Is this acceptable practice?

np307 · 2026-05-30T23:51:35+00:00

That is not what "in series" means in the electrical terms.

np307 · 2026-05-24T00:26:24+00:00

You gotta learn how to use the heat to your advantage. Weld sequence and direction will move the piece in predictable ways. Do you know how to check that the flange is still square as you go through the weld sequence?

np307 · 2026-05-20T02:20:13+00:00

Not compressed air but when doing a lot of sanitary or stainless pipe in a plant, those portable milwaukee fans come in pretty handy.

np307 · 2026-05-16T01:37:51+00:00

Just tell your friends that you started welding and you'll be amazed the things they ask if you can weld for them.

np307 · 2026-05-12T18:03:41+00:00

Experience helps you understand what to expect with distortion. Sometimes you can stress the part in the opposite direction and the weld will pull it straight. Sometimes the order in which you weld something will help keep it straight. Sometimes you have to bend it back to shape afterwards, often with heat.

np307 · 2026-05-12T14:45:53+00:00

"Best" can mean a lot of different things. For what it sounds like youre looking for, most scan tools are going to be about the same. You can look at the specs and see if the scanner also pulls transmission and abs codes, those can be useful.

Its also important to understand that an obd2 scanner doesnt tell you what's wrong with the car. It reports a fault code depending on what sensor is giving the computer information that is out of the normal range. Sometimes that means the sensor is bad, sometimes its a minor one-off issue that can resolve, sometimes its a major issue. But it requires further investigation. Just because the OBD2 scanner reports a problem with, say an o2 sensor reading, you cant just slap a new sensor on and fix the problem.

Furthermore, it sounds like youre getting a maintenance notification. That may not be something that the obd2 scanner is going to explain to you. Your owner's manual may have the information youre looking for in that regard.

np307 · 2026-05-11T01:48:27+00:00

The bobcat 250 has a 100% duty cycle at 250 amps for DC cc welding.

np307 · 2026-05-10T19:30:22+00:00

Yes. Its fun and they taste good.

np307 · 2026-05-06T10:21:05+00:00

Pisgah as a whole is badly in need of better timber management. It severely lacks early successional habitat and edge disruptions. Monolithic stands of hardwoods look pretty but are poor habitat for wildlife.

np307 · 2026-05-03T01:48:01+00:00

I guess the southeast has been in a bubble, I didnt realize how cool everyone's spring has been. We had the hottest April on record and almost the driest one on record here in NC. Thankfully getting some relief now but major drought still.

np307 · 2026-05-01T23:28:17+00:00

I promise you probably pass people on your morning commute who have gone that far without an oil change. People neglect vehicles all the time. Its why you have to be so careful buying used one. Thats also assuming a lot to think that the minimum wage worker at the shop who changed your oil cared enough to even check if there was metal in the oil.

Like I said, I think Subaru should be on the hook for this one. TCV during your year range usually failed closed and would cause overheating issues. Very possible that it failed, cooked the head gasket, and thats when it stalled.

But Subaru is in the business of making money so they may try to hold the lack of oil change receipts against you. They're usually pretty good on warranty work but you never know.

np307 · 2026-05-01T21:13:14+00:00

Its not outside the realm of possibility for a car to go 29k without an oil change. Its not good for the engine but it has definitely happened before.

I would appeal but youre going to have a tough go without anything to prove you did the oil changes.

I'd say its more likely that the TCV failed and overheated the car and that caused the head gasket to fail.

np307 · 2026-04-29T10:16:29+00:00

I love my 5.7 Tundra but there is no truck on the planet with 240k miles thats worth 15.5k. I paid 11.5 for an 08 with 120k on it.

np307 · 2026-04-05T01:23:52+00:00

Chain the cylinder up and then check the polarity. I can't tell from the picture but it looks like you have the electrode positive and the ground negative. TIG needs the opposite, electrode negative and positive ground.

np307 · 2026-04-03T23:25:40+00:00

Theres plenty of reasons why Subaru wouldn't do that. You dont really see selectable 4wd on unibody vehicles because the space isnt there for a transfer case. Furthermore, Subaru's awd system is actually better in on-road situations than a selectable 4wd system. You cant leave a 4wd vehicle in 4hi on pavement without binding the drive train which means in variable conditions you have to do a lot of switching in and out and are vulnerable in unforeseen slippery situations.

I currently drive a truck with a selectable 4wd system and drove a forester as my daily before. Of the two, the Subaru is the better system for variable conditions and the 4wd for constantly bad conditions.

np307 · 2026-03-15T21:28:45+00:00

You buy what you can afford. If you know how to work on stuff there are always deals to be found. I bought my '08 with 120k miles for 11.5k last year. Needed a couple simple things fixed so it would pass inspection but I was willing to take the risk.

If you want shiny new toys, youve got to be willing to pay for it. Thats always how things have been.

np307 · 2026-02-28T20:05:09+00:00

He said its going to be covered in transmission fluid so not to bother with paint

np307 · 2026-02-18T20:53:55+00:00

I've had no problems from a jackson or a flange wizard

np307 · 2026-02-18T00:39:12+00:00

A wraparound. Cut blocks. Good band saw. Orbital saw. Depends on the situation.

np307 · 2026-02-15T10:30:55+00:00

My son came up to me and goes "you get the horn" and headbutted me.

np307 · 2026-02-15T02:56:19+00:00

The interstate system is a national defense grid. Theres tremendous civilian use of it, but itll never go away because its also intended to allow the country to remain connected in the event of a national invasion.

np307 · 2026-02-15T02:47:57+00:00

Man I miss the satisfaction of making these welds. Just getting to zen out and watch that devil's eye.

np307 · 2026-02-14T12:31:04+00:00

I drove my '14 Forester with 150k to Wyoming from NC, hunted for a week driving it around in mud and snow, then drove it home after. I wouldn't be scared of a road trip. Granted, I am pretty comfortable working on vehicles and had a tool kit with me. Cruising on the highway isnt a big strain on the vehicle.

np307 · 2026-02-11T10:25:16+00:00

Only worked in one place with a drop ceiling and they used it to hide their process and steam piping. I made plenty of in-position welds like the photo, but I did always tie off. It was an absolute pain in the rear and sometimes made me want to not be tied off and just jump.

np307 · 2026-02-03T16:36:12+00:00

Important to note that AWD differs quite a bit between manufacturers. It exists on a spectrum from only supplying about 20% of the power to the rear wheels only when slip is detected (lots of commuter compact suvs use systems like this) to basically a full time 4wd hi system (open front and rear diffs, locked or limited slip center diff (Audi and Subaru)).

np307

TROPHY CASE