It has been said on here that pineywoods gets involved in a lot of projects for an ole retired fart. Truth is, I do get involved in a lot of worthwhile projects, but I have a lot of help. I'm retired and hang out with a bunch of ole retired farts. Somewhere along the way, we got labeled as the grumpy old men, after the 2 main characters in the movie by that title.
I guess the name fits, we get in each others face at times but still remain the best of friends. The size of the bunch varies, sometimes as many as a dozen, with a wide variety of talents. A few aren't even retired yet. I thought I might post some of the projects as an encouragement to others to get off your duff and do something useful.
Here's the latest project
It was a coming home surprise to one of us who has been in the hospital for 2 months recovering from colon cancer surgery. The structure is pine, the floor 2 inch cypress, and the railing and trim eastern red cedar, all from donated logs. roof is metal.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/1570/deck.jpg)
This one for an older gent who needed a place to keep his "stuff" out of the weather. two by six framing with 1X12 board and batten siding, from yard logs, metal roof, dirt floor.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/1570/Tool_shed.jpg)
Piney,when we get old, grumpy and eating are all we have left. Frank C.
You guys probably have a great time putting these structures together. ;)
Looks like the Grumpy old men got a soft spot for helping people out.
Good on you guys. The world needs more of what you got. :)
Way to go guys!
We should all be so fortunate to have neighbors like that. :)
Shoot, thought you were gonna talk about me and DanG.
No, you two don't fit that category. You belong in the GRUMPIER old man category or maybe the GRUMPIEST. ??? ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D
Grumpy old man Bruce ;D ;D ;D
I maintain that I am not getting grumpier merely less tolerant of the increasing number of fools in the world
When I saw the title I thought somebody was talking about me again. ;D
Have to agree wholeheartedly with Ernie though.
Wayne, that is first class.
it would be hard to stay grumpy if some of my neighbore would come over and build me a porch like that while i was gone from home.
of course some would complain that i was not big enough or that it was in the wrong place. some people cant be pleased.
Hey fellas. Piney is settin' the pace for everybody! He's a wealth of knowledge and ingenuity, and has a a helping spirit that is contagious. Way to go Pineywoods! Oh yeah, and he ain't really so grumpy.
here's a couple more projects that turned out OK. We won't mention the ones that flopped ;D
One of our bunch built a new house, 2 car garage which promptly got filled up with tools and other good stuff. So we built him this shop. Mostly post and beam, metal siding, metal roof, concrete floor. Sadly, he has developed alzheimers, already can't remember how to use most of his tools. This is a guy who has built 3 homes and a business with his own hands.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/1570/shop.jpg)
A local sawmiller moved his fixed operation to a new location. Needed someplace to keep tools, parts, etc and an office. Grumpy old men plus 3 days = one sawmill office/shed. All cypress except the porch posts, which are knotty cedar.
WDH will probably recognize it, he's been there.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/1570/leroy.jpg)
Then there's always a bunch of these. Lots of elderly poor folks in this area. Word has gotten around that there's a bunch of grumpy old men who can fix you up. Pressure treated 2X6 pine and exterior plywood.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/1570/handiramp.jpg)
Quote from: pineywoods on May 05, 2010, 09:41:43 PM
WDH will probably recognize it, he's been there.
That is a fact, and I was most impressed. Y'all represent the best in people and neighborhood. I am proud to be associated with such fine people, even if it is on an Internet Forum. You are inspiring.
Its not the old grumpy guys that make me nervous its those gladhanding salesman types you meet for ten minutes and their like a long lost cousin.Good work Piney theirs nothing more rewarding than working with a good bunch of guys doing good,or even getting into mischef.Frank C.
Quote from: Texas Ranger on May 05, 2010, 10:01:51 AM
Shoot, thought you were gonna talk about me and DanG.
Naw, what's the old saying "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw rocks"
I'm older than either one of you, you'll have to ask the wife about the grumpy part. ::)
This is one of our more successful projects. Nestled in the rolling hills of north Louisiana is a place called Camp Harris. Originally a rural school, it was closed down and offered for sale. A group of churches in north La and south Ark went together and bought the entire property, and turned it into a well equipped church camp/retreat. Over time, the military surplus double decker bunks in the dorms had gotten in sad shape. We got volunteered to build replacement bunks. Made 28 of these. They had to be stout enough to withstand a bunch of rowdy kids. Posts are 3X6 pine, rails are 2X6. All put together with deck screws and gorilla glue. Finish is dark poly stain.
