I know what you’re thinking, punk! Did he wear the mask when he did this, or didn’t he? Seeing how this is an emergency post, and it could bore your head clean off… Do you want to find out?
Gettin’ Handy with Multitools
I have had my Leatherman Signal for a few years and modified it quite a few times. List of modifications:
- Swapped the saw for a file (Straight swap of second hand file from a Leatherman Wave)
- Replaced whistle with an additional bit storage container I had 3-D printed at Shapeways
- Replaced the sharpener with a good-quality plastic bit holder.
- Replace the bottle opener with a micro-screwdriver holder (Straight swap of second hand piece from a Leatherman Wave).
Today, a run down on replacing the bottle opener with a micro-screwdriver holder.
Note: Find this dry? Submit some articles! I can do this all day! Mwehahaha!
I ordered the micro-screwdriver holder and a spare T10 security bit to remove the screw and post holding the tools in place. No idea why Leatherman uses secure T10 bits. Seems like a standard T10 would be fine. People aren’t lurking in dark alleys to steal your multi-tool parts. As is best practice since cell-phones came out, I tool a picture of what it looked like before I began:
Note: Another best practice is to clean up the tool and remove accumulated pocket lint with an old toothbrush. Do not use the one you currently use to brush your teeth unless you prefer the taste of pocket lint and 3 in 1 oil.
As I began, I used a clamp to hold back the locking spring so it would not catapult pieces everywhere. This also helped a lot with reassembly:
Disassembly was easy. One thought:
- Leatherman did not put any thin copper washers in-between the tools, so the tools rub up against each other. I was surprised. Other Leathermans have washers between tools. When I disassemble this again I may try to slide some super thin copper or teflon washers in there to ease opening tools.
I wanted to replace the awl. The awl and the micro-screwdriver holder were exactly the same width. So that’s what I did on my first try. I wiped the parts down with some white lithium grease using a rag before reassembly. And indeed, everything fit together.
Then I had a failure when testing! The awl was made to fit into the empty space above the blade lock. The micro-screwdriver holder did not fit!
Note: If you are wishing for a KGB agent to appear and shove a knitting needle in your ear rather than read me blathering on, start writing a new post now. Editors are standing by.
I disassembled everything and started over. This time, I replaced the center-mounted bottle opener with the micro-screwdriver and put back the awl. Success! But only just:
The bottle opener is a hair thinner than the micro-screwdriver holder by about 0.2 MM. So it put some stress on the frame to hold it all in. Nothing serious, but it means I may never be able to add in washers to make tool selection less of a chore.
Overall I was very pleased with this upgrade. I will have to go back in and add some Loctite to the post and screw holding the tools at some point – I was out of it when I did this. I recycled some of the ugly, clay like Rectorseal that was originally used for now. I far prefer Loctite. My love of Loctite might be worth an entire post! So get writing before I strike again!
Note: Yes, this is a threat.
I never forget a fez.
I wear a fez now. Fezzes are cool.
River Song (Alex Kingston) really takes the wrinkles out of my love-sausage.
You’re an odd chapeau
“No idea why Leatherman uses secure T10 bits. Seems like a standard T10 would be fine. People aren’t lurking in dark alleys to steal your multi-tool parts. ”
That is odd. Doesn’t SOG make a multitool designed to change tools?
I’ve though many times about getting a Leatherman, but my frugal nature always stops me.
I have a couple of them. One in my backpack and one in my toolbox. Worth every dime.
I’ve linked this before: https://www.theorganicprepper.com/selco-average-day-shtf/
He says:
So crowbar open that wallet!
One in my tool bag for work and one always when we go camping. Each teen has one too.
I’ve had them in the past, now I use real tools and keep those handy. Still would like to have a use for them but they’re too much of a compromise.
I have micro that was a marketing promo from 20+ years that’s probably my most used Leatherman. It sits in my desk drawer and I use the scissors on it.
Very common here is to see a knife clip on someone’s pocket. But what use is a big buck knife? Just cutting up boxes? A multitool at least adds pliers and other useful functions.
Ahh, good old Rectum seal, good dope.
