Spicy dirt, scion and slippers

We are not watching Quicksilver on the weekends, so it is our time to catch up on the things that are difficult to do when she is here.

Spicy Dirt

The numbers in the manuals are dependent on many factors. For one thing, the cut of the chamber, the amount of free-bore and taper of the lands-and-grooves of the throat can make a HUGE difference in velocities and pressures.

Even though those features are detailed with excruciating precision, the specifications are for MAXIMUM material (i.e. smallest chamber) which results in the highest pressures. Manufacturers can make the chamber somewhat larger than the specification. They can make the free-bore longer and the angle of the taper more gentle.

Manufacturers whose customers are most fixated on accuracy want the tighter chambers. Manufactures whose customers are fixated on robust operation even when the beast is fed...um...diverse feed want the more generous chambers.

That is a lot of words to explain why some barrels are "fast" and some are "slow". It also points to the utility of taking velocity measurements of the items you are manufacturing. If you get significantly higher velocities than the manual led you to expect, then some kind of interaction is happening and you are generating higher pressures than Mr Sammy allows.

To record today's findings:

4.0 grains of the spicy dirt of St Marks with a 147 grain, powder coated, cast, antique pewter bead measured 880fps of an expected 925.

4.8 grains of spicy dirt with one brand of 124 grain shiny-things measured 1035fps of an expected 1060fps.

5.1 grains of spicy dirt with a different brand of 124 grain shiny-things measured 1050fps of an expected 1120fps.

That is great news. That tells me that the pressures are within the design envelop and rapid disassembly of my toys is unlikely. If, on the other hand, the measured velocities of the 124 grain assemblies had exceeded 1200fps then that meant that I was exceeding +P pressures and all bets are off. 

I took some scion from this tree. There is a drainage ditch full of flowing water in the foreground. I am curious to see how this variety will do on a size controlling rootstock in a sunny location with a little bit of pruning and fertilizer.

Southern Belle has some pretty chickens.

 

I promised Quicksilver that I would make her some slippers.

She was not impressed. 

I made a trip to the Big-Box store to buy some spike-lights and an electrical timer, cat food (for chum) and sunflower seeds.

I went to the property and picked up a load of wood. It took me an hour-and-forty-minutes to load the truck. I may have had more than 1000 pounds in the back of the 1/2 ton pickup.

Possible carp fishing location

Lake Ovid is an artificial lake in Clinton County. This shallow arm should warm up quickly.

 

Random photo

 

Who says you need a helmet when you are arc welding?