Douglas Alpenstock

Jay Angler wrote:Here's an image of the heavy duty transplant spade from Lee Valley. I would read up about sharpening tools also...

Yup, that's the Radius Root Slayer I have. It's a tank.

I believe that bribing bad dominant behaviour just rewards bad behaviour and encourages more of the same.

A cattle prod requires close contact -- effective but risky. A standard can of bear spray gives about 6-8 quick toots of deterrent at a distance (watch the wind direction!!). The message is  clear and simple: you don't have to like me, but I'm a spicy skunk and I will let you have it. So back the hell off.

If you have a legal right to cross this field, notify the owners that they may face significant legal liability if this dangerous animal attacks you and causes injury. My 2c.

Jim Garlits wrote:Everything is a trade-off, and you can wind up with a shed full of tools you only use once or twice a year instead of five or six that you use all the time.Jim

Er, is that a problem? He who dies with the most garden tools wins!

Providing a place for other people to park their RV's (at a daily/monthly fee) is quite possibly a better investment than actually owning one. My 2c.

Yeardly Arthur wrote:So much fuss over filling carbon micropores with inoculant...

Maybe, but you obviously understand the *process* that makes it work.

That makes you one in a million.

Most think biochar must be a new version of MiracleGro. Including studies on large scale agricultural application which find --- wait for it -- it soaks up nutrients for a while instead of boosting yields. A hint of negative press could spike huge benefits across the board.

That's why we keep banging the drum about filling carbon micropores with inoculant. Cheers!

Jay Angler wrote:

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:Additional factoid: Steel beer kegs are typically made with 304 stainless which is food grade.

Which I believe also means you need special blades to cut it.
Are there torches/flames that cut it?

What tool options do you have access to?

I would cut out the pressure tank inside of the shell, leaving the structural elements intact. I think an angle grinder with cutting blades will work (I buy them in bulk, on sale).

I also have a neighbour down the road (!!-medieval village-!!) who is a journeyman welder and has a plasma torch, and owes me a favour. I doubt it will come to that.

Amy Clarke wrote:Depends on how happy you are to be cutting metal.

... And with any big piece of steel like that, I'd hang it from a string and whack it with a stick and see if I like the noise it makes.

I'm perfectly happy cutting metal. I just don't want to cut without asking creative questions first.

And I love the idea of a giant steel gong. I'm on a hill and I know my neighbours -- nothing says "come over for a beverage and a chat" like the gong of a beer keg! Community, woo!

Additional factoid: Steel beer kegs are typically made with 304 stainless which is food grade.

Ah! Here are some details:

24" high, 15.5" outside diameter
Capacity 15 USG / 60 L

The only opening is the pressure valve on top.
There is a heavy duty support ring at the bottom as well (just like the top but without hand holds).

Hey all. I just scrounged a large steel (not aluminum) beer keg. The web says it's stainless steel, which gets my gears turning.

I'm not sure what the internals look like, or if any coatings are on the inside.

I thought I might cut the top out and use it as a "copper" -- akin to the Victorian era device for hot water and cookery. Of course I might also be boiling invasive weeds for my compost, distilling water, or steaming batches of grain for dog food.

Thoughts? Anybody done this?