I far prefer Loctite. My love of Loctite might be worth an entire post!
I put grease on threads during assembly far more often than loctite.
So there.
Slick idea.
I’ve though many times about getting a Leatherman, but my frugal nature always stops me.
The prospect of fumbling around with an awkward poor compromise instead of a proper tool is what stops me.
I prefer the gerber tool to leatherman. When you’re 130′ in the air on a smokestack, they have their place. But I concur with using a proper tool.
Yes. Proper tool, proper place. My Leatherman comes in during a pinch, like on vacation at the beach or endlessly breaking down boxes for disposal. Also adjusting projector mounts on business trips. For everyday use a proper tool is suggested.
#TeamGerber
I keep it on my tactical lunchbag, so it goes to work with me.
Scratch that. My fucking Gerber broke. I’ve been toting the Sog, which hasn’t broken.
I may have to look into the SOG before I head back to Cali on Sunday.
That too. I just can’t see hardly ever using it. Now, stashing one in a “go bag” would be a good idea. If I ever put one together I’ll keep it in mind.
Real tools make me money, to buy more tools.
^^^
Brooks is right. In fact, I have a small lathe I could carry behind the seat of the truck for an such emergancy that required me to make the tool I need.
http://www.lathes.co.uk/unimat/page6.html
🤤
everytime I see you pic I think to myself- I gotta get a fez
If you became a Shriner, you’d probably get a fez AND maybe a little car, plus you might even get to meet Little Buddy Hackett!
Crazy legs!
That tv ad is playing many mornings when I wake up.
I feel for his cute bow-tie friend, not just for the disability but for having to wear a bow tie.
https://fez-o-rama.com/
What passes for journalism these days
We are witnessing the rapid deterioration of a formerly successful company.
The bold move by Bud Light to align with transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney has backfired, leading to an internal shakeup with numerous executives being dismissed from the brand.
——-
Empathy is extended to the 645 individuals who are losing their jobs, but they can attribute their predicament to Anheuser-Busch and their ill-thought-out collaboration with Dylan Mulvaney.
It is surprising that Bud Light is still sponsoring WWE’s Money in the Bank Premium Live Event.
While the company is making numerous workers redundant, they are simultaneously spending a lot of money sponsoring professional wrestling shows and other events.
The company has a steep mountain to climb if they are going to get themselves out of this mess, which they put themselves into in the first place.
Spectacularly bad. A chatbot could do better.
Just waiting for that government bailout of Big Beer.
The fearful children are in full fear mode. Oh no! There’s wind and dry weather in the forecast! Must destroy what’s left of the reliability of public power. No fireworks, no bbqs, cower in your sweaty hovel and hope to your false idols that the bogeyman will pass you over.
It’s overcast and humid down here, where is this weather you speak of?
49% RH and dropping.
8% RH and holding steady.
It may be 425°, but it’s a *dry* heat!
We have dropped to 84% since the latest thunderstorm blew through a couple hours ago.
Can’t decide which side of the crazy/hot scale.
The woman, who is obviously hallucinating is seen yelling while standing in the aisle on the airplane.
“I’m getting the f*ck off. And there’s a reason why,” she says, pointing down the aisle to the back of the plane. “I am telling you right now, that motherf*cker, that motherf*cker back there is NOT REAL!”
At that point, many of the passengers turn their heads to look down the aisle, where a flight attendant is walking.
“And you can sit on this plane and you can f*cking die with him or not,” the woman says. “I’m not going to.”
One passenger casually says, “Bye.” as the woman leaves.
Was she wearing cheap sunglasses at the time?
Were there too many mother fucking snakes on the mother fucking plane?
For Independence Day, a classic biographical song about one of the guys who made it possible. (also maybe the source of the White House coke stash they just found)
Ha! Knew it.
Happy 4th y’all. I watched The Patriot last night. Damn our country is different.
Happy 4th, Kevin.
Here’s an article you might enjoy:
Dark Age Patriotism
Wow that was a good read. Thanks!
Seconded.