Here's the first one headed for the paint shop
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/1570/churchbunks.jpg)
We needed the dollies, the bunks weighed over 200 pounds
Delivery required 3 trailer loads
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/1570/ScannedImage-11.jpg)
Boy you folks are always busy, good job! :)
It's all about "giving back". Everything that you give back has a way of coming back many times over. One way or the other.....It just happens.
Pineywoods, you set the bar high.
Sometimes my daughter says "you know, he's not as grumpy as he looks" 8) 8)
Good work.
It is my belief that no good deed will go un notated.
No doudt there will be some grumpy old men's names in the book of life and you shale reap your rewords there, but until then thank you for your work from Alabama.
We are already gearing up to go and spend a week helping our tornado victims. After the major cleanup is completed, there will be a huge rebuilding effort.
Elderly couple lives in an older mobile home. Kitchen floor (plywood) worn just about all the way through in a couple of places. Grumpy old men had a weekend work party. Used some of my 1X4 oak lumber and my shop to make a bunch of tongue and groove flooring. Stapled it down right over the plywood. Finished with satin poly. Pic after sanding, before finish applied.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/1570/woodfloor.jpg)
Another similar project is still in the planning stage.
Wayne,
That was a fine thing to do. You grumpy old men are getting a reputation.
Grumpy old men are at it again. Neighbor bought a new tractor. No place to keep it under cover, too busy working day job to build something. Grump old men to the rescue.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/1570/shed1.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/1570/shed2.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/1570/shed3.jpg)
Nice job.
pineywoods , did I see that tractor down the road from you? bg
Quote from: Bill Gaiche on January 11, 2011, 12:55:56 AM
pineywoods , did I see that tractor down the road from you? bg
Probably was it's twin. He now has 2 of 'em. The shed we built is several miles up the road at a place he rents to run his cows. Hobby rancher, works a day job that's 10-12 hour days, frequently 6 days a week, out of town a lot. DanG good neighbor.
Piney-It looks to me like you are the DanG good neighbor. 8)
Nice work ... better be careful or you may find that you have a new name.
Grumpy's at it again. Cutting bean sticks in the middle of winter.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/987/bean_sticks.jpg)
As usual, there's a story here.
83 year old widow lady calls me up asking if I have any bean sticks, needs some NOW.
What's the hurry, it's middle of the winter. She cultivates the ground and puts the sticks in place the first of Feb, then plants the beans next to the poles on good friday. That way, she doesn't have to take time off from the rest of the garden when the beans start running, the sticks are already there. She lives alone and raises a huge vegatable garden and supports herself by selling produce out of the back of a pickup truck
Work party, donated logs...bunch of 5/4 X 8ft pine sticks.
Around these parts we call Grumpy Old Men helping out, "DO-GOODERS." My hats off to all "Grumpy Old Men" on the Forum. smiley_clapping smiley_clapping
Well done! 8) 8) 8)
Good job Piney. Our group hasn't decided where our next project will be, but I look forward to it each year.
Maybe you should change your name to "Good Ol' Boys"?!?
That was the name of the Band the Blues Brothers stole for the Gig at the Bang him up with Chicken wire syndrom place. :D
(I forgit the name of da place) ::)
It was named "Bob's Country Bunker" and it was created just for the movie.
The grumpy ole men ain't dead yet, although 2 of the original gang have passed on. Bunch of us got together today and fixed up a small house for an elderly widow down the road a ways. House was built on concrete piers which had sunk in the soil. Walking across the floor in the house was about like trying to walk on a trampoline. We used a bunch of hardwood wedges (cut on my bandmill) to force the foundations back level, then ran 2 sets of 8X8 cypress beams the full length of the house. These were set up on new concrete piers. Floor is now level and plenty firm..She treated the whole crew (seven of us) with a fantastic lunch of home-made beef stew over rice, speckled butter beans cooked with bacon, green beans, delish home-made rolls, lemon pudding, and all the sweet tea we could drink...
