Update

[LibertyFLHTC]

It's been a while since my last update here and a lot has transpired since.

The original plan was to retire from the 9 to 5 job at the end of January. The situation at this job was getting more unbearable as every day passed. The retirement date was moved up to right after the turn of the year. Another opportunity popped up that easily fit my skill set and the folks were eager to have me begin working for them. The last of my previous employment was 10AM Friday, 1/3/14, and the start date for the new adventure was 1/6/14. I was retired for exactly 2-1/2 days!!!!

The new job is requiring a lot of my time right now as their operations are in bad shape. It began as a small business and grew to a high dollar endeavor over the years. None of the owners have the working knowledge of how it should be put together and that's where I can help. This is in a field I never dreamed of working. It is manufacturing, but of a different scale and product. We make the machines that lay the concrete for superslabs (interstate highways, airports, etc.) and also the machines that saw cut the expansion grooves.

My first week of work was spent helping finish assembling a saw cut machine for the World of Concrete show in Las Vegas. Along with others, I was working around, on top of, and underneath this machine. We worked 6 days that week and by 3:30PM Saturday the machine was loaded on the truck and headed to the show. After sitting and running a computer for 6 years, this was the week from hell for this old man! The physical work felt great, but the entire body was SORE.

The last couple weeks have not been as hectic and I have a huge To Do list assembled to begin making this company more easily manageable. The owners are great to work with. What I don't know is how long this job will last because the #1 priority is for me to work myself out of a job by making things more efficient. I couldn't believe it, but they have absolutely nothing on inventory records - not even the locations of said inventory. Thus there is a lot of part searching that happens everyday!!!

With this job change and the severe cold weather we have been having, getting to the shop to make slot car parts has been tough. With LP gas now at $5 per gallon, I can not afford to run the shop furnace during the real cold times. The shop temp has to be at least 55 degrees F or the cutting oils do not not flow as they should causing rough finishes and ugly parts. Maintaining the ambient shop temp at this 55 degrees when the outside temp is below zero is an expensive issue!

Anyway, that's what has been happening in the midst of the cornfields of Iowa. :teasing-blah:

COME ON SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :violence-smack:

[OldDogMotorsports]

congrats on tha job,I know you`ll get it dialed in to your satisfaction,tha shop will always be there when you and mother nature are ready to get back at it!

[dohalloran]

Ah,
Yes. Work takes priority. Sounds exciting. Lengthy e-mail I left you RE wheels, gears, etc. can wait.

Maybe someone else can tell me what size hex key is used in the aluminium 1/43 wheels. I have a ton of hex keys, but none fit !!

[143_Racer]

A .035" hex key fits the M2 set screws in the Ranch Design wheels and crown gears.

[pfuetze]

Thanks for the update, Steve!
Getting a new job and a satisfying one sounds great!
Enjoy it as long as necessary/satisfying!
have a great day,
Peter

[Cjent]

Great news Steve!

[dreinecke]

Libby - funny, my dad retired and is more busy now than he ever was working...I think you guys have this concept all wrong :)

[Tigeracer]

Congrats on the new job!
It sounds like a lot, but it also sounds good for you!
Best of luck with everything
Greg

[masmojo]

Sounds like you are having fun! Amazing how doing something new can get the juices flowing. More and more lately I have the feeling I need to do something like what you are doing; Something that takes advantage of my mechanical skill set. Instead of sitting at a computer all day.

congratulations!

[Broman62]