Thirded.
they commonly traced their habits, customs, and traditions back centuries to their Anglo-Saxon forebearers (sic)
Here as there, some of us are decidedly more Celtic than German and carry our own notions of property rights, taxation, independence. My own clans found more promise and independence in mere subsistence in the Carolinas than we ever did in the British Isles and certainly would strain to find anything to die over in 18th century America. I endorse autonomy at the finest and most granular level for everyone, of course, and the American example particularly, but the drivers of the Revolution seem upscale: lawyers and silversmiths, other shopkeepers, and landed gentry. It is great to be an American now and actually have something to lose, but the entire movement owes to a different class (than mine) and their vision and leadership leadership.
Well, at some point a movement is going to have, you know, leaders. Who, if they weren’t well off and deferred to before they became leaders, will be afterwards, because that’s how leadership works.
Your point is taken, though, that the leaders of every movement are rarely if ever people who started out at a subsistence level. Perhaps doing leadership stuff requires time and talent/experience that subsistence farmers and the like are unlikely to have had the chance to get.
Very interesting. I am increasingly convinced that you cannot build a durable community only on ideals, that “blood and soil” (people and place, as he calls it) are hardwired into us as the basis for community that we disregard at our peril. America as it currently exists is a full-throated denial of people and place, and I think we are seeing it fail. Purely coincidental? I doubt it. Disregarding people and place for ideals means that you have now given license to intellectuals to redefine your community, and how’s that working out?
France, of all places, seemed like it was devoted to people and place, until it allowed millions of MENAs in, and is now convulsed with violence and conflict, up to and including the destruction of cultural icons such as the library in Marseilles. You can say “well, the French haven’t made them assimilate” (how that would be done is an exercise for the reader, I suppose), but that seems an admission to me that people and place aren’t so fungible or transferable after all.
Multiculturalism at it finest. But, in all sincerity, that is the point of it, the destruction of western ideals. Houellebecq is right with his book Submission.
This is going to get much uglier before it gets better.
Hell, if I moved to France that wouldn’t make me French. They know that and I know that. That’s one thing that makes this country so damn unique.
How is it that moving to France doesn’t make someone French, but moving to America makes them American?
I have increasingly serious doubts that it does, at least in any way that isn’t superficial and/or formal. If all you have to do is set foot on American soil, then does it really mean anything? Is our dirt magic, but France’s dirt isn’t?
Acceptance. The French won’t let you be French. They even police their vocabulary.
Americans (used to) clamor for the newcomer to take on the mantle of being American.
Yep. Our local paper still occasionally reports on proud new Americans at their naturalization ceremony.
Ours does, too. Maybe it is just that simple.
Patriot’s Day? Oh yeah, that incident used by our dear leaders to establish a security and surveillance regime which continues to expand. Homeland Security. TSA. With the enthusiastic assistance of the media and Big Tech. Glad to know my colleagues did not die in vain.
Well at least the surveillance regime took a minor hit. Maybe they’ll be forced to cut it *guffaws*… sorry, couldn’t get that out with a straight face.
They’ll just rename programs / move it to black ops / whatever they need to do. They want to control social media, and their ideological allies in the social media companies want them to control things too… south and north poles of magnets.
The reason for the day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhevfANM09Q
As it was properly pointed out in the dead thread today’s Fed gov in most considerations is more tyrannical than anything that Tom, Ben and Sam wrote about.
And they knew that would happen eventually, which is what the second amendment was intended to address.
Submitted a new article with pics – hope to get one more out by next weekend.
Race obsessed morons baffled by people not obsessed by race
The GOP has its most diverse presidential field in modern history. But the party isn’t keen to trumpet it — if they address it at all.
Few of the candidates speak directly to it. Not former Rep. Will Hurd, the latest entrant in the presidential nominating contest, who said he “can’t articulate what the compare and contrast is” when asked about the record number of Republicans of color, like him, who are running.
Nor Francis Suarez, the mayor of Miami and only Latino seeking the GOP nomination. In a statement, he simply said, “We need to expand.”
And definitely not the Republican National Committee, which declined to have any official speak on the record with POLITICO.
