What's in your garden?

**VocalNeal** · 17-08-2022, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by Buckaroo Banzai

I would apreciate any advice

Welding is a young man's game have you tried what Merkins call a cheater lens (others call a diopter) which fits inside your welding visor?

**Buckaroo Banzai** · 18-08-2022, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by Stumpy

Well let me tell ya BB, I have been trying to get the hang of this arc welding process. Honestly I am not good at all. In the US I had an awesome Miller TIG welder but didn't bring it with me when I moved. My buddy bought it off me. After I hung up drag racing and car mod stuff I wasn't welding much anymore and didn't think I would be here. As time has gone on though I have found the need to weld more and more. Little projects and things around the compound. I bought an arc welder here and had not used it much, primarily as I was busy with work. I have tried different Rod models and made up a bunch of Mild Steel coupons to try with different power settings. It is definitely something you have to take time out of your day and practice. One thing for sure, You really need to have a good work bench so you can spread out and weld your projects. I was doing it on the ground and on this brick thing I set up and it was making it harder than it probably needs to be. I am looking for a nice shop bench currently. Few things I have learned FWIW,

I found the RB26 weld rods work the best and can do a respectful weld around 85amps ( this is using the standard old rectangle mild steel stuff here)

I find that the hardest part is getting the arc initiated and then holding the arc at the right distance and then moving at the right speed (Again, just more seat time). For me, I weld much better when the rod is about half the length. When its new the thing is just too damn long. Unfortunately you can't cut them as the flux surrounding the electrode cracks and falls apart rendering the rod worthless.

Make sure you clean all the metal really well, Most of it here is heavily covered in an oil which is common. I have a grinder/wire wheel set up and wire wheel all the parts.

Buy some good clamps and a welding magnet. It secures the parts well and insures good contact between both parts to be welded

Other than that, Its been trial and error and not as easy as one would think. I might invest in a TIG Welder here. That makes life easy. Only thing though, TIG welders are usually stationary in the shop as mine was in the states. What's nice about the Arc welder is you can plug it in anywhere and weld.

Cheers

Thank you for all the great tips.
I do a reasonably good weld, by that I men it holds together LOL but it isn't pretty. I usually have to grind the hell out of them to make them look half way decent . lots of paint helps.
I know what you mean about the new long rod, I have the same problem . My hands shake too much .
Welding is the only activity where a smaller rod is better LOL

**Shutree** · 19-08-2022, 01:42 PM

Frogs, there are quite a few about the place after so much rain in the past couple of weeks.

This one has been camping out in my wellington boot, I think it is a Banded bullfrog. (Note to the gf, the outside tiles need sweeping, there is dog hair everywhere.)

What's in your garden?-banded-bullfrog-jpg

The next one escaped the lawnmower. I haven't identified it.

**Mandigo** · 19-08-2022, 02:31 PM

Some chickens

**Shutree** · 19-08-2022, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by Shutree

I haven't identified it.

I think I'll put it down as an Asian rice frog (Fejervarya limnocharis) unless anyone has a better suggestion.

**Mendip** · 19-08-2022, 03:23 PM

^ That top on is what the wife calls 'ung an' or something similar.

We get quite a few and they must taste pretty bad because she's never shown the slightest interest in eating one.

**Shutree** · 19-08-2022, 03:36 PM

Originally Posted by Mendip

^ That top on is what the wife calls 'ung an' or something similar.

We get quite a few and they must taste pretty bad because she's never shown the slightest interest in eating one.

The second one is on the Isan menu though. I haven't asked the gf about it, in case I get strife for letting it go!

**Mendip** · 19-08-2022, 03:55 PM

^ Shutree, I used to regularly release frogs into the pond from the wife's 'frog enclosure' and I found that the best course of action was just to deny all knowledge about her disappearing snacks... or lie through my teeth if necessary.

That works unless you have an eleven year-old who grasses you up.

**Shutree** · 24-08-2022, 02:15 PM

Another Golden tree snake. This one slipped into the house and beind the bookcase. Nothing to be done but to wait for it to come out when it was ready.

Then guide it out to the great outdoors.

**malmomike77** · 24-08-2022, 03:55 PM

^ they are lovely looking things. did your Mrs hamster bark at it

**tunk** · 24-08-2022, 04:45 PM

Beautiful pic. I've never seen that snake around here.

**PAG** · 24-08-2022, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by tunk

Beautiful pic. I've never seen that snake around here.

