What Preps are you doing this week? Part 10

[jansman]

I am very lucky. My wife started working life 40 + years ago as a seamstress in the local shoe factory,and went between there and local hosiery factories. It was always down to who paid the most! There’s nothing she cannot fix in those departments. No shortage of sewing machines and even an overlocker.
This Summer she has made newer ‘Winter’ lined curtains . Rather good looking,and they do the job required. A very talented lady.

Also this last week,I have changed the remaining halogen security lights for LED. Less trouble up the line when I am unable to fix them.

Harvested 26 spaghetti and traditional marrows too. Best crop ever I reckon. They are on racks drying off for storage now.

[GillyBee]

One useful tool for those of us with a repair mentality and who sew is an "auto-awl" or "Speedy Stitcher" for heavier materials . There is a video of one in use here: https://www.speedystitcher.com/speedy-s ... structions Other brands exist such as this one on Fleabay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261629585142
They make it straightforward to perform repairs on leather, heavy canvas etc. I have just used mine to sjhorten the strap on my favourite leather bag. My sewing machine is tough but it could not cope with 3mm of leather. The Auto Awl coped and if I had needed to I could use mallet to force the needle through.

I have 2 hand crank machines which were "rescued" via local e-bay sales. One was seized solid. 24 hours of soaking everything I could reach with sewing machine oil didn't do much. I discovered that removing the needle and resting the end of the needle bar (i.e. the needle holder) on a block of wood allowed me to get enough traction on the handwheel to get it to move. Since then it has been great. Mentioning this trick in case anyone else needs to rescue a stuck machine.

[Ara]

Like so many others here, I have a Singer hand sewing machine given to me 40 years ago by an ex-boyfriend's mother because she didn't want "that old thing". I use it more than my electric one for straight sewing although it is overdue a service. Watching Great British Sewing Bee one time thay were using "vintage" 80's machines. Guess what my "other" machine is?
Now I have some blackout/thermal lining material, I need to make blinds for the kitchen and bathroom while the warm weather lasts.

[GillyBee]

My last make was a pair of joggers out of polar fleece for my son. Nice and warm ready for winter. The next will be a saucepan cozy for the biggest pan. Have realised that with an induction cooker there is nothing to catch fire so if we insulate the pan we can probably halve the amount of leccie needed to simmer a stew.
'speriments will follow in due course.

[Frnc]

One useful tool for those of us with a repair mentality and who sew is an "auto-awl" or "Speedy Stitcher" for heavier materials . There is a video of one in use here: https://www.speedystitcher.com/speedy-s ... structions Other brands exist such as this one on Fleabay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261629585142
They make it straightforward to perform repairs on leather, heavy canvas etc. I have just used mine to sjhorten the strap on my favourite leather bag. My sewing machine is tough but it could not cope with 3mm of leather. The Auto Awl coped and if I had needed to I could use mallet to force the needle through.

I don't have one, but I remember seeing them. When I got my Leatherman I remember making sure the one I bought had an awl. I got the Rebar. Not the UK carry version, which doesn't have a blade, but I don't need to carry it around. I watched the video to remind myself how to use it. The awl on the Rebar is much wider than the automatic awl/speed stitcher, so it's only really suitable for large stitches in heavy canvas or leather, materials that aren't used much in outdoor gear anymore. To repair a rucksack I'd want a thick needle or the speed stitcher. However the awls on folding knives are good for making holes in things, and also can be used with ferro rods. I might get a speed stitcher in the future.

[jansman]

Another cuppa ,and then I have a tree to tackle. Next doors. The branches are coming over big time,and what’s more,over the bottom end of the veg garden. The neighbours are tenants and don’t give a monkeys cuss,so when Mrs J and girls go out,it’s ladders up and branches coming down!
Not too much waste to deal with either,as most will go on a fresh log pile. I won’t shout though,or the girls will protest at me doing it - I feel ok today!

