got the fabric in today. It looks like it'll do the job. Nice grid of tiny holes. Without light behind it it'll be fine anyway. Might have to use something more opaque for liner in certain spots if that becomes an issue. Supposed to get colder next week, down to 10F one night, that'll keep me in more as long as something isn't critical to get done out there. Might find time to start making something with it. Seems stupid that making an item of clothing would inspire anticipation for more naked time when warm weather comes around again. But that's the crazy way things work sometimes.
A friend locally who has an auto repair shop has been having some difficulty meeting property payments, it's come down to where he'll have to move out unless someone buys it that lets him stay. (there is that possibility) If he does have to move out we'll probably build another shop for him to work in on another friends place, only about 2 miles from where he's at. Last spring I bought his milling machine, left it there, but Monday I went and loaded it. 2,750 lb. Managed to do it with a hand winch pulling it up pipe ramps onto my trailer. And while there he offered me his lathe, so I bought it too even though I already have one. Someone else supposedly wants to swap a much bigger lathe for it so I'll see if that will work. Keep the equipment in our little circle of friends that way, and if he needs it he's free to come use it here. Looks like I'm getting more stuff than I thought I would. End up with enough metal working equipment to make or fix almost anything. (the equipment was all there when he bought the place, he didn't have a great amount of use for it all anyway.) Today I wasted all day messing with electric winches, tried to fix a 4 ton winch until I discovered the motor bushings were worn too much to run consistently. Then started on a 3/4 ton winch, stuck motor from sitting too long, I think it's going to work. Need to rig an overhead lift to unload the milling machine. A pulley to double the pull and the 3/4 ton winch just might be able to lift it.
In time I'll work toward getting my cupola furnace operational and be able to melt iron and pour my own engine parts. Steam engines is what I like. 150 + year old technology that isn't made any more. But they run on wood and water. Since wood and water are the most abundant resource we have, it only makes sense to use em and quit buying that robber juice just to move stuff around, saw lumber, plow and rototill, etc. I could run the grain mill and sorghum press with one as well. Eventually a threshing machine since I want to try growing some crops that need threshing, small scale so the old fashioned methods are plenty good enough.