It was too dark under there to get any decent pictures, and I was too busy stuffing my face to get pictures of the lunch. Besides, if I had stopped to take pics, that bunch of rednecks would have eaten it all before I got to the table... ;D
You're a good man Pineywoods. Very nice that you guys do this kind of stuff. I wish I knew of a crew locally that does this. I'd join up. Sometimes a person just needs to do something for their fellowman and not have dollar signs attached to the act.
Why you grumpy old rascal! You make us proud.
How old you gotta be to qualify as 'Grumpy'? My wife says I am sometimes when I get back in and sends me to the shop for a fix. Usally iron or wood and I'm almost back to normal.
Oh, I just boxed in a large room so a new mother would have a spare bedroom for her son when the new baby arrived. Old house and not a plumb wall around. Does this help me make the team?
Do you Grumps get up to northern Minnesota often? I've got a backlog of projects that's going to take me about three lifetimes to finish
Good for you and your fellow "grumps" Piney.
As you well know, every time that you give a blessing you receive a blessing.
We should all be so lucky to have good neighbors like you Wayne!
I'am sure you grumpsters pull permits for all that construction.Our tractor pullers club had our own building inspector,he admitted I am the best inspector money can buy. Frank C.
Just read the whole thread. You guys are busy. What are fine job you are all doing.
Here's the latest project from the grumpy old men..
We found out about a young man who loves to deer hunt. Unfortunately, he can't hunt much. Had the misfortune to be born with severe birth defects. No legs, no neck, deformed arm and a host of internal problems. Donated logs and materials and we build this..
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/ds3%7E0.jpg)
Gun ports on 3 sides, wheel chair accessible, carpet on floor and walls, insulated. Deer season here lasts till around new years, by then it's COLD.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/ds1.jpg)
Can y'all guess where we are from ?
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/ds4.jpg)
Very cool Piney. ;D You and your buddies are a blessing to your community. 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Nice touch with his name o'er the door. ;)
No self respecting deer will come near that blind :D.
Very nice Pineywoods! I see it also comes with built in pallet fork spaces.
Good job Piney.
WOW!! You guys are all a very nice bunch of Grumpy Old Men. And should add busy too. Talk about giving back to the community.
Quote from: sandhills on September 12, 2013, 10:57:20 PM
Very nice Pineywoods! I see it also comes with built in pallet fork spaces.
Those were a necessity. There's 2 nice 12 foot pine logs in there. ;D Had to put weights on the back of the compact tractor in order to lift it.
I just re-read this thread from the beginning. You Grumpies have been going a long time. As I read through, I began to fear that you were going to announce the end. But no. Another project. You guys are the greatest. May the Grumpies live forever.
I think that's their plan, Den. ;) :D
Been a while since we posted a project, but the grumpy old men are still active, altho we have lost a couple of the original group. Younger ones are beginning to admit to being old and grumpy. ;D. This project is just wheel chair ramps but with a couple of twists..Built for a young man who got his back all broken up. surgeons repaired it with 2 steel rods and a bunch of bolts and screws. Unfortunately, the fix didn't last, bones are beginning to slip and twist on the spinal column. He is facing life in a wheel chair for the rest of his life. We found him an athletic type wheelchair which he is slowly learning to use. The house where he lives is not very wheel chair friendly..It's a long low ranch style with bedrooms and baths on one end, kitchen and dinning area on the other, with a sunken living room/den in between. He told us, "I'm starving because I can't navigate the sunken den to get to the kitchen. ;D So we have to install ramps inside the house, a first for us. 2X8 cypress stringers with 1X8 cypress decking, spar varnish finish.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/ramp2.jpg)
Started to install the other ramp on the other side of the room and found a stone fireplace in the way. That required re-engineering the ramp to connect to the landing at a twenty degree angle.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/ramp3.jpg)
That took care of inside the house, still have a 4 inch drop from the house floor down to the carport to get outside. For that, I saw a tapered 4X16 slab out of a 4 inch thick pine slab. My woodmizer handles that nicely
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/ramp1.jpg)
Very nice design/engineering, piney.
When the Grumps get together, you all do some very nice work.
Grumpy is Good.
I sure hope someday I'm lucky enough to have a bunch of grumpy old men for neighbors! Very nice of you guys :)
Quote from: sandhills on September 09, 2014, 09:52:51 PM
I sure hope someday I'm lucky enough to have a bunch of grumpy old men for neighbors! Very nice of you guys :)
Even nicer to have them as friends that are always there when you need them. I'm blessed... 8)
Yes you are.
