Has anyone heard from Pitchy lately?

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 6:41 pm

Hope everything is ok!

Jason

Old No7 · Post by **Old No7** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 6:57 pm

No... I just thought of Lenn earlier this evening...

Gee, his last sign-on was back on the 9th (2.5 weeks ago); let's just hope he's off hunting or taking a break.

I will try to reach him and check in.

Old No7

TraderVic · Post by **TraderVic** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 7:36 pm

I pm'd him today, asking him if he's OK. No response so far.

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Wed Oct 27, 2021 7:50 pm

His health has not been good, and getting worse. I hope and pray Lenn is OK.

.45colt · Post by **.45colt** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 1:41 am

I only Hope He is just very busy getting firewood finished up before winter . He goes through a lot of wood each winter. Prayers up.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 6:05 am

I have his ph# and will give it a try later this morning.

jb

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 12:07 pm

Thanks for asking gents, been busy with wood and feeling poorly.
Made this Benjamin Franklin Bells, guess he made a big one and had it in a building and when a storm approached it rang.

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Ztdlq4AF4

I also have a Wimshurst generator on order so i can shock the heck out of something.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 1:20 pm

Good to see you're still alive and well.

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 1:40 pm

Cool beans Lenn.... I'd never seen that apparatus before...

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 1:41 pm

Nice gadget! glad you're still making cool stuff...

.45colt · Post by **.45colt** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 2:04 pm

More Cool stuff Pitchy, Glad Your up and about.

.

OldWin · Post by **OldWin** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 2:28 pm

Glad to see you are ok. Hope you feel better.
Neat job with the bells. Never saw that before.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 2:53 pm

Thanks fellers, been dabbling with the static electricity a bit kinda interesting.
As the humidity is still high it`s amazing i can get anything to work, after it gets cold and get the big stove going we won`t be able to walk across the room without getting shocked.
When i get the beast machine i`ll post a video, it will jump a two inch spark.

Yep got the wood all up about 12-15 cords was a killer but got er done, get through deer season then it`s settle in for the rest of the winter in peace.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Thu Oct 28, 2021 9:38 pm

I like it!!!

GunnyMack · Post by **GunnyMack** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 4:43 am

Those bells are neat! Never heard of them before, ol Franklin was no dummy!
I'll be waiting to see something get shocked!

Glad you got firewood put up.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 6:10 am

Thanks Griff and Gunny, what i learned about static electricity it travels on the surface of things even wood as ya can see in the video.
The current goes across the wood stick on top and down to the bell on the wood rod which charges it , the other bell is grounded so it dups it`s charge when it hits it.
Here`s a Utube vid about how it works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BL3mSpnJXLo

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 6:45 am

"Yep got the wood all up about 12-15 cords was a killer but got er done, get through deer season then it`s settle in for the rest of the winter in peace. "

Not as cold here, but we go through about 8-9 cords, and I only have 2 at present.....so we are 'rationing' right now and keep the house at a toasty 62-64 degrees...

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 9:00 am

AJMD429 wrote: ↑Fri Oct 29, 2021 6:45 am "Yep got the wood all up about 12-15 cords was a killer but got er done, get through deer season then it`s settle in for the rest of the winter in peace. "

Not as cold here, but we go through about 8-9 cords, and I only have 2 at present.....so we are 'rationing' right now and keep the house at a toasty 62-64 degrees...

60`s is pretty chilly that`s about all were running now as we don`t have the wood stove fired up yet, we are using a electric backup heater now. 220v.
Got 5 cords of dry oak slabs sawed up for the shop stove and the rest is a mix of popular and birch for the house.

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 11:43 am

Glad to see you're still experimenting, and having fun Lenn! Been missing your updates and thought maybe you'd run out of ideas, or hunkered down for the winter!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:21 pm

Thanks Marlinman.
Made another one on a old horseshoe today.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Fri Oct 29, 2021 5:00 pm

have to say, I was a bit relieved when you answered my text the other day. Cool stuff as always.

jb

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Sat Oct 30, 2021 10:58 am

So when will we see a video of these in action?

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Oct 30, 2021 12:21 pm

marlinman93 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 30, 2021 10:58 am So when will we see a video of these in action?

+1

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sat Oct 30, 2021 1:05 pm

Blaine wrote: ↑Sat Oct 30, 2021 12:21 pm
marlinman93 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 30, 2021 10:58 am So when will we see a video of these in action?
+1

There is a video of the first one in post one, the Wimshurst machine should be here Tuesday.
After i get that so i can put a steady charge on things i`ll make some more video`s.

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 10:18 am

Thanks Lenn! I missed that, and looks like fun!

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 11:29 am

marlinman93 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 31, 2021 10:18 am Thanks Lenn! I missed that, and looks like fun!

Just made a small one, the beast machine should be here by Tuesday then we can see them go better.

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 1:31 pm

Love the bells, Lenn. Glad you got your wood put up so you could get back to your swell experiments.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 3:09 pm

Thanks Bill, should be a shocking week.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Nov 01, 2021 2:05 pm

Of coarse it arrived broken so in contact with seller now so might be a delay.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Tue Nov 02, 2021 11:41 am

They`er sending out a new one today so maybe i`ll get it by weeks end.

