Today I acquired...........

[Rig Pig]

If you ever sell that, you should make a few bob profit too. Those small Kennedy's seem to be quite sought after.

That's good news! It's a handy size machine, I'm going to build a slide out 'draw' with a couple of legs at the front so I can push it out of the way under the bench when I'm not using it, my workshop seems to be getting smaller by the day!

 

[MattF]

my workshop seems to be getting smaller by the day!

I'm there with you on that front. Thought I'd cleared some floor space the other day, but I'll be damned if I can find it now. I didn't imagine it, honest.

 

[Turbo]

I'm there with you on that front. Thought I'd cleared some floor space the other day, but I'll be damned if I can find it now. I didn't imagine it, honest.

Every time I clear my floor it fills up again within a few days. I think it's leprechauns coming in during the night and making a mess. Or in the winter it could be the brass monkeys in using the welder.

Generally I don't bother any more unless I need to work on the car.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Every time I clear my floor it fills up again within a few days. I think it's leprechauns coming in during the night and making a mess. Or in the winter it could be the brass monkeys in using the welder.

Generally I don't bother any more unless I need to work on the car.

10 points if you can tell me what a brass monkey was and why it's balls would fall off, without resorting to google

 

[eSCHEn]

10 points if you can tell me what a brass monkey was and why it's balls would fall off, without resorting to google

Only thing I can think of is something to do with pawn shops? Doesn't sound likely though...

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

The brass triangular Ring to hold steel cannon balls on wooden men of wars.
The brass would contract fasted than the steel and the cannon balls would fall of.
Do I get the points?

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Well I take it back, my understanding of the term as told to me by a naval historian has by all accounts been widely disproved. You live an learn. Carry on folks

 

[Tinbasherdan]

The brass triangular Ring to hold steel cannon balls on wooden men of wars.
The brass would contract fasted than the steel and the cannon balls would fall of.
Do I get the points?

You would if I hadn't double checked it and found its been disproved as above!

 

[pedrobedro]

The brass triangular Ring to hold steel cannon balls on wooden men of wars.
The brass would contract fasted than the steel and the cannon balls would fall of.
Do I get the points?

No points, cannon balls were not steel

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Steel or iron.
The early cannon balls were made of carved stone, but with the British, under Henry The 8Th, developing a new safe way of castings Iron cannons was also developed. Until then the balls were carved from stone. But that way you could not get a constant ball, not only in size or weight.
During the Civil war the cannons fired a round shot with a lead core. This increased range and accuracy. Due to the fact they could be of a constant weight. Bit still needing a cotton wad to pack. Irish linen was the best.
During the 17Th, 18th century, until the Case shot was perfected. the balls were made from Iron, later steel.
HMS Victory could loose more weight of shot in a broadside than Wellington could at Waterloo.
The Monkey was a triangle base used to keep ready use shot handy near the gun. It proved to be a waste of space. Hence why The Navy used shot garlands.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Every time I clear my floor it fills up again within a few days. I think it's leprechauns coming in during the night and making a mess. Or in the winter it could be the brass monkeys in using the welder.

Generally I don't bother any more unless I need to work on the car.

I hate them, they're closely related to the tangle fairies that get in the workshop and muck up all my cables and extension leads etc.

 

[pedrobedro]

Mary Rose cannon balls were lead shot with an iron core, early iron armour piercing technology.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Yes, the lead was from Wales.
The iron was from all over the UK, but all came together at the Royal Armouries.
She also carried grape shot and the balls were laced together with Silk. Rumour had it that Henry 8th used French silk removed from old French tapestries.
The Mary Rose even had powder flask recovered with powder still in place, when washed and re ground was found to only lost 40% of it's proof.
They found records of the Mary Rose having a powder Mill on board, but it was not found.
The Navy soon stop using the brass monkey idea, as it was useless.

 

[Turbo]

I hate them, they're closely related to the tangle fairies that get in the workshop and muck up all my cables and extension leads etc.

You've got them as well? I untangle my grinder leads every morning yet by evening they're in a mess. The fairies must be invisible as I've never seen them doing their mischief.

 

[Maker]

Are these the same fairies who throw your grinder on the floor and snap the disc?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Are these the same fairies who throw your grinder on the floor and snap the disc?

Aye, sounds like the very fellows - we have them up here too!

 

[julianthegypsy]

Every time you turn around they rearrange the bench too, so the thing you just put down disappears. Then they wait until you've searched the entire workshop and put it back again when you're not looking. Sneaky little blighters!

 

[Maker]

Every time you turn around they rearrange the bench too, so the thing you just put down disappears. Then they wait until you've searched the entire workshop and put it back again when you're not looking. Sneaky little blighters!

They especially like safety glasses.

 

[julianthegypsy]

I have more pairs of safety glasses than I know what to do with...still can't find them when I need them...or at least can't find the unscratched pairs...

They scamper about with bits of brillo pad and clean them for you....

 

[roofman]

this morning very early i came across these in a daily mooch in my area and made a £40 bid to the seller expecting to pay a little more but he jumped on my money like a flea on a dog... some very nice little items