Good show Piney. Now he can put on some weight. bg
Another fine project done!
smiley_clapping
This isn't about Grumpies but about helping hands. I was in the hospital last week when Patti got a call that a load of Sinker Cypress timbers was being delivered a day early. Patti freaked out because there was nobody available to run the forklift. She couldn't reach our son, Garrett. She started calling the neighbors and word got out that we needed help. On Monday, I was at the dentist. He said that he was on the list of potential forklift operators. :) As it happened, the truck came a day later and I got out of the hospital an hour or so before it arrived. Garrett drove the truck but I helped. :D
pineywoods some how I have missed this thread until now. I admire you and your grumpy old friends. My family seems to think I get grumpy if I don't have a project. So they try to keep me happy any they can.
I just now ran across this! In think you guys are great!
Here's an update on the latest grumpy old men project. We live in a part of the deep south that's very poor economically depressed. Lots of older folks living on minimum income, frequently alone in a rural area. We are blessed with a good telephone system and 911 service, which has led to the latest project. We take in donated logs, have work parties at my mill, sell the lumber and apply the proceeds to this project. Those funds provide free medical alert systems to anyone who needs them. A waterproof pendant
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/pendant.jpg)
which,when activated, talks to a modified phone set
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/phone.jpg)
The phone is programed to call family, neighbors, or 911 and play back a pre-recorded message giving name, address, etc. Who ever answers the call can talk back via a speaker in the phone..
The units are purchased and become property of the user,No monthly fees or install charges
This program is proving to be quite popular..over 20 installed so far...
You're amazing, Piney. smiley_thumbsup
That is a very worthwhile project to sponsor. smiley_thumbsup
Very Nice
And the Grumpy Old Men ride again! :) I've had several family members use those services, good job guys.
Good to see that you are still grumpy.
pineywoods, your type of Grumpy is a good thing, that is for sure and I certainly commend you for all the outstanding projects that you & your fine friends do. Bob
I just read all 4 pages what a great thing you grumpy old men are doing hats off to all of you grumpy old men past and present 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Younger Grumpy. Son showed up wearing this. Chip off the old block (old saying)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/grumpy.jpg)
good job, helping the needing, a place at the table for you.
I applaud you gentlemen! smiley_clapping
I've heard it said that when you pass on, the only thing you'll take with you is what you gave away. A lot of us wish we could qualify in this respect. Bless you all.
Piney where do you get those units from? I have several on my list that could use them. Happy Birthday!
Quote from: customsawyer on May 17, 2015, 04:06:06 PM
Piney where do you get those units from? I have several on my list that could use them. Happy Birthday!
We get them from Assistive Technology Services in Murfreesboro, Tn. Web site is ats-tn.com. The unit we provide is a Personal Assitance Voice Dialer.
$99. They have some other units with more capabilities, but this one seems to be adequate for most folks. The wife wears one that is programmed to call my cell phone for starters. ATS has a bunch of other neat stuff
Thanks for the birthday wishes..
Happy birthday you good old grumpy man! 8)
amazing work that looks super nice, i gotta get educated on that level lol
The grumpy old men have a problem. The grim reaper keeps taking our friends. Lost 2 more recently. The latest one we buried yesterday. He was one of those generous souls who didn't leave much because he gave it all away. He leaves a special needs son whom we will do our best to see after his needs.
Very sorry to hear that Piney, prayers from here.
I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your friends.
Sorry to hear this news, Piney. Stay grumpy.
Sorry to hear it. My thoughts and prayers to everyone
Sorry to hear that. :( You need to line up some future grumpy old men to continue the fine tradition. :)
We ain't all dead yet, and are still grumpy. ;D Retired elderly nurse who lives alone in a camper way back in the backwoods. Uses a walker to get around, gets a visit from a physical therapist once a week. The therapist saw how difficult it is to get in and out of the house and called the pastor of a local church. Pastor knew about grumpy old men and put us to work
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/steps.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1464792715)
raiding the pineywoods sawmill, yielded a couple of 16 ft post oak logs (donated) and some 1X6 cypress lumber. Sawed the logs into 4X4 posts and 2X6 stringers. For this project we recruited a couple of new members, one is legally blind, the other has a steel rod for a spine. They wanted to help, so we let the blind man dig 10 postholes 2 ft deep with a manual hole-digger and the guy with the steel spine show him where to dig and when to stop. ::) Six hours later, we had a usable but un-finished ramp. All 5 guys were a bit tuckered out and looked like rain, so we quit and set a return trip to finish the job.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/ramplinda1.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1464792631)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/ramplinda2.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1464792669)
We are all old and forgetful, I went back to finish the job and nobody else showed up :-\ I'm a bit grumpy about that >:( In addition, the lady is being provided with one of the medical alert devices described in a previous post..
