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Jun 17, 2017 2:22:42 GMT -5
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 17, 2017 7:08:19 GMT -5
rockpickerforever Jean, I try to read all of your posts and included the above photos in the file I keep on your adventures. You are a hard working treasure. An electric winch in the back of your truck would be good. catmandewe taught us the tailgate makes a good ramp. Aw shucks, Dave, just keeping busy. Wait a minute, you keep a file on me?  Just kidding. I've got no problem sharing my exploits and travels. I saw the video of Tony snagging that huge rock, but I don't know if I'd use the removed truck tailgate as a ramp. It already has a pretty good bow in it from setting HEAVY stuff on it (rocks, logs, machinery) when loading! But it would work in a pinch. |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 17, 2017 7:18:02 GMT -5
James, that is a reflection in the window of a vehicle parked across the street. NOT the third alien, lol. That one has changed his appearance (now he is green!) and gone into an alien protection program. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Jun 17, 2017 10:03:35 GMT -5
James, that is a reflection in the window of a vehicle parked across the street. NOT the third alien, lol. That one has changed his appearance (now he is green!) and gone into an alien protection program. Yea, he shot humans with a ray gun. Dang illegal aliens. A smuggler eh, got to put the finger on you Jean. However, they do put you on their pretty rocks. |
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Post by coloradocliff on Jun 17, 2017 14:44:47 GMT -5
rockpickerforever Jean, I try to read all of your posts and included the above photos in the file I keep on your adventures. You are a hard working treasure. An electric winch in the back of your truck would be good. catmandewe taught us the tailgate makes a good ramp. Be nice for that winch to be connected to a set of temporary gin poles to lift it and swing it into the truck... |
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Post by coloradocliff on Jun 17, 2017 14:46:19 GMT -5
James, that is a reflection in the window of a vehicle parked across the street. NOT the third alien, lol. That one has changed his appearance (now he is green!) and gone into an alien protection program. Jims right. That is the alien mother ship in the house and you are protecting them Jean. I always thought you might be an alien. |
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Post by coloradocliff on Jun 17, 2017 14:47:35 GMT -5
James, that is a reflection in the window of a vehicle parked across the street. NOT the third alien, lol. That one has changed his appearance (now he is green!) and gone into an alien protection program. Jeezo Even the aliens are going green. You ever slab one of them? They might be malachite. |
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Post by coloradocliff on Jun 17, 2017 14:49:23 GMT -5
Something about aliens and Jean. "Ha ha! wigglinrocks , there used to be three of them. One is staying with a friend. They've been hanging around at least five years now. We have to take them down when the wind blows strongly (not often). If we don't get them put back up within the next day or so, my neighbors will mention it to me. They are a fixture." there used to be three of them one is staying with a friend they have been hanging around for at least 5 years neighbors will mention them They are a fixture 800 pound purple rock in the front yard note the giant antenna to the right of the aliens the very tall palms lined up with the aliens in the background numbers that glow in the dark... night You thinking that Jean made the "address rock" as a beacon to where the aliens can contact the mother ship? Pretty suspicious....hmm.. Bettin that ts an antennae
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Jun 17, 2017 15:24:13 GMT -5
Something about aliens and Jean. "Ha ha! wigglinrocks , there used to be three of them. One is staying with a friend. They've been hanging around at least five years now. We have to take them down when the wind blows strongly (not often). If we don't get them put back up within the next day or so, my neighbors will mention it to me. They are a fixture." there used to be three of them one is staying with a friend they have been hanging around for at least 5 years neighbors will mention them They are a fixture 800 pound purple rock in the front yard note the giant antenna to the right of the aliens the very tall palms lined up with the aliens in the background numbers that glow in the dark... night You thinking that Jean made the "address rock" as a beacon to where the aliens can contact the mother ship? Pretty suspicious....hmm.. Bettin that ts an antennae
Jean IS the RTH resident alien in a human outfit. Known this for years Cliff. She has sent many a alien egg out for tumbling.(She says they are just wind polished agates, don't believe it) Many of her rock collecting trips have satellite dishes in the background. Your computer will make a high pitch buzzing sound when opening her posts. She can see thru your computer screen. Makes snakes dance. |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Jun 17, 2017 15:35:16 GMT -5
James, that is a reflection in the window of a vehicle parked across the street. NOT the third alien, lol. That one has changed his appearance (now he is green!) and gone into an alien protection program. Yea, he shot humans with a ray gun. Dang illegal aliens. A smuggler eh, got to put the finger on you Jean. However, they do put you on their pretty rocks. This is a pic I took of him when my friends took him to the desert one weekend: 
I like how he modestly screened his "junk" behind this bush, lol. Suppose creosote can pass for a fig leaf, hey?
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Just kidding. I've got no problem sharing my exploits and travels.