This weeks shopping list has been formulated and a delivery will arrive mid week. We are keeping on top of storage with Mrs J’s taste in mind. I am finding myself in hospital more frequently so I don’t want her dodging meals. We are bulk cooking for the freezers,and that does a good job.

[ForgeCorvus]

Jansman: Keep Troshin' on

Frnc: For tarp and tent repairs I'll recommend "Tenacious Tape", its clear and sticks like goosegrass on a poodle. Not cheap but a repair I did on a tent is still there after five camping seasons.

I like the auto-awl concept and have a Buffalo, I don't use it often but when I do its because nothing else will do the job (I have leather Bayonet and Sailmakers needles to go with a palm as well as cobblers and saddlers awls )

I'm feeling quite a bit of Singer love, so I'll post this link that might be of interest
https://ismacs.net/singer_sewing_machin ... abase.html

[Yorkshire Andy]

Ordered some underseal for the car so with this last gasp of hot weather tonight the underside got sprayed over with a water soluble degreaser and got a blooming good pressure washing underneath fair few bits of the stuff I put on in 2016 when the car was as good as new starting to lift off along the sill edges and where it's been flailed in the arches but to be fair it's not done a bad job at all for 7 years....

Gone for a lanolin based treatment this time due to ease of treatment the original stuff needed the car to be spotlessly clean and dry not easy on a older car...

Supposed to be very economical easy to apply we will see.....

Got an advisory on my sister's car for corroded rear beam so that will get addressed with the left overs... I'm trying to find a cheap needle scaller to do it .. I do t like hard work

[Yorkshire Andy]

I

Also this last week,I have changed the remaining halogen security lights for LED. Less trouble up the line when I am unable to fix them.

Might be a bit late now but if the floodlights have the foot of trailing flex these are bloody great for speed of installation and less time trying to get 6 wires into the terminal blocks

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Wiska-22 ... 4386&psc=1

Drill out at ground level fit to the light cables through the gland nipped up.. gland for original supply wire fitted ready

Striped wires insert each wire into the little wago connectors levers closed ...

Leave levers up for supply wires.

Power off

Old light down

Screw light up


Screw box up


Pass supply wire into new box shortening if needed strip stick into waggo flip lever down

Nip up gland

Fit lid

Power on

Drink tea

If lights are link in link out get 3 way wagos

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pieces-221-413 ... 145&sr=8-1

They are the modern dogs danglies replacement of the old chocolate block eg

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GTSE-Electrica ... 0aWM&psc=1



If your feeling flush you can get an assortment of types

https://www.amazon.co.uk/FIDECO-Electri ... 228&sr=8-9

Well worth it in the DIY electric shtf bodge / emergency repair

[jansman]

I

Also this last week,I have changed the remaining halogen security lights for LED. Less trouble up the line when I am unable to fix them.

Might be a bit late now but if the floodlights have the foot of trailing flex these are bloody great for speed of installation and less time trying to get 6 wires into the terminal blocks

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-Wiska-22 ... 4386&psc=1

Drill out at ground level fit to the light cables through the gland nipped up.. gland for original supply wire fitted ready

Striped wires insert each wire into the little wago connectors levers closed ...

Leave levers up for supply wires.

Power off

Old light down

Screw light up


Screw box up


Pass supply wire into new box shortening if needed strip stick into waggo flip lever down

Nip up gland

Fit lid

Power on

Drink tea

If lights are link in link out get 3 way wagos

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pieces-221-413 ... 145&sr=8-1

They are the modern dogs danglies replacement of the old chocolate block eg

https://www.amazon.co.uk/GTSE-Electrica ... 0aWM&psc=1



If your feeling flush you can get an assortment of types

https://www.amazon.co.uk/FIDECO-Electri ... 228&sr=8-9

Well worth it in the DIY electric shtf bodge / emergency repair

Yes,the replacements are with the foot of cable,and yes,they are simple to replace!