The Republican Party is now up to a half dozen candidates of color seeking the GOP nomination, surpassing the previous record of four set during the 2016 cycle. But in the modern GOP — a party supercharged by anti-“woke” culture wars and whose presidential candidates lean heavily on white voters — it’s better left unsaid.
As Vivek Ramaswamy senior adviser Tricia McLaughlin put it, her candidate “feels the shade of melanin doesn’t matter as Americans if that’s all there is.”
Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur, and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley are both Indian American. Suarez is Cuban American. Hurd, of Texas, is biracial — his mother is white and his father is Black. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and Larry Elder, a former gubernatorial candidate and conservative talk show host from California, are both Black.
——-
But such talk is often kept biographical and almost always done in the past tense. When it comes to the significance of diversity of the field at large, Republicans are hardly messaging on the issue — an illustration of the party’s larger belief that society has become too focused on, and defined by, matters of race.
The GOP, said Elder, should be celebrated for being “a party of ideas. It’s not a party of identities.”
He added, “It’s an interesting development. That’s how I would put it, not too shabby for a party that’s supposed to be a party of white supremacy.”
You can’t not talk about race!
The flip side is that the party obsessed with race is all run by old white men and a few old white women.
“But the party isn’t keen to trumpet it”
There’s no virtue unless you signal it.
There’s no virtue to signal, because that diversity isn’t a real thing that is celebrated by anyone. The “diversity” that is celebrated is rigid conformity to a social dominance strategy. You can’t make any concession to that because you are conceding the validity of something they don’t really believe in.
“The “diversity” that is celebrated is rigid conformity to a social dominance strategy.”
That is an excellent way to put it.
Another piece of music appropriate for the day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KxMc_tyQBo
biden forgets that the proto-Americans stood up to the most powerful military of the day with their privately owned firearms. They fought from 1775-1783 on land and sea to achieve their independence. The common men and women of this country once aroused to righteous fury are still a powerful force as biden should remember.
The American Revolution – OverSimplified (Part 1)
The American Revolution – OverSimplified (Part 2)
don’t stop at a concise romp through history: get a complete bachelor’s degree
The couple childish (but accurate) Trump digs at the end of part 2 aside, that was pretty good.
A Declaration
More music for the day
Hoarders marathon and embroidery! I’m also rearranging my bookshelves and knickknacks.
Cross a couple items off the honey-do list then see if I can beat my personal best disc golf score at my fav course.
One recent Christmas, my sister gave me several skeins of “loop yarn” – fuzzy, like linear pom-poms, and with loops already stitched in, so you can make a throw without knitting needles or a crochet hook. I made it into a throw for the back of the sofa, and Big Dumb-But-Sweet Cat LURRRRRVS it, purring and kneading it to his heart’s delight.
Just one problem now: since Little Black Cat emerged from his recuperative confinement, he’s commandeered the fuzzy throw, and for some inexplicable reason BD-B-SC is intimidated by LBC (who is, at most, half his size.) So now I have to make a second one (from this stuff.) At least it turned out to be on clearance (with another 25% off that) at Joann’s, so I don’t feel QUITE as much like a crazy cat lady paying full price for the stuff to make a blanket for my cat. 🙄😸
I may also turn on TCM at some point to catch some All-American musicals.
Removed one of the Direct TV dishes from the roof (previous owner’s wife liked to watch South Korean soap operas). Moved the Starlink antenna from under the eave (where it was partially blocked) to the j mount for the dish I took down. Drilled a hole through the siding. Hooked everything up…AND IT WORKS! In fact, I get 10-20 more Mbps than when it was under the eave.
Good job! Have a fortune cookie.
Wild.
Revolutionary War vets
Fuck off, commies.
As millions of Americans prepare to celebrate the nation’s founding with a traditional fireworks display, climate reporters Kasha Patel and Kate Selig warned that these displays spread harmful pollutants. The piece went as far as to refer to the holiday as “the most polluted day of the year.”
