OT - What are you fixing right now?

alaskanassasin · December 16

It sounds (no pun intended) like our vp215 are making around the same decibels, I don’t know why my friends was so quiet. Again you could hear the air leaving the chamber.

Canugghead · December 16

Tried two random apps on ipad, they registered max readings of 60db and 70db while pump was running (starts and ends omitted). 12" from the gauge, running empty, fwiw pump doesn't care/know that

@botch, ios no better than Android imo, granted these are limited tests and there are so many variables.

@alaskanassasin, I dunno, according to AI oil pumps are supposed to be quieter?

Botch · December 16

Thanks @Canugghead.

alaskanassasin · December 16

@Canugghead he definitely had the 215 so it has the oil pump. Maybe they put it on iso mounts or something. I’m going to take a look around next time I have the hood open. The only visual difference was the cover plate was blue mines green.

Canugghead · December 16

alaskanassasin said:

@Canugghead he definitely had the 215 so it has the oil pump. Maybe they put it on iso mounts or something. I’m going to take a look around next time I have the hood open. The only visual difference was the cover plate was blue mines green.

Learned something new, we've been comparing apples and oranges? Mine is blue too, factory date 06.2014, motor power 0.4 kW

If the sound really bothers you...

alaskanassasin · December 16

HA! you are funny @Canugghead the noise does not bother me, more of a observation/curiosity.

GrateEggspectations · December 20

Not a fix, per se, but more of a refresh.

A few of my favourite kitchen blades had some scratches on them. Purely aesthetic, but right on the polished part of the blade, making them quite visible (to me!), which bugged me during use. Must have caught them on a sharpening stone or honing rod, or otherwise scratched them during washing. I am generally very careful.

Asked the local Japanese knife store if anything could be done, to which they replied (“wabi sabi” - grossly oversimplified, but it basically means that you should simply embrace imperfection).

This morning, I decided to try my hand at applying different polishing compounds, starting with the least abrasive and gradually moving up to something more aggressive once seeing the results with the less invasive products. Tested all products on a cheap knife first, so as to ensure I had a good grasp on results and any potential problems.

Applied the compounds with a nitrile glove on my finger. While I tried paper towel, they absorbed the liquid too quickly, so I preferred the staying power of the gloves, but had to be very careful so as not to catch my fingers on the edge of the blade. Gave 100% of my focus to the task, absent any distractions.

Was super pleased with the result. Blade have a mirror finish like new again. For the record, it was the Turtle Wax paint clarifying compound that did the heavy lifting. Worked exactly as I hoped it would, but was painstakingly applied in multiple rounds.

zaphod · December 20

i pity the fool that scratches them again!

Canugghead · December 20

@GrateEggspectations Nice job redeeming yourself! Armchair critic here...

I wouldn't rub those scary sharp blades mid-air, rest it almost flat on a hard surface and rub?

How about using a blue shop towel, it's stronger and less absorbent. Once saturated it won't absorb excessive liquid like regular paper towel. Also, I wouldn't change towel so often, the grime and grit from previous blades will improve the cleaning efficiency?

Corv · December 20

Thanks for the description!

There are also headlight polishing kits intended for plastic headlights. They have some graduated polishes that are fine. They work well on plastic. I wonder if they'd work on steel.

zaphod · December 20

I have heard/seen good headlight polishing using toothpaste.

kl8ton · December 20

GrateEggspectations · December 20

@zaphod - I thought of toothpaste as well and have used it with good results in other applications in the past.

@Canugghead - I lay the knives on the paper towel and rubbed them while flat against the table. Shop towel would have worked well, though I don’t tend to keep it on hand. I liked changing the paper towel in order to help me monitor how much metal I was removing. The multiple applications helped ensure I was doing it in a controlled fashion without removing too much all at once.

@corv - Bet headlight cleaner would have been good to try to.

I really should have taken before and after photos. Took some time, but the results are fantastic.

Botch · December 20

zaphod said:

I have heard/seen good headlight polishing using toothpaste.

Saw a video the other day where a guy sharpened the blades in his rotary shaver by filling the head with toothpaste, then running the shaver while pressing the round heads against his open palm (I usually just buy a new head every January).

alaskanassasin · December 20

Dang @kl8ton I hate to see that. Looks like that support has been broken for a while, barely hanging on. Ima go check mine lol

alaskanassasin · December 20

Looks like some gussets are in order too.

kl8ton · December 21

@alaskanassasin

My brother in law has same RTV and had the same break a few years ago. Another BIL of ours has a fab shop and will be welding this back up. He's done a few.

The last few times plowing, I thought it was weird that lifting the blade was hesitating a millisecond longer than usual and messing up my timing. Well now I know this was flexing/breathing first before the blade would lift.

My son was plowing when it gave way.

OT - What are you fixing right now?

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