Coydon Wallham

Tracy Joosten wrote:
Found it in a vehicle at WL! It’s likely this is one is the one you left. I was charmed; I love Devo.

I'm not sure if it's okay to talk about Devo Club, but if you check around a little birdie told me there might be other hive heads on campus...

Is that a tape you found in a vehicle on the lab, or at a second hand store somewhere? Circle Square in Missoula has a good selection of cassettes, I found a Devo one there I left for the Rav, but don't remember which actual title...

Esteban Ademovski wrote:Then after you put it back together, a quick check is to run the saw and point the tip at a log—you should see a light line or mist of oil coming off. If you don’t, something’s still blocked.

I can't remember- what does the lab run through the chainsaws for oil? After reading a thread here on bar oil, I started using vegetable oil to prevent flinging petroleum all over the forest. Haven't noticed a problem with my Ryobi electric in the last couple years, but I've only done my long cutting sessions in the cold in that time.

Not sure if I missed the explanation, but what was the issue with the old abbey gate?

A friend owes a favour so is giving me unrestricted access to the NSA's database- Ima take off next week to read the internet and will get back with what I figure out...

John F Dean wrote:What is the boot made of?  

If leather, back in the day I had old timers tell me to soak the boot in warm water and wear it until it dries. Then, when thoroughly dry, oil it well.  That said, I did not follow their advice.

This is known as "casing" the boot. It is a trade off- it allows the boot to conform quickly to the shape and flex of the user's foot and walking pattern, but does so by breaking the fibres in the leather and shortening the overall life of the boot. This was often done by soldiers in 'boot' camp to make the initial experience less grueling.

If using expensive leather boots, it is worth breaking them in through normal wear, treating the flex points with a non-petroleum oil to help develop a natural hinge there without as much damage to the fibres. I still have a pair of motorcycle boots from 18 years ago with leather in good shape despite all the storms and winter weather I've put them through over the years. The velcro fasteners, plastic buckles, and pleather fringe have long since bit the dust and been replaced by a cobbler, along with 2 sets of soles...

Harry Malecki wrote:BEL Post #7

What do you call that angle drilling jig? Was it tucked away in the shop somewhere or did you have to procure it somehow? Is it a universal fit or custom for that Makita?

I like the design and slab selection there, are your steps to level the bottoms of the legs a guarded secret or just too simple for a master craftsman to bother mentioning...?

Anne Miller wrote:Would getting xylitol from fruits and vegetables be a better choice?

I believe we're doing permaculture here, so it depends...

Normally I source all aspects of my health from direct natural sources, diet and exercise, as much as is practical. In this case my teeth have suffered acute injury in the past and been subject to the systemic neglect of conventional dentistry for decades, so I am willing to 'stack the deck' a little with artificial or highly processed sourcing. Still, good to keep more natural sources in mind.

A brief inquiry shows that fruits & veggies that do have xylitol have it in "low amounts". This table shows at the top of my results:


I'll have to track down numbers for birch sap for comparison. I thought for a second "Lamb's Lettuce" might be the same as lamb's quarters, but unfortunately no. Will have to see about seeds and appropriateness for my climate. Also, "Yellow Plum" doesn't sound like the local wild plum that grows around here.

I'll have to focus on maximizing my Raspberry foraging going forward, and hope the mosquitoes don't take it from my blood faster than I can fill my stomach. Last year I also found for the first time ever an actual fruit on the wild strawberries that I've noticed are very common, not sure if there is a dearth of production from conditions or if wildlife are normally that efficient at harvesting that I don't notice any.

George Ingles wrote:I've used the gum.  What I think I understand about Xylitol is that it is derived from Birch tree sap.
I've read that it is a kind of sugar that the cavity-causing bacteria prefer, but they suffocate from eating it.
I have not heard of it being used for rebuilding enamel, but I would love for that to be possible and will research now.

Perhaps tapping Birch trees and using the sap directly could work?
I often chew on pitch from Pine trees.  It is good for temporarily filling the cavity pockets and getting food debris out of there.  It feels very antibacterial - I wish I had started much earlier.

I believe the WWII research came from Finland. Likely, a reduction in cavity-causing bacteria among the population would show up in a study as a comparative increase in tooth enamel, without showing any specific "building" from lower amounts, but I don't recall specifics mentioned on that data.

I do tap and drink birch sap when I have access around that time of year, but have found out that it is highly volatile and does not last beyond the short spring sap season. I'll see if I have time to experiment with freezing some this year.

Any links to good info on Pine pitch, procurement and/or usage?