“It may come as a surprise, but the federal holiday stands out as the most polluted day of the year in many locations across the nation, according to air quality data. Fireworks — the staple of Independence Day celebrations — light up the sky but also launch harmful pollutants. In some cases, the pollution levels from the pyrotechnics are similar to severe wildfire smoke,” the article read.
I’ll be disappointed if my neighborhood is not filled with the sights, sounds and haze/smell of fireworks tonight.
But, at the same time, what are we even really celebrating these days?
I am sure New Years has more fireworks worldwide…but hey..can’t take a stab at the US for that
I’d bet Christmas is the most polluted day of the year. Both from various carbon fuels used for heating, along with light pollution from all those horribly wasteful Christmas lights. And all the wrapping paper that just gets thrown in a landfill.
Regardless, these people can’t fuck off enough. Now I feel like starting a good tire fire.
I’ll have to buy some fireworks so I can show that cunte how much to properly fuck off.
Best song for the day.
Yes.
For the 4th I always liked this DKM cover.
Yo, homey! In too-local news, did you know our dead Best Buy is being remodeled into GFS? That’ll be even handier than Meijer for us!
I nominate this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud_hZ2VDd5k
At high volume of course.
Are they closing the one off 49 ?
Don’t know for sure, but I imagine so, since it’s so close (also just off 49.) I just saw the sign on the construction fence as I was leaving Joann’s
Well happy america day.
Remember a maximum 4 beer per person limit is in place for this day. And no hard liquor
Uh huh. Sure, Pie.
*pours some bourbon* was I not to do that?
What a revolting thought
He didn’t say how big the beers were.
You mean 4 of these?
https://www.germangiftoutlet.com/collections/beer-steins/products/tankard-1l-engraved-beer-stein-landmarks-across-germany-lid
Haha, the jokes on you because I enjoyed the article.
“Did he wear the mask when he did this, or didn’t he? ”
I just assumed that’s how you really looked.
My local Independence Day parade forms up 50 yards from the house. The speakers have been playing “patriotic airs” for about 45 minutes. Already I have had to suffer through “God Bless the USA”. Damn I hate that song. It was a saccharine mess that then suffered from waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much air time in the Desert Storm era. For years any event with the military had that piece of shit song polluting our ears. I won’t be so cruel to link it for any youngsters who don’t remember it.
Toby Keith’s song is mine that I cannot listen to.
Especially since I found out he quietly donated to Obama’s campaign. Maybe that’s a rumor, but now it’s stuck in my head and associated with him, so sucks to be him if it’s untrue.
I used to be super susceptible to all that syrupy nationalism. Now I’m only a little bit susceptible because I WANT TO BELIEVE in the concept* of the USA, and my warboner has taken a long time to subside into “Guess those hippies were right.”
*Maybe it never was. Maybe it died in 1812. Maybe it died in the Civil War. Maybe it died with the progressive movement in the early 20th Century and with Roosevelt and the New Deal. Maybe it died with the Korean War. I don’t know when. But I cling to the concept. So I’m still susceptible to flags and red, white, and blue, and apple pie and hot dogs (MUSTARD NO KETCHUP) and small town parades and fireworks at sunset and ID4 and yippee kai yay motherfucker (albeit that’s Christmas). But yeah. Lee Greenwood and Toby Keith can go DIAF now.
Our town does a great AMERICAN fireworks display tonight. For the last 60+ years it has been entirely privately funded by donations. The crew passes along the positions as well. Even better is that the air will be thick with smoke and the streets covered in shredded paper by DIY fireworks presentations. They won’t be as epic as Berlin was on New Years but Hawaii can hold up their heads with pride at the volume and distribution.
In good news a local band is now playing to entertain the parade marchers as they prep. They are pretty damn good.
A tip of the hat to when the French were not pussies
It’s actually a decent low carb substitute for mashed potatos.
Yep. Can be quite tasty too.
Patriotic air for KK and other lovers of classic aviation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAVejLjXVdw
I love some airplane porn!
Have a great day, friends. I’m going to go play fetch with myself and see how many times I can break Pie’s four beer limit.
*waves tiny American flag and a sparkler*
Enough with the euphemisms….