Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Well... not necessarily Greg, I had intended to take a foot of soil from the floor too. I guess I'll tackle that when I return to the house in 15yrs.

Continuing to make good headway on the wall, pulling up alot of big boulders as well as lots of little rocks too. The "rock saw" idea likely wouldn't have worked too well.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2012/001-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...202012/004.jpg

This rock is near the wall and there is a much larger rock just in front that I can't budge yet after digging down 3 inches around it. The 850 will pop it out eventually. :cool:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...202012/014.jpg

Gonna have to start screening soon, running out of room down below.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...202012/017.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...202012/016.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhTvRuLPp0c

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

In a week or 2 you might be able to drive the 850 down to the screener!

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Probably a month T9, I'm going on vacation next wk for ten days. :)

I popped that boulder out finally last nite, it was a lil bigger than the bucket. Got lots of loose soil tore up & stacked atop the wall, push it off later with the dozer or wheel loader... makings for another movie. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...202012/007.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...202012/018.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...202012/022.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...202012/024.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...202012/025.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...202012/026.jpg


This wet clay is gumming up my track pads so they don't articulate properly. Hoping they clean out when the dirt dries. Motors sure have lots of torque to muscle thru the binding and no problems with loosing a track either. :cool:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...202012/028.jpg


I saved this 3 minute video in high definition (80mb/minute), much better clarity than any previous vid I've made. But a ten minute video would be a huge file to upload, it'd turn my 4G into peddle internet again. :eek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w39TuUoaU6c

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Hi Joe-I always enjoy watching your videos because as an operator you are so smooth and efficient. And since you have done this so much I'm guessing you get bored with it sometimes but I think it would be great to have a long term project like this. I just have a small pile of dirt in my shop and after about-5-min. of digging with my shovel I get bored. But now I have my truck to load so that may help some but nothing like what you have going on. Your work provides hours of good entertainment.:)

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Thanx Tom, that's what drives me the most about this hobby, workin 'em! :cool:

When they break down I sigh, now I gotta get dirty. :(

Lately I have been down there 4-5hrs every night, but there are times, like last month that I didn't go down there for a couple wks. The ambition comes & goes.

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

I had been wondering if it was possible with the RC version to move the undercarriage and assist with the boom, stick and swing like when on the 1:1. I figured it wouldn't be easy since you use your feet and two hands.... Nice job Joe.

Ben

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Thanx Ben, but if I had "pedals" to plug into my radio, then I could do it much easier without stopping. :D

I now have the loader on a Spektrum radio capable of ch mixing, but unfortunately the DX6 only has two mixes. The bucket tilt is not mixed with the pump, so I have to use the lift to activate pump... I need atleast the DX7 for three mixes or leave the pump on all the time for fluent control.

2nd half of vid shows the adt stock piling wet lumps in the area I was excavating last winter... the dirt is currently too wet to process thru the crusher, it'll just plug it up. Likely I'll just haul the majority of this stockpile outside when the weather warms up, I should have more than enough dry fines to backfill with when the remaining crib wall is built, hopefully in a few months.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2012/004-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2012/005-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2012/006-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2012/007-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...202012/008.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2012/010-1.jpg

http://youtu.be/Ewz5m12RW9A

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

This process is a long but well planned show. Great to watch!

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Nothing really planned kcjeepn, I just make it up as I go along. Thanx for the compliment. :)

It's been above seasonal temperatures here for nearly a month, with alot of strong winds out of the south... however yesterday it was in the north & I spent much of the afternoon hauling this wet dirt out! :D

My dirt pile infront of the screener is right below the window opening, so I have to stand back a couple meters from where I normally look, ducking around the furnace duct work & drive blind some of the time. Alls went well, no crashes, got a mountain of dirt out! :cool:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...202012/003.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2012/004-2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...2012/005-2.jpg

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

keep up the good work joe and have fun on your holiday. or is every day a holiday not that you don't have your cow's to wory about.

