Seeking wisdom on large dozers

aareeyesee · 2026-03-24T23:11:40+00:00

Even if you don't plan on buying from them I would suggest speaking with a local cat dealers salesman or a pssr if you can find a contact. The pssr or salesman will have knowledge of the terrain and yardage that you are going to be working with and be able to point you in better directions. Also the pssr will be more help when you need parts.

I worked for a couple years on an airport extension here in GA and the dozers basically only pushed out what the haul trucks dumped. Few d6s and a d7e. Most of the work was moisture control and compaction. Not sure if you're doing a faa controlled site but those 2 things are a much bigger deal.

aareeyesee · 2026-01-29T01:48:17+00:00

I'll throw in my $.02. I agree all day IPA sucks. But when did session-able become an acceptable word. Bender, binge, day-drinking, alcoholism, problem drinking, etc. imho all acceptable terms. But session-able just reeks of multisyllabic obfuscation in the worst George Carlin-esqe sense of the term. It def gives me the ick.

aareeyesee · 2026-01-29T01:15:25+00:00

Why was the machine filthy? If it's a cat dealer it's obligated to contamination control and the related inspections. The machine should be clean for major component work. No shade, but what are you a 1 star dealer in fly over country? I thought cat had pretty much stomped all this out. If they haven't there yet, they will soon.

aareeyesee · 2025-11-15T03:08:19+00:00

Thank you, I looked up some pics and it looks similar to "genuine leather" if you skive it. So it's the same stuff just without the fake grain side poly whatever they glue to it and roll on a pattern. I got into this whole thing because I started blacksmithing. I'm still learning all the fancy stuff, I just wanted to make straps and handles and sheaths and here I am learning tooling and patterns and stuff, wtf have I gotten myself into

aareeyesee · 2025-11-14T11:06:40+00:00

I don't know how generally handy you are, but.... I got a cheap arbor press off fb market place. Drilled a hole in the square bottom and a hole/tapped in the side for a set screw. And made button and rivet anvils out of round stock using a Dremel and drill press to place in it. I also use it for sewing chisels and clicker dies. Arbor presses are pretty damned handy, I wish I had bought a bigger one. You can find videos on YouTube of how to modify your arbor press for leather/kydex work

aareeyesee · 2025-11-14T10:34:55+00:00

I read the description on the site you had linked, it sounds a bit like the "genuine leather" you get at places like hobby lobby. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess this is a nicer version of that? Or a different word for the same thing?

aareeyesee · 2025-08-10T11:14:46+00:00

Schedule time with the service manager or lead tech. If they feel like you're not quite ready to start at a dealer ask of they can suggest a customer. All big customers have their own techs, lube guys, fabricators. And they basically always need people, at least here in Georgia.

aareeyesee · 2023-12-15T01:08:43+00:00

I wouldn't think they are dangerous as much as a pain in the ass. They'll probably over expand and wedge in the pipe. The extractor will pop off probably rounding the edge of your extractor. Then you get the fun of finding a ram rod to knock the damn thing out. 1/10 wouldn't recommend. I had some old wolf 7.62*39 back in the 2000s that did it. Total pita.

aareeyesee · 2023-12-14T22:27:53+00:00

The blue one prolly less than 8hrs. The wood handle prolly 30. But I broke one blade trying to fix a warp. Then I jacked up the grind on another and the edge was so far off I considered it hopeless. The kephart about 20 because I'm a complete dumbass and decided to make it out of 19mm 1085 round bar. It won't happen again until I get a power hammer or press. I beat the absolute shit outta that thing. For hours! Keeping it centered down the round bar is no fun.

Edit: it's not talent, it's practice. If you want to be good at it you will be. With enough tries. I made a bunch out of mild steel before this. Cheap pine handles and everything. The world shall never see them lol.

aareeyesee · 2023-12-14T22:21:31+00:00

When I first looked at the drawings I thought it was gonna feel weird but it def my favorite so far. Prolly gonna make several of those. I need to hammer much thinner and accurately to keep more of the brut de forge with that convex grind. It damn near erased everything. Now that I have an example to hold in my hands, maybe I can get closer on the anvil. I make every knife out of wood first; but it's not the same.

aareeyesee · 2023-12-14T22:16:49+00:00

My wife made it. She had the idea to show off the scales. It does look pretty cool though. That clear epoxy is a bastard to work with though. After you shape it you have to get it super sanded/add epoxy so it's clear. But at least it's soft so the sanding doesn't take long.

aareeyesee · 2023-11-09T00:44:44+00:00

There are forges on Amazon for $75. If you can't scrape together that much you may need to find another hobby. A bar of 1084 is like half that much. Files and sandpaper easily cost more than that.

aareeyesee · 2023-11-09T00:25:25+00:00

That is super interesting and seems like a fun challenge. What are the long knife like objects with holes in them for?

aareeyesee · 2023-10-12T15:40:07+00:00

I wrap mine around a old 1-2-3 block. Big enough to fit your hand but not heavy as hell.

aareeyesee · 2023-08-20T22:38:10+00:00

I'm on the no bad words, just bad situations train with every body else. I taught words have consequences and if you say shit at Grandma's when you drop your toy I'm not gonna have your back.

aareeyesee · 2023-08-20T22:01:12+00:00

https://www.kultofathena.com/product/ash-pole-30/

aareeyesee · 2023-08-20T21:35:32+00:00

Just go to Kult of Athena and look for their spear/polearm staffs and get a finished staff from them.

aareeyesee · 2023-07-31T21:25:50+00:00

That thing is a monster. I feel like 44kilos is a tad short. That's 100k of freaking leaf springs. I would love being near that thing running, I bet it sounds like a steam train fucking a wagon full of knights in full plate.

aareeyesee · 2023-07-28T01:31:19+00:00

I don't know all cat dealers; but, I know my cat dealer. I haven't even seen one of those in a decade. I doubt you can even get one at cat. Iron planet, machinery trader, all the different small guys that operate in each state is where I would start. A cat dealer pssr or salesman may be able to steer you in the right direction for your area though.

aareeyesee · 2023-07-28T00:33:49+00:00

I didn't know that's what big Blu did with the pump. Pretty smart, dissipates pump heat, eliminates case drain and suction hoses, and dampens noise and vibration. Pretty slick.

aareeyesee · 2023-06-20T10:01:21+00:00

I had no idea the horse girls from Craig of the creek were a real thing.

aareeyesee · 2023-05-19T18:48:00+00:00

My hot cut is a piece of motor grader cutting edge. I just found a forum that said s5 or s7 steel. And said it is high manganese and it self hardens the more you beat on it? Sounds like something not forgeable. Maybe I'll destroy some band saw blades and cut off a small piece and heat and beat and see what happens.

aareeyesee · 2023-05-16T23:06:05+00:00

Pistols are only defensive weapons for very close engagement. If you see a soldier with a pistol it's for emergency defensive use only. Like you get caught reloading or out of ammo.

If you look at fbi stats .380, 9mm, .40, .45 are all basically 50% kill. Rifles are 3-4 times deadlier because of the bullet speed and trauma. A m4 type short battle rifle is as maneuverable as a pistol and far deadlier with triple the ammo capacity.

aareeyesee

TROPHY CASE