You are a wonderful man, Piney.
And I'll second Den's remark, good job and well done smiley_thumbsup
Pineywood, you make my heart feel good. smiley_heart
It is an honor to have grumpy old men that are also your friends. 8)
I see that you are staying grumpy. You, Sir, are an inspiration.
My wife accuses me of being a grumpy old man but I can't claim to be anywhere near as helpful to those in need as your group is...
Maybe I need to start looking for somebody who needs help.
God bless you.
Herb
Quote from: PC-Urban-Sawyer on June 01, 2016, 10:59:35 PM
My wife accuses me of being a grumpy old man but I can't claim to be anywhere near as helpful to those in need as your group is...
Maybe I need to start looking for somebody who needs help.
God bless you.
Herb
No need to go looking. What you do is learn to recognize the needs when they show up. There will be some you can't do anything about, but chances are, you know somebody who can. communicate. I am blessed to have a network of willing friends with all manner of talents.
Grumpy projects been kinda slow lately, here's one of the latest. The area around Baton Rouge, La got hit with some major flooding a few months back. Some friends kids got 4 feet of water in their house. Young couple with the usual mortgage and car payments. They are trying to re-build their home themselves and hit a snag with wide expensive baseboards, which were all ruined. They gave me a sample, and grumpy old men to the rescue. Donated logs from a tree service co. work party with my mill for lumber. I used the sample to make a matching molding knife for my woodmaster planer. Ran 250 lineal feet of 6 inch wide baseboard. The finished boards got loaded on the truck and sent down the road before I thought about pics, so no picks, but it did happen. ;D Here's a pic of the sample and the molding knife installed in the woodmaster.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/baseboard~0.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1487125561)
Nice job. My Dad's group was "the smurfs". The local churches, charities and social services helped keep the men out of their wives hair and plowing all that skill back into the community. I'm not sure if the churches called first or if the wives called the churches looking for work for their menfolk :D
Another grumpy ole men project that really touches a soft spot for me. People far and wide bring me handi-cap scooters and power wheel chairs they no longer need or units needing repairs. We repair as needed and give them to whom ever has a need, 7 in the last few months. 3 recipients were dis-abled veterans, 2 of them got 2 units, one for indoor use and another more suited for outdoor conditions.
Four more in my shop awaiting repairs.
These 2 will need batteries and a good cleanup.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/brokechair2.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1493912655)
One scooter and 1 chair, both of these will probably be cannibalized for parts.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/brokechair1.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1493912591)
I am amazed at how robust and sophisticated these machines are.
NO, the toyota pickup don't go...that's my personal wheels... ;D
piney i wish you didn't live so far away i run across those battery powered chairs a lot picking up junk and doing clean up job and they get sent to the junk yard no one here does anything with them :( thank you for doing a great job restoring them to help some else
I see about one a week in our local junkyard...
Latest grumpy old men project all loaded up for delivery to a needy grumpy old man.. Older gent, can't walk or do much else, wife has alzheimers..Kids had left his power chair out in the rain.. Corroded contacts on the power on button, and the backrest was broken. Surprisingly, the frame of the backrest was wood, I can fix that..
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/grumpy01.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1507162745)
This is the wood frame for the backrest. Pretty obvious it got wet more than once.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/grumpy2.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1507162785)
Good for you......again. :)
It's folks like you and many others here that make me proud to be a member of the Forestry Forum. I know I don't contribute much but I try when I can and love hearing good things like this, my hat's off to you once again.
Edit, Pineywoods I have yet to see anything you can't fix or improve.
Does a fellow good to see the best in human nature.
Keep it up Piney
Piney is one of my heroes. I also had the pleasure of meeting him.