In the mean time here`s a handy tool ya can make for twisting wire.

Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5CEOeWyQis

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Tue Nov 02, 2021 12:07 pm

that's a slick one. thanks for the clue

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Tue Nov 02, 2021 12:26 pm

Thanks Grizz, i used a 1/4 inch bolt for this one i`d go with a 5/16th if i make another.
There isn`t enough room on a 1/4 to miss the shank when the bit come through, i broke two bits making that one.
Beats the heck outta twisting by hand.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Tue Nov 02, 2021 1:17 pm

And mean while, made this apple picker toy yesterday it`s 20 inches tall and uses 1 inch balls.

Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4spMCHOXWQ

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Tue Nov 02, 2021 1:59 pm

In the mean time we made this vintage horse racing toy.

Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_p_lyiyZpY

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 12:59 pm

Don`t look like the beast is coming today, FedEX tracking shows today delivery but says arrived in Chicago at 8 o'clock this morning so i don`t think it`s going to make it too Minnesota.

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 1:46 pm

Sorry to hear that Lenn but can I put $5.oo on the yellow

Nice looking carousel...

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 2:59 pm

Thanks John, chances of picking a horse and winning are slim.
Gave it a spin gray won sorry.

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Mon Nov 08, 2021 11:39 am

That figurers......never had any luck with the horses...

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Mon Nov 08, 2021 3:03 pm

Ok fellers the Wimshurst machine came today, here`s a pic and some video`s.
Comments appreciated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8HWhGKr6Ns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYiApDHiJFU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7Z7ndKENNQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0gHwI-c77Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Adw7cu8jrdI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhZ5p2mtaJ0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcY9UM75Kww

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Mon Nov 08, 2021 3:19 pm

Fascinating stuff Lenn, long time since I took in any science education, I will have to read up on this...

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Tue Nov 09, 2021 12:59 pm

Thanks John, this morning i made a copy of ole Bens house where he set up a lightening rod and connected it too some bells.
If a storm was in the area the bells would ring but if lightening hit the lightening rod it would jump a spark on the bells and light up the whole room.
His wife hatted it i`ve read and i can see why.

Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku7l_djtkF4

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Tue Nov 09, 2021 1:20 pm

Hey Lenn, just the sort of thing that would look good on the reloading bench

especially if you are a bit sloppy with the Black Powder.....

and if you had a full size room with a lightening conducter it would make a perfect guest room for snowflakes...

I said my science was more than a bit rusty but now I have learned that these machines were used to power up X-ray tubes that require high voltage...

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Tue Nov 09, 2021 2:44 pm

Thanks John i can always count on you to reply

Yep i read about the x-ray stuff also.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Tue Nov 09, 2021 2:56 pm

Looks like Frankenstein's lab.

Good stuff!

jb

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Tue Nov 09, 2021 3:07 pm

Thanks Jason, some of those old time inventors might of been scary to hang around.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Tue Nov 09, 2021 3:33 pm

Probably why the nickname "Lefty" was so popular in those days!

I had an uncle that was a chemist for Sherwin Williams many years ago. He blew up his share of experiments.

jb

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Tue Nov 09, 2021 4:54 pm

Pitchy wrote: ↑Tue Nov 09, 2021 12:59 pm Thanks John, this morning i made a copy of ole Bens house where he set up a lightening rod and connected it too some bells.
If a storm was in the area the bells would ring but if lightening hit the lightening rod it would jump a spark on the bells and light up the whole room.
His wife hatted it i`ve read and i can see why.

Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku7l_djtkF4

when i was in grade school in Phoenix i had a friend who was into ham radio, as was his Dad, an engineer for Motorola I think. Anyway, his Dad had a 1/4 wave 80 M vertical antenna on top of his house. 60 some feet high! When there were electrical storms 200 miles away in the mountains the static charge was so high that you could draw big sparks, inches long and fat ones, off the knife switch that grounded the antenna in electric weather. the kind of spark that can knock someone on their can. friend had a big capacitor that he would charge off of the antenna, then we could get several more big sparks. what fun!

M. M. Wright · Post by **M. M. Wright** » Tue Nov 09, 2021 9:50 pm

That machine is quite something Lenn. Someone put a lot of energy and expertise into building it. Fascinating. I had an uncle who was on the faculty at Oklahoma State and he was always coming up with interesting experiments. When he retired he wanted to fix tvs so he went back to school and got a degree in physics. Yeah, he rubbed off on me.

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Wed Nov 10, 2021 6:59 am

Thanks Grizz and Ron, yep static electricity is weird negative being drawn to positive same as lightening.
Yep the Wimshurst is quite a machine and works well this one is sold by Eisco and seems well made.
I did see a video of a guy that made a big one that was about30 foot tall, there was a storm about ten miles away and the bells were moving back and forth.
It was out doors which is a smart move because lightening is probably going to hit it eventually.
Building and experimenting is kind of in my blood as i`m supposed to be related to Sir Isaac Newton.

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Wed Nov 10, 2021 9:49 am

Hey Lenn, if you are a relation of Sir Isaac Newton is your favourite song... "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree"

You must have something creative in your blood as you just keep coming up with more and more fascinating stuff...