August 26, 2014 AsktheBuilder Newsletter & Tips
You know that old saying about a train wreck? How someone's life is one or a situation is similar to a train wreck?
Well, my last four weeks have been one! One of the firemen on the train gave his notice and all of a sudden I was working many more hours than I originally had bargained for - both as a conductor and a fireman.
The fireman on our scenic railroad has a very important job. He's the extra set of eyes for the engineer up in the cab of the locomotive. You'd be stunned how big the blind spot is when you're operating the locomotive in reverse and you're trying to look past its long snout. The curves are the worst. Wowzaaa!
The track siding switches are thrown by the fireman, he's responsible for unhitching the locomotive from the consist (fancy word for group of connected cars), hitching the locomotive back to the consist and then lacing up (connecting) the air hoses between the cars and the locomotive. That's the scary part because you have to climb down in between the cars and the throbbing locomotive to make the air hose connection.
The air hoses supply the compressed air that's required for the train brakes to work.
I'm having a blast and am enjoying it, but you're suffering as a result. What do you think of my blue real bow tie? It brings out the color of my eyes I think.
It's a real one I tied, not one of those impostor clip-on bow ties. If you still wear clip-on bow ties, then maybe you should just go grab a juice box and fruit roll-up and go back to watching SpongeBob SquarePants. ;-O
I'm going to tape a very cool video in a few weeks showing how to tie a bow tie. The videos I watched on YouTube, in my opinion, left out some very important points. It should end up being pretty funny.
What's New?
Here's what's new with me and the newsletter.
First, you're going to see a game pretty soon where you can win some very sweet new tools. Here's a clue about it: Think about the clippers a barber uses and the color orange.
Then, just around the corner in October I've got another game coming where a few people are going to win some COLD CASH. First prize is $1,000. You can imagine what second and third prizes are! Clue: Think BOLD colors and what speed boat hulls are made from.
So be SURE to start opening every upcoming newsletter and play the cool games!
Tip of the Week - Sandpaper
You thought all sandpaper was the same, didn't you? It's not. Not by a long shot.
I'm sure you've seen the displays before and some of the papers are different colors. That's not by accident.
Read my past column about sandpaper and you'll be amazed at what you didn't know.
A DIY Paint Sprayer that Works
I tested a paint sprayer that uses compressed air to atomize the paint. This is how professional paint sprayers work.
I've tried for years to get great results using airless sprayers, but was always disappointed.
This new sprayer made by Wagner did an amazing job. I'm going to use it soon as part of a very funny video I'll be taping in a few weeks.
The sprayer comes with two nozzles, one for larger work and a smaller one for detail work.
Read this quick column I wrote about the paint sprayer and a bunch of tips about spraying paint.
CLICK HERE NOW to just BUY ONE of the sprayers right now.
New Questions and Answers
Tracy had a question about plastic gutter guards.
Lisa has water that comes down a hill and makes a turn into her garage!
Pesky sewage smell in a house that's now a restaurant!
Seyla wants to cut into his garage floor. Will the cut weaken the concrete?
New roof shingle odor inside a house!
Malcom BUSTS my chops about generators.
A SWEET NEW VIDEO for you on Friday! Weekend Warrior Tips are back, baby!