Inspectorjoe

I ordered the 3-section ladder in February from a local ladder company, Beth-Allen Ladder. I like to shop local when I can. I bought three Little Giant's from them over the years. I was told it would take 3-4 weeks. I was OK with that. To make a long story short, nearly three months later, after a half-dozen inquiries, I was told they were told by their distributor that it wasn't available. WTF? I then ordered it from Industrial Ladder (thanks for the tip Tom) at a much better price than at Beth-Allen - $322.62. Shipping was $40 and there was no sales tax. Two days after I ordered it, a pickup truck with Florida plates backed into my driveway with my ladder. Sweet! I used it for the first time today and I'm quite pleased with it. It is really heavy, having two fly sections, resulting in an extra section of overlap, but it's rock solid. I'm not going to miss the Little Giant oscillating and bending in the middle as I climb it. I still haven?t bought a new van, so I'm temporarily transporting it on top of the mini van. Because one section is shorter than the other two, I can open the rear hatch nearly all the way. That was an unexpected surprise. I give this ladder two thumbs up. Download Attachment: 1 014.jpg 1415.08?KB Download Attachment: 1 024.jpg 134.96?KB

A close call? That's an understatement! I would have been shittin' bricks. I just added a new procedure to my panel inspection routine.

I had three of them in this afternoon's attic. You can see the hole that was punched in the sheathing to get the cable outside. Click to Enlarge 56.75 KB

I knew Kibble would know it. That's right, Kevin, it's the rotating walk-through barrel in the Bushkill Park funhouse. "This is just for fun" was the hint. This funhouse is the oldest one in the country, and at the time the park closed, had the only operating barrel in the country. The park was featured on a segment of American Pickers 2 or 3 years ago. Out of the blue, I got a call from the park owner this morning asking if I'd be interested going through it. Would I?!?! Of course I would! He spent over an hour and a half taking me through the remaining buildings, giving me updates on what's happened, what is happening and what he hopes to make happen. It was really cool. Here is a video of the funhouse I shot in 1989, not too long after 'Mom' Long had died. She and her husband began leasing the park in 1933 and bought it in 1939. [utube] " type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="344">

It's about 200 feet from a stream, but that's incidental. There are no slots. The interior is solid, smooth hardwood. It's not intended to ever be wet. I didn't smell anything, but by now, Hoffa would be only dry bones. Saw no bones. As far as I know, everything (except replaceable things like bearings, motor brushes, etc.) is original from 1902. Remember, this is just for fun. Think outside the box.

Post #14: https://www.inspectorsjournal.com/forum ... IC_ID=2903

It was actually really quiet when it was running. I think it last turned in 2006. It's big. More than big enough to walk through. Kibble will know it.

It is like a giant wooden tumbler. What's its purpose?

Nope.

This is just for fun. Lets see if anyone can guess the purpose of this 111 year old machinery. It's muddy from a flood. I gave a hint already. Download Attachment: 1 025 (Large).jpg 108.63 KB

Not too far to the south of me was a 'Shades of Death Road'. A few decades back, a developer put some additional houses on it, and for some reason, the name was changed to 'Royal Manor Drive'. I can't imagine why.

I see them occasionally, but usually they're beat-up dirty, and with a bad refrigerator. That one looks like it's never been used. Cool.

To be fair, they're not all smart ass answers. I'm looking forward to seeing the results of his 'Green Technologies' assignment.

An unsuccessful team: Click to Enlarge 42.35 KB

Are you sure a new layer was installed? It sure looks like spayed-on sealer was applied over an old deteriorated surface.

You're not a very good plumber, are you?

The most important thing is to work the team regularly, with the same driver (you I assume). Of course they need to hitched the same way every time (right side - left side), but that goes without saying. If you're just starting out and think you might get confused, you might want to mark their flanks with an 'R' and an 'L'. DON'T go into a completion with the markings still there though, or you'll quickly get the reputation as a horse's a**.

Earlier this week, I saw the same thing done (but not as neatly or completely) to the building next to my hotel in Atlantic City. It looks like they simply swept the gravel ballast back and dropped the pavers in place. I'm guessing that it was hurriedly done last October in preparation for Hurricane Sandy. Click to Enlarge 56.14 KB

Oops, Risk Management Case Studies is one of the ones I blew off. Kenny Hart is always good, as is Gerry Aubrey, but I've seen their presentations several times. I wasn't going to go, but after I received a 20% discount code from America's Call Center, along with the $60 a night room rate, I figured it was too cheap to pass up. Of course, you get what you pay for. It was what I thought it would be - an extended pitch to a captive audience for COA Support and the Homeowners Network. It wasn't a total loss; at least I got to see this really cool light and sound show: [utube] " type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="344">

I wish I knew you were there, Darren. I know for sure I won't be going to a COA conference again.

Three days ago I walked out of a session he was 'teaching' at a conference in Atlantic City. I figured my time would be much better spent walking the boardwalk.

Ah, deformation of the rope. I never thought of that. Thanks.

With the exception of a smaller pulley maybe having more slippage, I don't understand how a larger one reduces losses to friction. The rope and pulley should be turning at the same speed, so there shouldn't be any friction there. The only appreciable friction would be at the shaft. I suppose a smaller pulley turning faster would generate more friction, but I can't see that making much of a difference. What am I missing?

How does a bigger pulley reduce friction?

I couldn't help but think of this thread during an inspection this morning. I got the inspection because of a ladder accident. The gentleman who had owned the house grew grapes on this trellis. He was on a stepladder, picking them, and was probably no more than a foot or two off the ground. See the open tee? There's a piece of rusted pipe in there. Instead of moving the ladder, the guy leaned out further than he should have and grabbed onto the pipe that used to be there. It snapped off, and he went headfirst into the patio slab. Dead, with a widow left behind because of a stupid shortcut on a ladder. Click to Enlarge 74.73 KB