This project touches a real soft spot that I have for veterans and especially dis-abled vets. One of our grumpy ole men is a retired vet, who is legally blind. He is currently enrolled in a month long course at the VA blind school learning to use word processing equipment so he can write a couple of books. I got a phone call saying "hey they have a craft shop here and guys are making pen and pencil sets, and they sure could use some wood." A few hours in the shop and I came up with this, walnut pen and pencil blanks
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/penblanks.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1512005196)
Filled a garbage bag with them plus more garbage bags filled with pecan, mulberry, cedar, persimon, and oak. His wife delivered on next visit and I get another phone call saying " how about some bird house/jewelry box wood. "
His wife leaves today with the back of her suv stuffed with 1X6 cedar and cypress, already cut to size and planed smooth.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/BHcedar.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1512005379)
I had some questions, and sure most of you do..A craft shop in a blind school ?
Think about it this way. For someone who has lost vision and feels useless, completing a pen or bird house or jewelry box, would be one heck of a confidence builder.
We need a bunch more pineywoods in this world.
smiley_thumbsup
pc
Elderly gent who lives alone. The plywood floor of his deck rotted, so we did a project to replace it. Used 4/4 X6 white oak planks off my mill, blow down tree recovered off neighbors pasture fence. Look closely, there's a 5 year old hard at work removing rotten boards. He also kept the rest of the crew supplied with water...We start them out young. ;D
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/grumpycrew.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1521769440)
Pretty soon you're going to have to start a "grumpy young men" chapter 8).
Being Grumpy warms the heart. 8)
Quote from: Magicman on March 22, 2018, 10:37:49 PM
Being Grumpy warms the heart. 8)
I thought that was heartburn.
I might not say it enough but good on ya piney! This part is a little late but for whatever reason I've been missing this thread. The craft shop at the blind school reminds me of a story in the paper awhile ago about a blind man building such things in his home shop. Hes even using power tools. He has jigs set up so that he can feel where his hands have to be so that they're out of the way. It's been quite a little while but I seem to remember him making some pretty amazing things
The five year old is in training to join the Grumpy old men club.
Quote from: thecfarm on March 23, 2018, 06:12:12 AM
The five year old is in training to join the Grumpy old men club.
He comes from good stock. His dad, 2 uncles and grandpaw were in the crew..The entire family goes a long way toward restoring my faith in the human race ;D
My guess is the little one very was well supervised!
Gerald
This is a story of a guy in his 50's whose life was totally up-ended. He developed a rare disease which affected the nerves in both legs, resulting loss of muscle control. Initially, he could get around using a cane, but that rapidly turned into using a walker, and then a manual wheelchair. Job as a truck driver became impossible, so his wife takes on 2 jobs to pay the bills, leaving him home alone most of the time.
Enter the grumpy old men. A re-furbed power chair was donated, which made life a little easier, but he still was confined to the house. There is a 6 inch step down out the back door to a paved patio. Woodmizer to the rescue. 2 18 inch wide by 6 ft long wedges cut from solid dry white oak made nice ramp. Yeah, sometimes I deliberately saw a wedge. ::)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/ronramp.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1544808777)
The hash marks are grooves cut with a router. Wet white oak is a bit slippery
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/ronramp2.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1544808847)
Now he can get out of the house, but there's another obstacle, the carport is 25 feet down a grassy slope, power chair has a slippery problem climbing the slope. Another volunteer work party to pour a 4 ft by 25 ft long concrete walkway from the patio to carport.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/ronsw.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1544808927)
Couldn't get a redi-mix truck anywhere close, we had to use sac-crete. 16 people showed up, 3 of them with portable mixers.
Maybe the truck driving skills helped but, this guy took to the power chair like a duck to water. A few days later, he does the dishes, laundry, cleans the bath room and mops the floor from a comfortable chair. He says, best of all, I can go to the fridge and get a snack or drink without fear of falling, and go sit on the patio and enjoy the outdoors
Being on your knees helping others makes one stand very tall. I am proud to know at least one of your Grumpies. smiley_thumbsup
You guys are Good. Mighty Good.
X2
Wish you young pups would stop talking about us old fellers! 8)
smiley_clapping
Sure proud to know you Piney. :)
Very inspiring.
wish I knew of a group locally
Maybe you can be the one to form a group. ?? smiley_idea :)
Thank you for helping him🖒
Kudos from the swamp on your good, no GREAT deed
I'd never seen this thread before, but it's great stuff. I belong to a similar group at our church. Our main focus is gathering, cutting, splitting, and delivering firewood for folks around here that can't do for themselves. We've also built a number of handicapped ramps for folks that find themselves in a bad situation. I'm gonna look into acquiring and fixing up electric wheelchairs.