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

I still have other things to do every week, but without cows I can leave for a few days at a time with no worries of finding some one to be here in my absence. ;)

My 1st video using a GoPro camera. Pretty much point & shoot, no zoom, but a wide viewing angle. It must be the 100watt light bulb to my right that has made it look black & white? :confused:

It's nice having a large memory card, edited 36minutes down to 15 for this video. Took a long time to download from camera to puter - 2.1gigs. :eek:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD6R8...ature=youtu.be

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

nice video Joe:)
but if a bossman ever caught me loading a dumper like that id be fired on the spot:p

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Another great video Joe. The helmet cam is a good idea. You do have alot of trust in your 2.4 gig radio, one glitch and your Volvo/740 would be over the cliff and in a world of hurt...
That is the shortest haul I have ever seen, hope the operator is only getting paid half his normal wage...lol

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

I think I have done a lot of things in the basement mine with the equip that would have gotten me fired in real life hitachi, but don't tell anybody. :D

That DX8 has never glitched Greg. A very fine radio to use & setup for these constr models. ;) ...the shortest haul? you're one of many that have made that very same comment... I never gave it a thought at the time, just what a savings it would be not to drag the dirt twice before sending it over the edge. :)

It seems my photobucket account has been over used lately! The pics I was gonna post today may not appear... it kinda blew my mind to see 9000+ views on my Scale4x4 thread in the last week alone & I've had nearly 50 subs on youtube this wkend, mostly cdn & Sweden. :confused:

Also, I got a PM on Scale from an aussie internet news media wanting to interview me about my basement excavation... don't know why the sudden popularity? :confused:

Last week, I got the pile cleaned up from below the wall.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/002.jpg

Then I piled some dirt high in the opening behind the water heater, what I mined out last winter, make room for more stock piling... I don't want haul out any more dirt till I get the south wall backfilled... wouldn't it be goofy if I had to haul dirt back in? :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/003.jpg

Dribbling some water again last week to soften up the dirt on the wall.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/006.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/008.jpg

Was ready to go on the wall again last night when all the sudden I see oil dripping off the bucket. :confused: Turns out I have a small pin hole leak on the backside of the bucket cyl barrel. :(

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/009.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/012.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/013.jpg

I go to plumber tomorrow morning to get the right kind of solder necessary for repair and maybe a lesson too to do it correctly. ;)

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Hay Joe looks like you have been taking to many pics.:D

Travis

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

I have soledered i think 2 of my cylinders, one on my excavator and one on the dumper, i used regular solder (what i use to solder deans and wires) and a mapp gas torch on its lowest flame setting, it was quite easy and it fixed the leak on both cyls.

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Hi joe- looks like you are steadily making progress. I have never heard you say before but given the climate you live in, is your basement heated?

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Hi Joe,
Your models have made news here in Australia.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/world/841...ent-using-toys

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

I think the sudden popularity is due to someone posting your basement dig
on dfw mustangs forum.

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

I am sure someone has asked this question before,

What controls do you use to move your excavator's undercarrage with. Do you switch your controls over and use your joy sticks ?

greg

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

This news site too. Congrats.:D
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/02...sing-only.html

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

might as well jump on the train. Joe made the local provincial paper to!


http://www.leaderpost.com/life/61654...?size=620x400s
http://www.leaderpost.com/life/Saska...414/story.html

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Congrats on all ur fame...great job..

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Hey Joe, you can't please them all, but you sure as heck please a lot of people here.
Thanks Rob

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

you also made Technabob

http://www.news.com.au/technology/ca...-1226270731287

And the Toronto Star

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/a...n-year-project

and carscoop. seems they really love you there lol

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2012/02...-basement.html



Just dont let the spot light go to your head!! :P j/k

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

You are also in Denmark, lost of newsmagasines online and a 20 sek clip in the evningnews in prime time friday

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Thank you for all the praise and encouragement my friends, much appreciated & duely noted! :cool:

My phone finally went silent today, but email is still going nuts!

I think I'll go wind down in the basement tonite, I haven't been there all week!

Cheers

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Very cool. You made a lot of the news sites and paper. Congrats!

Also, what scale are your models?

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Withdrawl symptom's:eek::p:D
You've officially had your "15 minute's of fame" Great to see some positive coverage:cool:
Cheer's, Neil.

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Tom, I don't have heat that blows directly into the basement, but being below ground level and with the diesel fueled furnance (it's right behind me where I'm digging right now), the chimney & duct work throughout give off a bit of heat to keep it maybe +15C (not quite room temp). The video I posted a month ago or so, I was wearing a lined coat b/c it was -25C outside most of that week, which made it a bit chilly down there.

Construction, the scale is 1/14th.

