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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

TOGA preparedness

It is just a few days away; the CNY TOGA (Treadle On Gathering and Academy) is being held here.  The house is finally presentable.  Though I would have loved to wax the floors. (Do you really believe that?  Me, on my hands and knees with floor wax and rags?)

The outhouse is ready.


The mice have been evicted.  Actually they left long before I got there.  But no wonder they moved in.  It is a lovely spot.
And quite close to the shop.  There are modern facilities available, too.  Don't worry.  But I am going to use the outhouse. 

I painted some signs to post along the various routes to the venue.  I hope people don't think they read  "T06A"  I am not good at lettering.  My G looks more like a 6.  
But people who are coming will know.

I set up a few treadles just to see.  There is a 6 foot table, too.
But I distracted myself from more cleaning and instead did some gluing and woodworking.  The treadle stand above is a "portable" stand.  It is quite heavy, even without the top.  The top is an old board that Steven found.  He cut out the opening for the machine but we didn't really get the holes quite right for the belt.  Nor did we get the machine hinge cut outs quite right.  I worked and worked on trying to fix those problems.  I finally chiseled out the hinge cut outs.  But my chisel is old and dull.  I did turn on Steven's bench grinder but it freaked me out too much.  So I didn't sharpen the chisel.  I never did get the belt holes right.  It still rubs.  But less so. It will suffice.

Now this little treadle stand is much more portable. We won't be doing any wood working during the TOGA so I won't leave this one out.  It is in pretty sorry shape.  I think that the veneer can be re-glued and it is worth it to me to rescue it.  I love its foot print and its weight.  You can see how it would be much lighter.  The legs are wood, not cast iron.  I probably should have spent the time on this one instead of the homemade one.

A while back I accidentally dropped a coffin top on the floor.  I hate it when 100 year old wood meets 7 year old concrete.  On the other hand,  I do love yellow glue and clamps.  You cannot even see where the break was.  This was a solid piece of wood.  Now it has been repaired and I think that I can get the thing back together without too much more trouble.  I wonder, though.  If I should reinforce the repair with a patch.  I could gently drill some small holes through a piece of luan and using small wood screws screw the luan to the board.  This wouldn't have to show since it will be on the inside. 

 I don't know.  I guess I could consult the carpenter.

No more distractions for me, tomorrow.  I have a list and I am sticking to it!    I just hope that the motor bearing in the shop vac holds out a bit longer.

11 comments:

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    1. In Steve's shop. The house is filled with sewing machines and dogs. No room for people!

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  2. Eat your hearts out everyone! I'm heading over the river and through the woods to Elizabeth's house this weekend. Can't wait to check out the view from the outhouse.

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  3. How fun! And the fact you have an outhouse makes me smile! I think when I get my house in the country, I'll have an outhouse too!

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    1. Keep the TP in a mouse proof container when you do!

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  4. It sounds like loads of fun...even the outhouse! Did the four legged family members supervise the sign painting? Too cute! BTW, I love your treadle stand with the wood legs!

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  5. I think that treadle belt should have glass shards imbedded or glued on. Whatever to make it like a battling kite string. Then you could treadle and work down the rub spots by rubbing with glass!

    Happy to solve any other problems you post. (NOT waxing on knees = sorry)

    And I love when your site comes up a little slowly and I can survey all those lovely 237 treadles. Wish I still had my 237.
    Wish I were coming to TOGA-on while I'm wishing and solving everybody's problems! Hope y'all have a great time.

    Karen

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  6. I understand it is traditional to expect your guests to do light refinishing projects; maybe someone will assist that 1920's treadle with its spa treatment.
    TO6A rock on

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  7. Up until the time I was 7 years old, we lived in a house that had no plumbing whatsoever. It had an fuel oil stove in the living room and that was the only heat we had. When I was 6, my stepdad dug a deep hole in the basement floor, and after that, we could get cystern water to come out of our kitchen sink for washing dishes, and other uses. We got our drinking water from the neighbor's outside faucet, which was filling a plastic bucket, and we all drank from an aluminum 'dipper'(ladle), which stayed in the bucket. We were all healthy as horses. We had a long galvanized 'bathtub', and it was filled once. The water was heated in a large oblong shaped 'brass' pot (I don't know what else to call it at the moment), and everyone used it, from the cleanest to the dirtiest. It was scary going to the outhouse at night, so you didn't 'linger'. You did your business and got out. The burning barrel was right outside the outhouse, and rubarb grew in patches between the outhouse and burning barrel. Our outhouse was a 'two holer' and I don't ever remember it looking as nice as yours. I do remember the toilet paper looking a little 'wilty' from humidity, and I also remember the winter day when my older brother was on his way to the outhouse with an 'inside' bucket to empty, and he fell in the snow. Ahhhhhh, memories!

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    Replies
    1. Ah memories! Once, when I lived in Wyoming, we were at a party. Someone there thought that the gallon jug of fluid was wine and took a swig, right out of the bottle! She didn't know it was L.'s "inside jug" EEEEWWWWWW!

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    2. Eeeeooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuuu....GAG!!! I did that with 'skoal spit' in the bottom of a pop bottle when I was about 4. I will NEVER forget that or how that tasted!

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