It's funny how things work out. I bought a used concrete mixer for some projects around here, and less than a week after I bought it, an elderly gentleman was bringing his wife home from the hospital- in a wheelchair. I volunteered my new-to-me mixer, and we had a nice ramp formed and poured in no time.
I believe in sharing the gifts that you have. I don't have much money, but I have the tools and skills to build DanG near anything.
This might be a good place to ask if anyone can locate a pair of front wheels for a wheelchair that belongs to the local VFW. 8"D, 2 3/8" hub, 7/16 axel. The VFW loans these to members and gets them as donations, if one gets unusable it goes in the dumpster. I told them not to toss this one yet as it looks good other than a broken front wheel and I am trying to find a pair reasonable, I'd gladly pay shipping.
Dont throw them in the dumpster....If not repairable, scrap out for parts. There's all manner of parts available on ebay, even some parts dealers. It's almost unbelievable what a difference a power chair can make in the quality of life. I gave away 7 so far this year. VFW and DAV are good to work with. .gspren, pm me the make and model, I may have what you need. If not, probably can give you a link. Most front wheels aren't quite that big.
Merry Christmas to all. As we celebrate and honor the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
May God bless you all
Dean and Donna Herring
3D Lumber
Quote from: pineywoods on December 24, 2018, 10:18:33 AM
Dont throw them in the dumpster....If not repairable, scrap out for parts. There's all manner of parts available on ebay, even some parts dealers. It's almost unbelievable what a difference a power chair can make in the quality of life. I gave away 7 so far this year. VFW and DAV are good to work with. .gspren, pm me the make and model, I may have what you need. If not, probably can give you a link. Most front wheels aren't quite that big.
Piney, It's not a power chair, just a conventional wheelchair. The front wheels have a plastic spoke hub that's broke otherwise a nice looking wheelchair. Only one wheel is broke but I'd like to replace both. Often the chairs like this are used by Veterans or their families short term for appointments and such while recuperating from injuries, surgeries, etc.
Grumpys been mostly in self-imposed lockdown for a while, but just couldn't walk away from this one. Neighbor (veteran) with a badly messed up back and both legs in bad shape. Barely gets around with a walker. After seeing him trying to navigate the steps in the attached pic, lockdown or not, we had to do something. Obtained a handicap scooter, but that called for a ramp. Couple of problems. The drop from porch to ground (nearly 4 feet) required a ramp nearly 30 feet long. Enough pressure treated lumber to build that put the cost WAY out of reason. Just at the right time, another grumpy drives up to my mill with 8 18ft 22 inch white oak logs, compliments of hurricane Laura.
One log yielded enough 2X8 stringers, 1X12 deck boards and misc 2x4 and 1x2. One post oak log provided the 4X4 support posts. Volunteer help was a little skimpy due to covid concerns, but the attached pic shows the finished product.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14000/ramp1hr.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1607303694)
That's pretty awesome. Great job 👍
very nice, class A work and very generous.
I salute you Piney, excellent work! 8) 8) 8)
Very Nice!! Thank You for being Grumpy. smiley_thumbsup
Well Done 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
Piney you are my hero! smiley_clapping
Well done!
smiley_clapping setting a great example thank you!!!
You continue to amaze me. That's a beautiful job and I am moved to tears at your kindness. God bless you Piney.
Wow, that makes my day!
When Grumpys grumble, things get done. All Grumpys should have ramps whether they need them now or not.
Very nice! Well done to all!
That's going to make his life a lot easier. Great job and gesture.
Good on ya piney. Beautiful work.
Yesterday took my wife n kids out to cracker barrel for her birthday. I asked her what she wants for a present. She says "i want us to pay for that veterans meal."
Waitress helped us do it anonymously. Nice feeling.. Good thing for the kids to witness.
Pretty awesome Mike 👍
Yes sir, im lucky to have her.
A random act of kindness just made somebodys day a whole lot better. 8) You and momma set a fine example for your kids, well done. @pineywoods (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=4000) I like that ramp. I wanted to build something like that for my wife but it would have blocked the garage.