Neil, I shot some video last night where I nearly fell off the wall with the 850 so close to the edge, I got lost in the controls with the tracks (takes 3 switches on this DX8 to make them work), had to quickly set the tx down and grabbed the model.. a week off from running the 850 and I loose my touch. :eek:

Thank you again for the well wishes fellows.. no worries of it going to my head, I'm looking forward to getting back to my ordinary life of enjoying my hobby with you all. :)



I did manage to fix my cyl Monday night, although it didn't hold... I prepped the surface, cleaned with laquer thinner to get the surface oil free, used flux paste, solder for copper plumbing (Frank's recommendation for best stuff) and a good sized butane torch... the soldered just balled up & fell off. I tried the electrical solder I normally use for wiring, same problem.

I then switched to using my soldering iron and cranked the temperature to high. That worked, although kinda messy, the solder still didn't flow/liquify into the joint. The solder kinda stuck on like smearing dried up play-do.

Why did the solder ball up with the torch? Too hot, not hot enough?

After connecting cyl to model again & pressuring up, there was a slight bit of an oil film seeping.. and then it quit.

After 3 batt packs yesterday & today, it let go again and now the cyl is back on my workbench for round two.

(I really hate doing things twice! which is why I suck at scratchbuilding & buy somebody else's work)

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Joe-on your cylinder,my guess is that it wasn't clean and could have been too hot. Cleanliness is usually the problem. If you can get your hands on "sta-brite" silver solder it comes with acid flux and is low heat. If you get it really clean I think that will hold. My truck bed is steel and it is put together with the "sta-brite" and I have abused it quite severely just when sanding and grinding and finishing on it.

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

dirty joint most likely residue from laquer thiner or oil residue that didn't come off . A little trick I learned cleaning oil off completely is use either (cold weather starting fluid ) dissolves oil real good ;) . another thing , I'm sure you took the cylider all apart before soldering :)

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

I like "brake cleaner" also known as toluene aka paint thinner.

Cheer's, Neil.

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

All good but dont know if plumber told you(didnt see it mentioned) to sand it too. need to get oxidation off.

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Always thoroughly clean oxidation off. Degrease then clean with SS wire brush , steel wool, or Scotch Bright pad. Preheat, flux,solder. Since you said you're using plumbers solder 50/50? 60/40? The new Antimony Tin Silver stuff is a bit tricky to get a good flow. Flux: use No Corrode solder paste (the brownish stuff) No brainer.

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Joe, Your 15 minutes of fame isn't over......

Whatever articles / stories where done ( I didn't bother to read them since I'm on here) have spread to every website of all of my other interests and I see new posting every day....I try to "enlighten" the unkowing bashers when I can.....

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

I found time this morning to try to solder it again after a thorough cleaning, sanding, ether cleaning, I tried everybody's tricks except the brake cleaner & special flux.. I ended with the same results again with both the torch & the soldering iron.. mind blowing!

I gobbed quite a bit on with the iron, sanded it down to make it look not quite as ugly.. if it blows out again on me, then I'll just take it to the local machinist in town here and get a proper lesson. That guy can weld anything; I've learned stick hard surfacing, mig, silver solder from him in the past.

My biggest problem I think is that I don't weld often enough, so I never develop the skill well enough to retain the knowledge to do it correctly.

I'm thinking that there has to be something else going here... maybe the original weld is not solder.. I don't know!

I'll install it tonite, work the snott out of it & see how long it lasts! ;)

Thank you HMD, much appreciated! :cool: There has been alot misinformation floating around about me & my hobby the last couple weeks... I wish it would end, I'm tired of it! It's been taking up too much of my personal time. Somebody else deserves to be in the spotlight now, there are many others who build far more detailed models than I & they should be recognized too for their efforts & contributions to this fine hobby we all enjoy & work at together. ;)

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Joe I'm thinking the original weld/solder joint is not clean . maybe some residual coolent from the machining :confused:

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

Joe only a suggestion nut if you have a radiator shop around that would be the place to take it they deal with all kinds of soldering jobs even aluminum. That were I took my cylinder and they did a great job at a reasonable price considering they had to put on 2 ends and the metal line that goes from the front to the back of the cylinder. Ed

Re: Hauling Dirt out of my basement (present day)
 

I soaked the cyl in thinner over night, blew it thoroughly with pressurized air & soaked it again to try to get any impurities out of the joint. Blew it dry this morning and began prep work with sanding, ect... I just know it's something stupid. :confused:

That's another good idea Ed, if the local machinist is swamped, I'll check there next.

A vid from Sunday night, nothing new to see, the 850 back on the wall ripping & digging... Luving it! :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aGh834LqFs