Mistakes were made...

We have emptied the shipping container and moved on from that phase of this crazy adventure. During the summer months, I checked the machine surfaces for signs of rust. However, I stopped checking regularly since we had no issues for the first 6-7 months. Then, the cold weather came in, and mistake #1 was made. I quit checking for rust right when the condensation started showing its ugly face. I estimate that the last month of storage in the shipping container was full of condensation nights or mornings. Luckily, the container was not level. The container sloped to the right and to the rear, so only one of my machines really got the worst of it. My poor planer table looks horrible. Lots of rust and definitely a few hours of work are on the to-do list to get it back to working condition. Luckily, the planer was the only tool that got it bad. Unintentionally, I haven't shown it on camera yet. You'll see it when I get the time to clean it up. Also, we didn't get any significant mold issues on our personal belongings and only lost one wall decor print.

Mistake #2 was a big one. More accurately, mistake #2 was a 980lb mistake. I also mistakenly referred to its weight as 1,100lb. Anyway, I had a mental lapse in judgment and thought it would be OK to pull the jointer pallet forward by simply looping a strap around the base of the jointer. Oh, the instant regret. I should have looped the strap inside the pallet like we have been doing, and instead, I pulled the jointer over onto its side. Luckily, the fall wasn't from a considerable distance, and the pallet in front of it took up a lot of energy on the way down. I think so, anyway. No visual damage at all to the jointer and my dust collection barrel just got a minor 3-4" dent. Easily fixable. Regarding the jointer, I think it was just knocked out of calibration. Annoying and frustrating, for sure, but it could have been way worse. Nobody was hurt, and metal was scratched. A few years ago, I would have blown up with frustration and anger. This whole new land adventure has prepared me to better accept, adapt, and move when plans go astray. It fell, oh well, time to move on.

Affiliates/coupons:

Mint Mobile: Regularly $30/month for unlimited talk, text, and data. 50% off right now, so $15/month for unlimited talk, text, and data. I'm currently using the service and recommend it. Especially if you can lock in several months for just $15/month. Here's my affiliate link. Your cost doesn't change but if you use my link I get a commission when you sign up. 

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JK Boots:

Hands down, without question, the best outdoor working boot that I have ever tried. They aren't cheap and they aren't inexpensive. The break-in period was brutal for me. But after some boot oil and a few working days for them to conform to my feet, I've never worked in anything as form fitting and comfortable. I wore mine all summer and immediately realized how comfortable they are after being forced to switch to a mud boot when the wet season hit. Once we get the extreme mud under control the rubber boots will get the boot and I'll be back to good foot comfort in my JK's. I have the O.T. Bison - Canyon. Yes, the JKs can handle mud, but excessive full submersion in mud is unnecessary They have a good sizing system and you can order different sizes for each foot if necessary. JKs are an investment, for sure, so I wanted to wait until I had 6 months of experience before I promoted them. THUMBS UP. Here's my affiliate link. Your cost doesn't change but if you use my link I get a commission when you purchase. USE THE CODE jaybates TO GET 10% OFF!

https://www.jkboots.com/products/o-t-bison-rust-roughout-smooth?bg_ref=BwlWA71DVt

BRUNT Workwear:

I have two recommendations from BRUNT, both are summer time work clothes that I've been wearing year-round. The Costello Pant are light weight and durable. A bit stretchy where it matters most. And, if you have big thighs like I do, they don't make you look like you're wearing skinny jeans. The McKenna Tech Long Sleeve Sun Shirt saved me from being lifted away by mosquitos this past summer. It handled chainsaw chips being thrown at me. I felt more comfortable wearing this long sleeve shirt in the summer than I did being covered in bug bites, poison ivy, and woodchips. Now that winter has set in, I'm finding it to be my go-to extra layer. When a coat is too hot but a regular shirt is not enough, slap this long sleeve on and get to work. Here's my affiliate link. Your cost doesn't change but if you use my link I get a commission when you purchase. 

BRUNT - BPo3 AFFILIATE LINK

xTool Laser:

I have three lasers from xTool that our entire family enjoys. We have the P2 - 55W Co2 laser that is our go-to for larger engravings and cuts. We prefer using this one for any wood or acrylic that we need to cut all the way through or engrave. And we have both the F1 and F1 Ultra. The F1 is a super portable engraver. You can literally take the base of it off and hold the engraver up to a wall and engrave the wall if needed. Or simply set it on the corner of your cutting board to engrave a logo. The F1 Ultra is a bit less portable but still smaller in size. It has twice the engraving area and both a diode and a fiber laser. The fiber laser is great for engraving on metal, such as stainless steel. All three have been great to use with zero reliability issues.  

xTool AFFILIATE LINK

P.S. What did one eye say to the other? Just between you and me, something smells.