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CentralMA

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Posts posted by CentralMA

  1. This thread cursed my apron.

     

    My wife found a respectable ham shoulder at the market today. Bought it, cooked it, left quite a mess in the pan. But the ham was wonderful, so all is OK.

     

    My job was to clean the pan. Put in a bit of water, heated it up on the cooktop, left it sizzling (homage to John Prine there....)

     

    Did the dishes, took some of the soapy water and poured it into the pan. Left it sizzling.... (again, see above)

     

    Went over to scrape the pan to assist the clean, with my aforementioned apron on. Gas stove.

     

    Damn. I'M ON FIRE!!!!!

     

    Turned to my wife....said "I'M ON FIRE!!!!!"

     

    Yeah. 

     

    Should have mentioned earlier that my mother handmade this apron 42 years ago. I'm betting she's laughing from above.

     

    IMG_20220214_183951558.thumb.jpg.979c2073e0b592c9fdb19ef96f9ee3f1.jpg

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  2.   On 2/13/2022 at 8:23 PM, JoNorvelleWalker said:

     

    I seldom have anything on in the kitchen.

     

     

     

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    What time did you say you were expecting us for dinner? I may be early....

     

    The apron: Mine is 42 years old. Was made for me by my mother while iI was in Ceramics school. She had stopped by the studio one day and found me covered in mud after an afternoon of throwing pots (a typical look each day). Wasn't that bad, a little bit of air dry and it would either peel off or crack off.

    But she gifted me with a long, midway between ankle and knee, full  size mattress ticking canvas apron, with pockets, lots of room, and lots of panache (mattress ticking, panache. never before in the same sentence). 

     

    It's done triple duty being used when I have painting projects too.

     

     

     

     

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  3. Description of eBook file formats...way too much information, but it looks like ePub format should work on Kindle and Apple devices?

     

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_formats

     

    I purchased the 30 book bundle....tried to access the download site with my 11 year old iPad, seems there's an issue in doing so. Possibly outdated browser? I've been wanting a new iPad anyway, this may force it.

     

    And for those of you that like the history of restaurants, old inn cooking etc I highly recommend a download of this book:

     

    https://indianculture.gov.in/ebooks/john-fothergills-cookery-book

     

    He has other writings available somewhat readily by searching eBay and the websites of older book items. Very fun to read. Fothergill was an interesting guy. Very entertaining.

     

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fothergill_(innkeeper)

     

     

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  4. This thread has the potential of being rather interesting.

     

    What I know about gas:

     

    I've got a house in a major northeast city, has been in our family ownership for over 60 years. The house heats with gas (converted over from oil many years ago), also a gas water heater. 

    For years, over 40, there was a consistent odor of natural gas in the grassed area between the sidewalk and the street. The street is one of the city larger secondary roads. It was reported to the gas company many times, nothing ever done to rectify the issue. 25 years ago a large maple tree, the trunk not quite 2 feet in diameter at the base and probably 40 feet high (at least). The tree decided to snap at the roots and gracefully lean itself onto the roof of the house (the canopy of the tree, helped to cushion the fall onto the eaves). Minor damage to the house, but looking at the base it was clear that the roots were completely rotted. The soil was a crumbly grey consistency.

    Just 4 or 5 years ago the gas company replaced the main gas feed in the street and at the same time replaced every gas line from the street to each individual house. Quite the endeavor, and fun to watch. Many months of work.

    Once completed, there was in initiative to place disease resistant trees on the city streets. Doing our street they planted a sapling in the direct spot of the maple that hit the house. Wishing a couple of months it was dead, all the other trees newly planted on the street thriving. Called the city, asked for a replacement, and advised that they should look at the condition of the soil due to the decades old gas leak. I was able to meet up with the detail given the assignment of replanting, asked them to dig down a couple of feet by hand. Weeks later they replaced a good amount of soil in that area with new. We've a new sapling there for a few years now, seems to be doing well.

     

    Recently, putting in my Bluestar, I needed to extend the gas line (my wife wouldn't allow me extend it myself). I was quite amazed when watching the work done that he did not need any major tools to remove the black steel pipe while prepping the area. And in not major tools I mean he unscrewed the joints with his hands and a small sheet of rubber as a grip. This is in a 65 year old house....

    Asking about this he told me this was very common. Black pipe, installed correctly with correct threads and a small amount of pipe dope was sufficient to be installed a strong hand tight. He did all of the leak tests, pressure gauge, bubble water, etc. No issues. Still a $500 charge though. 

     

    And just last week I had my gas furnace apart to clean the orifice for the pilot light. Older furnace, pilot always burning to keep the thermocouple active (and that keeps the pilot lit). 

     

    That said, this was a few years ago in Massachusetts:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley_gas_explosions

     

    Damn, long post. But I think what I was getting at was the problems with gas are probably not at your stove, but with how it's getting to you. Still a major problem.

     

    I think I've got a newspaper article from when the tree was on the house. I'll try to find it. It's somewhat related to cooking, I scavenged quite a bit of the wood for an outdoor fireplace?

     

     

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  5.   On 11/14/2021 at 11:30 PM, gfweb said:

    @CentralMAwhat do you do with the used oil?

     

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    Used oil goes back into the new oil empty containers....then off to my mechanic that does the stuff I'm not comfortable doing, or have the time to do. He has a heating furnace for his shop that burns crankcase oil, transmission oil, brake fluid, etc. 

     

    Any WalMart will take used oil, whether you bought it from them or not. Also most of the big home stores (Costco, BJs, Sam's) will accept it also. They also burn the oil for heat. 

     

    And that's why our world is on it's way out.

    • Like 1
  6.   On 11/14/2021 at 8:35 PM, AlaMoi said:

    did similar - but the counter pump 'leaked' air and the soap drained back . . .

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    I guess I had good luck. Got the pump at Home Depot (or maybe Lowes....who can remember). I do remember that the manufacturer was Glacier Bay. Yes, a cheap knockoff to the better units. But it has served me well.

     

    I did have to soak the tubing in boiling water in order to get it to go on the pump, even then it needed a bit of force. Maybe that was the trick? Getting a smaller diameter tubing?

     

    On the same idea, just picked up a Fomoto valve for my automobile drainpan. No more wrenching the drain plug out and getting oil splashed everywhere. Place the vinyl hose on the outlet, flip the valve, oil is managed well into a drain pan. Should take 5 minutes off of future changes.

  7.   On 8/19/2021 at 2:19 PM, jaw said:

    cool system, @CentralMA.

    pics?

     

    does pressure equalization happen somehow? i.e. is your jug of soap caved in, and does it become progressively harder/slower to dispense?

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    My apologies for the very delayed response.

     

    From my post above:

     

    Cut it to the needed length, drilled a hole in the top of the Dawn bottle to just fit the outside diameter of the tubing, dropped it to the bottom. Poked another 1/8" hole up very close to the threads on the Dawn bottle so that the pumps would not created a vacuum .

     

    So far it's been working very well. Due to the distance and the resistance of the small diameter tubing you do get a bit less product on each pump, but I consider that a good thing. Just like laundry detergent, it's easy to use too much.

     

    SoapJug.thumb.jpg.13f4c7f63029d084d4a5f2f6eb5dd063.jpg

  8. My understanding is that Garland attempted to enter the consumer market but shortly after decided to step back, at that time Prizer-Painter Stove Works got into an agreement to take over the endeavor, keeping the open burner configuration.

    But I may be wrong, I usually am. Just ask my wife, she'll tell you. 

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