Rarely see them on the ground, nearly always in a tree. Quite harmless.

**tunk** · 25-08-2022, 05:01 AM

Well then maybe I have seen them. I've seen a snake that travels through the bushes very fast, never could get a good look.

**Loy Toy** · 25-08-2022, 05:32 AM

I often, and did so again yesterday morning, see blood splattered on the cement floor with no sign of any victims as my wife cleans any evidence as she finds it.

She did say the latest killing was that of a metre long water monitor lizard a victim of Bruno the executioner.

Unfortunately Bruno doesn't judge whether the visitor is harmless or not.

**Shutree** · 25-08-2022, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by malmomike77

^ they are lovely looking things. did your Mrs hamster bark at it

The gf's two (maybe a bit) chihuahuas were off duty. If they saw the snake they did nothing. Their excuse would be that after a lot of fighting in recent months they both went to the vet to have their bits snipped the day before. They were, and remain, lost in a brown study.

**Shutree** · 25-08-2022, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by tunk

Well then maybe I have seen them. I've seen a snake that travels through the bushes very fast, never could get a good look.

Although the English name is Golden tree snake I think the Thai name works better: Green snake. They are really swift up trees and although I have never watched one do it they can reportedly 'glide' from one tree to another.
Attractive snakes. I didn't try to pick this one up because they can bite if provoked, they don't have enough venom to be a threat to people but they do have teeth.

**Looper** · 28-08-2022, 01:09 AM

Trimming branches near the powerline with a pole saw

What's in your garden?-img_20220826_183656-jpg

I brought toilet paper with me to fell this ironbark since I always get nervous when felling trees close to buildings but I ended up having to run back to the house for felling wedges and a jack anyway when it started to lean ominously towards the shed during the back cut.

What's in your garden?-img_20220827_191711-jpg

All's well that ends well...

What's in your garden?-img_20220827_193314-jpg

**tunk** · 28-08-2022, 04:56 PM

A sure sign that grubs are eating my mango tree. They are hard to kill because they burrow in and resin seals the hole behind them. They go to the center of the branch where it is softest and just tunnel and feed. They can kill large parts of the tree. It didn't fall over I just can't turn it.

Attachment 92152

**tunk** · 28-08-2022, 05:02 PM

After I sprayed it some of the holes turned white, maybe newest holes that the resin hasn't sealed.

**malmomike77** · 28-08-2022, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by Looper

All's well that ends well...

Loops when you take a moment out from cleaning your pipes, your gutters need cleaning.

**Troy** · 28-08-2022, 09:39 PM

Cows, I've got 3 cows in the garden. They are keeping the grass short. Not very evenly and they make a lot of mess, but they're doing a reasonable job.

**malmomike77** · 28-08-2022, 09:56 PM

^ you might find a use for the shit Troy

**malmomike77** · 28-08-2022, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by Looper

I brought toilet paper with me to fell this ironbark since I always get nervous when felling trees close to buildings but I ended up having to run back to the house for felling wedges and a jack anyway when it started to lean ominously towards the shed during the back cut.

All's well that ends well...

Loops, you need to put a wedge cut in the base about 1 1/2 foot up and facing the way you want the tree to fall, you back cut opposite the wedge about 5 inches above the wedge and unless you have wind it'll fall where the wedge cut points.

EDIT.

I don't know if you've ever had any fire there but those trees are waaaayyyyyy to close to your house/building, one you need a fire break and two if you get a load of wind the first you'll known about any internal rot is when it comes through your roof.

**Looper** · 29-08-2022, 12:01 AM

Originally Posted by malmomike77

Loops when you take a moment out from cleaning your pipes, your gutters need cleaning.

It is a couple of years since I was up on the shed roof so the gutters are definitely in the pipeline

What's in your garden?-img_20220827_191946c-jpg

In my garden today was a 24 inch red bellied black snake

I was too slow with the camera to get a picture

**Looper** · 01-09-2022, 11:54 PM

I went on a viking raid on my scooter to plunder my neighbours Angels Trumpet

Don't worry it was not his rusty trumpet.

What's in your garden?-img_20220831_201410-jpg

They are highly toxic and the alkaloids can cause hallucinations. I read this after carrying them home and before googling details on how to propagate them. American Indians use them when looking for God apparently. They do look like trumpets heralding God's arrival on earth in a chariot pulled by angels.

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